Tottenham Hotspur Supporters Site "The Spur"

The game is about glory

Spurs 2022-2023 Season
Apr 08: Brighton (h) won 2:1
Leeds away
final match

Apr 15: Bournemouth (h) lost 2:3
Apr 23: Newcastle (a) lost 6:1
Apr 27: Manchester U. (h) draw 2:2
Apr 30: Liverpool (a) lost 4:3
May 06: Crystal Palace (h) won 1:0
May 13: Aston Villa (a) lost 2:1
May 20: Brentford (h) lost 1:3
May 28: Leeds (a) Prem
End of Season. Pre-season friendlies to follow

World Soccer Talk viewing schedule of Prem matches on US TV and online
World Soccer Talk schedule of Spurs matches on US TV and online
Soccerway fixture list for Tottenham Hotspur
NBC sports youtube channel highlights
premier league highlights

Tottenham Hotlinks & Football links

Supporter sites, forums, podcasts

BBC football & BBC tottenham hotspur, BBC women's football incl. spurs women

Guardian football and football weekly podcast

the extra inch podcast

Twitter spurs official

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Alasdair gold of [football.london] new channel for spurs; gold twitter

Last word spurs podcast with ricky sacks, lee mcQueen, LWOS u-tube

We are tottenham tv

Chris cowlin, tottenham fan

Tottenham away

Spurstalkshow spurs talk show

George achillea

Tottenham fan vlogs

Tapintobs

Spurs odyssey by longtime loyal lilywhite

Cartilage free captain

Tottenham on tour podcast + utube

Fighting cock forum

The spurs show podcast

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not 606 spurs forum

Spurs community chat

Who scored Tottenham page

Marine FC play Tottenham in the FA Cup

Irish hotspur

the hotspur podcast became sporadic, then disappeared, now back, but always a worthwhile listen

Spurs fan on safe standing at games

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BBC radio five live homepage, audio, bbc sport podcasts

TuneIn to Talksport to avoid tedious registering

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Total soccer show podcast

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football grounds guide great ground and stadium site, updated link as of 2017

QPR fan james with spurs fan flav

nutmeg

Smiv happens to be a spurs fan

Atmospheric derby in glasgow

Misc.

the usl show part of the bgn network including podcast: loonacy

David ginola scores

Al Jazeera net losses

theme music of bbc football league show circa 2015/6

Swiss ramble the biz of football

Voices of london

is the NLD still a true derby?

soccernomics blog, @sszy

Links updated & added periodically

League match
Leeds 1:4 Spurs
Final score
Leeds United vs.
Tottenham Hotspur
US TV & Net: Fubo etc; May 28, 2023 (22/23)

Villa make the Euro Conference while Everton survive and Leicester and Leeds are relegated (joining Saints of course).

Spurs fail to make Europe at all - lots of different views about that, but if you can't get into one of the top two Euro competitions is the Conference just a huge distraction and drawback for the club? Short answer: yes, even if it means losing one avenue of boasting a trophy. It's not worth the aggro and would likely end in tears.

Preview vs Leeds: Spurs could technically wind up with a Europa league spot but more likely will end up competing in a play-off for a Euro Conference spot or no Europe at all. This BBC article goes into more detail. There's a lot to be said for the argument that a less cluttered season focusing on domestic success is the preferred scenario -- just for a season.

Check back for the build up, then in-match and reactions, to our last match of this campaign.

Meanwhile, Matt Hayes talks about Arne Slot moving into pole position for the N17 hot seat.

All matches on Sunday played simultaneously so this really makes it an exciting / nerve racking relegation showdown where it's all on the line for Everton, Leicester and Leeds. Two out of three of those will face what borders on a club catastrophe, such are the financial and footballing repercussions, especially in the 'modern game' where the rich get richer, the poor get poorer, and what used to be fans are now largely international eyeballs of overseas consumers searching for the product that enhances their lifestyle and fits their viewing budget, given the myriad of fragmented options, leagues, and packages floating aroung in a chaotic new digital media world.

It puts our situation in perspective when you see a manic depressive fan like this sitting in front of his US apartment style patio blinds ranting despondently in a Leeds accent.

Meanwhile, in the corresponding match last season in Feb 2022 Spurs enjoyed a convincing 4-nil away win, admittedly against a side that was bereft of confidence and couldn't even score when it was handed to them on a plate.

NBC/USA Highlights; THFC official match reaction.

Kane and Son were back in form and reigned as the supreme attacking duo in English football currently, Winks & Hojbjerg shone again [thanks Leeds!], even Docherty was solid [+ scored and assisted]. Ben Davies made a memorable "save" sprinting back to foil a dillying Stuart Dallas, who for a second had an open goal until our Welsh international defender blocked the Irishman and prevented Leeds getting on the scoresheet. Both sides went for it. Spurs had more possession - even as the away side. Above all, a team performance and, amazingly, after a few minutes of even play the London side took control and never loosened their grip on the game.

Tottenham manager Antonio Conte's posture between the previous loss at Burnley and this visit to Elland Road seemed to work like a treat - "OK guys, I'm at my wits end trying to make things happen with Spurs - it's over to you lads - you go out there and prove me wrong. It's all yours."

But again, it has to be said, Bielsa's trademark style currently imprinted on Yorkshire's biggest and best supported club was the perfect side for Spurs to meet - if they were to respond to their manager successfully - and, as it turned out, to win emphatically.

Despite the old school rivalry between the two most famous white shirted sides the British Isles has ever produced, a rivalry which occasionally got out of hand on the terraces of yesteryear, I hoped they would stay up. [Note for this 22/23 season: my main survival hope is that Everton stay up, as mostly supporting the blue sides of cities as opposed to the red sides - in this case Liverpool FC who also broke the unspoken rule and used the city name for themselves after kicking Everton out of their original ground.

Back to last season and all credit to the Leeds fans, though. How many other "big" sides' fans will applaud their players off the pitch, dejected though they all were, rather than booing and jeering. They don't forget what their manager has done to get them back into the top flight. But now they're fighting for their lives to stay there, and there's a looming possibility of one or more of England's most legendary clubs - Leeds and/or Everton - taking a massive fall into the second tier [just like this season then].

Let's see what happens this time out at Elland Road. Let's finish on a high, Spurs, and let the Euro chips fall where they may.

League match
Diabolical
Bring in Arne
May 20, 2023 (Ssn 2022/3)
Tottenham Hotspur 1
Brentford 3
Tot.Hot Stadium, London
US live TV:USA. Stream:Fubo,DTV, Sling.

Reactions incoming... to this dismal end of the season. The off season should prove more entertaining than most of what's gone on before. This club needs work. It's become famous recently for the very reason that it's not working. Some lovely goals, though. Shame they mostly went into Tottenham's net!

Arne Slot... would be a really interesting move in this neck of the woods where you've got a Lilywhites faithful scrapping with a Rotterdam born and bred Feyenoord fanatic. Bring in Slot.

Our away match to them earlier this season... in December saw Spurs being Spursy and going down two goals and leaving the buzzing hosts seemingly on the home straight for all three points by the 55th minute. Then, ten minutes after going those two goals down, Kane pulled one back (as he does) and 6 mins later, with about 18 mins of regular time remaining, Hojbjerg leveled the score.

At least this was being Spursy the right way round, leaving the club's visit to Brentford on a rising, as opposed to a flat, note.

Well, as we said about the same fixture last time, it's "almost kick off time" for the penultimate Tottenham Hotspur league match of the season, and fond home farewell for this campaign. And, after that, off to Leeds for the last away trip.

Underwhelming
Late THFC pen
not enough

Full time
Sat, May 13, 2023
Aston Villa 2
Tottenham Hotspur 1

Surely a significant blow to Ryan Mason's chances of being permanent manager. Spurs right now look about median Premier level. Where does it go from here? Two more games to go this season. Brentford home next.

"Well, there's another 95+ minutes of my life I'm never getting back. Now just hoping it's 8th rather than ECL." -- Mikey10, Glory glory.

"Villa are a good team and this was a tricky match, but the nature of how the game played out was just super dispiriting." -- Cartilage free captain.

Final Score. Spurs had five attempts on goal.

With seconds to go, Son had a second would-be goal disallowed for offside, this time way offside. It's all over. Villa win.

Harry Kane penalty gets one back for Spurs with only stoppage time remaining.

One Villa goal in each half. As always at Villa, the traveling Tottenham support is persistently vocal, or at least was until the 2nd goal, now it's Villa in full song, as the THFC lads on the field can't make it happen.

In the corresponding match last season Spurs romped to a four goal away victory at Villa Park with a hat trick from Son Heung-min.

Check back for updates and reactions. Check back for updates and reactions. Check back for updates and reactions. Check back for updates and reactions.

League match
Spurs 1 Palace 0
Kane header
May 06, 2023 (Ssn 2022/3).
TH Stadium. Final score.
Tottenham Hotspur 1
Crystal Palace 0
US live: Net: Peacock

More Reactions: Visiting fan reaction on cpfc.org: "They are always ******* shite but somehow always get 1 pissing shot that goes in."

So far it seems the nod goes to Cristian Romero as man of the match. He did seem suddenly very mature in this game, sorting out flashpoint situations, confident, making the difference when it counted and even hitting the woodwork for good measure.

What if we say he shares the award with Harry Kane... this is the guy to make a difference at both ends. As The Guardian points out - THFC will sorely miss his game changing presence if he moves elsewhere next season. The goal also notched up another record, this time Harry takes over from Wayne Rooney the honor of scoring the 2nd most goals in the premier league.

For Spurs, it was an agricultural win but also both a recent rare clean sheet and victory respectively. Perhaps nobody welcomed this more than caretaker Ryan Mason, he needed a win under his belt, as did the club, including the supporters. No refunds this time!

One fan at Spurs Community speculated that our caretaker manager might be the right man for Palace if Roy decides to retire. Hodgson himself has steered Palace to safety, BBC Football reminding us that he's "suffered just his second loss in seven games."

Reactions: The host's loss at Liverpool in that gargantuan showdown was and is still fresh on everybody's minds, coming back from 3 down only to give away a fourth and deciding goal. This seemed a welcome anti-climax. Sometimes slugging out a one-nil win is what the doctor ordered.

Harry Kane headed Tottenham ahead in first half stoppage time. Tottenham Hotspur beat Crystal Palace 1:0.

2nd half: Spurs set to achieve a workmanlike win with almost no drama but plenty of physical knocks.

First half: Harry Kane interacts with Pedro Porro and heads Tottenham ahead in first half stoppage time.

Spursy twice
Spurs nab 3 back, but...
April 30, 2023 (Ssn 2022/23) FINAL SCORE

Liverpool 4
Tottenham Hotspur 3

Chris Cowlin + guest panel reactions. LWOS panel reactions.

Full time. Incredibly, after getting level at 3:3 with a perfectly delivered Son free kick to set up a deleriously celebrated Richarlison equalizer with just moments left on the clock, Spursy happened twice in this game, after all the work to come back, the visitors threw it away by gifting Liverpool a last second injury time fourth goal to win it at 4:3. Poor Richarlison, scores his first THFC premier league goal only to suffer the value of that equalizer negated within seconds.

Earlier in the second half: Dramatic comeback now being taken seriously as Spurs pulled back a second goal with Son on the scoresheet.

THFC find top gear and start battering the Liverpool goal, hitting the post twice and demanding a fingertip save. This is allowing 'Pool to break back, but for now, Spurs showing what they can do again, and no longer getting dismantled.

Second half. Spurs start slow again. Robbie Savage, BBC football: "These Spurs players may as well get a standing order to pay the fans."

Half time. HT: Liv 3:1 Tot. First half: Spurs went 3 down within 15 mins, pulled one back.

Harry gets one back. The revival is on! Quality assist, from Perisic, who himself received a fantastic feed. We can still turn on the magic, but allowing opponents up to three or five goals lead makes life difficult.

Spurs had a shot, great ball by Kane to Son whose shot is foiled.

Credit to the visiting fans who keep on singing, while others have thrown scarves towards the pitch before making their way to the exits. Liverpool fans eerily quiet as if THFC might get 4 back. Unlikely to be honest.

Penalty makes it #3. Good thing we cannot mathematically be relegated. On that note, congrats to Orient on their promotion and winning the League Two title, celebrating by promptly getting thrashed at home 0:3 by Stockport County.

There's always Palace at home (next) when the going gets tough. Only problem, CPFC are a good side playing well, having just disposed of West Ham and moving above Chelsea at the time of writing.

Hard to keep up with the speed of the goals going into Tottenham's net. Yikes. This could make Newcastle look like glory times!

More reactions coming up as per usual as Tottenham Hotspur visited Liverpool for a scintillating match that nobody could have predicted after the diabolical Spurs (non) start.

Premier league
In Ryan we trust
Pulsating Spurs 2nd half

"Nuno & me flopped.
Good luck Ryan.
You'll need it."
Cheers, Antonio
Tottenham Hotspur 2 Manchester United 2
US: Peacock (web). Rob Noxious. NBC highlights

Reactions: Sentence of the week goes to The Guardian's Jonathan Liew: "Tottenham's team began the game with all the vigour and red-blooded passion of 11 men who had been randomly selected for jury duty." Maybe soon A.I. will be as brilliant as this, but if it is, the likes of Liew will need compensation for having their brilliance absorbed and regurgitated by the Big Blue of Borg.

