Saints breathe life into Spurs
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Hello everybody and welcome once again to The View from the Lane, multi-award winning Tottenham Hotspur podcast from The Athletic.

Joining me, Danny Kelly, is Athletics James Moore. Jay Harris should have been with us, but the state of the trains from Southampton to London means he just simply can't get home or get to the podcast, which is a real shame. But we will hear a voice note from Jay about what he saw at St Mary's yesterday. I'll start with you, then James, since you're the only person I can see on the screen in front of me. We won't talk much about the second half, although there is things to say about it.

What a first half. Most enjoyable? Yeah. Are you asking me whether that was the most enjoyable first half I've seen? No, but just how much you enjoyed it. Yeah, it felt very good to really take this thing out of the game and to really take the pressure and the stress out of it, which is odd given, as we've said a few times...

This season's Spurs have... When they've won, they've won in the league at least. When they've won, they've won incredibly handsomely. It's all been very comfortable in terms of the margin of a scoreline. But actually, if you think... We talked about after that Man City game that we were both quite tense. Certainly into the last 10 minutes. Manchester United had quite a spell, didn't they? Was that a 3-0 or 2-0? I can't remember now. But in the second half... 3-0. Those games felt...

like if there had been a goal there maybe would have been some jeopardy there's a bit of tension there but this I mean there wasn't really any of that was there at any point once they got that goal in 36 seconds I'm not suggesting the game was oh

over as a contest after 36 seconds but it was by what like 12 minutes and 36 seconds or what it was by the time the poor Southampton kid had got hooked was crying on the on the side of the pitch I mean scenes everybody scenes I'd um just to just to let people know there were all kinds of things were going on yesterday records wise I mean I can't remember the last time the highest scoring team in the Premier League this deep into the season was in 10th place and

We had two Premier League debuts. We'll talk about those. We had two, I mean, starting debuts, two other Premier League debuts of people coming off the bench,

and Spurs were five up by half-time. We'll talk about the five goals in just a second. It's certainly the first time that's happened in the Premier League. People were saying that from statos online. And so I started to rack my walnut-sized brain as to when was the last time Spurs were five up at half-time. We had a discussion about this before the start of the podcast. I was right, actually.

It's happened at least twice before we can find. 1971, Spurs played a team called Keflavik from Iceland in the old UEFA Cup. And I remember we won 9-0 at the lane. And it turns out they were five up at halftime there, maybe even more.

And then we think in Bill Nick's first game, Bill Nicholson's first game in charge when they beat Crewe 13-2 in an FA Cup. So we think Spurs were 10 up at half time. So it doesn't happen very, very often, which was great. What was your take? When it was 3-0 after like kind of 12, 14 minutes. Yeah. What are you thinking there? What's your thought process? Because obviously Southampton have famously lost two Premier League games 9-0 in the not too distant past.

And I think they mentioned on commentary here in the UK that Madison played and scored in the one that Leicester won at Southampton in 2019, I think it was. At that point, are you starting to think, are we going to get nine again? First of all, yes, of course, because Southampton were so bad. I'm not saying they're so bad. That's not fair. They were set up so weirdly. I thought this could be anything now. Can I just say, I don't think that is unfair. Well,

We solved at least one riddle, didn't we? Because people started saying that Spurs were simultaneously the best and worst team in the Premier League. This proves absolutely they're not the worst team in the Premier League at any moment in time. That is Southampton. Now, I thought you always want the team to go on and get 10 once they've got four in the first 20 minutes. Yeah.

We all know that teams kind of declare, to use a horrible phrase, a half-time in these matches. It really does go on to double the score. And I must be honest, James, practically, I was really, really glad that we played out the second half at quarter pace this

because they've got a huge game coming Thursday, Spurs. And so although I would have loved to have got 10, I really would have loved to have got 10, I settled for the five. Keeping the clean sheet became my... After it was obvious we were going to win and they were going to play at a walking pace for the second half, my obsession then became keeping a clean sheet. So what about you? Were you going to settle for eight? Well, it's funny you should mention ace, actually, because I've seen Spurs score...

1-7 and 9, but not 8. So actually, if they had got 8, that would have been really good. I would have been happy to tick that off. Okay. Now that you mention it, I've seen them score 9 twice. That Keflavik game and the Bristol game in the... I think it might have been the opening day of the season, way back in time. But no, you're right. I don't remember Spurs ever scoring... They've conceded 8...

