Where are they now? Looking at five of Spurs’ heroes from their last Champions League quarter-final

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Following their fantastic 3-0 win over Borussia Dortmund at Wembley on Wednesday night, Tottenham now look to have one foot in the Champions League quarter-finals as the Bundesliga leaders would need four goals without reply to progress in the second leg.

Given the injury problems faced by boss Mauricio Pochettino, his work in getting his side this far in Europe’s greatest club competition should not go unnoticed, as it is a tremendous feat.

The last Spurs side to make it as far as the quarter-finals was managed by Harry Redknapp, spearheaded by the likes of Peter Crouch and Aaron Lennon amongst a whole host of other names whose fortunes in football have changed significantly from that illustrious tie against Real Madrid back in 2011.

So, eight years on from that 5-0 aggregate loss to Los Blancos, where are some of Spurs’ Champions League heroes from that season now?

Peter Crouch

Now at 38 years of age, a then 30-year-old Crouch scored four goals and recorded three assists in Spurs’ Champions League run back in 2011, including a famous winner against AC Milan.

Nowadays, however, the former Liverpool man finds himself at Burnley having signed for the Clarets from Stoke in a player-plus-cash deal for Sam Vokes – he will be sure to get a good reception when Spurs take on Sean Dyche’s men later in the season.

Aaron Lennon

Another one of Tottenham’s stars from that Champions League run also finds himself at Burnley.

Lennon’s mesmeric run and assist for Crouch’s late goal at the San Siro, which handed Spurs a 1-0 first leg lead over AC Milan, will live long in the memory of Tottenham fans, even if Turf Moor is turning into somewhat of a retirement home for Spurs legends.

Jermaine Jenas 

The man who was out-jumped by Emmanuel Adebayor for Real Madrid’s opener in the second leg has done little on the pitch since Spurs crashed out at the quarter-final stage in 2011.

Jenas only managed three more seasons before retiring as a result of injury problems, and has since appeared for ITV, BBC and BT Sport as a pundit.

Heurelho Gomes

The 37-year-old will always be remembered for dropping some absolute clangers in a Spurs shirt, most notably in the aforementioned quarter-final against Real Madrid in what was a huge high profile error.

Gomes, a former Brazilian international, is currently at Watford, where he is the Hornets’ number two stopper behind the in-form Ben Foster.

Benoit Assou-Ekotto

The charismatic left-back, who used to wear different boots on either foot, is currently without a club after leaving French club Metz at the end of last season, where he became embroiled in an ongoing spat with Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe.

Strangely, the former Cameroon international, who headbutted teammate Benjamin Moukandjo at the 2014 World Cup, has even said that he has been contacted by the porn industry as an option for work after his football career ends.

It’s safe to say that he is truly one of a kind.

Everton fans stunned by Holgate’s loan form

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Loads of Everton fans have been giving their verdict on the fantastic form of Mason Holgate, as the youngster continues to impress on loan with West Brom.

Holgate always looked a little out of place at Everton, as the 22 year-old is clearly immensely talented, with all the technique and athleticism needed to make it at the top level, but yet he just couldn’t put it all together in a blue shirt.

That now appears to be down to various managers’ team selection rather than the player’s own shortcomings though, and he is excelling in a new role for West Brom, who he joined on loan in January.

Former Wigan & Fulham man, Jimmy Bullard recently showed that he’s still got it! Check out the video below…

Though he did occasionally feature on the flank at Goodison, the majority of his time was spent at centre back, where he was often bullied by physical strikers.

Now playing right-back at the Hawthorns, he is proving himself more than capable of holding his own physically against any winger, and is also showing the attacking instincts required to be a modern day full-back.

The youngster assisted Jake Livermore’s late winner in a 3-2 win against QPR on Tuesday night, which takes his tally to three assists in just seven Championship starts.

Fans are impressed by his form, and you can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below…

The best ever cameo signings in Premier League history

A player doesn’t have to stay very long at a club to make an impact.

Indeed, sometimes, just one season is enough. Think of Ronaldo at Barcelona; he scored 47 goals in 49 games across a single season before departing a legend.

The Premier League has had its fair share of players come and go, of course, and many have left a lasting impact.

Here, Football FanCast takes a look at the players who were only in England for a fleeting period, but stamped their authority on the league nevertheless.

