Darren Bent has a massive opportunity tonight. In normal circumstances he probably wouldn’t get a look in, but with the players that are missing and the form he has been in of late, he could well start for England tonight against Germany. Capello has reportedly spoken with Bent regarding the way he wants him to play which points to him playing at least some part. Bent is quoted as saying “He told me why he picked me and how he wants me to play. I just listened. He told me to play my own game and not try to over complicate things.”I know a number of people are of the opinion that the England stars that have pulled out of the squad either didn’t fancy it or have been told by their respective clubs not to play. I find it quite hard to believe that any player would not want to line up against the old enemy, especially with how well the side has been playing recently. Although saying that, a number of them looked like they couldn’t care less a few months ago but surely any player that can’t get motivated by representing England against Germany shouldn’t be playing the game full stop.A good performance here would do Bent’s confidence the world of good and could also have a positive impact on the rest of Tottenham’s season. Even without Lampard, Gerrard, Rooney and the like, the likely starting line up looks solid enough. The majority of England games where Gareth Barry has played have ended positively so his inclusion is a good sign.It could be the type of game that will suit Bent. England are likely to be under pressure for large periods and will have to play on the break. Bent’s pace and power are probably better suited to a game like this than maybe Theo Walcott or Michael Owen.Frazier Campbell scored the only goal of the game for England’s Under-21’s last night against the Czech Republic, lets hope Darren Bent can continue the Spurs-England striker takeover!

I knew it wouldn’t be long before Heurelho Gomes cost us a game under Harry and it finally happened yesterday at Craven Cottage. I’ve been fighting his corner while most people have been knocking our Brazilian keeper be you cannot defend the indefensible.His save from Jimmy Bullard’s free kick was exceptional but ultimately pointless. What good is a keeper who can pull off the spectacular if he can’t do the simple things? It would be like a striker who scores a pinger every so often but misses a couple of open goals every game.I know he was highly rate before arriving at Tottenham and played well at the Lane when we played PSV in the UEFA Cup but I just find it hard to believe he wasn’t making the same sort of errors week in week out for them.There hasn’t been a game this season where he hasn’t made some kind of mistake and the amount of goals he’s cost us now is completely unacceptable.Harry keeps coming out and defending him to the media which is all he can really do but surely he must be thinking about giving Cesar Sanchez a chance. I know he’s getting on but he isn’t really old in goalkeeping terms. He looked solid enough when he came on against Liverpool the other night and simply has to be a better option than Gomes at the moment.Obviously a keeper will be a priority in January but it will come down to who is available. I can’t see Newcastle wanting to sell Given especially in the middle of the season and that’s even if he fancies a move to London. I really don’t want David James. I know he’s ironed out a lot of the simple mistakes he used to make but you can bet your life if he arrives at Spurs they will suddenly appear again. I hear Blackburn have a good keeper, Paul something or other.Maybe we need to be looking at goal keepers that are keeping the bench warm. There are a number of good keepers not getting a game who we may be able to prise away from their clubs in the transfer window but it’s whether Harry wants to take a punt on someone who hasn’t been getting regular first team football.This is a big decision for HR but I really think he needs to drop Gomes for the next game. What’s the worst that can happen? If Cesar does turn out to be that bad, Gomes can always come back in. Being dropped may knock his confidence but I don’t see how he can play any worse that he is at the moment.

The Redknapp revolution aims to take its next step at Craven Cottage on Saturday when Tottenham make the short trip across London to face Fulham.

I had meant to do this post earlier in the week, but it’s now Thursday and what was once just an “is that true?” inkling is now the official, complete-with-pdf word. Tomorrow in north London, Spurs will unveil their initial plans for a new stadium and, um, well…let’s have a word about that.
Now, I [...]

