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Fri 21st Feb: CROSSOVER - Ipswich vs Spurs
16 Plays9 days ago
On today's Daily Tottenham we ask, can Ipswich Town swerve relegation and how has Tottenham Hotspur’s injury crisis derailed their campaign? In our latest podcast episode, we dive deep into the highs and lows of the 2024/25 Premier League season for both clubs. Ipswich sit near the bottom of the table, struggling for wins but boosted by key player returns, while Spurs have battled through an injury-plagued season, with manager Ange Postecoglou forced to use 18 different defensive combinations. Can Tottenham bounce back and reclaim their early-season form? Will Ipswich defy the odds and survive? Tune in as we analyze their recent performances, injury concerns, and what lies ahead in their fight for Premier League success. Don't miss out—listen now!
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Transcript
Introduction and Overview
00:00:01
Speaker
Every club. Every day. The Global Sports Podcast Network. Hello everybody and welcome back to The Daily Upswich. It is crossover Friday as we are looking ahead to Towns Home Tire against Tottenham this Saturday at Portman Road.
00:00:18
Speaker
And to do that I'm delighted to say I'm joined by Mr Joe Forrester from The Daily
Rivalry and Season Reflections
00:00:22
Speaker
Tottenham Podcast. How are you doing Joe? Yeah good mate, good. How are you? Yeah, really, really good. I was saying to you before we logged on, is one of the few games we can sort of look back fondly in terms of our previous meeting this season, few and far between. So I'm sure you guys are hoping to give us a rebuttal and get a good scoreline for you guys. But yeah, looking forward to this weekend.
00:00:40
Speaker
Do you know what? It's one of those weird football matches that sort of just like, it feels like a little bit of a derby or a grudge match now because kind of ah ips ipswich the defeat to Ipswich at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was kind of emblematic of Spurs' as patchy season because you mentioned before off-air that ah we then subsequently went beat Man City, Thrash Man City, 4-0, I think four four or five days later.
00:01:01
Speaker
But that was generally the start of Spurs' rotten run of form. horrible injury crisis, all that sort of thing. so there is a part of me, that illogical football fan that goes, well, it was Ipswich's fault. yeah We are. I think, well, to be honest, I think if you look at rivals for us in the Premier League this season, geographically, you guys are maybe on the closest teams to us as well.
00:01:19
Speaker
That could maybe be a bit more of a thing as well, because really in our part of the country, with the exception of a certain team in Norfolk, we haven't really got any rivals,
Tottenham's Season Woes
00:01:26
Speaker
to be honest. So it's kind of nice to have that sense of a rivalry going into game for sure.
00:01:31
Speaker
I think with today's show, we'll start with focusing on you guys of being the away team. So really first, Joe, mean, obviously, I think from an outside aspect, it may not have been the season you guys were hoping for, but how would you just rate Spurs a season overall so far with a few months left of a season to go?
00:01:47
Speaker
i would say but if we if we go on the old podcast star rating system, I would say it's a two-star season. It's been very disappointing for Spurs. Like obviously kind of last last year was a kind of a season of two halves in the sense that Tottenham were absolutely electric for the first 10 games of the season.
00:02:08
Speaker
um Got beaten by Chelsea at home and kind of this giant collapse happened, but had thankfully accrued enough points to to see us through into the European places with that that run in that first 10 games. But one of the things that I think because the the points total um was perhaps a bit misleading at the end of last season was that Spurs have been in rotten form rotten form pretty much since since the start of last year.
00:02:30
Speaker
And that's really continued into into this season. There's without a doubt been an injury crisis. That being said, kind of like but don't want to rely on that too much because I kind of look at Bournemouth, who I know for large periods of the last few weeks have had nine first 11 players that would theoretically be in the first 11 out and have been Absolutely electric.
00:02:54
Speaker
So yes, Spurs have had injuries. but i And I guess what Poster Coglu will hide behind is I've got a system that fits these 11 players and they're the ones who know how to say it that how to play it. But conversely, I think Tottenham fans would kind of be like, well, you're managing a squad, not a team. So everybody should know how to play that system. And I get kind of playing a load of teenagers and stuff.
00:03:15
Speaker
isn't ideal. I don't think the injuries are enough of an excuse for how poor Tottenham's forms be. We don't mind losing games if you've got a few first-teamers out. What we do mind is iss playing poorly and and incoherently. And I think that is a little bit of a worry in that kind of classic football cliche, has he lost the dressing room?
00:03:32
Speaker
Floats around a lot. Also, Ange kind of very bullishly said, oh, I always win a trophy in my second season. And Spurs were subsequently knocked out the League Cup and the FA Cup within in five days of one another, leaving only the Europa League. The reason it's a two-star season, not a one-star, is because Spurs are in the Europa League knockout stages.
00:03:52
Speaker
So we're pinning all our hopes on that. In the league, eighth would be delightful, but that seems out of reach. And if I'd have known I'd be saying that this time last year, I think I'd have been very disappointed.
00:04:06
Speaker
Yeah, yeah, very much so. I think i touching on the injuries there, obviously it is a big, I think that one of the many narratives surrounding the club at the moment.
Tottenham's Rising Stars
00:04:13
Speaker
But I mean, yes, yeah, like you said, it's not, it's an excuse you can only use for a certain amount of time, but there are a lot of players out. And we did see last week, we have a few coming back, the likes of Vicaria and a few others as well, coming back a team. And you did get three points, albeit against quite a poor United side.
