I SUPPOSE it helps the Newcastle supporters to see that they’re not the only club with problems in the Premiership.

They will possibly take a bit of delight because it is one of the homes of what they call the ‘Cockney mafia’, namely Tottenham, that are in the biggest trouble.

This season has given them their worst start ever in the Premiership and their manager, as usual, is the one getting the blame.

I must say whilst people like Arsene Wenger have given every reason why continental managers can be successful here, I’ve found it a little strange that clubs such as Tottenham with a wonderful history, particularly when the legendary Bill Nicholson was in charge for so many years, appoint senor Ramos who couldn’t speak English.

I know that more and more clubs are filled with foreign players, but I would have thought when your supporters, and particularly the media, converse in English it should be a necessary criteria.

However, he has recently tried to put over his press conferences in a sort of pigeon English.

At least he showed some humour when trying to defend himself by saying how strange it was that when his players could not understand him they won the League Cup and now he speaks English they are bottom of the league.

The real reasons probably are, as ever, about players.

It was well documented that Berbatov, their outstanding forward last season, was expected to leave.

Also Robbie Keane was anxious to join Liverpool.

Bill Nicholson would have told Keane to shut up and get on with it because he is on a long contract.

The magnificent but moody Mr Berbatov would have either had to change his ways and get out, or possibly would never have been signed in the first place.

Such is the way of the world now, even players on contracts are able to let everyone know, usually through their agents, their intentions.

A fiercely loyal crowd were not happy to hear that some of their socalled stars thought playing for their club was not good enough.

The fault was that once the directors knew how determined these players were to leave, they should have acted more quickly in getting top class replacements lined up.

However, that is not all Tottenham have been in the news for recently.

Tthey were headline news not only for losing at Portsmouth last weekend but for the behaviour of the travelling supporters.

They showed shameful conduct as they continually hurled abuse towards Sol Campbell, above, their ex-player who they have never forgiven for leaving them years ago to go to Highbury.

Good natured chants, or sledging as they would call it in cricket, has always been part and parcel of the game.

And as I have reported before, I have many happy memories of being able to call to a referee as a throw-in was being taken or a player treated near the dugout what I thought of his performance, to be given a reply from the ref with smiles all round afterwards.

That, of course, can no longer happen.

But the supporters pay their money and they believe they can sing and shout whatever they want during the 90 minutes.

When it comes to the sort of things Tottenham were shouting and Ex-Gunner Ryan joins Saints on loan SAINTS have signed Millwall winger Ryan Smith on a three-month loan deal.

The 21-year-old joined up with the club yesterday and is available for selection for today’s match at Coventry, writes GORDON SIMPSON.

Smith started his career at Arsenal and is a former England Under-19 international.

He made six appearances for the Gunners in the League Cup, two of which were starts, making his debut at just 16.

Smith spent the 2005/06 season on loan at Leicester City – playing against Saints in the league and FA Cup – before being signed by Derby on a three-year deal.

His first game for the Rams came against Saints, in a 2-2 draw on the opening day of the 2006/07 season.

After an initial loan spell at Millwall at the start of last year, he was signed on a permanent deal for £150,000.

Islington-born Smith has made 24 appearances for the League One side, although he has yet to find the net for them.

Smith is described as a “natural winger” who can also play up front.

In 69 career appearances, he has managed just one goal, which came in a 4-2 Championship win for Leicester over Sheffield United at the Walkers Stadium in November 2005.

Smith is the second loan signing at St Mary’s in the space of seven days, after Jordan Robertson joined from Sheffield United on Friday last week.

Smith also joins Jack Cork, from Chelsea, Romain Gasmi, of RC Strasbourg, and Tomas Pekhart, of Spurs, on loan at St Mary’s.

League rules stipulate only five loan players can be in any matchday squad, but clubs can have more than that amount of loanees at any one time.

singing, which I have now seen in print and couldn’t believe my eyes, I totally agree with Harry Redknapp’s description of ‘filth’.

It is time for something to be done.

Naturally the police cannot arrest thousands of travelling supporters and it is not easy to make examples of one or two.

Tottenham as a club have got to be informed by the authorities that they have to do something themselves.

Enough is enough.

It is wrong that Campbell should suffer those insults.

The best suggestion I have heard so far is that next season Tottenham should not sell any of their ticket allocation for Fratton Park but should still pay the equivalent monies to Portsmouth and hope that common sense will prevail through their own supporters club.