Match Preview: Leeds v Spurs (from top to bottom, the club needs an overhaul) and who will be our next manager?
What a shambles… we’ve had one manager after another turning us down… the latest being Arne Slot.
It has been over eight weeks since we sacked Antonio Conte to save our season. When Conte was manager, we were 3rd in the league; after he was sacked, we dropped to 8th. Is that what Levy calls “saving our season”?
Our Champions League qualification evaporated in a puff of smoke. We now have an outside chance of making the Europa Conference League qualifiers. We need to get a better result than Aston Villa, who are at home to Brighton, or else we will miss out on European football for the first time since 2009-10. Thank you, Daniel. Is he really putting our best interests first… or is that his?
Conte’s departure did not halt the slide. Cristian Stellini lasted just four games, axed after an atrocious 6-1 defeat at Newcastle, which chairman Daniel Levy described as “wholly unacceptable”. He jests? Then in his wisdom, he puts Ryan Mason in charge for the rest of the season. Taking just 12 points from 12 games since we beat Chelsea on 26 February.
To add insult to injury, we have no director of football following Fabio Paratici’s exit because of his 30-month ban for false accounting while sporting director and managing director of Juventus. Levy was warned about him, but, no, he knew best.
And now Arne Slot has decided he wants to remain in the Netherlands after guiding Feyenoord to their first Eredivisie title since 2017.
Then to add even further insult to injury, Mauricio Pochettino has joined Chelski.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s ill-fated appointment in 2021 was followed by more disappointing appointments. Nuno lasted four months, losing five of his last seven Premier League matches.
Former Bayern Munich boss Julian Nagelsmann was heavily linked with the job following Conte’s exit, but the club made it known they would not be approaching the German. Other reports said the German didn’t want to join a badly run club. He isn’t that stupid!
Who else is there?
Well-placed sources have suggested that Levy retain an interest in former Spain and Barcelona coach Luis Enrique, who has not had a job since standing down after the World Cup. Brendan Rogers and Harry Potter are still out of work and desperately need a mug to take them on.
Then there is Celtic’s Ange Postecoglou, who has won back-to-back Scottish titles and is on the brink of a domestic treble. Given his progressive tactical approach, he also comes into consideration by Levy. A manager from a Scottish League? You’ve got to be joking!!!!!
Levy and ENIC are now in the spotlight more than ever before.
Levy and our ultimate owners ENIC have been the subject of more adverse reaction than ever before this season.
And what about Kane?
Kane has one year left on his contract and is again attracting attention from all of Europe’s leading clubs, including Manchester United.
Levy is faced with the balance of either cashing in on the forward or risking losing him for nothing in 12 months in the hope something positive can emerge to persuade him to commit the remaining years of his career to our club.
Finding a mug as an alternative to Slot won’t be hard for Levy. Finding the right choice is another question entirely.
Leeds v Spurs…
Leeds United
Leeds United are one of the biggest clubs in England, but they are in serious danger of getting relegated from the Premier League to the Championship at the end of the season. Things have been really dire for them this season.
They are second from bottom in the Premier League table with 31 points from 37 matches. Leeds are level on points with third-from-bottom Leicester City and are two points behind 17th-placed Everton. They can still survive in the Premier League on the season’s final day, but to do that, they have to beat us.
Leeds United have won 7 Premier League matches all season.
Leeds United have conceded 74 goals in 37 Premier League matches all season.
Spurs…
We were in the running for the Premier League top four when Antonio Conte parted company, but now we could end up not even getting a spot in the UEFA Europa League. Under interim young Ryan Mason, results and performances have been really poor.
We are eighth in the Premier League table at the moment with 57 points from 37 matches. We are a point behind seventh-placed Aston Villa and ahead of London rivals Brentford, who are currently ninth in the league.
We enter the Sunday game after a 3-1 defeat to Brentford at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the league. It came after a 2-1 loss at the hands of Aston Villa at Villa Park.
Team News:
Ryan Mason could line up his team in a 4-4-2 formation. Harry Kane and Dejan Kulusevski will lead the line. Yves Bissouma and Oliver Skipp will be the two central midfielders.
We have scored 66 goals in 37 Premier League games. We also have drawn 6 Premier League games this season.
Harry Kane has scored 28 goals and given 3 assists in 37 Premier League games this season.
Thoughts…
Leeds United have been dire all season, and whether they stay in the Premier League for another season is now out of their hands. As for ourselves, we have been really poor in recent games. Sam Allardyce’s side will likely get a narrow win from this game, going by our away record and past away results (or even home ones).
My prediction: Leeds United to win 3-2
COYS!
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
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