00:04:26
Speaker
So I think there is an aspect to show like once certain players to do come back in, you very much can compete on certain levels. I mean, we we very much had have a quite few injuries this season as well. I mean, thankfully Liam De Lapp hasn't gone out, but I'm fairly certain if he wants to go out, the goals would, not that they've been going in on a constant rate this season, but obviously he's been our main goal for every season. If he wants to go away, I'm pretty sure he'd use that as an excuse to the cows come home.
00:04:48
Speaker
But obviously, like said, some players have been out and yes, maybe in the league, it's not where you guys would like to be, of course, but We've seen some certain like young players come into the squad. I think Jed Spence finally seems to be getting his chance and the young blonde lad, is it Bergval? Bergval, yeah. Bergval, yeah. I think those two have really impressed me from an outsider's perspective as well. Are there any players this season, maybe going into this year, you know, you always got the usual suspects of Son and maybe Madison, obviously, has fallen slightly out of favour. But are players this season so far, again, like I said, it's not what you would have wanted, I'm sure, but who sort of have
00:05:22
Speaker
kind of impressed you when you didn't expect to see that sort of form coming? Yeah, well, you were absolutely right to to single out the youngsters. Lucas Bergvau has been excellent. So Bergvau is only... 18 at the start of the season. He's only just turned 19.
00:05:35
Speaker
He's... For people who haven't watched a lot Tottenham, he's a kind of... um All-action midfielder, kind of favours playing in the final third, but is not scared to kind of get back and mix it up a little bit.
00:05:46
Speaker
He's been excellent, really kind of gone from strength to strength. And certainly in the last few weeks, I've looked at him and gone, he's our best midfielder. Because another issue that Spurs have had as first-team players have come back and included amongst those are Bentancur and Basuma.
00:05:59
Speaker
So the midfield three has generally for the past few weeks been Bentancur, Basuma and Saar. And in all honesty, they have been shambolic, giving the ball away, kind of no no ability to to kind of hassle the opposition in midfield. And that's been where Tottenham's really struggled. And actually, Lucas Bergvau, when he's played or when he started, has been excellent.
00:06:21
Speaker
The other youngster to single out is Archie Gray. Came from Leeds last year where he played central midfield, but also obviously played right back a fair bit. Coming to Spurs, pretty much played centre-back for the entire season as Tottenham's three first-choice centre-backs were all out. So it's been him and Ben Davis for a lot. Spurs have had tons and tons of different combinations as well, it's worth saying, in a and in defence.
00:06:49
Speaker
But Gray's been absolutely fantastic, composed, strong, great feet. I personally can't wait to see him playing defensive midfield, which is apparently his his favoured position. He's only 18. He looks like a real player, so delighted with him. Jed Spence as well, there the Jed renaissance.
00:07:04
Speaker
That's been absolutely like amazing to see. His talent wasn't in doubt when he came. was in the Championship Team of the Year playing for Borough, I think, on loan from Forest, or possibly the other way around.
00:07:16
Speaker
Came to Spurs, Antonio Conte said he's not good enough. I'm sure that can't be great for a young player's confidence. Went on loan to Leeds where he had a knee injury, then went to Genoa in Italy and actually got a bit of first team football there. Played at San Siro a couple of times, come back a much more mature player.
00:07:33
Speaker
And he's the best fullback at the club at the moment. So while he's a right footer currently playing left back, while we wait for Destiny a doggy to come back at left back, I mean, i don't know if a doggy will get back in the team.
00:07:44
Speaker
Spence has had back-to-back Man of the Match awards and looked worth it. And kind of as an England fan, I kind of say, oh, is that the England left-back problem solved? Just stick Spence in. The other kind of standout player this season has probably been Dejan Kulusevsky.
00:07:59
Speaker
um His talent was never in doubt. um I watched a bit of pre-season and I kind of thought he just looks so fit, so quick, so strong. His technique has kind of never been in question. He has dropped off a bit the last few weeks, but he's probably quite tired from carrying the team on his shoulders.
00:08:18
Speaker
James Madison has been... Again, patchy. He was actually excellent against Manchester United. Scored the goal that won the game. Gave it the old dance celebration and the shush to the lips, obviously.
00:08:29
Speaker
Reference to kind of Roy Keane's comments the week before. When he plays and he's purring, we're a completely different team because he really can just run a game. um And you said Vicarios. Well, having Vicarios back...
00:08:41
Speaker
was night and day. I mean, United had three or four really decent chances despite being awful. And Vicario was just absolutely imperious. and And we've really, really missed him. So probably more than any other player, I think Tottenham fans be chuffed to know he's back and he's fit.
00:08:58
Speaker
Yeah, yeah. ah Speaking of Madison eb before we go to first break here, is is it not has it been a matter of fact of him being out favour or maybe injuries kind of played a bit? Because when you guys played us over the season, he only played that the last five minutes to try and get an equaliser. It wasn't really what you what you would expect from him to be but contributing to the game. And I think him would be thinking that as well.
00:09:18
Speaker
I mean, I said in our preview pod on yesterday's show to Richard from our team saying how, for me, he's one of your standout players. You think like when he is on form, he's one of the most creative players, I think, in the Premier League.
00:09:28
Speaker
And you saw he was on the fringes of that England team last summer as well. You know, it's hard to get into that area of the field because there's so many great
Ipswich's Managerial Dynamics
00:09:35
Speaker
players, isn't there? But for you, should he be nailed on starter or is ah is there a good reason why Andrew's left him out on quite few occasions this season?
