Why Gareth shouldn't Bale on Spurs.....yet!

After failing to qualify for the Champions League this season, many Tottenham fans fear they could be about to lose their superstar winger Gareth Bale, however Everything Sport takes a look at why the Welsh wizard might be better to give it another go at White Hart Lane rather than hotfoot it across Europe to Madrid.

Spurs could count themselves unfortunate to miss out on a top four finish this season after finishing with their highest ever points tally in the Premier League, totaling 72, with only the extraordinary form of rivals Arsenal post Christmas preventing the White half of North London celebrating Champions League football next season.

Reports this week have linked Bale with an incredible £60 million pound move to another team in white....the one time Galacticos of Real Madrid. While all footballers dream of the opportunity to play for one of the biggest clubs in world football, Bale should reject any advance from Madrid and stick with his Tottenham team mates for at least another season,particularly as they seem on the verge of toppling the once one sided battle in North London.

At just 23 years old, Bale could be about to become the main man who leads Spurs to something that they have not done in a while and that is finish above their near neighbours.  There is no doubt anymore regarding Bales ability, he has scored goals in an abundance and crucial ones at that. While it seems wrong to label Tottenham a one man team, you can't help but ask the question where Tottenham would have finished without the supreme Bale in their line up.

Bale is a key man and his reputation at Tottenham is rising all the time, you have to wonder if a move to Madrid would mean the same. You only have to rewind to 2012 to find the last player who swapped London for Madrid, Luka Modric.

Like Bale, Modric was a key part of a Spurs squad who had qualified for the Champions League, interest from Madrid grew and the player demanded a move to Spain. Spurs no doubt lost a key player, but Modric has found it tough in Spain and reports of a return to England already seem to be circulating.

While it is unfair to say the same would happen to Bale, it is clear that Bale would go from a stand out player to just another name of stars in a team that doesn't necessarily produce what it should.....trophies. Of course their are arguments that a move to Madrid could make Bale the complete player, while there is some truth in this, there is no reason why it has to be this season, he has time on his side.

At just 23, the Welshman has his best years ahead of him and he can still evolve at Spurs and help them become a regular in Europe's elite competition before departing for the Spanish capital. Andres Villas Boas is building something special at Tottenham and he is planning to build it around the Welshman. Spurs are no longer knocking on the door of Champions League football, they are now prepared to blow it open by making some big name signings and that is something the current top four should be wary of, and while AVB and Bale are leading the army, that threat is even more serious.

Nobody will expect Bale to stay at Tottenham for his entire career, of course they don't, why would he? But what Spurs fans will be expecting is another top four push next season and they will be praying that it is with Bale, I would be surprised if he jumps ship just yet and I think AVB would as well.

Let us know your thoughts. Should Bale stay at Spurs or push through a move to Madrid?

Sheiky City must improve to impress in Europe

This week the Champions League returned to our screens and provided the sort of excitement we would expect from the biggest competition in club football.

Again we saw the usual suspects Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo explode into action on the biggest stage, meanwhile only two of the four English teams managed maximum points while current holders Chelsea managed a point against Juventus.

Perhaps the biggest game of week one took place in Madrid as Real welcomed money bags Manchester City in what was being described as the game of two giants…..but was it?

Madrid are chasing their 10^th Champions League trophy while City are chasing their first, while taking part in just their second Champions League adventure under mega rich owner Sheik Mansour. Agreed both sides lined up with some of the best footballers in the world going toe to toe, however the end result went someway to showing that City may still not be ready to lift the trophy, and cannot yet be labelled as a European giant.

In time Mancini will develop the blue half of Manchester into genuine Champions League contenders, however he will have to ensure his side provide much sterner performances when making the journeys to the likes of Madrid.

City led the game 2-1 in the 86^th minute only for their defensive frailties to show again as firstly Benzema curled Mourinho’s men level before that man Ronaldo unleashed a shot that somehow evaded the normally solid Vincent Kompany before swerving underneath a stranded Joe Hart who in fairness had performed sensationally to keep City in the game.

Mancini will be well aware that City must become more solid in defending if they are to make it out of what is a very tough group. With games against Dortmund and Ajax to come, Mancini will have to ensure his side gain six points, otherwise it could be Europa League football post-Christmas.

If City do make it from group D it would be hard to see them finding themselves getting past further tests like Barcelona, Real Madrid or Bayern Munich in the latter stages. Of course City fans believe that now is their time, unfortunately for them and Mancini the club remains yet to be considered a giant of Europe and will continue that way for several years to come.

Let me know what you think. Can Manchester City win the Champions League this season? 

2011: January to June

Another year of excitement, tears, happiness and emotion has passed by. 2011 saw the comings and goings of several managers, the return of King Kenny to Anfield as well as a new record transfer fee for an English striker.

2011 started with a bang as Roy Hodgson lost his job at Anfield just a week into the New Year, meaning the return of Kenny Dalglish to Anfield, twenty years after he originally departed the hot seat. It wasn’t to be the only headlines breaking from Merseyside that month as Dalglish later spent a staggering £35 Million Pound on Newcastle front man Andy Carroll. Luis Suarez seemed steel at a cost of £20 Million; however, it was the departure of Fernando Torres to Chelsea for £50 Million raised eyebrows across Europe and England.

Chris Hughton was outrageously axed by Newcastle despite their inspiring start to the Premier League Season, Alan Pardew eventually replacing the axed boss.

February saw the first Cup Final of the season as Birmingham and Arsenal met at Wembley with the Gunners looking to lift the first of the four possibly trophies that they could win. Unfortunately for the Gunners, Birmingham had other ideas as on loan Striker Obafemi Martins struck late on to gift the Blues the Carling Cup.

March started just as badly as February ended for Arsenal as they exited the Champions League at the hands of Barcelona while FIFA President Sepp Blatter banned the new craze of snoods. As March grew older, so did Arsenal’s hopes of any silverware as they crashed out of the FA Cup at the hands of Manchester United. England overcome a resilient Wales team at the Millennium stadium 2-0 to all but secure qualification to Euro 2012. Meanwhile Tottenham’s Champions League adventure ended with a resounding defeat to Real Madrid.

April saw Wayne Rooney land himself in trouble with the FA after his foul mouthed rant down a TV camera after his goal against West Ham, while former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho was to suffer his first home defeat in nine years as Real Madrid lost 1-0 at home to Sporting Gijon.

May saw Manchester City win their first trophy under Roberto Mancini as they beat Stoke City to lift the FA Cup, however it was rivals Manchester United that lifter their 19^th Premier League. In an exciting survival Sunday, Wolves and Blackburn shared an entertaining 3-3 draw which meant Blackpool, West Ham and Carling Cup winners Birmingham City all suffered relegation.

Manchester United couldn’t gain revenge for their Champions League defeat in 2009 to Barcelona as yet again the Spanish side showed their dominance with a convincing 3-1 at Wembley in the Champions League Final. 

June started with England again looking over their shoulders for qualification to Euro 2012 after a disappointing 2-2 draw against Switzerland at Wembley left Capello’s side needing four points from their remaining two fixtures. Mark Hughes sensationally walked out of Fulham expecting to be named the new Villa boss, however Randy Lerner instead chose cross city rival boss Alex McLeish to take charge. In further manager merry go round antics, Chelsea paid a massive £13 Million to Porto for the services of their boss, 34 year old Andres Villas Boas.

That was the first half of 2011, I will post the second half tomorrow but while you wait for that why not share your best moment in football during 2011?