Spurs approach their third game of the 2022/23 season looking to build on an unbeaten start to the campaign with a tricky home fixture against Wolves on Saturday, 12.30pm kick-off BST.
Mixed news on the injury front sees Oliver Skipp closing in on a return to outdoor training following his foot injury, but this match still comes too soon for him. Moreover, Cristian Romero will be ruled out following an abductor injury he sustained against Chelsea. It is likely that Sanchez will deputise for him, just as he did in his absence last season. In brighter news, Clement Lenglet returns to contention after recovering from an abductor injury of his own.
In contrast to ourselves, our opponents have made a stuttering start to this season, losing at Leeds on the opening day and being held to a 0-0 at home to Fulham last weekend. They will still be without Raul Jimenez, and possibly João Moutinho, who may have to settle for a place on the bench following his return to training.
Out of the 8 matches between the two teams since Wolves’ return to the Premiership in 2018, we’ve beaten them 4 times, whilst they’ve beaten us 3 times in the same time-frame, with all of those wins coming on our turf. Nevertheless, this is arguably the strongest Spurs side they will have faced over the past 4 years, and Conte will be looking for a response to Sunday’s subdued performance from the boys come Saturday afternoon. A tough game, but so is every Premiership fixture – COYS!
Wolves at hone to Fulham had 7 attempts 1 on target
Spurs away 20 attempts 3 on target
7 of a possible 9 points, but the team isn’t playing as well as it should. Conte has a lot of work to do to get this lot to gel. The first 45 minutes saw much sleep walking.
Richarlison needs to see more time on the pitch. He’s showing more energy that the rest of the lot combined.
the midfield is looking like our weakness. that needs to get straightened out.
anyway, 7 out of a possible 9 points isn’t half bad for a team that hasn’t yet gelled. I hope the operative word turns out to be “yet.” this group of players should look better than they are.
What’s the deal with Sonny? He seems without his usual energy. Curse of the Golden Boot? maybe gold boots don’t allow spurs to be worn comfortably by him? leather boots go better with spurs?
Son needs to be dropped for Richie
I anticipate that Richarlison will do what he always has done wherever he’s played–including the Brazilian national team. He will force his way into the lineup by the shear force of his playing, energy, and persistence.
Son will, in all probability, regain his footing. He’s been too good for too long to stay in the doldrums. But he hasn’t been at his best in these first three matches.
Time to freshen up the team, Richie and bissouma to start the next game.
The two man midfield pair of Hoiberg and Bentancour aren’t able to control that space and we’re constantly on the back foot. When Richarlison enters into the match he comes back and helps us win the ball in the transition area. Something Son is so far failing to accomplish as his first touch as been poor and loses the individual battles. It hurts to call out the incredible Son but he needs to improve in this area for us to break the press and not get overwhelmed. The forwards must comeback to help hold and transition the ball in this three back system. Otherwise it’s always getting outnumbered and losing possession. Or we need a player like Moussa Dembele who can take on multiple players and advance the ball.
Yes a man with no name who plays like the spectacular Moussa Dembele.
Did we rattle Chelsea by our late late show, or could we have smashed them if we weren’t scared of them
I think the Leeds v Chelsea game highlighted what’s necessary. Leeds ran 11km further than Chelsea and hammered them. So far we’ve been pretty lethargic and struggled. But we’ve got the points on the board anyway and (believe it or not) that counts for more than whether we are playing pretty football. Up the work rate and the rest will follow.
The performance so far leaves much to be desired, but we won yesterday’s must win match, and we’ve taken 7 of 9 possible points with spotty play. It’s a work in progress, at least I hope so–hope there will be progress. We’re still two to three players short of what we need to break into a true contender for the league title, and some of our lads haven’t really gotten enough time on the pitch.
Since we’ve signed Richarlison I’ve been of two minds as to whether he should start–he’s really world class–or come on at 60 minutes when the opposition’s legs are beginning to tire a bit. Still a bit thin on the bench at some positions, and we really do need another one or two classy midfielders. It cannot be true that Conte is satisfied yet with the squad, but it’s far improved from what we’ve had in the last couple of seasons.
Come on YS.
