With an unexpected rest in midweek and on the back of Thursday evening’s comfortable, but nervy, Qualifying Third Round tie against Shkendija, Tottenham Hotspur are quickly back in action on Sunday as we face Newcastle United at White Hart Lane.
With the club learning that we have been handed a bye through to the fourth round of the EFL Cup today, it means we face Chelsea in the next game but gain the advantage of having played one match fewer in this bizarre cramped run of fixtures.
As for Newcastle, manager Jose Mourinho will undoubtedly rotate the pack once again to help keep everyone fresh so we can expect returns for the likes of Matt Doherty and Hugo Lloris and we continue to be without Gareth Bale, but if fellow newbie Sergio Reguilon misses this one, I’d imagine he’ll be in contention for the Cup clash on Tuesday evening.
Form wise at this very early stage of the season, we are level pegging with the Geordies in the table but now we seem to have found our goalscoring boots, we should have every confidence of dispatching them and taking ourselves onto six points.
Always easier said than done though isn’t it.
Newcastle...
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It Was More Comfortable For Spurs Than It Felt At Points, Onto The Next Round – Match Stats
I mentioned earlier in the match thread that we had a good opportunity this weekend with the way the other fixtures were configured, once again we have failed to take advantage of it, seems to be what we do!
That really kills it pretty much already for me, but got to say that that’s now 5 games against at the very best average competition barring Everton (and even they’re not anywhere near guaranteed top 4 quality) and yet we’ve still not kept a bloody clean sheet in 5 games ………..!
You just had to know that at only 1-0 up and when Carroll came on something was going to go wrong for us and it duly did – fair play Bruce, Carroll and Newcastle – that’s what happens when you don’t bury your chances but also that’s what happens when your squad is so stretched also especially up front and it’s just going to get worse (especially this coming week no less already – God give us strength because we bloody well literally need it)!!!!!!!
We’ve been banging on for ages now on here, etc (years indeed) but even more so lately especially given what’s happened with the likes of HK10 and even Sonny, etc recently and yet here we are 1 week from the window closing and still from the looks of things nowhere near getting that 2nd EEEELLLLUUUUSSSSIIIIVVVVEEEE STR/CF – what the fcuk do we have to say or do to make it happen finally – indeed JM’s been banging on about it for ages as well – pretty much since coming in and now we hear this report from a supposed friend at his obvious and natural disillusionment with still having only HK10 to pick up front properly!
We supposedly want to fight it out for 4 comp’s against the top sides, with a full international schedule on top in an atypical and thus cramped/compact season with only 1 bloody STR/CF so far?! Absolutely RIDICULOUS and heads should roll quite frankly – I’d bloody dock Levy and the board some fcuking wages if I could – a year’s sounds about right at this juncture for example – pure incompetence – funny how Wilson banged in the penalty today on top – deemed too injury prone and expensive at £20m – seemed to run around fine to me LOL!!!!!
Back to the defending because that’s another massive problem that needs addressing for bloody sure – Toby is probably past it and certainly lost a yard or 2 of pace already (respect to those like HT and TQ who questioned on here whether we were clever to give him another expensive and long contract last year), then Dier is proving that he simply ain’t good enough quite frankly from the looks of things – harsh today I know but fair overall (eg Spursfect One above already highlighting several issues with him in various games for example and he’s not even played that many at CB yet either recently LOL) and fair play Davy who finally appears to be coming on under JM this season and learning from his past mistakes, etc but he can’t do it all on his own unfortunately – fair play Vert’s being shipped out as was definitely past it something I concede I found quite hard to accept after a stellar career with us – LEGEND indeed (BUT and CRUCIALLY why not yet flaming well replaced?!), Tanganga still red raw and cannot be fully trusted at all especially regularly in the Prem, etc (nor would it be fair on him to expect this either IMHO) and then finally Foyth and CCV almost certainly to be sold!
THUS AND HENCE – can we please finally have a top CB and a decent 2nd STR/CF signed as I and many others on here have been banging on about for fcuking ages already?!
