Tag: Jose Mourinho

The former Spurs starlets who flew the nest

Dennis Cirkin’s decision to move to Sunderland in a permanent deal came as a real disappointment to Spurs fans who keep an eye on the next generation coming through Hostpur Way. With a staggering array of attributes – his reading of the game, technique in both defence and attack, work-rate, surging runs from deep and ability to score and assist – Cirkin had long been touted as the future Spurs left back – at Lilywhite Rose we included him in our Dream Team 2030/31.

But with Sergio Reguilón, Ben Davies and Ryan Sessegnon bloking Cirkin’s path, it was clear regular first team opportunities would be limited for the foreseeable future. The decision to move to Sunderland to play senior football rather than spend another year with Spurs’ youth teams was an understandable one.

We have a look at some of the other promising Spurs starlets who decided their future lay elsewhere and, like Cirkin, made moves in a bid to fast track to first team football. This is how they have got on:

Noni Madueke

Noni Madueke was one of the most highly rated players to come through Hotspur Way, captaining Spurs’ Under 16 side and making his debut for the Under-18s aged just 15.

However, in 2018, Madueke reportedly rejected offers from Chelsea and Manchester United (as well as declining a new contract with Spurs) and instead joined PSV Eindhoven in search of a clearer pathway to first team football.

He has been a revelation in the Netherlands, scoring 18 goals and contributing 10 assists in 47 appearances for PSV (including four goals in six games for their reserve team Jong PSV in the Dutch second tier). He has hit the ground running this season, already scoring five goals in six games across all competitions.

Now 19, the winger could be set for a return to the Premier League with the England Under-21 international linked with a host of clubs, including Spurs. A £20 million fee may be enough to bring one of the most exciting talents in Europe home.

Reo Griffiths

Reo Griffiths was lethal while at Hotspur Way, scoring 44 goals in 60 games for Spurs’ youth teams. Four of them came in one game against Arsenal.

Yet, like Madueke, Griffiths saw his future elsewhere and moved to Lyon in 2018. Unlike Madueke, he has not yet enjoyed the same success.

Playing for Lyon’s B side in France’s fourth tier, Griffiths has scored goals steadily and captained the team on a number of occasions. However, he is still to make his debut for Lyon’s first team proper.

The 21-year-old is now in the final year of his contract and has recently joined Peterborough United on trial.

Keanan Bennetts

2018 saw a summer exodus of promising talent, with Keanan Bennetts joining Griffiths and Madueke in looking abroad for a fast track to first team football.

In all Bennetts played 69 games for Spurs’ youth teams, with 14 goals and 16 assists marking him out as a winger of great potential. A £2 million move to Borussia Mochengladbach therefore came as a surprise.

However, now aged 22, his career is yet to really take off. An initial season with Gladbach’s reserves was followed by a loan spell with League One side, Ipswich Town. While Bennetts made 30 appearances for the Tractor Boys, half of them came as a substitue.

He has since return to Gladbach’s first team, coming off the bench in both of their games so far this season.

Marcus Edwards

Despite being one of the most naturally gifted players to ever come through Spurs’ Academy – with Mauricio Pochettino describing him as ‘similar to Messi’ – Marcus Edwards only ever made one competitive appearance for the Lilywhites.

Loan spells to Norwich City and Dutch side Excelsior produced mixed results and Edwards made a permanent move to Vitoria de Guimaraes in 2019.

Edwards has since rebuilt his career in Portugal, with 12 goals and 12 assists in 72 appearances for Vitória offering a decent return. A transfer to Sporting Lisbon looked to be on the cards earlier this summer (with Spurs set to earn a 50% sell on fee) but that move seems to have gone cold.

Luis Binks

While all players on this list made transfers abroad, none moved further afield than Luis Binks.

The loss of Binks was significant. It had been some time since Spurs had produced a high quality home-grown centre back and it was felt that the England youth international was only a year or two away from first team football. His reading of the game, comfort on the ball and leadership qualities shone through even from an early age, and he was viewed as Toby Alderweireld’s long-term successor.

Despite a late intervention from then-manager Jose Mourinho, the centre-back made a surprise move to the MLS last year, moving to Montreal Impact. Binks made an instant impression, making 26 appearances before moving to Montreal’s sister club, Bologna F.C.

Binks will be hoping to continue his development in a league famed for breeding the world’s best defenders.

Lamenting losing Lopetegui

Following the sacking of Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho nearly two months ago, Tottenham Hotspur have been without an official manager. Ryan Mason was presented with chance to take over on an interim basis until the end of the season, becoming the youngest manager to manage a Premier League side in its near 30 year history, but this was always meant to be a temporary arrangement.

Spurs have failed on numerous occasions to replace Mourinho, with a variety of reasons undermining the appoinment of his successor. Attempts were believed to have been made for the likes of Julien Naglesmann, Erik Ten Hag, Antonio Conte and, of course, Mauricio Pochettino. It is also thought that Julen Lopetegui also passed at the change to manage the club – in this article, I will talk about how he could have been the perfect replacement for Mourinho.

Lopetegui, manager of Spanish side Sevilla, has had a successful spell at the La Liga side since being appointed in 2019. The Spaniard lifted the Europa League trophy in 2019/2020 – his first season at the club – and he spearheaded Sevilla’s push for La Liga title this season. Though that challenge faded over the closing matches, finishing 4th and qualifying for the Champions League with the highest points total in the club’s history was still a significant achievement. The overwhelming financial might of domestic rivals Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid will always make it difficult to overhaul Spain’s ‘Big Three’.

Julen Lopetegui took over at Sevilla after a disappointing season, with the club finishing 6th in La Liga. However, the Spaniard took full advantage of Europa League qualification, leading ‘Los Nervionenses‘ to a record 6th Europa League title in 2019/20. Sevilla also finished 4th in La Liga – with just goal difference separating them from Atletico Madrid in 3rd – guaranteeing them a place in the following season’s Champions League. Lopetegui achieved another 4th place finish and guided the team out of the Champions League group stages this season, underlining the progress he has made.

