There are some good games on tap this weekend. The biggest one is probably the Arsenal/Chelsea match Sunday afternoon. Both squads have been playing well and winning. Arsenal is eight points back from first place Chelsea, but is definitely capable of knocking off the leaders. On Saturday, fourth place Tottenham plays away to fifth place Aston Villa in a game that could have major top four implications. And of course, there’s the Merseyside derby between Liverpool and Everton, which is always a hard fought match.

Saturday, November 28
Blackburn vs. Stoke – 8:30 p.m. ET/Setanta (Delayed)
Fulham vs. Bolton – 5 p.m. ET/Setanta (Delayed)
Manchester City vs. Hull – 9:55 a.m. ET/Setanta (Live)
Portsmouth vs. Manchester United – 9:45 a.m. ET/ESPN2 (Live)
West Ham vs. Burnley – 10 a.m. ET/Fox Soccer (Live)
Wigan vs. Sunderland – 7 p.m. ET/Fox Soccer (Delayed)
Aston Villa vs. Tottenham – 12:30 p.m. ET/Fox Soccer (Live)

Sunday, November 29
Wolves vs. Birmingham – 7 p.m. ET/Fox Soccer (Delayed)
Everton vs. Liverpool – 8:25 a.m. ET/Setanta (Live)
Arsenal vs. Chelsea – 11 a.m. ET/Fox Soccer (Live)

Wigan Athletic have announced that the clubs players will personally refund the supporters who bought tickets from the DW Stadium ticket office for the game which was played against Spurs at the weekend .

Athletic’s sensational 9-1 loss caused outrage from the fans.’ The only goal scored by Wigan was by Austrian defender, Paul Scharner, in the 57th minute. At half time, the score was 1-0 but from the offset of the second half, it was clear that Wigan were in trouble with Spurs scoring goal after goal.

Mario Melchiot spoke on behalf of all of the players, saying, ‘We feel that as a group of players we badly let down our supporters, and this is a gesture we HAVE TO make and pay them back for their tremendous loyalty.’ He went on to tell of how embarrassed the team were as professionals and that it was below their standards.

Questions have also been raised over the safety of Wigan boss Roberto Martinez’s job but club owner Dave Whelan has assured fans his job is safe. He said on the situation, ‘He is Wigan’s manager and I have complete faith in him and I know the supporters have. I am absolutely 100% behind Roberto, he’s a great manager and he will pull this team around’.

Supporters who bought tickets for the game can claim their refund by either contacting the ticket office in person or by phoning 0871 66 33 552. Refunds will then be posted to the supporter’s home address within 14 days.

The tickets must have been bought from the ticket office and refunds must be claimed before or on Friday 4th December.

Sources:
http://www.wiganlatics.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10429~1883581,00.html
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Wigan-Players-To-Personally-Refund-Every-Fans-Who-Bought-A-Ticket-After-9-1-Defeat-At-Tottenham/Article/200911415464295?lpos=UK_News_Second_Strange_News__Article_Teaser_Region__1&lid=ARTICLE_15464295_Wigan_Players_To_Personally_Refund_Every_Fans_Who_Bought_A_Ticket_After_9-1_Defeat_At_Tottenham
http://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2009/11/22/england/premier-league/tottenham-hotspur-football-club/wigan-athletic-football-club/781286/

Posted on WEP website in response to attack on Councillor Brierley for not agreeing to donate “Brighter Borough” funding to British Legion.

