Match report: Rennes 2 Spurs 2 (predictable Spurs again?)
Yesterday I was supposed to be at that match in France. I had my bag packed, transport already sorted, but no match ticket came (until Thursday), the same day that my NHS certificate also came (even though I had ordered it a week ago), so no trip for me. One great considerable expense was deposited down the toilet (thanks very much!).
I was away from home for a few days, so I expected everything to be in place when I got back (but nothing). I tried to phone Tottenham, but couldn’t get through (probably too late to catch anybody in). I also know of other supporters in my situation who was looking forward to going and, in the end, was let down by one thing or another.
I was hoping that Rennes would be my first abroad adventure match since Leipzig Germany in March of last year. But it wasn’t to be, I just ended up watching it on an inferior app that was way behind the actual time it was played, which was all I had.
Was I glad that I didn’t go after watching our poor performance on a miniature app? No, I am always delighted to travel with Spurs; no matter how poor we are and looks like, we will be for quite some time to come. It seems to be the nature of Levy’s tenure… high hopes with a steep decline.
Anyway, to the match that was many miles away and across a channel. According to reports, Nuno Espirito Santo cussed his side’s “terrible” luck with grievances as we lost more players in our Europa Conference League draw at Rennes. All sounds familiar with a probable typical jinxed outcome against Chelsea on Sunday.
Lucas Moura and Steven Bergwijn were added to our injury list as they both limped off as we came from behind against the French side.
Nuno commented after the match, “It’s been terrible, I must be honest. Let’s not hide behind anything.” He then went on and said, “After the Watford game, everything that has happened has not been very good for us. But this is football. And we know it’s a moment we have to overcome.”
The game itself was backward and forward. We started off with Moura’s low cross deflected into his own net by Rennes defender Loic Bade. But that didn’t stop Rennes from coming forward with gusto… they kept pushing for an equaliser. Eventually, they found a breakthrough when Flavien Tait played a quick one-two with Serhou Guirassy before curling past Pierluigi Gollini from the edge of the box.
The second half came with the score1-1. Rennes had the better chances in the second half and took the lead on 72 minutes through a close-range Gaetan Laborde finish. But it wasn’t over for us; we called on substitute Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg to show us what he was made of, and he quickly found the bottom corner from Matt Doherty’s cross four minutes later to rescue a point for us. Now we’ve got everything to play for in the second game of this European third-tier competition for those that weren’t good enough to get into a real European competition.
Nuno had made eight changes from Saturday’s 3-0 defeat at Crystal Palace, with only Harry Kane, Moura and Japhet Tanganga retaining their places. We had travelled to France without the injured Son and Dier, while Giovani lo Celso, Cristian Romero and Davinson Sanchez are still training in Croatia after defying Premier League guidelines and travelling to South America for the World Cup qualifiers.
After the game, Nuno was asked about the two players that limped off; would they be ready to face Chelsea on Sunday, “Painful, really bad. I cannot tell you. They are being taken care of by the medical department. But it’s been tough.”
Some good came out of Thursday’s night draw, though; Kane broke the record for the most European appearances in Tottenham’s history, however, he was restricted to one shot on target and was replaced by Emerson 10 minutes into the second half.
Thoughts
We are metamorphosising back into what we’ve been the last couple of seasons, also-rans. Giving the fans high hopes before dramatically crashing back down to our same-old-same-old predictable selves.
It wouldn’t surprise me that we go out and win on Sunday against Chelsea and then crash down to our predictable Spursy ways (but I say that as wishful thinking, that is beating Chelsea).
The question fans have been asking themselves, do we point the finger at Nuno and every other manager we’ve had under ENIC or Levy for our years of failures?
We’ve got an interesting month ahead of us with the mounting injuries: Chelsea, Wolves (in the League Cup), Arsenal and NSM (Europa Conference). Lose to these teams, and Levy’s and Nuno’s name will be mud… and out of the two, it will be Nuno I will feel sorry for.
Fingers crossed that we don’t have a nightmare against Chelsea on Sunday at our Tottenham stadium. If we do, the booing could be deafening!
Be safe, Glenn
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”