Spurs, on the other hand, massively underachieved under Jose Mourinho. Under Mauricio Pochettino, the London club consistently gained Champions League football via a high finish in the Premier League, but are set for another season away from Europe’s elite competition after his sacking.

After years of underinvestment in the squad, Daniel Levy backed Mourinho in last summer’s transfer window, but only Pierre-Emile Højbjerg could be described as an unqualified success. Lopetegui has shown that he can work on a modest budget while getting the best out his players. Jules Koundé, for example, has developed into one of Europe’s most promising young defenders under Lopetegui’s guidance. In short, Lopetegui was backed by Sevilla’s board to bring in the right players to fit his tactics and complement the existing squad and it proved to be successful. He could have had similar success at Tottenham with the help of Fabio Paratici.

Lopetegui’s style of football would also bring welcome relief after a year and a half of Mourinho. A tactically astute, possession based, high energy approach is much more in keeping with Spurs’ set-up under Pochettino, and his use of wing-backs and a false nine would suit players like Sergio Reguilón (who played under Lopetegui at Sevilla) and Harry Kane.

However, the move to bring him to Spurs was ended in another failure. Several sources have reported that the Spaniard rejected Tottenham due to family reasons. Other sources report that he made it clear he wanted to stay at Sevilla as he is settled and would prefer not to relocate. Who would blame him? The project he has built at Sevilla is incredible and what is happening right now at Tottenham is something that most top level managers have shown little desire to become part of.

Paulo Fonseca looks like he will be appointed as the next Spurs manager, and I hope he brings the success we crave, but I can’t help but think that Tottenham will regret not prising Lopetegui away from sunny Spain.

Spurs players formed England’s core in 2018, but now only Kane remains

With a week to go until the final squad announcement, Gareth Southgate has released a provisional Euro 2020 squad of 33 players which will be trimmed to 26. The current crop of talent at Southgate’s disposal is likely to excite England fans. However, with an abundance of attacking flair in the likes of Phil Foden, Jadon Sancho, Mason Mount, Jack Grealish, Marcus Rashford and Raheem Sterling, the question begs as to who the man in the waistcoat will choose to play alongside England captain Harry Kane. Or alternatively, who he decides to drop in order to accommodate the more reticent talents of Kalvin Phillips and James Ward-Prowse.

Høtspur Related on Twitter: "#thfc players in the #WorldCup quarter-finals: 🇫🇷 Hugo Lloris. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Kieran Trippier, Danny Rose, Eric Dier, Dele Alli, Harry Kane. 🇧🇪 Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen, Mousa Dembele.… https://t.co/gPmuRcxgu3"
Danny Rose and Harry Kane celebrate Eric Dier’s decisive penalty against Columbia.

Tottenham fans will have noticed the scarcity of players picked from their club, with Kane being the sole representative of the Lilywhites. This is unlikely to shock those who have followed the performances of other England hopefuls currently playing in N17. This couldn’t be more contrasting to the 2018 World Cup Squad in which Southgate named Danny Rose, Dele Alli, Kieran Trippier and Eric Dier alongside Kane; making Spurs the most represented club in the squad.

With La Liga champion Kieran Trippier making the current squad, the obvious stagnation in the performances of Dele, Dier and Rose compared to the improvements in rival players is particularly noteworthy.

Danny Rose

A player who made five appearances for England in the World Cup finals just two years ago, Rose’s recent decline has seen him exiled to train with youth teams at Hotspur Way. After failing to gain the trust of Jose Mourinho, the left-back has played just two Premier League 2 matches, as well as zero first-team appearances in over a year.

The Tottenham players whose deals expire in 2021 - and what it means for January transfer window - football.london
Rose in action for Tottenham Under 23s.

After scenes on Amazon’s ‘All or Nothing’ documentary showed Rose clashing with Mourinho concerning his lack of playing time, as well as wishfully asking Daniel Levy about interest from Italian giants AC Milan, it was clear that Rose would be phased out of the club.

Still only 30-years-old, Rose will no doubt attract a number of suitors at the lower end of the Premier League as his contract ends this summer. Having once been widely considered an elite European left-back, Rose’s fall off can be closely correlated with that of Spurs themselves.

Eric Dier

Gareth Southgate explains why he left Eric Dier out of his England squad for Euros - Spurs Web - Tottenham Hotspur Football News
Dier has always given his all for Spurs.

Right-back, centre-back, central midfielder: Eric Dier has plied his trade in each position, whilst seemingly mastering none. Dier’s form in the latter stages of the Premier League campaign has left a lot to be desired. With countless calamitous errors and a lack of quality on the ball, it is a mystery how the 27-year-old has managed to cement himself into both Mourinho’s and Mason’s first choice teams.

Dier was a bit-part player at the 2018 World Cup, but did however provide one of the most memorable moments when he slotted the winning penalty in the Round of 16 versus Columbia. The man ended years of penalty shoot-out dread and now finds himself exiled from a Euro’s squad in just a two-year spell.

With Football.London reporting Spurs’ interest in numerous centre-back options this summer, Dier’s days in North London may well be coming to an abrupt end.

Dele Alli

In perhaps the most shocking decline of recent Premier League years, Dele is under threat of becoming a ‘streets won’t forget’ baller.

It is becoming increasingly easy to forget the player who won back-to-back Premier League Young Player of the Year awards in 2015/16 and 2016/17. The extravagance has is still apparent in Dele’s play, but poor ball retention and the tendency to let games drift him by seem to have become all too regular an occurrence.

Much like Rose, Dele’s relationship with previous boss Mourinho was somewhat fragmented. Is it time to cash in on the 25-year-old, or does he still hold an important future at Tottenham?

Tottenham plan to offload Alli despite return to XI - Sources
Will Dele be sold to make space for new attackers this summer?

Time to move on?

If Spurs are serious about being a Champions League level club that can challenge on all fronts, it is essential that the quality of the squad reflects these ambitions in the upcoming campaign. In my opinion, this would mean selling players who are no longer at an International level of quality, and clearly Winks, Dier and Rose fall into this category.

Who Next For Tottenham Hotspur?

On a day that will likely go down in the history books for numerous reasons, Tottenham parted ways with head coach Jose Mourinho.

