Spurs remain on course to return to Europe next season following a fantastic start under Ange Postecoglou, but there is a long, long way to go. As one of only two unbeaten sides left in the Premier League, how long can the team’s impressive run last?

Here are our predictions for Tottenham’s three-match October schedule.

(Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Saturday, October 7: at Luton Town

Coming off a highly controversial victory over Liverpool in Matchweek 7, Spurs are now sitting second in the Premier League table on 17 points.

Just one point off of league leaders Manchester City at 5-2-0, Tottenham looks like a surprise early-season top-four contender under Ange Postecoglou. 

While Spurs have faced a few early season tests thus far (Liverpool, Arsenal, Man United), the next match against Luton Town will likely not be much of one.

While Spurs are unbeaten, Luton has won just once this campaign and scored a mere five goals in six matches.

Facing a team that is 17th in the table and a likely relegation candidate that struggles to score goals, Tottenham should make easy work of the Premier League debutants to start the month.

Prediction: Spurs 3-0 Luton Town

LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 30: Fulham FC club badge on the corner flag during the Premier League match between Fulham FC and Brighton & Hove Albion at Craven Cottage on August 30, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)

Monday, October 23: vs. Fulham

Following an international break, Spurs return with a home London Derby fixture, hosting Fulham.

One of the surprises of last season, the Cottagers are off to a bit of a mixed start in 2023.

While they secured a draw being down a man against Arsenal, they were also hammered by both Manchester City and Brentford and were held to a scoreless draw versus Crystal Palace.

Currently 13th in the table with eight points, Fulham struggles to score goals, having scored just five in seven matches.

Not only is the match a derby battle, but Spurs should be more than ready to beat the side that knocked them out in the first round of the Carabao Cup.

Prediction: Spurs 3-0 Fulham

(Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)

Friday, October 27: at Crystal Palace

Ending the month with another London Derby fixture, Spurs travel to Selhurst Park to face Crystal Palace.

Palace is off to a decent start in the campaign, sitting ninth in the table on 11 points, just two points outside of a potential European spot.

The Eagles have struggled however against the league’s stronger sides, losing to both Arsenal (1-0) and Aston Villa (3-1) in their toughest matches on the schedule so far.

Crystal Palace will likely sit back and defend against a Spurs team that has scored the third-most goals in the league (17), as the Eagles have only tallied above 50 per cent possession in a match twice this season in all competitions.

If Tottenham can break down the Crystal Palace defence that has allowed the third-least goals in the league (7), they’ll come away with all nine points possible from the October slate.

Prediction: Spurs 1-0 Crystal Palace

Will Spurs remain unbeaten through the month of October? Where do you think the side will be in the table?

The post Opinion: Predicting every single Tottenham score for the month of October appeared first on Spurs Web - Tottenham Hotspur Football News.

After a solid start to the Premier League season, Spurs followed with a disappointing League Cup exit to Fulham. With four matches and an international break in between, here are our predictions for Spurs’ upcoming schedule.

(Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Saturday, September 2: at Burnley

While Tottenham has gotten off to a solid start under Ange Postecoglou in the Premier League, the same can not be said of recently promoted Burnley and Vincent Kompany.

Even after running away with the EFL Championship title a season ago, many consider Burnley to be one of the teams who could face relegation at the end of the campaign.

Through two matches, the Clarets have allowed six goals, falling 3-0 to Manchester City and 3-1 to Aston Villa.

Spurs should be wary of the side that sits 18th in the table, however, and they will need to put the cup exit behind them and refocus to keep their positive league form intact heading into the international break.

Prediction: Spurs 2-1 Burnley

Saturday, September 16: vs. Sheffield United

With the two-week break in the past, Tottenham resumes play with a home match against another newly promoted side, Sheffield United.

The Blades are currently 0-0-3 but have been competitive in all three matches and Spurs cannot afford to overlook the side.

In their three games thus far, Sheffield United have lost each by a one-goal margin, including giving the reigning champion Man City all it could handle in a 2-1 Matchweek 3 defeat.

This match will be the first at home for Spurs in nearly a month, and they need to take advantage. An early goal from a scoreless Son Heung-min or Richarlison (in league action) would set the tone for a victory after a two-week hiatus.

Prediction: Spurs 2-0 Sheffield United

Sunday, September 24: at Arsenal

The first North London Derby on the schedule will be the biggest test of the campaign thus far for Spurs.

Not only is it an away match, but Arsenal is in decent form to start the season as well. 

The Gunners have picked up seven possible points from nine in three matches, and have also claimed a victory in the Community Shield over Manchester City. 

They are vulnerable however, having given up a late equalizer in a 2-2 draw where Fulham was down to 10 men and seem to have struggled putting goals in the net. Through the three matches, they have tallied just five goals against what would be considered inferior opposition (Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace, Fulham).

If Spurs’ backline can keep Bukayo Saka and Eddie Nketiah off the scoresheet (both have two goals each), they might even have a chance to sneak out of the Emirates with a win.

Prediction: Spurs 1-1 Arsenal

Saturday, September 30: vs. Liverpool

After a disappointing fifth-place finish and qualifying for the Europa League last season, Liverpool is looking to retake its spot among the Champions League places this campaign where it has regularly been under Jurgen Klopp.

So far through three matches, the Reds have taken seven of nine possible points, level on points with Spurs, West Ham, and Arsenal.

Liverpool struggled in the opening draw against Chelsea but may be finding their stride early after a convincing 3-1 victory over Bournemouth and a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Newcastle when the Reds went down to 10 men.

Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz each have a pair of goals to their name early in the season, while Mo Salah and Diogo Jota have also found the back of the net.

If Liverpool’s attack is getting production from all four of those players so far, I have a hard time believing a Spurs backline can stop them. 

And while the match is at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, I can’t see Spurs keeping pace with attack of Liverpool.

Prediction: Liverpool 3, Spurs 1

Final analysis

While Spurs have a pair of games they should take all three points in to start the month, the last two matches will see them face two of the Premier League’s best sides.

I expect Tottenham to get the full six points in the first pair of games, but the winning run stops there.

Spurs can be competitive with Arsenal and Liverpool, but they need someone to step up and fill the Harry Kane void and become a consistent goal-scorer (looking at you Richarlison). 

They also have weaknesses across the backline and depending on how frequently Ange Postecoglou rotates his side, it feels like a costly mistake is bound to happen for the Spurs defence that leads to a goal (or multiple).

In September, I see Tottenham tallying seven of a possible 12 points, registering two wins, a draw, and a defeat.

This would see Spurs end the month on 14 points from seven matches, just three points off from where they were at the same point last season while being firmly in the hunt for the European places.

Where do you think Spurs will be in the table at the end of September?

The post Opinion: Predicting every Tottenham Hotspur score for September appeared first on Spurs Web - Tottenham Hotspur Football News.

Following a disappointing 2022-23 season, here are three things I hope to see under the Aussie’s leadership in 2023-24.

(Photo by Vince Mignott/MB Media/Getty Images)

1. A more entertaining brand of football

Let’s face it, Spurs have not been the most enjoyable watch for supporters since the departure of Mauricio Pochettino in 2019.

Even with the arrival of top managers Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte during the last few years, performances have often been mixed. 

Spurs have been unable to put together positive results for more than a few matches at a time, while also being a difficult watch due to oftentimes playing a more defensive, counter-attack-heavy formation. 

Enter Ange Postecoglou, whose arrival from Celtic was seemingly met with scepticism, perhaps due to his lack of coaching experience in a top European league.

Although he has only been in charge for a handful of pre-season friendlies and held only a few press conferences, he has already endeared himself to many supporters with his personality and playing style.

And even with the Harry Kane transfer saga hanging over Spurs throughout the summer, Postecoglou has already found a way in the preseason to make Tottenham more potent in attack.

Even if the results don’t particularly matter and Spurs have matched up with some lesser competition in the four preseason matches, they are producing much better results on the offensive side of the ball.

In the four matches, Spurs tallied a total of 14 goals, including picking up a pair of 5-1 victories. They have registered a total of 115 shots, or an average of nearly 29 per game. The side has also directed 50 shots on goal, a 12.5 per-match average.

While they likely won’t have as astounding of numbers in the Premier League, it is clear that they are generating more chances and playing a more enjoyable brand of football already under the Aussie.

2. A return to European competition

Say what you will about their record when they qualify, Spurs have been a regular in European competition for a little more than 15 years.

From 2006-07 up to last year, the club qualified for a UEFA competition 16 times in 17 seasons. Included in the run were 13 straight appearances in Europe from 2010-11 to last season, which was the joint-longest streak in the Premier League, alongside Manchester City.

