It’s that time of the week again for Tottenham Hotspur fans, but on Sunday we can look forward to the home leg of the North London Derby as we welcome locals Arsenal to White Hart Lane.
With Europa League frustration again dominating the week, taking top spot in Group J is in our hands based on the Royal Antwerp clash, but in probably more important news, fans have had their eyes on whether or not talismanic Harry Kane would be passed fit for Sunday given the ‘unspecified knock’ he has picked up.
Chances are he’ll face the Gooners as he doesn’t miss many but PhysioRoom’s weekly table doesn’t make for good reading with their information listing goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and Erik Lamela still missing this game, but late fitness tests will apply to Carlos Vinicius, Sergio Reguilon and Toby Alderweireld.
Everyone knows what this game means and our Premier League form remains good, so manager Jose Mourinho will want to keep his record of never losing to Arsenal on home soil intact.
We also know what it means for the battle at the top of the table. If Liverpool slip up and we don’t, there’s daylight.
Arsenal...
Win
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More LASK Gasps For Spurs As We Go Through, But The Group Goes To The Final Game – Match Stats
The Gooners are a bit sixes and seven this season. Could we call em “Spursy”
They are there for the taking this season if any.
However this is the NLD and the rule book and form book gets torn up.
Just think we’ll do em well this weekend.
Have a wee feeling This’ll be a good result.
COYS.
Failure to beat this weakened wounded pathetic arsenal team will test our real mentality.
123 … But don’t forget that there’s nothing better for healing a wound than winning a NLD. They are never easy, and rarely predictable. Although a 3-0 loss to Arsenal won’t do much to heal their wound!
Todays game is going to be a bit of an acid test for me, let’s see if the team has the desire to regain top spot!
Simple! for the shirt/the fans, plus yourselves as Spurs players, kick the Gooners arses, so Come ON You Spurs.
And thanks again Danny for the match thread. COYS
Spurs all the way today, I’ll be watching our ladies (kick off 14.00) as a warm up for the derby game.
Sad news in the world of sport today, golfer/commentator Peter Allis has passed away. The velvety voice of golf for me taking over the mantle from Henry Longhurst following his retirement from playing.
I see Dane Scarlett scored a hat-trick for the U18’s in the top of the table game against Palace, would be nice to think his experience around the first team squad is improving his self-confidence.
Jose will have another tactical plan for this game. He was annoyed thursday night and will have given the players a “a motivational chat”. I expect Bale to play and toby if fit, with usual 1st team players. As we all know this NLD form goes out the window, arsenal will have a bit more confidence in their win thursday…however spurs should be 2-1 winners. COYS
It seems to me that with a lot of supporters, when we win (or at least a draw against our main rivals), it’s because of Jose’s great tactics. But when we lose/draw (with a ‘lesser’ seen team)/play badly, it’s because the players have lacked motivation or just aren’t good enough….
Personally, I can’t see it this way at all. Not when the entire team as individuals, play poorly. As in the Antwerp and LASK matches… If it were down to 1,2,3, maybe 4 players not putting the effort in, then maybe it’s down to them… I’m sorry to say, but Jose does not and will not always get it right. As is the case with all our players too.
I also don’t buy the “form goes out of the window in a the NLD ” cliche…
Arsenal have played some good football this season but also been poor at times. Likewise with Spurs. But overall, this really is a game that we should be favourites to win. But as with any other game, the result is not a forgone conclusion.
Anyhow it goes, my prediction for today is that we will thrash them… Haha!
Spurs 5-1 Goon-show!
HT…..if we win 5-1 or better I’ll send you bottle of your favourite tipple…..within reason of course! lol
Danny late again thanks for the thread. Dunno how you keep up with it.
HT, hope your result prediction comes true.
Just got Sky back for this one (protest over).
Tend to disagree with your “form goes out the window” I feel that in games like this or Liverpool /Everton, there is that added bite and local pride, history( if you want).
If we look at the first Harry Rednapp Derby about 10 /12 years, ago, form ways they were miles ahead yet we managed a 4-4 plus we beat em later that year.
Certainly the way this league is this season, it looks like anyone can take points form anyone.
But we could and should beat them.
Perhaps the result on Thursday will be a kick up the backside, much the same as the Antwerp result was.
I think your analysis re the Lask performance is just about right.
I myself thought that the positional “tweaks” JM made didn’t come off.
Some said about the N’Dom /LoCeslo mix and why did he try it. Well if not in that game then, when do you try it. I was wondering if Doh is still getting over the COVID thingy as it can leave a lasting effect.
Still m8 hope your result comes true.
COYS.
Hi, Niall.
I did think that about Doherty myself. But if that was indeed the case, then why play him? He should know if he’s not fit for purpose. As should our top professional medical team and, Jose of course.
As for starting Ndombele and Lo Celso vs LASK, it was just the timing of it for me. Seeing as neither player has looked to be fit enough yet to last a whole 90 minutes of any game we’ve seen so far. And I thought that rotating them as Jose has been doing was working well. And with little recovery time for both of them, before today…
Anyway, it’s not that it was a total failure on Thursday. We didn’t lose away to the team that had lost to, but also beaten Antwerp in their away match to them… So, I didn’t expect them to be a pushover. I did though expect Spurs to play a lot better… No matter now. Today is a new day, new opponents, different league, different line-up and hopefully a win… 🙂
Hi TQ.
That’ll be a bottle each of Cinzano Bianco and Lemonade please. 😉
No problem HT…..I can manage that even on my meagre pension! 🙂
Lloris (C), Aurier, Alderweireld, Dier, Reguilon, Hojbjerg, Sissoko, Lo Celso, Bergwijn, Son, Kane.
Subs:
Hart Davies Do Do Rondon don… Winks Bale Lucas Vinicius
Of course, I don’t know if this proves my point about our 2 creative mids or not… But there’s no sign of Ndombele today… Is he injured or just knackered?
The absence of N’Dombele is a blow, particularly if a fresh creative spark is needed in the second half. We do not even have Lamela or Dele to draw on. Actually this is one game where I would like to have had Dele on the bench. He did a man’s job on Thursday by stepping up and dispatching that penalty.
TQ …. Good first win to Spurs. Morgan gets her first goal and is looking sharper. And Kerr scores a hat-trick! Good start to the day but it would have been better if Leicester had lost!