Premier League - Tottenham Hotspurs vs Ipswich Town Preview & Matchday Thread

[Frosty]

Tottenham Hotspurs v Ipswich Town



Sunday 10th November 2024 – 14:00


Tottenham Hotspur Stadium








Pre-Match Thoughts - Bluemike




I have always been led to believe that in the world of Football, over the course of a season, things always even themselves out, if that is the case, which in this League I very much doubt, we are in for a hell of a good run in the coming weeks, loads of decisions etc should surely be going our way very soon because up to this point we have had nothing go in our favour at all. It seems to be going from bad to worse and if things aren't hard enough in this League the last thing you want is officials getting things so drastically wrong game after game.

The feeling of injustice at the full time whistle on Saturday against Leicester City was huge, it may be a cliche but Oh my god that felt like a massive defeat. Having played so so well for Eighty Minutes and to come away with a single point was more that I could handle over the weekend I have to say. After an opening Ten Minutes which belonged to Leicester we really got into the groove and took the game to them for pretty much the remainder of the afternoon, playing so great Football at times too which they struggled to deal with.

The first half saw Town spurn several chances with headers from Sammy Szmodics & in particular Darragh O'Shea going begging which would have given us a nice early lead. As the half wore on the impressive Conor Chaplin had a couple of good efforts, One in particular a fraction away from being a screamer into the top corner, Ben Johnson saw his effort saved, Kalvin Phillips had a shot blocked which looked to be finding the bottom corner too as Town kept the Foxes pegged back. Sadly and undeservedly we went in at the break level but the optimism in the ground was clear as we looked every bit like Premier League winners at long last. For me though the highlight of the half was the way Liam Delap spun away from Faes leaving a very good defender trailing in his wake and looking a bit of a fool, it was quality.

The second half was only Ten Minutes old when Town finally got their reward for their dominance, a fantastic cross field pass over the top from Sam Morsy fell perfectly for Leif Davis to volley home an absolute screamer in off the far post, it had the poise and control of some of the greats of the game and yet got little recognition on some TV programmes, for me it was up there with the effort from Wes Burns against Coventry City last season, it was that good. There was the odd Leicester foray forward but Muric in Town's goal was equal to anything they could muster, at the other end we continued to ask questions and it looked like we had our reward as Chaplin was sent flying to the ground inside the box.

I am going to refrain from going over it again and again, suffice to say we were treated badly, it was a inexcusable error from the officials and VAR alike to refuse not only the penalty but the review too. As that wasn't bad enough Phillips sees red for trying to pull out of a tackle, yes he caught the guy but there was zero malice intended and yet another decision goes against us. It was a real game changer for sure, I just knew as we hit the last Minute or Two what was coming and despite a heroic goal line clearance from Cam Burgess a few minutes earlier the sucker punch inevitably came to break our hearts once again.

It is impossible to say just how damaging that result may prove to be but add it to the fiasco from the Brentford game Seven days earlier and to be sitting on Five points instead of Ten is so cruel, while we had ourselves to blame last week I felt we did very little wrong on Saturday, however, the upshot of it is that we are still in the bottom Three and are still winless Ten games in, not the start to the season many of us envisaged.

Next up we go to Tottenham Hotspur, that is followed by a visit from Manchester Utd in Two weeks time and then Forest away, If I am completely honest with you I can see Three defeats there and Thirteen games without a victory, should that come to pass I have to say we are all but down before Christmas, that is the reality of it, of course things don't always go according to plan in Football so we have to keep plugging away and hope for things to change.

Spurs will not be easy at all and to get something from this game would be massive, last week I thought they looked poor against Crystal Palace as they fell to defeat but since then they have dumped Manchester City out of the Carabao Cup and took Villa to the cleaners in the League, although the final scoreline did flatter them slightly. Some of the Football played at Brentford and against Leicester does give One hope because we looked very very good at times and that is the standard we will need at the very least to avoid another heavy defeat against Spurs.

It was clear for all to see that Omari Hutchinson was far more at home on the Right while Chaplin was a joy to watch in the Ten role. I do feel for Szmodics though as we seem to have signed the guy and then completely nullified his attributes by playing him wide left, he doesn't half put in a shift and gets into the odd good position but for me he is wasted although fitting him in anywhere else will not be easy now.

Thankfully this could be the last game we play without the services of Jacob Greaves and possibly Axel Tuanzebe too although he may need a little bit longer, Jack Taylor is also closing in on a return but Phillips will obviously be suspended for this One. The only saving grace is that a few other teams are finding life equally as tough and it is just a case of hanging onto their coat tales until things start to improve, our performance says to me it will come and we'll give someone a good beating, sadly I don't see it just yet and certainly not at Tottenham on Sunday. 0-3 defeat for me. Keep the faith. COYB'S



The Opposition – Tottenham Hotspurs - Honours





Leagues


First Division / Premier League

Winners (2): 1950–51, 1960–61

Second Division / Championship

Winners (2): 1919–20, 1949–50


Cups


FA Cup

Winners (8): 1900–01, 1920–21, 1960–61, 1961–62, 1966–67, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1990–91

