Spurs 2024-25

[Zapp Brannigan]

Nothing wrong with having back-up for Solanke while Lankshear is eased in. I agree there’s no reason to play Richie on a left wing where we seem rather over-stocked, especially with Yang coming in.

Agree with this - Solanke's game is based on relentless running, he can't be expected to do it for 96+ minutes on 50+ occasions. That means Richarlison is still very much needed, and he's a very good player in his own right. Similar enough style too, a pain in the arse for defenders.

Lankshear is close but not yet in terms of being a reliable member of the first team squad. Carefully selected minutes to get him up to speed, then maybe next year he's up the pecking order.

 

[Silas Loom]

Vicario’s ankle is fractured. That has to mean Forster for quite a while, Alfie Whiteman as back-up presumably, unless we can do an emergency loan.

I know that Levy didn’t like the idea of building on a levelled Olympic Stadium, and in many ways it is lovely that NWHL is on the site of OWHL. I just wish that the ancient Indian burial ground wasn’t there, or that the foundations didn’t have to go deep enough to stir angry spirits.

 

[Zapp Brannigan]

Forster has been really good as a deputy, he's a more than competent premier league keeper for now.

Get well soon big Vic.

 

[Cerberus]

2 days basking in that Etihad victory. 2 days!!

We just can’t have nice things… Silas has a point.

Anyway, maybe a slight tweak in the way we play out from the back? If Forster starts diving now, he may well save Fulham’s first shot on Sunday

 

[Zapp Brannigan]

Bit of European footy anyone? Big home game vs Roma.

Forster
Porro, Dragusin, Davies, Gray
Bentancur
Sarr, Kulusevski
Johnson, Solanke, Son.​

Subs: Austin, Whiteman, Udogie, Hardy, King, Bissouma, Bergvall, Maddison, Olusesi, Willams-Barnett, Werner

Not quite a first team, but probably only Udogie away from being our strongest available.

 

[Silas Loom]

Somewhere between Shipman and House, that. Legg? We didn’t really deserve the win and we didn’t get it. Not that it really matters in this weird league.

 

[Zapp Brannigan]

I'd have absolutely loved watching that as a neutral, brilliant game.

Kulusevski at times is levels above, he's very rapidly becoming an unbelievably good forward.

 

[stavros]

Is Bentancur only suspended for domestic games then?

 

[Zapp Brannigan]

Is Bentancur only suspended for domestic games then?

Yep, 6 more to go. Although apparently we have appealed the severity, based on comparison with some of the (what should have been considered) more severe racist incidents like John Terry and Luis Suarez.

 

[Silas Loom]

Is Bentancur only suspended for domestic games then?

He came close enough to a red yesterday for me to wonder whether he secretly fancied a proper holiday!

 

[Silas Loom]

Reguilon and Kulusevski being on the bench are surprising and perturbing for different reasons.

 

[Zapp Brannigan]

Weird game. Even when we're bad, we normally still control possession - the problem is usually running out of ideas then giving up chances on the break, but yesterday we didn't control the ball.

I guess any team would have problems without their goalkeeper, 2 best centre backs, holding midfielder, centre forward, plus the backup centre forward and a couple of backup/most promising wingers.

The league table is fascinating, we're getting a long way into the season but it's still so crowded at the top - any team stringing 3 wins together is going to be a big mover. Unless you're Liverpool, the table doesn't half look pretty for them right now.

34 - Liverpool (18)
33
32
31
30
29
28
27
26
25 - Arsenal (12), Chelsea (12)
24
23 - Brighton (5), Man City (3)
22 - Forest (3)
21
20 - Spurs (14), Brentford (3)
19 - Man Utd (4), Fulham (0), Newcastle (0), Villa (-3)
18 - Bournemouth (1)
17
16
15 - West Ham (-7)
14
13
12
11 - Everton (-11)
10 - Leicester (-11)
09 - Crystal Palace (-7), Wolves (-10), Ipswich (-11)
08
07
06
05 - Southampton (-15)

 

[Zapp Brannigan]

Some interesting fixtures in the 2nd-13th mini league this week too:
Arsenal vs Man Utd
Man City vs Forest
Newcastle vs Liverpool
Villa vs Brentford
Bournemouth vs Spurs
Fulham vs Brighton

Of the top 13, only Chelsea are playing no-hopers; Southampton away. Any win in these 6 fixtures is a bit of a statement win.

 

[Silas Loom]

Tamworth will smash us.

 

[Cerberus]

Morning. So, which Spurs will show up tonight?

My gut says it’ll be powder puff Spurs. Yes, they have injuries but should have enough to compete with Bournemouth. It’s the ‘compete’ that worries me. Lose tonight and again on Sunday (nailed on that Chelsea will put the boot in) and it will be very uncomfortable for Ange…

 

[Silas Loom]

It’s on Amazon Prime, which takes all the fun out of trying to find a stream. There won’t even be any of those South African ads for sophisticated yet affordable brandies. Boo.

 

[Zapp Brannigan]

We're an odd one. Wouldn't be surprised with a 4-0 to either side.

I think more than most teams we rely on a squad, as part of the gameplay is for players in certain positions to empty the tank with high intensity sprints (and LOTS of them). And more than most teams, we rely on a "feelgood factor", since high risk high reward takes a certain level of confidence bordering on arrogance.

It's only taken a handful of key injuries to rob us of both things. Just a couple returning - say Romero and/or vdV, plus maybe Richarlison, and a bit of that swagger maybe will come back.

 

[Zapp Brannigan]

Just checked the league table - after tonight we could be 5th, or we could be 10th. Bonkers.

 

[Cerberus]

It’s the way we play mate!

 

[planetgeli]

Just checked the league table - after tonight we could be 5th, or we could be 10th. Bonkers.

10th it is then

 

[Silas Loom]

Chelsea next. How long can Levy and Lange let this go on for?

 

[Zapp Brannigan]

Just awful tonight. The intensity that characterises our game was gone, without pressing at 100 mph we're easy to pass around and give up chances. I don't understand how we can get that element of the game so right on some occasions and so wrong on others.

 

[passenger]

The manager has a shocking attitude, this is a big fuck up by Spurs
the bloke an idiot it's a shame to see what is happening and rather
confusing
Sorry to go on but they were like kids playing football
at lunchtime in the playground, against Roma.

 

[Silas Loom]

Romero and VdeV back, if anyone cares any more.

 

[Zapp Brannigan]

Romero and VdeV back, if anyone cares any more.

I care. About to watch it while in a hot tub at the gym #middleclass

 

[Silas Loom]

I care. About to watch it while in a hot tub at the gym #middleclass

I hope you’ve got the right gym shoes on! Slippery places, gyms. You don’t want to go all Cucurella.

 

[Silas Loom]

Entertaining, anyway. Whose bright idea was it to hand out cardboard missiles to the Park Lane in advance?

 

[Zapp Brannigan]

This is Zapp Brannigan's ghost posting. I regret to tell you he drowned himself in the hot tub, and he did so willingly.

 

[Petcha]

Am I right in remembering that Cole Palmer was on City's books, couldn't get a game, and they released him?

 

[Zapp Brannigan]

Am I right in remembering that Cole Palmer was on City's books, couldn't get a game, and they released him?

Sold for 40m, but given his meteoric rise that still looks a Chelsea bargain and a City mistake.