Gulp, This is difficult!

[Lesley Foster]

This is for Michael.

As A Spurs fan this isn't easy for me to write but here goes.

Well done to Mr Wenger on his 10 years at Arsenal.

I think that he and Fergie at Man U prove that to have the success all teams crave faith should be shown in the manager. So many clubs these days are too quick to show the manager the door and get someone else in after a few games. It is unfortunate that the money grabbers have taken over the Beautiful game.

I hope that Spurs will give Martin Jol the time to develop the team to it's full potential. It started well last season and okay we haven't got off to a great start yet this term, but the signs are there for a successful side and I have no doubt we will at some point be challenging Arsenal, Man U and Chelsea at the top as long as there is a bit of faith.

Lesley.

[Michael P]

I agree with you entirely Lesley, although as far as Wenger is concerned he has been so successful since day one that his job has never been in danger. It must feel great to have been told he has a job at Arsenal for life.

As far as Martin Jol is concerned I think he is a good manager and certainly deserves time to develop the team. I have no doubt Tottenham will finish in the top half again this season but I think the Champions League may just elude them once more. The sooner Lennon is back the better.

There, I choked once or twice during the preparation of this post but I have, thankfully survived

[Louise]

Well I congratulate both of you. Very nice comments from both sides...I'm now extremely glad we don't have a S*nderland fan on this board

And yes I hope Jol is given a chance, if Spurs had our chairman he'd have been sacked 3 games ago

[Lesley Foster]

I agree that a Champion's League place is perhaps wishful thinking but hopefully Spurs will progress well in the UEFA cup, fingers crossed.

Lennon is missed and I think it must be pointed out to Mr Zokora that diving is only performed in a swimming pool!!! We may have won on Sunday but cheating is not the way to do it.

On another point, although I am not a Man U fan, does anyone know how Alan Smith is progressing after his awful injury last season? All summer it was 'THAT TOE' and no where could I find out about Alan Smith. Is he going to be able to play again?

Lesley.

COYS
first British winners of a European trophy. (sorry I just had to put that in )

[Michael P]

Lesley, we were getting on so well and then you had to go and spoil it .

To answer your question, Alan Smith is back. I don't think he has started a game but I believe he has come on as substitute.

As far as Zakora is concerned I will make no comment as I am anxious to maintain the ceasefire. .

Louise, i think it can only be a matter of time before KC strikes Sunderland so be prepared

[Louise]

Michael, please don't go encouraging them, they are a horrible lot

Yes Zakora's dive was awful, I hate cheating footballers and that criticism goes out to Steven Taylor who did a fantastic impression of being shot by a sniper at Old Trafford on Sunday

I think Alan Smith has made a few appearances from the bench. That was one awful injury!

Incidentally, what is actually wrong with Lennon?

[Michael P]

Sorry Louise, I don't know what is wrong with Lennon. I think it may be a knee injury.

As far as cheating is concerned I think retrospective punishment should be dished out if the ref missed it. The problem is refs often do see it and simply wave play on. They rarely book a player for this.

[Lesley Foster]

The problem with cheating is that the referees don't have the benefit of replays that we do as viewers. Perhaps, as Harry Rednapp said, the fourth official should intervene if the ref misses it (would he have made the same comment if it had gone Portsmouth's way?) then again wouldn't that undermine the referee's position? I did notice the referee wearing a headset on Sunday so perhaps he could ask for a second opinion like they do in rugby and cricket if he had doubts, the question is how much extra time would be added to matches if this was done.

I do agree that if it is blatently obvious the player has cheated, dived, handball or whatever he should be punished. If the governing bodies won't do anything maybe the managers should, if players were suspended and fined by the club they might get the message the cheats never prosper.

Lesley.

ps Michael I was't trying to ruin the ceasefire honest