Cartilage Free Captain

Joao Palhinha, despite not being a perfect fit in Tottenham Hotspur’s midfield tactics under Thomas Frank, nonetheless endeared himself to a large percentage of Spurs supporters with his gritty and tenacious tackling and propensity to pop up and score goals seemingly from nowhere.

There have been indications that Spurs might want to keep Palhinha around for longer, either on a permanent deal or another season-long loan, and Palhinha compared his relationship to the club as a “marriage.” But according to a report from Portugal outlet Correio de Manha, Joao looks like he instead will be returning to his old club Sporting.

The report states that Bayern Munich, Palhinha’s home club, are close to an agreement with Sporting for a permanent transfer in the amount of €25m (£21.5m) after Bayern reduced their asking price from €30m. That’s… cheap. Cheap enough for me to actually ponder the idea of purchasing him outright, especially with the free agent departure of Yves Bissouma. I know I’ve expressed frustration over his signing but that was because he only made sense if Spurs paired him alongside a midfield passer, something they did not do last season.

The article also says that Spurs attempted to trigger his purchase option after the conclusion of his loan to Tottennham, but that Palhinha has reportedly chosen to return to Sporting in order to be closer to his family. He’ll also serve as an experienced replacement for Danish midfielder Morten Hjulmand, who is expected to leave the club.

It sure does appear that Palhinha has made his choice, and it’s not Spurs. That’s ok. I came around somewhat on his appointment and he certainly gave us moments to cheer in what was a pretty dreadful season overall. It’ll be interesting to see how Roberto De Zerbi and Spurs fill the gaps in the midfield with what remains of the summer — I suspect with the World Cup now underway that this might not get resolved until the end of the window.

OK, we got some weird/bad transfer news out of the way already this morning, so how about some good news? According to the Athletic, while right back Pedro Porro has been getting some transfer attention from large clubs like Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid, Tottenham have no intention of selling him this summer, and are now reporting that Porro is close to signing a contract extension with Spurs.

See that? That’s good news. I like good news, more of that please. Honestly, in my heart I’ve been bracing for an unexpected move from Spurs on the outgoing side, with a couple of players being transferred out that nobody expected, and I thought Porro might be one of them. He’s a sold player, getting a lot of attention, and is now playing for Spain at the World Cup, one of the favorites to win the competition. I figured this might be an opportunity for Spurs to cash in as they try and reboot the squad under Roberto De Zerbi.

I was wrong, and I’m glad about that! For starters, it means that Pedro likes it at Spurs and wants to continue playing here. It also means that we aren’t selling one of our best players just because. The article claims that, if he signs, Porro’s new contract would make him one of the highest paid players at Spurs; since Xavi Simons and Cuti Romero currently own that title with reported wages of £200k/wk, we can surmise that he’ll be somewhere in that range as well. Porro is currently making a reported £85k/wk on his existing contract, so that’s basically more than doubling his salary. Worth it, imo.

It also suggests that the earlier reports that Tottenham were going to break their former wage structure are accurate. This is also a good thing — professional footballers famously like money and that’s a good way they can attract more, better players this offseason.

I’m good with this decision. Hopefully we get confirmation of Pedro Porro’s new contract soon.

Sometimes things happen in football that are simply inexplicable. This appears to be one of them. According to Seb Stafford-Bloor and David Ornstein in The Athletic, Brighton & Hove Albion have made a £30m bid for Tottenham Hotspur defender Luke Vuskovic, and the young Croatian apparently wants the move.

I… don’t understand.

There’s a LOT about this story that doesn’t make sense in my brain. First, there’s the idea that Tottenham would be willing to sell perhaps the best young player at the club since Harry Kane, one who is currently coming off an incredible loan in Germany and who made the Bundesliga Team of the Season at age 19, and whose Spurs contract doesn’t expire until 2030. And maybe they AREN’T willing to sell — the article doesn’t make it clear whether Spurs are amenable to that move.