Esteban Cambiasso

Before Leicester City were miraculous Premier League title winners, they were fighting for their lives at the very foot of the Premier League table. Keeping them slightly afloat, however, was former Real Madrid and Inter Milan star Esteban Cambiasso, who moved to the King Power Stadium on a free transfer in summer 2014 – four years after lifting the Champions League title.

Cambiasso turned 34 at the start of the campaign but the quality he provided in midfield became talismanic; in fact, it was his goal against Everton in February that earned Leicester a first point in five games and his opening goal against West Ham that secured the Foxes’ first win in eight.

The Midlands outfit completed their great escape with 22 points from their final nine games, with Cambiasso featuring in all of them.

Seemingly feeling he’d done all he could for Leicester, Cambiasso decided to leave on a high and headed for Olympiacos. If only he knew what’d happen next.

Fernando Hierro

When Fernando Hierro lifted a third Champions League title in 2002, he can’t have imagined he’d end his career with a twilight campaign at Bolton Wanderers, but that’s the magic of Sam Allardyce for you.

After spending a year in Qatar, the 89-cap Spain international signed for the Trotters on a free transfer in 2004, partnering up with former Real Madrid team-mate Ivan Campo and joining the curious rabble of ageing one-time world beaters Allardyce had somehow lured to the Reebok Stadium.

One can only imagine what Hierro thought of Anthony Barness and Ricky Shakes (a then-youthful striker whose career has gone on to be as obscure as you’d imagine), but Hierro was key as Bolton went on to record their highest finish of the Premier League era and qualify for the Europa League.

Despite incredibly thorough attempts to convince him otherwise, Hierro hung up his boots at the end of the campaign.

Jurgen Klinsmann (second spell)

Wimbledon v Tottenham 2/5/98 Premiership Please Credit: Darren Walsh / Action Images Tottenham’s Jurgen Klinsmann celebrates scoring the second goal, his first Tottenham Hotspur

Jurgen Klinsmann breaches our cameo criteria somewhat, having already enjoyed one affluent spell at Tottenham Hotspur during the 1994-95 season.

Yet, it was the German icon who the Lilywhites were forced to turn to two years later as the genuine threat of relegation loomed over them, signing him on loan from Sampdoria in January for the second half of the season.

Upon his arrival, Spurs were in 18th-place and staring at life in the second tier, but Klinsmann’s run of nine goals in 15 games – including four in a 6-2 win over relegation rivals Wimbledon – steered the White Hart Lane outfit clear to safety.

After Spurs had secured a 14th-place finish, the 82-cap striker decided to hang up his boots – although he later went on to enjoy a brief swansong in the MLS in the early 2000s.

Asamoah Gyan

Asamoah Gyan varies slightly to the rest of our cameo heroes in that he’s not remembered too fondly by those at former club Sunderland, largely because he took the audacious step of forcing a move to Al-Ain in Abu Dhabi where he picked up a small fortune (even by football’s ridiculous standards) as a weekly salary.

But for his single season on Wearside, the Ghana international was an invaluable asset, his 10 goals in 31 appearances pushing the Black Cats to the dizzying heights of 10th place – their highest finish in the Premier League barring two consecutive seasons of second place in the 1990s.

That was the 31-year-old’s final stint in European football until signing for Turkish outfit Kayserispor during the summer.

Christophe Dugarry

Football – FA Barclaycard Premiership , Birmingham City v Blackburn Rovers – 6/12/03 Birmingham’s Christophe Dugarry walks off after getting sent off Mandatory Credit;Action Images / Paul Dowker

A World Cup and Euro winner with France and a one-time member of AC Milan and Barcelona’s illustrious midfields, Birmingham City’s shock swoop for Christophe Dugarry in 2003 certainly caught the Premier League world off-guard.

At that point, Birmingham had just gained promotion from the championship and were fighting for survival at the bottom of the top flight, but Dugarry’s mid-season arrival on loan added class to an attack that also included such dignified talents as Geoff Horsefield, Stern John and Clinton Morrison.

He bagged five goals in 15 appearances to ensure top-flight survival for Steve Bruce’s side, and even signed a permanent contract at St. Andrew’s. Dugarry’s next 15 outings weren’t quite so successful, scoring just once before terminating his contract, but he now takes pride of place in Birmingham City’s Hall of Fame.

