Match Preview: Tottenham Hotspur vs Southampton (a must need win)
This is another game I will take my girlfriend Janette to, and she is looking forward to it, as I am (that is taking her). This is an important game for us. A must need a win to keep up our challenge for a top-four place.
We are out of the Micky Mouse Europa Conference failures league and the League cup, but still in a fighting position in the FA Cup and for a top-four place. So, all good so far… and we are improving all the time under Conte.
Yes, Southampton and Spurs are now preparing for battle in the Premier League on Wednesday. Both teams have got through to the 5th round of the FA cup. We beat Brighton and Southampton knocked out Coventry City.
Our destiny is in our own hands. I know we are in 7th pace in the league, which seems a mountain to climb, but we have a few games in hand and win those, and the whole landscape will change. Manchester United sit just two points clear of us in the final Champions League spot, having played two more matches, and we also have games in hand over the Gooners, Chelski and the Spammers.
We have taken 13 points from a possible 15 under Conte and have also found the back of the net at least twice on each occasion. And, we have won each of our last five home games against the Saints in the Premier League.
Tottenham Hotspur Premier League form:
DWDWWL
Tottenham Hotspur form (all competitions):
LWLWLW
Southampton Premier League form:
DWDWLD
Southampton form (all competitions):
DWWLDW
Team News
Spurs
I imagine that both Kulusevski and Bentancur will start on the bench.
Son and Cristian Romero both should start, nonetheless, we still have three injury concerns; Eric Dier, Oliver Skipp and Japhet Tanganga. As for Dier, he may be ready to return to the matchday squad but will probably start from the bench.
Southampton
In the Coventry win, the Saints lost Lyanco to a “severe” thigh injury, while Armando Broja will also need to be assessed after taking a knock to the knee.
Will Smallbone is back in training, while Nathan Tella and Alex McCarthy remain sidelined.
Fraser Forster will expect to return to the first team, as Walker-Peters, Mohammed Salisu, and Oriol Romeu are also preparing to return to the first XI.
My possible starting lineup:
Lloris; Romero, Sanchez, Davies; Emerson, Winks, Hojbjerg, Reguilon; Lucas, Kane, Son
Thoughts and prediction
If you have followed Conte since he took over from hapless Nuno, you will see he is changing the players’ mentality. There is more determination and hope under him than any manager since Pocettino took the reins. With the two new players in and the crap out, there is more hope and confidence all around.
The team that beat Brighton oozed confidence, contributing to our victory over them, keep up the good work and it will help us climb up the ladder.
Prediction
I know I always go for us winning (I am an optimist after all) but going on our game against Brighton, I shall go for a 4-0 win. And why not? I got the prediction against the seagulls right, and Janette is a good luck charm (she hasn’t seen us lose a live game), so, yes, I feel confident.
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”
Glenn redshank I found your blog very interesting and your match preview for Tommorrow night’s game interesting as well I will be at Tommorrow night’s game I am a season ticket holder in the North stand lower I have been to crystal Palace away Newcastle away west ham away the caraboa Cup semi-final final 1st leg at Chelsea and the premiership match at Chelsea also I 1st started going to spurs when I was aged 7 with my grandad in 1972/73 season my 1st ever visit to Wembley was the 1973 league Cup final win over Norwich when Ralph Coates came of the substitutes bench and scored the winning goal
Hi Graeme, I have also a similar story to yours… my dad and grandad took me in the late 50s and 60 odd years – like yourself – still here. Thanks for the kind words. Maybe one day our paths will cross… until then COYS!