TheSpur: Eyes glued to the action in this often mesmerizing battle, culminating in an amazing comeback. Has Ryan stabilized a team in chaos under Stellini, and before him the in absentia Conte? Either way, Mason made some good decisions and we saw that many of the players are fighting to turn the tide.

Second Half: Oh wow, the Harry and Sonny partnership is back, with the England star providing the South Korean with the chance and this time the tireless Heung-min makes no mistake. The ground erupts. Props to, I think it was Cristian Romero, who wasted zero seconds to set up the move that allowed the Kane-Son duo to work their magic.

Spurs could now be at least 3:2 ahead, maybe four-two, seriously, if some golden plum chances created by some quality play had been finished. Way better from Spurs second half.

Levy out banner unfurled and draped over the barrier behind the Park lane goal as Kane feeds Son but narrowly wide. So close to an equalizer. So close.

Spur fave Kulu on. At the same time ex-Spur hero Christian Eriksen gets an ovation from the Tottenham crowd as he's also subbed (out) at the same interval.

What an effing goal for Pedro Porro, who, since his earlier error, has been oozing confidence. What an outstep belter this was. Phenomenal. United's Fernandes almost equalize moments later. Sensational second half football match so far.

First Half: 2nd goal for Man Utd. Spurs offensive effort foiled, and a long ball to Marcus Radford who slams it into the net.

Spurs deputy keeper Forster making some solid saves. Richarlison looks like his struggling Everton teammates at the moment -- all sapped of confidence. He's a wandering shadow.

30th minute. From a corner, an excellent header by Perisic demanded a top notch save from MUFC keeper De Gea.

Within a few minutes Manure get an early goal. Porous Porro could use a plumber as United's Sancho suddenly finds his form on the day he plays Spurs -- funny how everbody does seem to do that against us.

Review: Spurs v Manchester Utd. Always one of the big 'uns of the season, but for Spurs it's more of trying to squeak into top flight of the Euro conference, or Europa league (actually it's to save the club, **** Europe for now) whilst the visitors harbor greater ambitions of top flight European football next season.

Predictions: Chris Cowlin on Sky: 1:1, Chris Sutton on BBC 1:3, The Spur's Rob Noxious: no clue. 2:2 (dream on, eh?).

In the corresponding fixture last season it was Nuno's swan song as a 0:3 defeat, with Cristiano Ronaldo getting the Devils' first, led to the end of his era and imminent reign of Antonio Conte.

TheSpur wrote:
Care-taker manager Mason seeks to stem the tide

Preview. "This was the battle of the managers who wish to survive this encounter and go on to great glories with their respective underperforming sides. Ole won. Nuno lost. Now what? With Harry Kane now a passenger for most of Tottenham's matches, and a side looking lost most of the time, it's another step into the void for a club that cannot get it right, despite some real talent and the potential to be much higher than midtable also-rans and a less than proud member of the European [choke] Conference. But we could win the League Cup and pigs could fly.

Quoting BBC Football last year: "Tottenham had lost 36 Premier League matches against Manchester United, more than versus any other opponent .... Spurs had won just six of their 29 home matches against United in the Premier League (D9, L14) .... The Red Devils were unbeaten in their last three away league games against Tottenham (W2, D1).

TheSpur again: "Looks scary when you read the reality of THFC's, let's face it, borderline dismal home record against Man U in recent times. But everything is up for grabs. Both managers are under pressure with potentially strong sides seemingly underperforming."

In the end, neither Nuno or United's then manager were destined to either survive or become success stories respectively, but for Nuno the guillotine blade fell with the sharper cut. Meanwhile, the year of Conte is also over, and Ryan Mason is our caretaker savior. The cycle of Spurs soccer life continues.

League match
Bigger problems
Saudis see off sorry Spurs

Sun, April 23, 2023 (Ssn 2022/23)
Newcastle United 6
Tottenham Hotspur 1

It seems like a long time ago since this corresponding fixture from last season when Spurs edged Newcastle on their patch by three goals to two, even after THFC fell behind to a very early goal (just like happened today, but that was the only similarity).

Mind you, that was their Jonjo Shelvey era (he's currently with Nottingham Forest, but thank-you Charlton Athletic for bringing him to the world's attention). It was a glorious victory with, inevitably, Harry Kane and Heung-min Son on the scoresheet, along with Ndombele. Dude, even Eric Dier scored, even if was into the wrong goal. A goal is a goal at the end of the day.

That said, we've lost by a bigger margin in the league at St James Park than this. Still, five down after 21 minutes is definitely going it a bit.

Julian Nagelsmann just said he's interested in Spurs after apparently losing enthusiasm for Chelscum. Surely that was before this result... then again, expectations will be much lower so if he comes on board and even gets us into any kind of shape on the park he'll be chaired all the way down to the Thackeray Mini-market.

Well, onwards and downwards with Manchester United on the menu next.

The moment Newcastle United were 'saved' by Saudi Arabia.

More reactions soon. More reactions soon. More reactions soon. More reactions soon.

League match
Problems
Final score

THFC fans cheer 1st goal

Tottenham Hotspur 2
Bournemouth 3
April 15, 2023 (Ssn 2022/23)
NBC highlights

Reactions: Of Spurs, writes John Brewin, Guardian match report: "poor finishing, absent-minded defending."

Guardian reader and commenter lovebiscuit also makes an important point by addressing "those clowns that booed a player who was substituted, no matter how poorly he may have played, is unforgivable. **** *** and support someone else."

There is a miniscule chance of a person being so good at football as to play professionally in the world's most followed top tier national club league in the world (even if a club's fan thinks a particular player shouldn't be there).

Such players rarely achieve that very high level by having a mind-set of deliberately not playing as well as they could (with some extremely limited exceptions), even if more for personal pride than for a particular club. So what, positively, does booing and hurling abuse do to improving that player's performance? Nothing good. If anything, it's detrimental to all concerned and impedes further improvement and success.

Yes, supporters are paying sky high prices to attend the modern game so they should have an expectation of some value for money, but if a supporter is simply making it less likely that players perform well, then that's just making things worse, not better.

Second half: It had to happen. Awful, especially with Newcastle losing this could have been a late season Spurs surge, but now hopes of Top 4 virtually dead. Last gasp Bournemouth floors, against the late run of play, a strangely behaving Tottenham side. The London outfit seems desperate for someone, something, to realize this club's floundering potential. No denying though, quality goal from AFCB's right winger Dango Ouattara.

LWOS post match. More reactions soon.

Second half: VAR loves Spurs! Former Cherry Arnaut Danjuma, now with us, equalizes despite Kane being offside and arguably blocking the keeper's view.

It might have been an interesting battle for the neutral viewer but it was a torturous experience for the home fans, admittedly though not short of action or suspense.

If only Richarlison could head into the goal from point blank range he could be of great help to the Lilywhite cause. He gets up there but to lose the location of the target from that close is definitely puzzling.

Second half: It's not getting any better. Around the 51st minute, it's all the way out from the back for Bournemouth, Spurs dazed by the fluency of the visitors and it's in the back of the net befor a lot of people even knew what just unfolded. Sanchez being blamed by the fans. Cherries likely to stay up on this form and THFC scratching its collective head.

Half time 1:1.

First half: Horrific defending by porous Pedro Porro and, yes, credit to the Cherries to take full advantage and we've got it all to do again.

Perisic to Son for the best possible start for the home side which lowers the anxiety surrounding the Spurs viewing experience! And Heung-min Son is seriously back in form. We're liking it.

Preview: LWOS Last word on Spurs YouTube channel. Back of the net Bournemouth fans' perspective.

The Spurspective: Spurs won 3:2 in the corresponding match last time it occurred which was way back in November 2019. THFC were comfortably destroying the visitors for most of the game, with a brace from Dele Alli and a third from Sissoko, and then, inevitably, it went Spursy as the Lilywhites almost gave up that 3 goal lead but squeaked thru after conceding a brace to Welshman Harry Wilson (now with Fulham).

It's always a must win when your hangin' on to your Top 4 hopes by a thread. Then you want the Geordies and ManUre to fall apart. What could go right?

Check back for post match reactions added as relevant and allowed by time.

League match
Kane again
...and Son's 100th

Kane has sunk
Seagulls before
April 08, 2023
Tottenham Hotspur 2
Brighton 1 [Final]
USA stream live: Peacock

2nd half: Hojbjerg to Kane and he's on top form with a strike like that. It's all over, Spurs win!

Off field Spurs and Brighton employees having a right bundle as if there wasn't enough action on field. Spurs hoping to win the "unofficial" fight and get a result! Stellini and Brighton's manager both red carded. Lol.

Danny Wellbeck seemed to finally score the goal that seemed so inevitable, with Albion clearly the better side for most of the game and energetic at a level never seen before. But it was not be as adjudged by VAR. This time they were right. Later, VAR and the ref proved hopelessly wrong and that really was the pivotal moment that turned the game. Brighton were robbed by the Mitoma decision, no question about that, and even the official refs org issued an apology on Sunday, their 3rd denial of a legit B&HAFC goal this season apparently.

2nd half: Brighton have been on the front foot for most of the match and from a corner the Brighton defender and captain Lewis Dunk rose high unmarked to head the equalizer. The question at this stage is how many will Albion win by? Sad to say.

1st half: Son "did a Keane" and destroyed the net with a long range banger that gave him his 100th premier league goal, and one to remember, goal of the season arguably for Spurs and arguably as good or better than the Keane goal against Spurs in the previous match that everybody raved about. Assist by Perisic.

Preview: LWOS match preview.

Preview: WATTV possible line-up and formation.

NBC's match preview had the three pundits divided as to the winner, one went for each side and the third plumped for a draw.

They also discussed the importance of qualifying for the Euro Champions league. Correct answer: yes we absolutely must qualify, but the club needs a whole lot more than that.

Where is the right manager? How will the chemistry between players be created by a manager in charge of what seems to be individual talents who, combined, are not firing on all cylinders as a team? Where is the fortune (the correlation between money spent by clubs compared with their league standings is starkly similar in most cases). Where is everything that's still missing?

But it's a fascinating though frustrating story that's constantly unfolding and if you're a supporter you can't help but watch.

The Spur's Premier action
Kane
penalty:
precision & power
Not again?!
Harry spot on, then THFC melt
Everton 1
Tottenham Hotspur 1
April 03, 2023 (Ssn 2022/23)
Goodison Park. FINAL SCORE.
US TV: USA chan. Net: Fubo, DirecTV, SlingB, Universo
NBC Highlights

Wot a game. Full marks for entertainment but actually not a great result for either side. Everton must win their home games to ensure survival (as a club, not just avoiding relegation). Spurs will not get top 4 unless the results dramatically change with 9 more games.

Surprise surprise! It's Spursy time. Everton level. Lucas Moura comes on as a sub for Spurs, gets sent off, and Michael Keane scores Everton's goal of the season. Spurs now in total disarray.

Second half: Red card leaves the Toffees short handed, not long later Cristian Romero is taken out by Michael Keane allowing Harry Kane to blast in his usual top shelf hi-speed pinpoint penalty and the traveling north London fans erupt.

Half time: No score. Back and forth football, entertaining to watch but with the turnover of managers both sides lack the high level cohesion, interplay and flair you see with the top sides like you know who and Man City.

But actually a breath of fresh air to see Spurs come out of their winter Conte shell, blink at the sun, and have a bit of raggedy fun. The 2nd half will be up for grabs but it will need more purpose on the build up and first half the finishing was ropey all round.

Spurs going for the touchline hugging forward passes to the wing but seldom does it cause a problem for the hosts, either because of intercepts or because the ensuing cross is easily cut out, with one notable exception headed wide by Kane.

Chris Cowlin's Talksport pre-match interview.

The Kauff of Tottenham on tour: pre-match.

Everton (4-3-3): Pickford; Coleman, Tarkowski, Keane, Godfrey; Gueye, Onana, Doucoure; Iwobi, McNeil, Gray Subs: Begovic, Holgate, Mina, Mykolenko, Maupay, Davies, Coady, Garner, Simms

Tottenham Hotspur (3-4-3): Lloris; Romero, Dier, Lenglet; Porro, Hojbjerg, Skipp, Perisic; Kulusevski, Kane, Son.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Michael Keane for Everton. First time the award goes to an opponent. It certainly wasn't Lucas Moura that's fo sho!

Harry England's #1
Spurs & ENG top scorer

Now he has of course become both THFC and England's top scorer, topping forerunner legend Wayne Rooney with a goal in Italy. "Harry Kane underscores his greatness in the face of constant whataboutery" says the Independent via Yahoo entertainment. He's the "Complete forward (who) can push England scoring record far into the distance" echoes a headline above Phil McNulty's BBC Football article on the subject.

Is it to be Julian?
The Spur urged a young up 'n coming manager as opposed to the has-beens of Chelsea and elsewhere recycled thru Spurs to make them a retirement buck, and it's finally coming true.

Says Wiki: "Known for his versatility with formations, maintaining possession, and implementing gegenpress, Julian Nagelsmann is considered to be one of the best young managers in world football."

Spurs fan told to calm down: "Everyone in the supermarket is looking at you."

Bombastic Bayern have decided to go with ex-Chelsea gaffer Thomas Tuchel (also to be noted: a mentor of Julian). We've decided on the future... and it's not Antoni-go.