Wolves predicted line up vs Southampton in the Premier League

Wolves return to Premier League action this afternoon as they look to get back on track following several weeks of disappointment.

The west Midlanders crashed out of the FA Cup in midweek after Juan Mata’s second-half strike was enough to secure a victory for Manchester United.

It means Nuno Santo’s side are now on a run of five straight games without a win in all competitions, stretching back to their Christmas triumph over the blue side of Manchester.

Here’s how we predict Wolves will line up today…

Nuno could make two changes as he looks for an improvement to their fortunes, although, his hands are somewhat tied with injuries to players and a lack of options to step up to the plate.

He named a full-strength side on Wednesday evening and the majority of those players will remain.

One change is between the sticks as first-choice goalkeeper Rui Patricio takes the gloves from John Ruddy while a defensive reshuffle may be in order.

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Ruben Vinagre came on as a substitute and picked up a hamstring injury, which has resulted in Ryan Giles being recalled from Shrewsbury Town, he’s expected to be named on the bench.

Both Romain Saiss and Conor Coady keep their places in the back three while central midfielder Leander Dendoncker is dropped from his centre-back role with Max Kilman coming in to deputise.

The two wing-backs, Jonny and Matt Doherty remain as there are no suitable alternatives to replace them, and likewise in midfield, Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho keep their places.

Call yourself a Wolves expert? How much did each of these January signings cost?

In attack, Wolves’ only senior striker in Raul Jimenez continues to lead the line alongside Pedro Neto and Adama Traore.

The Portuguese winger will be hoping to continue his rich vein of form, he should have three goals in his last four matches but two have been ruled out through VAR intervention.

And in other news, this 2009 promotion hero has been urging the club to sign rival 16-goal frontman this month…

Ampadu and Abraham is a double blow Aston Villa but they must move on

Aston Villa have been dealt another huge transfer blow after former Chelsea player and now Derby County boss Frank Lampard confirmed (as per SkySports) both Villa and Derby will miss out on Ethan Ampadu in the current transfer window.

The teenager, who signed a permanent contract at Stamford Bridge in 2017, had been on the radar of a few Championship clubs with Villa and Derby trying to use their Chelsea connections to secure his services.

But according to the Birmingham Live, Villa will have to continue to make use of James Chester and Axel Tuanzebe for time being, unless the club shifts its focus to a different centre-back before the end of the month.

Villa manager Dean Smith, however, has been feeling the pressure defensively in recent weeks with Tuanzebe ruled out with injury.

The report indicated that Lampard heard the Blues will fight off any offers for Ampadu in the transfer market as they continue their fight to finish in the top four of the Premier League and secure a spot in next season’s Champions League.

The Welsh international made his first appearance of the season at the end of November in a Europa League clash with PAOK before starting in the midfield in Saturday’s FA Cup win over Nottingham Forest.

The news have added to a tough start to the new year for Villa, who suffered a 3-0 loss against Aston Villa on Saturday and the fact that they could soon be without their main striker, Tammy Abraham, who is nearing a move to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Smith and the Villa ownership will have to stitch a plan together to not only find a replacement for Abraham, but also get reinforcements in defence, otherwise they might continue their current downfall on the Championship table.

HYS: Who should start at right-back for Leeds?

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Jamie Shackleton will likely fill in at right-back for Leeds while Luke Ayling is suspended, but should the youngster be given an extended run?

Ayling was sent off in the closing stages of Leeds’ 1-1 draw against Brentford, meaning the 27-year-old will miss the trip to Blackburn after the international break.

While the possible return to fitness of Gaetano Berardi could impact the decision, one would expect Marcelo Bielsa to show his faith in Shackleton once again.

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The boss has already shown he trusts the 19-year-old, handing him three starts during the defensive injury crisis earlier in the season.

Shackleton can play as a right-back or a midfielder, and his pace and ability on the ball has fans wondering if he should take over from Ayling permanently.

Ayling is a fans’ favourite due to his passion for the shirt and tireless work rate, but his performances this season have not been up the level of those before last season’s injury.

So, Leeds fans, do you think Shackleton should get a run? Is he a better fit for Bielsa’s system? Let us know your thoughts by voting in the poll below…

Leeds fans feel their club could still sign Vydra

Earlier this month, it was reported that Leeds United were on the verge of pulling out of a deal for Derby County’s Matej Vydra due to the forward’s wage demands.