Needless to say, missing out by a single point on a Europa Conference League berth on the final day of the campaign was disappointing to many. If the Brighton vs. Aston Villa match had ended in a draw, Spurs would have had a chance at European glory this season.

Sure, it was the third-tier UEFA competition that many supporters didn’t want any part of, especially after a disastrous group-stage exit in the 2021-22 edition. But European football is still European football, and a top-seven finish should be the bare minimum expectation for a Spurs club that considers itself one of the top in England.

This is why Tottenham must qualify and return to European competition for the 2024-25 season.

Competition for European slots will be challenging this year, with the likes of Manchester City, Arsenal, Newcastle United, Manchester United, and Liverpool all likely to qualify. Brighton and Aston Villa will also look to return to Europe once again, while clubs like Chelsea, West Ham, and Brentford will be in the mix as well.

While reaching the Champions League with a top-four finish seems unlikely, a Europa League berth would be a great opportunity for Spurs in Year 2 to make a potential run in the competition and book a spot in the following season’s UCL.

3. A deep cup run

Even under a new manager in a new system with a – potentially – very different squad from last season’s disappointment, the upcoming campaign is the perfect opportunity for Spurs to advance deep in a domestic cup competition.

As we well know, Tottenham has not won silverware since lifting the EFL Cup in 2008. They certainly did not come close to ending the drought last season, either. 

Spurs exited in the fifth round of the FA Cup for the fourth straight time, suffering an embarrassing 1-0 away defeat to Championship side Sheffield United.

The Carabao Cup performance was somehow even worse, with Tottenham knocked out in a 2-0 third-round defeat at Nottingham Forest, their first match in the competition.

While the club has had a few runs in recent seasons in domestic cups, it hasn’t been able to get over the last hurdle and claim a title.

The last final Spurs took part in was the 2021 Carabao Cup Final, a 1-0 loss to Manchester City that was not as close as the scoreline might indicate. They also reached the semifinal stage in the tournament in both the 2019 and 2022 editions but fell to Chelsea on both occasions.

The recent FA Cup performances from Spurs have been even shakier, having not reached the semifinal stage since 2017-18 (a 2-1 defeat to Manchester United). Tottenham have not appeared in the FA Cup Final since 1991, which also happens to be the last time they lifted the trophy.

With not having a European competition to focus on this year, a less congested schedule would be the perfect opportunity for Spurs to potentially break the silverware drought.

What are your hopes for Spurs under Postecoglou in Year 1?

The post Opinion: Three things I hope to see in Year One under Postecoglou at Spurs appeared first on Spurs Web - Tottenham Hotspur Football News.

Following a mixed preseason and a disappointing end to last year, a solid start to the new season could make a big difference in the new season’s outlook.

With three matches on the schedule in the month of August, here are our predictions on how Spurs will begin a new era under Ange Postecoglou. 

(Photo By Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Sunday, August 13: at Brentford

Spurs start the campaign with a tough away trip to Brentford, one of last season’s overachievers.

The Bees finished ninth in the table in 2022-23, tallying 59 points. The club missed out on qualifying for Europe by a mere two points and lost just nine matches during the year, as many as third-place Manchester United.

Thomas Frank has done wonders with the club, and the squad returns most of its major contributors from last season – David Raya and Ivan Toney aside. 

This is a difficult opening match for Tottenham, particularly without Harry Kane at the club.

Prediction: Brentford 2-1 Spurs

Saturday, August 19: vs. Man United

After a few disappointing years, things started to look promising for the Red Devils during the 2022-23 season.

A humiliating defeat to Liverpool aside, Man United booked a Champions League spot after a third-place league finish, while also reaching the FA Cup final and winning the Carabao Cup.

After a summer of big spending, Erik ten Hag will look to build on last season’s success as he looks to return United to its former glory.

This will be the first match of the home slate for Spurs, and the first time the supporters will be able to see the team under Postecoglou live. 

I’ll take Spurs in a close match to give the new manager a win in his first match in North London.

Prediction: Spurs 2-1 Man United

Saturday, August 26: at Bournemouth

Returning to the Premier League for the first time since 2019-20, Bournemouth struggled last season.

Despite losing 21 matches – third most in the league – The Cherries managed to avoid the drop, finishing 15th in the table while registering 39 points.

Included in the difficult campaign was a 9-0 defeat to Liverpool, as well as dropping the final four matches on the schedule.

Even though this is an away fixture, expect Spurs to pick up the full three points against a side that many predict will be relegated this season.

Prediction: Spurs 3-0 Bournemouth

Final analysis

Spurs don’t have the easiest start to the Ange Postecoglou era, with a pair of difficult matches out of the gate.

With the Harry Kane cloud hanging over N17, I predict Tottenham will pick up two wins and a loss in the first three matches of the new campaign, tallying six points.

After a disastrous campaign a year ago that saw the departure of Antonio Conte and missing out on Europe, a positive start to 2023-24 is just what Spurs and the supporters need as the club aims to return to European football and end a 15-year trophy drought.

How do you expect Spurs to begin the Postecoglou era?

The post Opinion: Predicting every Spurs result for August appeared first on Spurs Web - Tottenham Hotspur Football News.

Here are some top options Tottenham should consider as a replacement for the 2022 Danish Player of the Year should he secure a move away from North London.

(Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

No. 5 – Gabri Veiga

Veiga has been floated as a potential replacement for Højbjerg (Le10 Sport), but the potential of a move seems perhaps the most unlikely, or at least it should be.

At just 21 years of age, the Spaniard certainly has potential and would be a perfect signing for a likely Spurs rebuild.

In his first full campaign with La Liga club Celta Vigo, Veiga tallied 11 goals and four assists in 36 league appearances.

However, he is at the bottom of this list because according to the Spanish publication AS, Veiga prefers a move to Arsenal over one to Tottenham.

(Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)

No. 4 – Hakan Calhanoglu

The Inter Milan midfielder has been touted as a potential Højbjerg replacement (InterLive.it), and for good reason.

Calhanoglu can play multiple midfield positions and made a major impact at Inter last season. He notched four goals and eight assists in 49 appearances across all competitions, helping lead the club to a pair of trophies and a runner-up finish in the Champions League.

Calhanoglu also has international experience, having been capped 78 times and scoring 17 goals for Turkey (Transfermarkt).

Perhaps the only downside of a move for Calhanoglu is his age. At 29, he is already two years older than Højbjerg, and his prime seasons may be behind him.

(Photo by Michael Regan – The FA/The FA via Getty Images)

No. 3 – Conor Gallagher

Tottenham may not have to look far for a replacement if Højbjerg goes, with none other than rival Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher in the picture (The Telegraph).

Although it has been mentioned that Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino is fond of the English player, the team may have to part ways with him due to their ongoing efforts to balance their finances.

After a strong season on loan at Crystal Palace in 2021-22, Gallagher did take somewhat of a step back while playing fewer minutes for Chelsea last season. 

He is however just 23 years of age and would likely play more for a Spurs side that will also be without Rodrigo Bentancur until potentially 2024.

(Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

No. 2 – Franck Kessie

Spurs had been linked with Kessie recently in the January transfer window, and the club has been linked yet again with the Barcelona midfielder this summer, according to Italian journalist Rudy Galetti (Twitter).

Following a stellar run six-year run at AC Milan, Kessie signed with the Catalan giants in 2022.

While he helped the team claim the La Liga title and Supercopa de Espana this past season, Kessie only started in seven of his 43 appearances.

Xavi has a multitude of options in midfield – Pedri and Gavi come to mind – and it appears Kessie could be on the move after just one season.

At just 26, the former Serie A star and current Ivory Coast international has years of first-team football remaining, and he would likely play his prime seasons at Tottenham could they swing a deal with Barcelona.

(Photo by Barrington Coombs/Getty Images)

No. 1 – Douglas Luiz

The 2022-23 Aston Villa Player of the Season, Luiz registered seven goals and six assists in 40 appearances across all competitions (Transfermarkt).

Not only did he have a great individual campaign, but the Brazilian also guided Villa to a seventh-place finish in the Premier League table and secured the club’s first European qualification since 2010-11.

At 25 years old, Luiz would fit perfectly into a rebuilding timeline for Spurs, and he has seemingly shone the most promise and appears to be a player headed for even greater heights.

Arsenal has also been heavily linked to Luiz for some time, so the hope would be for Tottenham to quickly get a deal over the line before the Gunners come in and steal a potentially great signing for new Spurs manager Ange Postecoglu (Daily Mail).

If Højbjerg goes, who would you like to see Spurs sign?

The post Opinion: Five potential replacements for Pierre-Emile Højbjerg at Spurs appeared first on Spurs Web - Tottenham Hotspur Football News.

(Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)

Thanks to Harry Kane’s 15th-minute goal at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, Spurs remained in the battle for a Champions League berth while Kane became the club’s all-time leading goalscorer.