The Alan Pardew team that went to Kelowna, they conceded eight. I can't remember them scoring eight. Can you? I've got a list of the biggest wins. Yes, Drogheda United in the UEFA Cup in September 1983, they won 8-0.

I mean, it would be over-egging it a bit to say I was as happy with the second half as the first, obviously. But I was actually quite content with the way they approached that. Like, I mean, I know the P word is a dirty word to the manager, but that kind of slightly more pragmatic approach. I mean, actually, they had less of the ball than they did in the first half, but they weren't taking risks. They were incredibly comfortable. Southampton clearly played better. They were saving themselves. They preserved energy.

They, yeah, like you say, they weren't taking risks. They weren't going to kind of risk getting another injury and we'll see what happens with your doggy later in the week. But I think that was an incredibly sensible thing to do. The game was won. It was over as a contest. And the second half performance was good enough to keep a clean sheet and to have enough of the ball and to create one or two chances, not loads. So in normal circumstances, I think that would be the kind of thing that I would consider

possibly irrationally find annoying to see a team ease up like that for the whole second half of the game. But in these circumstances, it's entirely the right thing to do. The depth of Southampton's performance, I think, was best illustrated, James. But as you know, it's not all about me. But on national radio...

On Talk Sport, in the last 30 seconds of the commentary before halftime, the commentator, Ian Danter, and the match summariser, who was Scott Minto, were genuinely discussing whether I could have played for Spurs during that first half.

Me. At centre-half? Anywhere. Number 10, they were suggesting. Number 10? Such was the space that Madison was getting. They were suggesting that I could have played there. I mean, I found it really insulting, partly to me, obviously, but mostly to Southampton Football Club. Could you have exploited the space? Could you have adeuted the realm? I could have occupied the space. I suppose I could have occupied the space, yeah.

How bad must it have been? How far down the barrel were we scraping? Had we gone through the bottom of the barrel and we're now burrowing towards the core of the earth? Jed Spence got a start. I mean...

What a story that is. Like, this guy's had to wait so long to start. This was in the headline to Jay's piece this morning. I think it's 881 days between signing and starting a game for Spurs. And then within, what, 36 seconds, he's shaken off two defenders, carried the ball up into the attacking third and threaded a really nice ball through to Maddison to set up the first goal. I mean, obviously, like, I was going to say change the mood. I mean, that's probably a bit unfair, but clearly...

gave Spurs a pretty big shot in the arm from that point. Yeah, great. And more than that, it spooked Southampton to the point where they couldn't perform. And their fans as well. I think their fans turned more or less immediately, didn't they? You kind of sense. Maybe understandably so. There wasn't much patience. Although in the second half, I guess like me, you watched on TV. In the second half, the Southampton fans who stayed...

And we're really giving it plenty. That's probably an indication of how long it takes you as a fan to kind of get used to the idea that you've lost. Like you've seen this chaos unfold in front of you in the first 25 minutes, you're 4-0 down. You can see the fifth just before halftime. But then once you've had 15 minutes to reset and you kind of calm down and you kind of accept you've lost a game and then you're supporting your team again. I guess we've all probably been at games like, I mean, on this website, on this page that I've got open to look at the biggest wins are also the biggest defeats.

Not too many there that I was at, but there are some. And yeah, you do... The pain, the sting of the...

inevitable loss kind of does fade eventually. And by the end, you're kind of back to willing on your team to get a point in this consolation goal. Yeah, you've ground down to the base metal of your own supporting, haven't you? All the frills are gone. It just becomes, I reflexively support this team. So let's sing about it. It's also an element of Gallen's humour as well, when you keep on supporting the team. So overall, I thought Spence did really well. Again, of course, had to play in two positions, but let's not keep saying Ramos

you know, in relation to Southampton's terrible performance. He can only play against what he's up against. I thought he did really, really well. I mean, look, on that point on Southampton, I mean, I think I'm right in saying this was their heaviest defeat of the season. And they did concede five against Chelsea...

last week two weeks ago two weeks ago it must have been in their previous home game but I yeah because other teams were completely against Chelsea last week well remembered but yeah other than that I think they've been in game you know I saw them play against Liverpool three or four weeks ago and they really gave Liverpool a game and if it hadn't been for some absolute nonsense distribution from the goalkeeper really

They could have easily got a result from that game. Liverpool were kind of... Really had to dig in to get... I mean, I think they got two goals from mistakes from the keeper and a penalty perhaps in that game. And they won 3-2. And this is, you know, the team top of the league. So...

