Youth skipper close to Premiership move

Tottenham Hotspur are fighting with Liverpool over the transfer for 19 year old Sporting Lisbon midfielder Adrien Silva.

Silva, who plays in central midfield has been held from the starting lineup in Lisbon because of fellow youth stars Miguel Veloso and Moutinho, is getting attention from all over England. He's very skilled and a natural leader. Spanish side Sevilla is also looking to bid for the 3m pound rated player.

Silva sees the move to the Premiership as a dream, is well aware of scouts watching him and welcomes the transfer. He's noted for his ability to play box to box and work ethic.

Jol sacked: speculation finally ends

Martin Jol has been sacked as manager of Tottenham after three years in charge. Looks the the UEFA Cup defeat to Getafe last night coupled with the loss to Newcastle at the weekend did him in.

Reports swirled around the club’s White Hart Lane stadium and the news was confirmed the news after the match. Assistant Chris Hughton was also sent packing. Development coach Clive Allen and youth team manager Alex Inglethorpe will caretake the club for Sunday's game against Blackburn Rovers.

Heated speculation now turns to Sevilla manager Juande Ramos. Sevilla’s director of football Ramon Monchi in the stands at the Spurs game against Getafe which naturally implies he was there to negotiate with Tottenham.

Unfortunately for Martin Jol it was only a matter of time. Speculation was rife after Spurs representatives were caught in Spain talking to Ramos, and news like that just makes a slippery slope slipperier.

With the club relegated if the season ended today, the disastrous start was too much to overcome. The timing might work out well as Jol could fill the vacant spot over at Ajax. I wish him well; he seemed a good man and a decent man manager. I think with some more experience he could be back in the Premiership again.

Daniel Alves

Another Brazilian you say? Well, they breed them, I just write about them. Sevilla left back Daniel Alves was the best player on the pitch in this week’s UEFA Cup final against Middlesbrough.

It’s not often that a right back is described in these terms; the position is often thankless and anonymous as you are always being run at by the oppositions fastest players, but on this occasion it was Alves doing the running and Sevilla doing the scoring to the tune of 4-0.

In the match Alves was fantastic. His finest moment was when he set up the first goal on 27 minutes when he dribbled forward into Middlesbrough’s half and sent in a wicked looping cross which allowed Luis Fabiano a glancing header to the inside of right-hand post. In addition to the goal he was a constant torment.

The 23 year old is a native of Juazeiro, first club was FC Bahia, but after some great performances in Brazil’s youth sides he soon moved to Europe, Sevilla originally signing him on a 6 month loan. His runs down the wing and defensive presence were impressive from the start and the player was quickly given a permanent contract. During 2003’s World Youth Championships in the United Arab Emirates he was awarded recognition as one of the top 3 players, rare for a fullback.

Daniel Alves looks set to take over for Cafu in the Brazilian national team when the ageless wonder eventually calls it quits. Barcelona president Joan Laporta has reportedly made an offer for the player in recent weeks. He scored against Barca last week in their 3-2 followup win to the UEFA Cup success.