What do Wenger, Allardyce and Cotterill all have in common with each other?

I was driving back from White Hart Lane on Saturday and there was the usual discussion on the events of the day and slowly winning and losing managers gave their assessment on the evnts of the day. Mick McCarthy felt Wolves threw the points away at Spurs (not hard to disagree with him there). But what struck me was the amount of complaining about the referees.

I am hardly the type of person who doesn't complain about referees but then again I am not a football manager. Coterill complained about how good Portsmouth were and the decision that went against them, Allardyce, well he complained about everything, and Wenger complained by not commenting.

Now I was not happy about the referees performance at White Hart Lane, I thought Wolves were lucky to have finished with ten men after some very rough treatment on Bale, but i didn't hear Redknapp complaining.

It certainly takes the gloss off of a win when you hear the opposing manger complaining about this decision and that and frankly it is disrespectful. These referees good or bad have a difficult job to do and with all the diving and time wasting that goes on coupled with the jeering from the crowd every time they get a decision against them, it makes it impossible to do their jobs and keep everyone happy.

I don't know if the FA can do anything to better protect the integrity of referees but I hope this will be looked into sooner rather than later.

And so the transfer window closes - and I am relieved!

So the end of another transfer window. I am pleased disappointed and non plussed all at the same time. The outgoings players were irrelevant with the biggest name going being Taraabt. I was disappointed that he could match his big head with some great performances with us. I am sure he will eventually be successful, but I ma not sure at what level. I fully expect to see him in the Premier League with QPR next season so no doubt will score against us.

Dervitte also left us without making any impact. The only game I remember seeing him in was the Wembley Cup last season against Celtic and based on that performance, he wont be missed.

Our other departures were Jimmy Walker, Sam Cox and Lee Butcher, I wish them all well.

I will be keeping an eye on our players that have gone out on loan. John Obika, Ryan Mason, Andros Townsend, John Bostock, Dean Parrett, David Button and Oscar Jansen.

There are a number of players I was surprised didn't leave, I put this down to in their first place injuries and the second lack of finance. Players such as Keane, Jenas, O'Hara and Bentley whom I thought would be surplus to requirements. I am not sure we are as good as we could be up front but I have no issue with the rest of the squad.

I am very excited by the quality of players coming in.

Van Der Vaart

He must be one of our best signings in recent years. An attacking midfielder with an eye for a pass. he will give us that something special we could have done with against Wigan. Imagine having Bale, Modric, Van Der Vaart and Lennon in the same side, a prospect I find mouth watering.

 William Gallas

Ok lets forget who he has played for, he comes with a bagful of experience and is a class defender. he will a more than adequate support with King, Dawson and Bassong. Hopefully this will mean no more Corluka in central defence.

Stipe Pletikosa

Another good signing, he comes to us on a season long loan from Spartak Moscow and will be the fourth Croatian at Spurs. he will provide cover for Gomes and no doubt will push Gomes all the way for a first team place.

Sandro

A young Brazilian midfielder who may take some time to adjust to live in and football in Engalnd. He has been a professional for just two years and has just broken through to the Brazilian National team. I am excited by the prospect of this energetic deep lying midfielder and hopefully challenging Huddlestone and Palacios for a first team place.

Overall we have brought in some quality into our squad which is slightly bigger than last season. I would have liked us to sign a new striker but maybe something may happen in January. I expect some more loan departures with players such as Naughton, Walker and Rose probably surplus at the moment but I hope will all have big futures at Spurs.  I haven't seen our twenty five man squad I assume we have 26 who are over 21 so Woodgate surely will be the one to miss out.

All in all an unnatural amount of stability for Spurs this year. I am relieved.