They have been competitive in a lot of games, Southampton, this season. I don't think we should, you know, there's a lot of comparison to that Derby County team of 2007, 2008. No, I guarantee you we'll get more points than that Derby team. That team was rotten to the core. Southampton kept going, but they gave up against Spurs there because I think they were being asked to,

They started a back three, a diamond in midfield. I mean, I obviously have some sympathy for Russell Martin because he hasn't got the equipment he needs to do the job in the Premier League. But afterwards, in the interview, when he said the problem with it, we didn't foul Jed Spence in the first goal. If that's what you're reduced to, suck that. You know, that's no way to be talking about. That's the kind of thing we say on the terraces at a non-league game.

He should have wiped out the superior player. Take him out, take him out, yeah, and all that. Yeah, exactly. After that, the goals flowed. Son needed a goal, he got one. Kulosevski gets a goal virtually every game, or you know what I mean, and he got one. The Sar goal was both brilliant, because I love the way he burst it in the box, and indicative. Who else? It's only against Southampton yesterday, you get four touches of the ball,

to put the ball past the goalkeeper. Well, you say that, but I mean, how many... This is going to sound like a criticism. I mean, it really isn't intended to be. But how many touches of the ball do you think Solanke got in the penalty area? I mean, it might not be four, genuinely. No, no. I'd say it was less than four, probably. I mean, it is amazing that... And again, genuinely, this is not a criticism of him or the way he is playing. But it is incredible that you can win a game like that and for your centre-forwards to even... I mean, to not even have a proper shot, I don't think. No, he didn't.

And again, I think that's kind of a semi-tactical thing. I'd be interested to know whether the manager thinks that's something they need to change at some point. I mean, obviously, they're scoring loads of goals and he is playing well. So I guess that would certainly be his answer, Postakoglu. But it does seem, it is quite striking that, I think we said it after that West Ham game, where he played very well and didn't score, Spurs scored four, felt a bit odd. We're so used to seeing Harry Kane play

I mean, stat pad was the phrase that some people use, but he'd score a lot of goals in these kind of games. I don't think you'd play a game like that with Kane in the team and him not score. He's done that for Spurs in England and now Bayern for years. It just feels slightly strange...

To kind of walk away from a game like that and your centre-forwards are not scored or even really threatened scoring. Well, you can take it further. You can expand that if you want. Spurs are now the leading goal scorers in the Premier League, the leading league in world football, and their centre-forward is not the leading goal scorer...

Madison is now the leading goal scorer in the Premier League. Madison, by the way. Then Brennan Johnson. Then Son, I think, Solanke equal on five. So it's an odd situation. The goals are luckily being spread. Kudasevski must have been in that list as well. Kudasevski are on four now, I think. Yeah. So they're spreading the goals around. It would be nice. I take your point. It would be nice if they...

the focal point of the attack could sometimes get a tap in or turn and belt one past a hapless goalkeeper. It is definitely better to have this though, I think, isn't it? To have five players kind of

scoring goals at a decent rate arguably heading towards double figures in one season that would be amazing that would be amazing there's not one of those that you'd be surprised if I ended up with 10 Premier League goals now is there like all five of those players you think which was your favourite goal of the five I really did like that Sar goal I mean you're probably right about the standard of a defending but it's something quite enjoyable about the way he's kind of glided through and just finished it the Son ball for the second Madison goal was very good as well the outside of the boot

I think

I think that was definitely the one that set their fans off as well. Yeah, it did. Can I just upset you? Because I know people will correct us on this if we don't point it out. But Chelsea actually have scored one more goal in the Premier League than Spurs. My ability to take Chelsea out of my thinking is universal. No, it's not unreasonable. The Madison bit of skill for the fifth. Everyone's going mad about it. But when the defender, was it Manning? I can't remember if it was Roy, slid past him. You just think, good God. I mean, obviously it just wasn't Southampton's day. But it was a lovely piece of skill by Manning.