Conte is history and props to our beloved Tottenham Hotspur for moving on. Alle-effing-lujah! The tequila is already flowing. This will get our Lilywhite blood flowing again. Loads more soon.

The era of retro-junk Moronho and Antoni-go are over.

League season 2022/2023
Spursy on repeat
Conte, in effect, quits

March 18, 2023 [SSn 22/23] by How O'Paulling
Southampton 3
Tottenham Hotspur 3
St Mary's stadium

Reactions: It took only until the press conference to switch the spotlight from the match itself - a mesmerizing and roller coaster ride down the Spursy highway - to what seems to be Conte's self-orchestrated swan song.

Same Old Spurs podcast reaction.

The immense talent at his disposal and what we got was an aggregation far smaller than the sum of its parts, and that's the manager's fault. Mainly.

Most of the other reasons have grains of truth but unless the club moves away from hiring "Managers of Yesterday" (could be part of the TH stadium tourist tour) with out-of-date strategies that could only work with players the club doesn't have, Tottenham Hotspur will continue to be the "also ran quite well" of the premier league.

The other alternative could be that the present ownership, or an oil soaked buyer, would be willing to hire an up 'n coming modern manager (apparently known as a "project" manager). To do that, though, means identifying the right person and taking the time to let that person do the job long enough. Not easy. Look at the grief Arsenal fans gave their current yet now successful manager. Arsenal FC gave him the time even when the fans didn't. Chelsea are also giving their guy time, with Chelsea fans being a lot more patient, given that their recent alleged Russian connections was even more dodgy.

Second half ends: Dodgy penalty gives Saints a last gasp equalizer.

Impressive goal as Perisic should be putting this result to bed, uh oh, Walcott gets a second for the home side.

What a cross from Kulu lets Harry rise to the occasion and heads Spurs back in front.

Second half starts: Southampton level, close-up outstep for 1-1.

End of 1st half: Goal scored in stoppage time and first shot on target with Son on the left seeing Pedro Porro in lots of space on the far right side of the penalty area. The South Korean delivers it on a platter and this time the Spanish international winger, instead of skying it towards the English channel, absolutely cannons that opportunity leaving the Saints keeper without a hope or a prayer.

First half: Romero stalwart in defense so far. Four players, 2-a-side, injured and off in the first half, freak situation that. Several chances both ways but nothing with "goal" written on it. Every other prem game going on currently has seen a goal scored as we wait for Spurs to break the deadlock but so far could go either way.

Here we go. First half. Tottenham Hotspur playing from left to right. Pedro Porro looking lively at the start of this, crisp passing and creating opportunities in the first few minutes. Could have been 2-1 to Spurs after less than five mins but no score. Richarlison already injured, seemingly from the warm-up. Kulu takes his place.

Spurs overall in form recently in the league even if it doesn't feel like that, but Saints new manager has made an immediate positive impact to a side previously in freefall with relegation a very real threat, even now, as they go into this game in the lowest position the table offers: 20th. That said it's a nine horse race to avoid the drop with very little separating them.

Here we go: SPURS STARTING XI: Forster; Romero, Dier, Lenglet; Porro, Skipp, Hojbjerg, Davies; Richarlison, Kane, Son.

The Spur watching live online this morning and reacting hopefully in real time or soon after. Kinda early in California but not too bad at 8am. Get the coffee and tea on. Check back for reactions.

League match (Ssn 2022/23)
Spurs merry men
Almost did a "Spursy" near end
Tottenham Hotspur 3
Nottingham Forest 1
March 11, 2023 - FINAL
TH stadium

Tottenham Hotspur beat Nottingham Forest 3:1. Among the reactions:

LWOS guest on Spurs reflects what a lot of the club's supporters feel, that it's "not a crisis but feels like a crisis."

Meanwhile, BBC's Far Post podcast covers the London football scene.

Spurs 0 AC Milan 0
Toothless Tottenham exit Euro Champs 22/23
FULL TIME

Tottenham Hotspur exit the Champions league. A nil-nil draw of course means the London side loses 0-1 on aggregate. Adios amigos. Tottenham Hotspur exit the European champions league. A nil-nil draw of course means the London side loses 0-1 on aggregate. Adios amigos.

Tottenham Hotspur exit the European champions league. A nil-nil draw of course means the London side loses 0-1 on aggregate. Adios amigos. Tottenham Hotspur exit the European champions league. A nil-nil draw of course means the London side loses 0-1 on aggregate. Adios amigos.

FIRST LEG AT SAN SIRO:
AC Milan 1 Spurs 0

AC Milan hosting and beating Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions league as the final sixteen clubs fight it out, this being the first leg with the return at TH Stadium on March 8th.

Tottenham fought well but gradually Milan, having scored very early in the 1st half, became more confident of bagging a second knockout goal as the 2nd half progressed. But the Lilywhites held out for a one goal deficit in this opening leg and the second leg is achievable for the Lilywhites but if the Londoners had gone two down, then it would surely have been a bridge too far.

Man of the match: Pape Matar Sarr, Senegalese international, and seemingly a potential Tottenham star, having flourished at Metz FC in France, and impressing mightily tonight. He shone as he donned the Spurs shirt: oozing talent and self assurance.

Special mention: Harry Kane, physically harassed by the Milan players at every chance, nonetheless was a threat and could have scored on another day. The ref seemed - genuinely, not kidding - glaringly biased in favor of the Italian side.

League match
Wolves surge to nab win
Spurs lack flair & consistency
March 4, 2023 (Ssn 2022/23)
Wolves 1
Tottenham Hotspur 0
Molineux, Wolverhampton
US live online 7am PacZone/USA: Peacock

Post match reactions: Any good news today? Well there's Newcastle, our rivals for "4th place and a top tier Euro spot next season - the world's most valuable unofficial trophy", losing. And it's never a totally disastrous day when West Ham get tonked, on this occasion totally outplayed by Brighton. So next, let's take a look at reactions to our performance at Wolves. Coming up.

Match reaction: This time Tottenham's mantra of "we only play one half, which one do you want?" saw Spurs showing what they are capable of in the 1st half but ultimately failing to convert, and then Wolves gained conviction that they could nick this, they impressed second half, Spurs reeled under the home side's onslaught, the Wanderers subs hungry to take a bite out of the Cockerels who squawked under the pressure.

The deadlock was broken by an overwhelming Wolves surge that ended with a scorching Traore (on as a sub) volley from a rebounded shot, a level of aggressive attacking that Spurs could only dream of - given their dubious second half performance. Wolves had them in their pockets and from then to the end they seemed destined to celebrate the almost certainty of leaving relegation fears in the dust.

By contrast with Spurs, Houdini-like Arsenal went a goal down in 9 seconds, slumped to 0:2, and then won 3:2 with a last gasp winner over Bournemouth.

Molineux at Half time: nil-nil. Heung-min Son hit the crossbar. Spurs keeper Fraser Forster turned away an on-target Wolves effort. Will one of these chances go in? Wolves and Spurs don't do draws when they meet in the league.

First half: Spurs played some good stuff first half. Kane hits the crossbar from a free kick, moments later Kane downed in the box but no penalty.

It's Blades 1 Spurs 0
...in the FA Cup, but THFC can't rise to the occasion.

Theoretically it was our best chance of winning a trophy this season. Owing to shortage of staff -- ie. real life getting in the way of leisure time -- there was nobody here at Spurs Tower watching the match live today Wed Feb 29 -- so reactions will be on the way on Thurs PM when our elongated party (work-free) weekend begins, including Wolves away - yeah... rain or shine, win or lose. So please check back for more incoming reactions and other material soon.

Previously.....

Sheffield Utd will host Tottenham Hotspur: The Blades vs Wrexham replay to decide who hosts the Lilywhites in the FA Cup fifth round was decided in a rip roaring battle with United going ahead, conceding two penalties one of which was scored, and then, in the final 18 mins or so, the Championship (2nd tier) side simply tore the non-leaguers apart with two sucker punches to win 3:1 to set up what should also be a barnstormer at Sheffield's Bramall Lane hosting Spurs in early March. Whatever some say about the Premier league devaluing the world's oldest Cup competition there's nothing that quite compares with a good 'ole "sudden death", do or die, Cup tie.

Previously: Well, in the US soccer media world, especially for ESPN as they hold the US FA Cup rights, a match up between Hollywood darlings Wrexham against relative giants Tottenham Hotspur would be like hitting the jackpot, and it would indeed be an amazing match-up especially for North American based THFC (and Wrexham) supporters. We'll see what happens with the replay as the Welsh club travels to Sheffield United to decide THFC's opponents.

Blades vs Wrexham replay Tues Feb 7th @ 11.45am US/Pacific time ESPN+. More on the FA Cup soon here.

Premier league 2022/23
Spurs win
So Pro
Cementing Champs lg spot
Sun, Feb 26, 2023
Tottenham Hotspur 2
Chelsea 0

A rip roaring opening goal from (relatively) local lad Oliver Skipp followed by an unusual but skillful flip of the foot by another (relatively) local lad Harry Kane, and it was a rare but thoroughly professional win by Spurs - caretaker THFC manager Stellini's 100% win rate still watertight. Amazing. Take your time recuperating, Conte.

Talking of Kane's goal, that quells any technical issues remaining about whether to count goals scored by Jimmy Greaves in an FA Charity shield game. Either way, it's now Harry's crown whichever way you look at it, and he looked especially delighted after this one.

This win keeps Spurs solidly in fourth place but still looking over our shoulders at the now uber wealthy Newcastle. The Magpies have two games in hand (partly because they're playing the League Cup final today), but on the plus side we are playing well enough to keep third place Man Utd (also in form sadly) in our sights.

But anyway a Champions league place for next season is very much on the cards, and will continue to make the club attractive to future talent and generate revenue to buy that talent. Of course, we could win it this season to guarantee a place but best safe than sorry!

Apologies for the long delay uploading reactions today but we'll get there in the end. More reactions soon. Apologies for the long delay uploading reactions today but we'll get there in the end. More reactions soon. Apologies for the long delay uploading reactions today but we'll get there in the end. More reactions soon. Apologies for the long delay uploading reactions today but we'll get there in the end. More reactions soon.

League match 2022/23
Back into top 4
Spurs chemistry bends Hammers
Feb 19, 2023
Tottenham Hotspur 2
West Ham Utd 0
USA live TV: USA, T'Mundo; Net: Fubo etc.

After this win, Tottenham Hotspur are back in the coveted Top 4 of the prem table, one point above the Geordies who have a game in hand (West Ham, at the other end, occupying a relegation zone place at 18th).

This important victory means that Spurs approach another home game against Chelsea on Sunday with good momentum and brimming optimism, especially as the launderers are flailing at the moment, including losing at home to basement dwellers Southampton, giving the south coast side a real hope that the drop is not inevitable for them (but likely).

FULL TIME. It took a quality moment of team cohesion to shatter the stalemate, plus Tottenham's dynamic duo - Harry Kane feeding South Korean striker Heung-min Son for the second goal - to put this one to bed.

Yet again this display showed that this side has the talent, but they're not as consistent as the clubs above them, neither can they produce the swift forward surges, and game changing moments, as frequently as the Arsenals and Man Cities of this world. But once again assistant coach Cristian Stellini oversees a winning result when the manager is away, just like he did at Inter.

Son comes on as a sub and scores (72'). Just like that! Harry, out-hustling a WHU opponent for a high bouncing ball, expertly found the alert and hungry Son. Two-nil. Son's 98th prem goal for Spurs, and if his return to form continues it bodes well for a Lilywhites return to the champions league next season.

Good plan: lull the visitors into a false sense of security and then, 56 minutes deep into the game, break away from deep defense in a sweepingly impressive goal with the magic starting when Hojbjerg played directly forward to Davies, the Welshman in turn providing the perfect lay-on for the oh so cool Emerson Royal to pick his spot perfectly, the move completely unlocked the visitors, the Hammers suddenly in tatters, and Spurs ignite a slumbering game, dramatically breaking the deadlock. Spurs can turn it on, even out of the blue, like this move.

Not much in it so far. Best chance fell to West Ham early doors, Spurs tend to be sluggish out of the gate and could have paid the price. That said, good to get Romero back in the defensive line, plus Kulu is back in action. Both reassuring.

Well, here we go. Match kicking off. Well, here we go. Match kicking off. Well, here we go. Match kicking off. Well, here we go. Match kicking off.

Updates, reactions etc on the way.

AC Milan 1 Spurs 0
Full time

AC Milan hosting and beating Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions league as the final sixteen clubs fight it out, this being the first leg with the return at TH Stadium on March 8th.

League match
Foxes devour
Cockerels
Spurs collapse
Full time
Sat, Feb 11, 2023 (Ssn 2022/23), by Tad Harsh
Leicester City 4 (3)
Tottenham Hotspur 1 (1)
Highlights plus last season's corresponding fixture.

REACTIONS Incoming:Conte was right about the fact that something did change after Spurs scored - they mentally and physically coasted. Was it the gargantuan effort to beat City and then scoring a brilliant goal relatively early against a lower table side, almost relegation material, Leicester? Were they burnt out, and with a match at Milano a few days away? In the prem, especially against a Leicester side as energetic as today's, managed by a guy who's obviously studied us carefully, a team eager to show they deserve to be higher in the league, you cannot dial down to 70% and hope that one classy goal is enough. The prem is way too competitive for that.