But the article does suggest that Vuskovic wants the move, and sees going to a club like Brighton as the logical next step in his career. This is all happening while Tottenham are attempting to facilitate a transfer for Brighton’s 26-year-old Dutch central defender Jan Paul van Hecke, a transfer that Spurs are almost certainly going to overpay for.

Now look, I’ve argued in the past that if Spurs don’t think Vuskovic is ready for first team football in the Premier League then they should arrange for another loan. And I think that probably should happen, and would be a good outcome for everyone involved. And to be clear there are no indications that Tottenham would accept such a ludicrously low underbid for what could turn out to be a generational defender before he even plays a single moment for the club.

So maybe there are some details here that we’re missing. For example — if Spurs were to sell Vuskovic to Brighton for £30m, or a discount on whatever Van Hecke might cost, but maintain a very reasonable buy-back clause and/or right of first refusal to get him back in a year or two when De Zerbi (or whoever’s making the decisions at Spurs right now? Lange? God…) then there’s an argument that this could make a weird sort of sense. And Vuskovic needs to be starting games right now, not sitting as Tottenham’s 5th CB in a year when they’re not in Europe. Spurs would either need to keep him and START him, or loan him back out to Germany or wherever so he can continue his development.

The Athletic makes the point that Arsenal did something similar with the development of William Saliba, a player Spurs were also interested in at the time — they loaned him out three times to France before integrating him as a first team regular. Spurs might be attempting to do something similar with Vuskovic.

But there aren’t those kinds of details either — just a report that Brighton have made a £30m bid. Honestly, I wouldn’t let Vuskovic go for £80m right now and I’m hoping beyond hope that while this is likely a real bid from Brighton that Spurs wouldn’t be stupid enough to let him go, except out on loan. And yet, I do NOT trust the current leadership at Spurs and there’s a part of me that’s convinced that we’re going to end up with the worst and stupidest outcome possible.

Honestly, I’m trying not to fly off the handle here because there are no indications that Spurs are open to such a deal, but holy tap-dancing Christ, I hate this rumor SO MUCH.

Good morning everyone and welcome to Day 2 of the World Cup!

There are some exciting matches today to round up the co-hosts’ first games: Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina, and USA vs Paraguay. Exciting!

The hoddle is will look a little different over these next few weeks. Duty calls, and your hoddler-in-chief must answer. Thus, I will be away for several days over the next handful of weeks.

That means you’ve got the two best people on this planet to hoddle in my place: Menno and MattyFlatt!

If you are at all curious, they will be taking over for me on the following days:

June 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 26, 29, 30

But the good news is I’ll be back for all the other days (maybe!)

These two legends of the game will be helping me out in my absence, and I’m sure they’ve got some great content planned.

Anyways, be kind to your substitute hoddler-in-chiefs in my absence. I’ll be lurking around the comments and might even pop in a couple days if I can. And be on your best behaviour with each other!

Fitzie will be back on June 18.

Fitzie’s track of the day: Sports, by Viagra Boys

And now for your links:

BBC: “From near death to World Cup hero - Jimenez’s tears for Mexico”

The Independent: “Jose Mourinho returns to Real Madrid as he signs three-year contract with Spanish giants”

The Guardian: “Kieran McKenna leaves emotional legacy at Ipswich to last generations”

Good news if you like the idea of Tottenham Hotspur players participating in major international football tournaments! The Argentine federation announced today that newly-signed Spurs central defender Marcos Senesi has been called up to La Albiceleste today, just in the nick of time.

Senesi is being called up to replace Leo Balerdi, who picked up an injury in training and was forced to withdraw. There was a suggestion as recent as yesterday that Argentina would choose to bolster their attacking options instead of calling up a defender to replace a defender, but instead Senesi got the call, which is probably good for both him and Argentina. Senesi is probably flying to Kansas City right now to join his teammates. Let’s hope USA accepts his visa.

It was a little weird that he was left out to begin with — I’m not totally familiar with the politics of the Argentine Football Federation, but going into a World Cup with a (slightly) shorthanded defense usually isn’t a good sign. So I’m glad Marcos is getting the nod. No idea how much (or if) he’ll play, but I would like to imagine him starting a match beside his (current) Spurs teammate Cuti Romero. Wouldn’t that be neat? I think that’d be neat.