With an important three points earned in the league coming after victories over Preston North End (FA Cup) and Fulham (Premier League), Tottenham has moved to just one point off the top four, while also moving on to the fifth round of the FA Cup.

Now with a trip to Leicester City nearing before facing AC Milan in the Champions League knockout stage, Spurs are looking to keep the momentum going as they face matches on three different fronts at this stage of the season.

As Tottenham looks to stay alive in both Europe and in domestic cup action while also battling to move up the table, what would it take to qualify for a UEFA competition next season?

Success in qualifying

Say what you will about the club’s record in Europe recently or its lack of silverware, Spurs are nonetheless consistent enough to qualify for a UEFA competition on an annual basis.

Since the 2006-07 campaign, the club has appeared in a continental tournament every season except one (2009-10) and is currently on pace to qualify for the 14th straight time.

So while the three UEFA trophies in the cabinet could use some company, Spurs’ streak of European appearances is actually the joint-longest in the Premier League (alongside Manchester City).

Steps to Europe

I believe at this point that supporters know what is needed to qualify for Europe in 2023-24, but I’ll quickly revisit the basics.

In any given campaign, at least five teams from England’s top-flight reach one of now three European competitions (Champions League, Europa League, and Europa Conference League). Finishing in the top four sends you to the Champions League while finishing fifth means Europa League football.

The winner of the FA Cup is guaranteed a spot in the Europa League, but if they have already finished in the top five and qualified through league position, this spot is passed down to the sixth-place side.

The process is similar for the Carabao Cup, whose winner clinches a spot in the Conference League. If the Carabao Cup winner has already qualified for Europe either through the league table or as FA Cup champions, the spot is moved to the league’s seventh-place team.

As of right now, the Carabao Cup final is set with two teams that are in the top four (Manchester United and Newcastle), so the spot for the winner being passed further down the table is a real possibility.

It is a bit more difficult to see where the FA Cup winners will finish in the standings, seeing as the fifth-round draw was just recently made. Currently Manchester City, Manchester United, and Spurs are the only remaining sides in the competition that are also inside the top five automatic European qualifying positions in the league table.

What competition will Spurs qualify for?

I’d like to think I’m a dreamer, so I want to say they will qualify for next season’s Champions League by winning this year’s edition. But I am a Spurs supporter, so I know better than that.

Following the 1-0 triumph over Manchester City, Tottenham is fifth in the table with 39 points. They moved to just one point back of fourth position and a UCL spot but have played one more match than Newcastle. Spurs are also three points behind Manchester United in third, but United also has a game in hand.

So while it seems Spurs are safe for at least a Europa League spot in fifth, they can’t afford to get too comfortable. 

Brighton is currently sitting sixth in the table and five points back of Tottenham but has played two fewer matches. Brentford is in seventh – the possible Conference League spot – and six points behind Spurs, but have played one fewer game. And while they are struggling currently, Liverpool and Chelsea cannot be counted out just yet in the race for European places either. 

Tottenham could also win the Champions League, although that seems highly unlikely with the teams still remaining even if they do manage to get past AC Milan.

The club could also end a 15-year trophy drought and win the FA Cup, guaranteeing them at least a Europa League spot if they somehow slide down the table.

Prediction: Part 1

I believe Spurs will make a run at the top four once again but will fall just short, finishing in fifth place and qualifying automatically for the Europa League.

Too many inconsistent performances, the struggling league form of Son Heung-min, a defence that has given up far too many goals, and the constant rumors surrounding Antonio Conte’s contract will be too much for the club to overcome to return to Champions League football.

The FA Cup: Part 2

One thing that is clear however is that Spurs have a fantastic chance to end a silverware drought by winning the FA Cup, and they should make it a priority.

There are only seven (potentially eight) Premier League sides remaining in the competition at its current stage alongside Spurs, four of which are battling in or near the relegation zone (Leeds United, Southampton, Leicester City, West Ham). All of those clubs will likely prioritise Premier League survival over a cup title.

Manchester United is also currently preparing for the Carabao Cup final, playing in the Europa League and trying to finish inside the top four. If they win a cup final in three weeks’ time, will they focus on other priorities?

The same can be said for Manchester City, who are trying to chase Arsenal for the league title and have yet to reach the pinnacle of football as Champions League winners. This season’s team is clearly not as strong as years past, so I’d say it’s not likely that they move to the top of the table and win multiple knockout competitions.

That leaves just Brighton, Fulham, and a slew of lower-tier clubs in the competition. If Spurs put their strongest team on the pitch during each remaining round of the cup and take it seriously, the trophy drought can end this season.

I am going to go out on a limb and say Tottenham win the FA Cup while finishing fifth in the Premier League, qualifying for Europe yet again next season.

Would silverware and Europa League football mean the Harry Kane rumours end and Antonio Conte returns with a new contract?

Who knows, but a trophy of any kind is nothing to complain about when you are a Spurs supporter.

What competition do you believe Spurs will play in next season?

The post Opinion: Predicting how Spurs will do in all three remaining competitions this season appeared first on Spurs Web - Tottenham Hotspur Football News.

After leaving no doubt while scoring the first, the England captain stepped up to the spot…and airmailed it over the crossbar.

As a Spurs supporter, I felt for Harry Kane as soon as he missed the spot kick. I wasn’t necessarily upset that he missed it though. I felt terrible for him because I knew what would be coming his way.

Kane would be labelled a bottler. Fans would attack him on social media. Although he’s one of the greatest players in the history of both Tottenham and the England national team, I knew that there would be a lot of abuse coming his way. 

And for what? Because he missed a penalty that would’ve tied a game that England might well have lost anyway? I’m not having any of it.

(Photo by Markus Gilliar – GES Sportfoto/Getty Images)

A club legend

Say what you will about his lack of trophies, but it’s not for lack of trying. Kane has had a hand in Spurs reaching three cup finals in his career, including the only Champions League final in the history of the club. 

Before Harry Kane, Spurs had reached the Champions League only twice in club history. Since Kane broke into the first team, the team has qualified for Europe’s top club competition five times and never had a season without European football.

While the club has enjoyed success, Kane himself has cemented his status as arguably the club’s greatest-ever striker.

Kane has registered 408 appearances in a Spurs shirt while scoring a record 261 goals, just five off of the record held by Jimmy Greaves. 45 of Kane’s goals have happened to come in European competition, the most in club history by a wide margin (GOAL).

Kane has also gathered a lot of hardware along the way. The 2014-15 PFA Young Player of the Year has also been named to the PFA Premier League Team of the Year five times while winning the Golden Boot on three occasions. He was also the 2020-21 Premier League Playmaker of the season (top assists) and was the PFA Fans’ Player of the Year in 2016-17.

National treasure

On top of everything Harry Kane has done with and for Tottenham, he has arguably done even more for England.

The captain of the Three Lions has tallied 53 goals in just 80 appearances for his country, tied atop the all-time goals list alongside Wayne Rooney. In two World Cups Kane has scored eight goals – currently second on England’s all-time list – and has been named the FA England Player of the Year twice.

At the 2018 World Cup, Kane won the tournament’s Golden Boot while leading England to the semifinals, their furthest advancement in the tournament since 1990. He turned in another memorable performance at the 2022 World Cup, scoring two goals and adding three assists in five matches.

Even at UEFA Euro 2020, Kane scored four goals – second most at the tournament – while captaining his country to the final. Not only was it England’s first Euro final ever, but also it’s first major final since the 1966 World Cup.

Appreciate Kane’s greatness, before it’s too late

So why is it that one of the legends of the English game is always so heavily blasted for every mistake he makes?

Why is he being so heavily criticized, despite the fact that he has led both club and country to levels of success neither have seen in years?

Who cares if he missed the second penalty in the quarterfinal match against France?

It did not cost England the game if that’s what you think. Even if he would have converted, the game was tied. They still could have needed the 30 minutes of extra time, just to lose on penalties.

England was on the front foot you say? Well, that produced a total of zero non-penalty goals in the match, so it clearly meant nothing.

You can’t blame all of England’s problems on Harry Kane, just like you can’t blame all of Spurs’ trophyless seasons on him either.

Harry Kane is a legend of the sport for both club and country. Fans should start appreciating his game before it is too late, or they might just miss all of his greatness.

The post Opinion: Harry Kane is a football legend, regardless of that missed penalty appeared first on Spurs Web - Tottenham Hotspur Football News.

Here are our predictions for the three domestic matches for November, and where Spurs will be when the World Cup kicks off in Qatar.

(Photo by Visionhaus)

Sunday, November 6: vs. Liverpool

Spurs took points from both matches against last season’s Premier League runner-up, drawing twice against Jurgen Klopp’s side.

