Match Preview; Spurs v Paços de Ferreira (I predict 4-0 win)

Match Preview; Spurs  v Paços de Ferreira (I predict 4-0 win)

At the Tottenham Stadium KO 7.45pm

Harry Kane staying

It has just been reported that Kane will stay for another season. But if we win things, he might stay longer. City were never going to pay what Levy was asking for, and it suddenly dawned on Kane that he wasn't going anywhere. The next best thing for him was to knuckle down and get on with it. Hopefully, he sees something in Nuno to give him confidence that his future is at Spurs and not at any other club. But that will be another story for another day.

Kane will make a huge difference for us and give confidence all around. But we still need a few more players, including a striker if Kane should suffer a drawback (injury-wise). It is now over to Levy and the director of Football to help Kane win trophies and strengthen our squad.  And if (and it is a big "if") we should do well and win trophies and also get into the top four he might - just might - see his future with us. And if we should win trophies it will be the first time in 13 years (2008). 

As for Nuno; what I see so far I like. He has orchestrated wins over the League Champions City and Wolves (two wins out of two in the league). However, the game against Pacos away I saw that as an experiment (an experiment of youngsters). What Nuno needs now is for Levy and co to back him in the transfer market, otherwise, we could have a repeat of what we had last season (a struggle). 

To the match

As you have noticed,  in the title, I predicted a 4-0 win for us. In the away leg, I expected a 4-1, however, what I didn't know at the time of my prediction was that the squad he eventually put out would be just the youngsters. So we did well to come away with just a 1-0 defeat. This time around, I am expecting a stronger squad from Nuno. Maybe with Harry starting.

After recording wins over  City and Wolves without even conceding a goal, it would be hard to criticise Nuno's start to the new season. And the Europa Conference away leg had no resemblance to those two games either. It was more of a tryout for the youngsters. Nuno probably thought that we've got the firepower to overcome in the next leg even if we did lose.

Nevertheless, this competition represents our best hopes of winning something this season and failing to reach the Europa Conference League group stages would put Nuno Espirito Santo in an awful light.

Previous results.

 

Tottenham Hotspur Europa Conference League form:

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Tottenham Hotspur form (all competitions):

WLW

Pacos de Ferreira Europa Conference League form:

WLW

Pacos de Ferreira form (all competitions):

WWLLWL

 

Team News

Spurs

Nuno will make widespread changes; naming a Spurs XI featuring senior players.

After the news that Kane is staying, he will be in the squad and probably will start. I see Ryan Sessegnon, Giovani Lo Celso and Bryan Gil all returning to the team. Cristian Romero should also feature in the middle of the defence.

Pacos

Helder and Lucas Silva are in line to return for Pacos de Ferreira after they dropped out of the side for the game versus Estoril. Matchoi Djalo is pushing for a start, having only been named as a substitute for the last two fixtures.

My possible starting lineup:

Hugo; Doherty, Romero, Davies, Sessegnon; Winks, Skipp, Lo Celso; Moura, Kane, Gil

As I said, we will play more of our leading players in this contest compared to the first leg, which will make all the difference and probably achieve my prediction (fingers crossed). I expect an early goal from us, and wouldn't it be admirable if Kane got that goal?

Thoughts and prediction

Nuno is no fool. In my Match Review for that first game, I did say that Nuno has done what has been asked of him by Levy to give our youngsters a chance and what an opportunity they got. It is inconceivable that he will put out the same sort of squad this time around. This leg will be for the big boys as we can't afford any slip-ups.

As I said twice in this article, I am going for a 4-0 win. We have the firepower and providing he puts out a strongish team, we can win by that margin.

Up the Spurs

I am going to the match and looking forward to a good game and catching up with my mates. It will be a long journey as my daughter can't look after my dog, as she is in Kessingland, so she (the dog) will have to go to Hanna's in Goodmayes. A long round trip. It will be a tiring day. 

Stay safe and all the best, Glenn