"Without Romero, Lloris, nothing at back, don't have a clue anymore" laments viewer Brendan on LWOS.

Also from LWOS viewers, Paul Smith "Spurs would come third in a two horse race." More accurately, we're fifth in a four horse race! However this viewer was correct in saying "Spurs were managerialy outclassed today." True. Rodgers was sick of having his ass handed to him by Tottenham and figured out where THFC are vulnerable under Conte's plan. My guess he identified the static nature of Conte's formation and urged Leicester to exploit the wide open spaces available.

The story of Leicester City.

Had Spurs won the club could have been in the top four if only for as long as it took the later playing Newcastle to regain their spot. In fact the London side led for a while. By the end, it was hard to imagine the home team was trying to avoid a relegation fight and that the visitors had aspirations of being a top four finisher.

SECOND HALF: Leicester have a goal disallowed for offside, but that doesn't alter the recognition that THFC's defending is shot, surprising as the much heralded Pedro Porro was making his club debut. He looks like he's in the wrong league. Up front the visitors offering very little.

Half time Spurs trailed 3:1.

FIRST HALF: Tottenham took the lead with a nifty goal from Bentancur (15') but when the home side finally found their feet, they destroyed the visitors so thoroughly, starting with a breathtaking Mendy equalizer, that it'll take more than a miracle to salvage even a point out of this nightmare.

Brendan Rodgers, Foxes manager for almost exactly four years so far, and who took the side to an FA Cup victory two seasons ago, has super charged the East Midlands outfit for this one. They are genuinely jammin'.

League match
We've won!
Kane: club's standalone top scorer
Feb 05, 2023 [Season 2022/23]
Tottenham Hotspur 1
Manchester City 0

TH stadium. Live TV: USA = NBC, Online: Fubo etc. FINAL SCORE NBC highlights.

Post match: Initial reactions from the net:

Viewer "ttid" comment on Chris Cowlin's Spurs chat podcast: "Porro on one side and Emerson on the other. I actually think we could train Emerson as centerback as well, the way he played defense." Indeed, we can now see why some pundits were raving over Royal being signed by the club. Or was this his brother?

Check back for reactions as they pour in during the unfolding day [see some being added above].

2nd Half: A very professional job at retaining the lead and bagging three unbelievably well earned points.

If Tottenham can counter-attack the way they did in this huge match, while holding those lethal City players at bay, and there should be good days ahead. Witness Spurs breaking forward in the 61st and 66th minutes, and there were several other scintillating moments of that fast and accurate counter play, and the potential of our players, and the side as a whole, with the likes of Kulu, Hojbjerg and Son all combining in ways that were sometimes spell binding, is seemingly limitless.

Half time: Inevitably City starting to create very dangerous chances and Spurs saved by the crossbar to be finally saved by the half time whistle to make it an historic and unblemished first half. Harry gets his all-time record, Spurs get a precious, albeit precarious, lead against the current champs and champs 4 out of the last 5 seasons. Edge of the seat stuff.

1st Half in play: He just scored goal number 267 to put THFC one up. Harry Kane is now stand-alone Tottenham Hotspur's top scorer of all time. Jimmy's 266 is bettered. Congratulations. No words. Just brilliant.

High energy first half with City looking to assert themselves fast and furious.

We're off. First half.

FA Cup action

Son brace sinks
stubborn PNE

We're thru
Son, em, Braces PNE

Sat, Jan 28, 2023 (Ssn 2022/23) Live in US Online @ ESPN+
Preston North End 0
Tottenham Hotspur 3
by Rob Francis
Son & highlights

Spurs U-21's beat Arsenal.

Looking ahead: the draw for the 5th round, which consists of the final sixteen teams (it's the round before the quarterfinals) happens this Monday just before the last remaining 4th round match-up Derby vs Hammers kicks off.

Kane had a wonderful day of rest (we hope) and so now there's the possibility of an incredible scenario, Harry the Hotspur becomes the club's top goalscorer of all time [as opposed to top equal with Jimmy Greaves of course] in a delightful win at home to the reigning champs Manchester City on Sunday week. I can see the first part happening (within the next coupla games)... wish I was as confident about what the Citeh result will be!

Match 2nd half & reactions: Yes maybe Conte is right with all this patience business. Son scores a brace, and what a flick-on that was from Perisic to tee up the South Korean, and so Tottenham go 3 up as Dutch international winger Arnaut Danjuma (on loan from Villareal in Spain), making his debut for Spurs, puts the icing on the cake.

1st Half: No score. Spurs dominating possession. Not much else happening, Kulu and Son about the three best efforts but Preston foiling the visitors so far, but they're far from watertight and it's up to THFC to puncture them. Inevitably a sense of frustration in games like this, but it may be patience is the key ingredient until "that" moment arises.

Line-up: Forster; Tanganga, Sanchez, Lenglet; Doherty, Bentancur, Bissouma, Sessegnon; Kulu, Perisic, Son. Subs include Kane.

Warm up: Just moments away from the big Cup match at Deepdale in deepest Lancashire. Yes PNE, the original Lilywhites that inspired the kit and the nickname of the north London club who, in turn, even as a non-league side at the very beginning, created a legacy of FA Cup success that remains famous and heralded to this very day.

Preston seem to be a decent if not spectacular Championship [level 2] side boasting, as they enter this Cup clash, 11 league season wins with seven drawn and ten lost, conceding five more than they scored so far.

The visit of the London Lilywhites gives the Lancashire side a financial boost, having suffered more than most financially from the covid pandemic and, seemingly, poor decision making both on and off the pitch. It's actually good to know that the club we support has helped them out with considerable and valuable remuneration from this match-up but obviously the charity is not intended to seep onto the pitch.

Their last three results saw them winning a league match 1:2 at Birmingham City a week ago, but previous to that they got whomped 0:4 by Norwich in their last home league match. In this, the FA Cup, they landed Spurs home by beating Huddersfield 3:1 at Deepdale.

Will this be the game in which Harry Kane pips Jimmy Greaves' record to become Tottenham's all time top scorer for Tottenham Hotspur? How appropriate it would be in a match-up so steeped in history. We'll find out very soon.

Prem action 2022/23

Kane becomes
club's #1=
goal scorer
Kane equals Jimmy's tally!
Full time
Jan 23, 2023
Fulham 0
Tottenham Hotspur 1
Craven cottage, SW London
USA live: Fubo etc online.

Matchday: An historic evening for the Lilywhites as Harry Kane equals the club's all time record of goals scored by a player for the club. One more and.... just wow Harry Hotspur.

For the club it's also a massively needed shot in the arm in a flagging season that sees the side as outsiders for the all important Top 4 finish, holding fifth place after this result but with a 3 point gap between THFC and the two clubs above: Newcastle and Manchester United, both of whom have played one less match. So it's likely gonna be a mighty fight.

Encouraging to see Heung-min Son with the assist for the goal that came just before half-time.

Although Tottenham kept a clean sheet there were several dodgy defensive moments where Fulham should have capitalized, but overall this was "job done", Harry closer to historical hugeness, and a great way to go into an FA Cup tie at Preston.

Check back for more reactions.

League match
Leaky & Spursy
More daunting fixtures loom
Jan 19, 2023 [Season 2022/23]
Manchester City 4
Tottenham Hotspur 2

Reactions: Well nobody can say recent matches at the Etihad between City and Spurs have been uneventful. Holy smokes.

BBC match tracker: "Tottenham were improved from their North London Derby horror show - but with such a leaky defence, all remains unwell for the Lilywhites".

Guardian match report readers banter section, Selanac: "Obviously we were never going to help the arse win the league but we had to show City that we could've beaten them if we'd wanted." Abbernibble: "You were just teasing us weren't you, appalling sportsmanship!"
Wasserfall: "Now That's What I Call Spursy, Volume 6."

Pre-match: "Spurs have lost all four of their Premier League matches this campaign against teams currently above them in the table." -- BBC Foootball match preview.

WATTV predicted line-up.

Corresponding match last season: "Kane on fire" was our headline in the corresponding fixture last season, as an early Kul goal and a Kane brace was enough to see Spurs over the line in an absolute five goal belter of a game away to City.

A stunning and vastly encouraging 2:3 result as Tottenham Hotspur did the double over the best club side in the world (for many observers at the time): Manchester City, first winning at home under Nuno and now away under Conte. Kane was on fire but this was a magnificent team effort and hats off to our heretofore beleaguered manager Antonio Conte. He's the man, we opined at the time.

Spurs had five or so chances and yet managed to win away at Citeh even as the home side, considered the best in the world at that time, absolutely laid seige to the visitors' goal almost non-stop.

Props to the Spurs fans up there [or who tried to get up there] especially as trains from Euston to Manchester were cancelled and a lot of Lilywhites never made it, while others had to switch to driving up at very short notice. But the support of those who were up there, braving the weather mayhem, was phenomenal.

Incredible finale to this match, City equalize with penalty decision against a "heartbroken" (according to the commentator) Romero, but then, to the rescue, Harry Kane wins the match! Easy eh? Breathtaking stuff. NBC highlights.

Premier league
********!
Under Conte: mid table also rans
Tottenham Hotspur 0
Arsenal 2
Jan 15, 2023 (Ssn 2022/23), Brent Wood
Tottenham Hotspur stadium

Savva talks foobtall, match reaction. "We need Redknapp back with a pint in his hands... that team we loved" says crustymetal cheeba on Savva.

Grim situation for Spurs but against opposition that's light years ahead of most other sides including the dour Conte led Spurs. Spurs community posts: "Not sure I can take watching more Tottenham. Absolutely soul draining." "Very difficult to win when your manager doesn't know what the **** he's doing." "Think with Richarlison back, it's time to take Son out. Just getting so little from him at the moment", "I want top four and a trophy which are both within our capability."

Note to the Arsenal goalkeeper: don't go back to retrieve your water bottle and antagonize Richarlison and the fans. Don't you earn enough money to stump for a new flask instead of getting embroiled in that scenario? I play tennis for $0 and even I wouldn't try that one on after an intense league match at a rival town. As a matter of fact, as a former team captain, I've got almost a dozen water bottles on the shelf waiting to be reclaimed.

Previews & predictions:

WATTV predicted line-up against Woolwich.

BBC Football clip Martin Keown on the north London derby.

Spurs fan Flav vs g**ner robbie on Sky saturday social.

James Lawrence Allcott on this NL derby "where champions are made".

NBC USA take on THE derby.

Football Dissected preview with super Timmy Sherwood!

Tottenham Fan Vlogs preview.

Please check for more build-up to Sunday's massive match, biggest of the year for most of our fans, though in the "bad" old days (of what could nowadays be dubbed "free range" standing terraces with a lot more mobility than today's all seaters with maybe some fixed standing spots) the matches against West Ham, Chelsea and Man Utd seemed to be about on a par if not of greater consequence, especially the latter in terms of sheer number of away fans causing the territorial intensity to break the needle.

Exciting days and glad to have witnessed them, but now it's just a different vibe not to be judged as better or worse, just a different vibe and a different world. Some things were preferable back then, some better now. Same goes for the not so wanted stuff. It's all grist for the mill (not a subtle reference to the lion badged outfit in SE London).

MAN OF THE MATCH: The ref, for blowing the final whistle.

Corresponding match last season: "Spurs Gods" was our headline for the corresponding fixture last season which took place on May 12, 2022. "Spurs cool as cucumbers, Arse panic" was the sub-header. Wish it always like that. What a game to have enjoyed!

It was a comprehensive win for Tottenham Hotspur. Arsenal got a player sent off but that's because they were getting outplayed and desperate, and made things increasingly worse for themselves. Spurs kept their cool, managed the play better, and were mentally stronger.

Qatar linked with Spurs purchase
One link with deep enough info but not too long is WATTV. There'll be plenty more on this topic of big oil buying the world's top futbol clubs, a topic of immense importance which leaves many supporters, and not just Spurs, with massively mixed feelings. Others are already firmly in the "yes if it's my club" or "no, this is a horrible and ultimately self-destructive direction for the beautiful game."

Meanwhile congrats to Gareth Bale on a great career and of course a major success at Spurs - immense - along with his national side Wales and, ahem, "other clubs".

FA Cup
Kane again
Team cohesion matters
January 07, 2023
Tottenham Hotspur 1
Portsmouth 0
Final score. ESPN highlights

Spurs starting line-up--> Forster; Tanganga, Sanchez, Davies; Emerson, Skipp, Sarr, Sessegnon; Gil, Kane, Son.

Kane scores, another banger, as Tottenham Hotspur upped the tempo and intensity after the break, with a forgettable first half calling for a lot more.

Well the half time talk may have been the spark, but as usual the home side did find fourth gear. The wonderful strike was the culmination of a long string of passing football by Spurs until Kane saw his opportunity and unleashed.

While Harry deserved the plaudits as he moves to within one goal of Jimmy Greaves' goal tally for the club, you gotta hand it to all the lads involved for patiently building up to that eventual moment (the moment being: this game's only goal, yet it could apply to Harry's quest for the scoring record, too). Team cohesion matters, and especially impressive as this was not a regular line-up - the usual case for earlier stage Cup matches, given the ton of matches each season.

Premier action

What now, Antoni-go?
2023 starts slow, like THFC
Jan 1, 2023 (Ssn 2022/23)
Tottenham Hotspur 0
Aston Villa 2
THFC Stadium, London
More reactions soon.

Reaction: Unhappy new year... yikes. "What next Antonio and why do Spurs start so slow?" You can go behind in most games but eventually the Houdini act doesn't come to the rescue. Harry Houdini became Harry Lame. That said, where's the service? What's the way out this time? Let's see if any questions get answered as a north London derby looms with Spurs frozen in Conteball and Woolwich cruising away from the rest of the league. Citeh are also rans by comparison and Spurs need a better plan than this. And before Arsenal's visit it's Palace at Selhurst in the league and Portsmouth home in the FA Cup. League Cup is already history. Oh, and then a small matter of Man City away on the 19th just a few days after the NLD. Brutal.

What went wrong and how to put it right almost overnight. That's what we'll be exploring as the games continue to come thick and fast.

Meanwhile, Villa under their new manager are doing the biz, straight no nonsense 4-4-2 muzzled unimaginative Spurs and all the Brummies needed was a few pops at the other end and bingo, 3 points.

Things to remember - injuries (Kulu sorely missed), and players burnt-out from the World Cup and way too many fixtures for too few fit players, therefore an unsettled team. But beyond that, a lack of direction, a pedestrian possession approach for want of anything better to do.

Preview: Happy new year! In the corresponding fixture last premier season, played in October 2021, Spurs enjoyed a 2:1 home victory. It was the pre-injury version of Son Heung-Min who was a shining star for us, reliably excellent, including a brilliant assist in this one. The unfortunate injury to such a talented forward has obviously been a blow to the player and club, but he deserves to get back to that kind of form and have a continuing successful career.

Tottenham bounced back from poor form at exactly the right time to prevent another potential crisis at the club.
Congrats to Pat Jennings, legendary keeper
Awarded CBE, yeah!

Also, back then: Skipp, Hojbjerg, Royal and Romero were all being evaluated and all looked to be capable of realizing our expectations of them.

It had been our capitulation at Arsenal and being overwhelmed at home by Chelsea that really hurt manager Nuno, who, despite this win, didn't ultimately survive much longer at the helm of THFC.

The first goal came from a solidly performing Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. Ollie Watkins equalized for the visitors, and finally a Villa own-goal, under pressure from Lucas Moura, added 3 points to Tottenham's season tally.

On another note, congratulations to Spurs & Northern Ireland goalkeeping maestro from yesteryear, awarded a CBE in the New Year Honours list, and as the linked BBC article notes: "Jennings played 591 games in 13 years at White Hart Lane, winning his first FA Cup in 1967." He was brilliant and even now seems always a real gentleman, fundraising for charities, and in stunningly good nick for an old timer. You feel he could go out there and pull off a few more miracle saves if called upon! What a top man.

2nd half of the Season
Spurs fight
back to
nab 1pt

Bees 2 Spurs 2
The pattern continues as Tottenham Hotspur take forever to get into gear but when they do they can become lethal. This time they decided to make it extra interesting by giving the Bees a two goal lead and then, to their credit, turning it on in style, leaving us with a sense of exuberance as a draw seemed like an excellent result under the circumstances as the talent in the Lilywhites' ranks shone through for some superb and encouraging moments of skill, interplay, and finesse.

In its own weird way this first Prem match after the World Cup winter break kinda delivered the goods, but sadly this overall performance won't ultimately deliver a top four spot until we play like we can.... much sooner than this in future games. Obviously, easier said than done.

Check back for reactions as goals by Kane and Hojbjerg (pictured scoring) erase an unwanted two goal deficit.

Both Spurs goals were terrific. Great Clement Lenglet cross for Harry's header and Kulu setting up Hojbjerg, via a deflection, for number two.

League match
Bentancur brace!
Spurs triumph. Full time.
Tottenham Hotspur 4
Leeds United 3
Sat, Nov 12, 2022. US Online: Peacock
NBC[USA] Highlights

More reactions soon: Well, our next league opponents Brentford beat Manchester City on Citizen turf earlier today. Should be a corker at the Gtech Brentford community stadium after the World Cup.

Lilywhites were down three times but bounced back. When Rodrigo [the Leeds one] notched his impressive brace it seemed like curtains for the London side but what an incredible finale to this high scoring, high stress for Spurs fans, game. Kulu man of the match and Tottenham Hotspur bounce back up to third place (and then back down to 4th after Newcastle beat Chelsea. We're willing to forgive them this time).

Second half: Bentancur and Kulu, who creates the 4th which Bentancur scores, are Gods. Sensational work from the new Spurs stars. Two quick fire goals (2 in 2 mins for the Uruguayan) and the whole scenario of this wacky match changes. Now Conte is a genius.

BBC Football match tracker: "Rodrigo Bentancur to the rescue! Dejan Kulusevski gets in down the left and his low ball finds the midfielder for a simple finish. Spurs lead for the first time in the game after a stunning turnaround of two goals in two minutes from Betancur. Madness."

Rodrigo scores another banger for Leeds.

Richarlison replaced by Ivory Coast star Yves Bissouma.

Ben Davies equalizes for Spurs.

Half time: Final THFC action until the World Cup is over, it's half time, and Spurs suck. Normal service has been resumed. Conte's tactics seem out of date.

First half: Rodrigo regains lead for Leeds.

Harry Kane equalizes.

Spurs go behind early doors. Summerville.

Kulu is back from injury.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Swedish international winger Dejan Kulusevski, on loan from Juventus, is dynamite.

Preview: In the corresponding fixture last season Spurs won 2:1 as Hojbjerg and Reguilon scored. True to Conteball's management style THFC went a goal down. On this occasion his approach worked: we witnessed a dramatic comeback. Antonio Conte's first home premier test went from zero to hero, converting the jeers to cheers.

Leeds were impressive first half but Spurs dug deep and it seemed the new manager's willpower and enthusiasm, plus strategic decisions, made this a memorable way for him to fully take charge of this phase of his career. It wasn't great football but it was entertaining from both sides and this was the win that the supporters, players, and manager so much wanted, and they got the job done.

"Not a bad weekend. Arsenal got stuffed. West Ham lost. We stole 3 points. Under Conte we will get better so onwards and upwards. C O Y S." -- petfenn BBC poster.

"I'm dead but I'm so happy now!" -- Sergio Reguilon, Spurs wing-back, scored his first THFC goal [congrats].

Since we played that home match versus the Leeds, the Yorkshire side has replaced their manager, turning from Bielsa to American Jesse Marsch.

Spurs start this Saturday morning in fourth place with 26 points and Leeds in 12th with 15 points, the Lilywhites flaunting a +9 goal difference compared to Leeds wtih minus 3. It has to be noted that THFC's +9 pales in comparison with those above us in the table [going into the weekend]: Newcastle +17, Manchester City +27 (!), and Arsenal +20. That said, below us, Chelsea claim only +1 and ManUre -1.

League Cup

League Cup

Lodi hell
Forest score twice early 2nd half
Nov 9, 2022 (Ssn 2022/23). US online: Espn+
Nottingham Forest 2
Tottenham Hotspur 0

Full time: It was a game of two halves. Tottenham didn't show up for either.

The only consolation was that Arsenal also got knocked out. It almost seems like all the London clubs in the competition agreed to sandbag the EFL Cup because there's just too much on the fixture list for anyone to deal with, and the other stuff is just way more important - be it Prem league title, Euro contests, or avoiding the horror of relegation - so "bye bye" THFC, AFC, Chelsea, West Ham and Palace. All gone.

Second half: This time it's the England human engine room Jesse Lingard who headed in from Slough born Sam Sturridge's corner to tank THFC's tepid aspirations of lifting a Cup via the EFL. Two-nil to Forest. Soon after, Lingard's England teammate Harry Kane goes off in one piece as pressured by England and their World Cup hopes.

Jesse Lingard and Willy Bolly of Forest continue to cause problems for Spurs, but it's the Brazilian Renan Lodi, fed by Lingard, who strikes an absolute beauty in the 50th minute.

Half time: Five out the eight (EFL) League Cup matches being played today ended nil-nil at half time. The other three games are all drawn 1:1. In other words, nobody's gonna sweat it over the League Cup and the aim is to try to win without fully committing. Too much at stake (for the individual players and for the clubs, and national teams) elsewhere.

Conte, however, is still feeling the heat of criticism over Tottenham's shockingly lackluster starts to games - he threw in Kane but it made no difference to the balance of power.

First half in play: Match in progress. Early doors. Forest on the front foot, including hitting the post and forcing the Spurs keeper to an athletic save from the rebound.

Harry Kane selected to play.

Check back as the match unfolds. Check back as the match unfolds. Check back as the match unfolds. Check back as the match unfolds.

Kulu back
2nd half comeback not enough
Nov 06, 2022 (Ssn 2022/23) US Online: Peacock (prem.)

Tottenham Hotspur 1
Liverpool 2
Kane & Spurs get a goal back

More reactions: "45 Minutes FC" -- Nicola, WATTV.

Football terrace.

Instant reaction: Apart from the result, the THFC event of the day is seeing Kulu back from injury, on as a sub, and showing the difference that can happen with him on. However the now typical Tottenham rally, after the usual first half indifference, wasn't quite good enough this time, albeit close.

Pre-match: Spurs v Liverpool preview with James Lawrence Allcott.

Is Antonio Conte restricted by the players he has? (Espn+)

Both sides have shown two sides this season. Like most of the "big" members of the Premier league sides so far they've not reached their potential, but yet shown it's there if it can somehow be replicated on a more consistent basis.

That arguably puts us on an a similar footing and why, last season, we drew with them both home and away in our league encounters. Not much has changed other than Spurs seem to have improved overall and Liverpool have slid somewhat.

Neither club are anywhere near this season's top two performers, Arsenal and City, but among the best of the rest, with arguably "lucky" Spurs going into this weekend's round of matches in 3rd place, and Liverpool, with their so far unrealized but existing potential, placing 9th.

Oddly, one gets the impression Liverpool fans have more confidence in their side than we do in ours. Not sure why. This game will help show what the deal is with us two. Should be fascinating.

More brand new preview items for Sunday's match coming soon. Meanwhile...

He's only got little arms.

Chris Cowlin team news for the weekend.

The Darkside:

Red & White Kop

The Redmen

Final group game
Marseille 1:2 Spurs
Hojbjerg in stoppage time!
MAN OF THE MATCH: central midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur, Uruguayan star valued at a cool E33m or so, was the engine room without which a Spurs comeback would have been unlikely. He pushed Spurs forward.

Reactions: reddit/coys, and highlights.

Second Half: Holy smokes, what a winning goal ripped off the post by Hojbjerg from an oh so ******* sweet lay-on from Harry the Hotspur -- those thousands of traveling Lilywhites fans now coming thru loud and clear, as mighty Spurs WIN the whole effing group. Conteball - say no more for now. But unleashed..... sparks they flew from the Lilywhite 'n Blue.

Spurs equalize 54th min, Perisic feeding French center back Clement Lenglet. We're going thru to the KO stage (as table toppers) ... Conte is God!

Amazing how much Spurs suck playing first halves and come to total life in the second.

Spurs actually came close to scoring. Harry Kane. The abuse from the crowd is deafening. They don't seem to like Conteball either!

First Half 1:0. BBC Five Live has live commentary. Today's saviors. Thanks Beebs! Spurs awful start as usual. Conte - please go.

The TUDn feed is not working in the USA so that's a massive disappointment. You can hear some background crowd but no commentary (would be Spanish in this case) and no picture!

Champions league rights, and indeed the Prem to a lesser extent, have been sold to both English lang and Spanish lang media companies that are essentially burying both -- killing them, literally, Stateside. There's massive growth potential to be made but they don't want to do the right thing. Both Prem & Euro champs honchos need to protect their "product" from being grotesquely underexposed across the pond.

Lots of Spurs fans over here have barreled onto "liberated" sites which of course TheSpur does not recommend or link to, tempting tho' it may be.

Preview: Tottenham Hotspur won the home version of this group stage ECL contest 2:0. The man of the moment: Richarlison. But a great team effort leading to a brace for our new potential hero. Fantastic. However, the Brazilian striker is out, battling injury.

BBC Football notes: "Spurs need a point to qualify for the knockout stages, while a win would mean they top the group."

Patience was the key to our win over them at home, and a large flask of coffee for the viewer.

Now of course we have to perform to go through. Losing is not an option. A point (minimum) is the only guarantee.

Fightback earns point
Spurs 1:1 Sporting
Match over: Spurs need a point at Marseille now. Luke McLaughlin, BBC football: "If Sporting and Frankfurt were to draw, then a draw for Spurs in Marseille would be enough to win the group with nine points. If either Sporting of Frankfurt win, they'd be on 10 points, so Spurs would need a victory to top the group with 11. And in the case of a positive result either way in Sporting v Frankfurt, they would need a point to be assured of second place. Lose, and Marseille would be through with nine points."

2nd half: Ultimo minuto ... goal. VAR. Incredibly long for the goal check. Who's willing to bribe the most? No goal. Harry Kane supposedly offside. Conte red carded. Sporting fans from Streatham celebrating. Game over. Drawn.

Bentancur header from Perisic. There's a goal that warms the cockles especially after that non-entity home side first half. Then Dier heads wide from point blank range.

1st half over: Utter gormless crap. Total rubbish. Get this guy out. Total rebuild from players thru manager. No more of this. Beyond words. Utter utter bullshit non-football.

