The Hoddle of Coffee: Tottenham Hotspur News and Links for Wednesday, January 10

Hello, Hoddlers!

Shall we ramble?

Ramble of the Day

Mexican side Club León added Jamaican midfielder Giles Barnes (formerly of Derby County, among others) to their squad yesterday. Their announcement was rather unique.

It is a little bit weird, but I do appreciate the unique way to make the announcement. That reminded me that the Colorado Rapids had their own relatively unique player announcement to make on Monday.

Their newest players, Edgar Castillo and Jack Price (formerly of Wolverhampton Wanderers, among others) were greeted by supporters in front of this very nice mural. Look at how nice the picture came out!

That leads me to my point: I think that player announcement photographs should be more creative. A photo at the club’s training ground, holding up or wearing a jersey is fine, but a bit boring at this point, is it not?

Doing so allows the club to get a bit more in touch with its surroundings, and some good photo ops. Every relatively large city has a few places worth hitting up for good pictures, after all. Additionally, depending on the location, supporters can be called to make for a nice announcement, but certain locations do not need it. It is something that does not require a club’s social media and creative teams to be gimmicky and over the top, like the time Sevilla announced the signing of Jesus Navas in a video where they simulated a kidnapping (though they can obviously keep doing things like that if they want).

If the team makes a signing during a preseason tour, that makes it all the more fun. For example, Romelu Lukaku’s Manchester United unveiling in California is cool and unlike any other unveiling.

Tottenham attempted this once when Ben Davies joined the club back in 2014 while the team was in Toronto during preseason. A decent attempt, as the view from a relatively nice hotel balcony was not a terrible backdrop. However, there are definitely better places to do this, though on a tight schedule, I can understand why scouting a location and doing a photoshoot might have been a big ask.

Of course, on deadline day, the scenic photoshoot may be even more difficult to arrange. Then again, that’s what photogenic training grounds are for.

Okay, now for the links.

Links of the Day

The FA will institute the Rooney Rule when hiring national team coaches. Also, Martin Glenn had to say something to ruin the announcement.

Stoke have signed Moritz Bauer from Rubin Kazan.

Newcastle U-23 coach Peter Beardsley has taken a leave of absence after complaints of racism and bullying were made against him.

Nottingham Forest’s Eric Lichaj got the dog he wanted and named it Gunner after he scored a brace on Arsenal.

This is a few days old and you may already have heard, but in case you have not: Fleetwood Town’s goalkeeper, Chris Neal, is getting free pizza for keeping a clean sheet against Leicester.

It’s time for David Squires’ latest cartoon, this one about the FA Cup third round.