It is wrong to deny appropriate funding to our armed forces.
It is wrong to underfund those organisations and facilities that support British soldier’s, sailors and aircrew, who have been damaged in our name.
It is wrong that requests for aid need to be made.
I buy my poppy with a feeling of anger that my taxes are being used to fund unnecessary foreign adventures, unnecessary political jaunts such as G20 soiree’s (white truffle’s at £50,000/kg served at recent troughing), unnecessary foreign aid, unnecessary renaming of Ministries etc. etc.
This is a national disgrace.
At a local level, we have Lord Smith arranging that Wigan mortgages its future to a £217 million civic centre, whilst allowing a claim to be made against individual Councillors’ brighter Borough funding.
Ther name of the fund gives away its purpose. It’s a token sum, allocated to Councillors to help “brighten” their own ward. It’s the only money, where non-New-Labour Councillors have any say in how it’s spent. Each Councillor has control over about £5,000.
How far can that go?
A pelican crossing costs about £30,000.
If I were a Councillor, I would need to think very hard about the best use of such a small sum. I certainly wouldn’t be committing it to something that should be getting properly funded, at a national level, no matter how worthy it might be.
I’ll be standing for CAP in Abram ward.
That’s Abram, Platt Bridge, Bamfurlong, Bickershaw and Lower Ince. Even the cost of a Xmas tree for each of those neighbourhoods would be almost prohibitive.
Check out the Xmas lights at Platt Bridge; all four of them, outside the Labour club (you’ll need to look hard)

Tottenham’s staggering 9-1 win over Wigan at the weekend saw a number of records either broken or equalled. As well as being Spurs’ biggest top-flight win, Sunday’s one-sided clash at White Hart Lane also saw Harry Redknapp’s side become the second Barclays Premier League team to hit nine in one match. Jermain Defoe matched Andy Cole and Alan Shearer’s record of five individual goals in one Premier League fixture, while Wigan’s Paul Scharner got in on the act by claiming the ‘Thierry Henry slam-dunk of the week award’ as he claimed the Latics’ solitary goal.

Unsurprisingly, Defoe’s five-star performance helped him to earn the highest Actim Index score of the season, a sensational 87 points. The England striker’s mammoth score eclipsed that of Tottenham team-mate Robbie Keane, who held the previous highest total of 80 after scoring four against Burnley. Another Spurs star, Aaron Lennon, picked up 60 points this week to move back into the Team of the Season.

Despite the efforts of Wigan, Spurs do not have the highest number of players in the Team of the Week. That honour goes to London rivals Chelsea, who strolled to a 4-0 victory over struggling Wolves at Stamford Bridge. French winger Florent Malouda grabbed the Blues’ opening goal and picked up a healthy 39 points, while fellow goalscorers Michael Essien and Joe Cole also eclipsed the 30-point mark to book their place among the week’s top scorers.

Stoke’s televised victory over bottom club Portsmouth could politely be described as one for the purists. However, although entertainment was in short supply in a dire clash at the Britannia Stadium, the Potters can claim two of the week’s 20 highest scorers. Jamaica forward Ricardo Fuller grabbed the only goal of the game with 16 minutes remaining and earned 32 points, while Dean Whitehead claimed 26 points for his efforts in midfield. Stoke’s highest-scoring player remains highly-rated defender Ryan Shawcross. The giant 22-year-old, who captained the club for the first time at the weekend in the absence of the suspended Abdoulaye Faye, is in 44th position overall with 159 points.

Didier Drogba may not have featured for Chelsea this weekend due to injury, but the Ivory Coast striker has still moved to the top of the overall Actim standings after Arsenal skipper Cesc Fabregas endured a torrid time in his side’s clash with Sunderland. Fabregas led Drogba by two points ahead of the Gunners’ trip to the Stadium of Light and was expected to extend his lead at the Actim summit. However, the Spaniard went on to record a miserable score of -4 as Arsene Wenger’s side slumped to a 1-0 defeat, putting Drogba back on top. Arsenal forward Robin van Persie was another to miss the latest round of Premier League fixtures through injury and he has slipped from third to fifth in the overall standings as a result.

Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher has come in for significant praise in recent months, with many observers highlighting his importance to Sir Alex Ferguson’s side. And the 25-year-old Scot made another fine contribution as United eased to a 3-0 victory over Everton, opening the scoring with a sublime half-volley. Fletcher’s 29-point total sees him leap from 79th to 45th in the overall standings, making him United’s fourth highest-scoring player of the season.