Preview: US TV/online: Paramount, Tudn [also via Fubo]

Win this and flush all our troubles down an old tin can. Then we're thru to the KO stages and can rest players and give the up 'n comers some big stage playing time for the final group game. Group D stands for done and dusted.

Meanwhile in the transfer window THFC can go shopping on Joe wotsisname's credit card, the bloke who owns the club. [Joe Lewis biggest owner; Lewis + Levy family combined ENIC trust bulk of the rest; about 15% other shareholders -Ed.]

At the mo tho, running up to this match, with what we've got - do we look like a side that's going to win the Champions league? Not a bat's chance in hell.

Preview: For viewers in the US it's in English at CBS' online channel Paramount, and for Fubo fans a chance to learn Spanish as the TUDN channel rides to the rescue. Check back as the match unfolds in a mater of dwindling moments.

League action
Harry gets 1 back
Wilson & Almiron stun Spurs

Sun Oct 23, 2022 (Ssn 2022/23)
Tottenham Hotspur 1
Newcastle United 2
NBC (US-tv) highlights

Reactions: ESPN UK reaction

Match ends: Match over. 1-2 final score. Reactions soon.

Second half: Sometimes when it seems all lost something happens to give you a glimmer of hope, this time it's Kane to cheer up the Lane with goal number ten in the prem for Harry.

NUFC denied a penalty owing to "proximity".

Half time: Shocking. If Spurs lose to Sporting and Bournemouth surely it's curtains for the current set-up. If Boris can make a comeback (Saturn forbid) why not Poch? Can Spurs bounce back from the first half goals?

First half: Shocking. A second goal, this time from Miguel Almiron, and things look grim for Spurs, as the PA system grows ever more booming the worse it gets.

Newcastle can't believe the generosity of Tottenham as Hugo Lloris dashes out for a 1-on-1 block of Callum Wilson who lobs into the open goal.

Strap on for another battle against another dodgy foreign owned "park the money" outfit, an insult to the concept of, well, everything we should hold dear. The vertical black and white stripes of the Newcastle Oilers soccer franchise.

It was an incredible victory for Spurs in the corresponding fixture last season. Spurs romped to a 5:1 victory.

Scorers were: [For NUFC: Schar (39m)], Davies (43m), Doherty (48m), Son Heung-Min (54m), Emerson Royal (63m), Steven Bergwyjn (83m). Assists: Son Heung-Min (43m), Kane (48m), Kulusevski (54m), Moura (83m).

League match
Out-Man-U-vered
No contest

Conte out
maneuvered
by ten Hag
Manchester United 2
Tottenham Hotspur 0
Various on US & UK TV & online
Oct 19, 2022 [Season 2022/3]

Very disappointing. Never easy at OT but totally outclassed and out Man-U-vered. And as for Man Utd: who needs Ronaldo when you've got Fred and Fernandes, right?

Maybe Antonio has the right system for some top players but not the right system for the current Spurs players. They don't seem comfortable or at their best against other top six sides. With a lot of luck and a strong tailwind, they can beat mid-table and lower table teams with Conte-ball.

It's true the first goal was an "unfortunate" deflection but if one side is constantly on the offensive they stand a decent chance of getting that kind of breakthrough goal, whether by all skill or all luck or usually something in between, and then we see the Spurs Conte-style system's malfunction light starts flashing because the goose (or cockerel) is, effectively, cooked. The anticipated Spurs counter never materialized. Plan B anyone?

How about: "To do is to dare"? Wow, what a concept. Anyone successful play like that? By all means have an amazingly solid defence [we're not there yet] but use the considerable talent you've got to its full advantage, especially two of the best strikers in the world. They're lost up there under this system. That's what's missing.

Preview

Spurs were hurt by Cristiano Ronaldo in last season's corresponding fixture at OT and his talent cost us the game in a THFC 3:2 defeat.

"It was like the Cristiano Ronaldo show in the end and Spurs accepted and seemingly went along with the script, rolling out the red carpet for CR7 to run away with a hat trick. WTF." said TheSpur's reaction.

"How was nobody properly marking Ronaldo who was clearly frothing for a hat trick? What a waste of all the previous THFC effort," ranted this site.

The aging Ronaldo's not been an unmitigated success since then (nor did he appear at all in this game, they didn't need him).

In that corresponding fixture BBC Football's Lawro had said before the match: "We know Spurs can be flaky but the form that Harry Kane and Son Heung-min are in at the moment makes me think they will cause United all sorts of problems, if they get any sort of supply." Well, Son may be returning to form this time (we hope), and Harry's stil got the magic touch, but all will be for nought if we concede one more than them.

League action
It works!
So far, Conte-ball on song
Tottenham Hotspur 2
Everton 0
Oct 15, 2022 (Ssn 2022/23)
TH Stadium, London. NBC USA Highlights
USA:NBCtv. Streams:fuboTV, DirectTV, SlingB, Peac'k, Univ.

Best Premiership start ever for Tottenham Hotspur after ten games, according to WATTV, and going back even further BBC Football adds: "their best start to a season since the 1963-64 campaign". Holy s***. That's impressive.

No one can say this was the epitome of the beautiful game. But it's those *wins* that keep the lights on and for Tottenham Hotspur and Antonio Conte the game plan is working.

With this kind of football - contrast it with Arsenal v Liverpool last weekend - it has to work because, although it was an amazing second goal showing players working in tune together along with the individual flair that sets stadiums alight, punters may be quick to turn - if feeding on one or two morsels of that for 90+ mins is the only prize on offer. But if it's another in an impressive string of home wins everyone considers it "job done" and goes home happy.

It's a bit baffling how it is happening but it still seems noticeably precarious for a lot of the time. But hey, let's see what others think.

So a penalty from Harry @ min 59 and then that gloriously worked goal culminating in Pierre Hojbjerg notching @ min 86 won the day, with Everton finding few inroads towards meaningful chances at Tottenham's net, but of course they'll rue two opportunities that could have made it neck and neck, and therein the inherent danger of football Conte style: to some extent it's beyond his control.

Champions league : Spurs 3 Frankfurt 2 [Result]

Other reactions: "If we can remain nowhere near our best for the rest of the season I fancy us for some silverware. COYS." -- zblargx Guardian forum poster.

Match over.

Lightning reaction until later: Spurs back from the dead. Eintracht score first, Son equalizes 1:1, Kane gets THFC's second from the spot. Then.... golasso por Tottingham.... Heung-min Son nabs a second, wow wot a goal, it's 3:1 to Spurs.

But we still made it Spursy. After a long mid-2nd half lull the match got really wild. We allowed them a second goal in min 87, now game on again at 3:2. Then Smolcic chopped down Gil, and Kane skied the spot kick over the bar. "You gorra be kiddin'" as they say in Sunderland. Whistle blows for full time.

Google naming rights
Fans chime in

Fans are making their suggestions as to what the new stadium may, or should, be named if Google becomes the sponsor. Just randomly selecting an online community the "Cartilage free captain" forum we have posters saying:

"The Google at White Hart Lane sounds lovely" -- just happy to be hojbjerg.

"Cock-a-google-doo stadium" -- Blackwolf 1967, or was that the "Cock a google doodle do" stadium?

The "Danny Rose Bowl" from IamSpurtacus.

Champions league : Nil-nil at the Eintracht

The main thing is not losing away from home especially with the kind of support German sides such as Frankfurt can boast. Highlights.

Talksport on Spurs in this match.

Jonathan Liew of The Guardian: "... the sense of treading water is unmistakable, the feeling that everyone here, from Conte to Harry Kane to the supporters paying their hard-earned, is slowly getting older."

"The effort was there, we seemed to panic in the final third which became worse the longer the game went on ... Thought midfield pair did well, wing back remains an odd one though." -- MK Spur, Glory glory forum

"The wing back positions are supposed to be the most creative positions on the pitch in a Conte style 343, Emerson offers next to nothing going forward." -- Joshua Shepherd, Spurs Community

"Get 3 midfielders in there to get a level of control that allows Son and Kane to hang off the defensive line. They are often on the edge of our box when we break." -- Nikesh, fighting cock forum

"All seems to be regressing rather than advancing - and it's not even as if the football is much to watch. It's bang average." -- Left on the Shelf, Not 606

"Antonio Conte doing Antonio Conte things." -- Beautiful loser, whoscored.com Tottenham page.

More reactions coming in, plus the games keep a comin' like a tidal wave. Brighton next.

Premier league action
Ugh!
NLD: a stresser again
Arsenal 3
Tottenham Hotspur 1
Oct 1, 2022 (Ssn 2022/23)
US Live TV: USA ch., Fubo, SlingB, DirecTV stream, Universo

Tapintobs reaction.

Consolation prize?: Well, Crystal Palace's lead over Chelsea didn't endure, Palace eventually lost 1:2. Now even West Ham have won. So, very little consolation. There was only one result that potentially gave any future hope that outcomes won't become completely and mind-numbingly predictable (other than Spurs losing to smaller clubs) and that outcome for Brighton wasn't a win in the end. They looked like they would upset an apple cart, but ended up drawing at Liverpool, still commendable, but that's what passes for an upset these days. Scraping the barrel.

Mind you, gotta give props to Everton, almost the abandoned half of Merseyside, both their men's and women's first teams are showing signs of life. There's a respective pulse there.

And, to digress a tad, every year in English football, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer unless they're bought by ultra-big, inevitably sleazy, money.

Reactions: Regarding the sending off re Royal's foul on Martinelli, Nick Ames of the Guardian: "...he showed a straight red and it appeared reasonable. Spurs raged but the challenge looked messier with each viewing .... Arsenal knew they could go for the kill and did so within five minutes."

BBC Football: "Jesus has proved to be a superb signing, while William Saliba has been outstanding in central defence since returning from loan spells at St Etienne, Nice and Marseille .... There is still work to be done but Arsenal look like a club and a team who finally have a clear direction again, a mouth-watering mix of younger players and experience that bodes well for the future."

More reactions on the way about a match we hope that our manager and players learn from. If we do, it could still be a bright season. But it's hard to deny the talent and tactics of the local rivals and it's now up to Conte to do better with our lads going forward.

Match: Having a player, Emerson Royal, sent off in the derby is never a helpful situation but against an in-form Arsenal it was game over long before the final whistle. It's hard to see anyone stopping Arsenal except for Man City so it's one of those two to win the prem unless something dramatically changes. For Spurs, maybe watch Arsenal and learn from the combination of talent and organization.

The limits of Conte ball on display against this type of oppo. That limit was all too evident after the break especially after Royal's foul on Martinelli, which was not deserving of a red card but uneccesary and ill advised, but it left the visitors overwhelmed from then on.

Preview: Saturday Oct 1st and it's north London derby day. Both clubs are flying high going into this premier weekend with the home side top and Spurs 3rd. Some argue that the Lilywhites position is a reflection, to a significant extent, of getting the rub of the green as opposed to deserving it.

Meanwhile there's another massive derby over the weekend with Manchester's City hosting United at 6am Sunday (west coast of North America Pacific time). Two other premier derbies are also part of this round's action: Palace vs Chelsea (another London affair) and bottom two clubs Leicester vs Nottingham Forest meet in the East Midlands derby.

BBC Football Chris Sutton has Arsenal to beat Spurs 3:2, Palace to lose 1:3 to Chelsea, and City to clobber Man United 4:1. The Spur reckons five goals is too much for the north London derby even though goals in N7 seem inevitable; Palace could lose to CFC by more than one goal difference so no disagreement here; and City likely to win but not by a 3 goal margin. We will see.

Sutton reckons "You could make a case for either team here (in the NL derby), but my gut feeling is to go with Arsenal - and for there to be lots of goals. It's at Emirates Stadium, and I think the Gunners will take the game to Tottenham. Spurs like that, because they are at their very best on the counter-attack, but I think Arsenal will get at them."

The Guardian encapsulates the deal: "North London bragging rights are on the line this Saturday and so is the ever-delicate question of the power balance between Arsenal and Spurs."

Who would miss George Achillea telling us "Why Richarlison was worth 60m [pounds]"?

Meanwhile Alisdair Gold looks forward to the January transfer window and as you'd expect he goes deep deep deep.

Gold also looks at Conte and discussion around his contract with Spurs.

Premier action
Sonsational hat-trick
AFC vs Spurs next for #1 Prem spot

Sat, Sept 17, 2022 (Ssn 2022/23)
Tottenham Hotspur 6
Leicester City 2
by Rob F.

"The prod-a-goal Son is back" types Cryogenic, Guardian reader post.

And now Son's talent earns him perhaps the best hat-trick out there [maybe there's a better one out there but I don't recall it, Son is #1] coming off the bench to bathe in superb Spurs glory.

Son's talent knows no bounds. Now an even better goal, his second, assisted by Harry Kane.

Oh wow, massive thanks to Son Heung-min - way to take the pressure off and remind people of the incredible, breathtaking talent that you possess. Spurs 4:2. Props & mayhem! Not to mention the Zen-like composure in putting that away as if his form had never been in doubt. Phenomenal. Moments later he sets up Romero with a tap-in but the South Korean deemed offside with the assist. Had it been onside, even YT Spurs supporter Tap-in Tobs could have nailed that one!

OMG what a steal from Bentancur catches the visitors dawdling and the right footed Uruguayan midfielder lashes Spurs into a 3:2 lead.