Spurs might be able to do more than just share the points this time around when Liverpool makes the trip to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, however.

Liverpool is struggling at the moment, currently sitting 9^th in the table after losses to Leeds United and bottom-of-the-table Nottingham Forest. Part of the problem for Liverpool has also been injuries, which Spurs know all too well about right now.

If Spurs are to take advantage of a wounded Liverpool side, however, they need to play strong for the entire match, not just the second half.

Prediction: Spurs 2-2 Liverpool

Wednesday, November 9: at Nottingham Forest (EFL Cup)

Entering at the third round of the Carabao Cup, Spurs battle the team at the bottom of the Premier League table.

This will be Spurs’ second (of three) matches in seven days before the World Cup, and the injuries are starting to take their toll. Son Heung-min, Richarlison, Rodrigo Bentancur, Cristian Romero, and Lucas Moura are all currently battling numerous ailments (Football.London).

In other words, Spurs won’t be able to put out anything close to a full-strength side, especially since they play a match against Leeds United just three days later.

I don’t believe Forest will be putting out a full first team either though since climbing out of the Premier League relegation zone is likely higher on the club’s list of priorities than the Carabao Cup.

Spurs should put out the best team they can, seeing that the competition is the most likely path to ending a 14-year silverware drought.

Prediction: Spurs 2-0 Nottingham Forest

Saturday, November 12: vs. Leeds United

The final match before World Cup begins just over a week later, Spurs face a team just one point above the relegation zone.

This does not mean Spurs should take Leeds United lightly, however, knowing they have beaten both Chelsea and Liverpool so far in the campaign.

Both teams will be trying to finish strong before the long break, but Spurs should have the upper hand against a team that has generally struggled. In fact, the last time Leeds won a league match before upsetting Liverpool last weekend was August 21.

Spurs will come out on top at home, a place where they’ve lost just once this season (Newcastle).

Prediction: Spurs 3-1 Leeds United

Final analysis

Having already played a Champions League match this month, having three more domestic matches before the World Cup break will be a difficult obstacle for Spurs to overcome.

Injuries are an issue, but Spurs also need to play better over the course of entire matches instead of falling behind and needing to come from behind. Sure, it makes some matches quite exciting, but I think every Spurs fan – and hopefully player – would like to just win the games and not nearly have a heart attack each week.

With two league matches this month, I expect Spurs to pick up four points, leaving them on 30 points through 15 matches at the break.

I also believe Spurs will move on to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup, putting them in a good position for a run at silverware and the top four when they return just before Christmas.

Where do you see Spurs in the table come the World Cup break?

The post Opinion: Predicting every Tottenham Hotspur result for November appeared first on Spurs Web - Tottenham Hotspur Football News.

Here are our predictions for the six Premier League matches in the month of October, and how many points Spurs will have by the end of it.

Saturday, October 1: at Arsenal

Coming off the international break, Spurs immediately get the chance to prove they belong at the top.

Facing the top-of-the-table Gunners, Tottenham are just one point behind. A win on the road in the north London Derby would show everyone that Spurs can compete for the title.

However, Spurs do not have a good record at the Emirates and with Dejan Kulusevski likely missing the match due to injury (The Athletic), Arsenal have the edge.

Prediction: Arsenal 2, Spurs 1

Saturday, October 8: at Brighton

Playing back-to-back away matches, it doesn’t get much easier for Spurs after facing Arsenal.

Facing fourth-place Brighton, the Seagulls have impressed so far this campaign, but losing manager Graham Potter to Chelsea likely hurts their chances at the top four.

Spurs will take advantage of a Brighton team that is trying to move on after Potter’s departure.

Prediction: Brighton 0-1 Spurs

Saturday, October 15: vs. Everton

The first home match of the month couldn’t have come against a better opponent. 

After consecutive battles with teams who are near the top, Spurs will face a struggling Everton side. The Toffees are currently 13th in the table and narrowly avoided relegation last season.

While they have only lost twice through seven matches, Everton have recorded just one win and scored only five goals.

Spurs should take advantage at home against Lampard’s strugglers.

Prediction: Spurs 3-1 Everton

Wednesday, October 19: at Man United

It appeared after two matches of the new season that this United team could be the one of the worst in living memory.

Instead, United have flipped the script, winning four straight league matches that include victories over Liverpool and Arsenal.

With United sitting fifth in the table and just one point off the top four early, this is a tough matchup for Spurs away against a streaking side.

Erik Ten Hag’s dide take advantage of the game being at Old Trafford to steal three points.

Prediction: Man United 2-1 Spurs 

Sunday, October 23: vs Newcastle

This was supposed to be the season where Newcastle took a big step forward, perhaps even qualifying for European competition.

Instead, Newcastle have drawn five of their seven matches and are currently 10th in the table.

This is a great time for Spurs to take advantage of an underachieving side at home.

I expect them to do just that in the penultimate match of the month.

Prediction: Newcastle 2-3 Spurs

Saturday, October 29: at Bournemouth

Facing newly-promoted Bournemouth away to end the month, Spurs will likely be stretched thin following a busy calendar filled with both league and Champions League matches.

Bournemouth have currency recorded two wins, two draws, and three losses and are 12th in the table to date, not bad for a side who are adjusting back to the top flight/

Spurs can easily take advantage however of a weak Bournemouth backline in the match. Thus far, they have allowed 19 goals, although nine of them came in one match against Liverpool.

Although Spurs will likely roll out a heavily rotated side, they should still be able to pick up three points on the road.

Prediction: Bournemouth 0-3 Spurs

Final analysis

Playing a month with six Premier League matches plus the Champions League fixtures will present a difficult challenge for Spurs.

Keeping key players fit will be an important factor in Spurs’ ability to pick up points and stay near the top of the table. 

In six fixtures this month, I see Tottenham winning four while losing twice. That would give them 29 points from 13 matches. While that would likely see Spurs fall away from the top portion of the table, they will still be in a great position in the fight for another top-four finish.

Where do you see Spurs in the table come November?

The post Opinion: Predicting every Spurs Premier League result for October appeared first on Spurs Web - Tottenham Hotspur Football News.

With the Champions League campaign set to kick off, here is a rundown of Spurs’ group stage opponents, who to watch, and results predictions for the six matches.

Marseille 

Spurs kick off the European campaign by facing last season’s Ligue 1 runners-up, Olympique de Marseille. Early in the campaign, they are currently in second position once again, behind PSG only on goal difference.

Marseille in the UCL

Marseille is making its 16th appearance in the Champions League, having won the title during the 1992-93 campaign. They also reached the final in the 1990-91 edition of the tournament (UEFA).

Matches

7 September 2022 – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

1 November 2022 – Stade Vélodrome (Marseille)

Top player to watch

New signing and former Arsenal and Manchester United player Alexis Sanchez has performed well early in the season. Thus far through five matches, Sanchez has scored three goals (FBRef). Spurs will need to keep Chile’s all-time leading goalscorer in check if they are to get positive results against Marseille.

Prediction

It doesn’t get much more difficult for Spurs than to open against Marseille, likely its top competition for finishing atop the group. Though it is early in the campaign, both teams are in a good run of form at the moment and are meeting when both squads have yet to have injury issues.

Spurs should pick up three points at home and they will split the points in the match in France, picking up four of a possible six points against OM.

Sporting CP

Tottenham will face Sporting CP of the Portuguese League in its second match of the group stage. Sporting finished as runners-up last season but is currently in just eighth position through five matches this campaign.

Sporting in the UCL

Sporting is appearing in the Champions League for the 23rd time, while their furthest advancement in the competition was the quarterfinal stage in 1982-83 (UEFA).

Matches

13 September 2022 – Estádio José Alvalade (Lisbon)

26 October 22 – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Top player to watch

Despite early season struggles, Sporting has a soild pair of attacking options that could cause problems for Spurs’ back line.

Pedro Gonçalves has tallied three goals and a pair of assists thus far, while former Spurs’ youth player Marcus Edwards has added two goals and two assists (FBRef).

Prediction

If Sporting continues to struggle as they have early in the season, this will be Spurs’ best chance to pick up all six points.

I expect them to do just that, winning in both Lisbon and the return leg at home to complete the group stage sweep.

Eintracht Frankfurt

Frankfurt finished 11th place in last season’s Bundesliga table. However, they were able to go all the way in the Europa League, claiming the title after defeating the likes of Barcelona, West Ham, and Rangers. This season, Frankfurt is in 10th place through five matches.

Frankfurt in the UCL

Frankfurt is making just its second-ever appearance in the Champions League, having last qualified in 1959-60 (UEFA). In its lone appearance in the competition, Frankfurt reached the final before falling to Real Madrid.