00:09:42
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, you're right, because this time last year, you're he was in kind of in the England squad, or certainly kind of getting into England squads for friendlies and stuff. And now he's missed two England squads in a row. And I know he's been injured, but some of that is is through form. He's a really mercurial footballer.
00:09:57
Speaker
And now that he's in his late 20s, I think he's 27, 28, he should be more consistent because his talent is kind of not up for debate. he is that He's a lovely kind of classy midfielder, like I say, can run a game.
00:10:12
Speaker
We thought we'd kind of maybe found his position when he played a little bit deeper at the start of the season. Form dropped off again. Dejan Kulusevski was actually an attacking midfield when kind of everybody was fit. I personally...
00:10:23
Speaker
if it's a game of football manager, I'm playing James Madison every week because yeah he is talent wise. Undoubtedly, he can make a difference. I think Spurs fans would just like to see him have that impact on the game every week. And I think the expectations are higher for him because he's such a good player.
00:10:42
Speaker
That being said, I think, yeah, yeah. To be honest with you, I think he's also been asked to play in a couple of different positions throughout the midfield and kind of on top of that, teammates coming in and out. It's not kind of a consistent playing field for him.
00:10:57
Speaker
But yeah, in in an ideal world, just from my point of view, my dream midfield would probably be Madison, Bergvau and Gray right now because I don't think Basuma, Sar and Benson Cora are anywhere near the level they should be at.
00:11:13
Speaker
Hmm. Yeah, I agree with you there as well you with your early point for Archie Gray as well. it's I think it's, know, it's shown for him as well this season the fact that he's had to play in a position that he wasn't brought into play and he's actually been relatively, like, competent and one of the few standout players shows as, like, a quality player and when he does go in, as you said, in his correct position, like, is flat he should flourish even more.
00:11:31
Speaker
Before we go to the first break, you know, I'm sure you you get asked it a lot, but but where are you on, Ange? Like, for me, I like the guy. i Obviously, I think personality-wise that's not come into question. I think he's kind of charmed the league. Obviously, very much so did last season.
00:11:44
Speaker
been bit flakier this year with, as you said, his second cup a second season cup statement at the start the year. Kind of did put him into the deep end a little bit. But from from where I look at things, it's like, if he does go, who else is there? you know I'm not going to pretend I was like ah knew he ah knew of him that much really last season. Obviously, I heard him the season before. I knew i knew of him at Celtic.
00:12:02
Speaker
But you know it's not many big name managers out there, but I not necessarily think that's what Spurs fans want. like where where you Where do you stand on that? It's quite divisive, isn't it? In or out, isn't it? Yeah, i think i think he's been humbled a little bit this season because yeah he kind of had like, we play one way. This is the only way we play. It's like...
00:12:23
Speaker
Amazing, like, fine, that's great. If you kind of have a world 11 and you look at the other great managers, um I don't know, like all the people are doing really well at the moment on a slot, for example, like, you can adapt the way his team plays because you have to, because I think the the big thing that Andrew's found out is if you're in Scotland, then there are two good teams.
00:12:44
Speaker
And, Like apologies to kind of Scottish listeners and fans of SPL clubs who aren't Raiders or Celtic, but there are teams in that division who are closer to League One level than there are kind of Premier League level.
00:12:56
Speaker
So you can go out and be swashbuckling and incredibly attacking and aggressive every game. You can't do that in the Premier League because there's 15 good teams who would give you a really good game, maybe more.
00:13:07
Speaker
I mean, who in the league at the moment is an absolute gimme? Southampton, maybe? Leicester? But that's pretty much it. But know but like obviously, you came to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, you beat us. it's It's an incredibly competitive division with a very high level of ability. So he has, in recent weeks, been forced to adapt.
00:13:27
Speaker
And there's kind of an issue of he perhaps has gone too far the other way and is now trying to kind of lump the ball forward. I just wonder... how nuanced he is as a manager. And if he's, if this is slightly beyond his level, but i don't want to be unfair. I think,
00:13:43
Speaker
kind of give him a fit squad and see where we are at the end of the season. But if we're still having some flat, lackluster performances, and let's let's be honest, we beat Manchester United on Sunday because they were worse than us.
00:13:54
Speaker
That's it. It wasn't Spurs were brilliant, Spurs were rubbish. So that's beating United these days isn't anything particularly to shout about. Yeah, I think it's probably split very 50-50, the fan base, in terms of Ange. I'm willing to give a few more months. I'm But
Ipswich's Premier League Journey
00:14:10
Speaker
if it's still a bit flat, I would personally like to see the club move heaven and earth to get Andoni Iriola to move slightly further north and come to Spurs.
00:14:20
Speaker
Yeah, that he very much does seem like the next name on the changing sheet, doesn't he, for a managers because he's done such a fantastic job at Bournemouth. And you know there's definitely bigger fish to fry for him as a manager, for sure.
00:14:31
Speaker
We're going to take our first break. When we come back, we're going to discuss a bit more things to do Ipswich Town. Yeah. Your body is unique and Global Sports Podcast Network has partnered with Bionique, the world's most personalized supplements.
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Speaker
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Speaker
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Speaker
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00:15:15
Speaker
Can I just say, if you listen to that Saturday Feeling podcast on the Global Sports Podcast Network or kind of a couple of other ones, that's you might recognise those dulcet tones as Ken, who's actually the one of the chaps who runs the network.