Birmingham goalkeeper Joe Hart insists he still believes he can break into England’s squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. And the 22-year-old stopper, on loan at St Andrews from Manchester City, did his chances no harm with a fine performance in Birmingham’s 1-0 win over Fulham at the weekend. Hart picked up 21 points for his efforts – the highest score by a goalkeeper this week – and will hope to maintain his good form as the season progresses.

View the latest Actim Index >

In football, the saying, to the winner go the spoils couldn’t be more true. The minute a footballer scores a few goals, he is immediately put in the same league as the greats of the game. And God forbid, if he makes a mistake in the heat of the moment, all his past greatness is forgotten and he is immediately an overrated talentless footballer. The headlines in the past week have been dominated by two individual footballers, Thierry Henry and Jermaine Defoe. Thierry Henry had his moment and could have become a hero cherished by millions (minus the French) for eternity or he could have fallen from grace for millions. Unfortunately for Henry, in the heat of the moment he didn’t think selfishly enough and now he is being termed a cheat, a liar, a shame, a no-gooder, an unethical person and a villain of the worst kind, an overrated footballer who was never really good enough. It seems everyone is trying hard to forget the magic of Arsenal’s all-time leading goal scorer with 226 goals in all competitions, the two time winner of PFA Players’ Player of the Year and three time winner of the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year - Theirry Henry. Ironic, how almost all football journalists now seem to want to remember Henry only by the recent mistake that he made.

As is true of life, when a hero falls, a replacement is quickly sought. Jermaine Defoe’s 5 goals in the second half of the, 9-1 thriller between Tottenham Hotspur and Wigan Athletic couldn’t have come at a better time. Defoe’s horrible stamp on Aaron Mokoena in his return match against his old employers at Portsmouth which earned him a three match ban has been long forgotten and he is enjoying his sudden rise from a villain who manager Harry Rednapp had been absolutely livid with for the misdemeanor to a hero who manager Harry Rednapp is now busy hailing as the “best finisher” in the English game. His captain for the day, Jonathan Woodgate was even more generous with his praise saying, “I think he’s the sharpest striker not only in the Premier League but probably in the world. He’s that sharp he simply doesn’t miss, in training or in matches.”

The winner takes it all and I can’t begin to imagine what praise would have been directed the strikers way had he got a Premier League record sixth goal of the afternoon. On the other hand, Wigan Athletic players who suffered their worst result  in club’s 31-year league history, making them the first English Premier League team to concede nine goals in a single match since Ipswich Town in 1995 have decided to refund the money to supporters who travelled to White Hart Lane on Sunday (November 22) to watch their team get so completely thrashed in the humiliating 9-1 loss. Jermaine Defoe’s 5 goals were added to by goals from Peter Crouch, Aaron Lennon, Niko Kranjcar and a  painful Chris Kirkland own goal.

Wigan Athletic Captain Mario Melchiot said the players had “badly let down” their travelling supporter and will therefore provide a full refund of the match ticket price. ”This is a gesture we have to make and pay them back for their tremendous loyalty,” the Latics captain added.

Also, possibly related to the shameful result, Wigan Athletic today postponed the planned official opening of their new club store in the town. A spokesperson said: “The club apologises for any inconvenience caused to its supporters but stresses that the event will go ahead in the very near future, as soon as a new date can be arranged.” In the beautiful game, the winner is entitled to it all and then some, while the loser waits for his time to shine, good thing that it doesn’t take much to be a winner, a couple of goals can get you there.

La batosta era tale che i giocatori del Wigan, reduci dallo storico 9-1 subito ieri dal Tottenham in Premier League, hanno deciso di risarcire il costo del biglietto ai tifosi che hanno seguito la squadra in trasferta. Lo ha annunciato il club sul suo sito.

