“One or two players have made a difference here. Wilson Palacios has made a massive impact on this club – he gets on with it. He’s strong, aggressive and a big player for us.

“Sebastien Bassong has come in alongside the likes of Ledley King, Michael Dawson, Jonathan Woodgate, while Robbie Keane’s back and he’s a buzzy character around the place.

“We’ve brought a few players in and it has changed the mood. They see the likes of Wilson come in who work and close down and it rubs off on other people.

“You need players like that. He walks round like he’s pleased to be here and appreciates everything. He’s not a big-time Charlie. You need more people like that around you.”

“Niko[Kranjcar] is a player with great ability; a very good footballer. He can play in several positions – on the left, the right or in the middle, or even off the front man.

“He’s just a terrific footballer, great on the ball, he’s got everything to be a top player for us.”

• VIDEO: Best of Harry Redknapp interviews including loads of Effing and Blinding (2 Comments)
• Redknapp explains Keane and Hutton departures – Both still have Spurs futures (30 Comments)
• Veloso To Spurs? Agent: “We Will See Soon”… (10 Comments)
• Begovic Deal Back On? (4 Comments)
• Frantic Dash To Seal £10m Striker Switch (8 Comments)

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Here’s Ledley King talking about the strength of the current squad and the extent to which his injuries have held him back from achieving more in his career.

“I think we have the strongest squad we’ve had since I’ve been in the team. It’s not just the 11 we’re playing but the subs bench and the players that are missing out on the squad.”

“This really is a strong team so I do feel this is our best opportunity.”

“If we have injuries then we have players who are able deputies who will do a good job. We have the potential but it’s about proving it.”

“I’m still playing at the moment so all I can do is try to get the best out of the situation.”

“When I’ve finished I’ll probably look back and think I could maybe have achieved more but the best idea is to try to get the best out of myself, to keep going as long as I can.”

“It’s important for me to stay positive. What I can’t do is be negative and start feeling sorry for myself because I’m sure it would affect me.”

• VIDEO: Best of Harry Redknapp interviews including loads of Effing and Blinding (2 Comments)
• Redknapp explains Keane and Hutton departures – Both still have Spurs futures (30 Comments)
• Veloso To Spurs? Agent: “We Will See Soon”… (10 Comments)
• Begovic Deal Back On? (4 Comments)
• Frantic Dash To Seal £10m Striker Switch (8 Comments)

What concerns Spurs fans  more though is that Harry could be thinking the unthinkable and considering bringing this apostate piece of pond life back to The Lane.

Redknapp was glowing in his praise for Campbell during the summer labelling him as still one of the top six centre backs in the country and saying that he’d have signed him if he was anywhere but Tottenham. Mercifully, Redknapp saw sense and didn’t go for it.

But then, with the transfer window still open, he had options.

Fast forward to now and Spurs have big problems in defence with King out for an unknown period of time and Woodgate “a million miles” away from a comeback. Bassong is struggling with a knee injury and Dawson is currently being rushed back before he is fully fit.

Having left Notts County, Campbell is now a free agent and can sign for another club right away. That makes him pretty much the only Premiership standard centre back that Harry could bring in immediately to stave off Spurs’ defensive crisis.

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Harry will be weighing up the possibility, but he wont be crazy enough to do it.

Of course there are all of the issues with the hatred towards Campbell amongst the Spurs faithful. But there’s also the practical problem of Campbell having had no pre-season and being totally unfit. He signed for Notts County late in the summer and then had an injury. His first game back was last weekend and he’s now complaining about a hamstring problem. To bring him in as a stop gap would make no sense as by the time he is match fit, our centre backs will be back and the problem will have abated.

I have a feeling that were this not the case, Harry might have actually done it. Thank God for Campbell’s lack of a pre-season.

