With Tottenham Hotspur opening up the 2020/21 Premier League campaign with a very disappointing defeat to Everton on Sunday, attentions quickly turn to our Europa League Qualifying Second Round tie against Lokomotiv Plovdiv on Thursday.
Qualifying rounds are never the nicest and you generally tend to meet a few teams who, with the greatest of respect, you’ve never actually heard of before, so whilst the assumption is usually ‘a cricket score’ – the matches themselves can often play out quite differently.
Manager Jose Mourinho will be looking for a comfortable and steady victory here to boost spirits and bed in our new signings but it’s definitely one of those games for fans where it’s an ‘avoid a banana skin’ moment at all costs and if it’s not pretty, just scrape through somehow.
Plovdiv...
Win
Draw
Lose
That’s probably never been more true after our opening day defeat as after last season’s struggles, we need some confidence and momentum as it still hasn’t quite clicked for the manager formerly known as the ‘Special One’.
With that said, it’s never ‘just’ the manager, it might be early doors and some players take a bit longer than others to get up to speed, but there surely can’t be any excuses for this one….can there?
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Six goals HT. You do know who our manager is don’t you. Score one and then park the bus. One nil to theTottenham
Just heard a rumour we’ve signed Rory McIlroy aparrently he’s better than Bale.
I wouldn’t be too sure Niall, Bale is possibly a scratch golfer with all of the practice he gets! 🙂
bale give jose a pair of socks as a gift, jose trys them on but their is a hole in one.
Apparently Jose and Dele have fallen out. Jose is a big head and bully. He always seems to pick on one player and tries to destroy them. He will lose the dressing room…just wait.Harry is bigger and stronger and a leader.Jose is a nasty, conceited little man who needs a wake up call. We are Spurs. We are a romantic club with a history of beautiful football, flair, great attacking and sublime play, creative players. Not the rubbish that Jose likes.Subbing Dele for Sissoko was a total joke and says it all about Jose. Our second half was far worse than the first. Useless, antiquated coach. Dreadful appointment.
WW i also thought subbing dele for sisoko was a bad move, we did not play better, in fact a bit worse.
Just had a text from a friend driving past Enfield, Hotspur way, pack with fans at entrance… Bale transfer??
agree with jose ruining youngsters, with Shaw at United, dele had been poor though
Jose also froze out Danny Rose who has been one of our best left backs. Jose is a big head and bully. Terrible appointment. Will be glad when we get rid.
Not quite sure I agree there. You could very easily argue Rose made the rod for his own back (whether you agree with him or not is irrelevant) a new manager coming in looks to stamp authority and a public problem is a problem – especially the then ranting about contracts, running it down, being forced out the club and then accepting a loan move etc. Shaw was also injury more than anything for me – but the public berating didn’t help. I think there’s more we don’t know.
Danny Rose did cause big problems in his media outbursts and contributed to the dressing room unrest. So he has to go sadly.
Jose has to establish his authority with the football playing staff.
block… The way I have read Jose over the years is that he as a manager, encourages “dressing room unrest”, himself.
Since his time at Spurs he has very publicly stated on a few occasions and in various ways how he thinks the Spurs players have been too nice. He wants them to berate each other. He wants them to get angry. He wants them to be “c***s”, as he so crudely put it in front of the cameras and for all to see. With the opposition and with each other.
Danny has also publicly expressed his own opinions on various things. THFC related or not… And whether we feel he should’ve done so or not, we don’t have evidence that he has caused unrest with his team mates.
It’s funny, because not so long ago I saw Hugo berate Son on the field of play for not tracking back. Nothing wrong with that at all… When the half time whistle blew, I then saw Son (at the tunnel) move toward Hugo as if about to take a swipe at him… And some supporters seemed to think this was okay. No doubt Jose also thought it was okay… He probably gave one of his sly grins in approval at it… This is not okay as a rule. As a one-off “heat of the moment” thing? No worries… I personally don’t think it’s something to be encouraged…. (That is to say, players taking swipes at their captain, no less).
