It has been a mixed week at White Hart Lane with a win, draw and a defeat in their Champions League qualifier. Today’s impressive victory will hopefully be the kick-start Tottenham need as they get ready to challenge for honours on four fronts.
This week at FFC we have seen a mixed bag of Spurs blogs which has included…Tottenham’s naivety could prove his undoing; Harry’s words highlight an uncomfortable truth and last minute deals at White Hart Lane.
Plus we have taken a look at the best Tottenham stories on the Web this week.
Do Harry’s words highlight an uncomfortable truth?
Tottenham’s naivety could prove their undoing
Controversial free transfer may just give Tottenham the edge
The right club and time for Martin Jol to prove Levy wrong?
Tottenham’s transfer hopes hit by club’s fear?
Last minute deals at WHL?
What mixes best with JD at White Hart Lane?
Where did it all go wrong Mido?
Is this the top TEN Premier League players of all time?
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Best of Web
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Levy, don’t even think about it – Dear Mr Levy
A Right Old Mess – Who Framed Ruel Fox?
Down but not quite out – Spurs Musings from Jimmy G2
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Finn Looks Upfront – Harry Hotspur
Promised land…it’s up ahead – Dear Mr Levy
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Click on image below to see the gallery of Mario Balotelli’s stunning girlfriend
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has undergone an operation on his heart on Wednesday, but assistant manager Kevin Bond has maintained that the 63-year-old will make a swift return to the Spurs bench.
The ex-West Ham coach was admitted to hospital on Tuesday and was the subject of surgery on Wednesday to unblock two coronary arteries.
Redknapp will miss Spurs’ trip to Russia to take on Rubin Kazan on Thursday night, but Bond has rubbished potential retirement rumours.
“This will not knock Harry’s desire to manage, no chance,” he told Sky Sports.
“It won’t happen. You give him two days off and he will come back rejuvenated. It’s nothing really for us to worry about. It’s happened. The procedure has come and gone. I have spoken to Harry and he is fine.
“While no one wants to see anyone have any type of operation, it is a simple procedure and hopefully he will be back within a couple of days so everything will be fine,” he concluded.
Spurs sit top of Group A of the Europa League before the trip to Eastern Europe, and have a London derby against Fulham on Sunday in the league also.
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There appears to be growing cause for concern around Anfield that Pepe Reina may well be the latest star name to leave the club, but is the Spanish goalkeeper irreplaceable?
Well first and foremost, to trot out the tired old cliché and get it out in the open as quickly as possible – ‘no player is bigger than the club’. Of course, if the protracted contract saga involving Wayne Rooney earlier on in this season taught us anything, it was that things are not always as clear cut as this and that sometimes the club has to bend to the player’s will and not the other way around.
Liverpool have suffered over recent seasons with the departures of Xabi Alonso, Javier Mascherano and Fernando Torres all hitting the club hard. To lose Reina though would remove the last bastion of the Rafa Benitez era while simultaneously sounding the death knell to any progress the club may hope to achieve in the near future.
Liverpool are not a club that is in free-fall as such, nor are they a club on the decline; estimations of their demise have been and will continue to be greatly exaggerated in some quarters, but it is clear that they are going through a transitional phase both off and on the pitch, one that will require the patience of both the players and the fans.
Fernando Torres, since his departure, has come out with various diatribes about the chaotic state behind the scenes at Anfield that have proved to be a little too close to the bone for some Liverpool fans.
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His departure was certainly acrimonious in its nature but Torres has at least been refreshingly honest in his appraisal of the situation describing the reasons for his departure stating: “In the summer in which Xabi Alonso left, I started to wonder (about leaving). When reinforcements didn’t arrive, I started to wonder if Liverpool were the club it’s history suggests, or if it was in fact a selling club. What other teams could I have gone to? I couldn’t go to Man Utd out of respect for Liverpool. Or Real Madrid because of my past. I don’t think Barcelona needed anyone. I didn’t like the idea of Italy. Chelsea were the only club left, the only option”, he then goes onto add that “the institution was in chaos with the sale. There was all this talk of possible projects. In many ways it reminded me of Atletico Madrid – a great history, many ideas but without money. It needed time. I don’t have that.”
If that last sentence doesn’t send shivers down the most hardened of Liverpool fan’s spines then nothing will. It is clear that NESV are there for the long-haul and that there will be money made for investment in the playing staff should it be asked, but a footballer’s career is only so long and amongst the passion and demand for loyalty from its fans, we can often forget that to most players, this is a career and one in which they will look to get the most out of while they still can. In no other profession is loyalty demanded as readily as it is with footballers.