• VIDEO: Best of Harry Redknapp interviews including loads of Effing and Blinding (2 Comments)
• Redknapp explains Keane and Hutton departures – Both still have Spurs futures (30 Comments)
• Veloso To Spurs? Agent: “We Will See Soon”… (10 Comments)
• Begovic Deal Back On? (4 Comments)
• Frantic Dash To Seal £10m Striker Switch (8 Comments)

Jermiane Jenas is back in the Spurs squad to face United today. As is Heurelho Gomes.

According to the BBC, Ledley King is doubtful but not with the knee, his groin has been playing up since the Birmingham match. However, Redknapp said today that he expects King to play so we’ll have to wait and see with that one.

The good news is that Sebastien Bassong is fit after shrugging off a knee injury picked up playing for Cameroon.

Looks like Rio Ferdinand will play but he’ll have a late fitness test. And Gary “no legs” Neville looks set to replace the injured John O’Shea for United in defense. Happy days.

• VIDEO: Best of Harry Redknapp interviews including loads of Effing and Blinding (2 Comments)
• Redknapp explains Keane and Hutton departures – Both still have Spurs futures (30 Comments)
• Veloso To Spurs? Agent: “We Will See Soon”… (10 Comments)
• Begovic Deal Back On? (4 Comments)
• Frantic Dash To Seal £10m Striker Switch (8 Comments)

It doesn’t look at all promising for Ledley King’s plans to go to the World Cup. Here’s what Fabio Capello said earlier.

“The problem with King is the knee.”

“We would have to speak with him and the club to decide something. The problem with King is he has to spend four days with the physios after playing a game.

“We have to make sure we choose the best players and the fittest players. They need to be fit, really fit. We will be 23 players and in the past England have taken injured players.”

Believe it or not, I think he’s wrong. Assuming Ferdinand and Terry are fit, King wouldn’t be first choice so wouldn’t need to play more than a game a week. If one of them got injured long term, then you could bring in some drone like Upson (or preferably Woodgate) in the interests of a settled back line . You’d then have King in reserve with Wes Brown covering from right back if needs be.

He won’t go though, practicality is Capello’s style and it isn’t the most fool proof selection available. Pity as King’s ability deserves it.

King toasting Robben.

• VIDEO: Best of Harry Redknapp interviews including loads of Effing and Blinding (2 Comments)
• Redknapp explains Keane and Hutton departures -- Both still have Spurs futures (30 Comments)
• Veloso To Spurs? Agent: “We Will See Soon”… (10 Comments)
• Begovic Deal Back On? (4 Comments)
• Frantic Dash To Seal £10m Striker Switch (8 Comments)

See this interview on video – click here.

Here’s Jermaine Defoe talking about Ledley King’s injury and his role in the England set up.

“You want your best players in a major tournament and Ledley is certainly one of those.

“He still has the desire to play for England. If he got a call I know he would be delighted.

“When he is out on the pitch, his presence alone makes a huge difference.

“I don’t know how he does it. Everyone at Spurs understands Ledley cannot train because his knees will swell up.

“Harry Redknapp is used to it now and can understand how he uses the physios every day.

“Ledley is a quiet lad but he loves his football and sometimes you look at him and know he is so frustrated.

“He wants to train but he just can’t do it. It must make him look forward to the game on a weekend even more though, because to perform the way he does is unbelievable.”

• VIDEO: Best of Harry Redknapp interviews including loads of Effing and Blinding (2 Comments)
• Redknapp explains Keane and Hutton departures – Both still have Spurs futures (30 Comments)
• Veloso To Spurs? Agent: “We Will See Soon”… (10 Comments)
• Begovic Deal Back On? (4 Comments)
• Frantic Dash To Seal £10m Striker Switch (8 Comments)

So often over the last few years, Graham Roberts has been highly vociferal in his criticism of players and managers at Spurs. Some fans have loved it, some have hated it but nobody can say he doesn’t speak his mind.

This time though, in an interview with Soccer Extra, Roberts is positively gushing about the current squad and manager Harry Redknapp and also gives us some interesting insights into possible incoming Spurs transfers before the window slams shut tomorrow at 5pm.