Because the space was so restricted. He had nowhere to go with that and he still managed to get it across the line. Yeah. I mean, I'm still not... Yeah, I can't really...

fathom how that's gone in really and whether he should have passed the ball to Solanke for a tapping but you know whatever and what McCarthy must have been thinking as the ball was going I mean it travels laterally about well the goalkeeper the goal is eight yards wide so it travels laterally about 10 yards but it but in lengthwise across the down the pitch he only travels about eight inches and he doesn't manage to get a hand on it a very very odd goal indeed and and

Beautiful, beautiful to see. A second Premier League debutant, sorry, making his first full appearance was Lucas Bergvall. I mean, he won't have many more relaxed afternoons, but...

He's one of those people, you sometimes forget, he's so good at getting the ball, making a bit of space for himself. You sometimes forget he's 6'2 as well. He looks like he's going to be a good player. He did do well. There were definitely moments, and this ties into what you've just said, where it felt like he dwelled on the ball slightly too long and then he got kind of barged off it. But I think that, I guess that's kind of, I mean, firstly, he's playing in a position that, I know he's played in a bit in youth football, but obviously not

not in senior football and certainly not in the Premier League but yeah secondly that step up into the Premier League like a whole different level of physicality and like how little time you get on the ball even playing in the Europa League I don't think can prepare you for that so it's a very good opportunity for him to play

Did he play the whole game? I can't even remember. Did he come off? I can't even remember now. Did he play the whole game? I feel like he must have done. We'll discuss that in the second half, in the second part of the pod, because I want to talk about those who stayed on and those who came off.

particularly with the shadow of the, it's Thursday, isn't it? The Carabao Cup quarterfinal against Manchester United hanging over us. But actually, despite the best efforts of the railway system, whatever they call themselves these days, they've all got weird names like Transgro and all the rest of it. We can now hear from Jay Harris, who was at the game, who stayed overnight in Southampton, tried to get back in time for the podcast. Just a mixture of

poor railway running. As I say, since myself and my father left the railways roughly the same year, it's gone downhill hugely. We can now hear from Jay Harris. As I say, this is him reporting live from Clapham Junction. Hey everybody, it's Jay here. Firstly, going to apologise for not properly being on the podcast this morning, but I've had a nightmare getting back from Southampton. I think I've had four train delays or cancellations, lots of overcrowding, and I just couldn't make it back in time.

Anyways, on to the good stuff. That was...

Yeah, a really good performance, obviously against the team, incredibly low on confidence and just set up in the perfect way for Spurs to pinch the ball off them, hype the pitch and score. Within 60 seconds, Jed Spence making his first Premier League start, 881 days after he joined Spurs from Middlesbrough with a lovely little spin just inside his own half actually. Then he drives forward the ball, pops it off to Maddison and that got the party rolling.

We obviously heard Pastor Cognon on Friday and Thursday talking about wanting to see some of his senior players take up and take a bit more responsibility. And we saw that with Salah Mimin and Maddison both scoring. So hopefully that will give them both a little bit of confidence. I'm going to go on to Russell Martin quickly before I go on to Daniel Levy.

That was a strange, strange evening. I think when it was 2-0 down, Southampton fans were already booing him. At one stage, he walked down the tunnel and then Madison made it 5-0. Horrendous look.

And then at one point in the second half, the Southampton fans asked him to wave. He waved at them and then they booed him back. So that was a real, I guess, sad end to his time at Southampton, only six months after he got them promoted. It was almost like a bit of a competition with the Spurs end singing, we want Livia. Now this happened pretty much throughout the entire game. So it actually did start off before Maddison scored. So in those first 60 seconds,

Spurs fans made their feelings very, very clear. They sang a few different songs. One was involving Kulishevsky after Kulishevsky made it 3-0. So to me, especially when you consider that the fans also sang Costa Coccoli's name, although they didn't sing it at quite the same volume.

