Darryl Woodford

Firstly, we must touch on the football last night; I know many fans left before the end, and judging from my MSN, my Dad (in Cyprus currently) went to bed some time around 3-1, but what a fantastic late comeback.. we’ve had our fair share, Villa on the 125th anniversary game last year warrants a mention, but it will be hard to top last night, another draw that feels like a win, 4 points from two tough games and a sign of progress under Harry.

Meanwhile, in Copenhagen crunch time is setting in. Three papers on the go, and today I had to break out the wooly hat, gloves and scarf for the first time as temperatures plummeted to basically zero by the time I left the Unviersity this evening, after watching Helvetica in one of our game design seminars. To give you a current state of affairs here is my desk; two monitors, two laptops, and four rather high piles of books (relating to the four research topics); Copenhagen Unviersity’s Library could set up a remote location in my apartment ;o)

Anyhow, off to finish off the reading for tomorrow’s reading group; and then I have Red Alert 3 and Fallout 3 to get to, Colonization and GTA IV to finish, the ongoing FM Live beta to finish making notes on before it goes live, and the FM Live and FM 2009 launches in the coming weeks.. all go!

I’ve heard it from various sources this evening, and it has now reached BBC Radio 5, that Harry Redknapp has agreed terms to be the new Tottenham Manager after Ramos and the entire management structure were dismissed this evening. I don’t see Redknapp being a Champions League, Top 4, manager, but we’re not a Top 4 club. His sole goal for this season will be to avoid relegation.

Levy was rumoured to have missed the UEFA Cup game this week to consult with ENIC head honcho Joe Lewis in the Bahamas, and one would assume Levy returned with instructions to dismiss the manager (a Championship club is worth much less than a Premiership one). Knowing Spurs record, one would assume Harry was in place prior to Ramos being dismissed.

All eyes will be on the dugout and executive box tomorrow, but now Spurs can move on. We just need to sign somebody who can score goals. Hopefully players such as Dos Santos and Taarabt, frozen out recently under Ramos, will find their chances renewed under Redknapp.

Approximately a year ago, following a UEFA Cup match against Getafe, I wrote this blog entry: Goodbye Martin and thanks under the psuedonym.

Tonight, I’m writing a similar entry, but with somewhat less thanks. The spurs official site reports this evening:

The Club can announce that Damien Comolli, Sporting Director, Juande Ramos, Head Coach and First Team Coaches, Marcos Alvarez and Gus Poyet, have left the Club, with immediate effect. We wish them well.

Clive Allen, Development Squad Coach, and Alex Inglethorpe, Youth Team Manager, will take charge for Sunday’s League match against Bolton.

An announcement will be made on First Team coaching staff in due course.

Juande’s reign wasn’t without it’s high points, the Carling Cup Semi-Final victory over Arsenal, and the Final victory over Chelsea are obvious high points, but the nearly-nearly game vs Man Utd also warrants a mention. However, the form following the Carling Cup Final victory was abysmal, and virtually every game this season has been a disgrace. Losing Poyet is a shame, I think had Juande been successful he would have been a natural successor, and I think he will be a quality manager. The fact is that Ramos has lost the dressing room, a phrase that was trotted out last year for Jol, but certainly seems more fitting now.

The one upside of the Ramos era, is that we’ve finally ditched the Director of Football. Clive Allen and Alex Inglethorpe may be in charge tomorrow, if you believe official sources, and if so, let’s hope for 3 points.

Onwards and Upwards.

An advertisement for a DIY store in New Zealand, which I found posted on a gambling forum this morning: