To get involved use 606 or text us your views & comments on 81111. (Not all contributions can be used)
By Paul Fletcher
1830: Well, I think we might be coming to an end with regard to today's live text. I must admit, the drama has exceeded expectations. I might have an atrocious memory but even I won't forget the Stoke v Spurs match in quite some time.
Many thanks for all your 606 comments and texts today. Sorry about Saturday's 606 server problems but isn't life great when the servers are fully operational?
I'll leave you with these words..
"I am in mourning. Sitting here, in Thailand, shell shocked that the team I have supported for 50 years have sunk to such a level.... and the electric failed 30 seconds after the final whistle. Guess I am just as in the dark as Ramos. I cannot believe the start we have had. And it doesn't look like getting any better with the injury and suspensions situation. Relegation is unimaginable.....isn't it?" DavidHaskins on 606 Join the debate on 606
1827: "Tottenham will get it sorted out sooner or later and when they do they will be a very tough team to play against." Stoke boss Tony Pulis
1824: "Woodgate, Bentley, Bent, Jenas, Dawson. The problem for Tottenham is obvious. Too many English players!" redandblackT1899 on 606 Join the debate on 606
Droll. Very much so.
PLAYER RATER
The top rated player at full-time from the Stoke v Spurs game is Rory Delap with 7.44. But you can still change all this - and indeed give your verdict on the earlier game between Hull and West Ham. Get involved. Pick a game - rate the players
1817: No further word as yet on Vedran Corluka. He has been taken to hospital.
Tottenham finished the match with nine players after red cards for Gareth Bale and Michael Dawson. They remain bottom of the table with Newcastle one place ahead of them.
1817: "I am a life long Spurs fan and work in the city. Oh well at least I have the credit crunch to look forward to." Aaron via text on 81111
1812: "If Spurs keep on imploding like this they will form a black hole that will suck all life from the universe. Deserved red card, and Dawson should be ashamed." onithor on 606Join the debate on 606
1808: "Over a hundred minutes. Two sendings off. A missed penalty, various hittings of the woodwork. At least Ramos' last game was exciting." Anonymous via text on 81111
1806: "I've been a Tottenham fan all my life but I've never been so embarrassed or disgraced in all my life!" Anonymous via text on 81111
Not even when you dropped your pants while drunk at the Christmas party?
1803: Full-time Stoke 2-1 Tottenham A remarkable match comes to an end. A valuable three points for Stoke but the misery continues for Tottenham boss Juande Ramos. Spurs have now had their worst ever start to a Premier League season.
1803: This is crazy days. Ricardo Fuller hits the crossbar with a strike from the edge of the area.
1800: RED CARD Michael Dawson sees red for a challenge on Mamady Sidibe. A straight red from referee Lee Mason - a decision that totally and utterly outrages Dawson. His foot did go over the top and into Sidibe's ankle after he won the ball.
Spurs down to nine men - the clock reaches 100 minutes.
1800: We are in the 97th minute - still four plus minutes left then.
1757: PENALTY MISS Ricardo Fuller's penalty strikes both posts and runs out to Rory Delap, who hits the crossbar with his follow-up. Absolutely unbelievable.
1756: PENALTY Tom Soares is brought down by Jonathan Woodgate. A penalty and no doubt.
1755: Stoke on the attack. Michael Dawson clears and Stoke win a corner. It is taken short and wasted, though I suppose Stoke will see it as a few more seconds wasted.
1754: The atmosphere sounds great. Tottenham have been re-energised by the fact they still have 11 minutes to rescue a point.
1752: There are 11, I repeat 11, minutes of injury-time at Stoke.
1750: Tom Soares should seal victory for Stoke after shrugging off Didier Zokora but he shoots over the target.
1748: Darren Bent is fouled close to the edge of the Stoke area by Abdoulaye Faye, who is booked for his trouble. Jermaine Jenas shoots over and holds his head in his hands. The travails of Tottenham....
1747: Magic dribbling skills from Ricardo Fuller but the killer pass or shot is missing at the end. Good to watch though.
1745: Ibrahima Sonko limps out, Ryan Shawcross replaces him. How many injuries can we have in one game?