Mourinho, along with all of his backroom staff bar Ledley King, was relieved of his duties earlier this week. Alasdair Gold confirmed that, contrary to rumour, Mourinho’s departure was not at all connected to the announcement of a European Super League.

Ex-Hull City star in line to take over at Tottenham as Jose Mourinho axed - Hull Live
Fabrizio Romano first broke the news that Ryan Mason would take over first-team management.

It has now been officially confirmed that ex-player and current Head of Development Ryan Mason will be in place as Interim Manager until the end of the season. Fans will be hoping Mason will be able to reinvigorate a dejected Spurs squad who have looked lacking in confidence and form for some time.

The 29-year-old, who was forced into early retirement for medical reasons in February 2018, faces a Southampton side in need of a win on Wednesday night. However, the fixture that is on everyone’s lips is the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City on Sunday afternoon. Will the new manager effect be enough to claim Spurs’ first piece of silverware in 13 years?

Many managers have already been tipped to take over in N17. The following options are some that Daniel Levy and co. should be considering as the heir to Mourinho’s pragmatic throne.

Julian Nagelsmann

Opinion: Julian Nagelsmann guiding Hoffenheim to big Bundesliga finish | Sports| German football and major international sports news | DW | 07.04.2019
Nagelsmann guided RB Leipzig to their first ever Champions League semi-final in 2020

One highly sought after option lies in Nagelsmann. Just 33-years-old, the retired centre-back would represent a young, exciting breath of fresh air for Spurs. The RB Leipzig boss applies a vertical attacking system, whereby the priority for each player in possession is to advance the ball. This would signal the death of the boring, ambitionless sideways passing which Spurs fans have become accustomed to.

Whilst Nagelsmann does not prioritise high possession, his team are always pressing the opposition high up the pitch and attempting to force mistakes. He has adopted both a back three and back four in his time in the Bundesliga and has shown ability to adapt to differing styles of play.

The Lilywhites face stiff competition for the German’s signature, with giants Bayern Munich reportedly keen to bring Nagelsmann to the Allianz Arena after the departure of Hansi Flick. Although, after Leipzig’s 0-1 victory over Spurs in the 2020 Champions League, Nagelsmann was seemingly impressed with the Tottenham Hotspur stadium and fans. “The first ten minutes were very noisy, very loud. In the end, it was a pleasure to be a part of this game” (BT Sport Interview). Many Spurs fans will be hoping that Nagelsmann will be able to experience that atmosphere week in, week out next season.

Brendan Rodgers

With experience of a Premier League title challenge at Liverpool, as well as having excelled recently at Leicester City, Rodgers provides a safe, yet ambitious option for Spurs.

Brendan Rodgers insists Leicester's flat performance against Brighton has nothing to do with playing behind closed doors
Rodger’s Leicester side recently advanced past Southampton to reach their first FA Cup Final since 1969.

Having unearthed a number of impressive signings for his clubs, including Phillipe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino for Liverpool as well as Youri Tielemans and Wesley Fofana for Leicester City; Rodgers’ recruitment history would bode well for the club’s future.

With no need to adapt to the demands of the English game, Rodgers could slot straight into the managerial hot-seat at Tottenham. Having won promotion to the Premier League in 2011 with Swansea City, Rodgers has implemented his philosophy at multiple clubs. He looks to combine possession-based football with a strict demand for tireless work from players. Levy could well see the Northern Irishman as the to coach Spurs back to success.

Christophe Galtier

Christophe Galtier, the quiet force of Lille - Archyde
Galtier is renowned for his calm presence on the touchline.

A less prominent option who will have certainly raised eyebrows in the Tottenham boardroom is LOSC Lille manager Galtier. The 54-year-old has gained many plaudits for guiding his impressive Lille side to top spot in Ligue 1, so far managing to hold off Mauricio Pochettino’s scintillating PSG.

This feat is even more impressive when you take into account the quality of player that Lille have repeatedly sold in recent years. For example, Nicolas Pepe, Victor Osimhen, Gabriel Magalhaes and Yves Bissouma just to name a few. Galtier’s ability to build a competitive side whilst adhering to financial stability within the club could likely entice Levy into a move for his signature.

With a playing style focused on maximising attacks, Spurs fans would likely be thrilled with the prospect of a return to free-flowing, risk-taking football.

Massimiliano Allegri

After appointing Mourinho, one of the most successful managers of all time, it was clear that Levy wanted to taste immediate glory with Spurs. If this is still the primary concern for the chairman then Max Allegri will surely be seen as a viable option.

A manager lauded for his versatility and tactical intelligence, Allegri guided Serie A giants Juventus to five consecutive titles before beginning a sabbatical period in 2019. His teams do not prioritise a high press, instead focusing on absorbing pressure and developing more pragmatic attacking patterns. This raises the concern, would this style of play be too close to that of Mourinho? Furthermore, would the players and fans respond positively to the appointment?

Massimiliano Allegri confirms he is taking English lessons but rules out taking Arsenal job this season
Allegri is said to have been learning English in preparation for a Premier League job.

The 53-year-old has not been secretive about his desire to manage in England in the future. However, the question begs, whether the increase in the pace of the English game would allow Allegri to implement his preferred tactics in North London.

Many more names have been flouted in respect to the vacant Spurs hot-seat including Eddie Howe, Nuno Espirito Santo, Ralph Hassenhuttl, Scott Parker and Steven Gerrard.

Where are they now? – Class of 2014/15

At the weekend Dane Scarlett, Alfie Devine and Roshaun Mathurin helped Spurs’ Under 18s to a 6-1 victory over Chelsea. There are high hopes for this generation of talent now coming through.

Half a decade ago there were some promising prospects coming through too, including one who was drawing comparisons to Lionel Messi. We take a look at where they all are now:

Goalkeeper

Tom Glover

Australian born Glover, like many Academy keepers that come through the ranks at Spurs, impressed for both the Under 18s and 21s and was subsequently rewarded by appearances in the first team’s match day squads.

