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.
Apparently UEFA are saying RM, Barca and Juve are going to be punished for their part in the ESL debacle but the 6 English clubs will be treated more leniently because they pulled out of it more quickly.
TQ, your avin a laff there, no I no your not, UEFA are bottling it, punish 3 instead of 6.
UEFA….corrupt, you cant touch me bunch of money grabbing twats.
Are we all up for it, Come On You Spurs.
TQ …. I’l watch the Spurs WSL game tomorrow. I’m heading off to my mate’s place now to watch the final.
If they attempt to punish the clubs that initially signed up for the ESL they may find that they are just pushing the clubs to go through with it after all. And I doubt they want that to happen.
Enjoy the game, lads!
Cracker HT,
I can near hear that in a Chas N Dave style.
Let’s hope we Cock a doodle do it
And City Cock it up.
Your undying loyalty or obsession runs real deep
I note that Toby was calling for a bit of respect for Mourinho in a press interview and denied that the decline was due to a dressing room problem with him. Perhaps we can start by giving Jose some respect for getting us to this final.
I am hoping for the best, but not really expecting much from the game. It would have been hard enough to win the final in “normal” circumstances, but add to that the additional turmoil from the last 7 days and it just seems too much to overcome. We’ll see.
As a side note, there is a rumour in Belgium that Roberto Martinez will not renew his contract with the Belgian national team after the Euros because he is supposedly currently in discussion with… Spurs to become their next manager.
The article claims Robert Martinez is represented by agent Pini Zahavi, who is very well introduced with Daniel Levy.
Martinez feels he has taken this generation of Belgian players as far as he can, and the next generation isn’t nearly as promising, so regression seems inevitable. Additionally, he says he wants to get back to the day-to-day operation of managing a club.
Interesting link. Obviously, he’s got good experience managing top talent, he’s very familiar with the PL, his teams usually play decent football, and he even led Wigan to an FA Cup.
BS…….his name has cropped up a few times in gossip, wouldn’t be a bad option for the reasons you have given.
Thanks, HT. I awoke to your poem and my day is made, no matter the outcome of today’s match. This is THE SITE for Spurs supporters. We are well on our way to being a community. We can build together.
Niall, with your tutelage I’ll be able to participate fully in conversations in Northern Ireland. May we be united in brotherhood. (Knowing full well that brothers bicker and fight within love and admiration. What’s the local way of expressing that?)
I’m hoping that OUR Ryan Mason will surprise us both with his selections and with his choice of formation. Be daring, Ryan, show no fear in your decisions. Make us fly with pride in OUR traditions, of which you are a part and you’ll always have a place in our hearts.
Geof, the published poet of our lot. You graced us with your presence today. May the embers of your campfire warm our hearts through victory and dry our tears on those other occasions.
As our lads step on the pitch today the score is equal for the two teams. We can win in the same way that that other lot can. Neither team starts the match ahead. It must be earned (or stolen by a bad VAR?).
Keep the eyes on the prize. No distractions (and the absence of Mourinho will aid that greatly). Go for the prize, be wise, let the opponents be the ones with the bloated head size. Arrogant pride can presage their fall. Be centered and confident, but play within your selves. The glory is there to be grasped, but the grasp must always be keep close enough that it opportunity isn’t dropped. Don’t let the mind drift, keep in within the flow of the match. Smile within.
Be a Spurs team!
Now go onto the pitch and kick some… balls.
is this right? in the last five PL matches Spurs vs Citeh, each team has won 2 lost 2 and drawn 1.
Who says we can’t win today?
The monkey is off ours backs. Let the Citeh boys sink under the weight of their expectations.
𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 ⚪️ Lloris (C), Aurier, Alderweireld, Dier, Reguilon, Højbjerg, Winks, Lo Celso, Lucas, Son, Kane.
Subs:
Hart Sanchez Tanganga Sissoko Dele Ndombele Lamela Bergwijn Bale
Has there ever been a 29-year-old manager who won a cup at Wembly with his second match? Let today be the day. We are the team that has had Wembly as our home pitch. The pitch is ours. Seize the day.
City starting XI: Steffen, Walker, Dias, Laporte, Cancelo, Fernandinho (C), Gundogan, De Bruyne, Mahrez, Foden, Sterling
Subs: Ederson, Ake, Jesus, Aguero, Zinchenko, Rodrigo, Bernardo, Torres, Mendy
Wow, HT. interesting line up.
Lloris (C), Aurier, Alderweireld, Dier, Reguilon, Højbjerg, Winks, Lo Celso, Lucas, Son, Kane.
Wins, Lo Celso!
No N’dombele. Does Ryan think he’s been running in circles recently?
Bale will come on when? Hope it’s not like a JM decision to come on at the 87th minute
Here’s a prayer for Harry’s ankle.
And a prayer that Höjbjerg has something in his tank. He’s look so knackered recently
Play with purpose. Play with pride. Play with confidence in our side.
Winks, Lo Celso! that should be.
Can Winks mark De Bruyne?
I’m surprised by Winks inclusion. But he is better than Tanguy at keeping the ball and is a good, quick, neat and tidy passer.
And, with 5 subs allowed, our bench is looking strong when we need to change it up.
No Bale and no Alli.
Let’s face it, JM has been slaughtered all season for leaving them out, but how telling is it that neither of them start for what is arguably the biggest game of the season?
Kane back but remember the last time he came back from injury for a final?
And of course Winks played in that Euro defeat.
Just saying.