Pepe Reina has been a loyal and committed player to the club since his arrival in 2005 for £6m from Villarreal, yet the sounds emanating from the Spaniard’s mouth at the moment are most worrying. Reina stated just last week: “It’s not about being patient, it is about the club winning and I want to be competitive. All I can do is train hard and do my best, but who knows what is going to happen here?” Reina’s non-committal stance sounds extremely ominous and it is thought he is waiting to decide on his future in the summer upon learning the future direction of the club and the new owner’s plans for it.
Former Liverpool player Alan Kennedy came out late last week and said that “I’d be amazed if Kenny (Dalglish) thought it would be a good idea to cash in on him (Reina) like he did with Torres, because for me, Pepe is irreplaceable” before rather correctly adding in my view that “any replacement is going to be a step down.”
During his time at Liverpool, Reina has matured into arguably the top flight’s best goalkeeper. He may still prone to the odd horrendous error, but his dominant presence in between the sticks is invaluable to Liverpool’s ambitions and he has undoubtedly been the club’s most consistent player over the last 18 months or so, which tells you everything you need to know about how Liverpool have fared.
Continue to the NEXT PAGE…
Irreplaceable is a strong word, but put into the context of the fragility of the side at the moment and how crucial he is to their future ambitions and hopes for success and Reina does begin to look irreplaceable. To lose him in the summer would be a crushing blow.
You can trace Liverpool’s recent woes back to the sale of Xabi Alonso, a player alienated by the harsh managerial style of Rafa Benitez and his very public pursuit of Gareth Barry as his replacement. Alonso was crucial to the side’s style of play, yet it was only after he departed that everyone began to realise just how crucial he was. It could well prove to be a very similar situation with Reina – a goalkeeper whose ability on the ball, command of his defence and skill set between the sticks is unmatched in terms of influence on the rest of his team mates. He is undoubtedly the most influential goalkeeper currently operating in the top tier of English football.
The club remains one that is in transition and with situations of this nature the one thing above all that is required is time, whether Reina has that though remains to be seen and the initial signs are not promising. Liverpool should be bending over backwards to keep him at the club, and sorting out his future should be the club’s top priority in the summer.
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They say that pride comes before a fall, and if the club wish to take the ‘no player is bigger than the club’ stance that has become the mantra for embittered fans up and down the country, then they may well lose Reina in the summer. The natural reaction to incidents like this is to side with the club above the player, yet in this instance, it is down to the chaotic nature in which the club has been run in the past that has pushed certain players out of the door in order to pursue their own personal ambitions.
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Man Utd were forced into an embarrassing climb down of sorts over the Wayne Rooney contract debacle. Ferguson was forced to meet the player’s demands in order to keep him at the club – an unheard turn of events for a manger famous for his cut-throat nature in dealings such as this. Ferguson realised that a Man Utd side with Rooney in is stronger than any transfer kitty they may receive from the deal, let alone seeing their local rivals, Man City in this case, profit from the move.
Saving face is all well and good but if it comes at the expense of success, then in the long-run, this is no way to run a football club – Liverpool will do well to remember this when discussing Reina’s future at the club.
It may not be what most fans want to hear or like to see, but the truth of the matter is that players garner more power over their clubs now than their clubs have over them. Reina remains an irreplaceable asset at a pivotal point in the club’s recent history, it would be to their detriment not to pull out all the stops to keep him, even if it isn’t easy on the eye or the palette as Man Utd and Arsenal look to be waiting in the wings for his services.
Check out the Liverpool contribution to the Top TEN solo goals of all time…
With Emiliano Insua set to depart Merseyside for Florence, Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson will need to turn his attention to securing a new left-back in time for the start of next season. Several sources have speculated on the identity of Insua’s successor, with many suggesting that Hodgson will make a move for Marseille’s Nigerian full-back Taye Taiwo. Would the Nigerian be a good signing for Liverpool?
25-year-old Taiwo moved to French champions Marseille in 2004, and has built a reputation as one of the most exciting left-backs in Europe. Strong and quick, the Nigerian has established himself as a firm favourite amongst fans of Les Phocéens. Whilst Taiwo has improved the defensive side of his game over the course of the last few seasons, he is still renowned for his attacking tendencies and ferocious left-foot. A frequent scorer of spectacular goals, Taiwo is also an adept set-piece specialist.