A mainstay at youth level for Tottenham, Glover showed all the signs of being able to make the step up to the staring XI, however, this promise did not come to fruition. Glover was loaned out to Australian outfit Central Coast Mariners in 2017, Swedish side Helsingborg in 2019, and finally signed permanently for Melbourne City, where he is currently their number one. He is an Australian youth international, but has yet to make his debut for the senior side.

Defenders

Kyle Walker-Peters

Kyle Walker-Peters signed for Tottenham in 2013, and was one of the academy’s most consistent performers as a pacy and dependable right back. His performances at all academy levels warranted a call up to the senior squad for the tour of Malaysia and Australia in 2015, where he made his first team debut.

Irregular first team appearances were hindered by Serge Aurier and Kieran Tripper being above him in Pochettino’s pecking order, but Walker-Peters still impressed when called upon, and was rewarded with a new and improved five-year contract in 2018.

In a bid for regular first team football, the right back was loaned out to Southampton in January 2020. After impressing on the south coast, KWP signed permanently in the summer of 2020, and continues to shine as the Saints’ first choice right back.

He has appeared for England youth sides up to the Under 21s, and was a starter as England won the Under 20 World Cup in 2017.

Cameron Carter-Vickers

Southend born, American international Cameron Carter-Vickers signed for the club at the age of 11, and made his first team debut in 2016 in the International Champions Cup.

However, the centre back has struggled to find regular first team at the club, and has spent much of his time time out on loan , with six different clubs since 2016.

CCV is currently playing in the Championship, on loan, for promotion candidates Bournemouth. At 23 years old, many believe that this will be Carter-Vickers’ final loan spell, and his decent performances for the Cherries may encourage them to move for him permanently. He has made eight appearances for the USA since his debut in 2017.

Christian Maghoma

Carter-Vickers’ defensive partner, Chris Maghoma, didn’t enjoy the same lengthy spell at Spurs that CCV has, and struggled to make a name for himself at Tottenham.

He signed for the club in 2014, and was loaned out to Yeovil Town the following year in an attempt to gain some first team experience. Unfortunately, Maghoma didn’t make an appearance during the spell and he moved to Polish side Arka Gdynia in 2018. The 23 year old now plays for Gillingham and has made 11 appearances so for this season.

Maghoma appeared for England’s Under 16s, but made his senior international debut for DR Congo in 2017, his first and last cap to date.

Anton Walkes

Lewisham-born Anton Walkes joined the club in 2013, and was a very solid prospect at academy level, but struggled to make the breakthrough to the first team, making only one appearance in the League Cup in 2016.

The full back captained the under 18s at UEFA Youth League level before signing for MLS side Atlanta United on loan in 2017, and then Portsmouth the following season. Walkes was sold to Portsmouth permanently in 2018, but has subsequently returned to Atlanta.

Midfielders

Luke Amos

A talented and versatile midfielder, Luke Amos impressed at academy level consistently and earned loan spells at Southend, Stevenage and QPR respectively.

Amos made his debut for Spurs on the opening day of the 2018/19 season and was on the brink of becomnig a first team regular, but he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury, keeping him out of action for the rest of the year.

His loan move to QPR established him as as one of the standout performers in the Championship, appearing 35 times for the West London side in 2019/20. That summer, the midfielder made a permanent switch, but devastatingly for QPR and Amos, he suffered a repeat injury which is likely to keep him out for the rest of the season. A huge talent and hopefully he can pick up where he left off.

Zenon Stylianides

Luke Amos’ regular partner in the centre of the Spurs Under 18s midfield was Zenon Stylianides. Like a number of academy players in this intake, Stylianides wasn’t able to make enough of an impact at youth level to push for the first team. The midfielder was released by Tottenham in 2017, and now plays for East Thurrock in the Isthmian league.

Marcus Edwards

Undoubtedly the most naturally gifted player of this generation, Marcus Edwards signed for the club at the age of eight and was one of the brightest sparks at every age group up to the 23s.

Unfortunately for the talented winger, he was only able to make one competitive appearance for the Lilywhites under Pochettino, despite the current PSG manager describing Edwards as ‘similar to Messi’.

Loan spells to Norwich City and Dutch side Excelsior followed before a permanent move to Vitoria de Guimaraes. There Edwards has rebuilt his career, shining in the Portuguese ‘Liga Nos’ by scoring 10 goals and laying on 12 assists in 48 appearances.

Despite speculation linking him away from the club, Edwards has recently signed a new contract with a €50,000,000 release clause.

Josh Onomah

Another highly tipped player in 2014/15, Josh Onomah made his competitive debut for Spurs the following season by Mauricio Pochettino and went on to make a further 12 appearances for the first team.

Loan spells at Aston Villa and Sheffield Wednesday ensured regular senior football, earning him a permanent move to Fulham in 2019 as part of the deal that bought Fulham wonderkid, Ryan Sessegnon to Tottenham. Onomah has made 34 appearances for Fulham since his move, and was an integral player in Fulham’s play off win last season, netting in their play-off semi final win against Swansea.

He has appeared for every England youth side up to the Under 21s, and was a starter as England won the Under 20 World Cup in 2017.

Anthony Georgiou

Anthony Georgiou signed for Tottenham in 2013 from Watford as a 16 year old, and was a regular starter at academy level as he worked his way through the ranks.

Georgiou was placed in a similar position as Cameron Carter-Vickers by Mauricio Pochettino, as he featured heavily in pre-season friendly competitions, but wasn’t able to nail down a spot for first team. The Cypriot international spent time on loan at Ipswich and Bolton respectively, before moving to Cypriot side AEL Limassol on a free. He has made eight international appearances for Cyprus since since debut in 2018.

Striker

Shayon Harrison

  • Tottenham Hotspur U21’s Shayon Harrison

Another player who struggled to make the transition from the youth team to the first team, Shayon Harrison made one appearance for Spurs in the EFL Cup in 2016, before spending three seasons out on loan. However, he only managed to find the net on five occasions during this period, before signing permanently for second division Dutch side, Almere City in 2019.

Harrison now plays in League one with AFC Wimbledon, but has made a single, nine minute substitute appearance for the Dons.