Argentina are in Group J alongside Algeria, Austria and Jordan. They’re already one of the favorites to win the World Cup for the second straight tournament, and this group shouldn’t give them too much difficulty. La Albiceleste opens their World Cup on June 16 vs. Algeria at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.

Good morning everyone and welcome to the first day of the 2026 World Cup.

If there’s one thing I think about when it comes to the World Cup it’s water bottles. We know it’s going to be hot out there. Players will be taking water breaks at the midpoint of each half (similar to the Club World Cup).

The fans too have to stay hydrated. And while they can’t bring water bottles into stadiums -

(Actually, Fifa reversed its policy so fans will be permitted to bring “one, soft, plastic, 20 ounces (590ml), factory sealed disposable water bottle into any FIFA World Cup 2026 match in the USA and Canada”)

- they also always have the option to go for a run instead of attending a World Cup match. Should they choose to run, it’s probably wise to carry a handheld water bottle.

But which to choose?

This is the predicament your hoddler-in-chief faces.

During my most recent marathon I chucked my water bottle at around Mile 24 because it became too heavy and, in a moment of madness, I discarded the extra weight.

Well, it’s now mid-June and I want a water bottle so I can stay hydrated during my runs.

I’m a big fan of the Nathan SpeedDraw handheld water bottle (the 12ox version). I find it’s pretty easy to squeeze, carries just enough water for me and I’m able to put a couple gels (or, if I’m traveling around, my car keys) in there.

But these DC summers are getting worse and worse, and I’m a little afraid this one’s going to be brutal too. So what’s a fella to do? Bump up to an 18oz water bottle? A hydration vest ?? (no thanks to the vest).

There are a few things I’m looking for:

Ease of squeeze: I don’t want to have to fight for my water. That’s what water fountains are for.

A comfortable feel: I want it to feel as if I’m not really holding the bottle at all. The less stress on my hand the better.

Storage capacity: Where else am I gonna store my gels? In my shorts with my apartment keys? That sounds like danger.

Breathability and weight: I don’t need the extra sweat or heat around my hands. At the same time, I wanna keep the bottle pretty light.

I stopped into a running store the other weekend and none of the bottles I checked out there passed the test. There was a soft flask that looked interesting but I didn’t like how it wrapped around my hand, and I imagined how uncomfortable it could be once its contents run dry towards the end of my run.

If anyone has a soft flask, let me know how you get on. Otherwise I’m open to all sorts of hydration ideas.

And, above all, stay hydrated.

Fitzie’s track of the day: We Will Not Be Lovers, by The Waterboys

And now for your links:

ESPN: “Why are there drinks breaks at the 2026 World Cup, and why has FIFA been criticised?”

Jay Harris: “Tottenham confirm Marcos Senesi signing on a free transfer”

BBC: “Legend of the club - but McKenna leaves promoted Ipswich”

I Run Far: “Best Running Water Bottles of 2026”

…To my mind Senesi is the signing that makes the most sense for Tottenham Hotspur this summer thus far. Although at 29 he’s a bit far along the age curve, the Argentine Senesi is a very solid all-around central defender. He’s good with the ball at his feet, is good in the air, and is comfortable in possession, all things that will endear himself to Roberto De Zerbi. Senesi is a high volume passer but his passing completion numbers take a hit because he’s more likely to go for a longer, higher-risk pass from deep than a comfortable short pass to the defensive midfielder. Like Micky van de Ven, Senesi also likes to step forward out of the defensive line to make defensive plays further up the field, and he’s fifth among all defenders in major European leagues in possession adjusted defensive action VAEP.

Due to his age he’s unlikely to be a long term signing for Spurs, but the skills he brings to the table are ones that will hopefully help transform Tottenham into a team that fits De Zerbi’s pressing and mid-to-high block tactics a little better than they do now.