Wondergoal from James Madison equalizes for Leicester.

Non stop stuff continues, a third THFC "goal", also from a set piece, disallowed.

Non stop stuff, a second Spurs goal from a set piece [corner this time]. 2:1 to the Tottenham.

Holy s**t, Harry Kane equalizes. 1:1.

SPURS vs LEICESTER match beigns: Holy s**t, totally bogus penalty, saved by Hugo, then retaken and scored.

About to kick-off.

Week in action: Sporting 2:0 Spurs

Sporting played better and braver and Spurs thought they'd just run down the clock at 0:0 and in the end you risk getting bitten and it happened twice about as late as it could have been -- in stoppage time. You have to credit Sporting who felt they had nothing to lose so why not have a few pops at the end and two went in.

The first goal was the result of an unstoppable header but it was also a result of Sporting taking the game to Tottenham, and their heads going up for the ball with more vigor and determination than the visitors. The second goal -- Spurs had lost interest by then.

On this showing Spurs will be lucky to get anywhere near the final of this competition. Be honest -- do we look like a side that's going to win the Champions league?

Preview: For viewers in the US it's in English at CBS' online channel Paramount.

For those of us who have maxed out our subscribing commitments to a plethora of online pay sites, it's fortunate that a Spanish channel is showing it, and their channel is already part of another subscription we may already have, such as Fubo (more than a few busy fans may have missed this, so hopefully that inspires stateside Spurs fans to check their package offerings). You get to watch the game live or recorded without 'double paying' for the match, AND you get to learn Spanish!

Going into this game Sporting Lisbon are seventh in their domestic league table, below some considerably smaller clubs, however they've won both of their most recent league matches. Spurs go in with a strong undefeated domestic league start to the season and winning three of their last four league matches.

Both sides convincingly won their opening group stage CL match.

Sofascore: "Sporting CP is going head to head with Tottenham Hotspur starting on 13 Sep 2022 at Jose Alvalade stadium, Lisbon city, Portugal. The match is a part of the UEFA Champions League, Group D."

HITC.com: "Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Yves Bissouma has suggested on Instagram that he could start against Sporting Lisbon in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday evening. Antonio Conte's Tottenham will take on Sporting away from home in Lisbon in the UEFA Champions League tomorrow."

Last week in action
THFC 2 Marseille 0, Full time
Richarlison brace
Marseille at home, first game of the new Euro Champs League, which Arsenal are not in, kicked off at the best football stadium in the United Kingdom by a mile: Tottenham Hotspur stadium as Spurs cordially welcomed our first victims, who hail of course from the French top tier, and doing well domestically. But it'll be top tears for them, indeed.

The men and the moments: Richarlison brace.

And that's how it turned out. Patience was the key. And then - bang - great team effort leading to a brace for our new hero Richarlison. Ivan Perisic and Emile Hojbjerg with stellar assists. Guardian: "For so long, it appeared that the grand return after a two-season absence would fall flat, even when Marseille were reduced to ten men in the 47th minute following Chancel Mbemba's last-man foul on Son Heung-min."

Marseille as a football team are as hard as the image the city has to people around the world - apologies if it's a myth or stereotype but those were some terribly tough nuts dressed in sky blue, but we cracked 'em. We're the new nutcrackers when we need to be.

Media, press, Spurs & sport:
It's rarely done to applaud as Man United goals go in (instead I'd rather applaud FC United if it had to be a Manchester area side).

But against Arsenal, to bring their 100% track record and season-long unbeaten run to an end, it is definitely allowable. So the Devils' 3:1 home win over the gooners did leave a spring in my step especially with us beating Fulham at home on Saturday and therefore narrowing the points difference between us and them, though they do remain top.

By contrast, when Arsenal play Chelsea, unless they are both deemed to have lost, which is technically impossible, it is at best a mixed response. A drab scoreless draw [because I can't usually bring myself to actually watch it unless something critical to Tottenham Hotspur's fortunes is at stake] is usually the preferred outcome.

Meanwhile the Daily Mash posits that the football team you support is enough info on which to base your horoscope. At least, I think that's why they're saying. It may be that it simply says that being a fan of a particular club says certain things about you [allegedly], specifically if you're a Spurs, Bournemouth, Wolves, or West Brom aficianado.

What I find remarkable about articles like this is that even if the writer supports a team that is not really related in any particularly relevant way to Spurs, somehow, if they're going to mention a club or two, other than their own, or a local rival, it's THFC they pick out of the crowd to have a pop at!

Premier league 2022/23
WHU equalize
Point apiece by mutual agreement
August 31, 2022
West Ham Utd 1
Tottenham Hotspur 1
Full time.

REACTIONS: With three matches in quick succession for Tottenham Hotspur - a brutal reminder of the fixture congestion likely to plague the season - and a dodgy track record away from home to London rivals it looked like a workmanlike point at West Ham's London Stadium, with the object of the exercize to then go full tilt at beating Fulham at home this weekend (US: Peacock 7am US-Pacific). Not exactly a Man City or Arsenal level of expectation but, other than those two, Spurs seem to be among the best of the rest in the top flight. Check back for more reactions.

"I've calmed down now. I'll take the point. On to Fulham." -- Nigel Watson, texter on Spurs Related.

MATCH: Soucek equalizes (55' mins) from quality Antonio assist. 1st half: own goal by WHU's Thilo Kehrer.

Preview: Tottenham Hotspur have a lousy recent record playing at local places like West Ham and Chelsea but there's reason to think we'll get something out of this today. But in the corresponding fixture last season it was another flop, losing one-nil and the club in white showed almost no bite.

Corresponding fixture: One goal decided it last season and West Ham had the guile and ambition to crank out the result from a set piece, while Spurs offered almost no creativity or urgency, especially for most of the second half.

The cavernous London stadium doesn't lend itself to much of a football atmosphere despite this being a traditionally fiery north-east London occasion back in the day of old school standing terrraces frequently beset by two heaving leering mobs baying across a double line of wary but expressionless police in bobby uniforms. Throw in a seriously dodgy contingent of psycho free-range Millwall fans and you got the kind of party that not everybody wants to be at, other than the amped up gatecrashers. Not for the faint of heart back then.

League match (Ssn 2022/23)
Second half joy
Perisic & Kane use their heads
Tottenham Hotspur 1
Wolves 0
Aug 20, 2022 - Full Time result
TH stadium NBC highlights

Reactions from "The Spur" & elsewhere: Wolves came out high octane and kept it that level throughout. But they lacked the finishing power (partly due to missing talent) and Tottenham Hotspur somehow managed to weather the first half storm to transform into the potential that now seems very apparent - for example Ivan Perisic being the Spur of the Moment and his quality was there for all to savor, culminating in his amazingly deft assist around the 65th minute. Delightful debut.

Congrats to Harry Kane on his 250th goal for the Lilywhites, and for the most goals for a club in Premier league history: 185, pipping Sergio Aguero (Man City) by one, and Wayne Rooney (MUFC) by two, with today's goal. "Kane just knows where to be to score" says fan Daniel Maluenda on the NBC highlights.

Seven points out of nine including a visit to Chelscum is a solid start for Spurs and, being the early game of this particular Saturday, is enough to claim, temporarily, top of the table - again - and a chance to enjoy the rest of the weekend's games secure in the knowledge that THFC have 3 more points in the bag and remain undefeated. Being top is getting to be a habit, but early days of course, yet with the new signings looking really talented and seemingly blending in nicely with the longer time regulars, this is already a fascinating new chapter for the pride of north London.

Elias Krishnan (appearing on WATTV) is one of many supporters, including us, to emphasize how un-Spursy we've become this season, getting results even when not playing consistently at the higher level we should be capable of, especially with the squad additions. But that consistently higher level should come.

Match: Perisic looking amazing and it was his flicked header from a Son corner that reached Harry Kane, perfectly positioned to head it in to break the deadlock. Quality "double header" goal.

THE SPUR of the Moment: Croatian international winger Ivan Perisic showed his silky dribbling skills, great vision, astute interplay, dangerous crosses, plus assisting the sole goal.

In other news, Chelsea bans racist season ticket holder for verbal abuse of Son Heung-min.

Preview: Spurs struggled in the corresponding fixture last season, back in Feb, losing 0:2.

Both sides had seven goals on target, while Spurs "enjoyed" 59% of possession, had more corners, and fouled less. None of that prevented the club from careening to rock bottom in morale and in its ability to compete anywhere near the top level of the top flight.

League match 2022/3
Kane!
Resilient THFC prove a point
Aug 14, 2022 (Ssn 2022/23).
Blue racists 2
Tottenham Hotspur 2
USA: USA, fubo, SlingB, DirecTV, Hulu, Telemundo

Second half: Chelsea back ahead, but wait.... Spurs equalize again, Kane flies to head in the equalizer for 2:2 with seconds remaining of stoppage time. What a game, stressful but worth it in the end, with two quality Tottenham goals, as players and fans battle all over the shop long after the final whistle. Great support from the travelling Tottenham faithful.

Conte's tactical changes have worked! And then, what a combo: Son to Davies to Hojbjerg and with a precision goal from outside the box. Amazing stuff.

61st minute Kane materializes from the shadows but hooks it wide.

Chelsea are owning the second half but Conte willing to make chan ges when things are not working. On comes Richarlison for Sessegnon as Davies goes to left back with Royal at right back.

First half over: Hope dashed eternal. Chelsea are owning the first half. Spurs are at the racists but not at the races. All one way. Only one-nil but ain't looking good. This is Tottenham "we're better than Man United if not Chelsea" Hotspur.

Preview: Well it's a brutal grind to have to watch Chelsea at the bastion of UK fascism - the last thing any non-braindead person would ever want to do, but because it's Spurs of course we'll do just that.

Even when Chelsea suck we lose against them, but this really is a chance to nick a point or even...

Up 'til this very encounter Chelsea's squad has for years been easily better than ours but the Russian laundry has supposedly closed shop and Spurs have strengthened, so anything can happen.

The match is just moments away so I'll catch you at kick-off.

League season 2022/2023
Spurs cruisin'
What a season start, Spurs!

Aug 06, 2022. Live US TV/Online: Peacock
Tottenham Hotspur 4
Southampton 1
Tot/Hot stadium; US Hilites

Football terrace reacts

LWOS post-match w/lee, tapintobs, crackers & host @rickysacks

Football daily for sat, aug 6th.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR Line-up: Lloris; Romero, Dier, Davies, Royal, Bentancur, Hojbjerg, Sessegnon, Kulusevski, Son, Kane.

Post match: Elation throughout the THFC community. It's almost scary the adulation [deserved!] because, of course, the first "next level" test comes at Stamford bridge on Sunday. Chelsea got the win at Everton in one the most turgid prem matches ever played but despite that, the hated blue meanies got the three away points, no matter how ugly, and it was.

It's great to witness our beloved Lilywhites outclassing a Saints side that oufoxed us on our patch last time, to see the new players fitting in so rapidly, and the existing players step up to a new level - and it seems we've only just begun. Plus, it's not just Harry and Son plus supporting cast. It was a team result and the vibes are very very good. But next up... the big test.

First half: Back in February in the corresponding fixture it didn't end well. In a thrilling match Tottenham Hotspur ended up being pipped 2:3.

So it seemed like deja vu when a James Ward-Prowse volley punctured Tottenham Hotspur's goal in this encounter [the same player that assisted twice for Saints in the February loss]. But although the London side trailed at the 13th min Ryan Sessegnon equalizes minutes later, headed in from Kulu's cross, soon followed by another quality cross, this time from Son, as Dier heads the ball to give the Lilywhites the edge. 2:1 to the Tott'nm.

Credit to Spurs who rallied superbly after what seemed like a disastrous start. The fear was that Southampton would stymie Spurs and hold the lead, but THFC created numerous opportunities as the first half unfolded. Great to see how, after a few wobbly minutes both before and after the visitor's opening goal, the Lilywhites showed their class and cohesion. Now, can we consolidate in the second half?

Second half: On we go with the second half.

Then it all goes ballistic as Tottenham surge into a 4:1 lead - an own goal by the Saints' Mo Salisu, followed rapidly by a fourth THFC goal, this time by Kulu. Royal Emerson, playing so well, and now boasting two assists, when on comes new Spurs star-to-be Ivan Perisic replacing Ryan Sessegnon who in turn gets big applause. Looks like the untouchable Kulu is on the way to getting man of the match at this rate, but Bentancur a close second.

Spurs see out the game in style to serve us up with a sensational start to the season. Superb. Very impressive.

League match
Epic day for Spurs
Kulu for #3 & Son brace
Spurs are in the champs league
May 22, 2022 (Ssn 2021/2) RESULT
Norwich City 0
Tottenham Hotspur 5

LWOS panel reacts and looks ahead.

NBC extended highlights.

Post match with Irish Hotspur.

Second Half ended: Son vs Sala in full swing - beaut of a brace for Son, but then Sala gets one for Liverpool. They're tied - sharing one golden boot each. Inflation!

Clubwise, it went to the wire but the title goes to Manchester City while Burnley are saddled with the last relegation spot - but decided, in effect, much earlier is that SPURS triumphed over Arsenal in the quest for 4th place and endless future success for the Lilywhites, with a likely downward plunge for has-been Arsenal who'll be travelling Sleazyjet to the likes of windswept rain soaked Qarabag FC for their insignificant games.

