Real Rivals At Last

This is one of those times I regret being so delayed in writing a new issue, but it's a miracle I've been able to carve out some time to write this week at all. After dealing with a computer issue on Monday I then had the startling realization that Christmas was only a week away, and I've been frantically shopping and knitting gifts ever since. But there was no way I was going to pass up a chance to talk about the first-ever Spurs win in the Women's NLD. If you're also feeling stressed by the holiday crush, kick back for a few moments and we'll relive the glorious win together—then it's back to gift wrapping, baking treats, etc.

In this issue: NLD recap | Nottingham Forest recap | Previewing Everton

Forget about chronological order, let's talk about the NLD first.

WSL Matchday 10 recap | Tottenham 1 - 0 Arsenal

Thomas 58'

I still can't believe that's a real scoreline from a real game against Arsenal. History has been made!

First off, the home crowd really showed out. It wasn't the largest attendance we've had at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for a Women's NLD, but you could tell it was a very engaged and supportive crowd. There were also a few notable guests, including Ange Postecoglou, Ria Percival's New Zealand teammate Ali Riley, and Wang Shuang's former Racing Louisville teammate Nadia Nadim. Speaking of Wang, she was presented to the Tottenham fans for the first time since signing with the club. I'm sure she'll be itching to get out onto the pitch at THS soon.

Hopefully there will be some fixture updates in that vein in the coming weeks. It's important to build off this momentum by scheduling a few more matches at the main stadium, but the club should also make a big push to convert some of last weekend's attendees into Brisbane Road matchgoers.

I was also heartened to hear that the club made more of an effort to represent the Women's team within the stadium, including in the club shop. How many fans do you think rushed to the shop after the match to buy their first Martha Thomas kit? I certainly would have!

Loathe as I am to give Arsenal fans any credit, it was also a positive thing to have a robust away section for this game. It would be great to see the rivalry grow on the Women's side after this statement result from Spurs. The gap is certainly closing between the two teams—tactically for sure, if not totally on the squad depth side (though that is also improving season by season).

Because I've had such a busy week I haven't had a chance to watch the "Matchday Uncut" video on SpursPlay, but I'm glad to see the robustness of content around Spurs Women in recent months. It feels like the club is finally turning the corner when it comes to promoting the Women's team and catering to fans of both senior teams. There's a lot of overlap in those fanbases of course, and I would love to see that overlap increase alongside such efforts from the club.

Okay, now let's look back at the game itself.

Starting XI:

Once again it felt like a case of Robert Vilahamn getting his best available players onto the pitch, regardless of whether that required some creativity with their actual positions.

Although Jess Naz had a very strong game against the same team in the midweek Conti Cup fixture, it made sense to give Beth England another start since we know she can be a difference-maker. Unfortunately, it looks like she hasn't quite built up her fitness yet since returning from injury and was only able to play the first half. Otherwise, it was the same lineup from the previous game. Ramona Petzelberger and Kit Graham retained their spots in the midfield double pivot, and Barbora Votíková got her second start in a row to make her WSL debut.

An early injury to Luana Bühler, forcing Vilahamn to bring on Amy Turner in just the 19th minute, could have been a sign that things weren't going to go Spurs' way. But after a first half in which chances were few and far between but the defense was very solid, we entered halftime scoreless on both sides.

It's fair to say that Naz's entrance to the game in the second half was a game-changer. Not only did her pace in behind give Arsenal a new problem to deal with, but it also made them realize that they needed to try to score a goal before we did. As they started to press more fervently we found a series of openings in the 58th minute to score a superb team goal, working all the way from a goal kick to build up from the back and break Arsenal's lines. The only Spurs player who didn't touch the ball was Naz, but her decoy run not only distracted Manuela Zinsberger by causing her to anticipate a shot from the right side of the box, it also created space for Martha Thomas to run into for the eventual scoring shot. Check out this graphic made by friend of the newsletter Harsh Mishra to see the full sequence.

It was a true team goal and evidence of the impact Vilahamn has had on the team's playing style so far. And again, I think it's worth emphasizing how many players were playing outside of their normal/preferred positions in this game. That indicates that Vilahamn has been very clear in his tactical vision for the team; every player knows what is expected of them and has the technical ability to execute it. That definitely wasn't the case last season, when there were so many games in which the team looked devoid of ideas and lacked confidence on the ball.

Now I have to single out the actual goal-scorer, Thomas, for some individual praise. She covered so much ground during this goal sequence and really showcased the breadth of her skillset. She's been so integral to our best moments this season—and she hasn't even been with the club for a full six months yet! I think every player on the pitch evoked the "to dare is to do" attitude in this game, but Martha especially did.

Then it was a tense 32 minutes plus stoppage time (all eleven minutes of it) to hold on to the one-goal lead. The whole team did a good job of limiting Arsenal to low-percentage chances and players like Turner, Angharad James, and Molly Bartrip all put it key blocks & clearances. Votíková made six of her eight total saves in the second half alone. And it didn't get any easier for our defense as the game went on, with Arsenal able to bring on such talented players as Kyra Cooney-Cross, Stina Blackstenius, Cloé Lacasse, and the most worrying of all: Vivianne Miedema. Many of you will recall her stoppage time equalizing header from the last time we took any points off Arsenal in the league. But if anything, the additional firepower in Arsenal's attack only motivated our players further. We looked like the more experienced and organized team as the game drew to a close.

