It’s something a little bit different this weekend for Tottenham Hotspur, as we put the Premier League aside and go into what will be an incredibly tough battle with Manchester City at Wembley Stadium in the EFL Cup Final.
Results and form of late has been mixed and we’ve seen the departure of former manager Jose Mourinho as a result of that (or the Super League nonsense?), but plenty would argue that we’ve seen an almost immediate reaction from the side to the appointment of caretaker boss Ryan Mason, as we turned our habit of losing points late on around with a 90th minute winner against Southampton in midweek. Few however, wouldn’t say our performance should’ve been far improved.
Victory was certainly much needed given how the week started and the confidence boost everyone has taken from that is the perfect preparation for Pep Guardiola’s side on Sunday afternoon, but nobody will be under any illusions as to how difficult this tie will be.
It is a chance for silverware though, so the players will definitely be up for this one and Cup games especially are definitely a ‘funny old game’ as one legend used to say.
The biggest question that remains for fans is will Harry Kane be passed fit for this one, as if he returns our chances of a result dramatically increase. Mason could also welcome Matt Doherty back aswell, but Ben Davies will need longer.
Thanks Danny yet again, I know there were those who wanted several threads on various topics last week but I respect that it was so thick and fast that the initial thread had to evolve.
Either way, looking forward to the weekend, playing on the front foot, no reactionary football.
I am aware that this got us a result last time out against Man C, but we need to play our part and do our best to dictate the game.
On the last thread, HT,, re playing in Qatar, Dubai, LA or else where, I’m not sure where this ESL was going, just as you didn’t know, however, this sort of stuff was my fear, as bringing competitive football to the supporters who can’t see it live , I do honestly think was down the line, I may be wrong, but we will not know now. Perhaps as I couldn’t say it for sure, neither can you dismiss it, I just saw it much as some competitive American football games are now played in London, its not pue in the sky.
However it has been parked for a time at least.
I think we can beat Man C, they have too many irons in the fire, and whilst they have a decent squad this is the least of their worries, whilst for us it’s all or nothing.
BTW I actually like the timing of this trophy, rather than earlier in the year, it’s almost like an introduction or prelude to the end of the season.
Sorry, missed those requests Niall – wasn’t around much. Bit of a hectic week on all fronts!
Part of the official ESL statement told us the format of it, Niall. And playing home and away was clearly stated.
The Super League website reads: “The Super League is a new European competition between 20 top clubs comprised of 15 founders and five annual qualifiers. There will be two groups of 10 clubs each, playing home and away fixtures within the group each year.
“Following the group stage, eight clubs will qualify for a knockout tournament, playing home and away until the single-match Super League championship, in a dramatic four-week end to the season.
HT….Correct, that’s what I read also. COYS
Niall,
the idea of our stadium at WHL was for regular NFL games to be held there. That accounts for a large part of the expense of the place, so they can slide one field in and the other our. beneath the pitch is a permanent NFL field, just ready to be exposed when our pitch is rolled out into the parking lot or something like that. I think that’s the physical arrangement. The financial arrangement: Spurs will be screwed with less that one NFL match a year.
TK……I think we were initially going to have a minimum of 2 games per season with the possibilty of having a London based side at some point in the future.
Spurs 3 – 0 City!
I’m fully confident that we can win this…
Just one week ago, I wasn’t really looking forward to it at all. Believing that we would see an uninspiring, negative, defend deep game from Spurs that just gave it up to City without much of a reason to be a proud Spurs supporter. I now feel the complete opposite of that. I’m optimistic. And I think we’ll see a much better and more evenly competitive game than we might have otherwise expected.
Up the Spurs!
Much the same as you on this one HT.
It was getting to the stage where I was dredding game day coming.
At least now I’m looking forward to this.
Only sorry it didn’t happen sooner to give RN a chance to get some tactics and a settled team together.
I have also grown in optimism over the past few days. Currently reading about our 1961 double ( lucky enough to remember it well) and the amazing FA Cup replay against City with Biddle, Ardiles and that amazing winning goal from Ricky Villa…always worth a watch. My team for tomorrow….Lloris, Aurier,Toby, Diet, Reguilon, N’Dombele,Hojbjerg,Bale, Lucas,Sonny and hopefully Kane. Feel this team is best chance of worrying City. We have nothing to lose so go for it. Our new, young, unassuming coach and his contrasting style of management could pull this off. What a bonus that would be. Now excited by the game. C’mOn You Spurs.
