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Spurs 2024-25

2-0 now.

Read the Gary Neville quotes on the BBC live text for some fun.
Without clicking on the link, Neville said something along the lines of that there are better Sunday League teams playing than the current Man U team today. Made me laugh (very loud).
 
I still can't quite work out whether we were that good or Utd were that bad.

Their whole team is full of reputations and money, with bog all in terms of performance. De Ligt - they didn't want to buy the Bayern Munich player, they wanted the Ajax player of 2019. Rashford - not this one, the fearless teenager of almost 10 years ago. Ugarte - Sporting's star player, not the PSG reserve.

As for us - it doesn't half bode well that we did that without our captain (and his natural replacement in Odobert), without having Richarlison available on the bench, and yet we had players like Sarr & Bissouma to bring on as well as some very promising youngsters.

A word on Djed Spence too - yet another in our squad with exceptional pace. I must admit I really dislike fullbacks playing on the 'wrong' side, but that's a couple of times he's come on and played like a very competent left back in our system (as he did for Genoa too). His attitude has been called into question, but despite being the odd 1 out from the Europa squad he looks spot on to me; in him and Archie Gray we've got depth for both sides, something we clearly didn't have last season.
 
Upfront
I've taken a deep dislike to Richarlison, he's bad vibes man, really wish he was sold but he can sit on the bench I guess
Johnson has knocked a few in clinically but I'm yet to be convinced by the range of his ability
Solanke's goals have been tap ins so far too
Overall Im not sure about goal scoring power but it was nice to see Spurs running rampant and particularly enjoyed Micky van de Vens run from the back to the goalline
 
Upfront
I've taken a deep dislike to Richarlison, he's bad vibes man, really wish he was sold but he can sit on the bench I guess
Johnson has knocked a few in clinically but I'm yet to be convinced by the range of his ability
Solanke's goals have been tap ins so far too
Overall Im not sure about goal scoring power but it was nice to see Spurs running rampant and particularly enjoyed Micky van de Vens run from the back to the goalline

You forgot to say that Son is past his best and Wilson is untested at this level and neither Moore nor Lanksheare are out of nappies and Ange is a massive charlatan and Levy is bleeding the club dry, but otherwise I think you’ve covered all the negatives that would naturally spring to mind about our goalscoring threat after back to back 3-0 wins.
 
Upfront
I've taken a deep dislike to Richarlison, he's bad vibes man, really wish he was sold but he can sit on the bench I guess
Johnson has knocked a few in clinically but I'm yet to be convinced by the range of his ability
Solanke's goals have been tap ins so far too
Overall Im not sure about goal scoring power but it was nice to see Spurs running rampant and particularly enjoyed Micky van de Vens run from the back to the goalline
Personally, I'm quite enjoying Solanke's run of goals from a combined 7 yards out. Neither Son nor Richarlison are natural poachers, so we've been missing the "striker's instinct" since Kane departed this parish. Plus it's not like tap-ins are the only thing he's bringing to the table, his workrate is relentless and link play has been excellent, I reckon the likes of Maddison and the wide players love having him to bounce passes off.

Johnson had me convinced when still at Forest. He's still raw at times, but his positioning is exceptional; the number of times his runs create space for himself or the man on the ball, he nearly always gets it right. Keep on this trajectory with his finishing and he's the real deal.

Werner is the question mark, great runner and holds his width but you can’t miss this many 1 v 1s at this level. It's not a big question mark though, since we know that's Son's position (and Odobert's, and Moore's, and Johnson can play there, as can Richarlison).
 
Games come thick and fast at the minute, away to Ferencvaros tomorrow night.

Bit of a selection dilemma in defence. No Dragusin (suspended) and probably no Udogie after he came off the other day; with Spence and (still a Spurs player) Reguilon not in the European squad, that means that Ben Davies plays left back when he might otherwise have been earmarked to play in the centre. I suspect that Archie Gray might reprise his role from some of pre-season in a back 4 of Porro, Romero, Gray, Davies - it comes down to a straight choice of Porro or MvdV playing, and with van de Ven being a god with the hamstrings of a mere mortal I personally would have him sit this one out.
 
If anyone wants to see what Spurs might look like in a few years, tune in at 5.45.

Vicario
Porro --- Romero Gray --- Davies
Bissouma
Sarr --- Bergvall
Werner ---- Lankshear ---- Moore
Stacked subs bench - Solanke, Johnson, Maddison, Kulusevski, MvdV, Bentancur and Forster, along with some lesser known names like Ajayi and Casanova. One to watch - Alfie Dorrington is there too.
 
If anyone wants to see what Spurs might look like in a few years, tune in at 5.45.

Vicario
Porro --- Romero Gray --- Davies
Bissouma
Sarr --- Bergvall
Werner ---- Lankshear ---- Moore
Stacked subs bench - Solanke, Johnson, Maddison, Kulusevski, MvdV, Bentancur and Forster, along with some lesser known names like Ajayi and Casanova. One to watch - Alfie Dorrington is there too.

Alfie Dorrington was in my daughter’s year at her school, she’ll be very excited if he comes on.

