After a messy three months and rare feelings of unease over a chaotic summer at St James’ Park, the transfer window ended disappointingly last night with the arrival of no centre-back, right-winger or major first-team signing.
We must learn from our mistakes and up our game off the pitch from this point onwards, but we have a game to play on the grass this weekend as Spurs come to Tyneside for Sunday’s 1.30pm kick-off.
Performances this season have been a bit iffy – we were poor with 11 men against Southampton, we were lucky not to lose at Bournemouth and didn’t control a game we should have won comfortably at Forest on Wednesday – yet we’re unbeaten so far, have taken four points from a possible six and are into the next round of the cup after a morale-boosting shootout win at the City Ground.
Eddie Howe’s pre-match comments
“There are no easy games. We have done well to get four points so far as we have not been at our absolute best. Against Tottenham, we are going to have to be at our very best to get something from the game.
“Tottenham have been very good – they continue to be a team I like to watch, a very attractive style, fluid. They have recruited well and signed some really talented players.
“They were good last year, but I think they will be even better this year. I think we always have entertaining games against them. For us, we need to make sure we get on top of the details.”
Team news
Joe Willock’s thigh injury is not thought to be serious based on initial scans, but he looks set to miss this one along with Fabian Schar – who sits out again as he completes his three-match ban – Callum Wilson (back), Lewis Miley (foot), Sven Botman (ACL) and Jamaal Lascelles (ACL).
In better news, this is the first time in 10 months that Sandro Tonali will be eligible in the Premier League and the Italian handed given Howe a selection dilemma after looking razor sharp on his return in midweek.
For Spurs, £65m signing Dominic Solanke…
Source link : https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2024/08/31/spurs-h-pre-match-thoughts-team-news-possible-line-up-and-prediction/
Author : Olly Hawkins
Publish date : 2024-08-31 09:11:26
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