Heung-min Son's quest for the golden boot continues as Kane unselfishly lays on to Moura who feeds the Son goal. Let's have another one, Son.

No one bends it like Kulu, what a goal, Spurs 3 up.

Son's colleagues trying hard to set him up with the golden boot but so far no dice.

Fun scores as the second half unfolds for all the games: Palace 1 Man Utd 0, Man City 0 Villa 1, Arsenal 4 Everton 1, Liverpool 1-1 home to Wolves. Burnley looking doomed to go down, they're losing, Leeds are winning. Still plenty of time to go.

The tension of the first half has translated into consolidation so far in the second half. Spurs are happy to play "neutral ball" with the hosts.

First Half: Goalkeeping error sets up the second Spurs goal gratefully banged in by Harry Kane. The pendulum is heavily weighting towards THFC and not Arsenal getting 4th place and the substantial rosy rewards implied - a draw enough for the Lilywhites even if Arsenal win.

Kulu assisted by the unselfish cutback from Bentancur and it's the goal that the globe was looking for. It's one nil to the Tottenham as the Canaries' offside trap was sprung like a leaking mains pipe.

Preview: It's hard to overstate the existential importance of this match to Tottenham Hotspur's future. We simply must do it. We've got the manager, we've got the superstars up front, we've signed great players, it can all come together with a Champions league place, it could all unravel if not. And we're so so close to achieving it, and it's ours to reach out and grab, it's all on the line, it's ll down to this one final game of the season.

Just one point, lads, that's all we need. We cannot count on Arsenal not winning. Props to Everton for staying up but if Arsenal get themselves halfway back together from their meltdown since losing to THFC, they are potentially a way better side than the Toffees and desperate to leave their awful home crowd with a consolation prize.

We beat the Canaries in the home fixture for this season, and though Norwich were convincingly beaten in the end, it was not even close to being a pushover. Since then we now the Norfolk side actually couldn't avoid the drop, and based on their game against us it was in large part because: they couldn't finish.

Meanwhile, the Lilywhites are faves to win the coveted top four spot, a Euro champs league place agonizingly close - it's in our hands - and close to restoration as the undisputed Kings of north London over Arsenal. The Spur's reaction to that home win over Norwich included the view that "top #4, as usual, is the realistically attainable target - as it has been many times during our better seasons in recent history."

Ed Aarons of The Guardian said of that reverse result: "A solid if unspectacular victory over bottom side Norwich". Trust me, if needed, we will take that outcome for a second time.

Random preview links, match threads, etc, below [more as always in the left column].

Football London build-up items including the spectre of another food poisoning [or whatever it was/is this time] scare.

Match thread on the Glory Glory forum.

Predicted line-up from We Are Tottenham TV.

Check back for reactions during and after the match. Check back for reactions during and after the match. Check back for reactions during and after the match. Check back for reactions during and after the match.

The Run-in: Stars align
Newcastle 2 Goons 0!
Six mins of injury time are over. Full time. The stars are aligning it seems in favor of super Spurs, as well as their own skill of course, with the latest lurch of the pendulum towards titanic Tottenham's quest to nab that Euro champs league spot with Newcastle winning by TWO at home to Arsenal. Lovely goals. The 2nd went in and everyone everywhere went beserk with joy. Also bad for the visitors, originally from the Woolwich area of SE London, is to sustain two more potentially debilitating injuries at St James' Park. Can the Geordies take this lead to fruition? Yes.

Spurs now need to get at least a draw at Carrow Road. It's in our own hands. Even if Spurs lose, Arsenal would still have to win against Everton [them beating the Toffees is very likely however as, though I want them to stay up, the Merseyside club's current team is pretty bad. Great fans though]. So we gotta do the biz at Norwich.

At the time of writing the bookies are giving Spurs a 96% chance of nabbing the remaining Euro Champions league spot, with Arsenal amassing a 4% chance. This is no time to get Spursy!

Irish Hotspur channel reactions.

Bobspur channel reactions.

Football Terrace channel reactions.

Watch out Real Madrid, Man City, Liverpool - we're coming for the quadruple and far beyond!

Spurs 1:0 Burnley
Must win vs Norwich, AFC must falter
In Conte we dare to do
May 15, 2022
Tottenham Hotspur 1
Burnley 0
by Ree Porter
US TV: USA. Net: Fubo, DirecTV, SlingB

Reactions: Burnley made it tough for Tottenham to break them down and, like the hosts, they had some gilt edged chances to put a few away, but ultimately it was a poor decision by a Burnley defender to handball, and a penalty to the home side, scored of course by Harry Kane, that made the difference. Now we just need to beat Norwich and that's all we can do other than go beserk with joy if Arsenal flounder against one or both of their remaining opponents.

Preview: Check back for more reactions from around the Net and beyond following the Tottenham Hotspur victory over Burnley. Check back for more reactions from around the Net and beyond following the Tottenham Hotspur victory over Burnley. Check back for more reactions from around the Net and beyond following the Tottenham Hotspur victory over Burnley.

Check back for more reactions from around the Net and beyond following the Tottenham Hotspur victory over Burnley. Check back for more reactions from around the Net and beyond following the Tottenham Hotspur victory over Burnley. Check back for more reactions from around the Net and beyond following the Tottenham Hotspur victory over Burnley.

League match
Harry & Son
Harry nets in 1st half, Son in 2nd

Sun, May 01, 2022 @ 6am Pac/USA (Ssn 20021/22)
Tottenham Hotspur 3
Leicester City 1
6am USA/Pacific. US Net: Peacock [NBC stream]

Second half: Heung-min Son outdoes even his previous goal with Tottenham's third and another assist for Kulu - Leicester get one back in stoppage time, and that will do it. Now to watch Arsenal lose.

Here we go again. Oh wow - Kulu [on for Moura] feeds Heung-min Son and the south Korean international swivels to send the ball between two visiting defenders to make it an impressive, and desperately yearned for by us fans, second Spurs goal.

Half Time: The dynamic duo Son and Kane combine as so many times before and the goal drought is over for Spurs courtesy of a set piece, Harry's header his 13th league goal of the league season.

First half: 39th min Daka so close as the sense is Leicester really want this, not looking distracted by their crucial Euro trip to AC Roma on Thursday.

Around the 32min Harry Kane finds himself one on one withe City keeper but Kasper Schmeichel quick to deflect.

Harry Kane heads home a Son Heung-min corner and, as often, Harry loves scoring against the Foxes.

Strong defending by Romero foils Albrighton.

Daka on target but somehow Lloris turns it onto the post and vulnerable gaps evident in what was a decent THFC defensive display when required in the first 13 minutes or so.

Early doors. As usual between these sides they're both going for it, so it's not cagey, it's end to end, and Leicester the more proactive.

Preview: The battle to beat Arsenal to 4th spot continues as Antonio Conte responds to stories of him courting PSG as "fake news".

The injury problems have built up ar Tottenham Hotspur at the worst possible time of the season and it hurts to not have Matt Doherty, Sergio Reguilon and Oliver Skipp, with Tanganga also still out. The club will have to dig deep and some unfamiliar names could be in the line-up to those who only follow the regular star players.

The big advantage the London side has is that the Foxes are in the midst of two weekday Europa Conference semi-final legs and each of those takes its physical toll [1:1 home leg played on Thurs], but also Leicester's Euro opponents Roma should be much more on their minds than this visit to N17 if the Foxes are to play in Europe again next season.

Then Lilywhites right now can't get a shot on frame as we saw against Brentford ad Brighton but somehow it seems that this one could hearld the welcome return of that previous rampaging THFC form that delighted their fans before everything came to a grinding halt.

More build-up, match reactions, and post game partying to follow.

Poch set for Spurs return?
With Antonio Conte openly serenading PSG to activate his release clause away from Tottenham Mark Goldbridge is one of many who point out that if Conte spurns Spurs then their next best option would be the return of Pochettino. It seems highly likely if we're honest, especially as Daniel Levy is allegedly preparing the navy blue carpet to be rolled out for the former Argentine manager of Spurs to return in glory in what is unfolding to be the Second Coming of Mauricio.

Problem is, will Harry Kane be in Conte's wake as they both swan over to Paris to swim in untold riches as PSG attempt to lure their disdainful fans back into the fold? They won the French league only to have the crowd walk out on them! They'll only come back when PSG make a credible effort to win the Champions league... let's rephrase that: They'll only come back when PSG WIN the Champions league [winning Ligue 1 should be a given], or else they'll stick to watching France rugby [presumably] whilst tossing gold plated toys out of their perambulators.

League match
Hot Spurs
Son in form & an amazing team effort
March 20, 2022. USA live tv & web.
Tottenham Hotspur 3
West Ham 1 [Final]
Matchday Vlog,Club's match HILITES

An exciting match and probably neutrals really enjoyed its many marvelous moments. Edge of the seat stuff for Spurs fans. West Ham didn't get battered but they were ultimately shown the door. Playing that high line, weary as their players were, was like offering themselves up on a platter, and inevitably the Lilywhites became the master breakers [....easy now -Ed.] of the moment.

Congrats to our dynamic duo Kane & Son for breaking the Prem record for combining as a duo to assist and score - breathaking to watch. The whole team played well. Conte's magic is kicking in. Remember it took a long time for Arsenal's current manager to get their side back to serious top 4 contenders - they persevered with the project even when it seemed a lost cause and their "supporters" howling for him to go, along with everyone else at their place.

"Rodrigo Bentancur with the coolest, yet scariest pirouette on the edge of his own box. Two West Ham players sent the wrong way and everyone in the stadium holding their breath for a moment." -- Alisdair Gold. Yeah, not for those with a predisposition toward anxiety, to put it mildly, including those viewing worldwide. You get yer money's werf - sure glad he pulled that off without a hitch. You gotta have chutzpah to "dare to do" that kinda stuff, but it's in our motto.

Second half: Raving about Son finding his form all match and oh wow, what a goal, route one from the back, via a nice headed flick by Kane, and Son turns on those jets and lashes the ball into the net. Another of so many Son classic goals. Brilliant. Talent. 3:1. We're still in the Top 4 race - the team's on form and the Kane-Son partnership is like reliving the Greaves-Gilzean understanding, only different modus operandi but equally riveting and effective. The current duo have now combined for a Premier League goal for the 39th time -- the record was broken at 38 but feel free to keep going, magicians!

For all the earlier criticism of Romero he's showing his skills in the 2nd half so far. Meanwhile Kulu and Son putting a bit of pressure on, but overall a fascinating half of possession and careful building up and waiting for the meaningful moments to create opportunities being shown equally by both sides.

Son breaks away with Kane up front....will it? Not this time. Now fans trying trying to chain themselves to the goal posts. Will Reg get sent off for slapping WHU keeper in the face. No red card. Close shave dude.

Early doors 2nd half Kane finds the onrushing Doherty in front of goal but ends in a supposed foul on the visiting keeper.

Half time: BBC stat: "Son Heung-min and Harry Kane have now combined for a Premier League goal for the 38th time, overtaking Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard (37) as the duo who have assisted one another for the most goals in history of the competition." Congrats, another record broken by Tottenham Hotspur's finest.

On a less positive note: BBC poster Paul: "Pathetic defending again from Spurs. The fans laud Romero for some reason, he simply cant head a ball and cant mark from set pieces. 2-2 incoming." We can avoid it, but we gotta get it right at the back, no doubt.

Seems like we're on the edge of a precipice with WHU managing to get one back. No doubt a riveting match but how we could have used that two goal lead going into half time. As we know only too well, Spurs can be 3 up over that lot and still not win the game. But we're on song, literally, and we have what it takes. Defenders - please defend set pieces including out heading the oppo.

First half: Spurs, don't do this to us. That said, we know West Ham are in good form and manager David Moyes is not one to roll over. Good thing we got two, because ex-Brentford Benrahma gets one back following a corner in the 35th min. Now it's a nail biter again....

Well, he deserves it. Son has been bustin' loose in this first half and his partnership with Harry Kane caused the first [own] goal, and this time he's the scorer of one of the best home goals ever scored by Spurs in its telepathic precision passing and execution, with a glorious finish by the South Korean international to put the Lilywhites two up.

Just after the goal another incredible moment as Kulu starts a move that Son almost finishes but hits the post. Son again in the thick of the action. He's shining right now.

Son is god! Heung-min Son is back in form. Great feed from Kane who slaloms past some gormless Hammers and what looked like a Son score is actually an own goal. Commentator tells us "Own Goal" is Tottenham's third top scorer!

SPURS STARTING XI: Lloris; Doherty, Romero, Dier, Davies, Reguilon; Bentacur, Hojbjerg; Kulusevski, Son, Kane.

LWLWLWLW it's time to break the cycle, and not in the next game against corrupt Newcastle who shouldn't even be playing, it's the English top tier not an offshore oil fund stash.

In fairness to the Spammers they have a lively online presence but they are still convinced this is our cup final. They don't seem to know that Arsenal and Chelsea exist and that they should stick to exchanging insults and blows with Millwall with whom they have much more in common. They are enjoying unusual success but they have a terrible stadium for football and lost their soul a long time ago. Our need to be "up for it" has to with bigger concerns than that they are the spammers.

It's all about to kick off. Come on you Spurs. Destroy the Hammers. We need to win for obvious reasons. Check back as the match is about to start and the coffee is kicking in and we're psyched.