When you look back to what happened against Bournemouth a couple of weeks ago and the scenes with some of the fans showing their discontent with Postacoglu, a lot of those fans would have been in that away end last night. To me, that feels like a little bit of an endorsement for Postacoglu. It suggests that the fan base feel like

They don't want Postacoglu to get sacked. They want this project to be given a little bit more time. And their frustration is really at the board and Levy for a perceived lack of investment, other issues. I guess stuff that Romero spoke about the other day has really struck a chord with the fan base. So it will be very interesting to see...

if that sentiment continues over the next few weeks, over the next few months, if it's like that on Thursday at home in the Carabao Cup against Manchester United. But for now, it feels like, I'm not saying Postacoglu's turned a corner. I'm sure there are still some sections of the fan base who...

don't believe in what he's trying to do anymore and think that a 5-0 victory over the team at the bottom of the league is nothing to get too excited about but you know good performances against Manchester United and then Liverpool this weekend might make everybody feel happy again but anyways until next time guys all the best and sorry again I couldn't be with you today

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But once the game was slowed down to walking pace, that was literally what it was for much of the second half. And as I say, my big thing then was to keep a clean sheet spurs because they're few and far between at the moment. And even against a rotten team like Southampton, it's still something that you can fall back on. They started making the substitutions. First of all, I guess we should talk, you know, Son came off really early in the second half. That makes sense as well. And it's clear that,

Though they never talk about his nursing an injury or anything, that his minutes are being managed, husbanded with extreme care. Yeah, I mean, I think Postacoglu has mentioned a couple of times the need to manage those minutes and to not kind of run them into the ground. And he's definitely looked...

Nackered basically in a few of the games recently he's been him and Poirot have been the two that have really set out to me as looking like they could do a bit of a rest I mean again I know we'll come to it in a second it's a bit of a shame that Poirot's had to play what like an hour of this game when he was I guess the plan was for him to not play any of it really

But yeah, I think it makes perfect sense again with Son. I mean, presumably they're going to want him to start on Thursday night. So, you know, once he's got, what, a goal and two assists, it's

the team are 5-0 up, it's a pretty easy decision, I think, to hook him up. Yeah, no point in leaving him there. We should talk about the fact that Udogi came off, to be replaced by the aforementioned Pedro Porro. It's been described as precautionary, but things are often described as something they're not on the injury front, particularly at Spurs this season. And given that Spence didn't finish the game either...

It just occurred to me, what if they were both, and it's not impossible, not fit for Thursday? Where on earth would Spurs go? Let me ask you a question. If only Jay was here, he would know. Is Reguilón allowed to play in the League Cup? Yeah, I think he would be. Why wouldn't he be? He's registered with the club, right? He's not playing for anyone else. He's in the 25, isn't he? I don't think he even needs to be for the League Cup. No, is that right? You just need to have your registration with the club. So...

I assume he would be available. I know. I mean, if those two have tweaked something, he'd almost certainly have to play, wouldn't he? Yeah, I mean, otherwise you're asking Archie Gray to play in about 15 different positions. At once? Yeah, simultaneously. Right across the back four. Look, I'm looking at you now deadly seriously, James Moore. Let's suggest that Odogi and Spence have both tweaked something. Who is Spurs' back four on Thursday? Well, I mean, you've got...

drag your shin yeah I guess you play yeah and then you play Reguil maybe at left back grey at right back and then I don't know do you put Basuma will be back from suspension

Do you put Basuma in at the centre-half? Or Saar, or Dorrington. Or Dier, Dorrington. Yeah, I mean... Yeah, it's a pretty... Look, with all due respect to those footballers... It seems unlikely. Well, I was going to say it seems unlikely, but I mean, we've seen what happened this season so far, so maybe not. I know, I mean, hopefully they'll both be fit for Thursday, but it's just, you know...

In the euphoria of the five-goal victory, that cloud passed through my mind. The 77th minute saw two very, very, I think, pertinent, important substitutions in different ways. The first appearance of Alfie Dorrington, of whom a lot has been expected over the years, and the redemption, if that's the right word, of Timo Werner. Which one do you want to talk about first?

I mean, I'm curious for your definition of redemption of Timo Werner there. There was one very good ball across to Brennan Johnson in the second half who was unfortunately offside and missed anyway. Yes. The bar is I thought that he would be at the Lufthansa terminal with his bags packed this weekend. Yeah. I mean, need to must, I guess. It would definitely have been a...