1741: Jermaine Jenas takes a free-kick. Dreadful, neither a cross intended for a team-mate nor a shot at goal. It drifts harmlessly out for a goal kick. Perhaps an apt metaphor of sorts for the lack of clarity and direction at Spurs at the moment.
1739: Play resumes.
1739: Corluka receives a generous hand from both sets of fans as he is stretchered from the field.
1737: Corluka is being strapped in to a stretcher. Neck brace, oxygen. Let us hope he is OK. A few Stoke players knock the ball around to try to stay warm.
1736: Play has still yet to resume. Plenty of medical people surrounding Corluka.
1734: By my reckoning we will have about 15 minutes stoppage time.
1732: Corluka takes one in the face as Gomes comes to clear a free-kick.
1731: Vedran Corluka takes one for the team - in his ribs. But he is OK to continue.
Don't forget, Spurs are down to 10 men.
1727: Stoke keeper Thomas Sorensen is injured by Alan Hutton as he collects the ball. Ibrahima Sonko goes to remonstrate with Hutton and also clips the keeper on the head. The keeper is replaced by Steve Simonsen.
1724: Stoke almost make it three through Seyi Olofinjana but his dipping long-range strike is well saved by Heurelho Gomes.
1721: Chants of "You're getting sacked in the morning" can be heard at Stoke, presumably aimed at Ramos. By whom? I'm not sure.
Roman Pavlyuchenko replaces Bentley.
Luka Modric comes within inches of an equaliser with the Stoke keeper nowhere near the ball.
1720: A long Rory Delap throw causes chaos, Tottenham keeper Gomes only just managing to palm the ball out for a corner.
1719: Juande Ramos in most earnest discussions with Gus Poyet. Lots to talk about I would imagine.
1717: Stoke make a change with Ricky Fuller coming on for Dave Kitson.
1714: GOAL Stoke 2-1 Tottenham Stoke work the ball well, Mamady Sidibe sending in a superb delivery across the face of goal that Rory Delap guides home at the far post.
1713: Stoke have had several opportunities to knock balls into the Tottenham area and use their aerial threat so far this half but they have been let down by poor delivery.
1711: "I remember when Gareth Bale was the new hope for English football. Now he's a clumsy, bit-part player whose game has fallen dramatically." shop assistant on 606 Join the debate on 606
Yes, now he is the new hope for Welsh football.
1709: Rory Delap time. Jonathan Woodgate is fouled as he attacks the ball and the danger subsides.
1707: The match resumes at Stoke.
1706: Gomes is out for the second half. I'm sure the Stoke players will be testing his levels of fitness to the full.
1705: "I realise that Zola will probably have no money to spend in January, but our team right now is below average. All our highly paid players couldn't win a raffle! I can see us finishing lower than 10th this season. Even Spurs will more than likely finish above us!" captainHammerHead on 606 Join the debate on 606
Not happy then?
1700: I am not being in any way negative towards Hull here, but I reckon that with 17 points they are now more or less half way towards Premier League safety - and this after just eight games. Top Tigers stuff.
PLAYER RATER
The top rated player at full-time from the Hull v West Ham game is Geovanni with 7.62. But you can still change all this. Get involved. Player Rater
1656: "I love watching Hull, They whupped my beloved Arsenal, my hated Spurs, and now my indifferent West Ham. Chelsea better watch out." onithor on 606 Join the debate on 606
1653: Full-time Hull 1-0 West Ham Not a great day for the Hammers, who have now suffered back-to-back defeats, but the fairytale continues for the Tigers. Phil Brown's team move back into the top four - yes, back into the top four - claiming third place in the Premier League table. Remarkable. What a story.
1652: Half-time Stoke 1-1 Tottenham Cracking stuff, Spurs responded really well after losing a player and conceding a goal.
1651: Three minutes left at Hull.
1648: There are 24,896 fans watching Hull v West Ham - a record for Hull at the KC Stadium.
1647: Rory Delap launches one of his much-discussed long throws that the Tottenham keeper manages to punch clear at full stretch. Gomes appears to have injured himself doing so.
1645: Time is running out for West Ham to conjure up an equaliser but they are certainly pushing forward.