Welcome to ‘That Tottenham Group’, one of the fastest growing THFC fan forums

‘That Tottenham Group‘, a Facebook group established in October last year, is one of the fastest growing Spurs fan forums having attracted over 1,700 members in just four months. Jack talks to its founder, Michael Cook, about TTG, his role as a steward at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium, and his predictions for the rest of the season.

What inspired you to establish ‘That Tottenham Group’?

I was joined to one Facebook THFC group for a while and used to see updates now and again. The updates were not really up to date and news that I was seeing had already escalated. This got me thinking about starting my own group. I wanted to start a group that was present, relevant and still provides a platform for Spurs fans to freely express themselves. The group name came from what I used to call the group I followed in conversation. I used to say to my wife “you know that Tottenham group on Facebook?”…I imagine loads of people call the groups the same thing! That Tottenham Group.

Despite launching only in October, you’ve already got over 1,700 members. Why do you think it has been so successful?

I really believe TTG has been gathering pace very quickly due to the concept. I think TTG is very different to other Facebook groups. My vision and plan were to create a group that is a blend of Instagram and Twitter but still with a Facebook theme. I create all my own graphics and visuals to give this an eye-catching edge like Instagram, up to date news as it happens like Twitter,but still connecting to members and building relationships like Facebook. The visuals and branding I have created have given TTG its own identity is very recognisable in a crowded news feed – almost like a brand in a way.

What are your ambitions for TTG?

I am fully aware this is a brand-new group and we have long way to go! There are one or two very stong THFC groups already established on Facebook but I really feel we can be there with them given time. The TTG members we have already joined have been fantastic in helping me and the other admins grow the group. I am very appreciative of their time spent to interact and give TTG its heartbeat. My long-term target is to have enough members to fill the TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR STADIUM. So far, we fill 2.73% of it. I would love to achieve >62,000 members! As I said we are different and unique so I am sure we will achieve it. 

In normal times, you’re a steward at the ground. How much have you missed live football?

Working for THFC is an absolute privilege. I am a boyhood fan and have been a fan now over 30 years. I am a local lad from Enfield and have such great memories of White hart Lane as a lad growing up. (Tough in the 90’s supporting Spurs as you all know). My grandad, mum and dad were all stewards’ years ago at the old ground so I have followed suit. 

To be part of the team at THFC playing at Wembley and then helping the club transition to the new stadium by securing safety permits from the council and be a huge part of the new stadium test events was an honour for me. I really could not have been part of the club at a better time. Now we are in probably the best stadium in football is amazing.

“I also featured for 1.8 seconds on the Amazon ‘All or Nothing’ documentary last year. I was holding the door for Jose Mourinho as he made his way to the press conference. Absolutely over the moon with that!”

I really enjoy working on a match day. I work in the media sections so the press tribune on the west stand and also within the auditorium for post-match press conferences. I really do feel lucky. I also featured for 1.8 seconds on the Amazon ‘All or Nothing’ documentary last year. I was holding the door for Jose Mourinho as he made his way to the press conference. Absolutely over the moon with that!

Due to Covid we are now working at limited events to ensure all stewards have the chance to participate. My last game working was West Brom in the 2-0 win in February so haven’t been away that long at all. The behind closed doors games are very different, I feel this has and will continue to effect players on the pitch. 

It must be pretty difficult sometimes to do your job as a steward and not spend your whole time watching the game? Are there any games that really stick in your memory?

Yes, this is difficult – especially when you have 62,000 fans singing and driving the team on. Boring but true answer – we have a job to do no matter how big of a fan we are. People’s safety is at risk and we must stay focused on the task at hand as a steward. Of course, there are times when you catch a bit of the game or a superb goal from Sonny or Kane and you have a little fist pump discreetly… but we do have a job to do and I really enjoy it. 

Games I have worked at that stick in my memory: 

Barcelona – Wembley – 80,000+ fans – lost but what an atmosphere. Kane cut back and finish caused mayhem in the stands! 

Crystal Palace – first ever official match at the new stadium. Sonny scoring the first ever goal and the winner. 

Man City – Champions League, Quarter Final, first leg. WOW! I will never forget the sound from the south stand as he kept the ball in play and drove home to put us 1-0 up. Great night. 

Bayern Munich – lost 7-2 – Pochettino in charge. I will never forget that match. When you’re working you cannot leave at full time and cry – you have to stay and face all the aftermath of away fans rubbing it in. 

Arsenal – limited 2,000 fans attended last December. Sonny scores an absolute banger! The last game to date with fans in attendance in a 2-0 WIN! COYS!

Do you ever cop much stick as a steward?

Boring answer again, I work in the press and media area for written and internet journalists so don’t really work alongside the fans. That being said we still remain vigilant as the fans are close by. In my experience I have not copped any stick or abuse which is great. Any altercations or incidents towards other fans, players or staff that is not acceptable are acted on and resolved in the correct manner.

What have been your thoughts on Jose Mourinho this season?

I backed the decision to bring in Jose as he is a winner. He has achieved so much in the game. We needed this type of manager. He has to be given time for me. I still believe he has a few players that Pochettino failed with at the end of his tenure and trying to get something out of them. Jose needs at least another two transfer windows to make his stamp in this squad.

We are in the latter stages of Europa League, the Carabao Cup final and still in the hunt for a European finish in the league. If I was offered this after the opening day defeat to Everton I would have snapped your arm off for it. Yes, he makes a few mistakes and he does play the low block but to be fair he has been very shackled due to our defensive mistakes, however, we have also scored a good number of goals this term.


The most recent win over Burnley was fantastic. We play like that we will win football matches. Jose has created a new version of Kane, a beast of a midfielder now in Tanguy Ndombele and also getting form out of Dele and Gareth Bale. I honestly feel Jose will deliver long awaited silverware to Tottenham Hotspur.

In my role at the club, I have seen Jose and spoken to him in person. He comes across a really caring and approachable guy with the team, staff and media professionals. 

Is Bale back?

BALE IS BACK! He was very good in the second half at West Ham, decent in the win over Wolfsberger and superb in the win against Burnley. He is notching goals and assists and playing with a smile and a swagger. I am over the moon he is back with us and hope he has a huge impact on the last 15/16 games remaining this season. Bale could really be the difference in winning or losing a cup final. He has the ability to turn a game as well all know. Buzzing to see Bale linking up with Son, Kane and Dele. What a front three or four that is!!!

