BOMBA?!

Transfer bomba?! Who is it, Roberto? That was a first for me. A manager dropping a cryptic ITK (in-the-know) message out to the fan base with a shark reference and looking at available forwards. I know it's not Savinho. Could it be ‘Ferran Torres’ nicknamed ‘the Shark?’ Or… could De Zerbi be applying pressure to someone else to get them moving? Who knows. I think it’s quite fun to play up the transfer rumours rather than ignoring them like when companies used to ban humour from their adverts. 

With only one month to go until the season begins and multiple games played, it has also been great to see De Zerbi’s tactics in motion. Lots of beautiful triangles and movement. Oh how I’ve missed it.

Oh, and one more small thing. Could you do me a massive favour? I love this newsletter and it is great to see it growing, but it would really help me and our editor out if you recommended it to a friend. Maybe you just forward this email to a friend or pop this link to a Spurs friend https://newsletter.ohsospurs.com/.

COYS #OhSo33,
– Jim

Two pre-season games, a “transfer bomba” incoming, and a tour of New Zealand and Australia. Good times as a Tottenham fan, eh?

Let’s start with the games. First, Auckland. Goals from Dane Scarlett and Richarlison meant we won 2-0, though it wasn’t comfortable. Spurs were welcomed with a Maori greeting, and went straight into the game. Archie Gray captained a very young side, which was incredible to see (he’s only 19!). I think Luca Williams-Barnett was absolutely awesome to watch. Yes, I understand it’s Auckland FC and that they’re not comparable (in a sense) to the Premier League, but watching him play with the confidence he has at only 17 is nothing short of beautiful. I genuinely hope we can integrate him into the first team soon. Also, Richarlison scored off a Mathys Tel cross. Honestly, Tel looked electric when he was brought on as a sub. He’s desperate to prove himself to the manager, especially after the shit he was put through under Frank and Tudor. I’ve personally always believed in Tel, but watching him on that wing was fantastic. He had come on to replace Mikey Moore, who also looked great, but the difference between him and Tel was very noticeable. I think with Moore he’s about 90% of the way there. He’s not afraid to take on his man, though his take-ons are not always successful. The game against Auckland was the highest attended men’s match in all of New Zealand, with 40,112 attendees. Way to come out and show your support!

We also played against Sydney FC. This game was slow, with the only goal from regular time coming from Mathys Tel, who scored a beauty of a free-kick. If he had done that in the Premier League, that’s also going in. Literally slotted it perfectly in the top right corner. The game had to go to penalties as we conceded a sloppy goal, and it ended 2-4 to Tottenham. Luca Williams-Barnett scored via panenka (the cheek of him!). We also saw Andy Robertson and Sandro Tonali  for the first time in a Spurs shirt. 

While both games ended in a win for Spurs, it is clear we are still very much lacking in the forward area. There is not a clinical finisher on this team. I believe that the wings are secured for now with Tel for sure starting on that left side, but we are still so desperately looking for that number 9. I love Richy to death but I have never thought he should be the starting center forward. However, with De Zerbi saying he’s got one more “bomba” incoming, I do not have fear that we shall not get a player to fill that role. So far, he has delivered far more than we as Spurs fans could have asked for. I also like Dominic Solanke, but ever since he’s joined Tottenham he’s had injury after injury. I don’t want to say he’s injury prone, but I’m not quite sure we can rely on him full-time this season. Plus, it’ll be nice to have some decent competition for him if we can get a striker. Who are you guys hoping for? I was wishing for Kroupi before he got injured.

Kulusevski has returned to full training as per szyexcl on X. There are reports he is significantly slower than usual, but that is unsurprising given that he needed surgery on his patella. He was also never very fast in the first place. Kulusevski hasn’t played since the end of the 24/25 season, so hopefully we’ll see him this coming season!

Elsewhere in football, Gianni Infantino, President of FIFA, proposed a plan that involved selling a 20% stake in FIFA Forward Enterprise, to the outrage of UEFA, CONCACAF, and AFC. UEFA released a statement saying they’d boycott any and all FIFA-ran tournaments until the proposal is scrapped. This was devastating news as 55 countries are part of UEFA and the Women’s U20 and Women’s World Cup 2027 were coming up. Thankfully, the proposal was scrapped.

Lastly, on a cheeky note, Tom Holland was quoted saying “supporting was probably the worst decision I ever made” during a podcast interview. I love Tom – he’s just like us. HAHA. Have you guys watched the new Spider-Man movie? I’m seeing it on Monday. I CAN’T WAIT! I’ll give a cheeky review in the next newsletter…!

Until next time!

There is no written Analyst section this week but Enya and Jim have dropped a new video.