Match Day Thread Tottenham Hotspur Pre-Season Thread

Kane definitely looks a lot leaner.

Not sure if it was said on other streams as I turned on right at the start of the game but my mate in Ireland said the commentator mentioned Spurs are roughly one week ahead of schedule, presumably in terms of fitness(?).

After the World Cup last summer and a few injuries during the summer before, it’s nice that we’ve got pretty much a whole squad of players participating in pre-season training. Hopefully sets us up nicely.

 

No FA doing an eff you this summer to the Inger-Spurs.

There are 5 decent opponents in pre-season, but regardless of nothing
at stake my advice to all academy kids is to seize the opportunity
and make your claim for a place in the seniors this season.

Parrott has just taken his first step.

 

I only saw the 1st half and was suitably impressed with the team. The academy players were much better than I anticipated.

As for the goal by that bloke Kane...wow!

 

Credit to Juve for getting their dream signing bedded in early, so he could watch Spurs score a last minute miracle winner to beat him 3-2 for the second straight game.

It was only preseason, but what a fabulous game. Ndombele, dream debut. Kane, miracle goal. Moura, Lamela, Son, Parrot, Georgiou, Tanganga and Skipp looked good. I've hoped Georgiou would get a chance at LB for a couple of years now.

 

rwaeb is here.
I guess that is a subtle dig at me to visit the BBC to get the 2019-20 version of his list ...

 

I was wondering where you were, good to see you back.

 

It was at this moment where Matthijs de Ligt felt like he had been in this situation before...

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Also, here's the pure sex in a can that is Ndombele's interception/assist

 

Ndombele looks so cool on the ball and a step up on dembele.

 

Threading passes like that is something Dembele never did.
Now looking forward to seeing the MF forward driving beastliness of his play.

 

Poch always said he wish he signed a young Dembele as he could’ve moulded him into a world class player.

He’s now gotten his wish - and some!

 

One thing that's probably getting overlooked due to various other factors (i.e. Kane's goal, Parrott's performance, the pure sex in a can that was Ndombele's first three touches in a Spurs shirt including an interception and an assist) was how well Skipp handled himself in the middle of the pitch, as he was linking up play nicely one minute and pressing Juve players like they owed him money the next

 

Parrot looked impressive and against class opposition maybe we have found another kane

 

Absolutely beautiful.

 

Post-match stuff ...

Manager :

Players :

 

Managed to catch the first half and the last 5 minutes. Kane lobbing that mouthy Goon bellend has put me in a good mood for the rest of the week, that's for sure

Couple of observations based on what I watched in the 1st half:
- Our pressing game is back.
- Passing is much, much quicker. Players were averaging no more than 2 touches of the ball before releasing it.
- The 4-3-3 system is already intriguing. It was interesting to watch how the team's shape transitioned between defence and attack. There were definitely similarities to tactics we've seen in the past, namely the CB's splitting and one of the CMs dropping back into defence when the FBs pushed forward. But the twist that comes with starting a front 3 is the potential for the wider 2 attackers to cut into narrower positions when that FB overlap happens, which in turn leads to the most central of them - usually Parrott in this case - to actually drop deeper and operate in the space left between the opposition's defensive and midfield lines. Time and again our attacking pattern went:
1) Georgiou/KWP Push forward.
2) Son and Alli drift infield, drawing the attentions of the bulk of Juve's defenders
3) Parrott stays central but drops slightly. No one knows who is meant to be picking him up, which is how he ends up having a half where he is at the heart of all of our best moves going forward, including Lamela's goal.
Picturing this with Son and Lucas either side of Kane and applying the same tactical sequence is simply frightening on paper, and brings us very much in line with the way Pool's front 3 operate, although to my mind Kane is a far better all-round player than Firmino, so should be even better at that job.
- Georgiou was full of endeavour but lacked end product.
- KWP reminded me not to give up on him just yet.
- Skipp looked really bright and seems to be on a different level in terms of confidence. I'd imagine getting through the gauntlet of breaking into the first team can do that to a young man.
- Alli worked his socks off but the amount of time and touches he appears to require before releasing the ball remains a concern. This was especially noticeable given the speed with which everyone else was moving possession.
- Tanganga looked so composed both on and off the ball. A wildcard for next season?
- Parrott plays with an intelligence belying his years. His pass and diagonal run into space to set up our first goal were really impressive, and he looked totally at home taking on defenders with a decade more experience than him. He has something of the Keanos about him, and it isn't just his accent. Same energy, same audaciousness, same raw confidence. It's early, early doors but would be great to see him getting some cup games this season.

 

Hugo's been sent home to recover from tonsillitis. Sounds like he should be OK for the Audi Cup games though.

 

I've often said that I felt Tanganga was the better prospect out of him and Eyoma from that age group, with CCV's future unclear and the possibility of Foyth going RB, there could be an opening for him.

 

I’m liking some of the new Spurs gear they’re showing off in Asia, particularly the jumper from young Foyth here, even if it does look like he’s gone a bit Commander Shepard from Mass Effect.

 

Would be happy for Gazza to do the entire pre-season.

He could do with stretching his legs, and Hugo is not suffering
from some bone/muscle injury that will prevent him starting
the season.

 

I looked at the picture before reading your comment and that was exactly what I thought of, too.
They've changed it enough to avoid any issues, though.