I was the same which was why I was so gutted when the wheels came off against the Chavs with our 9 man press on the half way line!
Fuming
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Management Roberto De Zerbi
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I was the same which was why I was so gutted when the wheels came off against the Chavs with our 9 man press on the half way line!
Fuming
If I remember, that Chelsea first goal was offside, the player that scored started running back to goal, start from a position about 5 meters off side.I was the same which was why I was so gutted when the wheels came off against the Chavs with our 9 man press on the half way line!
Fuming
I was more angry that the players got themselves sent off for repeated stupid tackles.
nearly..haha.
This is way to reasoned. Who the fuck are you and what have you done to our Spaniel!!
I think i was skeptical from the start with ange and was never ever onnthe frank train. But de zerbi has got my attention like no manager since poch. Just saying
And while we’re at it, wouldn’t it be something if we had Barber instead of that useless Gooner cunt
View: https://x.com/thespursexpress/status/2053261063391486083?s=46
View: https://x.com/thespursexpress/status/2053261063391486083?s=46
It would be nice if our cheif executive was a boyhood Spurs fan.
How Roberto De Zerbi is turning Tottenham around
From today's Telegraph
Manager’s introduction of the high press and his hands-on work to restore Antonin Kinsky’s shattered confidence are boosting survival hopes.
For the few who saw Marseille’s victory over Aston Villa in the Vélodrome in August, as well as Tottenham Hotspur’s win at Villa Park nine months later on Sunday, just Spurs’ second in the Premier League in 2026, the similarities were striking.
Roberto De Zerbi, the manager of Marseille in August, and now in charge of Spurs, had asked his team last weekend to press high, and show an energy and willingness to hunt for the ball. It was much the same as his Marseille side had done in that 3-1 pre-season win and the fact Spurs came up against one of the worst Villa performances of this season or many others was helpful. But it also demonstrated the swift changes that the Italian is trying to make in what is a crisis. Finally Spurs had back-to-league wins for the first time since August as they fight for their Premier League lives.
Two wins, starting with Leeds United tonight, would guarantee Spurs’ safety and relegate West Ham. De Zerbi has at least given Spurs a chance after the missteps of the Igor Tudor regime in which Spurs went eight games without a win and were in a relegation doom-spiral. De Zerbi has picked a team which looks much durable in the grinding battle for points.
The best player under Tudor was teenager Archie Gray, who adapted to new positions and made a difference amid plummeting confidence among the team. He started in De Zerbi’s first game against Sunderland but has been on the bench for the next three and did not come on in the wins over Wolves and Villa. Instead De Zerbi has used a midfield of Conor Gallagher, Rodrigo Bentancur and either Yves Bissouma or – against Villa – João Palhinha.
This week the Spurs manager did his best to keep Gray and the 20-year-old Lucas Bergvall, also out of the side, in positive spirits. “They have not played so much until now, but they are in my head,” De Zerbi said. “I don’t forget them. They can become important in the last three games.” But it has been about picking a different kind of side capable of holding their own in midfield and keeping up the kind of intensity that will win games at this stage of the season.
On the likes of Bentancur and Palhinha, it was, De Zerbi said, a question of “experience”. “They already know how to play in this situation, but sometimes it’s not just the age that makes the difference. Lucas Bergvall is another important player for the future and for right now. It’s not a problem of just experience. For sure, the experience can be important in this part of the season.”
At Spurs’ training ground, De Zerbi has taken a clear position. Insiders say that he has been entirely positive and complimentary towards players and staff. There has been no attempt to make major changes other than to morale in what has been a dismal three-manager season for the squad – and also the assistants and medical and conditioning departments. De Zerbi has arrived with just two of his own coaches – it is usually many more – and worked on getting energy levels up at a club that was reeling. The players like him and have responded.
