2007–08 Tottenham Hotspur F.C. season
2007–08 season | ||||
Chairman | Daniel Levy | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manager |
Martin Jol (until 25 October)[1] Juande Ramos (from 27 October)[2] | |||
Premier League | 11th | |||
FA Cup | Fourth round | |||
League Cup | Winners | |||
UEFA Cup | Round of 16 | |||
Top goalscorer |
League: Dimitar Berbatov, Robbie Keane (15) All: Dimitar Berbatov, Robbie Keane (23) | |||
Highest home attendance | 36,178 (vs. Chelsea, 19 March 2008) | |||
Lowest home attendance | 35,504 (vs. Wigan Athletic, 11 November 2007) | |||
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The 2007–08 Tottenham Hotspur season was the club's 16th season in the Premier League, their 29th successive season in the top division of the English football league system and their 125th year overall.
Spurs had finished fifth in the previous season's Premier League, thereby qualifying for the UEFA Cup. They then progressed to the last 16 of the competition to face PSV. After the two rounds and one away goal each, Spurs were finally eliminated 6–5 on penalties.[3]
In the FA Cup, Spurs were eliminated by Manchester United in the fourth, round losing 3–1.[4] This was also the season where Tottenham won the League Cup, beating Chelsea 2–1 at Wembley Stadium.[5]
Pre-season and friendlies
During the 2007 summer transfer period, Tottenham added centre-back Younès Kaboul from Auxerre for £8 million followed by striker Darren Bent for a record-high fee of £16.5 million.[6][7] This was also the season that Spurs acquired Gareth Bale from Southampton for £5 million.[8] Additional signings included Danny Rose from Leeds United and Kevin-Prince Boateng from Hertha BSC.[9][10]
Departing the club was Eygptian footballer Mido. He initially arrived on an 18-month loan deal from Roma in January 2005 and in 2006 signed a permanent deal; on 16 August 2007, he was sold to Middlesbrough for £6 million.[11] Also departing was Reto Ziegler, who was loaned out to Sampdoria in Italy for the second half of the 2006–07 season. Sampdoria subsequently signed him permanently from Spurs for an undisclosed fee.[12]
Friendlies
Date | Opponents | H / A | Result | Scorers | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
7 July 2007 | Stevenage | A | 1 – 3 | Keane 17' (pen.), Bent 46', Taarabt 62' | Not reported |
12 July 2007 | St Patricks | A | 0 – 1 | Keane 42' | Not reported |
21 July 2007 | Kaizer Chiefs | A | 1 – 2 | Keane 39', Berbatov 62' | Not reported |
24 July 2007 | Orlando Pirates | A | 1 – 2 | Bent 12', Routledge 69' | 30,000 |
28 July 2007 | Orlando Pirates | A | 0 – 3 | Bent 10', 22', Berbatov 18' | 30,000 |
1 August 2007 | Leyton Orient | A | 2 – 4 | Keane 18', 56', Defoe 60', Bent 65' | 9,126 |
4 August 2007 | Torino | H | 2 – 0 | Keane 15', Berbatov 64' | 30,823 |
2007–08 Season
Tottenham started off their Premier League campaign away at promoted Sunderland with a 1–0 loss.[13] Three days later, they travelled to Everton, losing 3–1, then at White Hart Lane, Spurs recorded their first win, 4–0 against Derby County. After that, Tottenham recorded four draws and three defeats in the Premier League, which included a 3–3 draw away to Fulham and a 4–4 draw against Aston Villa. In the UEFA Cup first round, Spurs won 6–1 against Cypriot club Anorthosis, then followed up with a 1–1 draw away in Cyprus.[14] Manager Martin Jol's final Premier League game was on 22 October, a 3–1 away loss at Newcastle United. On 25 October in the UEFA Cup, Spurs hosted Getafe, losing 2–1. Following the match, it was announced that Jol had been sacked.[1]
After one match with Clive Allen and Alex Inglethorpe in charge, Juande Ramos was hired as Jol's replacement, having previously managed Sevilla. Alongside Ramos, Gus Poyet was handed the assistant head coaching role. Marcos Álvarez, who worked alongside Ramos at Sevilla, also joined the backroom staff, as fitness coach.[2] Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy was widely criticised for his treatment of Jol following revelations that Ramos was approached to replace Jol during the summer, which many thought undermined his leadership and ruined his credibility as an authoritative figure.[15]
Ramos' reign began with a 2–0 win over Blackpool in the League Cup.[16] Immediately following Ramos' appointment, it was made clear in the public forum that he was very unhappy with the fitness of the team and instigated a new diet and fitness regime.[17] Tottenham's league form began to improve and Tottenham's progress in the League Cup began with a 2–0 win over Manchester City which ended City's unbeaten home record.[18]
On 27 January 2008, Spurs went out of the FA Cup fourth round to a 3–1 defeat at the hands of Manchester United at Old Trafford. Tottenham took the lead through Robbie Keane but eventually lost to United to a goal from Carlos Tevez and two goals from Cristiano Ronaldo, one of which was a penalty where Michael Dawson was sent off for a deliberate handball.[4]
Tottenham's run in the League Cup continued with a semi-final first leg 1–1 draw against Arsenal at Emirates Stadium;[19] a 5–1 win over Arsenal at White Hart Lane followed, resulting in a 6–2 Spurs aggregate victory.[20] This booked a place in the final against Chelsea. Tottenham went on to win the match 2–1 thanks to a Jonathan Woodgate header in extra time, securing Tottenham's first trophy since 1999.[5] It also guaranteed them UEFA Cup qualification for the third season running.