If Werner can do everything he does on the left but on the right, he’ll get more action with Kulu moved to the middle and only Johnson to compete with. That would be a good thing.
 
Good result, not a great performance. 3 points though, 5 wins in a row, 5 games in which Brennan Johnson has very much troubled the scorers.

I get what Ange was doing with the side he picked, but still too many changes - only 3 nailed on starters (Vic, Porro, Romero), 4 regulars (Sarr, Biss, Davies, Werner), and 4 youngsters (Lankshear, Moore, Bergvall, Gray). A bit disjointed at times, Gray exposed out of position at left back, and risked losing the momentum built up over the last few games.

A win is a win though, will take it.
 
Good result, not a great performance. 3 points though, 5 wins in a row, 5 games in which Brennan Johnson has very much troubled the scorers.

I get what Ange was doing with the side he picked, but still too many changes - only 3 nailed on starters (Vic, Porro, Romero), 4 regulars (Sarr, Biss, Davies, Werner), and 4 youngsters (Lankshear, Moore, Bergvall, Gray). A bit disjointed at times, Gray exposed out of position at left back, and risked losing the momentum built up over the last few games.

A win is a win though, will take it.

Uncharacteristically Eeyorish of you. I thought that Gray and Moore were fantastic, Lankshear looks like a plausible back up to Solanke, and overall it was a performance fairly typical of this season - which means that we have genuine depth in the squad and can feel very confident about the next few years. Poch 13-14 vibes.
 
Gray I thought was individually excellent, but the left flank (combined age of 35) was constantly targeted and that's where Ferencvaros had most of their best chances (ironically not the goal though).

Moore looks so far beyond his 17 years. I'm assuming that Son should be ready to face Brighton on Sunday but there has to be a place on the bench for Moore - he can only benefit from more time playing, it's only a matter of time before he goes from being a youngster being blooded at the top level to a game changer in his own right.

All of the youngsters had good games, but I think part of the problem was that in the top half of the pitch Werner was the only one out of nappies. With leadership not one of his finer qualities, it meant there wasn't anyone to take the game by the scruff of the neck, to bring the youngsters along with them - if anything it was more Pape Sarr who assumed the senior role going forward, he was impressive and it's a very good reaction to losing his regular place to Kulusevski in recent weeks.

Definitely feel a bit more "glass half full" this morning than my immediate reaction after the match. All of the 4 youngest showed that they can be called upon and deserve to be part of the first team now and in the future - I'd have no problem with Moore partnering Solanke and Johnson in a PL match for instance, or Lankshear with Son and Johnson, or Gray at right back alongside Romero etc - just not all at once yet!
 
Ange says Udogie will be fit for Sunday @ Brighton, Son won't be - looks like he's getting a rest until after the international break.

No Son, no Richarlison - so I reckon it would be a huge statement of intent to give Mikey Moore the nod ahead of Werner. In a game that's likely to be end to end with space for the forwards, Moore getting a proper run out with the rest of the first team? Yes please.

The rest of the 11 pick themselves after last Sunday. Plus a bench with Sarr & Bissouma, Dragusin, Davies, Spence, Gray, Bergvall, Forster and Werner or Lankshear;

means that we have genuine depth in the squad

Doesn't it just.
 
Ange says Udogie will be fit for Sunday @ Brighton, Son won't be - looks like he's getting a rest until after the international break.

No Son, no Richarlison - so I reckon it would be a huge statement of intent to give Mikey Moore the nod ahead of Werner. In a game that's likely to be end to end with space for the forwards, Moore getting a proper run out with the rest of the first team? Yes please.

The rest of the 11 pick themselves after last Sunday. Plus a bench with Sarr & Bissouma, Dragusin, Davies, Spence, Gray, Bergvall, Forster and Werner or Lankshear;



Doesn't it just.

You know perfectly well that Werner will start, though. Moore after 65 mins.
 
You know perfectly well that Werner will start, though. Moore after 65 mins.
Spot on with part 1. Same 11 as vs Man Utd, youthful but strong bench - Forster, Dragusin, Spence, Gray, Bissouma, Sarr, Bergvall, Moore, Lankshear.

Other than reserve goalie Forster, no-one in the 20 over the age of 28 (Bissouma, Werner).
 
Spot on with part 1. Same 11 as vs Man Utd, youthful but strong bench - Forster, Dragusin, Spence, Gray, Bissouma, Sarr, Bergvall, Moore, Lankshear.

Other than reserve goalie Forster, no-one in the 20 over the age of 28 (Bissouma, Werner).

Draws elsewhere mean that a win puts us top six. Respectability regained.
 
Draws elsewhere mean that a win puts us top six. Respectability regained.
Bit early to be giving us 3 points, but if we can win The High Line Derby it will have taken just 7 matches for last season's top 7 to take the same places (not nec in the same order of course).
 
Should have been up after 20 seconds, but we've been brilliant anyway. 2-0 and doing the unthinkable, giving Brighton around just 30% possession.

Johnson continues his hot streak, and Solanke has been superb - dropping off into space and linking play beautifully, whisper it quietly but a lot like Sir Harold of Kane used to do for us.

More of this please, it's fab to watch.
 
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