Matches

4 October 2022 – Deutsche Bank Park (Frankfurt)

12 October 2022 – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Top player to watch

Daichi Kamada is the player to watch for Frankfurt against Spurs. Tallying just four goals last season, Kamada has already registered three goals and an assist in four matches this season (FBRef).

Prediction

The third team Spurs will face in the group stage, Frankfurt poses a difficult challenge. Having won last season’s Europa League, they are more than capable of winning important matches, even when they aren’t the favourite.

I expect Spurs to lose in Germany, but pick up three points in the return leg in London, taking three of six points against Frankfurt.

Final analysis

Overall, I expect Spurs to complete the group stage round with 13 points, winning four matches while losing once and drawing the other.

They have a challenging group, but Tottenham should be either the favourite or second favourite to advance to the next stage of the Champions League. With 13 points, they would likely top the group and move on to the next round of the competition.

How far will Spurs go in this season’s Champions League?

The post Opinion: Tottenham’s Champions League group: Where will they finish? appeared first on Spurs Web - Tottenham Hotspur Football News.

Here are predictions for the three Premier League matches in the month of September, and how many points Spurs will have at the end of the month.

Saturday, September 3: vs. Fulham

Despite being one of the three newly promoted sides in the Premier League, Fulham has managed mostly positive results thus far in the campaign.

They opened with a 2-2 draw against Liverpool, then picked up another point versus Wolves. Fulham then won matches against Brentford and Brighton, with a loss to Arsenal sandwiched in between. With eight points through five matches, they currently sit seventh in the table.

This will be a difficult game for Tottenham, even though the match is in North London. Fulham has shown early on they can be competitive, while Spurs have notoriously dropped points to lesser teams in the past. 

Is this season’s squad different than past ones?

Prediction: Spurs 1, Fulham 1

Saturday, September 10: at Man City

Last season, Spurs took all six points from the Premier League champions. 

Through five matches this season, City is unbeaten and coming off a 6-0 thrashing of Nottingham Forest. With a league-best +14 goal differential already, this team should be the favorite to win the Premier League once again.

Oh, and that Erling Haaland guy they signed? He’s scored nine goals in five games, highlighted by back-to-back hat tricks against Crystal Palace and Forest.

Prediction: Man City 3, Spurs 1

Saturday, September 17: vs. Leicester City

To say the Foxes are struggling early in the season is an understatement. They currently sit at the bottom of the league table, recording just one point through four matches.

From a club that won the FA Cup just 15 months ago and competed in a European semifinal last season, the possibility of being in a relegation fight seems unthinkable.

Spurs need to take advantage of a struggling side in this match. It is also at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and the final match before the FIFA window, so a win would be valuable in building momentum before the international break.

Prediction: Spurs 2, Leicester City 0

After the match against Leicester, the Premier League takes a two-week break for international matches.

Final analysis

Playing just the three league matches in a shorter month, I expect Spurs to win one, draw one, and lose one. That would give the team 15 points through 8 matches. Not the worst start, but not the best either. They should still be in the race for the top four, but if City and Arsenal continue to pick up three points at a time, Tottenham might be falling out of the title race rather quickly.

Where do you expect Spurs to be in the table come the FIFA break?

The post Opinion: Predicting every Spurs Premier League result for September appeared first on Spurs Web - Tottenham Hotspur Football News.

Here are predictions for the final four matches in August, and how many points Spurs will have at the end of the month.

Sunday, August 14: at Chelsea

If it weren’t for a penalty call late in the first half, Chelsea would have only walked away with a single point from its opener with Everton.

The same Everton that was nearly relegated just a few months ago. And while it was an away match, the Blues were far from convincing in getting three points. It is clear that the team needs more time to gel with the new signings, and there is still the issue of who the top goalscorer will be.

While Tottenham lost to Chelsea in all four meetings last season, it is a new year and they might just be catching them at the right time. But even a draw would be a positive result, considering the match is at Stamford Bridge.

Prediction: Spurs 1, Chelsea 1

Saturday, August 20: vs. Wolves

Much like Chelsea, Wolves weren’t particularly impressive in its season opener. They took an early lead on the road against Leeds, before giving up the equalizer just under 20 minutes later. An own goal in the 74th minute sent Wolves packing with no points and a blown lead.

Wolves finished a respectable 10th in the table last season under a first-year manager, only five points out of a European spot. Their biggest issue however is scoring goals. Last season they scored just 38, ranking 17th in the Premier League.

Still, without a top goalscoring option this campaign, expect Spurs to be able to break down a Wolves squad that struggled in matchweek one with a team that was nearly relegated last season.

Prediction: Spurs 2, Wolves 0

Sunday, August 28: at Nottingham Forest

Facing one of the newly promoted sides in matchweek four, Spurs should have the advantage although the match is on the road.

While it is likely too early in the season to analyze Forest after playing just one competitive match – a 2-0 loss versus Newcastle – it does appear that it could be a struggle for them in a return to the Premier League after a 23-year absence.

In the opener, Forest managed only five shots, including none on target. When they face Spurs it will also be their third match in just over a week, since they face an early Carabao Cup second-round tie. Expect a comfortable win for the visitors.

Prediction: Spurs 3, Forest 1

Wednesday, August 31: at West Ham

In a second London Derby matchup, Spurs will face a team that has, by most accounts, overachieved the last two seasons.

And while West Ham has qualified for European competition in consecutive years, including reaching last season’s Europa League semifinals, there has been one consistent – and glaring – issue. Lack of depth has cost the team even better finishes in the table the last two years, and that was even more obvious last season when the Hammers had to prioritize the Europa League over chasing the top four.

Yet even after another transfer window, it doesn’t seem like West Ham’s depth has improved much, if at all. While they have signed five new players, they have also seen a number of them depart, meaning they need even more signings with the deadline fast approaching.

While losing 2-0 in the opener to Manchester City, the Hammers looked overmatched. With a plethora of new signings and improved depth, Tottenham should be able to win over a team that will be playing its third match in six days.

Prediction: Spurs 2, West Ham 1

Final analysis

Through the first full month of the new campaign, I expect Spurs to have won four of five matches, only dropping points against Chelsea away. 13 points out of a possible 15 is a great start, as I expect the club to take advantage of a lighter schedule before domestic cup and Champions League fixtures get added to the schedule.

How do you think Spurs will fare throughout the rest of August?

The post Opinion: Predicting every Spurs result for the rest of August – Four games appeared first on Spurs Web - Tottenham Hotspur Football News.

Here is my ranking of the forward lines from each club – looking at the five most prominent forwards/attackers from all six squads. 

No. 6 – Manchester United (Ronaldo, Martial, Sancho, Rashford, Elanga)

As of right now, Cristiano Ronaldo is still a Manchester United player. We will see if that is the case by the time the season kicks off, but for now, he is the only consistent goal-scoring threat on the team sheet.

A bit sad to be honest when the team’s best goalscorer is 37 years old and reportedly wants to leave to play Champions League football (SkySports).

Other than Ronaldo and his 18 Premier League goals, there isn’t much going in terms of scoring options for United. 

Jadon Sancho disappointed after his high-profile transfer to United, scoring just three league goals (Transfermarkt) last season.

Anthony Elanga is only 20 years old, while Anthony Martial spent part of last year on loan at Sevilla, and Marcus Rashford’s numbers declined after a breakout campaign two years ago.

For Manchester United to contend for the top four, they’ll need Ronaldo to keep up his level of production and hope everyone else takes a step forward.

No. 5 – Arsenal (Nketiah, Jesus, Pepe, Martinelli, Saka)

Just missing out on Champions League football last season, Arsenal brought in Gabriel Jesus from Manchester City to bolster the front line as the Gunners look to move into the top four after a lengthy absence.

Jesus tallied 13 goals and 12 assists in all competitions last season (Transfermarkt) and brings a winning mentality to an Arsenal side that has not won consistently in some time.

Eddie Nketiah is young and will look to improve, as will Gabriel Martinelli, who scored six league goals last season (TransferMarkt).

Nicolas Pepe needs to improve on scoring just once last season (Transfermarkt), but the most exciting player is undoubtedly Bukayo Saka, the 20-year-old England star who tallied 11 goals in the league last year (Transfermarkt).

Overall, Jesus is a valuable weapon and Saka is a bright young star, but consistency is an issue that keeps Arsenal from being higher on the list.

No. 4 – Chelsea (Werner, Havertz, Mount, Sterling, Pulisic)

You might think Chelsea’s front line would be ranked higher on the list, but overall, the team is plagued by inconsistency and a lack of a surefire clutch goalscorer.

After scoring 28 goals in the Bundesliga in 2019-20, Werner hasn’t even matched that number in two seasons at Chelsea, scoring just 23 goals across all competitions (Transfermarkt). Kai Havertz has equally struggled in his time at the club after coming over from Germany.