Good moment for him to have come on and got a goal or an assist. But I mean, look, you know, I don't think anything happened there that would have done his confidence any harm, even if there was no major boost either. Talk about bare bones when you are forced to play a player who just days before you've excoriated, eviscerated and other really long words. It was extraordinary. The situation still has only really been worse.

that these like completely untried academy players have only played at the end of games where you know the game is done I mean other than I guess maybe you could say Lancashire at Galatasaray but other than that you know you're talking about Dorrington coming on at 5-0 for the last 10 minutes or whatever it was Lancashire sort of similar it's not like they're kind of having to chuck in I mean I appreciate that Bergvall and Gray are teenagers still

But that is slightly different when you've paid big money. One of them has played team international football. And they've played, particularly Gray, has played a lot of decent level football. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh, look, Bergvall's played in a top flight in Sweden and played a few games for the national team as well. Absolutely. So that is different. So the interesting thing about, you know, well done to Alfie Dorrington making his appearance. And of course, we shouldn't forget that Son's assist means he is now

He's the fourth highest goal scorer in the history of the club and now the highest assister in the Premier League, overtaking Darren Anderson's record. Sometimes because we're always looking for signs of decline with Son and he was in a team that was dominated by Harry Kane.

I think when all is said and done with this lad, we'll all be having to accept he's one of the great players ever to pull on that white shirt. And of course, he's hardly ever a bit of trouble. I mean, if you look at the assist stats for the whole Premier League this season, I was pretty surprised when I looked at this last night. I mean, Saka's out in front with 10 and Salah on 9. Obviously, their numbers are clearly nuts. But then Sonny's joint third after that with 6th.

Like in that, for what, 40% of a season? That is a very good number. And again, Spurs have obviously scored a lot of goals, so clearly that's tied into that. But yeah, there's been quite a lot of chat about how bad a season Son has had. But actually, the numbers in terms of goals and assists are decent enough for a wide player.

Yeah, I've been critical of some of his performances. The problem is with Son, partly I think, is his perception. He's one of those players that when he's not at his absolute best, he looks terrible because he does these half dribbles, which hits the shin of the player he's playing against. And then the player runs away with the ball. If he did the cowardly thing and passed the ball square rather than trying to beat his man...

It looks like you've contributed something there to the attacking move, but he tends to try and do something that's really going to hurt the opposition. And when it goes wrong, it looks pretty poor. But well done to him. That's another milestone, a landmark knocked off in his career. I don't know how it could have been organized differently. I put you in the manager's dugout here, James, but I was...

Even despite his legendary strength and stamina, I was surprised given Thursday coming that Kulosevsky played the entire game. Yeah, I was quite surprised by that. But then I guess he only played the second half last Thursday at Rangers. Only played the second half at Fulham as well, which I know feels like ages ago now. And probably played at half pace last.

Yeah, exactly. We've talked a lot about how much running Kulizevski does and how hard he runs as well. I've not got the data to hand, but you're right, I'd be surprised if he was exerting quite as much effort as he normally would do in the second half of a Premier League game. One word here, I think, for Archie Gray, who has now played not in his own position, but has played in all four defensive positions for Spurs this season because he switched from

He and Dragosin switched over from the previous game. He's now played in all four positions. And look, I'm not sure he's ever going to make a world-class centre-half, but his ability on the ball, his coolness, and he's obviously completely unfazed by playing at this level of football. It all...

It all points to what we all hope will be a career that completely justifies the huge fee that Spurs paid for him. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, incredibly impressive again. There's that kind of clearance right at the end of the game where he kind of prods his foot in, like almost right under the crossbar, certainly in the six-yard box. He's kind of almost put himself in harm's way, really. He could have got clobbered quite badly. You know, at the end of a game where, as you say, it's been played at walking post for the whole second half, a team of five and a half, the game is won. That's it.

But that kind of commitment to get in the clean sheet, I think is really impressive. For someone who is a midfielder really rather than a centre-half. Yeah, really good. It's hard not to be incredibly excited about him because he is, I would say, with more certainty than I've said about many players playing for Spurs at that age. I guess probably the only other one would be Bale. But I would be very certain he's going to be one of the best players in the Premier League. MUSIC

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Welcome back to the View from the Lane. I'm Danny Kelly. James Moore is here with me as well. Deep breath, James, because of course the games keep coming, not just thick and fast, but extraordinary period that all the teams in the Premier League are in, particularly those who are in Europe. It's like being, as I say, it's like playing in a championship team. Thursday, don't know why Thursday has been chosen rather than Wednesday, but we are playing on Thursday against Manchester United. It's a massive game for Spurs.

given where they are in the league. I mean, we've already discussed the complications of the team. Let's try and work out what kind of team we'll get out there. Let's assume that the injuries, the tweaks, the precautions to Udogi and Spence were just that, and that they're going to be fit. Let's not take the bleak view here. So I guess unless... I think Ben Davis is the nearest of the centre-backs to...