1642: Tottenham might be down to 10 men but they are very much on top. Aaron Lennon strikes a crisp shot that Thomas Sorensen saves low to his right.
1641: (See 1637) "It has to be the hair. Shave it all off again and he'll be fine. Like a reverse Samson." lobotics on 606 Join the debate on 606
1638: Tottenham's Luka Modric cuts in from the right showing some tidy footwork but his shot across goal is wide.
1637: David Bentley has a shooting chance from 20ish yards but misses the target by some margin. What has happened to him since he joined Spurs?
1634: News from the Austrian league - Mattersburg 5-6 Sturm Graz.
1631: West Ham win a free-kick on the edge of the box but Mark Noble's strike hits the wall.
1629: Matthew Etherington should equalise at the far post for West Ham but misses the target.
Dean Marney has the ball in the net minutes later for Hull. I suspect that had he not been offside and then handled the ball the goal would have stood.
1627: GOAL Stoke 1-1 Tottenham Alan Hutton plays a ball in to the Stoke box that hits a defenders and then falls invitingly to Darren Bent, who slips the ball home from eight yards. Replays suggested at least one Spurs players was offside at the time of Hutton's pass.
1626: "The Spurs tragedy continues... even Shakespeare couldn't write a script like this!" sportsportsport on 606 Join the debate on 606
1624: Hull looking pretty good at the KC Stadium. No real sign as yet of a West Ham equaliser - apart from Carlton Cole's miss of course..
1621: GOAL Stoke 1-0 Tottenham The ball keeps blowing off the spot - it does so several times - but eventually Danny Higginbotham drills the ball into the bottom corner.
1619: PENALTY RED CARD Gareth Bale sees red for a foul on Tom Soares a couple of yards inside the penalty area. The incident happens after Bale is caught in possession.
1619: A cross comes in but the ball is slightly behind Darren Bent and his weak header is saved.
1617: Hull go close to a second but Kamil Zayatte cannot quite keep his shot on target.
1615: Stoke's Danny Higginbotham climbs over the top of David Bentley, who looks most perturbed at someone actually managing to disturb his severe new hairstyle.
1612: Almost an instant reply from West Ham but Carlton Cole's shot on the turn from five yards hits the crossbar. Needless to say he should have scored.
1611: GOAL Hull City 1-0 West Ham Andy Dawson knocks in a corner and Michael Turner climbs well to head the Tigers in front.
1609: Stoke cut Tottenham open and Tom Soares only has the keeper to beat but his shot is poor and Heurelho Gomes easily saves.
1607: I suspect Stoke are not going to take any prisoners. Jermaine Jenas picks himself up off the deck.
1606: George Boateng hits the target for Hull but it is all too easy for Robert Green.
1605: Phil Brown signs a few autographs, Gianfranco Zola has a grin on his face. The match resumes.
1603: For those of you not following the action at Stoke on the telly, Spurs are wearing their blue kit.
1602: Juande Ramos looks a touch confused on the bench at Stoke, glancing around at the different stands. The match starts.
1559: "One comforting thought: even if Spurs win today, the Aussies are still getting thrashed in cricket." over_there on 606 Join the debate on 606
1557: Looks like a full house at Stoke. Should be a cracker. Or at least I hope so.
1548: Half-time Hull City 0-0 West Ham Not a great half by any means. The Hammers had the better of it but could not convert.
1547: Carlton Cole with the headed knock down to Craig Bellamy. The Wales striker is six yards from goal but hits his shot over. Wasteful.
1543: TEAM NEWS Stoke leave leading scorer Ricardo Fuller on the bench after his international stint with Jamaica, so Mamady Sidibe joins Dave Kitson in attack.
Spurs are without Ledley King, which will be a boost for long-throwing Rory Delap. Alan Hutton returns at right-back in a 4-5-1 formation with Darren Bent the lone striker and Roman Pavlyuchenko on the bench.
1541: George Boateng tries his luck from 25 yards. The ball not only goes out for a throw-in but is some 20 yards in front of the corner flag.
1540: Regarding the goal that was ruled out earlier in the match (See 1519) - an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team if, in the opinion of the referee, a player prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from his hands. Page 34 of the Fifa Laws of the Game.