Leeds were said to be prepared to meet Derby’s £11m valuation, and it had been suggested that a deal was close to going through.

However, Vydra is believed to be stalling on a move to Marcelo Bielsa’s team as he feels that offers from the Premier League could arrive.

The forward has scored 65 times in 187 Championship appearances during his career, and netted 21 times in 40 league games for Derby last term.

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Derby are said to be close to securing a deal for Ipswich Town attacker Martyn Waghorn, however, and a number of Leeds fans feel that the move would see Vydra leave.

A lot would still have to happen for Vydra – rated at £7.2m by Transfermarket – to make the move to Elland Road ahead of the new season, but there are some Leeds supporters feeling pretty good about the latest developments.

A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:

In Focus: Pochettino builds for Spurs future with move for potential defensive star

As reported by The Guardian, Tottenham Hotspur are in advanced talks to sign Argentinian prospect Juan Foyth this summer.

What’s the story?

Spurs haven’t exactly been big spenders in the summer transfer window so far, especially when you compare their outlay to their immediate title rivals such as Chelsea and Manchester United.

However, Mauricio Pochettino is making the dip into the transfer market.

The Guardian say the club are in advanced talks to sign Estudiantes central defender Juan Foyth for £9m, which for a 19-year-old is a fair whack of money.

With the likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan also seeking his signature though, there could still be a chance the deal falls through, according to the report.

Who is he?

Not much is known about the young centre-back, though The Guardian reckon Spurs have been interested in a while, opening talks as long ago as last month about the potential transfer.

He’s played just a handful of times for his current club Estudiantes, although he does have a number of caps for the Argentinian U20s side, making appearances at this year’s World Cup at that age level.

With the future of Kevin Wimmer in doubt, papers linking him with a move to West Bromwich Albion, then it seems Foyth could well be direct back-up to the defensive stars in Pochettino’s starting eleven. That would give him enough game time to develop as a Premier League star but also less pressure to come in a do a job immediately.

Three battles that will decide Liverpool vs. Spurs

Liverpool and Spurs have had quite contrasting seasons to date. While the Reds started very strongly, the Lilywhites were not at their best until the latter weeks of 2016, and at that time Liverpool tailed off, notching just the one victory in the calendar year of 2017 so far.

Jurgen Klopp and Mauricio Pochettino will be all too aware of the importance of this fixture, then. With Arsenal doing their ‘Annual Arsenal’ and both Manchester clubs looking strong again, dropped points will increase the questions about a potential top four finish. Whether Chelsea can be caught or not, Spurs currently look the team most likely to push them deep into the season, but even they are only four points away from fifth.

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Little can be decided by one match at this point in the season, however, Liverpool, in particular, could look back on this as a pivotal moment in their campaign. Spurs, meanwhile, will be happy with a draw, one would imagine.

Here are THREE duels that could define the match…

Harry Kane vs. Joel Matip

Britain Football Soccer – Tottenham Hotspur v West Bromwich Albion – Premier League – White Hart Lane – 14/1/17 Tottenham’s Harry Kane celebrates scoring their first goal Reuters / Dylan Martinez Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for

Despite the improvement in form from Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen, Harry Kane remains the man to stop for Spurs. Even when he is not scoring, Kane is the focal point of the attack, manipulating the game with his back to goal and moving intelligently to create holes in the defence.

The Englishman is Spurs’ greatest goal threat, and in a team that is hardly laced with prolific finishers, he justifiably attracts all the defensive attention. Going head-to-head with Liverpool’s towering rock, Joel Matip, the winner of this exchange may well win the match.

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Full-back matchups

Britain Football Soccer – Tottenham Hotspur v Burnley – Premier League – White Hart Lane – 18/12/16 Tottenham’s Danny Rose celebrates scoring their second goal with Kyle Walker Reuters / Dylan Martinez Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative

Tottenham and Liverpool rely on their full/wing-backs for width. Both teams look to overload centrally and create through the free movement of their attacking midfielders. For this to work effectively it requires space, that space must be created by the full-backs pushing up and providing a feasible passing option to stretch the play.

Whichever team can pin the opposition full-backs deepest will have the greatest offensive freedom as a result. Kyle Walker and Danny Rose are key outlets for Spurs when they have possession in the final third, so Liverpool must find a way to restrict their influence.