‘’Il gruppo è consapevole di aver maledettamente deluso i suoi supporter. Dobbiamo questo alla loro straordinaria lealtà’’, ha commentato il capitano, Mario Melchiot.

Dopo questa sconfitta il Wigan è la formazione del massimo campionato inglese che ha subito i ko più pesanti sia in casa (5-0 contro il Manchester United ad agosto), sia in trasferta.

Naturalmente ha la peggior difesa (31 reti incassate) ed occupa la 15/a posizione, con 3 punti sulla zona retrocessione.

Fonte: http://ilgiorno.ilsole24ore.com

Now this is i like and will writing to watchdog to get my own compensation for bad football games i have seen – or might just pop up to Luton and see Esther Rantzen!

Now if this was the USA you know there will be whole industries popping up for other sports fans to claim money for poor performances they have had to endure.

Some of the claims I think that would appear include:

Eye Torture, for just poor play on the pitch.

Repetitive Stress Injuries – as a Boro fan i know this one as the pain never seems to go away, no matter what we do.

TWOCing – touching without due care. Henry watch out!

Any more suggestions?

La goleada del Tottenham al Wigan (9-1) y los cinco goles de Jermain Defoe sirven para recuperar algunas de marcas históricas en el fútbol inglés

El Tottenham humilló al Wigan en White Hart Lane en la que ya es una de las mayores goleadas en la historia de la Premier League. Entre todos los goleadores, Peter Crouch, Aaron Lennon, Niko Kranjcar y Jermain Defoe, este último pasará a la historia con sus cinco tantos, incluido un hat-trick en siete minutos.

El delantero de los ‘Spurs’ ha sido el jugador que más se ha acercado al histórico registro de Robbie Fowler que en 1994, con la camiseta del Liverpool, le marcó tres goles al Arsenal en cuatro minutos y 33 segundos. El hat-trick  más rápido de la historia de la Premier League. El pasado mes de agosto de 2008, Gabriel Agbonlahor se acercó a la marca del delantero ‘Red’, con tres goles al Manchester City en ocho minutos.

Antes de la fundación de la Premier, en la antigua First Division, Nigel Clough, el hijo del mítico Brian Clough, marcó con el Nottingham Forest tres goles al Crystal Palace, en cuatro minutos, en la temporada 8t-89. Por su parte,  James Hayter, del Bournemouth, anotó el ‘hat-trick’más rápido en la Football League en febrero de 2004. Entrando como suplente en el minuto 84 le marcó tres goles al Wrexham en 140 segundos. Este mismo año. Jordan Rhodes (Huddersfield) fue más allá y logró tres goles de cabeza ante el Exeter en ocho minutos.

Sin embargo, el ‘hat-trick’ documentado más rápido de la historia del fútbol fue obra de Tommy Ross, que en 1964 marcó tres goles en 90 segundos al Naim County.

Al igual que Jermain Defoe, dos jugadores más han logrado marcar cinco goles en un partido de la Premier League. Andy Cole lo hizo con el Manchester United ante el Ipswich Town en 1995 y Alan Shearer con el Newcastle ante el Sheffield Wednesday en 1999. Otro histórico, del United, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, logró cuatro entrando desde el banquillo en 1999 ante el Nottingham Forest.

Defoe se convirtió, además, en el cuarto jugador del Tottenham en marcar cinco goles en un partido, y el tercero en lograrlo en Liga. Antes lo hicieron Ted Harper, en 1930 ante el Reading, en un encuentro de Segunda División, Alf Stokes, en 1957 contra el Birmingham City y Les Allen en 1960 ante Crewe Alexandra en la FA Cup.

Ya he hablado antes de lo importante que es fidelizar y cuidar a nuestros clientes, los clientes de un club de futbol son sus aficionados y el Wigan sabe lo importante que es cuidarlos.

Via: Marca

After Wigan’s dismal showing on Sunday, getting beaten 9-1 by Spurs, the Wigan players are set to refund their supporters who made the trip to London to cheer them on!

