Preview: Spurs v West Ham and hopefully Bale’s debut.
Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Day/ time: Sunday at 4.30 pm.
In the words of Jose Mourinho, Bale will “probably make his second debut for Tottenham,” against West Ham on Sunday. Let us hope so. To be honest, the way we’ve been playing of late we will still win without him, however, it would be nice to have that extra goal potential.
As you good people know, Bale has been recovering from a knee injury since last playing for the Welsh national squad. He has been involved in full training for the previous two weeks, and Mourinho said he is in “good condition”. Lovely jubbly.
After the West Ham game, we face Austrian club LASK in their opening Europa League Group J match on Thursday.
Mourinho said about Bale’s enthusiasm: “Of course he wants to play. He’s wanted to play since the day he arrived, but it wasn’t possible. I’m not going to tell you if he’s going to play or not. What I will tell you is that he’s working very well. He’s working the way he probably hasn’t been able to do for some time. The planning of the recent sessions had a big focus on him. His condition is good. Does he play Sunday or Thursday? We haven’t made a decision yet. Every player is a very important player but the Gareth situation is very special because of the history. We care about him as much as he does for Tottenham.”
TEAM NEWS
Spurs
As I said, Gareth Bale will possibly make his first-team appearance since 2013 on Sunday.
Carlos Vinicius will be on the bench, but Eric Dier is a fitness doubt, and Giovani Lo Celso and Japhet Tanganga miss out.
As for West Ham
David Moyes will be back in the dugout and defender Issa Diop available again, with both of them having recovered from Covid-19.
Ryan Fredericks and Arthur Masuaku are expected to be fit and involved.
My prediction for Bale’s return
West Ham have won both games without Moyes being in charge, but in this game, he will be back in the dugout.
I am hoping that we get our first look at Bale this Sunday, albeit, through the TV screens. However, and as I had said earlier, we’ve been doing well without him.
Therefore I will go for a Spurs win (as if I was going to pick the Spammers or a draw!!!!).
Featuring Bale: 5-0
Without Bale: 4-0
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
We could win three consecutive Premier League games against West Ham for the first time since a run of five between March 2008 and December 2009.
We have won four of the past five meetings in all competitions.
Tottenham Hotspur
We are on a seven-match unbeaten run in all competitions, winning five and drawing two.
We have scored 13 goals in our past two matches in all competitions.
Harry Kane has scored six goals in his six Premier League home appearances against West Ham.
Kane has been involved in nine league goals this season (three goals, six assists) and eight goals in 12 matches for club and country since the start of September.
Jose Mourinho has never lost a game against David Moyes, winning nine and drawing five of their 14 meetings in all competitions.
West Ham United
West Ham could win three consecutive Premier League games without conceding for the first time since February 2014.
They have scored seven unanswered goals in their previous two league matches.
The Hammers have lost 104 London derby matches in the Premier League, more than any other side.
Michail Antonio has scored four goals in his seven Premier League appearances against us.
Antonio has scored 10 goals in his last 11 league games.
Mark Noble is one goal shy of equalling Paolo Di Canio as West Ham’s leading Premier League scorer on 47.
So there you have it. I haven’t felt this confident for some time. You can almost smell the result in the air. Of course, the spammers will have other ideas, especially with the hapless Moyes returning to take charge. However, I must be fair here, the Spammers do have ambitions, they hope to win the play-offs in the Championship next season.
I am glad we’ve returned to proper football after Southgates luckless wanderers exhibition football. And that is the way – sadly – it will be until his contract is terminated. But that isn’t our problem, ours is Spurs and silverware.
Best regards, Glenn
COYS!
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”