There is still a long way to go and there may yet be a historic big-six relegation come May 24, but it is at least a start in the major task of turning around the Spurs of 2026. In private De Zerbi has given particular attention to restoring the shattered confidence of goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky whose selection and subsequent mistakes and first-half substitution against Atlético Madrid were among the lowest of many low points under Tudor. With the injury to Vicario Guglielmo there is no question that De Zerbi needs Kinsky.
“He [Kinsky] has a big character, a big personality, a great guy, a great professional and a great keeper,” De Zerbi said. “He’s playing very well. He has to stay focused and not take risks in any situation, but he’s playing very well. He’s very important for us now.”
Perhaps even an inspiration? “Of course, he is an example. Of course, what he felt after Madrid for sure was a big motivation for him. If you have pride, if you have dignity, if you have the right spirit, if you have character… and he has all these values.”
Spurs face Chelsea next week and De Zerbi was invited to the Stamford Bridge suite of BlueCo consortium chief Behdad Eghbali to watch the defeat by Nottingham Forest. Sitting to De Zerbi’s left was one of the game’s most powerful agents, Frank Trimboli, an Australian of Italian heritage, who is a major player in deals between Serie A and the Premier League. Although Trimboli is not De Zerbi’s agent he would have been able to offer a perspective on managing Spurs. One of Trimboli’s longest-standing clients is Ange Postecoglou.
De Zerbi said that Dejan Kulusevski could be back in training soon. James Maddison is also training with the first team. Neither has played a game this season and the delicate question of when to reintroduce them hangs in the air. This is not any season finale – it is a relegation death match, and the choices about integrating a long-term injured player back into the first team are fraught at the best of times. De Zerbi said he thought it would be difficult for Kulusevski to play at the World Cup although he did suggest the Swede could be back for the last game of the season at home to Everton.
As for Maddison, his return should be sooner. “Every day we make a check [on the players’ fitness] and in this check there is also Maddison,” De Zerbi said.
The challenge on Monday night will be playing in a stadium where Spurs’ form has been dismal – their last Premier League win in N17 was on December 6. De Zerbi denied that was a problem for his players.
“There are a lot of big stadiums and very nice stadiums, but they are like theatres in the Premier League. Tottenham’s stadium is hot [noisy and atmospheric]. When I was in this stadium with Brighton [as manager of the club] or against Brighton [in the draw last month] the stadium was very, very hot… we are lucky to play in this stadium.”
From today's Telegraph
Manager’s introduction of the high press and his hands-on work to restore Antonin Kinsky’s shattered confidence are boosting survival hopes.
For the few who saw Marseille’s victory over Aston Villa in the Vélodrome in August, as well as Tottenham Hotspur’s win at Villa Park nine months later on Sunday, just Spurs’ second in the Premier League in 2026, the similarities were striking.
Roberto De Zerbi, the manager of Marseille in August, and now in charge of Spurs, had asked his team last weekend to press high, and show an energy and willingness to hunt for the ball. It was much the same as his Marseille side had done in that 3-1 pre-season win and the fact Spurs came up against one of the worst Villa performances of this season or many others was helpful. But it also demonstrated the swift changes that the Italian is trying to make in what is a crisis. Finally Spurs had back-to-league wins for the first time since August as they fight for their Premier League lives.
Two wins, starting with Leeds United tonight, would guarantee Spurs’ safety and relegate West Ham. De Zerbi has at least given Spurs a chance after the missteps of the Igor Tudor regime in which Spurs went eight games without a win and were in a relegation doom-spiral. De Zerbi has picked a team which looks much durable in the grinding battle for points.
The best player under Tudor was teenager Archie Gray, who adapted to new positions and made a difference amid plummeting confidence among the team. He started in De Zerbi’s first game against Sunderland but has been on the bench for the next three and did not come on in the wins over Wolves and Villa. Instead De Zerbi has used a midfield of Conor Gallagher, Rodrigo Bentancur and either Yves Bissouma or – against Villa – João Palhinha.