to be fit, but it looks like it'll probably be Dragosin and Archie again. Yeah, I'd be surprised if there was any change there. And we've not heard anything definitive at any of the three of them yet, which given what happened for that Chelsea game, for the team named in that game, rather than how it ended, does kind of make you think maybe we'll get a surprise for this game or the Liverpool game, but we'll see. It's probably worth working on the basis that it's Gray and Dragosin

Right back will be... Doggy, maybe this is jinxing it a bit, but I'd be surprised if that was a problem. You'd sort of hope from what the manager was saying. He's not often talked about precautions in that way. So I would hope that that's fine. And then the interesting one is probably at right back, whether you stick with Spence and continue to rest Poro or put your kind of ostensibly first choice right back back in. I...

it probably does depend on how Spence is feeling after that game physically but

Liverpool on Sunday also on the horizon can you also kind of two things can it be further over the horizon it's over the horizon oh yeah of course yeah yeah so that wasn't me being like a flat earther by the way I mean like I mean purely on the basis of the cliche yeah I'd probably be tempted to stick with Spencer and then have Poro for Liverpool it's about a priority isn't it it'll be I think you're given that Poro is the first choice it'll be illustrative of whether the manager pick

if he was going to pick him for one of those two games, it would be, I say, hugely illustrative of his own set of priorities, which one he chose him for. Personally speaking, I,

And I was really pleased with Jed Spence. I suppose I'd pick Porrow just because we know he has the ceiling of his performance is pretty high, even though he does look like one of those unfortunate donkeys you see in the adverts on the television when they're appealing for you to send money to them. Midfield? Yeah, you assume he's going to come back in after his ban.

Still no Ben Tinker. Sarr? I always just think they look better with Sarr in the team. But that means you end up leaving out either Maddison or Kulosevski, does it? Well, you play Kulosevski on the right, which he's done quite a few times recently, including yesterday. Yeah. Because Kulosevski doesn't have to stay on the right, does he? Provided one of the full-backs, the right-back, provides width. Yeah. It feels to me like it might be Sarr, Bissouma, Maddison.

Yeah, that's what Madison coming off in that game relatively early indicates. Yes. And then the usual suspects with all due respect to Brennan Johnson in the front three.

Manchester United-Manchester City was a horrible game with a very little... Yeah, dreadful. Yeah, a very poor advertisement for the Premier League. And yet the late victory for Manchester United means they will arrive in North London on a cloud, hopefully full of a false sense of their own brilliance. Yeah, I'm not really... It's hard to know how that's going to change things from their perspective. Will they suddenly be kind of all in on the league? Like, does the manager need to win

less now they've won that game I mean are they going to make like how seriously is he going to take it's his first league cup game how seriously is he going to take it you know it's difficult to know and you know they've left out two pretty big players completely from the squad on Sunday in Rashford in Garnaccio

Are they going to come back in with a point to prove on Thursday night? I mean, yeah, we've seen Rashford do, I suppose, quite a lot of damage down the years as well. So, you know, ideally, I hope not. It's going to be a massive game. I can really feel my hands going cold with nerves as my central system withdraws the blood to the vital organs.

It can't be, I suppose, I hope it would be as much fun as the game at St Mary's. I doubt if it will be. Thank you, James, for really proving here that this podcast only really needs me and you. So the others are lovely, like lovely baubles on a Christmas tree. They're nice to have, but they're not the full thing.

Thank you all for listening. And let me remind you that the show is its own official home on Xstroke Twitter at VFTL Podcast. It's also on Blue Sky at VFTL Podcast. Or you can email us at vftl at theathletic.com. Thank you all for listening. God bless you all. Come on you Spurs. The Athletic.

The first ever 12 team college football playoff is set and you can join me, David Ubbin and me, two time national champion, Alabama, Damian Harris and me, Chris Vanini, two time national champion in the college football 25 video game on until Saturday, the athletics college football podcast for all the playoff previews, predictions, coaching carousel and transfer portal news four times a week throughout the CFP.

Dame, how do you think Bama's going to do in the playoffs? Shut up, David. Listen, the time may be out of the playoffs, but I'm super excited to see the 12 best teams in the nation play. All the banter, insights, and more on Until Saturday. Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.