Taiwo first came to prominence on the back of his displays at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in 2005. Although Nigeria were beaten in the final by Argentina, Taiwo was named the tournament’s third-best player behind team-mate John Obi Mikel and a little-known Argentine by the name of Lionel Messi. The left-back has since acquired 39 caps for the nation’s senior side, and featured for Nigeria at this summer’s World Cup.
With over 150 Ligue 1 appearances and 14 outings in the Champions League for Marseille, Taiwo has managed to acquire a wealth of top-level experience in Europe, and could be ready for a move to the Premier League. The likes of Ashley Cole and Patrice Evra have highlighted the importance of dynamic, foraging full-backs, and current Anfield right-back Glen Johnson has boosted the side’s attacking impetus on the right-flank. Taiwo could provide a similar option for Hodgson on the left, and may prove to be a perfect fit for Liverpool.
Evidence of Taiwo’s thunderous left foot!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9L8VyDnrg4
Follow all things Red at www.twitter.com/Liverpool_FFC
Follow me on twitter at www.twitter.com/zarifrasul
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Click on image to see a gallery of the BEST BABES at the World Cup this summer
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There is as much chance of a week going by without someone criticising a referee or a new charge being brought against a manager for their post-match comments as there is of Gary Neville buying a Manchester City scarf. Every time I turn on Sky Sports news, there always seems to be news involving a dubious decision from the weekend and the thoughts of everyone from Joey Barton on twitter to Martin Samuels, with people questioning if the spirit of the game is being destroyed by referees.
There seem to be two things that most football fans require from refs above all others. One is consistency – something that we have seen improve in recent times, especially with regards to tackles from behind and two footed challenges now meaning automatic cards, yet even so this is still an area that could be improved.
The other thing that should be a must is the ability to exercise some common sense when officiating a game. Even if technology was introduced, whilst it could clear up issues such as goal line technology, it would not change whether or not the referee used a modicum of common sense when making a decision.
In the modern game, it seems to be forgotten that – despite all the money involved and the off the field scandals that now seem as natural as Messi banging in the goals – there is still a great deal of emotion and heart in football. Yes there are players like Harry Kewell who play football because they can, not because they really care, but for every Kewell, there is a Carragher, who lives and breathes football, and sometimes emotion can get the better of a player on the field.
One of the most used examples to illustrate this is the issue of celebrating a goal, and the referee following the yellow card rule to the letter of the law. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes a player arguably goes too far – Neville running the length of the pitch to celebrate against Liverpool springs to mind, but simply running toward home fans or taking a shirt off in the moment are not really offences that should be carded.
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One of the very few examples of a referee showing common sense recently came after Doncaster player Billy Sharp scored a goal hours after his son tragically passed away and removed his shirt to show a tribute to his late son – the referee in question Darren Deadman did not book Sharp, and showed a great deal of common sense by not doing so.
If ever there was an example of the spirit of the game being intact, from players, fans and officials it was this – yet it should not be the case that this is only displayed in the face of such a tragedy. There are far more examples of officials making poor decisions than good ones – at this point a list as tall as Peter Crouch could be produced – with Howard Webb’s back pass decision dominating the headlines this week when it comes to the latest bloopers from officials.
There are some games, granted that are very difficult to officiate – Webb can be used again here – as despite the criticism after the World Cup final, in reality Webb did not do too badly in a game in which De Jong took tips from Cantona with Holland’s main stratergy to negate the Spanish talent being to kick the players not the ball. However, there are occasions where officials lose sight of the game and what it really stands for, becoming card happy and basically turning the game into a spectacle for all the wrong reasons.
A poor decision can effectively end a tight game – look at the Merseyside derby after Atkinson wrongly sent off Rodwell – the game was basically lost at that moment and spoilt for both sets of fans and players.
If a referee was to display a shred of common sense when players commit what is by letter of the law an offence but in reality could be overlooked for the good of the game, they would be applauded not criticised for it – take Van Persie’s card for kicking the ball after the whistle at the Nou Camp, which could have been so easily avoided and stopped any chance Arsenal had of getting the one goal needed at that point to progress.
Does the referee really have any reason to adhere so tightly to the letter of the law in such situations? Surely the reprisals from governing bodies such as UEFA cannot be so frightening that a referee forgets all common sense and spirit of the game?
