Key occasions
45+3 min Son controls an extended cross from Sessegnon however the motion means he’s going through away from aim. So on the sting, he tees up Bentancur, whose shot is blocked.
45+2 min Make your individual minds up, when you fancy.
45+1 min “Lester Freamon?” asks Kevin Simons. “Yeah, however what would Bunk Moreland make of it?”
I really feel such as you’re goading me to put up that scene wherein him and McNutty talk utilizing nothing however variations of a single four-letter phrase. I concern it is probably not dissimilar to the patter within the Spurs dressing room at half-time.
45 min There’ll be three added minutes.
44 min “That’s getting ugly,” returns Yash Gupta. “I suppose that’s the restrict of Conte’s teaching. He can’t make not nice defender into a fantastic one. Spurs had possibilities to attain however Newcastle’ve had as effectively aside from their objectives. And my goodness this defence!”
I do know what you imply, however my principal concern with this staff is their incapacity to regulate tempo in midfield, which places stress on the again three, and the shortage of participant in the midst of the pitch capable of do the surprising. When Kane drops, there must be somebody making a third-man run forward of him, or him dropping must be an occasional intervention.
43 min And credit score to Howe, who’s clearly noticed the potential of somebody it will’ve been straightforward to put in writing off, then labored with him to understand the potential we noticed in MLS.
42 min Miguel Almiron, although!
WHAT A GOAL! Tottenham hotspur 0-2 Newcastle United (Almiron 40)
It’s that man once more! Lloris chips a cross out to Sessegnon on the left however Longstaff is in rapidly, profitable the ball and liberating Almiron who veers away fro Sessegnon and previous Lenglet, down the correct of the field, takes an additional contact as he opens his physique, then lifts and professional’s end over the keeper’s dive! That’s sensational behaviour!
40 min Spurs have misplaced their manner right here, and I hate to repeat myself however they don’t have gamers capable of maintain stress with possession.
38 min Joelinton collects possession and lashes a shot not that far extensive of the far put up, however the flag was up.
36 min now Newcastle counter, Wilson in house at inside-right and controlling Longstaff’s cross properly. However his cross to Almiron is poor, and Spurs get the ball away.
36 min “I suppose we are able to no less than be grateful that Newcastle aren’t owned by the UK authorities,” says Simon McMahon. “Now that actually could be embarrassing.”
It’s all related, however. As Lester Freamon would say, “All of the items matter.”
35 min Spurs attempt to redress the stability, Sessegnon away down the left, however his cross sails miles away from anybody and in the direction of the closest Tube station, as we be taught that Bentancur was booked for bitching in regards to the aim.
33 min The aim stands and rightly so: no offside, no foul and no handball, however sure sill goalkeeping and advantageous ending.
32 min Lloris is raging – he needs a free-kick – however he bumped into Wilson as a result of he made a silly choice to come back out, which he then executed stupidly by not humping clear. VAR is looking…
GOAL! Tottenham Hotspur 0-1 Newcastle United (Wilson 31)
A catastrophe for Hugo Lloris! Schar clips one other advantageous lengthy ball excessive and Lloris prices out of his aim to clear, solely to regulate together with his thighs and collide with Wilson, who collects the unfastened ball because the keeper flays his strategy to the bottom. Wilson turns, clips a advantageous chip over Dier, and that’s an amazing end.
29 min Bentancur robs Longstaff deep contained in the Tottenham half and units Kane away at inside-left; he does effectively to chop inside, opening a capturing lane and letting go a low one, that Pope saves through outstretched studs. Longstaff might be extraordinarily relieved to see the ball finally cleared.
27 min I really feel like I say this each sport I do, however the penalty legislation is a giant drawback – you possibly can’t be getting free objectives for minor infractions. The reply is to let refs resolve if an infringement has prevented a goalscoring alternative and if it has, contained in the field, or exterior, it’s a penalty, and if not, it’s a direct free-kick.
25 min Newcastle win a free-kick and stick a ball into the field, Wilson making an attempt to show a shot goalwards. He misses and wears a bit kick from Lenglet, a kind of that exterior the field is perhaps a foul however inside it, isn’t one you’d really feel cozy awarding a penalty for.
24 min “That man on the lamppost is sweet within the air and all,” Justin Kavanagh, “however he has no proper foot! Maybe there’s a late-career opening on the continent for Ronaldo in any case.”