On the Modric injury and possible replacements:

“Modric is a big loss, he gives the team that balance and he was playing out of his skin,”

“I’ve been told there is now a big chance we’ll bring in eitherMartin Petrov or Sulley Muntari to replace him.

“We definitely need a left-sided player. I think David Bentley will go to Everton, and it will be Petrov or Muntari.

“Muntari was the big shout I was hearing over the weekend.

Er… Muntari can’t play on the left, he’s more of a box to box central midfielder, but who cares, Roberts is a legend! Watch a video of Muntari’s outstanding tackling and strength here

“I think Harry will add two more players. David James is a big one.”

“Heurelho Gomes is a wonderful goalkeeper, he knows he can trust his centre halves now, last year he played behind six different combinations.

“Jon Woodgate is back training, Ledley King is performing well, and Sebastien Bassong, what a signing. Vedran Corluka can also play there.”

On Redknapp and Palacios:

“We’ve got a brilliant manager in Harry Redknapp.

“Harry’s actually gone out and got what we’ve needed for a long time: That midfield payer who can guard the defence, Wilson Palacios.

“Harry said Palacios was a bit like me last week, I would say he’s better in that engine room than I was.

“He’s a fantastic player, gets forward to support the attack; the only problem I’ve got with him is that he gets booked too much. He won’t last long if he continues like that.

New Contract For Redknapp?

“We’ve got the right manager and if I was the chairman I would go and sign Harry for another four years right now.

“We’ve got to keep him because Tottenham will have a real chance of getting into the top four.

“The league is wide open this year, Manchester United aren’t at their best, Chelsea are out of this world but Tottenham can change their way of playing now with Crouch and Pavlyuchenko on the bench.

The mecurial Aaron Lennon:

“Aaron Lennon used to spray eight crosses behind the goal and two would stay on the pitch. Now it’s the other way round. It’s like we’re playing with five attackers.”

COYS

Here’s the Video nasty of Modric getting injured by the forever weaselish Lee Bowyer. More below.

The shine has been taken slightly off Spurs’ joy at recording our fourth league win in a row today against Birmingham after injuries to Ledley King and Luka Modric. Harry Redknapp had this to say after the match:

“Ledley has done his groin and we don’t know how long he will be out for yet, while Modric’s looked like a nasty injury on the side of the right calf.

“If we lose Ledley and Modric, with Michael Dawson and Jonathan Woodgate already out, the squad is a bit short.”

Really hoping they’re both back quickly. They are obviously absolutely huge players for us and Man Utd and Chelsea are coming up back to back.

But what a game, what a goal by Lennon and what a win. Not to mention the best Spurs start that many of us have ever seen to a league season. Happy Days!

COYS

Speaking after today’s match, in which Ledley King was outstanding again, Redknapp had this to say: (Below)

“He is a fantastic centre half, he’s up there with your Rio Ferdinands and John Terrys and they’re the best in Europe in my opinion, he is top, top drawer. Of course it would certainly benefit us greatly if he played in every game but he’s not going to play in midweek games. If he plays on a Saturday, he can’t play in midweek, it’s impossible. But we haven’t got many more midweek games before Christmas, only the one one more so hopefully we can keep getting him out every weekend.

The situation isn’t going to get better, he’s got what he’s got but he gets well managed by the medical staff and they’ll be looking after him all week getting his knee back down to size. Hopefully he’ll have a little jog around the training ground next Friday, give me the thumbs up and tell me he’s ok for the next game.”

Redknapp was speaking to the BBC, you can see the interview on video here.

COYS

Part One.

Part Two.

Just like we told you, Redknapp confirms that Huntelaar to AC Milan means Pavlyuchenko is staying and Spurs wont be after anymore strikers. We’re happy with that, what do you reckon?

Also, Spurs didn’t bid for Joe Cole, just media cobblers. And Spurs to only buy one more player, if that. It’ll be a box to box player that can win the ball as back up for Palacios and competiton for Jenas. Interesting stuff.

Thoughts please?

COYS