Sorry about the ranting and raving and even language but what’s the point in doing good work as with the 5 signings so far but not replacing Vert’s properly yet nor even more inexplicably ending the ALMIGHTY SAGA of that 2nd elusive STR/CF finally?!
We’ve paid the price for both of these today IMHO – a draw when we should have actually won and now Sonny out for God only knows how long – great, just bloody great!
Just a thought if waiting for the end of the window to buy at a bargain price, etc – then what about selling the likes of Aurier, Foyth, Gazza, Rose, CCV, etc – is the same not true here?! Sure we can refuse to sell below our asking price, etc – the problem is we’ll have to keep picking up their wages when they’re probably not going to play much if at all and be 100% unhappy staying with us and stinking the place out, etc – did we learn nothing from the Eriksen saga already for example?!
One problem the media and some supporters have is that they focus totally on the result and ignore the game. In this case the game and the result were totally different stories.
EJ and Spurfect One…….why do I get the feeling you are scapegoating Dier because he happened to be the one whose arm the ball hit? He isn’t responsible for the stupid law and did nothing wrong in my eyes, he actually had a very good game.
Just put this in Geof’s thread but think relevant for here.
Not so sure we lost our way in fairness, we were the only side going for the win but we lacked the composure or luck to get the second. My main irk is our penalty was more nailed on than theirs. We go 2-0, they get the soft penalty, we are still 2-1. I understand with individual referee’s there will always be a consistency issue across games – but not during the same 90 minutes from the same nugget on the pitch and the same nugget at Stockley Park. I’m no Jose (the man) fan, but we are playing better in my humble and today the blame goes on the ref/VAR and the players.
Well written there Danny. COYS
Hi TQ – to be perfectly fair as regards the penalty – Carroll won the ball fair and square and it was heading into the box, Dier jumped as best he could but his arm was away from his body quite a bit and unfortunately it stopped the ball from going into said box – for me fair play if it’s given as a penalty – I’d be livid if such happened against us and stopped the ball heading dangerously into the box, etc – so can see why it was given!
As for Dier generally – I just don’t think he’s up to the standard of what will soon almost certainly be our 1st team regulars : (Lloris, Doherty, Reguilon, Hojbjerg, N’Dombele, Lo Celso, Sonny, Bale and HK10) – Davy has to be ahead of him because he offers pretty much all the same as Dier does but has the all important pace which Dier doesn’t – also if we sign Toby’s likely and from the looks of things ideal replacement in Skriniar (given his passing range especially) then for me it’s Skriniar and Davy 1st team basically – indeed I think you recently said you considered Davy to be our best CB ATM which I would certainly agree with currently! All for keeping Dier as a squad player, same goes for Hart, Tanganga, Toby, Davies, Winks, Sissoko, Dele, Moura, Lamela, Bergs, maybe even Austin, Cirkin, White, Fernandes, etc! Then just need the 2nd STR and with such and Skriniar we’d be pretty much set – here’s hoping finally this next week it gets sorted – God willing and God thanks!
Disappointed with Bergs when he came on for Son. Seems he was just playing it safe with no real penetration or confidence about putting the ball into the net. He’s certainly no sub for Son at the moment and I think he was one of the reasons why we couldn’t get that second goal. Underlines the need for another striker now if we are to stay in contention for anything.
Wow EJ……..I can’t believe you are defending the penalty decision! Of course Dier’s arms are out, you can’t jump to head a ball without using your arms to give you momentum, did you notice Carroll’s arms were also out for the same reason? Anyway, Dier was facing away from the ball direction so didn’t even see it headed into the back of his arm, there is no way that should be given as handball and the new law is an ass.
With regards to your comment on Wilson, we don’t need a penalty taker, we have a good one already, we need a super sub who can come off the bench and make an immediate impact even though they don’t get that many minutes or full games. Are you old enough to remember Fairclough at Liverpool? Someone of his ilk is what we need as backup for HK10.