Big news out of Germany today — Tottenham Hotspur are currently working to appoint a new Sporting Director, ostensibly to either work alongside, or above, Johan Lange. But whoever Spurs do end up appointing for the role, it will not be former Dortmund Sporting Director Sebastian Kehl. BILD’s Florian Plettenberg is reporting today that after several rounds of negotiations, talks have broken down between Kehl and Spurs.

Plettenberg’s tweet doesn’t reveal what caused talks to break down, but there is reporting from Sky Germany’s Patrick Berger that suggested the key point of contention was none other than Roberto De Zerbi. Since his appointment, De Zerbi has been given a huge and influential role in player scouting and acquisition, and apparently Kehl did not want to join the club for that reason, with the implication being that he did not want to be overruled in club direction and strategy by the head coach.

Sebastian Kehl (46/🇩🇪) has rejected Tottenham Hotspur’s offer. After concrete negotiations and multiple meetings in London, no agreement could be reached. ❌

Talks were constructive, but differing views on the club’s strategic direction ultimately proved decisive.

One of the dealbreakers was also that head coach Roberto De Zerbi will now be given greater influence within the sporting structure. @Plettigoal @SkySportDE

I have no idea who Spurs are targeting for the position, but Kehl’s reasons for walking away from talks are a pretty significant red flag. I can understand a potential Sporting Director not wanting to walk into a position where he isn’t the one guiding the overall direction of the club. If De Zerbi is indeed mostly calling the shots, I suspect Kehl won’t be the only one to have some reservations about stepping into what could be a politically complicated job. It almost sounds like Spurs have made De Zerbi into a defacto manager-Sporting Director role, and if they’ve done that then why bother bringing in a Sporting Director at all, especially if his power is diluted by a popular and (thus far) successful head coach?

But as I mentioned when Kehl’s name first surfaced for this position a few months ago, I’m also not entirely convinced Kehl was the right person for the job anyway. Kehl accrued a significant amount of resistance from Dortmund fans for what he did while at the Bundesliga club; he was, after all, let go from that job and there are some that blame him for Dortmund falling farther behind Bayern Munich over the past few years.

So this might be a blessing in disguise, but it does make me wonder about a) Johan Lange’s current role and whether the club are still expecting to cut ties with him, and b) knowing what we know now about the role, who would want to take it?

We can confirm the departures of ten players from our Academy following the conclusion of the 2025/26 season.

Under-21s players Pele Arganese-McDermott, Tyrell Ashcroft, Leo Black, Dante Cassanova, Matthew Craig and Calum Logan have left the club.

From our Under-18s, we can confirm the departures of Jamel Beggs, Samal Bangura, Leon Myrtaj and Elijah Upson.

Thank you to all departing players and their families for their contributions to the club and all the best for the future.

One player leaves, while another stays. It’s like the circle of life, or something. Tottenham Hotspur have announced this morning that stalwart Welsh defender Ben Davies has extended his stay in London, putting pen to paper to commit to Spurs for another year:

This will be Ben Davies’ 13th season at Spurs, with the Welshman the Lilywhites’ longest serving player. It’s also an extension that some may find somewhat head-scratching, with Davies getting on in age, coming off a broken ankle, and well down the pecking order.

The thing is that Davies is a player who’s demonstrated considerable loyalty and commitment to the club, and who has clearly enjoyed his time in North London. While never being clearly first choice, he has always worked hard, played well when called upon, and has been a fantastic example to the younger players in and around the club.

He’s also a very intelligent guy, and has been working on his coaching badges in the background. There have been some rumors going around Spurs ITK (mountain of salt and all that) that the plan is for Davies to transition this season into a non-playing role, potentially coaching or some other off-pitch support function.

And given the above, I can’t think of a better next step for both club and player. Ben Davies gets to get paid a wage while continuing to develop the off-pitch skills to allow him to succeed following the conclusion of his playing career; and the club get to retain an excellent clubhouse influence and break-glass-in-case-of-emergency defensive depth. It’s really a win-win, even though I don’t expect Ben Davies to see the pitch many more times for Spurs in the future.

Congratulations, Ben. It’s good to have a professional like you around the club. Welsh Mafia forever!!!