00:15:28
Speaker
And I love that advert because I don't know why he's done it so sexy and alluring. But it's just, I um well i want some Bionique now. like Just well done, Ken. a british Like the British Barry White or something, isn't it? Oh, it's so, honestly, it's ridiculous. It's like ASMR.
00:15:46
Speaker
ah Great to hear Ken's voice this Friday, for sure. Just like I said, before the break there, we're going to look ahead. okay Look at Ipswich Town now as well. Joe, before I i'll sort of give you my sort of take on how we fared as a club this season, just obviously, yeah like you said, we came to your place earlier this season, got our first win of the season. It was really, really fantastic for us because i think if that didn't go well,
00:16:05
Speaker
Who knows where a victory could have came from. was really starting to get a bit desperate, you know. But since then, we've only managed to get two more wins since then. We are still 18th, but albeit two points off all. So I think between us and them, really, this season, as to who will potentially join Leicester and Southampton, going down to the Championship. But just thoughts on it, just in general as a club and just how we fared this season, really.
00:16:24
Speaker
Yeah, been very impressed, to be honest. Obviously, kind of something of, a of but I think it's fair to say, an unexpected promotion. which obviously you do you do get. That's kind of the magic of the championship. like kind of it can Your fortunes can change very quickly.
00:16:38
Speaker
um And actually think, to be honest, the Ipswich have acquitted themselves really well in the Premier League. Play some decent football, giving some people decent games. Like you say, it's a tough injury list at the moment. I mean, Transebi's suspended, isn't he? You've got a couple of other injuries as well.
00:16:57
Speaker
And I think, like yeah, for for a team that was kind of constructed for Championship or maybe even League One with a few kind of players signed for the Premier League. I think that's something you kind of really can't afford to lose. Obviously, Liam De Lappe is the kind of only outlet when it comes to goals, really. And as you say, thankfully, he stayed fit.
00:17:15
Speaker
But yeah, really impressed, to be honest, and still kind of in touch with 17th. As you say, I think it's only two points between yourselves and Wolves. West Ham in 16th. I think eight points further on and probably a little bit a little bit out of reach now. But it is going to be, well, mean, Southampton are gone, aren't they? But...
00:17:32
Speaker
and Leicester likely as well. But it is that battle, looks like, between yourselves and Wolves to to stay in the division. And right now, I couldn't call it. Yeah, yeah, I'm in agreement with you. I think it's a game-by-game basis. Like, after the Southampton game, i was I was luckily away on holiday, so I missed that game. But I think after that, I did kind of feel like the writing was on the wall because if you can't beat them...
00:17:51
Speaker
What hope have you got? But it's a game by game basis, isn't it? And yeah we had a fantastic, I think, the FA Cup win against Coventry. Really kind of, yes, it was a team in the league below, but very much was a fit of shot of confidence in the arm and then a really, really good point away at Villa. We got two points again against them this season, which come the end the season could be vital because they're a really, really good squad.
00:18:08
Speaker
Confidence is slightly creeping back, you know, and it's it's a funny business, isn't it, football, where you can go two or three games, obviously, after I think we drew against Fulham in January. Went on a really poor run, albeit against Liverpool and like 10 goals in two games, only scoring one.
00:18:21
Speaker
But then, you know, you jump ahead a few weeks and you get a great draw against arguably one of the most informed sides in Europe, in Aston Villa, and getting a really, really good point. So i am a bit more optimistic heading to this weekend. I think for me, this season...
00:18:34
Speaker
Yeah, the yeah the the League One sort of championship squad we've we've had for the past couple of years has started to fade away. We've had to, obviously, we have brought in a lot of players for season. I think we may have signed the most most players for season as a whole. to because We brought a lot more in January as well.
00:18:47
Speaker
And we have had this kind of sort of romantic sort of connection to the to the squad, really, because it was such a meteoric rise the past two years. But a lot of those guys now have slowly been faded out and it's been kind of difficult as fans to see that at the start because you do, like I said, you do kind of want to see those guys who came up be the reason you're staying up.
00:19:04
Speaker
I'd say really the only player for me, only played one or two players now who are almost still nailed on in the first 11, despite the fact they were in that League One team, were our captain Sam Morsey and Leif Davis.
00:19:17
Speaker
They're really the only two i who I could say would firmly start each game, despite the fact we're now in the Premier League. A lot of them have, unfortunately, flag like Luke Wolfenden, one of our own centre-back, he still does make the odd cameo. He came on for Twins AB after the red card last week and did put in a good performance. But yeah, it's having to adjust. I think it's been really difficult this season. The adjustments, the biggest part. Obviously, you've got you've gone up a league. That's a big, big factor. But bringing in all these squads and players, sorry, and having to buy into the culture of what we're doing as a club and I think that's one of the reasons why we've been able to bring in some quote-unquote big names I think yes opinion can be divided on but Calvin Phillips coming to us but I think was quite a big move and CISO coming in in January as well I think that's two players really you know who could be at clubs higher in the league but they obviously bought into what McKenna's been feeding them so
00:20:03
Speaker
I'm a bit more optimistic about staying up just because Wolves, just that the the lack of passion I see in comparison from them to
Ipswich's Future Prospects
00:20:10
Speaker
our fan base. I think it is a bit more night and day. i mean I've played some good football as well. it's There's been a lot of results this season that really, it's been the skin of our teeth that we conceded late against Leicester. And then we were free all at Brentford and then scored a last minute like ah goal to lose the game there. and There's been a lot more games like that as well. So Because I think in terms of drawing this season, we are quite close to you. I think in the amount of games we've drawn eight and, well, you've drawn three this season, but it's the losses that kind of have come your way. But we've drawn a lot of games this season as well.