Spurs go into tonight’s game unbeaten under Harry Redknapp as well as having beaten Liverpool 2-1 earlier this month at White Hart Lane. This will be a quite different Liverpool side with Rafa Benitez likely to give his fringe players a game while resting his stars. Will this make things easier for Tottenham though? Possibly not…Team NewsLedley King is likely to be rested for Tottenham, who are also missing Benoit Assou-Ekotto through suspension and Giovani dos Santos through injury. Redknapp may elect to give some of his squad players a run out but don’t expect wholesale changes from Spurs as this competition is very important to the club.Liverpool are reportedly resting Captain Steven Gerrard as well as former Spur Robbie Keane. Fernando Torres may start after recovering from injury.Head To HeadTottenham more than hold their own against Liverpool at White Hart Lane over recent years. Of the last 10 encounters, Tottenham have won 4 and drawn 3. Liverpool have managed 3 victories.Current FormBoth teams are on top form. Spurs are unbeaten in 5 games winning 4 and drawing 1. Liverpool have only lost 1 of their last 5, that defeat coming at the hands of Tottenham.ConclusionLiverpool dominated the meeting at the start of the month but Tottenham still managed to engineer a victory. Theoretically, tonight’s match should be easier for the home side with Liverpool likely to field a weakened team. The downside is those fringe players will want to take their chance and show their manager what they can do.If Spurs can continue to make use of the little genius from Croatia the way they have been doing recently, and with Darren Bent in such blistering goal scoring form, I would fancy Spurs to make it into the next round tonight. It won’t be easy but Liverpool’s priorities lay elsewhere and the Carling Cup means a lot more to Tottenham.Best BetsSpurs to win 3-1 @ 20/1 with BetfredLuka Modric to score first @ 12/1 with Betfred

No Keano and no Gerrard. Thanks, Rafa! All of a sudden a meaningless game becomes much more interesting when looking forward to next season.
There’s little glory in retaining the Carling Cup, but it looks more and more like it will be Spurs’ only conceivable route to Europe. If Harry wants to continue [...]

Phew. Giovani Dos Santos will not, repeat, will not undergo surgery for his ankle injury suffered in training last week. According to Spurs’ official website, he’ll be out for up to four weeks. I already miss watching him run Ronaldo-esquely into the box. (And no, that is not his ankle you see on the left.)
So, [...]

It’s the Daily Mail-free edition of the links, folks, enjoy! As always, commentary and your own links welcome.

Match report extravaganza: Guardian #1, Guardian #2, Times, BBC, Soccernet
Harry’s post-match interview with the Beeb on this “funny ol’ day” was pretty boilerplate. Without trying to beat the dead horse, I am worried about his [...]

Is Harry actually God? I’ve never believed in God before but I’m starting to see the light.Since Harry Redknapp took charge.Played 5Won 4Drawn 1 (We can allow God an off day)Before he took charge I was starting to think we would never win a game ever again.Yesterday’s three points took us off the bottom of the table and although we aren’t out the woods yet, things look an awful lot better than they did a few weeks ago. In fact, it’s like watching a different team.Modric was immense again yesterday as he has been in every game under Harry. The boy doesn’t stop trying and he oozes class. He controlled the game. I was worried that the 16.5m was way over the mark with his performances under Ramos, it now looks like a snip. Our mate Wrighty7 seems to think it’s because Harry keeps him in the bags under his eyes on trips to away games so he feels safe. I don’t believe this rumour for a second.Speaking of 16.5m, Darren Bent is looking like he wasn’t so over priced after all. Confidence are what good strikers are all about, Harry has somehow instilled it by the bucket load into Bent. He looks like scoring every time he gets the ball in and around the box, an absolute predator.Ekotto and Zokora both look like bit parts and we will hopefully strengthen in those areas come January but as long as we continue to rack up those 3pts, they can continue to plug away being average.Wednesday’s game against Liverpool does scare me a bit, but not as much as it would have scared me this time last month. They out played us in the league game but we still beat them. I’ll be happy with more of the same!

Spurs have been strongly linked in the press today with Newcastle Goalkeeper Shay Given. Harry is quoted in the Daily Mail as saying: “Shay Given is a great goalkeeper who I admire. Any manager would have to be interested in him if he became available.”Given is a very solid goalkeeper and would be a great acquisition for Tottenham. He was previously unsettled at Newcastle and I’m sure he would be keen on the move but I’d assume uprooting his family may be a stumbling block.Redknapp’s been making all the right noises about Gomes saying he is a top keeper etc but I think more than anything it’s because he’s stuck with him until January and wants to give him plenty of confidence.Don’t get me wrong, I think Gomes is a decent goalkeeper in his own right but he’s another with the problem of the press highlighting every small mistake. It seems Tottenham goalkeepers are their favourite target for career destruction. He’d need to have an incredible season from here on in to shake the clown tag and I can’t see that happening.The simple errors are just part of his make up. I would say they have probably increased this season with the team’s poor performances but while he’s different class at times the other part of his character will always be there.In other news, Sir Les Ferdinand has signed on to be a ’strikers consultant’. Exactly what he’ll be doing is anybodys guess, consulting the strikers I’d presume! I can’t see him giving Harry advice on buying players so this must be to work with the existing players on different aspects of their game. He’s a good character to have around the place whatever he’s doing.