At least DL must be embarrassed for himself for the absurd series of managers we went through recently. Some of them hardly stayed long enough to remember their names, much less anything else about them. Others we remember too much.
Perhaps DL’s decided to spend his money on contracts for new players rather than paying off old managers. Hope so. Partici seems so far to be finding some decent talent.
My apologies to jod that I don’t follow all the teams around the globe to make too many specific recommendations as to whom to get.
Ronaldinho o Fenómeno–the real Ronaldinho for me, not Ronaldinho Gaucho–was at WHL yesterday. Best attacking foward in the past 35 years to my eyes. When he was young he was spectacular. He’s now a commentator on Brazilian TV and pretty good at it. His commentary seems spot on most of the time. Made me happy to have him at our home match.
By the way, Ibrahamovitch says the same thing about him. Best he ever saw.
You may know him as Ronaldo, as he changed the name in the last 5 years of his career. Bracelona, Inter, Corinthians. Ronaldinho was at our match yesterday. Makes me happy. Good footbal vibes to have visiting.
jod–the points matter and how we obtain them also matters, no? It’s not an either/or. winnng ugly isn’t a great pleasure but it’s better than losing. I’d accept the three points, and be a bit disappointed at the ugly play. Playing well and losing is frustrating.
Playing the right way and winning, too? That’s football heaven. Not only will I take the points, but I’ll be really happy with them. As our old midfielder from Northern Ireland said, it’s not worth winning but boring everyone to death. Who wants to watch ugly football? Indeed, I’m not sure I want players who would be satisfied with it.
How we live our lives matters. Who wants to look in mirror at the end of a life lived by boring one’s self throughout? Life is to be lived well. We shouldn’t make life dull when we don’t have to. Football is part of life. Make it interesting a done well. Don’t waste the limited time that exists for a match.
Our team is called the Hotspurs because it’s expected to play with dashing bravery.
But I’ll accept the three points from a boring win. So be it. Learning to accept disappointment is part of growing up.
That jod, is complete and utter tosh!
In retrospect, maybe it doesn’t matter to many supporters how a match, or league title or cup competition was won. But, in real time, people care very much how their club goes about it. How they play their particular brand of foootball. They want to be excited at a match. They want to be entertained, emotional, passionate…
Supporters may not all agree on the style of football that they prefer, but they will, on the whole, let the players, managers and owners know if they don’t approve. And in turn, managers will get fired. Even winning managers soon get the hook if the fans and/or owners are unhappy with the type football of being played. We see this time and again.
However, some supporters seem never to be satisfied. Win, lose or draw.
Personally, I will take the rough with the smooth and see what happens. As long as it’s not boring week after week after week. As long as I can be thrilled some of the time, if not all of the time…
Sorry that should have been posted after jod, not after TK.
TK – “–the points matter and how we obtain them also matters”, actually no it doesn’t, that’s the thing some fans just don’t get. A few genuinely don’t care about winning and losing and are quite open about it. That’s fair enough. For some others ? total confusion. I really am not sure what they believe. At the moment Arsenal have 9 points, ourselves and City 7, Chelsea 4, Liverpool 2. How these clubs got to these totals after three games is irrelevant. All that counts is the number of points. At the end of the season someone will have the most and be champion, four clubs will be in the champions league. How they got there will be forgotten. Its something fans of some other clubs instinctively understand while many of our fans don’t. Its maybe something in our fans psyche that Conte will change if he stays around long enough.
Jod – the way I see it is that if we don’t start playing better, we will not continue to pick up points. You cannot be dominated and continually over run in midfield and expect to keep picking up points. We got away with it against Chelsea (refereeing decisions) and Wolves (their lack of a quality finisher) but this will not continue to happen.
The bottom line is that over a 38 game season the better we play, the more points we will pick up.
I do have a disagreement with you there DH, you say we got away with v the Chavs (refereeing) that’s a maybe, their 2nd goal scored by a player who on another day would not be on the pitch, see 2 yellow card pull back fouls by him on Son, add Cucu’s deliberate stamp on Romeo another Red, none of these mentioned.
But I do agree that we have to start playing better, it will come mate, playing poor but still getting points, sign of a good team in the making.
Conte knows what he is doing, have faith man! COYS