Read the story here.

"Wigan" patyrė skaudžią nesėkmę Londone.

“Wigan” komanda itin nesėkmingai sužaidė praeito sekmadienio “Premier” lygos rungtynes – išvykoje net 1:9 nusileido Londono “Tottenham” komandai.

Pasitarę ekipos žaidėjai nusprendė pasielgti garbingai – lydėjusiems fanams kompensuoti visas kelionės išlaidas.

Gynėjas Mario Melchiotas teigė: “Žinoma, toks žaidimas labai nuvylė mūsų gerbėjus ir jautėme, kad kažkaip turime atsilyginti jiems už ištikimybę.”

O time do Wigan irá reembolsar seus torcedores que presenciaram o humilhante 9×1 sofrido pela equipe.

Os próprios jogadores admitiram que foi vergonhosa a derrota para o Tottenham.

O reembolso sairá do salário de cada jogador.

O que aconteceria se o Palmeiras fosse pagar cada humilhação que sofreu no campeonato?

Se seu torcedor recebesse parte do salário dos brigões Mauricio e Obina?

Se tivesse o dinheiro devolvido na eliminação contra o ASA de Arapiraca?

Se o Galo fosse devolver o valor do ingresso do 65 mil apaixonados que só viram o time apanhar no Mineirão?

Se um pedaço do salário de Celso Roth fosse para o atleticano?

E por ai vai…

Imagina se a moda pega no Brasil.

Wigan’s players are to personally refund Latics fans who bought tickets at the DW Stadium for the 9-1 hammering at Tottenham…. From BBC News. Full story

This site may contain information about: the history of soccer. For a different topic see potato recipes. The blog is also related to: premier league soccer.

1. Amazing to think that you can score five goals in a game and there can still be a debate over whether you were man of the match. Aaron Lennon’s performance against Wigan ensured that Defoe didn’t come away with all the plaudits, his sparkling play from the right playing a big part in at least half the goals.

Defoe meanwhile became just the third player to score five in a game in the Premier League era and notched the second fastest hat trick after Robbie Fowler’s four and a half minute wonder against Arsenal many years ago. I’ve mentioned in recent weeks that he needed to watch his temper and just concentrate on his football, and with performances like that there’s no chance of him not going to South Africa. Lennon too did his case no harm, and on current form is far and away the best option when it comes to tricky small winger.

Spurs’ goal difference enjoyed a big boost in terms of chasing Arsenal, while they are beginning to take advantage of Man City, Liverpool and Aston Villa’s inconsistency to open a little gap over those three. They face one of their rivals next week in Aston Villa but should have nothing to fear the way they are playing.

As for Wigan the best you can say is that it’s just one game. These sorts of results can have a lasting effect, especially if you go behind in a game. It will be up to Roberto Martinez to ensure it remains a one off.

High five, we're going to South Africa!

2. Would Phil Brown be fearing for his job if Jimmy Bullard hadn’t got injured in his first game after signing? His performances in the last couple of games suggest that may have been the case. A win over Stoke and a fightback from two goals down to draw against West Ham possibly indicates an improvement in fortune for the men at the KC. Even Tango Man himself seems to be less in the spotlight than usual.

Bullard may have dodgy knees but he has an enthusiasm for the game that few players can match and his energy and creative play have got Hull scoring some goals again. They have a tough run coming up with three well organised teams in Everton, Man City and Aston Villa. Ok maybe not Man City but still! I’m pretty sure Geovanni isn’t injured and he appears to have lost his place to Bullard but I would be interested to see them both in the same team. Part of Hull’s success last year was to be brave, so maybe playing both together would have the same effect this year.

