Sol Campbell Moves To Notts County

Sol Campbell his joined up with Sven-Goran-Eriksson at Notts County. The news comes as a shock to many including Arsene Wenger. (I was however tipped off to the move Monday morning, by fellow Football Banter Mini-League participant, Jon M.)

County were recently taken over by one of those mysterious Middle-Eastern consortiums, this particular one is called "Munto Finance" they immediately reached out to friend of the Sheiks Sven-Goran Eriksson who has joined as Director of Football.

Harry Redknapp also commented today on Campbell's move saying "He's still in my opinion a top six central defender in the Premier League, so for Notts County to get him in that division is just incredible".

Harry Says Four Wins And Tottenham Will Be Safe

Harry Redknapp thinks that if Tottenham win 4 out of the 12 remaining games Tottenham will be safe from relegation.

Tottenham are on 28 points, so Harry is arguable looking to the traditional 40 points mark.

With 6 clubs within 2 points of Tottenham below them in the table (plus West Brom on 22pts), is the 40 point mark going to be enough for survival this year?

Is anybody ready to predict who they think will go down?

I am going to be bold and state my predictions for the drop (without prejudice, I have nothing against these clubs and will be happy to see them survive.)

But I Think WBA will finish bottom, but should be commended for approaching the Premier League with attacking football intentions. Despite finishing bottom, I suspect they will be strong in the Championship next year as they will not need to make too many changes.

I think Middlesbrough will finish 19th. I really want to see Gareth Southgate vindicated for his strategy at Middlesbrough. When he took over from Steve McClaren he cleaned out a lot of big name and big salary players. He his given a lot of focus and chances to emerging players from the lower ranks, and has tried to build his own team and the backroom scouting team. Unfortunately some of his dealings in the transfer market seem to have fallen flat. Mido & Alves have not lived up to their billing. I suspect, Steve Gibson will be forced to wield the axe in the summer.

I think Stoke will finish 18th, I am expecting something of a rally from Stoke before the end of the season, but I feel this will not be enough. They do have one advantage, they only have one game against the big five left and that is on the last day against Arsenal. The next toughest games are West Ham and Wigan, but both are at home. They might just sneak it, but looking at those teams just above them they will need to have a lot of things go their way.

Carling Cup Final

Tottenaham are going to field the strongest possible team in tomorrows cup final after manager Harry Redknapp rested his big guns against Shaktar Donetsk. However, Carlo Cudicini, Wilson Palacios, Pascal Chimbonda and Robbie Keane are illegible, Jermaine Defoe is injured and Jamie O'Hara will have a late fitness test.

For Man Utd Sir Alex Ferguson has already stated that he will stick with his youth policy that has guided United to this final. Jonny Evans needed a pain killing injection to play Inter in the week so will likely not be risked. Gary Neville returned to training this week which means he may feature as Wes Brown and Rafael are both out with injury.

Brazillian Anderson played 45 minutes for the reserves in mid-week. Fabio also played in that match and was withdrawn early. Van der Saar has not played in the competition this season so Sir Alex will pick between Kuszczak and Ben Foster.

So likely line ups will be:

Tottenham: Gomes, Corluka, Dawson, Woodgate, Assou-Ekotto, Bentley, Zakora, Jenas, Lennon, Modric, Pavlyuchenko.

Man Utd: Foster, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Fabio, Nani, Gibson, Scholes, Ronaldo, Tevez, Wellbeck.

Anyone care to offer any predictions?

Harry Vents About Fixture List

Harry Redknapp has been venting about Tottenhams upcoming fixture list, where Spurs play six times in 17 days.

The there are a number of Premier League ties, as well as the Carling Cup Final, versus Manchester United. There is also the UEFA cup games versus Shakhtar Donetsk.

This crucial period could decide Tottenhams fate as they loom very close to the relegation zone still.

This may all be good news though for Darren Bent who is likely to feature in this spell and he has been very open about his desire to become first choice, or he will likely leave the club in the summer.

