Another one bites the dust, and it could get worse (plus Europa Conf. news)
The Club have confirmed that Sunday’s match against Brighton and Hove Albion has been postponed. Funnily enough, I predicted this when I wrote that the Rennes game was not going ahead. It was bloody obvious that the Brighton game couldn’t go ahead either, so why not put us out of our misery a lot sooner? If a mere mortal can work it out like me, then a powerful machine like Tottenham should have worked it out as well. The same with the Rennes game, everybody knew that that match had to be cancelled, but no, the officials that are insisted that it would go ahead… until it was decided that it wouldn’t.
A Premier League Board meeting was held yesterday (Thursday) where the decision was made to not proceed with the match at the Amex Stadium due to the Covid-19 outbreak at Tottenham. Medical advisors had provided guidance following the situation, where the focal point was centred on the health of players and staff.
As I reported yesterday, our Europa Conference League fixture against Rennes, which was scheduled to take place on Thursday, was called off by UEFA. The Club also closed the first-team area of the training centre following medical guidance.
On Wednesday, our manager Antonio Conte disclosed at his Wednesday’s press conference that eight first-team players and five members of the coaching staff had returned positive tests for the virus, but the powers that are, still decided to go ahead with the Rennes game (at that point).
I also don’t believe that that is the end of our problems; the game against Leicester City (away) next Thursday could also be affected.
My thoughts
Of course, it was the right decision to call off those games; the only surprise here was that they waited so long to announce the decision.
As for the Leicester game; even though the players might be cleared to play by that date, they wouldn’t have trained for a while (those that had it) and could be as useful as a spare what’s it in a house of ill repute.
Our prospects in advancing in the Europa Conference league.
Vitesse 3 Mura 1
We slipped to third in our Europa Conference League group and will have to beat Rennes to progress when our postponed fixture is rearranged. Thomas Buitink, Daan Huisman and Lois Openda scored as Vitesse beat NS Mura, with Amadej Marosa replying for the visitors. This means we are three points behind Vitesse in Group G with the same goal difference.
European football’s governing body must decide the fitness of our squad, but not only that, but the extent of the health guidance offered before making a ruling. Uefa’s rules state that if clubs have 13 fit players on their A list, including a goalkeeper, they must play.
Uefa could order the game to be rearranged, although finding an alternative date will not be easy with a 31 December deadline for the group stage to be finished. Some have suggested that it could even be played in January.
Vitesse and ourselves are level on head-to-head results with away goals abolished. We would qualify for the knockout round play-off if our match against Rennes takes place and we win.
The draw takes place this Monday and would pair us with one of the third-placed teams from the group stages of the Europa League. A lot of ifs, but not impossible. So, I am off to book my Europa Conference League final and, on the way, pop in to see big Bertha for advice on my psychological well being (being too optimistic can affect one’s mental well-being, I am told). Oh, well, if we can’t laugh, we’d be Arsenal supporters crying in our bowl of Spammers bubbles.
See you all at the next match… whenever that is… hopefully soon.
All the best, Glenn
My name is Glenn Renshaw.
I am currently a Premium Season Ticket holder (West Stand) in the new stadium. Before that – at White Hart Lane – a season ticket holder in various parts of the ground (mainly in the North stand).
Before becoming a season ticket holder, I stood on the shelf and various other parts of the ground since the 1960s (the season of the double). In 1987 I became one of the first to hold a Spurs Membership card. I was also a life long member of the Spurs supporters club (now defunct).
I go to all home, away and abroad matches.
I was born in 1955, Edgware, London. I currently live in Berkshire.
I also collect all Spurs books, Spurs handbooks, Spurs programmes etc.
Previously, I wrote for Spurs Fanzines: The Spur, Spur of the Moment, My Eyes have seen the Glory and various other Spurs fanzines’. I also wrote for the SpursWeb app & its website.
I currently write and work for spursnetwork.com and its website. I write its Reviews & Match reports and a lot more.
My other interests are; reading, history, social history, Politics, going to the gym, wine, going out for a meal, music (all sorts), writing, theatre, concerts, going on holidays, socialising etc.
I have been writing blogs/ articles since 1989
If you wish to read more of my blog, please click “here”