3. Before Arsenal get completely written off for losing against Sunderland (who have drawn with Man Utd and beaten Liverpool), let’s not forget that the key game is next week against Chelsea. Defeat would leave an 11 point gap; a win would leave it at just five with a game in hand. This defeat does render next weekend rather important if a title challenged is to be maintained. The lack of focal point without van Persie (and Bendtner) was a concern but it was in midfield where Sunderland won, with Cana stopping Fabregas and his teammates from creating many chances.

In addition to this, a set play was once again Arsenal’s outdoing at the back with Darren Bent reacting quickest after the initial ball had not been dealt with (déjà vu anyone?) While such defensive frailties are a long-term malaise, Arsene Wenger must ensure that his patched up squad is mentally right for the Chelsea game. Win it and two easier home games against Bolton and Stoke follow and momentum can be formed. Lose it and another frustrating season could be on the cards.

Pin the placenta on the van Persie.

4. They were impressive but it was only Wolves at home. Chelsea’s next two tests are the altogether tougher visits to the Emirates and Eastlands. Let’s see how the keenly the absences of Lampard and Drogba are felt then.

5. Liverpool and Man City played out a draw which leaves neither going anywhere fast. Man City have now drawn six on the spin which has stagnated them after a promising start. Just one win in eight games fro Mark Hughes’ side. A Hull side winless away from the KC provides the best possible opportunity to end that run next weekend.

Liverpool have one win in six but their habit of winning games they don’t lose (Saturday was just their second draw) means they’re still in a good position. The pretenders to the top four ideally want a gap going into the spring as if Gerrard and Torres are fit for the run in, I know who I’d back to get the last Champions League spot.

6. David Dunn is scored his fourth goal in six games and is playing the best football of his career. Someone left a comment asking what chance an England call for the Blackburn man. While I think he’s bit of a luxury and probably not quite international quality, there’s no doubting there are few more in form midfielders playing at the moment.

Quite good these days.

T.

In case you missed it, yesterday Wigan got picked up and broken over Tottenham’s collective knee. Wigan’s not had a great season, but it’s not been terrible, either; still, any time you lose to another team 9-1, fans start thinking things like “Why the hell did I travel to see these bastards play?”

In order to mitigate those kinds of feelings, Mario Melchiot has announced that the Wigan players plan on at least taking the financial sting out of the loss.

In an announcement on Wigan’s website, Melchiot made the following statement:

“We feel that as a group of players we badly let down our supporters yesterday, and this is a gesture we HAVE TO make and pay them back for their tremendous loyalty.

“We are professionals, we will take it on the chin and move on but it’s important that we do not take our supporters for granted.”

As someone who seems to make a history of supporting underachieving/embarassing teams, I think that’s pretty cool. Not as cool as, you know, playing better against Sunderland on Saturday…but cool enough to keep me from padlocking the practice facility to force them to train longer.

Still, this sets a dangerous precedent for other Premier League clubs; how long before Hull City fans start expecting this same treatment?

I thought I underestimated how sick I was on Sunday and that my eyes were playing tricks on me when I saw the score of the Tottenham/Wigan match in the bus on my way to camp this morning.

“9-1?! No way! Holy Shit!”

I want to be part of the crowd.
Anfield. Emirates. Wimbledon. British Grand Prix.
Next year. Can’t wait. Hell yeah.

What you missed while scientists were finding a new type of predator coral that can eat jellyfish…