Player and signing of the season so far? Where do we need to strengthen in the summer?

My player AND signing of the season is Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. The captain without the armband, our midfield general and puts a shift in every game. The Spurs Viking! I really do feel we cannot replace him if he was to get injured. He’s looked very tired in the past week or two due to the fact he is so important to us. A proper signing that one and an absolute snip for the fee paid. 

Harry Kane, Sonny and Ndombele have also been magnificent so far this term and deserve all the plaudits they are currently receiving. Kane and Sonny are irreplaceable as I am sure most Spurs fans would agree. The obvious need is a CB. We have to strengthen the back line ready for next season and Jose will almost certainly do that before we kick off the new campaign. In the summer I feel we need to bring in a new goalkeeper to be the eventual replacement for Hugo Lloris. Nick Pope is the most likely fit for Spurs.

Predictions for the rest of the season? Where will we finish? Will we win any trophies?

Okay – don’t ask me why – but I think Spurs will lift the League Cup this season. We seem to have something extra against a very good Man City in the big games. I feel Jose will set up to be dangerous but calculated at Wembley.

With the draw in the Europa League against Dinamo Zagreb there is no reason why we can’t progress. Tough competition to predict that one. Jose knows how to win it so we have a chance. 

I feel Spurs, given the resurgence of Bale and Dele along with a returning Giovani Lo Celso, can have a real crack at hunting down the top four. West Ham and Leicester City are there to be caught and we certainly have the players to do it with favourable remaining fixtures.

COME ON YOU SPURS!!!

Jack was talking to Michael Cook, founder of ‘That Tottenham Group‘. You can find the group here.

Oliver Skipp: Impressive showings from a homegrown talent

Tottenham Hotspur are seemingly stuck in a rut. A string of uninspiring performances characterised by a lack of expansive attacking play and an assortment of individual defensive mistakes has resulted in a growing sense of hopelessness in Spurs supporters. It seems fanatical to suggest that a manager who has guided his team to the Carabao Cup final, as well as practically having one foot in the last 16 of the Europa League is working in fear of his job. However, there are many calls for Jose Mourinho to be relieved of his duties.

Mourinho must take some credit for his handling of Spurs youngsters. The Special One has handed first-team debuts to Harvey White (19), Dane Scarlett (16) and Alfie Devine (16), as well as sending the likes of Ryan Sessegnon (20) and Troy Parrott (19) out on loan deals to increase their playing times. A player who has thrived from his loan move is Oliver Skipp. After strong pre-season showings for the Lilywhites, Skipp penned a one-year loan deal with relegated Premier League side Norwich City.

Norwich City sign Tottenham midfielder Oliver Skipp on loan - News - Norwich City

The 20-year-old has hit the ground running for the Canaries, racking up 32 appearances in the league so far and establishing himself as a mainstay in the heart of their midfield. Norwich currently sit seven points clear at the top of the Championship table, displaying form that is in no small part down to Skippy’s consistent displays.

These performances have gained plaudits from Norwich fans and the more fervent Spurs fans alike; not to mention Norwich boss Daniel Farke. A recent Football.London report documented the latter’s obvious high regard for the youngster. “He’s a top player and a top character”. Farke went on to emphasise his expectations of Skipp and his desire for him to keep progressing. “This says a lot about how much I rate him and how much I value him, I don’t want to praise him too much in public, it’s more like each and every day I keep on criticising him”. These comments will excite Spurs fans with the prospect of Skipp being driven to reach the heights that he is considered capable of. 

Norwich fans have also been waxing lyrical about the England Under 21 international. With their twitter following labelling Skipp as one of the best loan signings the club has ever made. Skipp seems to scoop the Twitter man of the match award after every Norwich fixture. Admittedly, this may be partly the consequence of Spurs fans hijacking the polls, however his consistent nominations speak volumes of his performances.

Oliver Skipp wins September Player of the Month award - News - Norwich City
Skippy scooped Norwich’s September Player of the Month award back in September.

For those unaware of of Skipp’s attributes, he is a versatile midfielder who flourishes in a holding position. He is a consistently talented passer, topping Norwich’s passing statistics this season. His vision has been on display for the Championship leaders and he has been unlucky not to provide any assists so far this season.

His composure and confidence on the ball have provided Norwich with a calming presence in possession. These attributes suggest the mindset of a veteran midfielder. Skippy is equally adept at carrying the ball at speed or picking an incisive pass, meaning he can effectively progress the ball through the defensive lines whilst under pressure. Add his impressive defensive positioning, work-rate and burst of pace and you’ve got a midfielder who truly fits his billing as an all-rounder.

Skipp is not renowned for his goal-scoring prowess. He netted his first senior goal in Norwich’s 3-1 win away at Birmingham City on Tuesday night. Although it is not a crucial requirement for his position, it would be the icing on the cake to see Skippy add another feather to his cap and chip in with more goal contributions. With a motivator like Farke demanding improvements in his game, this is likely something the Spurs academy graduate will be working on.

In Numbers: Oliver Skipp's MOTM performance at Huddersfield - News - Norwich City

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy will likely be one of the biggest admirers of Skipp’s success in Norfolk. With Sport Witness having claimed that Harry Winks has his heart set on a summer switch to La Liga, Skipp represents a ready-made replacement that will not break the bank. Levy is known for his financial prudence, and the recall of Skipp should provide the Lilywhites with a quality youngster in the centre of the park, as well as funds to address the more pressing issues in the team. 

Spurs fans, would you like to see Skipp return to N17 in the summer to learn from Tanguy Ndombele and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and continue his development at the top level?

Five talking points from Spurs’ 2-1 defeat to West Ham

Son badly needs a rest

Heung-Min Son has been one of Spurs’ key players this season, but all of the minutes he has played this season seem to have caught up with him. Son was visibly tired in the last ten minutes of the derby against West Ham, seen on his haunches, looking like he was all out of energy.

