Spurs’ Woodgate could become first casualty of Premier League’s new rule

The Premier League’s new 25 man squad rule has potentially found its first victim and it’s Spurs sometime defender Jonathan Woodgate.

Spurs manager and general wheeler-dealer ‘Arry announced to the BBC “Woody’s nowhere near right now. I couldn’t put him in my 25. It’s just impossible at the moment.”

It should come as no great surprise though as Woodgate makes Darren ‘sicknote’ Anderton look like the embodiment of health and vitality in comparison.

The rule will be implemented at the end of the transfer deadline in August and it forces clubs to name a squad of 25, with only players under the age of 21 allowed to add to that line-up until transfer window opens again in January.

With Spurs looking to add to the squad that finished fourth last season, ‘Arry admits that Woodgate is unlikely to make the cut.

“You can’t have somebody in who’s never going to play, if he’s not going to be fit.

“He’s got to really prove that between now and the start of the season. To have any chance he’s got to be playing, otherwise you couldn’t possibly have him in the 25. Not at the moment.

“He’s a long way off now. We’ll see how we go in January.”

Things have seemingly got so bad for Woodgate that he is even struggling with the very basics of propelling a ball with his foot and is limited to just air shots.

“It must be really hard for Woody at the moment because he’s nowhere near kicking a ball,” added Redknapp.

Unsurprisingly though ‘Arry isn’t worried as he’s got a few bargain-basement deals lined up that may or may not include the tax man and has eyed up the bulging squad of City as his shopping destination.

“I think there will be a few loans,” stated Redknapp. “Clubs like Manchester City will have too big a squad as you can only have 25 players on your roster.

“They will have a problem and there will be players that clubs will want to loan out that will be good players that are earning good wages.

“Clubs will have to cut their wage bills and they don’t want players sitting around doing nothing.

“I think if you are clever there are loans out there that for clubs like us would be interesting - but certainly not from abroad.”

The impact of a loan signing though has clearly been blown out of all proportion in his mind, as he’s now talking up Tottenham for the title.

“You have to go in believing. I said last year we could get into the Champions League and we managed to do so,” he added.

“If you don’t aim for the top you are never going to reach there. I think we could have a real go this year.”

Irrespective of whoever he brings in on loan to help facilitate their title challenge, it’ll be one hell of a deal if he pulls it off, just don’t tell the taxman.

Posted By Dan Mobbs - Tuesday July 27, 2010.
Tags: Tottenham Hotspur, Jonathan Woodgate