Spurs boss suffers wheel/deal fail…

Harry Redknapp, never one to miss an opportunity to mine some glory out of the most desperate of situations, has brushed off Spurs’ 3-0 humping at the Emirates on Saturday by revealing he knew about one of Arsenal’s best performers this season, Thomas Vermaelen, before Arsene Wenger did:

“I was recommended him as a left-back but we were strong in that position. People who recommended him didn’t speak of him as a central defender.”

‘Arry can’t have done too much research - Vermaelen filled in at centre-back for Ajax for over a third of last season, winning eight of the 12 games he played in the role. If the Spurs boss wants to get a more well-rounded view of Europe’s finest footballers, perhaps he should actually start playing Football Manager, rather than just pocketing the coin from shamelessly hawking it.

Italian is the richest manager in British football

In his most recent book, Richard Branson reveals that rich lists are seldom accurate, based as they are on estimations and public domain information. Nevertheless, the good folks at Four Four Two have this week released the British Football Rich List, and there are few surprises at the top. David Beckham tops the players’ list with a supposed £125m fortune, and the wealthiest person in British football is still the QPR owner who isn’t about to be kicked out of the game, Lakshmi Mittal. The Indian steel magnate is said to be sitting on £18.4bn, nearly £1.5bn more than second-placed Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

In the richest manager top ten, noted money fan Harry Redknapp places at number seven with £10m, while second place is held by under-fire Ipswich coach Roy Keane, who apparently amassed the majority of his £27m fortune in his playing days.

The richest gaffer in Britain is also the one who has to take charge of the least amount of games - England manager Fabio Capello is worth £30m due to his utter refusal to pay tax hugely successful career.

[See the richest player list here, the manager list here and the full top 100 list here]

Manager says thing that probably isn’t true

In the weekly column written for him by a Sun journalist, Harry Redknapp never fails to say something contestable, and this week is no exception. While congratulating his former technical director Avram Grant for re-joining the Portsmouth management team, the Tottenham boss expressed both his confidence in his former employers and a charming naivety concerning the relegation betting market:

There is a new owner, a new man to help Paul and a win under their belts. They will not get relegated this season.

If I were a betting man I’d even put 25 pence each-way on that!

Is ‘Arry right to suggest Avram Grant et al can turn things around, or can they look forward to a couple of fixtures against Hull in the fizzy pop league next year? Let us know below. Or don’t. Whatever…

Also appearing on a computer near you…

Martin Palermo once famous for missing penalties. Now famous for very long headers.
[ 101 GG ]

Roy Keane gives BBC interviewer the skunk eye
[ Off the Post ]

If you think Alan Wiley is out of shape, you should see this guy
[ Dirty Tackle ]

Harry Redknapp defends his tax arrangements
[ The Sun ]

Buy the England left-back’s wife’s shoes. This never happened to George Cohen.

Gaffer suddenly favourite as next manager to go

For reasons that we have yet to establish at the time of writing, Harry Redknapp has shot to favourite in the next Premier League manager to go market. He is at 7/4, with Paul Hart languishing behind in the sack race at 3/1.

In the last hour, Paddy Power have stopped taking bets on his departure.

Has there been a fallout? Is it dangerously close to the annual date when Tottenham traditionally sack their manager? Or is this another Ribery/Benitez-style betting scam?

Also appearing on a computer near you…

Manchester Utd photoshoppers win the billboard war
[Off The Post]

…And they may have won the Sky Sports FanZone war too
[WithLeather]

Phil Jagielka was robbed at knifepoint
[The Guardian]

It’s D-Day for Newcastle as The Geordie Messiah attempts to take them to the cleaners
[Betfair Football]

‘Germany’s hottest WAG’ Nives Celzijus has a new photoshoot
[Bild]

‘Arry’s striker dilemma
[Sky Sports News]

Deportivo La Coruna can’t sign Giovani Dos Santos because they didn’t read the rulebook properly
[Goal.com]

‘Arry sends a wave of relief through the White Hart Lane faithful

Sol was unhelpful in the search for Jason Euell’s contact lens

In the weekly column that a Sun journalist writes for him, Harry Redknapp has today tackled the thorny issue of Sol Campbell’s future. The Tottenham boss has made no secret of his passionate admiration for the big centre back, and the rumour mills have been going into overdrive with suggestions that they are destined to work together once again.

Redknapp, however, has quelled the fears of Spurs fans who predicted World War III if Campbell ever returned, by claiming he will never call White Hart Lane home again:

Some people are already claiming I am now going to sign Sol.

Well, let’s nail that one straight away - it ain’t going to happen.

Also appearing on a computer near you…

Before you peruse today’s links, check out the world’s longest basketball shot

The fans’ reaction to Sol Campbell’s Notts County walkout
[Betfair Football]

This week’s Football Drama update
[Interestment]

The top five bizarre Sol Campbell moments
[Off The Post]

Gary Neville’s passion is an example to us all, says Harry Redknapp
[Daily Mail]

Sheikh Mansour is now the sole owner of Manchester City
[MCFC]

Arsenal/Fulham/WestHam/Tottenham/Sunderland/etc target Marouane Chamakh will not be sold in January
[EatSleepSport]