Well, it’s been a strange old summer for supporters of all clubs, let alone Tottenham Hotspur fans but it’s finally time for the first match thread of 2020/21.
I trust this finds the good citizens of Vital Spurs and their wider bubbles, in good health and spirits, as this coming season is bound to be a rollercoaster, both on and off the pitch!
2019/20 was interesting, to say the least, with our problems and the changes we saw (nobody mention poor performances), so this year after a semi-busy transfer window of captures, we also have Europa League qualification to look forward to – which simply only complicates things further given the additional games we face for barely a Plovdiv of financial benefit compared to the Champions League itself.
But it’s Everton up first as we go into a new strange season where fans still won’t be in attendance and nobody knows if we’ll actually perform like the Spurs we expect either, but the likelihood is more of the same pragmatic type of football Jose Mourinho is famed for – we just have to hope the results follow.
Everton...
Win
Draw
Lose
It’s a busy start to the season with five games to pack in ahead of us slipping into October, so can we lay down a marker against the Toffees and show that we’ve learnt from last season’s mishaps?
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Spurs Arrange Medical For 33 Capped International Midfielder
PY… Happy birthday.. hope you are enjoying your day.. 🙂
Tottenham’s home form was the third-best in the league last term, ahead of Manchester United and Chelsea”.
united, chelease in CL while spurs finished 6th. case closed EL
as DH says we have to many stale players, so called jose is a top manager, how cant he see this, time to be a ruthless club, new world class stadium,but no world class players,Davids,VDV remember them, its time for spurs to take over London. the time now. 2008 last cup win says it all.
123 – have to disagree – I did say it was just a start of hopefully building a fortress at the new THS in fuure that’s all – I actually liked it based on last season because I actually maybe like you in fact found it a quite surprising stat.
Let’s not forget our first few games at the new THS in late 2018/19 season were not very good including now quickly on memory without checking up a 0-1 loss to Wet Spam for example, etc!
Let’s also not forget our top form in our last season at WHL in 2016/17 where we went unbeaten at home for the whole season meaning we finished a career high second in the Prem behind just Chelski, etc!
Building a fortress at home especially is a solid foundation for looking to get back into the top 4 and even maybe 1 day challenging for the title – so s don’t knock our form at home from last season so quickly – decent stepping stone for this season and the near future also!
Just saying of course LOL………..!
As for no world class players – again have to disagree completely and a full and ridiculous disregard from you for the talent of especially the likes of our 2 main and super important and clearly world class players in : HK10 and Sonny and then even Lloris might get a small mention – (2018 WC winning captain after all, also a runner-up captain at Euro 2016, and despite spending his best year’s with us so far – already a CL final playing club captain, a runner-up in the Prem, 4 top 4 finishes in a row, etc – so 1 could argue in fact that he is indeed a world-class GK) and if re-discovering his early form for us originally Dele could even fight for a mention soon enough (after all the world class Frankie Lampard who is the record midfield goal-scorer in the Prem and in the top 5 Prem all time scoring list, etc only hit his 50th Prem goal at the age of over 26, Dele is still only recently 24 and already reached that feat whilst still aged only 23 – indeed the youngest ever English midfield player to arrive so quickly at that milestone – topping the likes of Lampard himself but also other greats such as Scholes, Gerrard, Beckham, etc – so discount him at your peril quite frankly)!
Again just saying of course and all IMHO naturally but I think HT has a valid point about so much player bashing on here from us fans as regards our very own players regularly – especially when people knock the likes of HK10, Sonny, Lloris, Dele, etc – pretty ridiculous really IMHO……………!
https://www.trollfootball.me/news/view/youngest-english-midfielders-to-reach-50-premier-league-goals
On a side note – I see Wilson scored on his debut and already started paying dividends on what could turn out to be a bargain £20m – Prem proven experience showing what it’s all about straight away but fair play let’s not start getting too carried away too quickly as only his 1st game there after all – but perfect start has to be said!
Hopefully we can bring in at least a good solid STR finally to do a job for us also!
Back to Dele I would add that Lampard, Beckham, Scholes and Gerrard were all considered world class in their day for sure so why not Dele indeed if not already perhaps why not very soon especially if he can re-establish himself like in his 1st 3 seasons for us orignally!
I already argued yesterday that in the last 2 season’s he’s only played 25 Prem games in each after being plagued by hamstring injuries and being held back – hopefully once back to full fitness and form he will rediscover the electrifying form from when he 1st joined us and those 3 glorious season’s(indeed at only 19 and in his 1st season for us scoring already 10 goals and then again at only 20 scoring a fantastic 22 goals and finally in his third season at still only 21 also scoring a solid 14 goals – in all appearances of course in that time – Prem/Cup’s, etc).
Lay off the guy as he’s bloody quality and he’s also got 33 assists also in those 5 years in the Prem alone on top – absolutely brilliant player and deserves much, much more respect especially from our own fans for sure IMHO anyway!
