Match Preview: Tottenham Hotspur v Wolves (a road to nowhere)
Venue: Tottenham Stadium at 2.05 pm on the 16 May
Do I think there is a chance of us getting a European Champions League place if we beat Wolves and win our next two games after that? No. I am always optimistic but not stupid. What we have got is a place in the Europa League, Thursday night football… or even the new Europa conference league (for failures). So it will be either Thursday night football or some designated more insufficient evening night for that competition, probably Monday’s.
So, where will Ryan Mason lead the team this time? Do I think we can win under Mason? Well, I thought we could beat Leeds United, and I predicted that, then I got egg on my face. But to be fair on Mason… ok, I won’t be fair on him… I haven’t got a bloody clue. Mason’s inexperience will be the deciding factor in this game and the other final two games (what he will need is luck and the failures of our opponents).
Once this season is over and a new manager has taken charge (with or without Son & Kane), we can then start to understand what is what and our chances… until then… we have now. And as we have now, let us look at the team news for Sunday’s game.
TEAM NEWS
Spurs
We remain without Ben Davies, who is unlikely to feature again this season. Ryan Mason has no fresh injury concerns.
Wolves
They have Willy Boly and Marcal back in training, but this weekend may come too soon for them. Adama Traore could be in line for returning to the side following his goal as a substitute against Brighton last weekend.
My thoughts and prediction
Wolves have started to pick up a bit in the past few weeks, but I can’t see them getting into the top half of the Premier League. There was so much hope riding on them at the beginning of the season, and suddenly it all went to pot (the same can be said of us).
As for us (you’ve got to laugh); we have good players, and in theory, we should win this game, as we should have beaten Leeds and a whole host of other more inferior quality teams we played against and lost.
Even though I said we’ve got no chance of getting a top-four spot, we’ve still got to play the game of pretences, and thus, I have to say we must try to keep our slim hopes of Champions League football alive with a win over Wolves (well, not just Wolves but also Villa and Leicester City).
We are eight points adrift of fourth-placed Chelsea; we can reach a maximum total of 65 points, which can still be bettered by the Blues (P36, 64pts), Liverpool (P35, 60pts) or West Ham United (P35, 58pts). However, if not for us, then for Ryan, who will be hoping to build on his inexperience with a positive performance against Wolves and hope that Daniel Levy will look on him favourably. Who knows with Levy what is possible!
My prediction: 3-0; however, it wouldn’t surprise me if we go and chuck this game away, as we did so many times before.
Son has scored three goals and has one assist in his three games under Ryan Mason.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
We have lost half of our Premier League home games against Wolves. They only have a higher percentage of home defeats against Nottingham Forest (60%).
Nuno Espirito Santo could become the first manager in Premier League history to win his first three away matches against us. If he does beat us, then Levy might give him the job.
Tottenham Hotspur
We have won five of our past six home league games.
We have scored in 12 successive league games, the longest current run in the competition.
We haven’t lost at home against a team starting the day in the bottom half of the table in 19 attempts since a 1-0 defeat by Newcastle in August 2019 (W15, D4).
Harry Kane has 21 goals and 13 assists this season. In terms of overall goal involvement, it’s only bettered by his 29 goals and seven assists in 2016-17.
Gareth Bale has scored all nine of his league goals this season at home. He has now scored in seven successive home league starts spanning two spells with the club.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolves have won three of their past five matches in the Premier League, as many as they had managed in their previous 17 attempts.
They have lost just twice in their last 10 away matches in all competitions (W3, D5).
Since returning to the top tier in 2018-19, only Manchester United have won more points from losing positions than Wolves’ 51.
Adama Traore has two goals and two assists in his last six league games following a run of 35 matches without being directly involved in a goal.
All seven of Traore’s Premier League goals have been scored in the second half.
So, that is that and all we have to wait and see if my prediction comes true (we win) or is this another game where we have egg on our faces again?
Sadly we can’t go to this home game, but our next home game (on Wednesday) will allow 10,000 fans in. I was unlucky on the ballot, however, a friend of mine managed to get a ticket, but now might not be able to go, so I am waiting to see if I can have his ticket or not.
It is finally here, a new super book about the greats, Glories and all you want to know about the Tottenham great players (we are not worthy!) who have graced White Hart Lane and beyond. Sixty years ago this month, the Greatest Football club in the world won the double with probably the most outstanding team on this planet.
Has your eye’s seen the Glory? If yes (or even no) click HERE and follow the link, then they/ you will, and for those that are longer in the tooth (in other words, old like me)…. be prepared to be dazzled all over again!
All the best, 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, going on holidays, socialising etc.
I have been writing blogs/ articles since 1989
If you wish to read more of my blog, please click “here”