A much greater level or respect would be given to said referees and governing bodies if they focused on the real issues facing the game rather than if a player tweets an offensive picture – Ryan Babel I am talking to you here – or unveils a message on a shirt after scoring a goal?
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FIFA have let the poppy row rumble on for a good week before coming to a compromise, yet no matter what the Spanish crowd chant at certain English players, expect little to no action – perhaps a small fine in the region of 5000 euros.
The FA have managed to bring charges against Tony Pulis and AVB for comments made about officials in recent weeks, yet cannot seem to find the time to properly investigate the two separate race rows that are running on and on. AVB’s comments were made after the very same game John Terry stands accused of racially abusing Ferdinand in, yet it speaks volumes that the FA are more concerned about fining AVB money he would rather be spending on Christmas presents than concluding the JT race row.
Is it any wonder both players and fans then accuse the officials and governing bodies of losing sight of the bigger picture and the spirit within the game? Human errors can be forgiven by fans– perhaps after a substantial amount of time has passed –as we all appreciate that referees are just like the rest of us, and are capable of making a mistake, but what is hard to forgive and indeed forget is when a referee loses sight of the bigger picture and forgets the spirit of the game. When this is remembered, something far more special than a football result can take place – just ask the Doncaster fans and Billy Sharp. It’s just a shame we don’t see more officials act the way Darren Deadman did.
Snoods will be banned, but the jury remains out for goal-line technology after the International Football Association Board met on Saturday.Football’s lawmaking body met at Newport, Wales and decided to continue testing goal-line technology, with IFAB also approving the use of two additional referees’ assistants during the 2012 European Championships finals after tests of the five-official system in the Europa League were been deemed a success.One of four FIFA members on the board, Chuck Blazer told The Guardian that the decision to continue testing on goal-line technology was ‘very welcome’.FIFA president Sepp Blatter confirmed the news, and said the technology could even be used at major tournaments in the near future: “The decision was taken to go on with the experiments, technical experiments, and then to bring back these items back to the IFAB meeting next year in London,” he said.”Then a final decision will be taken. If it works, and I cannot say because for the time being it will not work, but if it works then definitely I am sure that the board will say yes to the technology.”If the board says yes to the technology there is no problem in 2012 (at the European Championship) and to have in 2014 (at the World Cup).”Snoods have proved popular in several of Europe’s biggest leagues this season, but will be banned from July 1.FIFA had expressed concerns over the new accessory because of player safety, and the neck warmer had been banned at certain clubs, including Manchester United, after Sir Alex Ferguson branded players that wear snoods ‘powder puffs’.
Palermo have confirmed that a 35million euro deal has been agreed with Tottenham Hotspur which will see Denmark defender Simon Kjaer and Uruguay forward Edinson Cavani head to White Hart Lane.
President Maurizio Zamparini has revealed that Spurs have won the race to snap up the highly-rated duo, who had been linked with a number of clubs across Europe.
Twenty-one-year-old Kjaer is a rumoured target for several other clubs in England, as well as Bayern Munich and Juventus, while German club Wolfsburg had been linked with an interest in Cavani, 23.
However, Zamparini told Sky Italia:“Tottenham have bid 35million euros, an offer we cannot refuse, seeing as the two players have both said they want to leave.
“We will reinvest the money for these players. The midfield is my biggest concern, whereas in defence and attack we are fairly covered.”
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Darren Bent will return to the Stadium of Light on Saturday to a peculiar warm welcome from the club. It has been nine months since his acrimonious £24 million move to Aston Villa and fans are ready to give him both barrels of hate.
His departure came with accusations of money-grabbing and betraying Steve Bruce – who claimed he had already tried to engineer a move to Turkey.
Although fans were upset, an offer so big can hardly be sniffed at and this weekend’s game will see the welcome mat unrolling whether the fans on Wearside agree with it or not.
Black Cats’ midfielder Jack Colback said: “We wish him all the best and I hope he does well for England – but I hope he’s on the losing team on Saturday.”
This football love-in is often reserved only for club legends, which Bent can hardly claim to be after just 18 months there.
Instead the 27-year-old should be doing all he can for his former employers, who took him from the bench and embarrassment at Tottenham and turned him into one of the country’s most potent goalscorers.
I am sure the words “My missus could have scored that one” are permanently etched in Bent’s mind and every time he misses the thought of those words being uttered about him again must make him retch.