While Christian Pulisic has struggled with injuries and getting consistent minutes, Mason Mount has been a bright young talent as an attacking midfielder, scoring 11 league goals last season (Transfermarkt).

The addition of Raheem Sterling from Manchester City as a proven goal scorer is a nice bonus, but can he be counted on to score when the team needs him too and others are struggling? If it didn’t work with Romelu Lukaku, I have my doubts about it working with Sterling.

No. 3 – Spurs (Kane, Son, Kulusevski, Richarlison, Moura)

Spurs are only not ranked higher on this list because while we know that Harry Kane and Son Heung-min can rack up goals, can anyone else? Who will be the third option that can deliver in case of an off night or an injury to the two main stars?

While Richarlison is a good signing, I’m not sure he’s worth the fee paid for scoring 11 goals (Transfermarkt) on a team that nearly got relegated last season. Also, will he even get minutes?

Dejan Kulusevski joined the club during the January transfer window last season and made an immediate impact as a third option on Spurs’ front line, scoring five goals and adding eight assists (Transfermarkt).

It is also difficult to see where Lucas Moura fits in on the line. He scored just six goals across all competitions last season (Transfermarkt), and his minutes have decreased quite drastically from the 2019-20 campaign. He can be a valuable bench option, or even at right-wing-back, but he doesn’t score a lot of goals.

So will Antonio Conte really juggle minutes between Kulusevski and Richarlison? Or will he move Dejan to another position, although he clearly showed he was a perfect fit alongside Kane and Son?

I don’t know. In all honesty, I was a bit confused by the Richarlison signing myself. Let’s hope he proves me wrong and Tottenham wins a trophy this year.

No. 2 – Liverpool (Salah, Firmino, Nunez, Jota, Diaz)

Losing Sadio Mane to Bayern Munich leaves Liverpool with a hole to fill.

While they have the proven goal-scoring prowess of three-time Premier League Golden Boot winner Mohamed Salah, losing the second piece of a dynamic pairing is never easy. Roberto Firmino has been a good option for Liverpool the past few seasons though, and Diego Jota scored 21 goals last year in all competitions (Transfermarkt).

The addition of Luis Diaz during the January transfer window last season provided six goals and five assists in 26 appearances (Transfermarkt), but much like Dejan Kulusevski at Spurs, a full season’s worth of games and goals needs to be seen first to really gauge the impact.

And while Darwin Nunez seems like a good signing, he will also most likely need time to settle in and find a role in the team.

Because Liverpool has a mix of both proven and unproven talent, they rank second on the list of the best-attacking lineups.

No. 1 – Manchester City (Haaland, Silva, Mahrez, Grealish, Foden)

This team is filled with talent, to say the least. 

The one weak link seems to be Jack Grealish. On a team that didn’t have a designated No. 9 last season, Grealish struggled after coming over from Aston Villa, contributing just three goals in the league (Transfermarkt). For someone who cost as much as he did, it was underwhelming, to say the least.

Phil Foden is as exciting as any young player in the Premier League, having won the Young Player of the Season two years in a row. Riyad Mahrez is coming off a 24-goal season in all competitions (Transfermarkt), and Bernardo Silva added 13 goals and seven assists (Transfermarkt). 

Oh, and City finally signed an actual striker, and it just happens to be Erling Haaland, who has scored 135 top-flight goals (Transfermarkt) and is only 22 years old. While some other players have struggled in adapting to the Premier League after coming from the Bundesliga, don’t expect Haaland to have any problems at all.

Now that they have a surefire striker, Man City’s attacking line is the best in the league.

Which club do you think is the top attacking team in the Premier League?

The post Opinion: Ranking the attacking line-ups from the ‘Big Six’ from worst to best appeared first on Spurs Web - Tottenham Hotspur Football News.

Last season was plagued by inconsistency, yet Spurs were still able to reach the top four and qualify for next season’s Champions League.

And while there were low moments during the year, there were also plenty of memorable ones as the club clinched a return to Europe’s top club competition for next season.

As we move full steam ahead towards next season, here is a rewind of the top ten moments of the 2021-22 Tottenham Hotspur campaign.

10. Hat tricks

Tottenham’s season included a pair of hat-tricks, and naturally, they came from the two players we all would expect.

Despite a slow start to the Premier League season, Harry Kane netted a hat trick against NS Mura in the Europa Conference League in the second group stage match.

Son Heung-min added a hat trick of his own against Aston Villa in matchweek 31, leading Spurs to a 4-0 win that helped Son take home the Premier League’s Golden Boot.

9. Last-gasp winner at Watford

Looking back, Spurs should really not have struggled as much as they did when they faced now-relegated Watford during matchweek 21.

Despite having 21 total shots (nine on target) and nearly 75 per cent possession, the match was a scoreless draw until added time (Premier League).

That’s when a Son Heung-min free-kick from outside the box found the head of Davinson Sanchez in the 97th minute for a win at Vicarage Road (Twitter).

8. Kane and Son set PL record

As if we didn’t already know the greatness of the Harry Kane and Son Heung-min tandem, they gave everyone one more reason to remember.

In the match against Leeds in matchweek 27, Kane provided an assist for Son’s goal and the 3-0 lead, setting the all-time Premier League record for goal combinations for a duo with 37.

The deadliest duo in Premier League history!

Heung-Min Son & Harry Kane combine to break the all-time record for @premierleague goal combinations! pic.twitter.com/shkdh0NSPJ

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) February 26, 2022

7. Draws vs. Liverpool

While draws may not seem like much to celebrate, if anyone would have told us that Spurs would split the points with the Carabao and FA Cup winners before the season started we would have taken it.

With a 2-2 draw at Anfield and then getting an important point near the end of the season at home to basically end Liverpool’s title hopes, Tottenham showed they could be competitive with Jurgen Klopp’s side.

6. January signings

No one knew it at the time, but the January transfer window signings of Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski were a stroke of genius.

With neither player making much of an impact at Serie A giants Juventus, they both made an immediate impact when they arrived in North London.

Bentancur provided a steady presence in midfield while Kulusevski became an attacking threat to add to a Son and Kane front three.

If it weren’t for those two additions, Spurs could be heading for the Europa League – or worse – next season instead of the Champions League.

5. Comeback at Leicester City

Trailing 2-1 at the King Power Stadium as the clock hit 90 minutes, Tottenham needed some late heroics to even rescue a point against Leicester City in matchweek 19.

Enter Steven Bergwijn. Subbing on in the 79th minute, Bergwijn delivered a tying goal in the 95th minute.

He wasn’t done. Less than two minutes later, “Stevie B” added the dramatic winner in the 97th minute, the latest ever comeback win in Premier League history (Mirror).

4. Season finale and Son’s Golden Boot

In a season of ups and downs, the season finale was one of the highlights.

Demolishing already relegated Norwich City 5-0, Tottenham officially clinched a spot in the Champions League for the 2022-23 campaign.

Even better, Son Heung-min bagged a brace, scoring in the 70th and 75th minutes to claim a share of the Premier League Golden Boot (Premier League).

3. Big win in the North London Derby

Considering both the magnitude of the match in the chase for a Champions League spot and the oft-discussed nature of its rescheduling (Sky Sports), the North London Derby in matchweek 36 was the biggest match of the campaign.

And Tottenham delivered.

A Harry Kane brace and Son Heung-min goal gave Spurs the 3-0 win in the rivalry match, giving them the edge in the race for fourth place (Premier League).

2. Double over Manchester City

While the draws versus Liverpool were solid results, the matches against league champions Manchester City were even better.

Spurs began the season by stunning City thanks to a Son Heung-min goal and followed it up by completing the double over them at the Etihad in matchweek 23 via a Harry Kane brace.

Two wins against the Premier League champions? Certainly, a highlight of the season for a side now looking ahead to Champions League football next season.

 1. Conte’s arrival

While there were great moments from Tottenham’s 2021-22 campaign, none was more monumental than the hiring of Antonio Conte as the manager.

Conte came in and began immediately making changes, whether via the style of play or the players he both added and sent away during the January transfer window.

Overall, the squad improved and positive results began to follow. Supporters bought in and he brought hope and optimism back to a fanbase that had suffered the previous few seasons.

The bottom line is that Spurs aren’t in the Champions League if Antonio Conte isn’t the manager. He has made the team exciting again and with the summer transfer window signings, Spurs are looking to take a big step forward to compete for silverware next season.

What were your favourite moments from Spurs’ 2021-22 season?

The post Opinion: The top ten moments of Tottenham’s 2021-22 season appeared first on Spurs Web - Tottenham Hotspur Football News.