On 13 March, Tottenham were eliminated from the UEFA Cup in the last 16 round by PSV. The first leg played at White Hart Lane was a 1–0 defeat for Spurs following a mistake from Gilberto.[21] Dimitar Berbatov scored in the second leg away at the Philips Stadion to take the game to extra time and subsequently penalties. Here, Tottenham lost 6–5 when Pascal Chimbonda missed his kick.[3]
On 22 March, Spurs played Portmouth, winning 2–0. Darren Bent struck the 100th goal of the 2007–08 Premier League campaign. Jamie O'Hara followed two minutes later with the club's 101st. BBC sport writer Ian Hughes noted that Tottenham have "an average of 3.63 goals in every Spurs game this season".[22]
After earning a point on 19 April in a 1–1 draw against Wigan Athletic, Tottenham secured their mathematical safety in the Premier League after reaching 42 points.[23] Berbatov's sixth-minute strike was Tottenham's 100th in all competitions that season, 64 in the Premier League and 36 in cup competitions.[24] The season ended on 11 May 2008 with a 2–0 home defeat to Liverpool.[25]
Premier League table
- As of End of 2007–08 Season
Pos |
Team |
Pld |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
GD |
Pts | Qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
9 | Manchester City | 38 | 15 | 10 | 13 | 45 | 53 | −8 | 55 | 2008–09 UEFA Cup First qualifying round 1 |
10 | West Ham United | 38 | 13 | 10 | 15 | 42 | 50 | −8 | 49 | |
11 | Tottenham Hotspur | 38 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 66 | 61 | +5 | 46 | 2008–09 UEFA Cup First round 2 |
12 | Newcastle United | 38 | 11 | 10 | 17 | 45 | 65 | −20 | 43 | |
13 | Middlesbrough | 38 | 10 | 12 | 16 | 43 | 53 | −10 | 42 |
Source: Premier League
Rules for classification:
1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored
1 via UEFA Fair Play ranking
2 via 2007–08 Football League Cup
For further information on European qualification see Premier League - Competition.
(C) = Champion; (R) = Relegated; (P) = Promoted; (E) = Eliminated; (O) = Play-off winner; (A) = Advances to a further round.
Only applicable when the season is not finished:
(Q) = Qualified to the phase of tournament indicated; (TQ) = Qualified to tournament, but not yet to the particular phase indicated; (RQ) = Qualified to the relegation tournament indicated; (DQ) = Disqualified from tournament.
Season honours
Team kit
The team kit for the 2007–08 season was produced by Puma. The main shirt sponsor was Mansion, an Internet gambling establishment. A special 125th anniversary commemorative kit was produced for a match against Aston Villa.
