1-1 draw with Leyton Orient. Maybe the hangover from or proximity to the Euros. Maybe it’s knowing regardless of wether Kane is here or not, he will have one foot out the door or Nuno was fifth or sixth choice, but I’m just not enthused about their season yet. Drawing 1-1 with a League 2 side didn’t help. I know it was a glorified training session with mostly youth players.
Only saw highlights on yt. They looked good 1st half. Looked like the youngsters came on 2nd half? And didn't do so well? idk Moura looked good, confident. I think the first team will be ready.
Pre-season friendlies don't really give you any idea how good the team is, I remember a few seasons back, Darren Bent scored 9 goals in 5 pre-season games and everyone was raving about how he was going to walk the Golden Boot - but then the real games started and he was a total dud. And often the reverse happens - a youngster shows well in the friendlies and then the manager banishes him to cold storage - think of Japhet Tanganga in Poch's last season - for some reason, Poch refused to play him despite our defense being mostly shite.
I couldn't be happier that we have the Euros behind us (though I'll still pay attention to the Gold Cup) and I can concentrate on what matters - Spurs. If Harry stays, if he goes, if he's grumpy, if Nuno sucks, if we suck ... whatever. It's Spurs. Bring it.
EXCL. Tottenham and Sevilla are finalizing a new swap deal: Erik Lamela to Sevilla, Bryan Gil to Spurs. Agreement set to be reached on permanent deal and here we go soon! ⚪️ #THFCSevilla will also receive €25m + add ons included as part of the deal. 🇪🇸 #Sevilla— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 20, 2021 Hard to believe Coco was here for eight years since he was only healthy for half of that time. I will miss his penchant for shithousery.
Fabrizio Romano saying it's essentially done; at the paperwork stage. Gil to Spurs and Lamela plus 25m euros to Sevilla. Some ITK from SC (Hercules) saying that Levy is being very 'hands off' and letting Paratici get on with his job. That second bit makes the first bit slightly more believable, but the seasoned Spurs fan takes his grain of salt, regardless. For whatever it's worth, Herc has also claimed that everyone - players, staff, etc. - is quite impressed with how NES operates. There seems to be a very good feel around the place, which would be the exact opposite of what I expected after such a long managerless interlude, aka 'the debacle'.
In 8 seasons, Lamela scored 17 league goals in 177 appearances. The season prior to signing with Spurs, he scored 15 goals in Serie A for Roma.
Yes, this has been an eerily Levy-less off season. I think the combined Mourinho-Super League-various manager-hire eff-ups meant the chairman had to take a lower profile. Long may it continue. Plus Paratici is the first director of football we have had who actually has extensive experience in negotiating deals.
By all accounts Skipp looked very good in his 45 minutes against Colchester. Oliver Skipp was Superb vs. Colchester | 21/07/21 | 1080HD - YouTube Doesn't fanny about on the ball, gets it and moves it on, often forward. Nothing misplaced, or even close to it. Some very nice releases; the cross-pitch diagonal to Bergwijn from :45 is sublime. It's preseason at Colchester, so ... steady on. I won't get carried away. But very much the kind of player we've been desperately needing for the last couple years. What's more, (supposedly) according to Alasdair Gold, Skipp has returned from Norwich a much more confident, vocal presence, as well. It sounds as though it was a loan that worked exactly as it should. Naarch certainly got a player that greatly assisted in their promotion season, and Skipp appears to have taken a big step in his development. Of course, it's a massive, massive step up from the Championship to the sharp end of the Prem (where we'll hopefully be), so big question marks remain. But I'll take my encouragement wherever I find it.
Wow didn't know that, what a variance. I wonder why he do so poorly in PL. Had plenty of chances to score it seemed, but rarely finished. Bergwijn seems to be taking on the same fate. Gets chances but rarely finishes.
We have had way too many midfielders who don't score, don't assist, don't create chances and don't tackle. I would take Skipp ahead of any of those.
I am encouraged that Nuno seems to want to play an energetic, physical style. Jose thought the problem was that the players weren't assholes. "Just sit back in your own half and be an asshole" was not entertaining, nor was it especially successful. Let's see some football - daring, doing and all of that.
I haven't seen a third kit yet. If it's worse than our away kit* - which is staggeringly bad - it must be ghastly. *
oh dear. I saw that assumed it was the third kit given how bad it was. Sod’s law we’ll win something this season in that kit.
We looked pretty good. Should have scored about 5 more goals, but finishing was a bit indecisive and their keeper made some good stops. The front 4 of Bergwyn, Alli, Son and Moura are ready to play. Bergwyn is really making a good impression in preseason - doing everything but scoring (unfortunate, that). Skipp was very good again - Winks should leave, as Skipp seems to be ahead of him. Whiteman gave up a PK in the 5th minute, but saved it. Had a great save on a free kick. The goal was not his fault, it came off a weird deflection. Most of the starters played 75+ minutes. Still no sign of Sessegnon - what is up with him?
At least, seeing that kit in action against MK Dons, the resemblance to a bathroom countertop is less obvious. But this, though...