Spurs played West Ham at 5.30 on a Saturday night so I made everyone in the house aware that I was heading out for it. I had agreed with a West Ham supporter to meet up for the match a few weeks ago. It's their cup final and he is never long about texting me when Spurs lose. West Ham supporters are terrible people who would prefer to see Spurs lose than ever even supporting their own team. The fact is that Spurs fans don't really care about West Ham. We just think they all belong in caravans. Anyway the friend of mine went dark around Wednesday and I knew what was coming. I knew he would be dodging our little man date. I was so confident that I actually arranged to meet a couple of Spurs supporters in another pub for the game. The town council decided to put a bus stop 10 metres from my house and decided to put another 20 ten meters from my local pub. I counted my steps going their on Saturday and I was from my house to the pub in 35 steps. 😃. Anyway on the bus I saw the line up.
Vicario
Spence
Van Der Ven
Romero
Porro
Business as usual. Nothing to see here. Ok lets have a look at the midfield.
Papa Sarr
Palinha
Bergvall
Hmmmmmm thats an interesting one. Bergvall back in.
Attack:
Simons on the left
Tel through the Centre
Kudus on the right.
Hmmmmmm another strange one. Tel through the Centre is a strange one. The attacker would usually play on the left. Frank left him out of the Champions League squad last week so I would say the player is low in confidence and this was an olive branch to show the manager what he could do. The manager also has a match this Tuesday in the Champions League so squad management us crucial.
Simons on the left for his debut was another interesting one. We still don't know what this guy can do but the talk from Leibzig is that he is good when he wants to be good which is a slight worry.
The bus stopped outside the pub and I hopped in the door and joined the rest of the Spurs lads. West Ham person text me to say he couldn't make it. I knew he wouldn't. The first half was a funny one. West Ham had some chances and Tel looked lost up top. Simons was spiritly but some Communication issues and positioning issues , you knew he was still getting the hang of the Spurs formation.
The match started and West Ham looked to be the better side but then again Spurs were not really threatened. Back under Ange my heart would be in my mouth whenever a team attack, With Frank the defence looks solid. Romero scored a header but it was disallowed because Van Der Ven pushed a West Ham player. The funny thing was that the West Ham goal keeper actually pushed Van Der Ven so it was not a penalty but I won't moan about it. The referee was shocking in this game.
Second half started and you could see Frank pushed Bergvall a bit further forward tweaking here and there and within a couple of minutes . Sarr with a header. It was a weird one because there were 6 West Ham players on the front post. Sarr at the back post and nobody marking him . 1 nil Spurs.
West Ham midfielder then got a straight red for a terrible tackle on Palinha. Straight red.
Tottenham then started to pull away and ten minutes later Romero saw Bervall make a signal and passed a lowly high ball into the Swede. Bervall saw the keeper come off his line and hit a lobbing header over the goalkeeper for his first Premiership goal. What a talent this guy will be and hes only 19. 2-0 Spurs.
West Ham fans started leaving to the chants of "Is there a fire drill?" which made me chuckle.
Tel came into the game more and chased every ball. There may be a player in him yet. Don't forget that Djed Spence was left out of the Europa League squad last season and look at him now.
Van Der Ven scored the third when the second ball came out to him and it was a classic Micky goal.
The game was over and Spurs went into 2nd place. having won 3 games in 4 matches. Great start from Thomas Frank and a great comeback win after Bournemouth two weeks ago.
Liverpool won their game Sunday which saw Spurs drop to 3rd place but it is great to be up there. Frank has now more clean sheets this season after 4 matches than Ange did all year. Now this is not a criticism of Ange. Defending wasn't his priority whereas Frank is more balanced. I think every Spurs fan has been happy with his manager and his approach this year. I am really encouraged by him and the players all like him as well. So Spurs play Vila Real tomorrow night and have Brighton away on Saturday. The games will be coming in thick and fast from now on but for the first time in ages I think Spurs have a squad to handle it. The youth playing on Saturday was crazy and even Archie Gray was left out of the squad last week and he is fit.
The future is looking bright.
And finally
Paul Scholes described Gkokeres as like a fella playing in a pair of jeans which made me spit out my coffee. Every time this guy scores I get a text off an Arsenal supporter doing his batman celebration. It's ridiculous. I was at the park with the kids on Saturday. Phone goes off and heres your man doing the batman sign. FML, So I'm just gonna put them on a blockchain to show everyone how silly 50 year olds can be. 😂