However, the Italian head coach denied such reports in his press conference prior to the Leicester City match, labelling them as ‘fake news’ (Football.London).

So let’s assume then that he does stay, at least through the end of his contract. What do Tottenham need to do to improve for the 2022-23 campaign?

Convince Harry Kane to stay

This could be more difficult if Tottenham don’t finish the season in fourth and grab a Champions League spot. However, maybe it really isn’t as difficult as it seems…

If Conte stays put, why wouldn’t Kane want to stay and play for a world-class manager? Not to mention, Kane can cause all the issues he wants in the summer – just like last year – but he is under contract, so Spurs have all the leverage.

So even if Harry Kane wants to leave, Spurs don’t have to let him.

But if Conte sticks around, I’d expect Kane to as well.

Recruit a backup striker

And while Spurs have a world-class striker in Kane, they have shown that outside of him and Son Heung-min, they struggle to score goals.

While the acquisition of Dejan Kulusevski in the January transfer window has given the team’s attack a perhaps unexpected boost, they need someone on the bench who can score goals and spell Harry Kane when he either needs a rest or is injured.

It looked that maybe it would be Steven Bergwijn to fill that role after he scored a double in a comeback win against Leicester a few months back, but he hasn’t done much since.

After winning Spurs the match against the Foxes, Bergwijn has scored just once – in a 5-1 win over Newcastle (Transfermarkt).

In other words, it is clear the team needs a proven goalscorer to provide a spark off the bench, and maybe even as a starter in occasional matches if necessary.

Add another (attacking) midfielder

As mentioned previously, Dejan Kulusevski has been a revelation since arriving in North London. And while he can play many positions – including midfielder – it is clear his best position may be as a right-winger.

This means Spurs need another midfield player. Rodrigo Bentancur has been fantastic since arriving alongside Kulusevski, but another, more attacking option would really benefit Spurs in the midfield.

Perhaps a Christian Eriksen reunion? Who knows if it could really happen, but Tottenham has struggled to replace him since he left for Inter Milan. So why not just bring him back and fill the hole that way?

After all, it is Spurs, so stranger things have happened.

Find a right wing-back

Conte prefers a 3-5-2 formation and the use of wing-backs, it is clear, particularly on the right side, that Spurs need an upgrade in that position.

While being a decent defender, it is clear that Emerson Royal does not offer a whole lot going forward. Matt Doherty has also been much improved under Conte than previous Spurs managers, but he is not a high-quality option.

In order to make the team into the shape that fits his preferred style, Spurs must give Conte the funds to acquire wing-backs in the summer window.

And the rest…

Tottenham could also do with a left centre-back, a back-up goalkeeper, and perhaps another winger if Steven Bergwijn exits the club. An extra holding midfielder and a goal threat at left-wing-back would also be a bonus.

If Conte goes

So here is the reverse scenario. Let’s say Spurs miss out on Champions League football and Antonio Conte leaves due to the club’s lack of ambition.

Then what does the club do?

Time for a rebuild 

If Conte leaves, it’s time for the club to rebuild entirely. At this point, they’ve qualified for the Europa League and don’t have the team to compete for minor trophies, let alone the Premier League title.

So instead of finishing somewhere between fourth and eighth for the foreseeable future and being miles off from Manchester City, Liverpool, and even Chelsea, Tottenham need to go into a full rebuild.

Sell Harry Kane

If Conte goes and Spurs finish outside the top four, Harry Kane being a major distraction during the summer is more than likely, especially after last year.

If he doesn’t want to stay any longer and the team around him can’t win, Kane shouldn’t feel the need to stick around, and the club should honour his likely request to leave.

Not to mention getting as much in return for Kane as possible is key since he will be nearing 30 years of age and has a history of injuries.

If the rebuild is coming, spare Kane the possibility of living through it in the final years of his contract. He’s a club legend, and he deserves better.

Hire a long-term manager

If a rebuild is coming, Spurs need a manager who will be there until the project is complete. Much like Mauricio Pochettino when he was hired (but don’t hire him again, please), the club needs a coach with the potential to get better as the team he manages does too.

Hiring someone like Graham Potter or Thomas Frank would go a long way in providing stability to a club that has had four managers in just over 12 months.

Determine the future core

This would be a very important first step for a new manager that could come in.

Look at the overall squad. If Tanguy Ndombele or Giovani Lo Celso aren’t in his plans, part ways with them as soon as possible. Get rid of any fringe players they don’t like and let them use the resulting funds to sign their own players.

If there are players not fit for the team going forward, send them out on loan, or even better, sell them if possible. It does no good to keep players around that don’t want to be at the club or don’t need to be.

The post Opinion: What Tottenham need to do if Conte stays vs if Conte leaves appeared first on Spurs Web - Tottenham Hotspur Football News.

The drought continues

The Conference League was a golden opportunity to claim silverware, even if it wasn’t the desired route. Losing to Chelsea stings, but was more than expected. But now that the FA Cup was the only thing left to fight for in terms of a trophy, you hoped there would be more of a fight from Spurs. But as we’ve become accustomed to, there wasn’t.

Now Tottenham’s trophy drought is at 15 years, since the earliest they can win another is February next year in the Carabao Cup.

That got me thinking about past chances, and then I realized that there was a good chance Spurs could have just ended this drought last season if they did one thing differently.

‘The Special One’

They could have won the Carabao Cup if they would not have sacked José Mourinho.

Sure, Spurs were just a month on from the embarrassing Europa League round of 16 defeat to Dinamo Zagreb and had been eliminated from the FA Cup.

Over Mourinho’s last 10 matches, the club had won five and drawn two across all competitions with three defeats (Transfermarkt). Not the best, but certainly not the worst either, especially with what we’ve seen this season.

A 2-2 draw with Everton on April 16 had moved them to sixth in the Premier League table and into a Europa League spot, just two points off the top four (Premier League).

Tottenham ended the season five points off the top four, despite losing matches they were favoured to win against Leeds United and Aston Villa. Win those two, and the team is in the Champions League.

Perhaps even more importantly, Spurs had the Carabao Cup final coming up on April 25, a golden chance to end a then 13-year trophy drought. 

Choices have consequences

Instead, they sacked Mourinho six days before.

Sacked the manager who has won 25 trophies overall, four of which are the League Cup. A manager who has been to 15 major cup finals, winning 12 with five clubs in four countries (Wikipedia).

Tottenham had even defeated their cup final opponent Manchester City 2-0 earlier in the campaign, although they lost the return fixture.

And while Manchester City was on its way to a Premier League title and Champions League final, they were beatable.

They ended up losing six matches in the league while drawing five. Just two days prior to Mourinho’s firing, they lost to Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-finals (Wikipedia).

Wasted chance

Spurs under José had a chance to end a trophy drought that dated back to 2008. Instead, they sacked the serial winner and failed yet again to show up in a cup final just six days later.

Not only did Mourinho’s exit possibly cost the club a Champions League spot, it very well might have cost them silverware.

As a Spurs supporter, I’m still bitter about it. 

And now as fans, we have to wait even longer for the drought to end, if it ever does.

The post Opinion: Spurs’ trophy drought could have ended last season if they did one thing differently appeared first on Spurs Web - Tottenham Hotspur Football News.

Kulusevski started the match on the right-wing, scoring in the 15th minute to double Spurs’ advantage after Matt Doherty had given them an early lead. 

Spurs came into the match off the back of four defeats in their last five Premier League games, including a woeful 1-0 loss to Burnley in mid-week.

Meanwhile, Leeds United had conceded at least three goals in their past four Premier League encounters, which became five when Kulusevski and co put them to the sword at Elland road.

The former Juventus man stood out as a bright spark once again for the Lilywhites as he continues to take to the Premier League like a duck to water.

After the match, Antonio Conte complimented Kulusevski’s performance. He said (Football.London): “Kulusevski is a player who is only 21 years old and in these four games he could have scored in every game.

“I think he is showing that he is a fantastic player for the present but also he if he continues in this way he can become a really important player.”

Conte added (Football.London): “He is strong physically, good technically, he has no fear of the opponent or the tackle. It is a good sign, with Harry and Son, also Lucas Moura and Bergwijn, offensively we are good and I am happy for this.”

Kulusevski played 78 minutes in Spurs’ bounceback victory that now sees the team move into seventh in the table and back into position for a potential European spot.

Spurs Web Opinion:

Despite being just 21 years of age, Kulusevksi has made an immediate impact since joining Tottenham.

Along with getting on the scoresheet against Leeds, he scored the opener and added an assist in the win over Manchester City (Transfermarkt).

With Kulusevski playing well as an attacking option, it gives Spurs even more goal-scoring threats going forward together with Harry Kane and Heung-min Son.

If he continues to play well, he will likely overtake Lucas Moura in the Starting XI on a permanent basis as Spurs fight to get back in the race for the top four.