HT – finally on King – I don’t think he’s top class, etc far from it in fact but he is still decent and has plenty proven experience in the Prem and a decent goal record at that, etc! Also he’s very importantly home-grown and very versatile and at £15m or so – very cheap IMHO – hence my constant interest. For example much better than Soldado, Janssen and Lloro who are some of our most recent STR signings with very little or no Prem experience and still cost around £26m, £17m and £12m respectively if memory quickly serves.
You seemed to recently back the signing of Deeney who is also very importantly home-grown and I gave your argument kudos as I normally do with all your arguments, etc BUT for example he is 4 years older than King, nowhere near as versatile, no international experience, despite playing as a main STR all the time is actually still a fraction off King’s goal record (who has played all kinds of positions for Bournemouth – STR, 2nd STR, winger in all his time there) and when delving deeper at these records – Deeney of his 47 Prem goals – 18 are indeed penalties, whilst of King’s 48 Prem goals only 12 are penalties, also King is much faster and skillful than Deeney by far, and finally Deeney will still probably command a fee even at 32 all the same and may well even demand a higher wage than King (Deeney supposedly on £65K at Watford, whilst King on only £45K at Bournemouth)! Both are of similar height so the only advantage Deeney has is overall he is more powerrful and put’s himself about a bit more based on this given his 90 kilos but then with such weight – much slower, more fatigue and injury prone especially at 32, etc, etc ,etc!
Nope for me of the 2 main home-grown STR’s left that are available and affordable and importantly that we are constantly linked with (increasing my own interest thus to this naturally) – King wins hands down – so easily in fact – it’s indeed ridiculous quite frankly – all just IMHO of course but all the above does seem to back it up fully LOL!
Hope you would agree and although I know full well you don’t rate Deeney highly at all and for good and pretty obvious reasoning, you still managed to argue a case for him that was both interesting and even quite compelling thus making it even seem acceptable to maybe sign him – so perhaps and hopefully you can see why for the reasons I give above I think King at this time would actually be a decent signing and why I’m so interested and in fact pushing for it on here (obviously not that I hold any sway even being a share-holder no less – although maybe as B108 suggested I could fire off a message to Levy and back it up with my small share-holding proving I’m also an OWNER just like him and thus to be respected LOL big time).
Happy to see a Milik/Belotti walk through the door – but just hope they can prove themselves worthy and not be further expensive (both £30m+ for sure and top wages on top almost certainly) foreign flops especially for us – we’ve had too many by far to mention already!
I mentioned that Deeney might well be a Jose type of CF. And one that might be okay with coming to Spurs and not minding being cover for Kane whist spending a lot of time on the bench. I also like his strong mentality and leadership qualities… I said all this because he was being linked with Spurs at the time. I thought that if we are just looking for a PL experienced player as a stop gap because we can’t afford better, then he might be okay to do a job…
I don’t want him at Spurs but I thought that Jose might well do. I was okay with that… But I said it once. I haven’t insisted that he should be the one. I’d much prefer that he wasn’t the one… I also said that if Jose chose Wilson or King I will also go along with that… But what I have gone on to say a few times, is that I don’t think we need any of those guys, imo…
I still don’t… But whoever we do get in, I will accept that it’s Jose’s decision. I would then of course hope that it proves to be a good one…
Lloris
Aurier Toby Dier Davies
Hojbjerg Winks
Lucas Dele Son
Kane
THFC 3-0 EFC!
Up the Spurs!
For the record I didn’t refer to any individual poster or posters, when I mentioned Spurs supporters slagging players off. I very deliberately used the word “we”. We as Spurs supporters in general. I was generalising…
HT
Just read the last few pages. I take it all back m8 work away.
Thank you Niall. All the best to you…
Hi HT – thanks for replying and some interesting reading from you as always mate.
At the moment I am insisting on King for sure because for all the reasons I’ve given several times in several posts already I think he’s worthwhile especially based on all who we’ve been linked with so far including himself – I especially like his home-grown status, his versatility, his decent Prem record (games/goals, etc) and on top his likely price tag of roughly only £15m especially given our current and obvious budget constraints not to mention the global pandemic and thus economic crisis, etc – for me he simply just makes sense to go for so have to back him especially again as we desperately need another STR/FWD ASAP – so effectively someone has to come in so indeed why not him?! All IMHO of course and as JOD likes to say – give us some or even just 1 name LOL!
Naturally agree with you on and I’ll look to back JM’s choice also and sincerely hope he comes good just like yourself for sure!
HT – my point was to back up your argument even if generalising that too many Spurs fans slag our players off too damn regularly especially when it’s the likes of HK10, Sonny, Lloris and Dele – and many already do it on here in fact – indeed I’m regularly on here and have seen plenty of it – HK10 past it and should even be sold, Sonny not consistent enough and blows hot and cold, Lloris error prone, past it and even again needs to go, Dele average, lazy, even again indeed needs to go also, etc, etc, etc – absolutely ridiculous quite frankly – indeed as you have said in the past if I’m not mistaken (and IMHO these 4 are fulcrum to our recent successes of) that we have had: 4 top 4 finishes in a row (including a 2nd, twice 3rd and once 4th – in the best league in the World), oh and a CL run all the way to the final being beaten only by arguably the best team in the world at that time and these last 2 year’s in fact namely Liverpool and they needed a dodgy enough penalty in the 1st minute of the game to help beat us, etc.