1538: Another excellent period of possession for the Hammers - with Craig Bellamy and Matthew Etherington causing problems out wide. They just need a little more cutting edge.
1536: Juan day Spurs will win a game - but will it be today? This is the first top-flight meeting at Stoke between the two teams since 1984/85. The one and only Garth Crooks scored the only goal against his former club as Spurs travelled home with the points. How they could do with that sort of result today.
1531: A scramble breaks out in the Hull area but the Tigers eventually boot the ball clear. West Ham look more composed in possession but Hull have pace on the break.
1528: West Ham really should be in front.Herita Ilunga is completely unmarked as he races in to head a corner but his effort from six yards is disappointingly wide.
1525: Oh dear, Phil Brown has had to abandon the walkie talkie device. Dean Marney has a crack from a fair old distance. Wide.
1523: Paul McShane expertly stops a powerful strike from Mark Noble with his face. Ouch. Hull break and Dean Marney shoots just wide.
1519: Boaz Myhill tosses the ball up and is about to boot it upfield when Herita Ilunga nips in, kicks it beyond the keeper's grasp and then brilliantly hits it over his head and into the net. A really sensational finish, ruled out by the referee.
1517: Craig Bellamy picks out an unmarked Carlton Cole, but the striker's shot lacks power and is too close to Hull keeper Boaz Myhill, who comfortably saves.
1513: Daniel Cousin's weak header is easily saved. Phil Brown's walkie talkie type thing appears to have stopped working. Who does he talk to anyway? Brian Horton?
Wednesday beat United 1-0 in the Steel City derby.
1510: Marlon King knocks a low ball into the box that eludes Robert Green and rolls across goal but Daniel Cousin cannot make the required contact under pressure from a Hammers defender.
1508: Marlon King delivers a dangerous low cross from the right that Robert Green collects with several Hull players lurking.
1506: "Did you read about Juande Ramos in the tabloids? He got flashed by a speed camera on the M25. Apparently he was just so desperate for three points." Jay via text on 81111
No more please, it is just not fair.
Hull win a corner.
1504: Good start by the Hammers, plenty of early touches and time on the ball.
1501: The opening fixture of Sunday's thrilling Premier League action starts. Bring it on.
1458: The teams are making their way out at Hull. West Ham appear to be sponsored by a series of different numbers judging from what I can see on the front of their shirts.
1454: Wonder if Del Boy has made the trip north today. I seem to recall that he has previously been to Hull and back.
1453: Filling up nicely at the KC Stadium as we approach kick-off.
1446: Another red in the Steel City derby. After Jermaine Johnson was subbed he kicked a water bottle into the crowd, then scuffled with some of his own side's backroom staff. He was then shown a second yellow but because he had already been subbed the Owls still have 11 on the pitch.
1445: "Difference between Tottenham and Tottenham jokes? The jokes aren't funny." Anonymous via text on 8111
Apparently Joe Louis did sign for Liverpool. Thanks to all the 606s for the additional reporting on that one. A colleague has just told me Garry Sobers was once offered a trial as a goalkeeper for Everton.
1435: "What's the difference between Tottenham and a samosa? A samosa has three points!" langhamhero on 606 Join the debate on 606
No need. No need at all.
1430: Sheffield Wednesday have a penalty in the Steel City derby but Paddy Kenny makes a decent old save.
1428: (See 1420)"Thanks for sticking up for us Spurs fans Fletch mate!" Stu via text on 81111
Master of irony or slightly naive? Unsure. Tying myself in knots here.
1423: "Useless fact of the day: A not very well known fact is that in 1944, during a promotional tour of Liverpool, England, Joe Louis (as a publicity stunt) actually signed for Liverpool Football Club as a player. As of today the records still state, that he was on the books and is classed as having been a Liverpool player." knightsmith on 606 Join the debate on 606
Hmm. This would be brilliant if true. I have no idea but I'm sure someone out there must be able to confirm or deny. I have my doubts because in 1944 Liverpool were a very modest club indeed. (And for you super young kids, Joe Louis was a very good boxer).
1421: "Laugh but today is Spurs day, they will win today and after the game they will never look back again." apleshgujjar on 606 Join the debate on 606
1420: Please can we not have any more jokes on 606 or via text on 81111 about Tottenham and the fact they are rock bottom of the Premier League. The jibes are cruel, unnecessary and not very nice. Thanks.