The post ‘A fantastic player’ – Conte reacts to Kulusevski performance in Spurs win appeared first on Spurs Web - Tottenham Hotspur Football News.

What we have to decipher now is if this is just another Conte blowup, or if this is something far more serious.

It is clear and obvious to every Spurs fan that the club has some serious issues it needs to fix. And while earlier in the campaign it seemed that one of those problems was the manager (again), the club seemed to actually make the right call to hire Conte, one of the world’s best.

And for a while, at least in league play, he seemed to have righted the ship. In the first nine Premier League fixtures, Spurs won six and drew three, taking 21 of a possible 27 points and seeming poised for a top-four finish.

Then Spurs do what we are accustomed to. They lost three straight, yet somehow followed it with their best performance of the season to stay in the race for a Champions League place. 

But now, a 1-0 loss to Burnley – the fourth in five matches – for Spurs completely wiped away any positives from the win over Man City at the weekend, and now we are left wondering if Antonio Conte has had enough and is on his way out.

It is not only clear at this point that Spurs don’t have the quality players to contend for trophies and Champions League places, but they might not for some time. They could even miss out on European football entirely next season.

Conte was also clearly not impressed by the January transfer dealings, where two players were brought in but four were shipped out, even acknowledging that the squad had been “weakened” numerically (Sky Sports Italia).

But something that stuck out more than the results and transfer window disappointment was some of Conte’s comments after the defeat at Turf Moor.

Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: “I think Tottenham called me to improve the situation, but I am too honest to close my eyes and to continue to tell, ‘I want to finish the season in this way, but my salary is good’. I am not this type of person. I have ambition.”

I think Conte is saying that he has the ambition needed to win, and that is not being matched by those at the club.

Antonio Conte is a serial winner, that much is clear. He won as a player at Juventus, and as a coach at Juve, Chelsea, and Inter Milan.

And while he does have to bear some responsibility for results (he is still the head coach), a lot of the problems have nothing to do with Conte at all.

In a lot of ways, it seems he already has one foot out the door at Hotspur Way, but who can honestly blame him?

Maybe it could be another overreaction to yet another disappointing loss. Or it could be something worse. 

More than anything, Antonio Conte wants to win. Not just reach the top four, but wants to win league titles and cups. It’s apparent that Spurs aren’t up for the challenge.

If Conte walks, I don’t think many Spurs fans would blame him. The team needs a top manager more than ever, yet the dysfunction within the club could be the catalyst for yet another disaster.

With a match against Leeds at the weekend, a loss could put the nail in the coffin and see Conte walk out on the job. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen. Actually, let’s hope he doesn’t just leave before the match even kicks off. 

The post Opinion: Tottenham’s slide could cost them Antonio Conte appeared first on Spurs Web - Tottenham Hotspur Football News.

While Spurs came away with a big victory behind a world-class Harry Kane performance, every team they are trying to catch in the race for the top four picked up key points as well.

While West Ham only managed a draw with Newcastle, Manchester United, Arsenal, and Wolves each took all three points to stay in front of Spurs in the table.

So, even after completing the league double over the top-of-the-table Cityzens, Tottenham still finds themselves sitting in eighth place. Is it possible they don’t play any European football next season?

It’s all about qualifying

Any given campaign, at least five teams from England’s top-flight reach one of now three European competitions (Champions League, Europa League, and Europa Conference League). Finishing in the top-four sends you to the Champions League while finishing fifth means Europa League football.

Last year Spurs took the seventh spot, clinching a spot in the inaugural Europa Conference League seeing as the automatic spot that goes to the Carabao Cup winners was forfeited by Man City’s league title.

While the Carabao Cup winners go to the Conference League, the FA Cup winners head to the Europa League. But since Leicester City finished inside the top five automatic European spots, the honour went to West Ham in sixth.

Since this season’s Carabao Cup winner will almost certainly be in the top four (Liverpool and Chelsea) the winner’s spot will slot to the team in the sixth – currently Arsenal. But if a team inside the top five again wins the FA Cup (more than likely), Arsenal would be playing in the Europa League while Wolves would make a Conference League debut.

What about Tottenham?

And there sit Tottenham in the eighth spot, one point back of a likely return to the Conference League, while also three points clear of a possible Europa League appearance and seven points from the coveted final Champions League spot.

Still, it’s hard to see Spurs missing out altogether. They’ve appeared in European competition in 15 of the last 16 seasons dating back to the 2006-07 UEFA Cup. Even after what was considered one of the worst seasons of recent memory last campaign, the club still found a way to sneak into the Conference League on the last day of the season.

Maximum points needed

The team also has games in hand on most of the teams in front of them. While they are even on matches played with the Gunners (23), they have a game in hand on Wolves and three apiece on West Ham and Man United.

The thing is though is that they don’t control their own destiny. Games in hand only have fans looking at the table and seeing how far up they can go, adding up points that aren’t guaranteed. They have to win those few games first, and then have 12 more to play after that.

While Spurs have a chance to make up the points, they have also dropped games to Wolves, Man United, and Arsenal, teams they are chasing for European spots. They’ve also dropped points to Southampton (twice), Crystal Palace, and relegation-threatened Everton.

And while the win over Man City was exciting and showed the potential of what the team could be, the issue this season has been that they haven’t come anywhere near their best. Just before the big win at the weekend, they lost home matches to Saints and Wolves.

Inconsistency (possibly) has a price

A team that is this inconsistent could very well fall short of the Champions League. And while reaching the top four should be the main goal – and winning the FA Cup – for the rest of the season, Spurs must be careful to avoid dropping more points than they shouldn’t be. 

If they can’t put a run together and pick up needed victories, they could miss out on European football entirely for the first time in over a decade.

And that would be a disaster even Antonio Conte or Harry Kane can’t fix. 

The post Opinion: Looking at how the European places work this season – Could Spurs miss out? appeared first on Spurs Web - Tottenham Hotspur Football News.

He said (Sky Sports): “When you lose two games at home and against Chelsea – for a team that wants to qualify for the Champions League, it’s impossible to happen.

“The players need to find the right atmosphere and feel no pressure about a target that in this moment you can’t reach. I’ve been saying this since my arrival.”

He later added: “We need to be realistic and together. Also with our fans. The fans need to understand to have patience, to wait to rebuild again to a situation they were used to in the past.”

If those comments don’t paint a brutally honest picture, I’m not sure what will. Antonio Conte is right. 

This Tottenham squad as currently constructed and in its current run of form is not a top-four club. In fact, it’s far from it.

While this campaign’s goal is to return to Champions League football, Spurs are well off the mark for it, and I for one would be terrified to see this team against any of the best European clubs.

Sure, there will be a summer transfer window before the start of next season, but how much that will change things – and if the club will even be in the competition – is yet to be known. 

A team that is top-four calibre doesn’t lose at home to Southampton, especially after leading 2-1 with 20 minutes to play. They don’t fall behind 2-0 after 20 minutes against Wolves at home either. They also don’t get crushed 3-0 against Manchester United, a team also contending for the final Champions League spot.

And I hate to say it, but a team of Champions League quality doesn’t get knocked out of the group stages in the UEFA Europa Conference League, either.

What Conte said after the defeat to Wolves said a lot. Not only is he correct that this team isn’t currently top-four material, but he also said something else that was very telling. 

We need to be realistic.

Spurs were in the Champions League final just about three years ago. Since then, results have fallen off as the club has gone from top-four to a Europa League shock exit in Zagreb to an embarrassing display in the Conference League.

Don’t forget how Spurs failed to even show for the two finals they qualified for in that three-year span, whether it be the 2019 UCL finale or the 2021 EFL Cup defeat.

We all want those evenings of Champions League football to return, but how the team is playing right now puts that in serious jeopardy. But we also, as fans, need to be realistic. 

This isn’t the squad that was league runners-up nearly five years ago. This isn’t the same team that produced that incredible night in Amsterdam in 2019. Right now, this squad isn’t even good enough to win UEFA’s third-tier trophy.

As fans, we have become accustomed to – and often even expect – Champions League, and at the bare minimum Europa League football year in and year out. But maybe it is time for us to reset our expectations.

This team quite possibly isn’t good enough to reach the top four. There are too many holes to fill, too many things that need fixing.

Maybe they will put together a run and snag that last UCL spot. Maybe they’ll fall just short and end up playing in the Europa League. Or, maybe neither. 

But if one thing is for sure as supporters of Tottenham Hotspur right now, we can’t expect too much of them, or we could be the ones left disappointed by the result.

The post Opinion: Antonio Conte is right, the top four is ‘impossible’ for Tottenham appeared first on Spurs Web - Tottenham Hotspur Football News.