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Toby Alderweireld vs. Sadio Mane

Britain Football Soccer – Everton v Liverpool – Premier League – Goodison Park – 19/12/16 Liverpool’s Sadio Mane scores their first goal Action Images via Reuters / Carl Recine Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.

Spurs’ defence has looked significantly safer when Toby Alderweireld has been available, which is little surprise considering his status as one of the world’s best. While Liverpool have been blunt in attack of late, the return of fully fit Sadio Mane – who will be more rested after a week off – is expected to spark their forward into action.

Liverpool’s most direct attacking outlet against one of the best central defenders in the world is evidently going to be massive in this match. Whether Mane opts to drift wide on occasion or hang on the last defender, how Spurs deal with him could make or break Liverpool’s offensive moves.

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Five things Celtic fans need to know about Colin Kazim-Richards

Colin Kazim-Richards was a shock signing for Celtic in the January transfer window, joining the Scottish giants in a surprise deal on deadline day.

The Turkish international striker has moved back to Britain after a lengthy spell away, plying his trade across Turkey, France and Holland. Having fallen out at former club Feyenoord, the 29-year old has penned a two-and-a-half year deal at Celtic Park, bolstering their attacking options.

It was a sour end to his time with the Eredivisie giants after he was handed a two week suspension for threatening a Dutch journalist who had dared to query his attitude. Though born in England, and having spent the majority of his early career on these shores, the former Fenerbahce forward may not be the most well known due to his travels on the continent.

An experienced Turkish international, with 37 caps to his name, he arrives in Glasgow with quite the reputation, though not all of it for the right reasons. However, he will have no doubt helped the bedding in process by notching against East Kilbride on just his second game for the club.

In order to shed some light on the matter, here are FIVE things Celtic fans need to know about Colin Kazim-Richards…

AERIAL ABILITY

There’s plenty to discuss about his off the field antics, but Bhoys fans will no doubt be far more interested in hearing about what their new man can provide on the pitch.

At 6ft 1, the 29-year old is a handful in the air. Across 11 games in Holland this season, he won 10 of the 21 aerial duels he attempted.

Neil Warnock, who managed him at Sheffield United, believes ‘he’s got a lot going for him and will bring a lot to Celtic.’

‘He’s very decent in the air, he goes straight at people.’

VERSATILITY

Part of what has made Kazim-Richards such a hot property on the continent over the years is his ability to play across the frontline. While most traditionally a bruising centre-forward, the former Arsenal trainee can be deployed in wider areas.

Across 48 appearances as a right sided winger, the former Brighton star has notched 9 goals. Barely prolific, but his physical and direct style allows him to be an effective provider of support in the final third.

GRIFFITHS EXCITED ALREADY

New teammate Leigh Giffiths has already waxed lyrical about the partnership the two could soon embark on. Despite the fact manager Ronny Deila tends to prefer a 4-2-3-1 formation with just the one frontman, Giffiths can see the potential.

“If we do play two up top he is going to drag the bigger centre-halves away from me and onto him’, stated the Scotland international.

‘He likes to have a physical battle with them whereas I am the kind of guy who can play on the shoulder and go in behind defences and try and stretch them.’

FEYENOORD FANS ‘LOVED’ HIM

While his ‘bad boy’ reputation is often centred around his off-field controversies, such a fiery character can excite fans.

One thing that cannot be levelled at the ex-Galatasaray and Toulouse forward is a lack of personality.

Bert Konterman, the former Rangers defender, believes ‘Feyenoord fans loved him as he always causing fights and emotion on the pitch, especially when the team was in a difficult stage in the game.’

The FC Twente youth coach also goes on to describe him as ‘a hard worker who uses his body, fights and finishes.’

The Turkey star is certain to ruffle a few feathers in Scotland, endearing himself to the Parkhead faithful if he does it the right way. With such a passionate support, he can become a real cult hero.

…BUT ON THE FLIP SIDE

A fiery character and big personality is all well and good when channeled in the correct manner, and while everyone deserves a fresh start, it seems silly not to mention his off-field controversy.

As mentioned, he was recently suspended in the Netherlands for threatening a journalist who questioned his attitude.

That was not the first blotch on his disciplinary record, which also contains such events like swearing at a referee in Turkey and being banned for four matches.

Not only that, but he was also found guilty for a reportedly homophobic gesture made to Brighton fans while on loan at Blackburn Rovers in 2012.

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