Kenwyne Kicks Tottenham Into Touch
There was something rather refreshing in Kenwyne Jones signing a new four year contract at Sunderland - not least because it meant another slap in the face for Tottenham Hotspur.
Psychologically, with the Black Cats struggling at the wrong end of the table again and with Roy Keane fading into memory, the prospect of losing Jones at this stage of the season would have been unthinkable.
It would have sent out completely the wrong message to players and supporters alike and would have meant people would always perceive Sunderland as also-rans, a club with a big following but no ambition to match.
But his decision to not only stay, but also sign a new long term contract is a timely tonic and will hopefully inject some fresh impetus into a flagging campaign. Jones believes Sunderland are still capable of competing in the top half of the table so why shouldn't the rest of us?
The credit crunch may mean the Black Cats are having to downsize a little financially, but there is still a mission statement in place which intends to build on the radical work done by Keane during his two years at the helm.
The famous Irishman may have stomped off in a huff, but that doesn't mean the ambition to turn the club into a major force in the English football has gone with him.
It also sent a clear message to Spurs who have managed to upset more than a few people with their approach in the transfer market this month. Spurs have always fancied themselves a little too much for me and their behaviour has revealed an arrogance normally reserved for clubs who actually have something to back it up with.
Look boys, just because you've won the Carling Cup doesn't mean you're God's gift to football. For the last two or three years all the talk in London has been about Spurs challenging for the Champions League, a feat they have managed - but still failed to qualify - just once in the last 15 years, and time and time again they flatter to deceive.
Having appointed media darling Harry Redknapp in the autumn, Tottenham's swagger went into overdrive, but they have quickly found out they are not the irresistible attraction they think they are in the transfer market.
Middlesbrough were able to resist their public pursuit of Stewart Downing and now Sunderland have shoved a palm into their face by refusing to allow them to unsettle Jones.
All a little rich when you think back to the summer and the whining and whingeing which came out of White Hart Lane when a Dimitar Berbatov headed off to Manchester United! People in glass houses and all that...
Older/Newer
« Same Peas Different Pod | Newcastle United Have Reached Boiling Point »
0 TrackBacks
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: Kenwyne Kicks Tottenham Into Touch.
TrackBack URL for this entry: http://www.lukewhostalking.co.uk/cgi-bin/mt421/mt-tb.cgi/107560
5 Comments
Blog Authors
Luke Edwards - is Chief Sports Writer of The Journal and uses his blog to give a unique and entertaining insight into events at Newcastle United and Sunderland.
R u a gooner? Sounds like it NOB!
No Michael I'm not a Gooner, although it would be typical of a self-centred Spurs fan like you to assume anyone who dislikes the conduct of their football club is automatically an Arsenal fan! I'm a Leyton Orient fan, a club you have strong ties with. Doesn't mean I can't criticise your attitude so stop crying and try to be a little more constructive in your arguments. Good luck with that Champions League push by the way!
Well said Luke, absolutely no need for that kind of abuse. Spurs attitude to the transfer market is a disgrace, although its no coincidence that its a lot worse now that harry has arrived. He was the same at Portsmouth !
Michael Themeliotis, grow up !
Michael, I'm a Mag (that means I support Newcastle - thought I had better explain that because I know it's not common terminology south of Durham. I know that to be true because I live in Bristol now).
Because I'm a Mag, it's safe to assume two things about me:
1. I don't like Sunderland very much.
2. I don't really care one way or the other about any of the London clubs, including Spurs.
So, in what I consider a very objective tone, I would like to say this ...
Well done Luke, another great piece which sums up my own increasing contempt for a club that is arrogant without good reason (just to be clear, that's Spurs I mean there, Michael).
Well done Jones for behaving with dignity and showing loyalty to the club that gave him a chance. A rare thing in today's game. Sunderland are lucky to have him.
Oh, an' 'Arry, sorry geyza, you just ain't able to "buy" everyone ... knaa what aah mean?
You chose the perfect word, Luke - 'refreshing'. That it was. Tottenham and Manchester City have really been grinding on me this month. They both have this unwarranted sense of high stature which is really a bit odd given they're in the same relegation battle as Newcastle and the other bottom twelve. Now, there's nothing wrong with a bit of ambition - just look at Hull signing Jimmy Bullard and making an effort for John Arne Riise, but it's the manner in which these clubs have set about it that's the difference. The first you knew of Hull's interest in Bullard was when Fulham gave him permission to go for his medical and financial talks, and the first you knew about their attempt to get Riise was when it was dead and buried.
Tottenham and Manchester City on the other hand, have no problem at all in using these unsettling, name-dropping tactics in the media designed to create an opportunity to nab a player where none previously existed.
I had no sympathy whatsoever for either of them when Spurs failed to dislodge Jones and City failed to entice Kaka. Both players have done a lot to rebuild the ever-decreasing image of the professional footballer, and it's to their credit. (That said, I hope Jones has a dodgy curry on Saturday night.)
P.S. None of that's to say Newcastle are angels in their transfer dealings though. No, we prefer to talk about players we've "nearly" or "almost" signed...Yep, that's one belting team we almost nearly had!