That miss for during his time at Spurs and the public humiliation he received after Harry Redknapp’s post-match interview saw the striker hit rock bottom.
He struggled to recover and despite finishing the season with 17 goals, he was seen as a flop because of the £16.5 million tag.
With his footballing career in the proverbial, a phone call from Steve Bruce was to be the turning point.
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Speaking to the Daily Mail, Bent said: “I needed to rediscover my smile, that spark in my game, and Sunderland gave me the opportunity to play regularly. I felt I could knock down walls with those supporters behind me.
‘Steve Bruce was one of the big reasons why things went so well for me. He just called me and said, “Will you sign for Sunderland?” With no hesitation, I replied, “Yes”.”
And with that, the reincarnation of a player that had been prolific at Charlton began. Looking like a completely different player, his confidence and combination with Kenwyne Jones led to a scintillating season, bagging 24 Premier League goals, half of the Black Cats’ goals in the season. At the beginning of last season, Bent lost his partner in Jones who was replaced by the speedy and enigmatic Asamoah Gyan. The pair clicked instantly, linking almost telepathically to create the most feared strike partnership outside of the top four.
Bent added another eight league goals to his tally in the first half of the campaign and with interest coming from a number of clubs in England and abroad, Bent made the move to the second city where he has continued his scoring form, including a debut goal against Manchester City in a 1-0 win.
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The rejuvenated Bent also made it back into the England set up during his time on Wearside and scored his first international goal while contracted to Sunderland, completing a remarkable turnaround.
Now Bent will make a return to the ground that gave him a new lease of life and will face the fans that once cheered him. They will give him a hard time and it is completely understandable. But they should also look at the striker with a sense of pride, knowing that their club is responsible for giving him the confidence to be this good.
Although that won’t be much of a comfort if he scores the winner.
Will you be cheering or booing Bent on Saturday? Do you agree or disagree? Have your say. Comment below or follow me on Twitter @jrobbins1991.
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Blackpool breathed new life into their English Premier League relegation battle with an incredible 3-1 victory over Tottenham on Tuesday.It was the promoted club’s first win in seven games and first against the Londoners for 45 years but, despite the scoreline at Bloomfield Road, it was a match dominated by the visitors.Blackpool had to survive wave after wave of attacks but a combination of poor Spurs finishing, inspired goalkeeping from Richard Kingson and some clinical execution at the other end ensured they moved five points clear of the relegation zone.Charlie Adam – a January transfer deadline day target for Spurs – put Blackpool ahead from the spot after 18 minutes before DJ Campbell rounded off a brilliant sweeping move to make it 2-0 just before half-time.And substitute Brett Ormerod rounded off the victory 10 minutes from the end, before Harry Redknapp’s scored an injury time consolation through Roman Pavyluchenko.The result puts a huge dent in Spurs’ hopes of finishing in the Champions League spots, just seven days after their stunning victory in Milan.Ian Holloway gave a surprise debut to Belarus international Sergey Kornilenko, while Spurs were forced to reshuffle with Rafael van der Vaart and Vedran Corluka missing through injury after their San Siro heroics.After a messy start, Blackpool nicked a goal from nowhere when Sebastian Bassong clumsily pulled down Campbell as he tried to turn and shoot. Adam beat Spurs goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes from the spot despite the Brazilian getting a fingertip to the well-struck shot low to his right.Spurs were almost level 10 minutes later when Blackpool defender Craig Cathcart bravely blocked Jermaine Defoe’s close-range shot before Adam’s clearance slammed off Steven Pienaar and inches over the bar.Cathcart then headed off the line after Defoe’s chipped effort looped off Richard Kingson’s right hand and looked to be heading in.Alex Baptiste cleared off the line again from Defoe as he shot through a forest of players, before Blackpool broke to other end of the pitch at lightning speed, with Campbell rounding off the brilliant sweeping move.Pienaar rolled a shot wide and Kingson made a quick reaction save from Pavyluchenko as Blackpool continued to ride their luck after the restart.With 20 minutes remaining, Kingson made another superb stop to deny Pavlyuchenko and then shortly after he dived at the feet of Luka Modric as Spurs continued to carve open the home side for no reward.But in the 81st minute, Blackpool launched a rare attack and amazingly extended their advantage. Substitute Matt Phillips drove at the Spurs defence and the ball fell for veteran striker Ormerod to tap home.Pavlyuchenko finally got a goal deep in injury time with a volley that took a deflection and looped over a stranded Kingson, but it was scant reward for Spurs’ dominance.