League Cup

Winners (4): 1970–71, 1972–73, 1998–99, 2007–08

FA Charity Shield / FA Community Shield

Winners (7): 1921, 1951, 1961, 1962, 1967, 1981, 1991

Sheriff of London Charity Shield

Winners (1): 1902


European


UEFA Cup Winners' Cup

Winners (1): 1962–63

UEFA Cup / UEFA Europa League

Winners (2): 1971–72, 1983–84

Anglo-Italian League Cup

Winners (1): 1971



The Manager – Ange Postecoglou









League Table as at 05.11.2024






Form Guide





Tottenham




29 Sep Manchester Utd 0 - 3 Tottenham

6 Oct Brighton 3 - 2 Tottenham

19 Oct Tottenham 4 - 1 West Ham Utd

27 Oct Crystal Palace 1 - 0 Tottenham

3 Nov Tottenham 4 - 1 Aston Villa





Ipswich Town




29 Sep Ipswich Town 2 - 2 Aston Villa

5 Oct West Ham Utd 4 - 1 Ipswich Town

19 Oct Ipswich Town 0 - 2 Everton

26 Oct Brentford 4 - 3 Ipswich Town

2 Nov Ipswich Town 1 - 1 Leicester City




Head to Head








Match Referee – Darren England








TOTTENHAM 1 IPSWICH TOWN 2

[hallamblue]

Draw, stuff VAR, Stuff match officials

[ITFC2024]

I don’t see us getting anything out of this game. I just hope it’s not a humiliating thumping.

[marko69]

Nice honest review there. Going to be a very tough game and very difficult to see the first win happening here. On the plus side though, from an officials viewpoint; judging by that penalties table posted ——>> VAR & other things could be on a level playing ground.

Going to go for a very hard fought draw in this one with Szmodics banging in a couple. Seems to raise his game in the bigger games. So going to say 1-1 or 2-2……… or 5-1 Spurs if H.Son is on form.

As a side note (and useless info) …. Traditionally the AFL season starts in March / April, on a Thursday night with the same fixture every year, which is the Mighty Richmond Tigers v Carlton Blues with usually 80-90K in attendance.
(Its like Ipswich v Norwich or the Edinburgh derby)
Ange Postapostcard is a HUGE Carlton fan……. double excuse to go at them and give them grief!

Ref: “Ange. Look at the big screen. Tigers win again!”
Ange: (Picture)

[Charnwood]

Draw, stuff VAR, Stuff match officials

I thought yesterday it was proved that Spurs are one of the clubs that receive no favours from the Premier League, match officials or VAR. so Sundays game should be played on a level playing field. Let’s believe that anyway.
.

[Bluemike]

My team for this one......

Muric

Johnson
O'Shea
Burgess
Davis

Morsy
Cajuste

Hutchinson
Chaplin
Szmodics

Delap

[hallamblue]

Draw, stuff VAR, Stuff match officials

I thought yesterday it was proved that Spurs are one of the clubs that receive no favours from the Premier League, match officials or VAR. so Sundays game should be played on a level playing field. Let’s believe that anyway.
.

But if it's "Big club" vs " little club" which in this instance it probably is, I'm personally not holding my breath ....... ...we'll see and I'll cross my fingers

[hallamblue]

My team for this one......

Muric

Johnson
O'Shea
Burgess
Davis

Morsy
Cajuste

Hutchinson
Chaplin
Szmodics

Delap

I'd go with this team as well, and probably stick with it until someone first team defenders are fit again.

[AzzurroMark]

We are due something like a bit of good fortune soon and an "against all odds" 1-0 away win akin to the late Claus Thomsen winner at Newcastle several years back would do me fine!

........That damned alarm clock!! Now where was I?

[marko69]

….. akin to the late Claus Thomsen winner …….

Think Claus is still alive, Azzurro.

OH, you mean late in the game? Sorry!

[rossi]

Anybody of sound mind would predict nothing other than a thumping from this one.

Maybe I'm not so sound, but shock results can and do happen, so I'm predicting both a win and a clean sheet. 0-2.

I would tweak the formation a bit, though, to try and better contain Spurs' midfield:

Muric

Johnson
O'Shea
Burgess

Hutchinson
Morsy
Cajuste
Davis

Hirst
Chaplin
Delap

[Charnwood]

Given Tottenham have recently put 4 past both Villa and West Ham and knocked Man City out of the League Cup, whichever predicted line up I look at I can see nothing other than a comfortable Spurs win.

Prediction; Spurs 4-1 Town

[hallamblue]

No chance that they'll stick 4 past us Andy, we've got Muric in goal.....

[Denny61]

Well if we can keep it to 3.0.or 4 .we can't be any worse than villa..

[hallamblue]

We're not any worse than Villa. We should have beaten them Denny !

[Charnwood]

No chance that they'll stick 4 past us Andy, we've got Muric in goal.....