As a result of he turned such a remorseless accumulator, it’s straightforward to overlook the toes Ronaldo had as a younger participant – my favorite model of him was the 06-07 model, when he was nonetheless a right-winger trying to go on the surface, but additionally a chilly goalscorer.
23 min Skipp breaks forward of play and Bentancur, out on the correct, turns to slip him an honest cross down the road. The ball then strikes over to Sessegnon, who drags a shot that earns a nook through two defelections, Spurs’ first of the sport … which involves nowt.
21 min Emerson shanks a ball to nobody that winds up a terrific change for Sessegnon. However double-teamed, he has to go backwards, and Spurs’ assault peters out.
20 min Dier takes the ball and goes brief, will get ball a cross he doesn’t need and, searching for Lloris, as an alternative punches previous the far put up. He’ll have swallowed his nether areas there, and received’t be comfy with the nook coming in, however Spurs clear it so far as Almiron, who, from exterior the field, lifts a speculative shot previous the far put up.
18 min I suppose you would drop one of many midfielders and play Kane there too, or to maintain Son in his most well-liked place.
18 min For those who might clone Kane and had been dedicated to 3-5-2, would you stick Son at wing-back so he might play behind himself?
17 min It is a first rate sport, each groups trying to get the ball ahead. Kane apart, we’ve but to see a lot high quality within the ultimate third, however there’s no less than the suggestion that there’ll quickly be some.
15 min Sessegnon is coming into the sport, skirting round Trippier and standing up a cross which is cleared to Bissouma on the sting … and he larrups excessive.
14 min The query, after all, is the way you try this – does a midfielder stick on him or does a centre-back go together with him. As a result of Spurs don’t have anybody coming from behind with the intuition to hit the field, I’d be tempted to gamble with the latter.
13 min Kane is pulling Newcastle throughout place, once more coming brief to ship Sessegnon away down the left. He’s offside, but when somebody doesn’t become familiar with him quickly, Spurs will rating.
11 min Harry Kane is simply rrrridiculous. Once more, he drops deep, and once more he slides in a tasty cross, placing Son in on Pope! The primary contact is sweet sufficient, from possibly the league’s greatest one-on-one finisher, however he waits maybe a stride too many to try his second, a raise over the keeper, who’s too near him for that, and it comes off his physique, permitting Trippier to clear earlier than the ball can dribble over the road.
9 min Newcastle, not owned by the Saudi state, might be coaching at Riyadh in the course of the World Cup, we’re reminded. How completely darling for them.
8 min Seeing that Royal problem once more, I now suppose it was penalty, however I can see why it wasn’t given.
7 min …Schar wins the primary header on the far facet of the field however Lloris fists away and Spurs get the ball clear.
7 min Newcastle win one other nook…
6 min I can’t lie, after I noticed that occur, I assumed Royal had clumsily barged Joelinton over – in my defence, I’m in row Z – however as soon as he’d been caught, he performed the state of affairs completely.
5 min Schar, extensive on the correct and on roughly midway, drops a advantageous ball into the field for Joelinton and for a second it seems like he’s in. However Royal does brilliantly to remain shut with out freely giving a foul, in order that when Huge Joe, as Steve Bruce knew him, swings again his leg to shoot, he boots Royal, the 2 fall collectively, and the upshot is a nook – which involves nowt.
3 min Already, there’s a greater tempo about Spurs, Kane dropping deep and setting Royal away. He squares to Skipp who pokes another to Son, and Son dips inside his man then lands a roller onto the roof of the online. A lot, a lot better from Conte’s males.
2 min Joelinton appears be out on the left as we speak, with Longstaff and Guimaraes in entrance of the again 4 and Willock in entrance of them.
1 min The cameras on the new Spurs floor are manner too excessive – I really feel like I’m at Newcastle away. However I can nearly make out Son, skating in the direction of the field and ramming a rising shot that’s straight at Pope.
1 min Away we go!
OH MY DAYS!
Right here come the groups!
Again to the highest of the desk, I questioned if, watching Arsenal in opposition to Leeds final weekend, they’d run off form or received regardless of a uncommon poor efficiency as a result of that’s what one of the best groups do. Their efficiency this afternoon steered the latter, although now they’re via within the Europa, a midweek relaxation for the primary XI is perhaps restorative. The factor is, although, this season greater than every other will work in favour of these golf equipment with large squads, making the league a fair best check of monetary assets than regular.
