liamc23
Well-Known Member
- Oct 28, 2004
- 3,735
- 79
http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/foot...-into-life-with-london-giants-91466-20328972/
CHRIS Gunter moves into his new apartment, a few minutes away from the Spurs’ training ground in Essex, today.
Wales team-mate Gareth Bale lives in the same block of apartments. So do a number of other Spurs players.
“It’s ideal and it feels good to start settling in the area,” said Gunter.
He admits to being ‘excited’ when he was told Spurs had agreed a fee and says: “It’s the best club I could have signed for.
“There simply isn’t one who would look after my development as a player better.
“The manager Juande Ramos believes in youth and when you look at Tottenham Hotspur and what a big club it is you start to think what a good move it will be
“That was the case for me when I was told it was Spurs.”
Gunter hasn’t been at all thrown by training alongside players like Dimitar Berbatov, Jermaine Defoe, Ledley King and Co.
After all, Gunter has seen it all before.
The Welsh international defender played against new club-mate Robbie Keane for Wales against the Republic of Ireland – and he’s faced up to Miroslav Klose (Germany), Steven Gerrard, Peter Crouch and Jamie Carragher (Liverpool) this season.
Gunter has also trained alongside Ryan Giggs, Robbie Fowler, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and more.
“It’s a huge step up, I realise that,” said Gunter. “I am training with players who have experience in World Cup finals and the Champions League.
“The quality of training is, inevitably, higher.
“The facilities, the stadium. They are excellent. I mean no disrespect to Cardiff City in saying that.
“ It’s simply that Spurs are one of the top six clubs in the country, while Cardiff are working towards the Premiership.
“I won’t be looking round in wonder at other players on the training ground.
“I am here to do a job.
“There is no point looking round at who I am training with.
“I just have to get on with my football.
“The first thing I must do is train well.
“Ramos, will give young players a chance if they earn it.
“My view is aim high and try to get a few games, maybe more, in the first team.
“It’s a bit like when I started in Cardiff.
“I must find that mentality to do well and prove myself.”
Tonight when Spurs play Arsenal in a Carling Cup semi-final first leg tie at the Emirates Stadium, Gunter will be sitting in the stand.
He was a substitute for the 2-2 FA Cup draw at Reading last Saturday, but won’t be involved against Arsenal.
“I’m cup-tied because I played for Cardiff City against Brighton and Orient earlier this season,” said Gunter.
“I have to accept that, but I’d love to feel I will be back in the matchday squad for the next Premiership match.”
Spurs play Chelsea at Stamford Bridge this Saturday and Reading away in the FA Cup next week.
Those matches are followed by Sunderland at White Hart Lane, when Gunter will meet up with ex-Bluebirds club-mate Michael Chopra, Everton away and Manchester United.
Gunter made the move to Spurs just before Christmas.
Ramos agreed a fee which could reach £3m-plus with £1.2m up front.
Among the last social events he attended with his Cardiff team-mates was their Christmas party in Dublin.
“I didn’t know anything was going on until after the fee was agreed,” added Gunter.
“At that stage I hadn’t heard a thing.
“Then, a few hours later, I was told Cardiff had accepted a bid from Spurs.
“It was Tottenham Hotspur, one of the biggest clubs in the Premiership.
“I was immediately excited. Thinking about the future.
“It was an offer I couldn’t turn down. I didn’t want to leave Cardiff City, they are my club and have been since I was a young schoolboy, but Spurs were offering me such a big chance.”
Gunter hasn’t played a match yet - there have not been any reserve matches – but he has worked hard in training.
He trained Christmas Eve, had Christmas Day off with his family and has had only one day off since going back in on Boxing Day.
“It was so frustrating not being able to play for Tottenham or Cardiff over the Christmas period,” says Gunter.
“There were so many matches and I wasn’t involved.”
Instead, Gunter had to settle for training with his new clubmates.
“The manager chatted to me on the first day and I’ve also talked to assistant manager Gus Poyett and a coach, Marco Alvarez,” said Gunter.
“There are also loads of fitness and conditioning coaches.
“Everybody has made me feel welcome, including the Spurs players.”
Gunter, though, will never forget his roots in South Wales.
His first thought last Saturday was to see how Cardiff City had got on.
“It’s the first result I looked for and it always will be,” he said.
“It was a good win at Chasetown and I gave Joe Ledley a ring after the game.
“I also spoke to Aaron Ramsey to say well done.
“He is going to be a tremendous player for Cardiff City.”
When Gunter spotted Cardiff City’s under-18 youth academy team were playing Spurs at their Chigwell, training ground he popped in to see them.
“The Cardiff lads were staying in a hotel nearby on the Friday evening and I couldn’t resist going to say hi,” says Gunter.
“I know most of them from my time in the Cardiff academy.”
Gunter was hurt by comments that he didn’t want to play for Cardiff City, saying: “That utter rubbish.”
“I have never said I would not play for Cardiff and never would – it’s just not me.
“My agent went in numerous times to talk about a new contract.
“That proves I was happy to play for Cardiff.
“I have supported my club since I was eight years old.