Upcoming Games
Thursday 19th February - Shahktar Donetsk (a)
Monday 23rd February - Hull (a)
Thursday 26th February - Shahktar Donetsk (h)
Sunday 1st March - Man Utd (n)
Wednesday 4th March - Middlesbrough (h)
Saturday 7th March - Sunderland (a)

Tony Adams Sacked By Pompey

Sky Sports is reporting here, that Tony Adams will be sacked by Portsmouth today.

Only last Monday, Peter Storrie, the Portsmouth Chairman had issued a rallying cry that Adams retained the confidence of the board calling on the club to pull together.

The departure of Harry Redknapp has also seen the slashing of the wage bill with some of the clubs biggest earners following Redknapp out of the door.

Alan Curbishley was being linked with the club on Friday, and will probably be the bookies favourite to take over.

Captain Keano

Harry Reknapp has confirmed to Sky News that Robbie Keane will be handed the captains armband for the big match against Arsenal this weekend.

Ledley King is sidelined with injury, so Keane will get a run of games as captain. King will remain club captain for now.

Redknapp says "I said to Robbie that if I brought him back that I would like to make him captain. I think it was important to him, to come back and lead the club.

"They [the squad] are all pleased to have him back, and they know what he can do."

"He is a leader and has the personality to be a captain of Tottenham."

Some Tottenham fans have had mixed reactions to the return of Keane, and those who were not happy will be less so with this announcement.

The derby game may be missing Arsenal new boy Andrei Arshavin as he needs to prove his fitness to manager Arsene Wenger to be included in the big game.

Yet More Tottenham Transfer News

Tottenham have rolled back the clock again. Not content with reuniting Jermain Defoe with his former Tottenham colleagues, Harry has brought back Pascal Chimbonda to the club just months after he left for Sunderland in the summer.

Redknapp's purchases have not ended there with Carlo Cudicini also completing a move to Spurs, providing competition to Heurehlo Gomes. As Gomes is currently injured, Cudicini will get his chance right away, and may become first choice from his first game which will be against Stoke in midweek.

The transfers might not end there for Tottenham. SkySports.com already have asked Harry about his interest in yet another former Tottenham player, Robbie Keane. Keane is struggling to nail down a regular slot at his boyhood favourite club, and seems a little disillusioned. Redknapp said "I wouldn't sit here and say I wouldn't like to have Robbie Keane at my football club, I'd be a liar, but he belongs to Liverpool so it is not an option unfortunately."

Friday Transfer News

Hull have concluded the signing of Jimmy Bullard for £5m on a four and a half year contract.

Villa have signed Emile Heskey for £3.5m from Wigan. Heskey was out of contract in the summer and looked doubtful to stay at Wigan.

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has said that he is no where near close to signing Chelsea's Carlo Cudicini; but did not deny his interest.

Big Sam has re-stated his determination to keep hold of Roque Santa Cruz. He also said that a loan deal for Eidur Gudjohnsen is looking unlikely.

Rafa Benitez has said he is not looking to sign any one before the end of the January window.

Palacios Has Medical At Spurs

Tottenham are poised to sign Wilson Palacios for £14m from Wigan, the player has undergone a medical today.

The addition to Palacios into the Spurs Midfield begs the question who is going to make way. According to SkySports.Com, Tottenham already have 15 registered midfielders, not including Gareth Bale and Ledley King who have are also capable of playing there. Admittedly a number of these are in the young and untried bracket, but Harry Redknapp has a lot of people vying for a spot in midfield now.

I speculated when Tottenham signed Defoe that it could mean Jermaine Jenas would be the odd man out. Since then, Inter have been linked, though Jose has dismissed this as an untruth based on the fact that he picked JJ in his DT Dream Team.

Pennant to Pompey

Liverpool have accepted an offer for Jermaine Pennant, thought to be in the region of £2m. Pennant is no longer in Rafa's first team plans. He almost sealed an move to Real Madrid recently, but it reputidly fell through because of his inflated wage expectations.

I think, that come the end of the season, this could be seen as the best bit of business done in the Transfer Window (certainly thus far). Pompey are securing a player arguably of Champions League Quality for a "relatively" low fee, who will be desperate to play his heart out for his new club. It is the kind of transfer former boss Harry Redknapp would have been drawn to.