This week the Spurs manager did his best to keep Gray and the 20-year-old Lucas Bergvall, also out of the side, in positive spirits. “They have not played so much until now, but they are in my head,” De Zerbi said. “I don’t forget them. They can become important in the last three games.” But it has been about picking a different kind of side capable of holding their own in midfield and keeping up the kind of intensity that will win games at this stage of the season.
On the likes of Bentancur and Palhinha, it was, De Zerbi said, a question of “experience”. “They already know how to play in this situation, but sometimes it’s not just the age that makes the difference. Lucas Bergvall is another important player for the future and for right now. It’s not a problem of just experience. For sure, the experience can be important in this part of the season.”
At Spurs’ training ground, De Zerbi has taken a clear position. Insiders say that he has been entirely positive and complimentary towards players and staff. There has been no attempt to make major changes other than to morale in what has been a dismal three-manager season for the squad – and also the assistants and medical and conditioning departments. De Zerbi has arrived with just two of his own coaches – it is usually many more – and worked on getting energy levels up at a club that was reeling. The players like him and have responded.
There is still a long way to go and there may yet be a historic big-six relegation come May 24, but it is at least a start in the major task of turning around the Spurs of 2026. In private De Zerbi has given particular attention to restoring the shattered confidence of goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky whose selection and subsequent mistakes and first-half substitution against Atlético Madrid were among the lowest of many low points under Tudor. With the injury to Vicario Guglielmo there is no question that De Zerbi needs Kinsky.
“He [Kinsky] has a big character, a big personality, a great guy, a great professional and a great keeper,” De Zerbi said. “He’s playing very well. He has to stay focused and not take risks in any situation, but he’s playing very well. He’s very important for us now.”
Perhaps even an inspiration? “Of course, he is an example. Of course, what he felt after Madrid for sure was a big motivation for him. If you have pride, if you have dignity, if you have the right spirit, if you have character… and he has all these values.”
Spurs face Chelsea next week and De Zerbi was invited to the Stamford Bridge suite of BlueCo consortium chief Behdad Eghbali to watch the defeat by Nottingham Forest. Sitting to De Zerbi’s left was one of the game’s most powerful agents, Frank Trimboli, an Australian of Italian heritage, who is a major player in deals between Serie A and the Premier League. Although Trimboli is not De Zerbi’s agent he would have been able to offer a perspective on managing Spurs. One of Trimboli’s longest-standing clients is Ange Postecoglou.
De Zerbi said that Dejan Kulusevski could be back in training soon. James Maddison is also training with the first team. Neither has played a game this season and the delicate question of when to reintroduce them hangs in the air. This is not any season finale – it is a relegation death match, and the choices about integrating a long-term injured player back into the first team are fraught at the best of times. De Zerbi said he thought it would be difficult for Kulusevski to play at the World Cup although he did suggest the Swede could be back for the last game of the season at home to Everton.
As for Maddison, his return should be sooner. “Every day we make a check [on the players’ fitness] and in this check there is also Maddison,” De Zerbi said.
The challenge on Monday night will be playing in a stadium where Spurs’ form has been dismal – their last Premier League win in N17 was on December 6. De Zerbi denied that was a problem for his players.
“There are a lot of big stadiums and very nice stadiums, but they are like theatres in the Premier League. Tottenham’s stadium is hot [noisy and atmospheric]. When I was in this stadium with Brighton [as manager of the club] or against Brighton [in the draw last month] the stadium was very, very hot… we are lucky to play in this stadium.”
Points the finger at Tudor a bit, completely omits Frank - who I would argue is far more culpable
Frank has nudes of these journos
Frank is really well liked by lots of the press. Its why we were stuck with him so damn long. If you compare how the wrote about Postecoglou it was blatantly more vicious.
Thank was basically Frankball tonight. With a little bit more running about.
Leeds sat deep and hit it long
We have 0 technical skill in the entire attacking lineup doesn't matter if we had Pep or used necromancy to get Brian Clough in the dug out. We ain't gonna play Stella football simple as.
The players who we have fit cant do it and are frankly shit hence why we are in a relegation dogfight