“The Bluebirds are my club – they always will be.
“Playing for Spurs won’t change that.”
CHRIS Gunter moves into his new apartment, a few minutes away from the Spurs’ training ground in Essex, today.
Wales team-mate Gareth Bale lives in the same block of apartments. So do a number of other Spurs players.
“It’s ideal and it feels good to start settling in the area,” said Gunter.
He admits to being ‘excited’ when he was told Spurs had agreed a fee and says: “It’s the best club I could have signed for.
“There simply isn’t one who would look after my development as a player better.
“The manager Juande Ramos believes in youth and when you look at Tottenham Hotspur and what a big club it is you start to think what a good move it will be
“That was the case for me when I was told it was Spurs.”
Gunter hasn’t been at all thrown by training alongside players like Dimitar Berbatov, Jermaine Defoe, Ledley King and Co.
After all, Gunter has seen it all before.
The Welsh international defender played against new club-mate Robbie Keane for Wales against the Republic of Ireland – and he’s faced up to Miroslav Klose (Germany), Steven Gerrard, Peter Crouch and Jamie Carragher (Liverpool) this season.
Gunter has also trained alongside Ryan Giggs, Robbie Fowler, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and more.
“It’s a huge step up, I realise that,” said Gunter. “I am training with players who have experience in World Cup finals and the Champions League.
“The quality of training is, inevitably, higher.
“The facilities, the stadium. They are excellent. I mean no disrespect to Cardiff City in saying that.
“ It’s simply that Spurs are one of the top six clubs in the country, while Cardiff are working towards the Premiership.
“I won’t be looking round in wonder at other players on the training ground.
“I am here to do a job.
“There is no point looking round at who I am training with.
“I just have to get on with my football.
“The first thing I must do is train well.
“Ramos, will give young players a chance if they earn it.
“My view is aim high and try to get a few games, maybe more, in the first team.
“It’s a bit like when I started in Cardiff.
“I must find that mentality to do well and prove myself.”
Tonight when Spurs play Arsenal in a Carling Cup semi-final first leg tie at the Emirates Stadium, Gunter will be sitting in the stand.
He was a substitute for the 2-2 FA Cup draw at Reading last Saturday, but won’t be involved against Arsenal.
“I’m cup-tied because I played for Cardiff City against Brighton and Orient earlier this season,” said Gunter.
“I have to accept that, but I’d love to feel I will be back in the matchday squad for the next Premiership match.”
Spurs play Chelsea at Stamford Bridge this Saturday and Reading away in the FA Cup next week.
Those matches are followed by Sunderland at White Hart Lane, when Gunter will meet up with ex-Bluebirds club-mate Michael Chopra, Everton away and Manchester United.
Gunter made the move to Spurs just before Christmas.
Ramos agreed a fee which could reach £3m-plus with £1.2m up front.
Among the last social events he attended with his Cardiff team-mates was their Christmas party in Dublin.
“I didn’t know anything was going on until after the fee was agreed,” added Gunter.
“At that stage I hadn’t heard a thing.
“Then, a few hours later, I was told Cardiff had accepted a bid from Spurs.
“It was Tottenham Hotspur, one of the biggest clubs in the Premiership.
“I was immediately excited. Thinking about the future.
“It was an offer I couldn’t turn down. I didn’t want to leave Cardiff City, they are my club and have been since I was a young schoolboy, but Spurs were offering me such a big chance.”
Gunter hasn’t played a match yet - there have not been any reserve matches – but he has worked hard in training.
He trained Christmas Eve, had Christmas Day off with his family and has had only one day off since going back in on Boxing Day.
“It was so frustrating not being able to play for Tottenham or Cardiff over the Christmas period,” says Gunter.
“There were so many matches and I wasn’t involved.”
Instead, Gunter had to settle for training with his new clubmates.
“The manager chatted to me on the first day and I’ve also talked to assistant manager Gus Poyett and a coach, Marco Alvarez,” said Gunter.
“There are also loads of fitness and conditioning coaches.
“Everybody has made me feel welcome, including the Spurs players.”
Gunter, though, will never forget his roots in South Wales.
His first thought last Saturday was to see how Cardiff City had got on.
“It’s the first result I looked for and it always will be,” he said.
“It was a good win at Chasetown and I gave Joe Ledley a ring after the game.
“I also spoke to Aaron Ramsey to say well done.
“He is going to be a tremendous player for Cardiff City.”
When Gunter spotted Cardiff City’s under-18 youth academy team were playing Spurs at their Chigwell, training ground he popped in to see them.
“The Cardiff lads were staying in a hotel nearby on the Friday evening and I couldn’t resist going to say hi,” says Gunter.
“I know most of them from my time in the Cardiff academy.”
Gunter was hurt by comments that he didn’t want to play for Cardiff City, saying: “That utter rubbish.”
“I have never said I would not play for Cardiff and never would – it’s just not me.
“My agent went in numerous times to talk about a new contract.
“That proves I was happy to play for Cardiff.
“I have supported my club since I was eight years old.
“The Bluebirds are my club – they always will be.
“Playing for Spurs won’t change that.”