00:20:38
Speaker
And, you know, its you can sometimes look back and think, it's it's hard not to look back and think, oh, that went our way, wouldn't be here. But we are. But I'm still very much enjoying the ride. I don't think, like some, we there were quite a lot of boos there.
00:20:51
Speaker
after the Southampton loss recently, which were, you know, considering where Southampton have been this season, that could slightly be justified. But you've got look at most like this day two years ago, were away at Fleetwood or Crawley or something.
00:21:02
Speaker
you know what And now to be at home in the Premier League against you guys this weekend, it's it's a pinch of self moment still. And I'm re enjoying it and just hope the season can have a happy ending. Even if it doesn't, it's been a great season and we're very much in good stead for next year, for sure.
00:21:15
Speaker
But yeah, that's where I'm at. You mentioned Leif Davis, i didn't and I think think he's due back this weekend. Yeah, hopefully. And I'm interested, like youve you said about Calvin Phillips as well and kind of buying into Kieran McKenna's project.
00:21:28
Speaker
I think Kieran McKenna is one of those managers, I think, who's quite admired elsewhere in the Premier League because still kind of tried to do things, quote unquote, kind of the right way and kind of play a decent brand of football where possible. Where are the fan base on him? like Is this kind of roughly where where you thought he'd have you this time?
00:21:47
Speaker
On McKenna or that Davis? On McKenna, sorry. I think, yeah, there's a reason he's the only manager in the bottom like the bottom five or six clubs to not be let go this season. ah My colleague Rob from our podcast, he's he's likened it to Davis from Luton last season where, you know, whatever they would however they performed, he wasn't going to get the sack. And I thought were they were the best side out the three sides that went down last year as well.
00:22:09
Speaker
So I think that he's always got that sort of surety as well. And the style of foot we play. Like you talked about how Andrew was maybe slightly stubborn in terms of changing his style. Mm-hmm. we've We've changed our style and on a few occasions this year. Not that it's worked every single time, but he's been like...
00:22:25
Speaker
open to doing that. We've we've played a 4-2-3-1 the past two and a half years of him at the helm. And, you know, it worked a treat in League One and the Championship, of course. But this season, we've tried to play that same way. And then I think we got battered by Newcastle just before Christmas. And then few other games after that. And then we changed to a five, which worked briefly. we we had We had a five against Chelsea. And I think we had it against you as well.
00:22:46
Speaker
And so it kind of sacrifices going forward for that defence. That hasn't really worked out because we had a five and got battered by... Louisville and City as well. So it's a game by game basis, but he's ready to like play the way that's suited to our opponents, I feel, rather than just playing in the same way every way. and he's And he's a top manager as well. I think if we do go down, would be very surprised if he is not still a Premier League manager next year. Maybe even if you guys he's got Spurs team. I hope hope that's not the case. To be honest, I hope he's st still at Porton Road. But He's got such a bright future ahead of him for all the right reasons. He's done such a fantastic job, like I said, bringing in names who you wouldn't expect to maybe come to Ipswich, considering certain other clubs might have a bit more pull.
00:23:25
Speaker
But he's able to bring them in. And I think that just shows how good of manager he is. And there's so many players, really, that were either on the like the tail end of their career or we're just kind of slightly stagnating. And he's improved them so much.
00:23:35
Speaker
I think, you know, Liam De Lappe last year is a prime example of you know this is Again, this is still his first season in the Premier League and kind of being the main guy. He was at hole on loan last season, but really didn't set the world alight in the Championship. was a decent player, but no one was like... I don't think the season ended last year was saying he's definitely going to be a Premier League player next season. It's nailed on. like It's like like a philogy kind of was expected, both on the same side as a hole, both now on the same team, actually, as well.
00:24:01
Speaker
But I think i was so I've been so stunned by Liam Dillap this season. Obviously, it's his own individual quality is the reason why he's been so great. But McKenna's surely got to be another factor as to why he's been so good this season. And there's many other players you could attribute that to as well. Like they said, Leif Davis is another one as well who's definitely improved under McKenna.
00:24:20
Speaker
Yeah, amazing. I mean, like I do genuinely think, like as you say, Kieran McKenna's done a great job. And as you say, looking at Wolves at the moment and kind of the atmosphere around there, and I think Molyneux is naturally a very... home of negativity a lot of the time but like it is it's a real toss-up I think between between Ipswich and Wolves I mean i guess as well I'm just kind of thinking now like in terms of in terms of this weekend I still feel a little bit stung by what happened back in November I think it was December so i do approach the game with a little bit of trepidation
00:24:52
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, that's i think that's why we're, like I said to you before we started recording today, it's one of the few games we're actually approaching a bit more confidently just because we we haven't beaten
Match Preview: Ipswich vs Tottenham
00:25:00
Speaker
many teams this season. So yes, obviously you guys aren't where you should be in the league. Like you are, I think by many still considered a top six side, but we've got a victory of you. So it's says there's reason to be confident. So I do hope that can be the case going into this weekend.
00:25:13
Speaker
you, we'll take our final break here, Joan, and we'll come back. We'll sort of prove the game a bit more score predictions, lineups, all that sort of stuff. Here at the Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform, and Zencaster came out the clear winner.