His recent form has been the polar opposite of his amazing start to the season with only two goal contributions in the past eight league games. When you dive into the stats of how many minutes the South Korean has played it’s hardly a surprise he looks tired.

Son has played at least 84 minutes in every single Spurs league game since the 6-1 win over Manchester United all the way back in November, as well as being played in every single game this season bar two. Son desperately needs a break and the game against Wolfsberger in the Europa League in midweek gives Mourinho the chance to do just that.

With Spurs 4-1 up in the tie it is the perfect opportunity to play a youngster like Dane Scarlett in his place. If Son isn’t rested midweek there’s no way he’s going to be able to perform anywhere near his best due to the fatigue he’s clearly been suffering with in recent weeks.

Centre back woes

Whether it be Alderweireld alongside Rodon, Dier paired with Tanganga, or even Tanganga with Rodon, it’s extremely clear to everyone – apart from Mourinho it seems – that Dier and Sanchez just aren’t working together.

What makes it even more strange is the fact Spurs had a solid centre-half pairing in Alderweireld and Dier up until the Crystal Palace game and have been chopping and changing at the back ever since.

Spurs desperately need consistency at the back and failing to start the same back four since December certainly hasn’t helped Spurs’ defensive woes, Prior to the Palace game, Mourinho’s men had the best defence in the league, only conceding two goals with Dier and Alderweireld at the back. but ever since that game there has been no consistency with Mourinho not looking like he knows his preferred back four at all.

Dier and Sanchez just don’t work alongside each other at all, with the pair conceding five goals in their last two matches. There needs to be a breath of fresh air in the defence, whoever it may be, and then Jose needs to back the pairing that he picks.

The Mysterious Case of Joe Rodon

There was hope when Rodon came in the summer that he would be able to help with our defensive problems. Initially he did so and after a mistake against Liverpool Mourinho gave the Welshman his full backing. But after the 1-0 defeat against Brighton Rodon hasn’t played a single minute of football and has been left out the last two league squads altogether.

Rodon has completely vanished for the Spurs team/squad in recent weeks with no clear explanation as to why. His brother Sam confirmed on Twitter today that Rodon wasn’t injured, so why on earth has Mourinho excluded him from his plans entirely, especially with the defensive problems Spurs are facing currently?

He wasn’t out of place in a poor team performance at all against Brighton so it is mind-blowing why he has suddenly been excluded from the team. Joe Rodon could be that breath of air that Spurs need to restart their campaign and push on now, with Burnley an ideal game for Rodon to come back in.

Bale’s Brilliance

One of the few positives from the disappointing performance was the second half display from Gareth Bale. The Welshman has severely struggled for form since his return to Spurs, however, glimpses of the old Bale have certainly been brought to light in the last week with a good performance against Wolfsberger too.

Bale hit the bar with a powerful volley which definitely had Fabianski beaten as well as chipping in with an assist for Lucas Moura’s goal with a beautifully delivered corner. You just got that feeling that when Bale was on the ball that he was going to do something special, something Spurs have been missing from any player in a while now.

There is no reason why he shouldn’t start against Burnley in the league next Sunday and, if he manages to build up his fitness, the 31-year-old could be a key player for Spurs towards the end of the season, especially if he manages to sustain any run of form. He could be the third attacker that Spurs are most certainly missing alongside Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son.

Jose Mourinho’s similar record to a sacked Mauricio Pochettino

Jose Mourinho came out after the game and insisted that his and his coaching staff methods “are second to none” and that he will not question his methods at all regardless of league position. Which may give Daniel Levy that bit of disbelief he didn’t previously have about Mourinho.

It has been widely reported that Mourinho will cost Spurs around £30 million to sack, but with the recent form and his latest comments Levy may well be considering it.

With 12 points out of a possible 39 in his last three games, Mourinho is replicating the type of form which saw Pochettino removed from his position as Spurs manager, the Argentine having gained 14 points out of a possible 36 in his last 12 games. With Spurs now nine points off the Champions League and gradually slipping down the table in recent weeks will Levy be bold enough to pull the trigger?

Mourinho has managed so far to get us into the Carabao Cup final as well as the Europa League Round of 32, but it seems as though his focus is now purely on the cup competitions after the defeat at the London Stadium – will Levy be willing to take that risk and pin all Spurs’ European qualifying hopes on just the cups?

Tottenham Hotspur vs Chelsea: Too Soon for Dele and Harry Kane, but Returns on the Horizon – Team News, Line-Ups and Prediction

Spurs host Chelsea on Thursday night in what is set to be a fiery London derby at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with both sides looking to get their Premier League seasons back on track.

Tanguy Ndombele has been confirmed fit to play and Serge Aurier will be back in the squad after being left out of the squad in the loss against Brighton on Sunday. Spurs will be without Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Sergio Reguilon and Giovani Lo Celso who Jose Mourinho confirmed today was likely to be out for “a month or something”.

However, it’s not all doom and gloom for Spurs with Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Sergio Reguilon all looking to be ready for the game against Manchester City next weekend. Mourinho shared some details from his conversation with Dele where they were able to find “common ground”, something that will come as welcome news to all Spurs fans.

With the creativity of Dele and Kane potentially back into the setup in the next week or so, it’s fair to say that things are certainly looking up for Spurs after some disappointing results recently.

Mourinho also confirmed in his press conference that Ndombele would be able to play as an out and out midfielder alongside Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg due to his fitness improving. Subsequently, that has now opened up the possibility of Spurs having Dele or Lo Celso slotting in at number 10 in front of Hojbjerg and Ndombele.

Chelsea are set to welcome N’Golo Kante back into their squad after his recovery from a hamstring injury, whilst Kurt Zouma and Kai Havertz are doubtful for Thomas Tuchel’s side ahead of the derby.

Spurs will need to be wary of the width utilised by Tuchel who has played wing-backs in both of his games as Chelsea boss so far, with Callum Hudson Odoi and Marcos Alonso looking most likely to start. Mourinho will have to nullify this threat if he wants to control the game after being vulnerable down both sides against Brighton on Sunday.