Biddle ??? Hoddle!!
The biggest game of our season coming up….will we win it, I certainly hope so!
I am excited and looking forward to it, win or lose, obviously prefer a win, but lets make a game of it, they might even be worried about us!
So it is a…. “have nothing to lose all to gain” Final, that’s for both, the team and our new young tempt manager.
Underdog v odds on fave…..2-1 to us COYS
WW….would love to see your line up against a team like Burnley for example but for this game I would take out one of Bale/Lucas/Sonny to make way for Lo Celso who will put in the hard yards in midfield. Sad as I am to say it, I would have Bale on the bench and bring him on as a possible game changer in the second half.
TQ
I can’t agree on that, I’d actually be the opposite, I’d play Bale for around an hour and bring on Moura for his work rate, as I said in the last thread, Moura has plenty of running but little end product, where as Bale is a game changer but may take time to come into his own.
I just feel we have stopped being the “Joe Bugner” of the premiership, might get the odd result but feking hard to watch.
Morning Niall.
Against City we will need players to chase the ball and deny them possession as much as possible, as much as I love GB that’s not his game. As you say, Moura is prepared to put in the effort which is why I would start him as well as Lo Celso and bring GB on in the second half if we are chasing the game.
Why not Lo Celso and Bale?
And, if Kane is fit to play, why not this line-up? 🙂
Lloris
Aurier Toby Dier Reguilon
Hojbjerg Ndombele
Lo Celso
Bale Son
Kane
Morning HT!
I gave my reasoning, as I say, I love GB but don’t feel he offers enough presence in midfield to combat City’s possession game.
Just to stir things up a bit more………I would pair Dier with Rodon, Toby doesn’t have the pace to handle Sterling/Jesus et al and has been prone to mistakes of late. Or we could play 352 which looked good in the early part of the Everton game, this would also give us more bodies in midfield and if Kane isn’t fit we could play Sonny and Bale as the 2.
TQ. Rodon can’t play as he is ‘cup-tied’.
Personally, I would prefer to see Sanchez with Dier for the same reasons. But I can’t see it happening. Unless we see a back 3…
Over to you Mr. Mason!
I hadn’t realised that HT….pity.
Moura has energy, spirit and pushes hard to get the ball forward. But he barely has an end product.
To have a world class player like Bale in our squad and not play him in a one-off cup final, is far too much of a Jose thing to do, imo. 😉
We need to be aware of their attacking prowess and do what’s necessary to keep them out. But we need to give them something to work against too. And Bale is the man for me, aside from Son and Kane. He has assists and goals, (and magic boots) way in his favour, over the likes of Lucas.
I’d actually like to see Dele play, but he is not match ready it would seem fair to say. Having barely played recently and all season of course.
IMO, Bale was the best player on the pitch by far against the Saints an d I c an see him b eing as influential for us, as say, Foden, De Bruyne or Aguero could be for them.
But if Kane doesn’t start, then maybe we will see Lucas anyway… And in that case, I think Bale will be needed as well, even more…
Bale has to play. He is the only outball we have to get up the pitch if Harry’s not fit. Frankly we have slim hopes of pulling this off but you never know, they may shoot themselves in the foot if they underestimate again our ability to break with pace. We must win the 50:50s.
Will the players try and win this not for jose but to stick 2 fingers up at him.
Let’s hope so 123! 🙂
I still think City will rest some of their top stars with the CL semi in mind, not sure how much of a difference that will make!
Yes… Pep will not want to be knocked out of the CL yet again, by Poch…
Throw a wrench in the works, play Lamela alongside Hojbjerg. My two cents. COYS!!!
HT
Your two posts 11:12 and 11:34 spot on m8. My reasoning for playing Bale exactly the same.
Good team choice.
BTW watching Man U focus on BBC today, considering the week we’ve just had, manager etc we got about 5 minutes at most, with the focus on Ole talking about Man U for about 10.
They actually referenced the Cup final in the last 10 seconds, good ol BBC not bias at all.