Jamie Folley

A special evening celebrating Sir David Attenborough's 100th Birthday at The Royal Albert Hall.

Roberto De Zerbi has been at Spurs 35 days. Four games in, and absorbing injuries, his team has developed. RDZ has quickly seen that he has got players to engage in a more mobile and consistent press. More of a fighting spirit. A fit Joao Palhinha is invariably a leader, always a fighter. Paired with Rodrigo Bentancur, Palhinha gives Spurs some steel and streetwise nous in midfield. Patrolling right central midfield, Palhinha has the positional intelligence to cover for Pedro Porro. RDZ used Palhinha from the bench in his first three games and then start against Aston Villa and he was immense, a warrior, and surely starts the rest of the run-in. RDZ has gone for experience in midfield (his own area as a player). Conor Gallagher, 26yo, 300+ games, chased Villa all over. Interesting to see how/when RDZ blends in younger talents like the whole-hearted Archie Gray, who has given everything in a difficult season, and the stylish Lucas Bergvall. Spurs have a €30m option to buy Palhinha from Bayern Munich. He’s 31 this summer. Stick or twist? What is clear is how much RDZ enthuses Spurs players already. His expressive behaviour in the dug-out may annoy officials (one sighed on hearing of his return to PL) but sends a message to players of the need for high energy. Performance against Villa was impressive. They just have to maintain this level of intensity. #THFC

Tottenham away 🎞️💛

The King addresses a Joint Session of Congress, following in his mother’s footsteps after Queen Elizabeth II became the first British monarch to do so in 1991.   📷 PA / House Creative Services

Remembering Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, 1926 – 2022. © All Rights Reserved.

There has to be sympathy for Cristian Romero because of his knee injury, and the manner in which it was caused (pushed into his onrushing keeper, Antonin Kinsky). Romero cried, whether for his Argentina World Cup dream or from a desire to help Tottenham Hotspur in a relegation dogfight. Let’s hope the problem is not serious and Romero’s back asap. He’s a good player – a world champion with 49 caps for Argentina - but a poor leader of Spurs, especially for a team and club in Tottenham’s predicament. Clearly, Spurs have many more problems than an indisciplined captain - recruitment, board, culture, injuries etc. Which is why they needed good captaincy and leadership even more, a beacon of hope in dark times. Romero hasn't provided it enough. Frustrating as Romero could be part of the solution but he’s actually part of the problem at Spurs. He embodies the lack of leadership of those charged with leading team and club. The game is about glory - of the team, not the individual. He's 27, yet lacks discipline too often. Romero, Romero, where art thou, Romero? In the stands, probably. Suspended for 6 games this season after being sent off twice (+ 12 yellows). That’s not being a leader. That’s not a captain representing a famous club properly. Danny Blanchflower, Steve Perryman, Dave Mackay, Gary Mabbutt, Ledley King, Hugo Lloris, Son Heung-min and others were leaders (Harry Kane was a leader but not often captain of Spurs). Romero posted comments on Instagram critical of his own club about travel, spending, leadership. He may well have had a point on some of these issues, and recruitment flaws obviously need addressing. But it hardly helps the club, or the head coach at the time, for the captain to criticise the club – and do it publicly. As Thomas Frank said in February, “it is good to keep it internal”. "Cuti" was linked with Atletico Madrid last summer. He may well leave this summer – especially if Spurs go down. Any accountability, responsibility? Romero’s defending is very good at times, especially aerially and when he times tackles and interceptions well. He also brings a goal threat (13 in 156 appearances). But Romero's version of leadership won’t be missed. And it sums up the lack of leadership at Spurs that there are few alternatives as captain. #THFC

Landing Roberto De Zerbi is quite a coup by Tottenham Hotspur. This was no time for more interims. They needed someone of substance to organise and inspire underperforming players in these seven vital games. That someone didn’t come cheap… #THFC 1/2

Welcome to Tottenham Hotspur, Roberto De Zerbi 🤝

Remembering my mother, today and every day. Thinking of all those who are remembering someone they love today. Happy Mother’s Day. W

Archie Gray is one of the few Tottenham Hotspur players who can hold his head up high at the moment. He’s fighting for the cause. He's fighting against the very real threat of relegation. Others need to follow his example …. #THFC 1/2

“It never looked like he was trying too hard.” What made JFK Jr.’s style so good—from his suits-and-boots to those backward caps. on.wsj.com/4cMtf5F

"Wanna play, Rafa?" 😅

Still doing this. Phenomenal.