00:25:27
Speaker
With 4K video recording from your phone, and AI editing automatically removes all those ums and ahs, it's super easy to start podcast that sounds great and is delivered efficiently.
00:25:38
Speaker
If you're ready to tell your story, check out the link in the show description to learn more about Zencaster. Here at the Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform. Rob trying to get his word in twice there. It doesn't happen. There you go. yeah The advert's so good. We did it twice.
00:25:56
Speaker
So yeah, like I said, we're going to be doing a big bit more of a deep dive into Saturday's game now. Joe, I'll ask you, like what must Spurs do different this time, putting it that simple?
00:26:07
Speaker
like What was the reason you guys lost and what needs to change? In all honesty, complacency. There's definitely an element of that. Tottenham have been able to get themselves up for playing...
00:26:18
Speaker
Man City, what i was going to say for the big clubs and then my brain just went, just City. But Spurs do kind of have it in their locker. But also there is definitely an element of motivation. I don't i think given what happened last time and and kind of the scar it's left on the fan base and I guess on the players and kind of what it represented in terms of the start of such a rotten run of form and how you completely outplayed us at home.
00:26:42
Speaker
um I don't think that complacency will be there. I also think there's so many players coming back from injury as well that Spurs will be really bolstered. So as we mentioned earlier, it'll be Madison Vicario, both back, but also Brennan Johnson fit again.
00:26:58
Speaker
ah Wilson Odebeir fit again for the first time in six months or whatever and looked a really good player at the start the season. So I think Spurs will be going into it with confidence, but not complacency. Yeah, yeah. I think it's like, they know but you guys know us a bit more now and it can be that sort of, um and i can't try to get the right adjective, but yeah but like being a bit less fearful of your of your opponent, I guess, because when you played last time, yeah we weren't much of an aim. I think, we're i mean obviously, yes, we're not where you guys are as a club right now, but I think even us this season, like our best performances have been against you know your Spurs, the two points against Aston Villa, home against Man United, and then we've really, really struggled against sides we could
00:27:37
Speaker
conceivably get a result against. that We had a really poor loss at home to Everton, obviously lost Southampton, gave it away against Leicester at the end. and There's been games where we thought we could have got something more and we haven't. So I think our team, yeah, again, they'll be confident as it's one of the few teams we've actually beaten this season. But I'd like to think, considering the size of the opposition, they'll be even more up for as well. And home The homegrown has not been good this year to us, so hopefully can turn around as well. Well, this is it. And I kind of like um i kind of meant no disrespect to it to Ipswich. I think Spurs and the mentality that Tottenham have as a fan base, realistic or not, but you've got to set goals high, is at home, we don't kind of the we don't really think it's acceptable to drop points to anyone apart from maybe Liverpool.
00:28:16
Speaker
So that's it. So kind of home, and actually you mentioned your your home form has been poor, so Spurs. So actually actually our way, like we're a much better side away from home. So hopefully that'll count this weekend.
00:28:27
Speaker
Yeah, yeah. So each one is on the road as well. We've flourished bit more this season as well. How do you see Spurs lining up? As you said, you've got a lot more players coming back now. of it i mean, i'm I'm not sure if he's back, don't know if you mentioned him, but big fan of Van de Ven. Is that a chance of him brewing his head anytime soon or is Juri Salah?
00:28:43
Speaker
No. So his his injury is slightly more problematic because it's repeated hamstring strains, which are caused by sprinting. now obviously, he's the fastest player in the Premier League. That stat came out last year.
00:28:55
Speaker
And in all honesty, a lot of Angie's original system was predicated on play as high up the pitch as you like because Mickey's quicker than anyone. That was the game plan. And that's brilliant. But if the guy's got to do all the sprinting, particularly and it's happened twice now, we're waiting around after VAR checks and Muscle gets cold, sprints, hamstring goes. Brilliant. He's gone for two months.
00:29:16
Speaker
He won't be fit this weekend. Neville Christian Romero. The defence will likely be Vicario in goal. but Your full-backs will be Pedro Poirot at right back, I'd imagine, and Jed Spence at left back. Centre-back partnership, probably with Kevin Danzo. The um and new guy's come in on loan with an option to buy, who's actually looked really good.
00:29:32
Speaker
So far, kind of everything Ange wants from a defender. Technically very good, can pass the ball, absolutely rapid, like perfect, reads the game well. And probably Archie Gray at centre-half, he was actually rested against Manchester United.
00:29:45
Speaker
um ive think the midfield three, in all likelihood, Ange loves Ben Tankour. So it will probably be Ben Tankour, Maddison and, oh my God, Bogue now.
00:29:57
Speaker
and kind of Bergvau in there, Madison and Bergvau kind of interchanging positions. And you'd imagine front three of Kulusevski, Son and Mateus Tell, who we've got on loan again with an option to buy from Bayern. Now, I think a lot Spurs fans would wouldn't be too gutted if we saw Son dropped.
00:30:18
Speaker
And Kulisevski switched that side and then Johnson or Odebeir start. But Ange has backed himself into a corner because his son is the club captain. So he's pretty much undroppable, but his form has been way way beneath his levels. But yeah, a strong team with with good players on the bench as well.
00:30:38
Speaker
I was going to ask you about that earlier in the show, actually, regarding Son. Because, yeah, you know, it's... I think for him, he'slining his linemen have paced a lot. You know, what, he's 31, 32 now? Maybe older now, I believe.