Transfers
In
Date | Player | Previous Club | Cost |
---|---|---|---|
25 May 2007 | Gareth Bale | Southampton | £5 million[8] |
29 June 2007 | Darren Bent | Charlton Athletic | £16.5 million[7] |
5 July 2007 | Younès Kaboul | Auxerre | £8 million[6] |
25 July 2007 | Danny Rose | Leeds | Free[9] |
31 July 2007 | Kevin-Prince Boateng | Hertha Berlin | £5.4 million[10] |
1 January 2008 | Chris Gunter | Cardiff City | £3 million[26] |
28 January 2008 | Jonathan Woodgate | Middlesbrough | £8 million[27] |
30 January 2008 | Alan Hutton | Rangers | £9 million[28] |
31 January 2008 | Gilberto | Hertha BSC | £1.9 million[29] |
Total | |||
£57.5 million |
Out
Date | Player | New Club | Cost |
---|---|---|---|
3 July 2007 | Reto Ziegler | Sampdoria | Undisclosed.[12] |
3 July 2007 | Mark Yeates | Colchester United | Undisclosed.[30] |
5 July 2007 | Emil Hallfreðsson | Lyn Oslo | Undisclosed.[31] |
16 August 2007 | Mido | Middlesbrough | £6 million.[11] |
10 January 2008 | Philip Ifil | Colchester United | Undisclosed.[32] |
25 January 2008 | Lee Barnard | Southend United | Undisclosed.[33] |
30 January 2008 | Wayne Routledge | Aston Villa | £1.5 million.[34] |
30 January 2008 | Jermain Defoe | Portsmouth | £7 million.[35] |
Total | |||
£14.5 million |
Loaned out
Date | Player | Club | Loan Length |
---|---|---|---|
31 August 2007 | Danny Murphy | Fulham | End of season[36] |
15 January 2008 | Andy Barcham | Leyton Orient | End of season[37] |
7 January 2008 | Ben Alnwick | Leicester City | End of season |
11 January 2008 | Hossam Ghaly | Derby County | End of 2007–08 season[38] |
30 January 2008 | Paul Stalteri | Fulham | End of 2007–08 season[39] |
31 January 2008 | Anthony Gardner | Everton | End of 2007–08 season[40] |
29 February 2008 | Jake Livermore | Milton Keynes Dons | 1 month[41] |
Squad list
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Injury list
Date | Player | Injury | Return date |
---|---|---|---|
January 2007 | Dorian Dervite | Knee injury | 4 December 2007[46] |
14 June 2007 | Ledley King | Knee Surgery[47] | 4 December 2007[46] |
5 October 2007 | Ricardo Rocha | Ankle injury[48] | 4 December 2007[46] |
30 November 2007 | Benoît Assou-Ekotto | Knee Surgery | Start of 2008–09 season |
10 December 2007 | Gareth Bale | Ankle Ligament damage.[49] | Start of 2008–09 season |
3 April 2008 | Ledley King | Knee Rehabilitation | Start of 2008–09 season.[50] |
April 2008 | Jonathan Woodgate | ||
April 2008 | Pascal Chimbonda | ||
May 2008 | Dimitar Berbatov | Groin injury | Start of 2008–09 season.[51] |
Match results
Premier League
Date | Opponents | H / A | Result | Spurs scorers | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
11 August 2007 | Sunderland | A | 1 – 0 | 43,967 | |
14 August 2007 | Everton | H | 1 – 3 | Gardner 26' | 35,716 |
18 August 2007 | Derby | H | 4 – 0 | Malbranque 1', 6', Jenas 14', Bent 80' | 35,600 |
26 August 2007 | Manchester United | A | 1 – 0 | 75,696 | |
1 September 2007 | Fulham | A | 3 – 3 | Kaboul 10', Berbatov 28', Bale 61' | 24,007 |
15 September 2007 | Arsenal | H | 1 – 3 | Bale 14' | 36,053 |
23 September 2007 | Bolton Wanderers | A | 1 – 1 | Keane 34' | 20,308 |
1 October 2007 | Aston Villa | H | 4 – 4 | Berbatov 19', Chimbonda 68', Keane 80' (pen.), Kaboul 90+3', | 36,094 |
7 October 2007 | Liverpool | A | 2 – 2 | Keane 44', 46' | 43,986 |
22 October 2007 | Newcastle United | A | 3 – 1 | Keane 56' | 51,411 |
28 October 2007 | Blackburn Rovers | H | 1 – 2 | Keane 47' (pen.) | 36,086 |
3 November 2007 | Middlesbrough | A | 1 – 1 | Bent 35' | 25,625 |
11 November 2007 | Wigan Athletic | H | 4 – 0 | Jenas 13', 26', Lennon 34', Bent 72' | 35,504 |
25 November 2007 | West Ham | A | 1 – 1 | Dawson 67' | 34,966 |
2 December 2007 | Birmingham | H | 2 – 3 | Keane 50' (pen.), 53' | 35,635 |
9 December 2007 | Manchester City | H | 2 – 1 | Chimbonda 45', Defoe 82' | 35,646 |
15 December 2007 | Portsmouth | A | 0 – 1 | Berbatov 81' | 20,520 |