1416: TEAM NEWS Hull striker Marlon King has shaken off a back injury so Phil Brown names the same starting line-up that won at Tottenham.West Ham make just one change from the side that lost to Bolton, with Craig Bellamy coming in for David Di Michele.
1411: "How good would it be for the English game if Hull manage to maintain this level of form all the way through the season? If they manage to continue competing with the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool, Man United and Chelsea, it would send a great message of hope that these teams can be touched, even by those who we all expected to go down." ToastedWelshy on 606 Join the debate on 606
I see where you are coming from but no, it would not be good. The wife would become insufferable. Bad enough as it is.
1407: Let me hit you with a fact that you can mull over and respond to at your own leisure (given the 606 server seems to be working properly) - Hull have three more Premier League points than Derby County managed in the whole of last season.
1403: "If Sheffield United don't win here will they sue West Ham for another �5m due to 'loss of earnings'?" Adam via text on 81111
Very good, like it. Droll.
1400: "Glad to see the 606 servers are up and running again (touch wood). Sorry Fletch for suggesting you presence yesterday had any thing to do with it. Friends?" redandblackT1899 on 606 Join the debate on 606
Lets start with a temporary truce and build from there. Oh, OK then, yes.
1355: "Even if Hull City lose today, they will drop just one place to seventh. If you would have offered me seventh spot after eight games at the beginning of the season, I would have snapped your arm off." chris bolton on 606Join the debate on 606
Good job I didn't then because that sounds jolly painful.
1353: By the way, Steve Watson has put Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 up with a cracking finish from 25 yards after Paddy Kenny went walkabout.
1351: "Rumour has it Spurs are on the verge of signing free agent Ronnie Rosenthal to boost their attacking options." rkblogger on 606 Join the debate on 606
Now, now. No need for that sort of sarcastic, cruel and taunting chat at all. Whatsoever.
1346: A quick word on the Steel City derby currently taking place. Sheffield United have just had Matthew Kilgallon sent off for a high tackle. The former Leeds defender was given a straight red and Blades boss Kevin Blackwell did not look happy. At all. It is currently goalless in that game.
1345: "I feel this is a must win game for Spurs. No offence meant to Stoke but this is the kind of game that, before the start of the season, Tottenham would have been expected to win. Plus, they can't afford to get too detached at the bottom of the table or they could see themselves in a proper scrap for survival." kiki1875 on 606 Join the debate on 606
1342: "I think Hull will be back up to third. Good Luck to all teams playing today. Not sure about Tottenham getting a win, only chance I could see it happening is from a set piece." Rowan on 606 Join the debate on 606
1337: It is perhaps worth pointing out that Hull's last two fixtures were at Arsenal and Tottenham - and the Tigers won them both. The Tigers haven't played at home since 21 September - a 2-2 draw with Everton.
In fact, an Arsenal fan said to me recently. "I hated Hull, until they won at Tottenham as well."
1332: For all of you that were trying to get on 606 on Saturday, the latest news is that it should be OK today. Fingers crossed.
1330: The final words I heard today from my wife before I left the house? "Up the Tigers."
The message used to have a slightly more personal or romantic inference and it is certainly safe to say that the fortunes of Hull City never figured in any sort of conversation at all when they were in the lower reaches of the Football League.
No doubt the fortunes of Phil Brown's brave warriors will start to slip down the agenda if Hull's fortunes flag and fade but for the moment there is even a pressing interest in watching them in the flesh, for real, despite the ridiculous cost of watching Premier League football.
This afternoon sees them takes on Gianfranco Zola's West Ham. A victory for the Tigers will see them move back into the top four (did I ever think I would be writing those words?), while the Hammers finally get the chance to show that they are much better than their 3-1 humbling at home to Bolton last time out.
Will this be the day the Hull City Express is derailed?
The other fixture has all kinds of intrigue about it. Bottom against second-bottom, Spurs at Stoke.
Chaos club Tottenham desperately need a win today, but one thing if for sure - the team of the gigantic throw-ins will not make it easy.
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
Bookmark with:
What are these?