00:30:50
Speaker
Like, I think you kind of gave it away slightly very in terms of where your head is at regarding him. Is, like, his days as a starter numbered now, do you believe, then? Like, it's maybe harsh to say because he's been such a quality player as he really took up the mantle after Kane left, like, fantastically as well, didn't he? But...
00:31:05
Speaker
Maybe I guess his legs are starting to fall a bit short or a pace too short aren't they? Yeah, he's he's one of the great players to play for Tottenham. um Scored some incredible goals. The goals skinned about five players from the touchline running into the box against Chelsea.
00:31:19
Speaker
The goal against Burnley, where I was actually yeah at the game, which won the Puskas Award, where he just skinned the entire team. Proper Roy of the Rovers kind of FIFA stuff. I mean, he's he's an iconic player.
00:31:32
Speaker
I think... He really benefited, actually, weirdly, he was one of the players who massively benefited under Mourinho and Conte because we were counter-attacking teams. And if you can set him free, few better finishes in the league.
00:31:46
Speaker
He also massively benefited from having Harry Kane because Kane is not only an incredible strike partner, but also has ridiculous passing range and vision.
00:31:57
Speaker
So would find him a lot. I mean, there's loads of stats about how those two are combined for far more goals than anybody else in the Premier League. Now we're a team that often plays on the front foot in and around the opposition half. And I think he just struggles to make his presence felt.
00:32:09
Speaker
He tries to kind of find a yard and curl one in. Yeah, I think he's lost his way in terms of what he is as a player, but also you're right. I kind of think maybe some of those attributes like pace have started to go. He's also real a real confidence player, I think, because he's a very nice guy.
00:32:23
Speaker
So he doesn't have that kind of cyborg Harry Kane mentality of like, nothing will stop me, win at all costs. Not that Harry Kane's not a nice guy, but he's just pretty bulletproof proof when it comes to to temperament.
00:32:37
Speaker
I think he'll see out the season, certainly. starting for Spurs, if he's playing this way in May, I would be very surprised to see him starting games for us again in August, kind of given that we have Solanke, Kulosevsky, Johnson, Odebeir and Tell.
00:32:56
Speaker
um I'm not going to mention Richarlison because it's just not worth it. But have all of those players to pick from up front, I find it hard to believe that he would be in the team at that point.
Tactical Challenges and Predictions
00:33:05
Speaker
Yeah, it's very much the case of like you look at sort of it's always a way with managers and it sort of bringing the players that sort of fit their style.
00:33:12
Speaker
And obviously we've been being at the club before the case. Not that, you know, I'm i'm sure Poscaoglu didn't come to the club thinking like, well, he's not one of my guys, get rid of him because he's obviously like the captain been one of the most like important players the club for over a decade now. But you're starting to see the likes of, like you said, yeah, Tel and a few of the other younger lads as well really start to put a stamp on things, which, you know, I'm sure Poscaoglu will want to claim as his own as well.
00:33:33
Speaker
So that could be a a factor. Spurs are also in a very weird position there is we we have a, Yang Min-Hok, who's a very exciting young Korean winger slash forward, oh who's out on loan at the moment, who weirdly might, we he might be, so we might actually have a South Korean international starting up front for us next season, but it might not be some, which is kind of quite nice and cyclical.
00:33:55
Speaker
Yeah, well, he's on loan at QPR at the moment. That's easy QPR, yeah. Yeah, one assist in four games, which show isn't too bad. Well, he he essentially was deemed deemed not physical enough, so got sent off to the Championship to to yeah basically freeze at Loftus Road and get roughed up a bit.
00:34:12
Speaker
Yeah. We kind of had that with, I think that was the aim from Chelsea of bringing Hutchinson to us last year was he never really had a sort of first-team football in the Premier League, know, just the odd EFL Cup appearance and stuff. And we kind of saw that with him last year where the first half the season was quite poor and physically was difficult to match with some of those because obviously, the championship is tough league.
00:34:32
Speaker
But then he really, really found his feet in the latter stage of season, like physically and mentally, and scored very, very important goals for us. I think for us, in terms of lineups and stuff, I don't know how much you've kept abreast of the goalkeeping fiasco we've had this season. I mean, it's a case of a lot of clubs in the bottom of the division.
00:34:47
Speaker
It's always quite easy to point the finger at the goalkeeper, but I think for us this season, it's been war and tickers. Moritz, we've won from Burnley. I was crushing that move at the start of season, and I was crushing for weeks and weeks. And there's a lot of errors we've made this season. He's made this season and...
00:34:59
Speaker
it's cost us points at the end of the day and we brought in Christian Walton who was our goalkeeper in League One and um was on the bench in the Championship. He came back, was really good against Chelsea actually and made a few good games but then an injury came and we had to put Mürich back in and again errors immediately came back so we've had to and luckily it happened in January so we brought in Alex Palmer from West Brom, who I think had was having a really good season there, 11 clean sheets, albeit in the championship.
00:35:23
Speaker
And he's played two games now, both away from home and made really, really big impact, Scott. It's really confident against Coventry. And then last week, know if you've seen the clips online, but some really, really great saves against Villa and some, you know, Rashford and Watkins and Asensio just like peppering the net.
00:35:39
Speaker
in the last stage of the game and managed to hold his own. The only way he conceded it was a rebound off Rashford's really, really good free kick and then Watkins taking it well on the bounce to get equaliser. And even when you say that, that's impressive because it's i mean that's three seriously good players as well.
