Match Preview: Spurs v Leeds United (the Conte Revolution!)
Stadium: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. KO 4.30
Two good games against Vitesse and Everton – Conte had only a couple of days to prepare – and now we will hopefully see a third victory under his command and start to rise up the table.
We started this season on a high, but that feeling suddenly sunk until depression started setting in (doom and gloom under Nuno)… Suddenly it all changed, and with the sacking of Nuno and the appointment of Conte, our optimism kicked back into gear, and the feel-good factor has engaged itself. Granted, we don’t expect glory from the getgo, as we’ve got to get rid of a lot of deadwood and bring in new faces, but at least the future looks a lot brighter now.
So, Antonio Conte’s era begins in earnest at his new club, his first Premier League game at our stadium, as we take on Leeds United this Sunday.
As I stated, Conte took charge of one league game, the 0-0 draw with Everton, but then the international break set in, which gave him more of a chance to work with his new squad, which had looked bereft of confidence before his arrival.
The good news for Conte is that he is lifted by the excellent form of Harry Kane in his two England matches where he scored 9 goals. Granted, against weak teams, but 9 nevertheless. It all counts when trying to break records, and Kane has equalised Linkers and is only 5 off Rooney’s. Conte will hope that Kane builds himself off the back of his two international performances against Leeds United. Leeds are currently 15th in the Premier League after a poor start.
Kane, himself, will hope to build off of the back of two free-scoring performances against Leeds, who are fifteenth in the Premier League after a mixed start to the season. However, Leeds have won only two games but are unbeaten in their last three matches.
Team news
Tottenham
We have suffered a double injury blow during the international break, with news of a hamstring injury sustained by Cristian Romero following Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s absence from Denmark’s fixture against Scotland. Romero will be assessed but is considered a significant doubt. As for Hojbjerg, he will cause real issues for us, as we are without the suspended Oliver Skipp.
Ryan Sessegnon is back in training and could soon replenish Tottenham’s left-wing-back options, while Bryan Gil has also returned.
Thoughts and prediction
I am sure that under Conte, the team will be looking to show everybody that they are a new and reformed team and will get stuck in. We can’t afford to cede any more ground to our top-four rivals if we are serious about Champions League qualification this season. On the other hand, Leeds will sense our problems (injuries) and come out fighting and will hope to sneak in a winning goal. However, I am going for a 4-1 win with Harry getting a hattrick. Rampant spurs hopefully will be on show this Sunday.
Prediction 4-1
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
We have won our last four home league meetings with Leeds.
This is our 100th meeting in all competitions, with us ahead by 37 wins to Leeds’ 33.
Tottenham Hotspur
We could equal our club record of four league games without a goal for the first time since 2006.
We have managed just nine goals in the league in 2021-22 – only bottom side Norwich have scored fewer.
At the same stage last season, Son had scored 10 league goals, and Harry Kane had eight.
This season, Kane has scored just once in 10 Premier League appearances. He has gone five consecutive games in all competitions without a goal for the first time since 2016.
We have benefitted from four own goals in all competitions this season, more than any other Premier League side.
Leeds United
Leeds have gone three league games without defeat for the first time this season (W1, D2).
So far, Marcelo Bielsa’s side has not kept a clean sheet in any of their five top-flight away matches.
Leeds have drawn five Premier League matches in 2021-22, as many as they did in the whole of last season.
Raphinha has scored 45% of Leeds’ goals in the Premier League this season (five of 11), opening the scoring in a joint-high four matches.
That is it, folks. I will be leaving at 10.30 on Sunday and travelling down with Mel. It should be a good game with a good atmosphere.
If you are interested in seeing the 1972 UEFA CUP WINNING SPURS TEAM, click on the link below. They will be proudly presented to you in a live Christmas Show. That is Martin Chivers, Steve Perryman, Phil Beal, John Pratt, Pat Jennings and Alan Mullery all in front of you in their full glory for your pleasure.
That will be On December 6th 2021 (Monday), Agent Fox Media Limited and Mooney and Lambert are proud to be sponsoring The Spurs Show LIVE CHRISTMAS SHOW at The 100 Club. With no less than SIX members giving a Q&A.
Click “HERE”, and full details will be revealed.
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”
