Date of Birth: 18 11 1983
Place of Birth: Northallerton
Position: Defender
Nationality: England
Michael Dawson Rumours and Transfers
17 08 2007
Tottenham manager Martin Jol has backed his players to fight their way out of a dismal 1st week of the Premier League season, starting against Derby tomorrow.
Defeats by Sunderland and Everton have left Spurs bottom of the table in the face of an injury crisis, with the win against top flight newcomers Derby needed to kick start a campaign where they expect to challenge for a top 4 place.
Only Pascal Chimbonda is available from Jol's 1st-choice defence, Aaron Lennon's pace was missed on the flanks and Dimitar Berbatov's groin injury was the latest problem.
With a lot of teams in the past recuperating from poor starts, Jol thinks the makeshift side he puts together can battle their way to a maiden win to get Spurs back on track.
"I get paid to make the right decisions," mentioned Jol. "It is all about spells however the only thing you hope for is that people have given you a bit of time. If not, you must fight and stand up. That is what the players will do. I will take the blows and they must stand up and do better for us."
Jol has confidence consecutive 5th placed finishes means he still has the support of the fans however there were inevitable jeers that come with a home defeat when Everton got the better of them Tuesday.
Paul Stalteri, who was playing out of position at left back, said, "I can completely understand the fans' frustration, it is difficult for everyone when you lose however we require everyone's support on Saturday and we will get it right in time. As a game it is as close as a must win as you can get in terms of the start of the season."
As well his long injury list, Ledley King, Gareth Bale and Michael Dawson are among the others sidelined, Jol was up against teams hungry to claim Spurs as a scalp.
The Dutchman thinks they are capable of wearing opponents down if they stick to the attacking football they showed last season.
"We scored more than 100 goals last year with the same players, exactly the same players, not new players," he said.
"In my team we have enough players to attempt to do something however now we must play opponents who are difficult to break down. We were very unfortunate however that is not an excuse."
And in Everton, they also faced opponents who have aspirations of breaking back into the top 4 after finishing there 3 seasons ago.
"For me the only important thing is that we were 5th (last season) and it will be difficult to do because you I see Newcastle, Manchester City, Villa and everyone is trying to do better," Jol added.
"You have got the top 4 and they are doing well over a number of years now so we must challenge them over the next few years and do better than them. It is a challenge and not something that has happened in the past."
Billy Davies' side have claimed a point in their 1st week back in the top flight, and Jol expects his players to be given a stern examination.
"I saw them and they are full of energy, a typical club who have got promotion and would like to do well, like Sunderland," he added. "We feel that and sense that."
Spurs would still sign Curtis Davies from West Bromwich Albion before the transfer deadline to ease their problems at the back. Spurs are the preferred destination for the former England U21 centre-back.
"I only would like the best and if we cannot get the best I will not do anything," Jol said.
17 08 2007
Tottenham forward Dimitar Berbatov was named in the Bulgaria squad, raising expects of a return to action for the Man Utd clash a week Sunday.
The 26 year old has a groin injury and will be assessed ahead of the friendly in Burgas against Wales, with the United clash the following weekend.
Spurs' left back Gareth Bale, the £10 million summer signing from Southampton, was given the green light to play at least some part in the Wales clash as he steps up his recovery from a knee problem.
"The medical staff informed me if everything is fine he would join the Welsh national team, maybe to be involved for 45 minutes," mentioned Spurs manager Martin Jol.
The return of Berbatov and a debut for Bale could be welcomed by Jol, who has seen his side lose their opening 2 games going into this weekend's clash against Derby.
Paul Stalteri, a right back by trade, was deputising on the other side of the defence for the start of the season.
Ledley King is recuperating from knee surgery and was unavailable and Michael Dawson has an ankle sprain, meaning Jol has had only one 1st-choice defender, Pascal Chimbonda, for the opening week of the Barclays Premier League season.
Elsewhere, Aaron Lennon is also sidelined as he recovers from knee surgery.
16 08 2007
Misfiring Spurs will be without Dimitar Berbatov and Younes Kaboul for the vital home clash with Derby through injury.
Bulgaria forward Berbatov has aggravated a groin problem and travelled to Germany to see a specialist whilst France U21 international suffered a hamstring injury against Everton this week.
Summer arrival Kaboul would now miss a month and adds to manager Martin Jol's defensive injury crisis, with Ledley King, Michael Dawson, Gareth Bale, Lee Young-Pyo and Benoit Assou-Ekotto all currently sidelined.
Jol is under load after losing the opening 2 games of the new season and the visit of the Rams is a must win encounter.
Berbatov's absence is probably going to see Robbie Keane moved from the right into attack alongside Darren Bent on Saturday.