00:35:52
Speaker
Yeah, exactly. And you know i hope it's not the case of too little too late with Parma. Obviously, it's been one or two games. It may just be like a honeymoon period and then you know it could come we could just be sent back down to reality because we had a few games with Mürich where He looked like he be that guy, but then unfortunately he But I expect to see our new keeper, Alex Palmer, in goal for us. I think in terms of how we're going to play it, like I said, we did have that five at the back, but I think we're going to revert back to four now with potentially it becoming a five when you're on the front foot.
00:36:18
Speaker
So I think we'll see a back four. Obviously, Twanzaby's out injured. I think we may see a back four of Dara Shea and Greaves at centre-back. O'Shea's really impressed me. he was a bit poor the start, but came to his own.
00:36:30
Speaker
If it, Leif Davis. It's hard to predict with Town. I don't know how you guys are of injuries, but... McKenna and so the backroom never reveal anything. And then you find out on the day, we make our predictions on these Friday episodes, so come Saturday or Sunday, like Davis or someone's out. You're like, didn't see that coming. 100%. Yeah.
00:36:47
Speaker
yeah yeah Yeah. If Leif Davis is fit, great. If not, Connor Townsend, who came from last week, put in really performance. And then at right back, because Twan Zavy's out, I would probably put Ben Johnson. He played against you guys, albeit as a right wing back early the season, but he put in a really performance last week. He did play sort of the right wing back role, but I think considering what's going to be asked of him now, he should stick a bit more defensively.
00:37:10
Speaker
Midfield duo, I think, I love Sam Morsey, but I think we need to keep Calvin Phillips and KU stay together. Phillips may hopefully be turning a corner. I'm not like expecting him to have that Euro 2021 level of quality anymore. I'm just not.
00:37:23
Speaker
But there was a few moments last week when he was really, really aggressive, both offensively and defensively. So hopefully that's the case. Kyuste as well. It's a good Swedish contingency in this game on both sides. Kyuste for us, then Kulishevsky and Bergvall as well. So they've got some good players coming up, haven't they? And then I think our front three, this is, again, it's quite difficult at moment because we've got some decent players there, but injuries have kind of tied us a bit. I think we'd see...
00:37:46
Speaker
Hutchinson in the middle, which I'm not a big fan of, but with Nciso out after his unfortunate injury last week. I think we'll see that again. start from Philogene on the right. We haven't seen much of him. I think we expected it last week, but then with us going and down to 10 men, there was no point bringing him on, really. And then after a really good brace and a decent cameo before he had to go off because of the red card, Jack Clark on the left, obviously a bit connection to Spurs as well. Then obviously Liam DeLapp up top as well. So he's got good attacking players there, but it's just whether they can actually do anything.
00:38:13
Speaker
But that would be my 11th. And probably, like i said, I think we'd maybe go to a back five when you guys were the front foot bit more as well. Nice. And that is that is something Tottenham struggled to break down. And just listening to that kind of with, yeah, it if you're hitting us on the counter, that is that's the best way to play Tottenham because we play such a high line.
00:38:29
Speaker
And we do struggle to ba break down teams that sit back as well. so yeah, it's a tough one to call. Yeah, yeah. Before we wrap up here, Joe, can I just get your most important thing, your predicted score, please? i i'm i' I'm sorry, Ipswich fans. I am going to go for a 2-1 away win purely because so many returning players at this point. um And I think Spurs will very up for it after what happened tail end of last year. i think so many returning players.
00:38:56
Speaker
And yeah, I think maybe James Madison is still out there with a point to prove to Roy Keane, among others. So i think I think it's going to be a very decent incarnation of Spurs for the first time in a long time.
00:39:07
Speaker
Yeah, unfortunately for for town. with James Madison as well I touched on yesterday's show he's obviously as well he's got a bit of an allegiance to i i never say the name but a certain club in North yeah yeah yeah course so he'll probably be caught up for it as well and he'll probably get a welcoming boo whenever he's on the ball for his connection to that other team one of my best mates supports the team that play in yellow and he'll be absolutely fuming that come on this podcast ah well he's they're not a Premier League side are they so they can't really so no one cares they think Yeah, exactly.
00:39:37
Speaker
I think for us, I said on yesterday's one, and again, it's one of a few games really to be relatively confident, just considering what happened at early in the season. I'm not going to go on the back foot. So I predicted 1-0 for us on Thursday. going to go for it again.
00:39:49
Speaker
Just with Palmer's quality, I'd like to think that may see us through. I know you guys obviously carry a lot of attacking threat as well, with like you said, with those returns. you've kind of gotten in the head a bit and it's been a bit more fearful than maybe what I was at the start. But I think 1-0 and just easy to say, but a Liam DeLapp winner, really, for me. It's the only way to go, isn't it, these days?
00:40:07
Speaker
There go. Yeah, there we go. So that's going to do it for today's show. Thank you, Joe, for joining me. It really, really good to chat all things town and Spurs down. Really looking forward to tomorrow's game as well. And thank you all for listening. Whilst you're here, if you want to check out daily Spurs and daily upstitching all the socials, give us all like nice reviews on Apple, Spotify, wherever you get a podcast from. We'd really, really appreciate that.
00:40:26
Speaker
that is going to do it. We hope you you have a great weekend and also enjoy the game at Portham Road this Saturday. We'll see you next time.
00:40:36
Speaker
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