Match Preview: Spurs vs Vitesse – (a new dawn? Or same old…?)
Venue: The Tottenham Stadium at 80 pm.
I was in Holland for the first game against Vitesse, and we were awful. I wasn’t really expecting any different at home with Nuno. However, my optimism has come back in droves. Has Levy finally woken up and picked a manager that he can win things for us and that he will also invest in the team?
In the meantime, can Conte do anything with our broken players? A few will need a kick up the arse… while some will have to be eventually sold or released.
So the Antonio Conte reign begins this Thursday for us. We’ve had so many false dawns under Levy, so most fans will take this with a pinch of salt, at least until we see the transfer money on the table. Anyway, in his first game in charge, we welcome Vitesse to our North London fortress (oh, stop it!) in the Europa Conference League.
As I said earlier, I was at the game in Holland, where we witnessed us going down 1-0 to the Dutch outfit when Nuno Espirito Santo was orchestrating events, but, hopefully, the doom and gloom that was surrounding our fans will be no more. But will that last?
This Europa Conference league will be a shock for a manager used to managing teams at the higher echelons of the footballing world. Nevertheless, it will be an experience for both team, manager and fans alike. I hope this is the last time we scrape the bottom of the European barrel (a barrel that should be for the likes of the Spammers, Gooners, the Blues of Liverpool and such, not the likes of us).
As we all know, Santo’s last game in charge saw us simply surrender against United as we were handed a 3-0 defeat, then he was no more, as he left the club after losing three of his last four games in charge across all competitions. He oversaw a meagre 17 in total games. Also, under Santo, we amassed a derisory four points from our first three Conference League games, now we find ourselves third in Group G as things stand. That is two points behind Vitesse and three behind group leaders Rennes.
The Match
Vitesse travel to our Stadium on a five-game winning streak away from home – conceding a mere two goals in that run.
Our Europa Conference League form:
DWL
Tottenham Hotspur form (all competitions):
WWLLWL
Vitesse Europa Conference League form:
WLW
Vitesse form (all competitions):
LWWWLW
Team News
With Conte expected to be granted his work permit in time to take charge of Thursday’s game, he could already get to work on utilising his effective 3-5-2 system.
I have no idea how Conte will set up the team for his first game in charge, but what I can tell you is that Bryan Gil and Ryan Sessegnon are unlikely to be involved due to hamstring injuries. Joe Rodon, Matt Doherty and Dele Alli will all be vying for midweek opportunities under the new manager. He also could elect to partner Harry Kane with Lucas Moura up top…
My possible starting lineup:
Gollini; Tanganga, Romero, Rodon; Doherty, Alli, Hojbjerg, Skipp, Reguilon; Kane, Lucas
My thoughts
As everybody comes around to Conte’s methods, time and patience will be needed by the players and even the fans. Hopefully, it will be the best start of this new Levy/ Conte era.
Prediction; So, my optimism has come back in droves, and I am going for us to win 4-0. And why not? A new era, a new beginning… let us push the boat out a bit! One word of caution; Vitesse should not be taken lightly given their record on their travels.
As you all know, I’ve been critical of Levy and the board for some time (not always, though). But what I am now reading is that Tottenham/ Levy seem to be learning the lessons of past mistakes; you can’t get success on a shoestring budget, and you need the right manager in place if we want to win things. Conte is the best we’ve had for some time, plus I believe that Levy is putting a decent transfer budget together for January and another good one in the summer. Even though the noose may be around Levy’s neck (put there by some fans), it could start to loosen if all goes to plan and he delivers (finally!).
That is it, folks! Until tomorrow night (Thursday)… take care and be safe, 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”