13 08 2007
It sounded like a well-intentioned piece of advice to boost Steve McClaren, however Everton manager David Moyes was aiming nearer home yesterday when he backed Andy Johnson to be the Premier League's leading scorer this season.
With Wayne Rooney ruled out for 2 months, Moyes thinks Johnson's pace and finishing can help soften the blow for England's coach in next month's Euro 2008 qualifiers against Israel and Russia. However, his message was meant for Johnson alone as he addressed the one perceived flaw in the 26 year old forward's make-up.
Moyes, whose side face Spurs at White Hart Lane in the Premier League tonight, said, "He requires to exude an air of confidence a bit more. He's a senior player and an England international and I keep telling him he has every right to have that about him. If I had scored 12 goals in the Premier League from open play, like he did last season, I could be walking round with my chest out, saying, 'Come on, bring it on'. However, Andy's not like that. He's a quiet lad, very humble and a hard worker for the team, which helps make him such a popular figure. However, maybe he maybe a bit more demonstrative. It is in there somewhere. He only requires to bring it out and say, 'Come on, I am going to kick on from here and be one of the top scorers in the Premier League'. That has to be his target, along with making sure he's in the England team who hopefully make it to the European Championship finals. A lot depends on the service we have given him however if it is anything like what we want, he can definitely be up there with the leading scorers this season."
Moyes thinks a summer of sacrifice by his former Crystal Palace forward is starting to pay dividends. He said, "After needing an ankle operation towards the end of last season, Andy decided to forego his summer break and spend it working on his fitness here at the training ground. That tells you everything about his wish to keep progressing and I have already noticed a marked improvement in his general play."
Tottenham defender Michael Dawson will miss England's friendly against Germany a week tomorrow after being informed he will be out for 2 weeks with an ankle injury. Dawson did not play in Spurs' last minute defeat at Sunderland on Saturday after picking up the injury in training and was ruled out of this evening's game.
Manager Martin Jol, already without Ledley King for the next 2 months after the centre back had surgery on his knee, is running out of options in defence. Anthony Gardner played at the Stadium of Light whilst Ricardo Rocha, an unused substitute at Sunderland, is another possibility.
03 08 2007
Curtis Davies is desperate to quit West Bromwich Albion and seal a move back to the Premier League.
The former Baggies captain has had transfer requests discarded by West Brom, who are insistent they will not let him leave unless their valuation, thought to be over £7 million, is met.
After spending a year in the Championship trying to help them back up, Davies does not see his future with West Bromwich Albion, after they lost in the play off final.
Tottenham are leading the hunt for his signature and Davies admitted that he would love to transfer to White Hart Lane.
"Spurs are a good club and with the transfers they have made they would break into the top four," mentioned Davies.
"They are renowned for signing young British skill and I have some friends there like Tom Huddlestone and Aaron Lennon."
Davies would like a deal done with Spurs, even though he is open to any offer from the top flight.
"Hopefully West Bromwich Albion can agree a deal for me with them or another club and we can sort things out amicably," he informed the Daily Mirror.
"If we had gone up I guess I would not be asking for a move however I need to look after myself and move for the sake of my career. I cannot afford to fall any further behind the other young English defenders like Steven Taylor, Anton Ferdinand, Michael Dawson and Nedum Onuoha by playing in the Championship for another season."
05 07 2007
Tottenham have revealed the signing of France U21 defender Younes Kaboul from Auxerre.
Spurs fought off competition elsewhere in Europe to sign the 21 year old, who was rated at around £8 million.
The signing takes the club's expenditure to over £30 million following the arrivals of Gareth Bale and Darren Bent at White Hart Lane so far in the summer.
'Younes possesses power, good pace and is good on the ball and strong in the air,' mentioned sporting director Damien Comolli.
'He is a good leader who showed a good wish to come to us inspite of interest and offers from numerous other clubs.'
Kaboul is a centre back who will compete with Michael Dawson and Ledley King for a place in the starting XI, with captain King currently recuperating from knee surgery and facing a race to be fit for the new season.
King's injuries last season led to Dawson playing in all however one of Spurs' games in the last campaign, leading to Comolli starting the search for cover.
'From day one he mentioned 'I would like to play for Spurs' and his personality made a big impression on Martin and myself,' added Comolli.
'He was a regular in the Auxerre 1st team for the past 2 seasons and is an excellent signing.'
The transfer maintains Spurs' policy of signing young talent.
Boss Martin Jol added, 'If you ask people in France who is seen as the hottest prospect in defence, they will say Younes Kaboul. We are very happy to have him on board. It is important to have quality players in defence and, with Younes, we have that.'