While Spurs only have two wins in their last nine Premier League matches, Chelsea aren’t much better with three wins in their last ten. However, since the appointment of Tuchel they have picked up four points from a possible six and haven’t conceded a goal.

Spurs haven’t beaten Chelsea in the league since November 2018, where Heung-Min Son scored a superb solo goal after picking the ball just past the halfway line.

Both games between the two clubs have ended in draws, one in the League Cup where Spurs won on penalties – with Mourinho getting one over on his former Chelsea stalwart, Frank Lampard – while the game in the league finished 0-0. At the time, this was a top of table clash and the game saw Joe Rodon make his full Spurs debut.

A win would keep Tottenham above Chelsea in the table with both sides currently sitting on 33 points – they could go into tomorrow’s match nine points off the top four if results don’t go their way. A loss for Spurs could potentially see them slip down to 9th in the table.

Andre Marriner will referee the derby, whilst Stuart Attwell will be overseeing VAR duties from Stockley Park.

Possible Spurs Starting XI: Lloris, Aurier, Alderweireld, Rodon, Davies, Sissoko, Hojbjerg, Ndombele, Bergwijn, Son, Vinicius.

Possible Chelsea Starting XI: Mendy, Hudson-Odoi, Azpilicueta, Silva, Rudiger, Alonso, Kante, Kovacic, Pulisic, Mount, Werner.

Predicition: 1-1.

Out of the Box Transfers That Could Improve Spurs Next Season

The key to any effective transfer policy for any club is to identify problem areas and have creative and pragmatic solutions to said problems. When it comes to Tottenham, this philosophy is not only imperative, but rather mandatory. 

So instead of this article being the usual ‘click bait’ about how ‘Spurs can sign Messi’, it will instead focus on transfers that would not only improve the team, but could solve the issues around non-Home Grown player limits.

Before we begin talking about potential incoming players, a mini review of the season so far. Despite an explosive start, Spurs have been on the end of some disastrous results as of late, with the partnership of Son Heung-min and Harry Kane losing its early venom as Jose Mourinho edges further and further into a style mired in defensive pragmatism.

In saying that, all of the blame cannot be shouldered solely by Mourinho, with individual errors plaguing the Spurs back line this season. This has led to the Lilywhites dropping ten points from winning positions already, double that of any other club in the Premier League. This is an issue that coaching alone cannot resolve.

It is a problem that Mourinho and the club’s hierarchy is well aware of and they looked to ameliorate this last summer with various attempts to pry Milan Škriniar away from Inter, but the asking price was simply too high.

However, with Davinson Sanchez still unable to find any consistency after three years in North London and with Japhet Tanganga and Joe Rodon still in the infancy of Tottenham careers, the club may well look to revive a deal for Škriniar in the summer as Mourinho looks to find another missing piece to his Tottenham puzzle. But Škriniar’s the asking price unlikely to have come down, Daniel Levy may have to look for a cheaper option.

My pick would be Marseille ‘s Croatian central defender Duje Ćaleta-Car. At just twenty-four years old he is still yet to hit his peak, but is still experienced enough to start week in, week out. Standing at 6ft 3 inch he certainly fits the mould of a physically imposing defender which Mourinho tends to favour. But he is not just a big brute who will smash it into Row Z at a moment’s opportunity – he is a very accomplished passer of the ball. This season the Croatian has also managed to win a staggering 70% of his aerial duels, a talent that could certainly come in handy for set pieces.

When it comes to the financial outlay, French football has deep financial issues and, even though Marseille is not as detrimentally affected as other teams, Spurs will not need to make silly offer to prise him away. Unfortunately, Tottenham will have to probably shift a non-Home Grown player to get this deal over the line, a task that is a lot easier said than done. The possible outgoings to facilitate this transfer would be a combination of Villarreal taking up the option to sign Juan Foyth and the sale of Davinson Sanchez, neither of which are certainties.

The next problem area is in attacking midfield. Tanguy Ndombele’s emergence as one of the best midfielders in the league is one of a few positive for Spurs fans. The Frenchman has been key member of the Tottenham attacking unit, looking rejuvenated this season and producing moments of pure brilliance, most notably against Sheffield United when he scored an audacious chip with his back to goal to secure three points. And let us not forget the game against Southampton when he pirouetted beautifully to beat the press of two oncoming midfielders and found a defence splitting pass to Son Heung-min who promptly slotted away.

However, despite Ndombele’s electric displays, he and Harry Kane have had to shoulder far too much of the creative burden. Giovani Lo Celso’s stop-start season and the mysterious treatment of Dele Alli hasn’t helped, but this it is still a key problem Spurs need to address in the summer window.

Marcus Edwards could be the answer. Edwards was a highly touted talent during the Mauricio Pochettino era, with the former Spurs coach even once likened him to Lionel Messi. Since leaving for Portuguese side Vitoria S.C in 2019, the twenty-two-year-old has gained a reputation as a dynamic ball carrier with the ability to play on either wing or behind the striker.

He has bags of technical ability and is not too bad with a defence splitting through ball either. Last season, Edwards managed seven league goals and five assists with an additional two goals in the Europa League. Tottenham would have to pay a relatively small fee to resign a player with great potential, as well as much needed creative invention in addition to help solving the growing foreign player issue. The outgoings to facilitate this transfer would likely be either Erik Lamela or Lucas Moura, both of whom are struggling for regular playing time.

The last transfer suggestion has been rumoured for some time. The position is central midfielder, and the player is Marcel Sabitzer. The twenty-six-year-old is a versatile and important cog in Julian Nagelsmann’s RB Leipzig machine, playing numerous roles including right wing, false nine and defensive midfield. Sabitzer’s technical ability, defensive awareness, passing range and athleticism make him the perfect partner for Tottenham’s midfield general Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, with both capable of line breaking passing.  Additionally, he already plays under a coach dubbed “Mini Mourinho”, so it may be a quick transition period for Sabitzer if he makes the move to North London. His adaptability in playing in multiple positions and in a variety of systems is surely something that would interest Mourinho.

I believe Tottenham have a fantastic squad, but we lack balance. We must remember we are in a transitional period under Mourinho, but, with a few of the right signings, there is no telling what the club could achieve.