Although the long-term Anfield futures of both Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres are still uncertain, Liverpool fans can try and take solace in the commitment of another world-class player. Just under two months ago, Spanish custodian Pepe Reina, now widely regarded as the finest goalkeeper in the Premier League, put pen to paper on a six-year deal. Already well on his way to becoming a bona fide Kop legend, Reina’s decision to sign a new contract during the most turbulent season upon Merseyside in recent memory served to further endear the Spanish international to the Anfield faithful. Having clinched a fourth ‘Golden Glove’ award in five seasons in England, Reina’s status amongst Liverpool fans was visibly cemented having been voted the club’s Player of the Year (with a whopping 75% of the total votes).
Stellar form aside, Reina’s landslide victory in the club’s Player of the Year poll owes a great deal to the relationship he has with the club’s fans. Unlike a great deal of foreign imports, Reina has managed to immerse himself fully into the English culture and culture of his club, with his consummate professionalism unquestionably admirable.
Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, former Denmark international Jan Molby was affectionately known as an ‘honorary Scouser’, a term used to describe the way in which he managed to perform for the club as if he had had a lifelong tie with the club (Molby, born and bred in Denmark, actually managed to pick up a Scouse accent). Upon the signing of Reina’s new contract, Liverpool’s all-time leading scorer Ian Rush noted similarities between the Danish playmaker and the Spanish custodian, informing Liverpool’s official website that “Everyone knows how Jan Molby ‘became’ a Scouser after he joined the Reds, playing with the same passion as those on the Kop and tapping into what makes the club tick. Reina has done likewise; a leader and a motivator, he showed his commitment to the club by signing a six-year contract and is going to be an important man for a long, long time.”
A fan will watch a wealth of players come and go at their club, with many indulging in ‘faux-loyalty’ acts of badge-kissing and declarations of love for the club. However, so few actually mean it. The conduct of Spain’s number two suggests that he truly belongs in the camp of genuine footballers. For example, when David N’Gog scored a 95th minute goal against Manchester United to seal Liverpool’s morale-boosting victory over their arch-rivals, Reina frantically ran the entire length of the pitch to congratulate his French team-mate and celebrate in front of The Kop (click here to see the amusing footage of said incident). Such a passionate and emotional act of conduct tangibly highlighted the mutual love between the player and the fans; with all honesty, can you imagine any other Premier League goalkeepers behaving like this in the same circumstance?
During the recent turmoil at Anfield, the nature of player sound bites emanating from the club have not always been favourable. Ignoring the reprehensible comments espoused by compatriot Albert Riera, the silences of and collective failure to issue rallying calls by the club’s other foreign players have almost been as damaging as the quotes uttered by the disgraced former Espanyol winger. Throughout the duration of the last season, Reina frequently offered assurances that everyone within the club was trying their best to rectify their problems.
Whilst the deafening silences of Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard have served to heighten anxiety amongst Kopites, Reina has sought to appease such fan concern by telling The People that, “I am calm about Fernando [Torres].I spoke to him about his future and he has told me that he intends to continue with us”. More recently, Reina has risked angering the club’s hierarchy by calling on the club’s much-maligned owners to leave as soon as possible.
Reina’s motivational skills are not confined to the media. He leads through example, with his commitment shining through by way of his performances. Speaking of Reina, manager Rafael Benitez said,”His mentality and advice for other players mean he is an inspiration. Like [Dirk] Kuyt, he is always positive and happy.” It’s not just his manager that has noticed this. Both Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard have paid the ultimate tribute to Reina by suggesting that he has the credentials to become a future captain of the club.
It’s when compared to other players at the club that Reina really comes across as the consummate pro. Reina’s unflinching desire to sign a new long-term deal is all the more impressive when considering that team-mate Javier Mascherano has delayed the completion of his new contract to see how the immediate future unfolds at Anfield, or when taking into account Yossi Benayoun’s recent comments that allude to the fact that he is seeking a move to fierce rivals Chelsea.
The big spending behaviour of the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea in the last ten years has highlighted the dearth of loyalty within the modern game – the Eastlands side’s acquisition of Carlos Tevez from Manchester United last summer indicated that money can now readily transcend fierce long-time rivalries. Thankfully, for every Carlos Tevez and Ashley Cole, there’s a Pepe Reina.
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Follow me on twitter at www.twitter.com/zarifrasul