Stan….I’m inclined to agree with you regarding Bergwijn, he looked far more dynamic when he first joined but just looks like he wants to pass the buck to someone else to have a go at goal. We already have Bale who can cover Sonny’s left side, I understand he is a fairly decent wing man and goal scorer. 🙂
But no where near ready until Sonny comes back in about 4 to 6 weeks by which time it may be too late.
TQ – I’m just saying the ball looked like it was heading into the box centrally and could be dangerous – Dier’s arm is away from his body – with these supposed new rules – if it’s considered a penalty so be it – 1 day it might go the other way and for us – we certainly got our fair share of luck with VAR a couple of season’s ago in the run to the CL final so cannot really knock VAR and the rules, etc now – swings and roundabouts – laws/rules these days especially with VAR seem to be ever evolving but that’s actually a good thing so for now we’ll just have to lump it until common sense dictates the natural solution, etc!
I’m 40 so think I’m too young as regards Fairclough unfortunately – so out of my remit!
I’m more concerned we did not kill the game in the 1st half already which would then allow for the protection of players like Sonny and HK10 especially at half-time indeed (this is what is crucial to take from this game – not bloody VAR and the rules – that’s pretty poor overall really and missing the bigger picture and conveniently excuses for some like our bloody board for example, etc) – for me the lack of a 2nd STR/CF is ridiculous and is definitely costing us already including today in more ways than 1 – same goes for not replacing Vert’s with a top quality CB – I’ll be fair and say I called for at least a decent left-footed replacement originally because I thought we were under massive financial constraints but from the looks of things we have decent wiggle room so no excuse not to bring in someone quality like indeed Skriniar to do so and then a decent back-up for HK10 as well – we knew of the need to replace HK10 1-2 years ago already minimum (given Lloro and Janssen were not working out) and we must have known for a good while at least 6 months before the summer if not more that Vert’s was going so why no replacements already?! Crucial areas as well namely CB and STR)!
I’m very happy with the 5 signings so far (don’t get me wrong at all) but just wish we could have settled the other 2 already as well and been complete before the season started – we might MAYBE save a few £’s, etc but the problem is look at the results, the strain on the main players like HK10 and Sonny especially and now indeed Sonny is out injured and could likely be out for a long time on top – not good enough mate, not good enough at all – not with our current aspirations – world class stadium, JM, Morgan, Bale, etc, etc, etc – trying to act like a massive club and attract massive interest and top investment, etc – you’re only as strong as your weakest link as I’m now repeating again from these last couple of days also, etc – can’t be leaving yourself exposed almost quite frankly so amateurishly IMHO! JM apparently aghast at the situation also – who can blame him especially when the buck ultimately stops with him (just like it did with Poch)?! Let’s give the £15m world class guy – some bloody decent all round/overall tools to give it a proper go with – that’s all I’m asking for and him as well almost certainly I would imagine!
There certainly are some unexpected results today, WHU might think about sending Moyes home on every match day! lol
TQ – to be fair to Wilson – he’s got 2 goals in 3 games and still just starting out and getting accustomed to new surroundings, playmates, formations, tactics, etc and penalty’s still have to be scored and big pressure on today’s 1 for example – last minute and to rescue a point and he buried it no less against a top class GK like Lloris!
We’re messing around with all these foreign types who first of all are completely un-proven in the Prem and thus a risk/even big risk depending on whom, are a natural burden because of their nationality especially given our bloated foreign quotas currently and then we should know damn well STR’s/CF’s come at a premium, sterling is up siht creak against the Euro currently especially with Brexit making them even more bloody expensive than normal and anyone who is half decent is going to cost a packet and want decent wages on top of probably demanding to be the main man – I think Wilson/King who I have always supported from the day Bournemouth got relegated were the go to’s quite frankly and I still pretty much stick by that – yes even I was a bit tempted by the likes of Vinicius, Milik, Weghorst, Willian Jose etc especially lately after the signing of Bale and thinking I’d prefer a 6ft+ target man – the problem is though all the above already for example LOL!
