Tottenham Talk on Thursday 16th Sept
Tottenham Talk on Thursday 16th Sept
Good morning once again Spurs folk, no longer top of the league but at the start of the group stages of a fresh European adventure.
Right then, without further ado, let's continue with the content variety by today solving a dietary problem you might have, before we go into talking about tonight's game vs Rennes.
However, Brittany-based Rennes have just three wins in 16 group stage home games across all UEFA competitions (W3, D7, L6).
Tottenham are guaranteed to be ranked by UEFA above Arsenal for the first time since the formation of the Premier League as a direct result of our qualification and appearance in the Conference League this season.
You feel like cheating on your diet?
Go get a pinch of salt and eat that, because that, unknown to you, is actually what your body is probably craving.
Now drink, swishing it around your mouth, 16 - 32 fluid ounces of clean filtered water.
There is a Taoist saying; "drink your food and chew your water" which is very wise.
"Chewing" your water greatly improves digestion.
Cravings gone?
Job done.
There, that was short and sweet so now for tonight's European football match in France.
Rennes are our opponents in Group G and it is refreshing to come up against a team we probably all know little about, it stimulates the interest in the game.
A new competition, the UEFA Europa Conference League is a trophy we should be looking to win, for reasons stated in previous articles.
The club have to win something, anything, to start a winning habit.
Experiencing those feeling and emotions are essential to be able to draw on them next time we reach a final.
Last season in Europe Rennes won one game and lost five and yet are still second favourites, behind Spurs, to win this UEFA Europa Conference League (UECL) group and progress automatically to the Round of 16.
The French side have faced opponents from London twice since 2018/19, winning one and losing one (W1, L1), despite getting on the scoresheet in both matches.
Rennes are yet to draw a game vs English opposition (W2, L4) in any competitive games so statistically a result is likely.
That all points in our favour but we do struggle to beat teams on our European travels lately.
This season, under new Head Coach Nuno Espírito Santo, in all matches, not just away games, we have won four and lost two and have before us the chance to make further European history for the club.
Benjamin Bourigeaud has assisted Nayef Aguerd for a first-half goal in both of Rennes’ last two UEFA qualifiers, so we, the Lillywhites, will have to be wary of him.
Harry Kane will become Tottenham’s all-time leader in European appearance should he play tonight in what will be his 65th game, currently he shares that mantle with the brilliant Steve Perryman.
Tottenham Hotspur were the very first winners of the inaugural UEFA Cup back in 1971/72 so adding the inaugural UEFA Europa Conference League (UECL) would be fitting.
Is it our destiny?
Our last European trophy was in 1984, we could do with another.
Unfortunately, Spurs have lost their last two European away games to nil and we need to put that right tonight by scoring and starting our group off with a win.
Our away record against French opposition isn't good (W0 D3 L2), not a single win in five attempts and in those ties we haven't scored more than one goal in any of them.
In fact in the first two, we didn't score at all and only managed one goal in the last three.
Rennes have averaged one goal scored per match across their six prior H2Hs vs English opposition.
Will we therefore need to score twice tonight?
Overall we have a 55%win record against all French opposition, having played 10 games, won 4 drawn 3 and lost 3, scoring 15 goals and conceding 12.
Benjamin Bourigeaud has assisted Nayef Aguerd for a first-half goal in both of Rennes’ last two UEFA qualifiers, so we, the Lillywhites, will have to be wary of him.
Harry Kane will become Tottenham’s all-time leader in European appearance should he play tonight in what will be his 65th game, currently he shares that mantle with the brilliant Steve Perryman.
Hugo Lloris has 62 appearances, Ben Davies 52, Heung-min Son 50, Dele Alli 47, Eric Dier 45, Harry Winks 40, Lucas Moura 31 and Dávinson Sánchez 30.
The prolific Kane is already Spurs' top-scorer in continental competition (40 goals).
Behind him are Jermain Defoe 23, Martin Chivers 22, Heung-min Son 21.
Other current Spurs players are Lucas Moura 11, Dele Alli 7 and Giovanni Lo Celso 6.
Incidentally Own Goals (for us) sit joint 5th in the overall list with 13 goals, together with former players Martin Peters, Alan Gilzean and Mark Falco.
With injuries and isolation we are stretched but hopefully we'll see the exciting Bryan Gil start and influence the game.
With injuries and isolation we are stretched but hopefully we'll see the exciting Bryan Gil start and influence the game.
He would have been a spark of fresh air against Crystal Palace and it would help fans to see where he is at with minutes in the Premier League.
Against French opposition Tangay Ndombele would feel at home so surely an ideal time to reintroduce him to the team.
Pierluigi Gollini gives confidence in goal, Matt Doherty showed signs of improvement in his last game, mind you that was signs of improvement from his poor form in pre-season.
Joe Rodon shouldn't have any problems with this level, nor should Ben Davies.
Do we play a right-back at left-back?
Harry Winks, Tanguy Ndombele, Pierre-Emile Højbjerg perhaps with a front three of Gil, Jack Clarke and Harry Kane.
Doubt we'll see that as Moura will play I would think but two youngsters keen to impress need minutes.
Fingers crossed that we see a more entertaining game from our boys and an away victory for us to start the group in style.
Enjoy, your day, enjoy the anticipation, the build up and hopefully, enjoy the game but above all, support Spurs.
Spurs News
Our trio of playing in quarantine and training in Croatia, Giovanni Lo Celso, Cristian Romero and Dávinson Sánchez will be returning to the UK on Saturday, in time for the Chelsea game.
Whether they figure, not having trained with the squad is another matter, but at least one will probably have to.
Well that's it folks, short and sweet, just like me.
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