Dictators and bullies like to establish their authority but they do it in a negative and divisive way. And, this can bring about the desired result for a short while. But, in the long term, it can only be destructive…….
If this is what’s Jose feels is necessary for having a so called “winners mentality” so be it. But football is not about one mans rule. One mans ego. Or fighting with your team mates. It is a collective. A team sport and with a mutual goal…. All for one and one for all!
Danny just made a few open and personal comments to the press. Jose is on another playing field all together… One in which he is KIng and the players, his subjects……. Sooner or later comes the player rebellion… They will say for now “Yes Sir, no Sir, 3 bags full sir”…… Maybe even win in a trophy or two and then it’s; “No way Jose, I ain’t doin’ that no more. I wanna start playing some proper football for a change! I wanna enjoy myself again”
All the best players and teams look to enjoy their game of football… You know, show off their skills for the world to see. And win too! It’s what I have paid to see over and again for many years. It’s what I desire… It’s what makes winning stuff that much special.
So, Jose can help win us that cup or two. Maybe. Then I would like to see him leave, soon after.
Rose will be gone soon enough but he has been one of our longest running servants. He has played for one of the most exciting Spurs teams I have seen in my 50 odd years of support. Jose is just passing through.
Rose has already had my respect for him simply as a player. Jose will need to do more than just win a trophy to earn my respect for him as a Spurs manager. Or, it will be thanks man for the cup. Now you can bugger off elsewhere with your multi-million pound pay-off and get some respect and authority at another club, mate!
Apart from all that, I have nothing really bad against the man. He is a winner. He’s not the devil, just a bit of a self obsessed twat, that’s all!
Up the Spurs!
Oh, and welcome home Gareth Bale….. You little Welsh wonder, you…
All together now: There be a welcome in the Spurs’ side…….. Come on you Spurs!
When all things are considered and the past is compared with the future and hope and despair are competing for supremacy …. I still miss MODRIC!!!!
Hello Geof! 🙂
Re Rose. It was never his play that annoyed me, much as HT says he was part of probably the best Spurs team I have seen in my 50 ish years with EL Tels a close 2nd.
It was always what he said to the media off the pitch. I still think he had his head turned around the time of K Walkers’ transfer but couldn’t complete due to injury and that got to him. Just my opinion.
I have similar feelings re Deeney coming to Spurs. It was never his on field playing that I disliked it was always what he done off field that got to me. In fact was he not instrumental in getting a, Watford manager sacked. I may be wrong (as usual) but I think he had his tuppence worth.
But if the new signings around at the moment are true things are looking up.
Hi HT …. Another match day arrives. They’ll just keep coming now. Not sure how I’ll fit in all the football, tennis, and bike riding. I didn’t expect retirement to be so bloody exhausting! Hope you’re all good.
ND …. DR’s problem was his attitude and his mouth. I always liked him as a player.
Roman Calderon:
“He (Bale naturally) has three or four more years at a good level, so if he goes to Tottenham maybe he will finish his career there.
“I don’t know if Dele Alli will be part of the deal, but I don’t think Tottenham would want to let him go as he’s a very good player. Any big team would want to have him in their side.”
Completely agree with both statements – this man clearly knows his stuff LOL – then again was a Real Madrid President so goes with the territory naturally (indeed he delivered the deal that finally brought Ronnie Ronaldo to Real all be it in 2009 – it being apparently resolved in December 2008 whilst he was still President at that time having wanted him already earlier in the summer of 2008 – also brought in others like Van Nistelrooy, Robben, Cannavaro, etc)! Most importantly AND ABOVE ALL in his 2 full season’s in charge namely 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 Real indeed won La Liga both season’s consecutively!
