A great 7-2 victory and we have Stoke in the cup… it can only get better!

 

A great 7-2 victory and we have Stoke in the cup… it can only get better!

With all the fixture pileups we've had recently, I wouldn't be surprised if we had struggled, instead, we've shown what a good quality squad we've got, and with the new arrivals (hopefully); a striker and defender, I can see there will be trophies at the end of the rainbow. I also believe that we can challenge for the Premier League title. City, United, Chelsea and Arsenal are not on top form, that just leaves Liverpool and us, and probably Everton and Leicester thrown into the mix (and just as quickly removed, hopefully). Of course, some of you may say I am trying to get ahead of myself, but why not at this stage of the season. What else do we have to look forward to (or hope for), as everything is in a dreadful mode (no fans at football stadiums, COVID-19, isolation etc.)! It could happen and will happen if you think positive, have faith!  Oh, and we've been drawn against Stoke City in the Quarter-Finals of the League Cup… then there is the Europa League draw (below). Omens!

To the goal extravaganza.

Harry Kane scored a hat-trick, and Dele Alli also found the target to help us reach the group stage of the Europa League. A brilliant victory over the Israeli side Maccabi Haifa. With this, our seventh game in 19 exhausting days at the start of the season, you would have forgiven the team for sinking down into depression, and most teams would have! Instead, a frantic first half produced five goals, four of which went to us. Magnificent Harry Kane slotted in the opener from close range before former QPR forward Tjaronn Chery bent in a superb equaliser for Maccabi Haifa. Of course, once their equaliser went in, we turned up the pressure. We quickly restored our lead when Lucas Moura flicked the ball in off his back from a corner. Then we claimed total control, courtesy of two Giovani lo Celso finishes, assisted by the lively Steven Bergwijn and sneaky Kane.

Lo Celso made way for Alli to play in the second half.

We also saw two penalties awarded via controversial handballs. Players will quickly learn to shoot the ball at the arm, and you've got a penalty.  Matt Doherty and Maccabi's Ernest Mabouka both had their arms by their side to block crosses. Still, each were penalised, leading to Nikita Rukavytsya narrowing the three-goal margin before Kane restored it.

Harry Kane completed a fantastic night with a neat chipped ending following a Bergwijn pass, before Alli won a penalty with a sharp turn to draw a foul that he converted.

Spurs didn't have it all their own way against a Maccabi side who pressed with pleasure early on and kept us on our toes.

With Kane's brilliant strikes, Moura's and Bergwijn's drive and Lo Celso's hard-nosed inspiration between them, we see Mourinho is gradually moulding the team into his thinking. As for Alli, being left out recently, it is encouraging to see him put all his efforts into the game and contributing well. To be fair on Mourinho, he has never wavered where Alli's concerned. Alli producing 45 minutes full of graft, sprinkled with astuteness and topped off with a self-assured nutmeg to win the final penalty, and level-headedness to finish it.

Man of the match - Harry Kane.

So, there you have it. With a hectic schedule behind us, we can start to settle into a normal – or as normal as possible – routine. As I said at the beginning, get another striker and defender and  Christmas might just come early, and Christmas is the time of year to get your nuts out; the boys certainly have been doing that lately (metaphorically speaking…  I don't want want to pry too much into the habits of what our team does in private).

Europa League draw for Tottenham

We have been drawn alongside Bulgarian champions Ludogorets, LASK and Royal Antwerp in Group J.

The first three group matches will take place on successive Thursdays from 22 October.

Tottenham, two-time winners of the preceding Uefa Cup beat Maccabi Haifa 7-2.

Draw in full

Group A: Roma, Young Boys, Cluj, CSKA Sofia

Group B: Arsenal, Rapid Vienna, Molde, Dundalk

Group C: Bayer Leverkusen, Slavia Prague, Hapoel Beer-Sheva, Nice

Group D: Benfica, Standard Liege, Rangers, Lech Poznan

Group E: PSV Eindhoven, PAOK, Granada, Omonoi 

Group F: Napoli, Real Sociedad, AZ Alkmaar, Rijeka

Group G: Braga, Leicester, AEK Athens, Zorya Luhansk

Group H: Celtic, Sparta Prague, AC Milan, Lille

Group I: Villarreal, Qarabag, Maccabi Tel-Aviv, Sivasspor

Group J: Tottenham, Ludogorets, LASK, Royal Antwerp

Group K: CSKA Moscow, Dinamo Zagreb, Feyenoord, Wolfsberger

Group L: Gent, Red Star, Hoffenheim, Slovan Liberec

As for the Carabao Cup quarter-final draw: we face Stoke City away.

Stoke City defeated last season's runners-up Aston Villa 1-0 on Thursday to set up their tie against us.

Quarter-final draw

Stoke City v Tottenham

Brentford v Newcastle United

Arsenal v Manchester City

Everton v Manchester United

All looking good.

COYS!!!!!

What next?

We face Manchester United on Sunday (4th October), at Old Trafford (still no fans). This will be at 4.30 pm. I believe the match is on Sky and NowTV. Then a 13 day break for International football.

Best Regards, Glenn

COYS!