With the summer feast of football over following a remarkable World Cup in Russia, the football community is gearing up for the start of the biggest domestic club competition in the world – the Premier League.
After Manchester City walked England’s top flight last campaign, all eyes will be on their competitors to see if the evident gap can be closed. Tottenham, a team firmly on the up under Argentinean coach Mauricio Pochettino, are one of those sides aiming for a Premier League title push and will be desperate to gain some ground on Guardiola’s seemingly unstoppable City.
A trip to Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle United is first up for Tottenham in what promises to be a feisty, all-action affair. With the St.James’ Park atmosphere usually in full flow, particularly on the first day of a Premier League season and a club seemingly on the up also under wily old fox Benitez, Spurs could be thrown straight in at the deep end.
The game, which is a lunch time kick-off and will be aired on Sky Sports, is certainly a mouthwatering prospect between two relative sleeping giants of English football and is one not to be missed. If you’re not too keen on paying a subscription, sports live streaming offers a chance to watch the game online for free and catch the drama – drama that’ll surely be on the cards in this one.
With the aforementioned World Cup hindering Tottenham’s pre-season plans after a number of players reported late back to training, Pochettino’s side go into this opening day encounter potentially understrength, not up to speed in terms of fitness and out of practice as a team on the whole. Throw in a highly organised, tough to breakdown Newcastle side under Benitez, with the Toon Army faithful roaring them on as always, plus a potentially Kane-less Spurs and we have all the ingredients for a possible first day nightmare for Tottenham.
Newcastle United, currently priced at 12/5 (bet365) to come out on top, have had their usual rocky summer full of uncertainty around the future of club owner Mike Ashley. As with previous campaigns, a distinct lack of investment has also been levelled at the club and Ashley by their fans. Money is coming in, but it isn’t always coming out of the club, particularly when it comes to player recruitment. The fans are still distinctly unhappy with their owner but adore their manager – a manager who clearly has issues with the hierarchy at Newcastle also but his professionalism means he just simply gets on with it.
Newcastle have, despite the criticism, added to their squad this summer. Martin Dubravka signed permanently, Ki Sung-yueng joined from relegated Swansea, Chelsea’s Kenedy rejoined on a season-long loan and defender Fabian Schar signed on the dotted line from La Liga side Deportivo La Coruna. There are no real notable absentees from last season for Newcastle, although perhaps Mikel Merino falls into that category alone after unexpectedly leaving the club for Real Sociedad this summer. With all this in mind though, Newcastle go into the season with momentum following last season’s improvement and with a few fresh faces to lift everyone around the club.
As for Tottenham, who are the only club in the top 6 yet to make any additions this summer, odds on them winning the match at 21/20 (bet365) suggest they’re still favourites for this one, but with 12 players reporting late back to training and surely tired after their exploits in Russia, it’s a taller order than many are perhaps expecting.
Spurs need to dig deep this season and show progress, starting at Newcastle on August 11th.
