Here we are, the start of a new season with new hopes; Spurs v Everton. Sunday 13th at 4.30.
First to the team news.
Japhet Tanganga has been ruled out with an injury, while Giovani Lo Celso faces a fitness test on a hamstring strain. As for Danny Rose, well he will not be involved after he wasn’t given a squad number for the new season. That says it all about his future or lack of it at this club.
Everton’s Mason Holgate is absent with a toe difficult. Andre Gomes and Yerry Mina have overcome minor injuries. Their new signings Allan, Abdoulaye Doucoure and James Rodriguez, are all available to make their debuts.
My thoughts
I noticed that Lawro has predicted a 2-1 win for us. I’ll go with that or a 3-1. I am not picky, so long as we win.
Last season we saw a tricky time for Mourinho, but now he has had a much longer time to assess the team, and of course, we’ve bought wisely, so far. Hopefully, more to come.
As the previous season’s I start off optimistic and hopeful – but not always successful well, not for a very, very long time) – for trophies. I am not fussy, I’ll be happy with the Europa League and Premier League… let us start where we hope to end up.
Now, like last season, no crowds, which means, again, I will be turning to Now TV to watch Spurs thrash Everton (think positively!). It won’t be the same, but beggars can’t be choosers. Glad when this damn bug disappears, and normality comes back to the earth (but then, was it ever normal?).
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
We have won 27 Premier League matches versus Everton, more than against any other opponent.
The Toffees have won just three of their 28 away Premier League matches against us, with all three victories coming in consecutive seasons between 2006-07 and 2008-09.
We are unbeaten in 15 Premier League meetings. We have only had one longer top-flight unbeaten streak: 22 games against Aston Villa between 1950 and 1962.
This is the 11th time Spurs and Everton have met on the opening weekend of a top-flight season – three more than any other fixture in top-flight history.
Tottenham Hotspur
We have only previously been at home for our opening Premier League game of the season in seven years out of 28. Our only defeat in those matches came against Manchester United in 1997-98.
We have won on the opening weekend in three successive seasons – we haven’t done so in four consecutive league campaigns since 1964-65 to 1967-68.
Jose Mourinho has won 11 league matches against Everton, the joint highest total of his managerial career along with West Ham.
Mourinho has taken charge of more games on the opening weekend of a Premier League season without losing than any other manager, winning nine and drawing one of his 10 games.
Everton
Everton are winless in 40 Premier League away fixtures against established top-six opposition since a 1-0 victory at Manchester United in December 2013.
They are unbeaten in their opening league match over the past eight seasons since a 1-0 home defeat against Queens Park Rangers in 2011.
Everton have had a player sent off in their first game in each of the last two seasons – no side has ever received a red card in three consecutive opening matches of a Premier League season.
Carlo Ancelotti has been on the losing side just once in 21 league matches as a manager on the opening weekend of a season, a 2-1 defeat against Bologna at AC Milan in the 2008-09 season.
So there you have it. I can’t wait; hopefully, you can’t wait, and at the end of the game we are celebrating 3 points.
COME ON YOUR SPURS!
My name is Glenn Renshaw.
I am currently a Premium Season Ticket holder (West Stand) in the new stadium. Before that – at White Hart Lane – a season ticket holder in various parts of the ground (mainly in the North stand).
Before becoming a season ticket holder, I stood on the shelf and various other parts of the ground since the 1950s. In 1987 I became one of the first to hold a Spurs Membership card. I was also a life long member of the Spurs supporters club (now defunct).
I go to all home, away and abroad matches.
I was born in 1955, Edgware, London (it was in the late 50s – as a baby – that my dad took me to Spurs to initiate me). I currently live in Berkshire.
I also collect all Spurs books (and have everyone printed), Spurs handbooks (from 1920s onwards, Spurs programmes (since the 40s).
Previously, I wrote for Spurs Fanzines: The Spur, Spur of the Moment, My Eyes have seen the Glory and various other Spurs fanzines’. I also wrote for the SpursWeb app & its website.
I currently write and work for spursnetwork.com and its website. I write its Reviews & Match reports and a lot more.
My other interests are; reading, history, social history, Politics, going to the gym, wine, going out for a meal, music (all sorts), writing, theatre, concerts, holidays, socialising etc.
I have been writing blogs/ articles since 1989
If you wish to read more of my blog, please click “here”