“A 12 months in the past Spurs misplaced at West Ham, barely scraped previous Burnley and obtained thumped by Ole’s United,” emails Yash Gupta. “So when Conte got here in, it was recent to see gamers passing the ball round simply to really feel it as an alternative of at all times making an attempt to launch a counter. I actually loved Spurs since then till the sport at West Ham this season when at round 66 minutes this realisation got here, there’s no level in watching this sport. We ain’t doing something to attain a aim and by the top West Ham ought to’ve received it. I keep in mind in opposition to Southampton beneath Mourinho on New 12 months’s day when for the primary time I felt at round 55 minutes – there’s simply no level. There is no such thing as a clear plan of how we’re going to string 5 passes collectively by no means thoughts rating a aim.
Spurs followers had been observing one other crushing run of mid-table mediocrity earlier than Conte. He introduced ardour. And so every little thing felt good. Sure we had been by no means going to win the title or problem for it this season. However I simply wish to watch Spurs play with out concern. What’s the purpose on this cowardly play and for what? So we don’t concede objectives. If not for Hugo Wednesday evening would’ve been a historic shellacking anyway. I hope Conte realises this. Profitable ugly ain’t good and right here at Spurs, Mourinho discovered these gamers should not suited to that both. I firmly imagine Conte will convey success. He simply must be courageous.”
It’s very onerous to not watch the groups who’ve overwhelmed Spurs this season and suppose hmm, managers on the way in which up and on the leading edge, versus a supervisor previous his greatest, from whom the sport is getting away. I’m not saying he’s not been good, by no means – his efficiency in profitable the title with Chelsea is likely one of the greatest within the Premier League period, however I’m wondering if he’s ready to alter his rules in keeping with the way in which the sport has modified since then. I additionally marvel if these rules are why he’s constantly failed within the Champions League.
Eddie Howe is delighted for Guimaraes, who travelled down alone, late final evening and was very emotional to turn out to be a father. He needs his staff to be adaptable, however in addition they have a method they wish to persist with.
Conte, in the meantime, says Hojbjerg and Romero are injured and as we speak is a troublesome sport, so the staff want the followers to remain shut.
“Undecided if I agree with the assertion that Spurs lack class in midfield,” says Kieran McHugh. “Rodrigo Bentancur is likely one of the most underrated midfielders within the league. He does lack this class in depth although, agreed. Additionally Leicester received the league by absorbing stress and utilizing Vardy’s tempo and scientific ending alongside Mahrez.”
I feel Bentancur is first rate too, however I don’t suppose he’d get into every other “large six” midfield. And, whereas it’s true that Leicester received the league in a selected model – although I’d not go away Ngolo Kanté out of any description of how they did it – the usual has gone up massively since then. They’d not be champions now, simply as Conte’s Chelsea wouldn’t both.
Trying once more at that Spurs facet, I’ve a query: from the place is creativity imagined to emanate? Skipp, Bissouma and Bentancur have their qualities, however none are famend for his or her passing, dribbling or goalscoring whereas, in extensive areas, Emerson and Sessegnon are each uncooked. And there’s not a lot on the bench both, except Conte had been to stay Bryan Gil, whom there’s no proof he charges, inside. I don’t actually get it, as a result of even Conte’s Chelsea staff that received the title had Fabregas, Hazard and certainly one of Pedro or Willian in the midst of the pitch.
Again to these earlier outcomes, by the way in which, Leeds have changed Leicester within the backside three, whereas Wolves look in for an extended, onerous winter.
What about Miguel Almíron, by the way in which? After scoring simply as soon as final season, he’s already bagged 5 this, most not too long ago a magnificence in midweek. He at all times grafted his behind off, however is now exhibiting the verve we noticed in MLS, that’s the reason Newcastle signed him.
Southampton-Arsenal has completed 1-1, that means Arsenal keep prime however simply two factors in entrance of Man Metropolis – and 5 in entrance of Spurs. Southampton transfer as much as fifteenth whereas, elsewhere, Fulham received 3-2 at Leeds, Villa marked Steven Gerrard’s sacking by thumping Brentford 4-0 – of their objectives, three got here within the first 14 minutes – and Leicester clattered Wolves 4-0.
