The Premier League Awaits!

I might be alone on this hill.

I close my eyes and picture a Spurs starting XI against Newcastle, where everyone fits. Kinský in goal. Udogi, Van de Ven, Van Hecke, Porro across the back. Tonali and Fernandes in the pivot. Kudus, Gakpo, Savinho and Marmoush as the front four – one at the 10, three across the front. And I ask a question the panel didn't quite want to answer with me this week: is that a Champions League defence, a Champions League midfield and a Champions League attack? I think it is. I think it's a top-four team playing once a week, and if the injuries stay on our side for once, it's a side that should be in the "could we?" conversation two-thirds of the way through the season.

Every club is in transition. Liverpool are short. City are in transition. Chelsea are whatever Chelsea are. But Enya made a point I keep coming back to: we came 17th, and we've changed the manager. De Zerbi in the seven games we saw at the end of last season was a completely different Spurs. If you add quality to that seven-game version – actual creativity from the wings, a striker who can drop and spin, a midfield that passes out of pressure – where does that end?

I might be alone on this hill. I might not stay on it. But I'm on it for now. Come and join me.

Keep it lily-white.

COYS #OhSo33,
– Jim

Happy Premier League Week!! The Premier League will have kicked off by the time you read this issue, but Spurs won’t have. Teehee. Sorry — the way the scheduling works, this will come out on the morning of the game. Oh well. It means I get to write about it next week! Hah.

Tottenham played a doubleheader against TSG Hoffenheim — once in the stadium and once at the training ground. The first match was all Mikey Moore: two brilliant goals from him, plus the opener from Richarlison. Tell me, does this Mikey Moore performance guarantee him time with the first team this season, or does he need one more loan?

The second game was a 2–2 draw, but we got to see Maddison, Fernandes, and Danso, to name a few, start. I can’t lie: Maddison looked a little rusty — the first goal was due to his mistake — but that’s what happens when you’re coming back from an ACL injury. (I would know; I’m about to get surgery for mine. Lol.) You’re going to be a bit slow on the uptake.

The ever-reliable Ben Davies scored our first goal. Honestly, it looked like a proper center-forward’s strike. Cheers, Ben, I’m glad we get to have you for one more season.

Then, of course, we had a Luca Williams-Barnett goal to end the half. I can’t rave enough about this kid. It’s bizarre how genuinely good he is at the tender age of 17. People are already writing think pieces about him, and news articles are suggesting that he’ll probably be one of the best players to come out of our academy (they’re probably right). It wasn’t a goal to write home to your mother about, but I’m happy for him, as it’s the first he’s scored with the first team — with hopefully many more to come.

There’s still no official confirmation — from the club or even that scammer Fabrizio Romano — about Savinho or Omar Marmoush. Tottenham have reportedly reached a verbal agreement for Savinho for around £75 million, while the club remains confident about signing Marmoush as negotiations advance. According to some sources, these two players won’t be the last signings we make. Honestly, I fell to my knees when I heard about Savinho, which is ironic considering he only has four goal contributions, but I’ll take it. I’m so excited about what De Zerbi is building. I cannot say that enough.

Speaking of De Zerbi, he has named the leadership group for the 26/27 season. Micky van de Ven is the first captain, followed by Pedro Porro, Ben Davies, James Maddison, and Archie Gray. In a press conference before the match, De Zerbi said that he wanted five captains because he likes having multiple leaders on the pitch and believes that each player deserves to be a captain or part of the leadership group.

You guys definitely don’t know it, but I’ve been saying Archie Gray should have the armband since the 24/25 season (which I got crucified for, lol), so hearing this news kinda blew my mind. So excited, and a little bit shocked that a 20-year-old is part of the leadership team. Really shows that his character must be so much better than what we’ve already seen.

I’m so excited that the Premier League is back. It’s been 89 days — has time really flown that fast? — since the scum lifted the trophy, and now Spurs are back. No more talk about “rel*gation.” Let’s talk about how we’re going to win it all.

Maybe. Haha!

Until next week.

Here is an excerpt from the recent The Analyst episode.