In only our second home game of the season we welcome Spurs to the City Ground.
It’s been eight years since we played Spurs, with our last meeting a 3-1 League Cup loss. Grant with the goal on 61 minutes, before 3 late goals from them. One by Harry Kane, in what was his breakthrough season.
It’s the 25th anniversary of the last time we beat them, which was a run of 14 games with just one defeat.
Last Game Overview:
In our midweek game we saw a Yates stunner and two classic Surridge finishes. Dennis chipping in with the assist.
In the Everton game (which is more of a measure of our first XI), we saw strong performances from Henderson, Williams, McKenna, Mangala, O’Brien and Johnson. MGW and Yates both improving us off the bench.
Our defence looked slow (especially for their goal), with Awoniyi, Lingard, Toffolo and Worrall not quite up to the same standard.
Signings:
We continue to look for a LWB with Renan Lodi linked with a £5m loan (and a £30m option to buy). For those unfamiliar with Lodi, he was Brazil’s first choice LB in 2021 and can’t get a game at Atletico Madrid….
Elsewhere, Aouar continues to be linked (unlikely after the MGW capture) as does the mentalist Aurier.
Hwang became our 17th signing and immediately joined Olympiakos. About time we repaid part of the favour to EM.
A pacey CB looks increasingly needed, with every passing game. Tanganga at Spurs could be our final premier league loan, although Spurs want to sell at £20m.
For anyone keeping count, that could take us up to around £150m (after departures). How bloody dare we!
Your Opposition Story:
None. Other than they ruined my childhood. Twice.
We should have played them in the 1984 Uefa Cup (if it hadn’t have been for a bribed ref) and should have won the FA Cup final, if Gazza had been rightly sent off. The ineptitude of two referees meaning the likely loss of two further trophies. Not really Spurs fault at all then.
Form:
Since Spurs beat Man City at the Etihad they have lost just two Premier league games. That’s a record of W14 D3 L2.
This season they sit on 7 points, with us on 4 points. All we need is a win by 3 clear goals and we’ll leapfrog them in the table 🤣
Overall Record:
Currently we stand at W36 D29 L55, so just 19 straight wins to tie.
Team:
Niakhate and Richards remain sidelined. I think Kouyate picked up a knock, although not mentioned by Cooper. MGW missed out at Grimsby thanks to a knock, but this is likely a Cooper mind game as he was rested for Spurs.
Yates could come in, replacing Mangala or O’Brien. MGW (if fit) to replace Lingard (who still isn’t clicking / fit).
Dennis for Awoniyi maybe? I think that change will happen during the game instead.
Prediction:
Spurs little run I talked about above? They scored 3 or more goals in ten of those games! 4 goals in 3 of those..and 5 goals in 3 of those games!!
I’d be more than happy with a draw. In fact, I’d take a battling loss.
Henderson could be key in keeping the scores against Spurs and Man City down. In 52 games he has 13 losses and 13 clean sheets. He has only let in 3 or more goals on 3 occasions.
I’m going for a 3-1 loss. Henderson keeping it respectable, but the defence proving the weak link.
COYRs!!!!!
Forest v Spurs - Match Thread
posted on 28/8/22
You can win plenty of games with those three up top. You don’t need a no.9 necessarily. I can see the value of having a string centre forward who holds the ball up but I depends on your tactics.
Just watched the 2nd goal and Kouyate and Toffollo just left the best English striker completely unmarked.
posted on 28/8/22
The problem is a proven striker costs a lot of money, and is very difficult to acquire. Kane today was the difference, but i think that’s happened before. What on Earth Kouyate was thinking when he wandered off and left Kane with a simple finish, then turns round and looks at Toffolo, it Kouyate’s mistake all day. I doubt we’ll see him in the Garibaldi too often. On that subject Lodi is apparently done and dusted, if so its a staggering piece of business, Man City have been chasing him recently for as much as £50M, seems like we have a serious player on our hands, and an option/obligation to buy, what’s not to love.
posted on 29/8/22
comment by reddave (U8660)
posted 1 hour, 15 minutes ago
The problem is a proven striker costs a lot of money, and is very difficult to acquire. Kane today was the difference, but i think that’s happened before. What on Earth Kouyate was thinking when he wandered off and left Kane with a simple finish, then turns round and looks at Toffolo, it Kouyate’s mistake all day. I doubt we’ll see him in the Garibaldi too often. On that subject Lodi is apparently done and dusted, if so its a staggering piece of business, Man City have been chasing him recently for as much as £50M, seems like we have a serious player on our hands, and an option/obligation to buy, what’s not to love.
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Williams on the right, Lodi on the left. It will make us less one dimensional also.
One pacy CB and time to gel. We’ll be purring after the World Cup!
posted on 29/8/22
You won’t win games unless you score - we absolutely need an out and out striker to feed…or is Cooper insists on playing Lingard, Johnno and MGW, then he needs to adjust the formation - because yesterday there was no one getting into crosses or aim the ball to
posted on 29/8/22
We didn’t threaten their goal once yesterday, the clear cut chances we had we both missed when Yates should have at least hit the target - those are the differences that will cost us this season I thought Yates was poor yesterday - missed those chances and was at fault for not tracking back when he lost the ball in midfield
Cook was at fault for their first goal and the ridiculous penalty
Overall though, I played well and some of our link up play was superb - but we have got to start scoring some goals
I don’t expect anything from Man City - but maybe we could just go there and get that win - why not, we’ve done it before?
posted on 29/8/22
comment by HEY, WE'RE BACK (U22866)
posted 9 minutes ago
Overall though, I played well
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posted on 29/8/22
Is it me or is ‘HEY WERE BACK’ clearly Rev?
posted on 29/8/22
Anyway, I think we did well yesterday and will be dangerous against most teams. We will improve and have options from the bench too. Will be difficult against the top 4-5 teams but on another day we could have got a draw or a win. We need to improve at the back for sure but that will come with time.
Can’t see where we can buy a decent striker from. If it was possible, all the teams would just buy one. I think we have a lot of good options up front. Think we mainly need another central defender if possible. Boil seems OK I guess as a back up.
posted on 29/8/22
comment by Just another Spurs fan who's faster than Phenom (U22695)
posted 1 hour, 57 minutes ago
comment by HEY, WE'RE BACK (U22866)
posted 9 minutes ago
Overall though, I played well
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Now there’s a Freudian Slip if there ever was one
Should have said: ‘Overall though, I thought we played well…’
posted on 29/8/22
Don’t forget Worralls chance right at the death, should really have scored, but blazed over.