Lose, New Goalie, Win, Win (Eventually) - Welcome To 2025

Unfortunately, lots of travelling for family reasons over the past couple of weeks has meant that I haven't been able to keep up with my writing up of how I see things going on with Spurs as well as I would ideally like. Obviously the ramblings of a middle aged misery are not exactly important compared to the health and well being of those you love and hold great regard for but I do hope to keep the scribbling up. Call it a sort of New Years Resolution.

Anyway, the last game I commented on was the draw with Wolves. Next up was in-form Newcastle at home with what seemed like an almost 'International Break' gap of six days between the matches. Something quite unusual happened in the first four minutes in as much as Spurs actually took the lead. Dominic Solanke placed a superb header from a Porro cross into the corner of the Newcastle net. Sadly the lead lasted about as long as a Truss premiership and within two minutes the visitors were level. 

Making his debut in goal for the home side after ten years at the club was Brandon Austin who aquitted himself very well. If this turns out to be his only ever appearance in a competitive game for Spurs then despite the final result he can be proud of his contribution having made a couple of decent stops in the first half.

There was obvious controversy around the equaliser but having watched football for over 45 years now I've no idea what handball is anymore so why anyone else even the officials would understand it is beyond me anyway. The away side took the lead through Isak before half time and that was the end of the scoring for the day. In all fairness, Spurs had a real go after the break and were unlucky not to score on more than one occasion. Ange said afterwards 'he'd never been so angry' because he felt the players didn't get the reward for their efforts. In this instance I feel some sympathy for his point of view.

With Liverpool in the League Cup semi final first leg on the horizon Spurs fans everywhere could have been forgiven for feinting with shock when only a few days into the window they signed a player. Not only that, it was in a position that the team were desperate for, a new goalkeeper. Antonin Kinsky, a 21 year old Czech arrived from Slavia Prague for around £12m. Ange threw him straight into the team and what followed over the 90+ mins was quite remarkable. 

I'm naturally extremely pessimistic having been constantly let down by this club especially over the last 25 years so was expecting a 'Bobby Mimms' of a debut. What actually happened was a fresh faced 21 year old playing like an experienced 32 year old full international keeper with about 70 caps under his belt.

Kinsky, debut, massive game, wonderful opponents, so what?

The immediate confidence that Kinsky's inclusion seem to inspire in the team manifested itself in what is probably the best performance of the season and maybe the best so far under Ange. Spurs were great, none so more than the two eighteen year olds in the starting line up, the imperious Archie Gray and the fast improving Lucas Bergvall. Gray continues to astound, playing week-in week-out in an unfamiliar position alongside another inexperienced and not much older centre back. Until Bergvall's winner the moment of the match had been Gray bringing the ball out of defence like an Italian libero from the 1980's before hitting a pass with the outside of his right foot to Kulusevski on the wing.

Other mentions have to go to Jed Spence playing left back and fully inheriting the spirit of Chris Hughton, Yves Bissouma who hopefully is getting back to his best and the magnificent Dominic Solanke. It was from Solanke's clever forward play that Bergvall buried the winning goal into the corner of the Liverpool net. Maybe he could have been sent off moments earlier but its not like Liverpool have ever had any dodgy refereeing decisions in their favour in a match against Spurs like say the Champions League final is it?

So we're now a very long 90 minutes away from a cup final. Who knows who will be fit for the return leg but of course when ws the last time Liverpool had home advantage in the second leg of a two legged affair and didn't go through? I think avoiding defeat at Anfield thus progressing to Wembley will be one of the most unlikely outcomes in the clubs history, another Amsterdam if you like. At least we've got someone called Lucas again though.

For a complete change of scenery, Sunday took Spurs to The Lamb Ground, Tamworth for the FA Cup 3rd Round Tie that the entire country wanted us to lose. Including the ITV team covering the game. I understand why because it would have been the biggest FA Cup upset for donkeys years. Unfortunately for the population and the media eventually Spurs got the job done winning 3 nil after extra time. Tamworth actually missed a golden opportunity in the fourth minute of stoppage time so we can be grateful for that. Nobody from the starting XI bar Bissouma really stood out but once the changes were made and Tamworth tired then it was really only a matter of time before Spurs won the game. 

All the praise in the world should be heaped on Tamworth who gave a great account of themselves and given the draw in round 4 (Villa away) they must be doubly gutted about that late missed chance.

On the downside I'm not sure if that terrible 4G pitch or Timo Werner was the worst thing on display last Sunday. Ange revealed that Werner is the latest victim of the hamstring curse so just as Richarlison becomes avaliable another player dissappears into the murky world of the Spurs treatment department.

At the time of writing its January 15th and its the North London Derby tonight. We're also just about half way through the transfer window, my thoughts on which can be summed up below. 

Not that I expect any different, which is the really sad thing about it. COYS!!