• David Beckham’s LA Galaxy lost the MLS Cup on penalties to Real Salt Lake last night, but Beckham is still planning on coming back after his AC Milan move, possibly with an eye towards one day owning an MLS franchise. Beckham Beckham Beckham Beckham.
• Jermain Defoe scored five goals in Tottenham’s 9-1 demolition of Wigan.
• Barcelona drew 1-1 with Athletic Bilbao Saturday, dropping them behind Real Madrid on the table; even worse, Lionel Messi went down with a thigh tear that will likely leave him out of the Super Classico on Saturday.
• Gaël Kakuta, the controversial Chelsea youth prospect, made his debut against Wolves.
• Liverpool will have to beat Debrecini VSC without Fernando Torres and Ryan Babel; the way things are going lately, look for a 2-2 draw in Hungary tomorrow.
• Carlos Vela’s potential has convinced Arsene Wenger to stop trying to sign Marouane Chamakh.
• Thierry Henry considered quitting after his controversial double dribble against Ireland.
• Philipp Lahm says that Bayern Munich is “sick” and “lame”. No word on whether they’re also “bogus” and “heinous”.
• Switzerland’s FC Gossau and FC Thun have each banned players over their roles in a match fixing scandal.
• Palermo have sacked Walter Zenga for extending the club’s winless run to four games, knocking all the pieces over.
• Rubin Kazan’s scoreless draw with Zenit St. Petersburg saw them clinch their second consecutive Russian Premier League title.
• Gary Neville has hit out against “mollycoddled” players who collect paychecks but never seem to actually play rely on their agents to do everything for them.

Tottenham: 9 – 1 : Wigan

Tottenham Hotspur, dün yapılan karşılaşmada lig sonuncusu Wigan Athletic‘i 9-1′lik farklı bir skorla geçti. 10 golün 9′u ikinci yarıda oldu. 9 golden 5′ini tam 5‘ini Defoe attı.. Başlık umarım anlaşılmıştır. Defolu mal vardır ya, bu Wigan da defolu takım…  Defoe, bir gole daha imza atsa double-hattrick yapacaktı. Bizim EPL hastası insanlarımız “9 da yese, bu takım EPL’de oynamakta” diyordur mutlaka. Ayıptır ya, 9-1. Hazırlık maçı değil ki, lig maçı.

LONDON, Nov 22, 2009 (AFP) – Jermain Defoe scored five goals as Tottenham Hotspur thrashed Wigan Athletic 9-1 at White Hart Lane here on Sunday, a record victory for the hosts in the top-flight.

Spurs were only 1-0 up at the break, thanks to a goal by Peter Crouch before fellow England striker Defoe ran riot after half-time with Aaron Lennon, an own-goal by Chris Kirkland and Niko Kranjcar’s 90th minute effort adding to the North London club’s tally.

Although Defoe seemed certain to grab the headlines for his five goal return, Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp said Lennon had made a key contribution to this thumping win.

Tottenham Hotspurs’ Jermain Defoe (C) shoots past Wigan Athletic’s Titus Bramble (L) during the Premiership match at White Hart Lane in London on November 22, 2009. Tottenham won the game 9-1 with Jermain Defoe scoring five second-half goals (AFP photo)

“I thought we started really bright, we had 25 minutes where we really got off after them in the first half before they came back into it,” Redknapp told Sky Sports.

“We came in at half-time and said we had to get back to how we started, pressing them all over the park, and we decided to work them and made the opportunities and took them.

“Their keeper (Chris Kirkland) made some great saves as well.

“Lennon is a fantastic talent, anybody would have had a hard day with him in that sort of form. He deserved that goal at the end.”

Speaking about Defoe, Redknapp added: “For Jermain to get five goals was an outstanding performance.

“Yesterday (Saturday) in training he looked so sharp and I felt if he could carry that into the game he would be a real handful.

“You don’t get too many nines in the Premier League, it’s a bad day for Roberto Martinez but he’ll come back even stronger.”

Wigan manager Martinez added: “We finished the first half very strongly and looked like a team who were going to dictate things.

“But we have ourselves to blame for the goals we conceded and after that you are climbing a mountain.”

Tottenham’s haul was all the more impressive as Redknapp decided to rest striker Robbie Keane after the Republic of Ireland international’s involvement in the controversial midweek World Cup playoff loss to France.

Wigan could have been forgiven for agreeing to put this match back by 24 hours following the international break as their defence took a pummelling.

Spurs went ahead in the ninth minute when Crouch headed home a cross from Lennon.

Kirkland then had to be alert to deny both Lennon and former Wigan favourite Wilson Palacios.

