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Old 14-01-2008, 08:20 PM   #1 (permalink)
bandini
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Default Reading vs Spurs (FA Cup 3rd round replay)

Quote:
Tottenham captain Ledley King is desperate to lift a trophy at Wembley after finally shrugging off a persistent knee injury.

King was outstanding in Tottenham's 2-0 defeat at the hands of Chelsea on Saturday and wants to lead the side out against Reading in their FA Cup third round replay on Tuesday night.

Spurs drew 2-2 at White Hart Lane in the first game and the fit again England international has already set his sights on Wembley glory.

Tottenham also play Arsenal in the second leg of their Carling Cup semi-final next week and King declared: ``In the next 10 days we face Reading and Arsenal with both matches giving us a chance to get to Wembley.

``We take the cups seriously and as captain I've only lifted a pre-season trophy in Korea so I'd love a slice of glory. And we're really beginning to get things together now.''

New coach Juande Ramos arrived at Tottenham to replace sacked Martin Jol while King was out of action with his knee problem and he admits to feeling a little helpless.

King added: ``I felt like a man without a job. Being out made me realise how much I took playing for granted. Touch wood, I am okay - and for years to come.

``I did start to wonder how long it would take - I always knew I'd come through but was out so long I felt I did not have a job.

``It was strange going home knowing I hadn't done anything or played that day. Players will tell you that's the hardest thing of all - I'm not really religious but I believe in God and I had my moments with him. These frustrations started to affect my family life as well.

``Then Juande Ramos came in. He recognised me as skipper but English was not his first language and that made it harder.

``He's picked up the language well and we have a good relationship now. But beforehand, I tried to get to every game home and away, but it wasn't easy to watch.

``I was always in the dressing room but there's only so much you can say without playing. And I've always tried to lead by example so it's hard to comment when you're not playing.''

Ramos will have to decide whether to stick with Radek Cerny in place of England goalkeeper Paul Robinson against Reading.

Ramos insists that Robinson is still very much part of the squad but left him out of the side for the Carling Cup semi-final first leg against Arsenal and Saturday's defeat at Stamford Bridge.

Reading manager Steve Coppell has revealed he has received not a single enquiry for wantaway striker Leroy Lita.

England Under-21 international Lita has had enough of being left on the bench in recent months and is keen to move.

But Coppell, who will give the former Bristol City man a rare start in Tuesday's clash against Tottenham, is in no mood to grant him that wish.

And in any case, Coppell was convinced there was not a long queue of admirers desperate to sign him anyway.

He said: ``He is a player that wants to play, that's the bottom line and has been for months.

``He is a player under contract but the way of the world is such that if there is an opening for somebody somewhere then I'm sure we will hear about it.

``But I have not heard from anybody about Leroy. There has been a lot of speculation but I have certainly heard nothing.

``It is a non-issue because no-one has come in for him. It is the 14th of January and nobody has phoned about him - 100%.''

Lita has not scored a Premier League goal for 11 months and has just one so far this season, in a Carling Cup tie at Swansea, but Coppell nonetheless challenged him to make an impression against Spurs.

Coppell always uses cup games as a vehicle to give fringe men run-outs regardless of the opposition and a much-changed Reading side drew 2-2 at White Hart Lane in the first game just a week after the first choices were beaten 6-4 in the league there.

But Coppell made it clear that those who played the most were in on merit. He said: ``Would it be fair to leave out (Dave) Kitson or (Kevin) Doyle? As Jose Mourinho says, the team more or less picks itself. Every so often you have to make significant decisions but on a week-to-week basis eight or nine pick themselves.''

The winners are off to Manchester United in the fourth round and the champions also happen to be Reading's next league opponents as they are due at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday.

source: ESPNsoccernet - FA Cup - Reading v Tottenham Preview
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