So I’ll stick by what I’ve been writing lately because for me it still makes bloody sense LOL!
HT – as regards your team and for me:
Lloris
Doherty Toby Dier Davies
Hoj Sissoko
Sonny Dele Bergs
HK10
Doherty over Aurier for me especially (you know damn well my true feelings on Aurier already lol even if I’m backing him ATM as a squad player out of respect for JM, etc) in the most important games like the Prem always above all if fit, etc and given he’s actually already played competitive footy this season with Ireland in the NL see no reason why he shouldn’t start immediately – indeed let’s start getting him and that defence generally bedded in and playing together ASAP!
Although as DH stated a while back ago there is not any real pace in that back 4 – still good to know and very important that the “back-ups” in Aurier, Tanganga, Sanchez and Sessegnon have plenty of speed in reserve so we can always mix and match if necessary!
In CM my ideal preference is for Lo Celso/N’Dombele to partner Hojbjerg, but I also want to see Winks get plenty of minutes this season and keep improving (indeed still only 24 so time on his side) and would have him in over SIssoko because he’s a much better passer of the ball for example and near enough just as good at running with it as Sissoko is so for me I’d prefer Winks over Sissoko but unfortunately Winks has only this week returned to training I believe so might be a bit early for him and thus preferring to go with a fully fit Sissoko and also given his overall athleticism it could prove to be important with Everton now having the likes of Allan and Doucoure in their CM also and thus very physical, etc!
On the wings I originally choose Bergs over Moura during the week in my first given line-up because Bergs already scored a cracking late winner in pre-season against Birmingham and then went on to score for the Netherlands in the NL also so for me he should get the call although I’d not have too much of a problem if it’s Lucas starting either (I did state clearly that it was a tough decision given Moura’s excellent run at the end of last season indeed keeping Bergs on the bench in that time constantly)!
P.S. and just copied and pasted from page 1 from my original post the other day:
“Oh just remembered and seeing as we don’t have a back-up STR for HK10 yet, we may well need Moura to play as our CF in the EL on the following Thursday with HK10 and Sonny especially being rested for the Prem game against Southampton that following weekend!
Sessegnon and probably Clarke would then have to play on the wings and maybe Lamela as the AMC/no.10 although not very confident on Clarke so hopefully we get the 2nd STR in before that game and he can go straight in meaning Moura and Sess can play as wing forwards and Lamela can play as AMC/no.10 – here’s hoping anyway but that’s a completely different discussion on a separate thread next week – for now concentrate on Everton as best possible (but still having to keep 1 eye on the EL game all the same as coming so soon after)!”
Everyone seems to be predicting a comfortable win on here so far yet:
Pickford
Coleman Keane Mina Digne
Doucoure Allan Gomes
Roriguez Richarlison
Calvert-Lewin
Possibly how they could line-up today and I think this is actually a very good team especially if they get going and gel quickly and the back-up is pretty decent too with the likes of Kenny, Holgate, Gbamin, Delph, Davies, Siggy, Barnard, Gordon, Iwobi, Walcott, Kean, Tosun, etc!
Would not surprise me to see them in the top 6 pushing past the likes of Leicester, Wolves and even Arsenal.
I think out of those 4 we’re still the best all the same though and most balanced also (be it the 1st team or the squad in general) and hopefully most likely to push last season’s top 4 for a place there again if anyone is going to do it but will be both tough to do and even hard also to stay ahead of this other chasing pack of 4 for at least the top 6!
Today is going to be a good indication already of what we might expect to achieve this season – it’s only the first game but they are mounting up to be a close rival to us so very interesting game ahead for sure – let’s just hope we can come out on top which would be a great start and good sign also of what’s ahead!
No prediction from me apart from expecting a tough game especially if they can put out all their best players as shown above (if fit of course, etc) and just hope we can win it in the end and get the 3 points – however that maybe (as PY has alluded to on here recently already – let’s just win and get the habit of doing so started and going)!
EJ, I always name a team that I think the manager will pick on the day if those guys are all fit enough… Of course, I don’t know who’ll play or in what formation. Jose may well play 3 at the beck for instance.
I’m happy to see that Skipp has been getting a lot of high praise for his Norwich debut yesterday. Keep it up son!
Dele Ali… during the restart PL games. I noticed we had none of the fwd players not following into the 6 yd box looking for rebounds, loose balls, half chances to put away. Dele does this every game. When he plays again watch and you may see what I mean.
Today the season starts against an improved Everton team… but.. spurs to win three points 2-1. COYS
Wow EJ, you’re not only repeating your comments, you’re even quoting yourself from previous repeated comments. : – )
A new season starts but the same old issues are still outstanding no back up striker.,defensively we look average but Mourinho’s ten men behind the ball should negate some of the issues. I think the best we can hope for with this squad and manager is 6th position in the league.