Defoe, who hit the crossbar before half-time, led a rout in the second half with a hat-trick in seven minutes.

From Lennon’s cross, he got in front of Titus Bramble to shoot into the roof of the net before he slotted home at the far post after the Wigan defence failed to cut out Palacios’s centre.

Paul Scharner then pulled one back for Wigan although the Austrian midfielder clearly used his hand to control the ball before shooting past Heurelho Gomes.

Tottenham protested to referee Peter Walton but barely a minute later Defoe had his hat-trick as Spurs’ three-goal lead was restored when he volleyed in Lennon’s cross.

Lennon himself added a fifth after Crouch did well to find the winger in a congested penalty area.

Defoe grabbed his fourth 21 minutes from time by scoring off the post after latching on to Vedran Corluka’s through ball and had a fifth late on when he shot through Kirkland’s legs.

David Bentley’s free-kick then appeared to hit both the bar and Kirkland before going in and, in the closing seconds, Kranjcar’s shot went in off the woodwork.

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So, the mighty Spurs took on Wigan at The Lane yesterday…

Highlights here.

Not too shabby eh?

COYS!

El Tottenham se recrea ante el Wigan y ya es cuarto con 25 puntos.

Tottenham 9-1 Wigan

En la liga española hay que destacar los partidos de ayer, entre ellos el de Osasuna. Varios residentes de Belagua Fase II asistieron al Reyno de Navarra para ver ganar al Valencia que sigue luchando por los puestos altos de la tabla.

Osasuna 1-3 Valencia

Finally, it happened ‘Jedward’ were kicked off The X Factor. Which means now all the other mildly talented people will get some attention for a while. I think this means there’s only one show left now of the current series, so that’s good news. Apart from ITV who (after I’m a Celebrity… finishes) will go back to having absolutely no programs anyone wants to watch.

Talking of I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Some Media Spotlight, I have no idea what is going on in there. Though if memory serves me, I think they are going to start voting people off soon. So that’s interesting…right? RIGHT?! [Additional Content!] I woke up this morning to see that Katie Price, or Jordon, has quit the show. Apparently the viewers had been continuously voting her to do the ‘bushtucker trails’ which is hilarious. Katie said she doesn’t know if the public “love me or hate me, I don’t know”. Let me give you a clue, we don’t love you.

Children in Need was a success as usual this year, raising £20,309,747 for charity. It’s actually less than last years raised which puts a stop to it beating previous years records like it has been for so long now. I didn’t watch any of the show, mainly because it looked so awful I decided to go to the pub instead. Which I think we can all agree was a better use of my time.

Have you heard about the Tottenham – Wigan match from yesterday? Spurs beat Wigan 9-1, with Jermain Defoe scoring 5! I’m changing my mind about Defoe with his recent performances. Ask me a few years ago if he should be in the England squad and I’d laugh myself to death at the suggestion. Now, I’ve completely changed my mind. Not only should he be in the squad, he probably should be starting as well.

I never thought I would ever get to see a real life football game played as if it were a FIFA10 game.

While FIFA has shown so much improvements since it started, the “real life decision making” factor isn’t there and sometimes the computers can be read so easily, and at the same time, can be so easily exploited.

Oh by the way, that’s how Wigan athletic played tonight. They were humiliated by Tottenham. With a 9-1 scoreline, I wouldn’t want to be in the locker room after the game. But what was even more amazing was the fact that 8 goals were scored after half time, 3 goals in the final 5 minutes and 5 goals during a certain stretch in the match.

I personally think this is a statement game for Tottenham. They have very very good players with so much talent and I believe that they will crack into the top 4 this season. Aston Villa will go at them for that elusive fourth spot but Tottenham will take it. I think it’s too early for City and will have to settle for a Europa League place next season. As for Liverpool, the decline is starting already. I guess that’s what happens if you build your team around 2 players. But then again, I could be wrong.