22 December 2007 | Arsenal | A | 2 – 1 | Berbatov 66' | 60,087 |
26 December 2007 | Fulham | H | 5 – 1 | Keane 27', 62', Huddlestone 45' 71', Defoe 90' | 36,077 |
29 December 2007 | Reading | H | 6 – 4 | Berbatov 7', 63', 73', 83', Malbranque 76', Defoe 79' | 36,178 |
1 January 2008 | Aston Villa | A | 2 – 1 | Defoe 79' | 41,609 |
12 January 2008 | Chelsea | A | 2 – 0 | 41,777 | |
19 January 2008 | Sunderland | H | 2 – 0 | Lennon 2', Keane 90' | 36,070 |
30 January 2008 | Everton | A | 0 – 0 | 35,840 | |
2 February 2008 | Manchester United | H | 1 – 1 | Berbatov 21' | 36,075 |
9 February 2008 | Derby County | A | 0 – 3 | Keane 68', Kaboul 81', Berbatov 90' (pen.) | 33,058 |
1 March 2008 | Birmingham City | A | 4 – 1 | Jenas 89' | 26,055 |
9 March 2008 | West Ham | H | 4 – 0 | Berbatov 8', 11', Gilberto 85', Bent 90' | 36,062 |
16 March 2008 | Manchester City | A | 2 – 1 | Keane 32' | 40,188 |
19 March 2008 | Chelsea | H | 4 – 4 | Woodgate 12', Berbatov 61', Huddlestone 75', Keane 88' | 36,178 |
22 March 2008 | Portsmouth | H | 2 – 0 | Bent 80', O'Hara 82' | 35,998 |
30 March 2008 | Newcastle | H | 1 – 4 | Bent 26' | 36,067 |
5 April 2008 | Blackburn | A | 1 – 1 | Berbatov 7' | 24,592 |
12 April 2008 | Middlesbrough | H | 1 – 1 | Grounds 27' (o.g.) | 36,092 |
19 April 2008 | Wigan Athletic | A | 1 – 1 | Berbatov 6' | 18,673 |
26 April 2008 | Bolton Wanderers | H | 1 – 1 | Malbranque 52' | 36,176 |
3 May 2008 | Reading | A | 0 – 1 | Keane 16' | 24,125 |
11 May 2008 | Liverpool | H | 0 – 2 | 36,063 |
H/A = Home/Away Final updated: 11 May 2008
FA Cup
Round | Date | Opponents | H / A | Result | Scorers | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3 | 5 January 2008 | Reading | H | 2 - 2 | Berbatov 28', 48' (pen.) | 35,243 |
3R | 15 January 2008 | Reading | A | 0 - 1 | Keane 15' | 22,130 |
4 | 27 January 2008 | Manchester United | A | 3 - 1 | Keane 24' | 75,369 |
Eliminated
H/A = Home/Away
Final update: 27 February 2008
Tottenham v Chelsea League Cup Final line-up. |
League Cup
Round | Date | Opponents | H / A | Result | Scorers | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3 | 26 September 2007 | Middlesbrough | H | 2 - 0 | Bale 71', Huddlestone 74' | 30,084 |
4 | 31 October 2007 | Blackpool | H | 2 - 0 | Keane 17', Chimbonda 55' | 32,196 |
QF | 18 December 2007 | Manchester City | A | 0 - 2 | Defoe 4', Malbranque 82' | 38,564 |
SF L1 | 9 January 2008 | Arsenal | A | 1 - 1 | Jenas 37' | 53,163 |
SF L2 | 22 January 2008 | Arsenal | H | 5 - 1 | Jenas 3', Bendtner 27' (o.g.), Keane 48', Lennon 60', Malbranque 90+4' | 35,979 |
F | 24 February 2008 | Chelsea | N | 1 - 2 (a.e.t) | Berbatov 70' (pen.), Woodgate 94' | 87,660 |
Champions
H/A = Home/Away
Final update: 27 February 2008
UEFA Cup
First round and group stage
Round | Date | Opponents | H / A | Result | Scorers | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FR | 20 September 2007 | Anorthosis | H | 6 - 1 | Kaboul 5', Dawson 40', Keane 42', Bent 43', Defoe 65', 90' | 35,780 |
FR | 4 October 2007 | Anorthosis | A | 1 - 1 | Keane 78' | 8,000 |
G | 25 October 2007 | Getafe | H | 1 - 2 | Defoe 19' | 36,240 |
G | 8 November 2007 | Hapoel Tel Aviv | A | 0 - 2 | Keane 26', Berbatov 31' | 8,000 |
G | 29 November 2007 | Aalborg BK | H | 3 - 2 | Berbatov 45', Malbranque 51', Bent 66' | 29,758 |
G | 6 December 2007 | Anderlecht | A | 1 - 1 | Berbatov 71' (pen.) | 22,500 |
Group G final standings
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Knockout Rounds
Eliminated H/A = Home/Away Final update: 13 March 2008 Player statistics
Top scorersAs of End of 2007–08 season.
Most appearancesAs of End of 2007–08 season.
Head coach statisticsStats correct as of the End of season
*Includes one game after Jol had departed and prior to the appointment of Ramos Lge Cup = League Cup, Lge Pos = League Position, Lge Pts = League Points, PPLG = Points Per League Game. Win/Draw/Loss % based on all competitions. References
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