The factor with Spurs is, and can proceed to be, their lack of midfield class. There’s no permutation obtainable to Conte – that Conte has made obtainable to himself – which permits them to outplay an honest facet. I feel the 3-5-2 is healthier for them than the 3-4-3 as a result of it means they’re not outnumbered in that space whereas giving Son higher freedom, however you possibly can’t problem for titles on the counter-attack.
As for Newcastle, Eddie Howe brings in Joe Willock for Jacob Murphy; Guimarães begins, regardless of turning into a father a few days in the past. I’m certain there’s a gag right here about watching Spurs play to make amends for missed sleep, however I’m far too mature to make it.
Again to our groups, Conte makes 5 adjustments to the facet that subsided so abjectly at Outdated Trafford: at wing-back, Emerson Royal returns from suspension, changing Matt Doherty whereas, on the opposite facet, it’s Ryan Sessegnon not Perisic. In the midst of defence, Clement Lenglet and Davison Sanchez are in for Ben Davies and the injured Cristian Romero, whereas in midfield, Oliver Skipp makes his first begin of the season instead of the also-injured Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.
At the moment’s different lates scores:
Aston Villa 4-0 Brentford
Leeds 1-3 Fulham
Wolves 0-4 Leicester
Earlier than we take a look on the groups in additional element, let me provide you with a warning to the closing levels at st Mary’s, the place Southampton and Arsenal are locked at 1-1.
Groups!
Tottenham Hotspur (3-5-2): Lloris; Lenglet, Sanchez, Dier; Royal, Skipp, Bentancur, Bissouma, Sessegnon; Son, Kane. Subs: Forster, Doherty, Gil, Perisic, Spence, Tanganga, Moura, Davies, White.
Newcastle United (4-2-3-1): Pope; Trippier, Botman, Schar, Burn; Joelinton, Longstaff; Willock, Guimarães, Almiron; Wilson. Subs: Karius, Lascelles, Shelvey, Lewis, Targett, Manquillo, Wooden, Fraser, Murphy.
Referee: Jarred Gillet (Gold Coast, Queensland)
Preamble
Soccer – and trendy life – and the human psyche – love a disaster. There’s little extra participating than distress – particularly, although not uniquely, when it isn’t yours – and for Tottenham, sitting third within the desk quantities to a disaster. I do know that’s not the sort of circumstance the phrase “spursy” was coined to explain, however how completely spursy it’s nonetheless.
The rationale for the angst is, to place a advantageous level on it, Antonio Conte. On the finish of final season, he did very well to confrontationally cajole his staff into the ultimate Champions League spot – helped, admittedly, by staggering incompetence elsewhere – then use his achievement to extract cash from his board. However that’s the place the issues began. Ivan Perisic, Yves Bissouma and Richarlison are first rate gamers simply as Djed Spence is an honest prospect, however even on the time, it regarded like greater than £100m spent turning a staff capable of contest the Champions League locations however no extra right into a staff nonetheless capable of contest the Champions League locations however no extra.
Neither is that it. Just about each time Spurs have confronted first rate opposition this season, they’ve been outplayed – by Chelsea, although they sneaked a draw on the finish, by Arsenal and by Manchester United – and on the whole, play a reactive model that’s onerous to look at in and of itself, by no means thoughts if you peruse the expertise obtainable to make that not so. Groups with far worse gamers than Spurs play for extra participating soccer, and you may forgive these of their supporters who’re questioning as to the purpose of it.
Newcastle, then again, are doing issues in a different way. The provenance of that’s, after all, to our collective disgrace, however although they purchased Chris Wooden, Kieran Trippier and Dan Burn to ensure they stayed up, they’ve additionally acquired Bruno Guimarães, Sven Botman and Alexander Isaak – children who may grow to be prime gamers and a stage above these purchased by Spurs.
And their hard-running, proactive model is – even now – exactly that with which Conte’s males have struggled this season. There are numerous methods to go about “profitable soccer matches”, however for a membership that has spent so lavishly and for whom good soccer is a prerequisite, hanging again to hold in there whereas hoping for a counter or that Harry Kane or Heung-min Son do one thing, doesn’t really feel sustainable.
Kick-off: 4.30pm BST