The cover of this week’s issue, “New York’s Toughest,” by Peter de Sève. Start exploring: newyorkermag.visitlink.me/qARBiP

Andy Robertson is just what Tottenham Hotspur need. A leader, a fighter, a competitor feisty enough in the fray to ruffle Barcelona’s feathers and Lionel Messi’s hair. A winner who contributed in defence and attack to Liverpool amassing nine trophies, who was vice-captain of the champions, and remains captain of Scotland. Spurs will be getting a true team player. The move, if it goes through, makes sense for Spurs and for Robertson, who wants to play more regularly, but it is surprising that Liverpool are prepared to lose one of their main dressing-room leaders. Milos Kerkez is definitely settling in but he might have a dip and Liverpool have a busy schedule. Robertson is Mr Reliable: 363 games, 68 assists and 12 goals since his £8m move from Hull City in 2017. He's definitely better than Kostas Tsimikas who could be recalled from loan at Roma. Maybe Liverpool simply want to generate a few quid before Robertson's contract expires this summer. And he's 31. Spurs clearly also need to address issues in central midfield but Robertson brings so much to the team, not simply as a left-back. He will set standards on and off the pitch, in matches and in training. That’s what Andy Robertson is all about: delivering. Will he start? Destiny Udogie is first choice but is injury prone (missed 14 games this season, 13 last, 15 the year before). Djed Spence is good but is really a right-back. The new signing, the Brazilian Souza, is only 19. Ben Davies, 32, has just undergone an operation on his ankle. It’s being depicted that Robertson is being signed as cover which slightly under-estimates his determined character, let alone his talent. Anyone with any familiarity with Robertson’s character know he will push hard to start, not least to maintain sharpness in World Cup year. The essence of Robertson is about proving a point. His career has been built on perseverance. Released by Celtic as too small. Went part-time with Queen’s Park, worked in the ticket office at Hampden, even showing the injured Vincent Kompany to his seat before a Scotland-Belgium game, handed him a programme. Robertson worked at M&S, considered uni, fought hard, earned a move to Dundee United and then Hull City, got relegated twice, fought back, signed for Liverpool. A ferocious work ethic underpins Robertson. He's grounded and certainly kept on his toes by a close circle of friends. His WhatsApp pings with messages from friends digging him out if he’s made a mistake. His mantra, his aim, is to “live a normal life in an abnormal situation”. He manages it well. If the transfer first called by @David_Ornstein goes through, Spurs will be getting an athlete with a conscience, who was appointed MBE for services to charity and young people as well as to football. During Covid, Robertson donated to food banks in Scotland just as he’s helped local ones in Liverpool. As reports of loneliness grew during lockdown, and the mental health charity Back Onside in Glasgow was overwhelmed with calls, Robertson discreetly sent them funds to keep going, keep the suicide-prevention phone-lines open, keep the flame of hope alive. Amongst many other initiatives, the AR26 charity run by Robertson and his wife Rachel funds free coaching for kids whose parents can’t afford it. Spurs aren’t recruiting Robertson just because he’s got a moral compass but he’ll be a role model for younger players, academy players. He'll bring experience, he'll drive standards. And he'll start more than people imagine. #THFC #LFC

Tottenham Hotspur have made a move to sign Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson on a permanent deal that further underlines the dramatic change of transfer policy in the club’s post-Daniel Levy era. Robertson is in the final year of his Liverpool contract and will celebrate his 32nd birthday in March, which would make him the oldest outfield player Spurs have signed since Ivan Perisic in 2022. Perisic arrived on a free transfer and the last 30-plus player #THFC paid a fee to sign permanently was striker Fernando Llorente, who joined the club for around £13m in 2017. Find out more from @Matt_Law_DT ⬇️ telegraph.co.uk/football/2026/…

Football’s first miracle took place 125 years ago. In April 1901, we sent shockwaves through English football by winning the FA Cup despite still being a non-league team. It remains the one and only occasion this has happened and it’s an achievement that may never be repeated. Read the story: thfc.pro/TheMiracleOf19…

It's been five years since our Founder Prince William sat down with Sir David Attenborough to discuss the ambition of The Earthshot Prize. With 5 more years in the Earthshot decade, are joining us for the journey ahead?

Wishing everyone a very Happy Christmas. 📸Josh Shinner, April 2025

I could watch the point at 4–3, deuce endlessly.