I thought you were in BlueMike and Wilfs camp and thought Muric was useless ? … for me he’s a much better option than Walton but has been unsetttled by Tuanzebe and Greaves absence especially when defending set pieces.

This said I still think they’ll put three or four past us unless we have a very good day.

[hallamblue]

Sirry, but that was very much tongue in cheek Andy ...BUT having said that, just look at how he played away to Brighton , so he's got it in his locker for sure.

[TODD66]

We can but pray for a very 'Spursy' Spurs performance.

Its a game like this that they have shown an extrodinary propensity to fall on their faces following good form so I am going to go for a 1-0 Town win.

For those that are going - enjoy the stadium - its a most impresive place to visit.

[ITFC2024]

For some reason, I’m thinking Broadhead may get a start for this one. KM will probably bench Szmodics again. I’m not sure what Broadhead can bring, but I suppose he deserves a chance.

I fully expect Chaplin to start in the middle and Hutch on the right and if he starts, Broadhead on the left.

I also have the feeling KM will go with Hirst up front.

Morsy & Cajuste in the midfield and the defence pretty much picks itself due to injuries & suspensions unless Greaves makes a hasty recovery.

Whatever the line up we’ll have to be at our best to avoid a thumping. Spurs are very inconsistent, so hopefully they’ll have an off day.

[marko69]

For some reason, I’m thinking Broadhead may get a start for this one. KM will probably bench Szmodics again. I’m not sure what Broadhead can bring, but I suppose he deserves a chance.

I fully expect Chaplin to start in the middle and Hutch on the right and if he starts, Broadhead on the left.

I also have the feeling KM will go with Hirst up front.

Morsy & Cajuste in the midfield and the defence pretty much picks itself due to injuries & suspensions unless Greaves makes a hasty recovery.

Whatever the line up we’ll have to be at our best to avoid a thumping. Spurs are very inconsistent, so hopefully they’ll have an off day.

YES! Nice one, 24. Bring back traditional fitbaw lingo.

[MasseyFerguson]

I was a guest at Spurs v Everton recently. When they are good, they are very,very good. They can, as against Palace a couple of weeks ago, not turn up. Unfortunately, they tend to turn up at home. Fantastic stadium by the way.

I'm afraid we will lose this one by at least two goals. I'm going for 3-1. It could be a right thumping though. I hope I'm wrong.

[Mauswara]

First time I've gone for us to lose a game in these polls this season, my usual optimism isn't doing it this time.

[MMJR67]

Anybody of sound mind would predict nothing other than a thumping from this one.

Maybe I'm not so sound, but shock results can and do happen, so I'm predicting both a win and a clean sheet. 0-2.

I would tweak the formation a bit, though, to try and better contain Spurs' midfield:

Muric

Johnson
O'Shea
Burgess

Hutchinson
Morsy
Cajuste
Davis

Hirst
Chaplin
Delap

Like the look of that lineup

[Charnwood]

Anybody of sound mind would predict nothing other than a thumping from this one.

Maybe I'm not so sound, but shock results can and do happen, so I'm predicting both a win and a clean sheet. 0-2.

I would tweak the formation a bit, though, to try and better contain Spurs' midfield:

Muric

Johnson
O'Shea
Burgess

Hutchinson
Morsy
Cajuste
Davis

Hirst
Chaplin
Delap

Like the look of that lineup

Like it as much as you like but there’s little chance McKenna will line up with 3:4:3 formation.

[Bluemike]

I would say zero chance unfortunately

[rossi]

I would say zero chance unfortunately

Agreed - I posted the formation/lineup that I would play against Spurs, not what I think KM will play.
Although I favour 5-3-2, I would play 3-4-3 against Spurs as I think it would help counter their midfield threat and give us the opportunity to involve Chaplin higher up for when we counter-attack.
But there you are - I'm not a one-trick pony

[Charnwood]

For what it’s worth I’d play 3:5:2 but that puts a lot of pressure on the wingers. I think Davis and Johnson pretty much fulfilled that role against Leicester City but I think Spurs will have more pace in their line up.

For me I see us under resourced in midfield which is why I think we struggle getting the ball into the final third and ultimately into our opponents box where we don’t have anywhere near enough touches of the ball.

I guess this is all pointless discussion as we know we’ll line up 4:2:3:1 which is what all our opponents will expect of us.

[Bluemike]

I would say zero chance unfortunately

Agreed - I posted the formation/lineup that I would play against Spurs, not what I think KM will play.
Although I favour 5-3-2, I would play 3-4-3 against Spurs as I think it would help counter their midfield threat and give us the opportunity to involve Chaplin higher up for when we counter-attack.
But there you are - I'm not a one-trick pony

All joking aside, this one-trick pony thing is of some concern, managers know exactly what to expect and how to prepare for us.

[Ricco]

It didn't seem to hamper us last season or the one before though. While it would be great to have many tactical approaches to call upon, I'd still rather a one-trick pony than a two-trick donkey!

[Bluemike]

I'm just concerned you won't get away with it nearly so much in the Premier League, that said we've had some impressive performances against a few teams now.