Now I’m back to thinking I like King “end of” really – in his prime years at 28, Prem proven, international proven, home-grown, versatile, fast, skillful and a decent height and weight to be a bit of an all-rounder really so for me just give them £15 even the £20 bloody million they most probably are after given what they sold Wilson for and he still had 3 year’s at least on his contract and not 9 months, etc and get him on wages of £60-70K or so (he’s currently on £45K I believe) and be fcuking done with it finally LOL!
Skriniar fair play – he’s foreign but he’s going to be our main CB and is proven in Serie A no less over 4 years indeed and also at international level, etc, has all the right attributes (height, strength, distribution, versatility, anticipation, etc, etc, etc apparently just lacking a yard of pace but partnering with Davy will cover for that for sure and rarely can you have absolutely everything) so just give them the 45-50m Euros it’s likely to take and get it done ASAP and should then prove to be a star quite frankly eventually – so yes on him take the risk but with regards to King play safe and that’s my line of thinking ATM!
Yes Bergs and Dele not been themselves so far this season but that’s why you need lots of options – indeed for example Moura got the winning assist in the 1st EL game and scored today and Lamela pretty much got an assist last week against Southampton for HK10 all be it our 5th, but then crucially scored our 1st in the 2nd EL game, etc – like I say it pays to have lots of options but unfortunately as I’ve been banging on about above we have no one to properly replace HK10!
Indeed on HK10 did not look at his sharpest today and seemed to be going through the motions especially in that 2nd half – already played more games than most this season between us and England and it’s starting to show – sure lots of games can help build and maintain fitness, etc but there’s a limit and we certainly do not want to cross it – indeed it appears we already have done so with Sonny unfortunately – just hope it’s not too serious and also that we can still protect HK10 as best possible also – here’s hoping and for that ideally we need someone bought ASAP in the next 8 days ………!
Just a few quick observations (currently watching MOTD2 hoping to clear up but ……….) :
Did Hoj actually commit a foul leading up to the crucial free-kick at the end there?! Did not honestly see it – indeed perhaps too busy praying we’d hold on LOL!
Also was there not a slight push in Dier’s back (possibly Hayden) to give Carroll that free header (they did mention it in the commentary when I was watching on Sport TV Portugal)?!
Also did we not have a penalty shout of our own around this time also?!
I don’t know what happened towards the end there – maybe I was just getting anxious as that flaming 2nd half just dragged on and on and lost concentration as I was getting more and more desperate and worried especially after Carroll came on and knowing the bombardment was about to commence and just hoping quite frankly for 1 decent counter-attack but alas it did not come and my worst nightmare was fulfilled on top in the last bloody minute – just typical of our bloody luck – SPURSY ain’t it just!
Hmm – finally seen yesterday’s goals – personally yes Utd deserved the penalty and technically was still during the game and before the Ref blew the whistle – so correct decision all round, Chelski on the other hand should have had their last goal disallowed (unfair control advantage) – but then again what do I know LOL!
As for us – was that really a bloody foul by Hoj – the guy seemed to deliberately run into him quite frankly and Hoj just tried to stand his ground – ball far gone and he was going nowhere – very dubious indeed and also I still believe it’s Hayden in their penalty appeal and he did commit a small push on Dier and that’s all that’s needed to put someone off especially in mid air but there you go – also as regards our penalty shout – not beyond the realm of plausibility that it could have been given but again there you go!
Anyway let’s hope for a better week ahead – we need it!
Bollox for this week naturally and the 3 important games coming up but so be it (as regards Sonny’s injury, etc) – but I’d hope we could beat the likes of Wet Spam, Burnley, Brighton and West Brom in the league and also progress well in the EL starting this week and then also moving into the group stages as well, etc even without Sonny and Bale being available in that time quite frankly!
Just hope they are both back ready, fit and firing by 21st November because we then have a spurt of 7 PL matches in basically 5 weeks against : Man City, Chelskia, Arsenal, Palace (fair play with this one), Liverpool, Leicester and Wolves – we need them desperately back for these crunch 6 of 7 games – no doubt about it whatsoever – we’ll need Sonny, Bale and HK10 ready, fully fit and firing end of!