Rose has to go – indeed was a top LB for several season’s and a pretty loyal servant through-out his 13 year stay so kudos to him for all this but he’s now most definitely yesterday’s news and on top a troublesome character especially these last few year’s (although respect for his mental health problems naturally and probably a lot to do with some very unlucky, long injury lay-offs which dented even ruined his peak/prime year’s most recently and unfortunately – big shame this for sure – both for him but also for us as well………….)!
Now we need to look forwards to the likes of Reguilon, Davies, Sessegnon and even Cirkin – indeed potentailly what a foursome LOL!
As for Dele – nowhere near his high standards for 2 season’s now (even though last season for example still only KDB got more goals than him from CM and he only appeared 25 times in total for us out of 38 games in the Prem, again also only 25 the season before that as well already, etc) but just like Rose – problematic recurring injuries in this time – meaning stop/start gaps preventing a full proper build-up of match fitness and regular continuity in the 1st meaning a big loss of form naturally, etc – so again going to be perfectly natural and reasonable that he’s going to be frustrated, etc given his indeed very high standards especially in his first 3 season’s at the club and given these were at such a young age and also for a relatively long period at that (so no fluke, etc) – it goes with such territory that the guy is not happy or at his best – mentally, physically, thus performance/form wise on top, etc)!
But he’s only recently turned 24 and as I’ve just quoted from Ramon Calderon – a top player and his peak year’s are still definitely ahead of him so if he can get over the injuries and regain proper fitness and then thus regain top form getting back basically to his very best which is of a very high standard indeed as already indicated/argued recently many a time on here – then he can only be a true asset to the club and the fans (as he was pretty much from when first joined and for those first 3 season’s especially)………..!
Hoping and looking forward to a good solid win and performance this afternoon/evening – will naturally be watching live of course – hope all other’s on here can do so also hopefully………..!
Wonder who we’ll put out – given our relatively decent squad depth already (barring at STR of course “naturally” LOL) and given HK10 starts – should be a pretty strong line-up whoever plays – just hope they can give a good account of themselves especially after Sunday’s debacle against Everton still freshish in the mind unfortunately (thanks lads ever so much LOL)…………..!
Also very much hoping for and looking forward to Reguila (Rascal in Portuguese/Spanish) and Bala (Bullet in Portuguese/Spanish) (LOL) hopefully signing on before the weekend also and being integrated into the squad and also the team ASAP!
Still wondering and hoping that perhaps a STR and LCB might still also be added – here’s for wishful thinking at least LOL……………!
Also very interested as regards what’s going to happen with the likes of: CCV and Rose especially already but then also: Gazzaniga, Whiteman, Austin, Aurier, Foyth, Clarke, Roles, even Sessegnon, Cirkin, Fagan-Walcott and maybe Lamela also, etc?! Finally also the likes of (who I just hope we finally let go off like CCV but with all due respect to them naturally) : Georgiou, Marsh, Tracey and Sterling…………….)!
Sorry to hear about Bowden (apparently highly rated by us) and his long-termish injury – hopefully speedy and 100% full recovery ASAP!
https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2020/09/16/not-the-same-player-ohara-claims-tottenham-ace-should-be-playing-like-pl-legend/
Not just me then who thinks Dele has the potential to be spoken of in such company as a Prem legend in Lampard (indeed probably the Prem legend when it comes to CM overall) over the long term if stays injury free and gets his form back, etc (something O’Hara does not unfortunately seem to take into consideration and speak about though which is a shame – easy to play the blame game and be questionable, etc without factoring in very important facts, etc LOL……………) and starts enjoying his footy again, etc!
Just saying of course (and protecting 1 of my surrogate nephew’s LOL for sure (Geof+HT) – what a legend Roman Calderon is of course naturally – although think I’ve said that and even proven it already – just wanted to make sure everyone got this FACT OK of course LOL)………………..!
Dele won’t be going anywhere.
So, he got subbed at half time. A media man (always a man) makes up a story around this and Spurs fans half believe it as though it were a true known fact.
Didn’t the same sort of crap come out when Dier was an early sub last season?