The dying seconds of the game involved a breakaway opportunity for substitute Rosella Ayane, who had the open goal available since Zinsberger had gone up for a set piece. Unfortunately, Lacasse (not a defender, mind you) put in a crunching tackle to stop her from getting a shot off. She really should have taken a shot long before Lacasse had time to get back, but I'm sure she backed herself pace-wise. Either way, it was the very last play of the game and the final whistle rang out to every Spurs player and fan's relief. Reader, I may have shed a few tears.

No one would say we dominated the game, but we certainly won the tactical battle. Vilahamn's plan was executed perfectly and it required complete commitment from the players, both starters and substitutes. I couldn't be prouder of them. And for the record, Arsenal were lucky to end the match with only one yellow card. There were times when frustration seemed to get the better of them and they resorted to making the game more physical. Jonas Eidevall didn't appear to have a plan B.

This surprising three-point result didn't move us up in the table, but it will have been a huge boost to morale, breaking the two-game losing streak in the league. It also leaves us just three points below 4th place, though there's a significant goal difference deficit to make up. For now, we can be happy that we enter the winter break well above the relegation scrap and have several players set to return from injury after the fixture pause. Vilahamn has noted that this is a building year and there will be setbacks to overcome, but there will also be games like this one where everything clicks and we can be proud of the football on display.

There won't be any more Spurs Women content in the newsletter for a few weeks while they enjoy some much-deserved rest, except for any transfer news that comes in. The next fixture will be our first game in the FA Cup, at home to Sheffield United. Vilahamn has also said that the team will be playing a friendly against Charlton "directly after the new year."

SAtP Player of the Match: Molly Bartrip

I just had to give Molly kudos for her stalwart performance as the leader of the defense—and captain for the second half. Any time the Arsenal forward line started to sniff an attacking opportunity, she shut it down with a perfectly timed block or organized her fellow defenders to take care of the trouble. It can't be easy to switch CB partners so early in the match, as we were forced to with Luana's injury just over a quarter of an hour into the game, but Molly and Amy worked well together—arguably better than we ever saw them play together last season.

I know that all of the players were thrilled to get the win, but Molly is one of the players who showed the most passion during the game and after the final whistle. She truly "gets it".

Of course, I also have to give a massive honorable mention to Barbora for her incredible WSL debut, for which she won the official PotM award. It's honestly impressive how confident and unflappable she is. Her post-game interviews were hilarious, too.

Notable and quotable:

• Beth England made her 150th WSL appearance (not all of them with Spurs, obviously), and what a way to celebrate it!

• Speaking of the captain, when asked what made the difference in the second half she said, "It was really Jess coming on, she's got the pace to try and get us in behind more."

• Robert's thoughts on the performance of the team:

They are brave footballers and I love to work with brave footballers.

• This was our first-ever clean sheet against Arsenal.

• It was also our first clean sheet this season in the WSL.

PL Matchday 17 recap | Nottingham Forest 0 - 2 Tottenham

Richarlison 45+2', Kulusevski 65'

I'm afraid this game is going to get short shrift in the interest of time, but it's not every week that the Women's team makes history and something had to give.

And really, there are only four main takeaways I want to discuss. But first, the lineup.

Starting XI:

Finally, an unchanged lineup! Mostly because our injury situation remains dire, but still. And speaking of...

Poor Brennan Johnson only made it about half an hour into his return to the City Ground before he was taken out with a concussion substitution. He suffered a "nasty cut" on his forehead, as Ange put it.

Takeaway #1) The first half was not the best watch overall. Nottingham Forest made it a very physical game and somehow avoided getting any cards until late in the second half, bizarrely. Richarlison's goal just before halftime was a much-needed spark. He headed past Matt Turner off an assist by Dejan Kulusevski. Richy enjoyed shushing the Forest home crowd that had abused him so vigorously in last year's fixture. That's three goals in the last two games for our newly restored striker.

Takeaway #2) VAR takes way, way too long. It doesn't seem to matter what the task at hand is, there's always an unnecessary delay. Anthony Elanga's overruled goal was so clearly offside that it's amazing the linesman missed it in the first place but the check should have taken mere seconds. The check for Yves Bissouma's red card also should have been resolved much faster. If the replay has every single Spurs fan immediately groaning, the outcome is clear.

Takeaway #3) In current form, Bissouma won't be a huge miss in the coming weeks. You can make the argument that we don't have a true replacement for him at the moment with Rodrigo Bentacur rehabbing an injury, but I honestly don't think it matters when Bissouma himself has been a walking (or tackling) liability for so many weeks now. Ever since his first red card of the season, he's been slow to make decisions and seemingly second-guessing every move he makes on the pitch. Besides leading to some costly late challenges like the one he got sent off for against Forest, it's also caused him to be less productive in getting involved with the attack. Since this is his second red of the season he'll be out for four games instead of the usual three, then going immediately to the Africa Cup of Nations to play for Mali. I think he needs the time off, frankly, and so do we from seeing him.

Takeaway #4) Like Richarlison, Kulusevski is peaking at just the right time this season. We need both of them to be getting on the scoresheet regularly as we prepare to lose several players to the African and Asian regional tournaments. Besides his assist for the first goal, Deki was able to capitalize on a poor pass by Turner and score himself. Nobody can match his energy lately so it was good to see him rewarded with a pure pressing goal.

It wasn't the best performance of the season by any stretch, but the three points are valuable either way. We've still got a four-point lead over Newcastle for the 5th place spot and are just one point behind Manchester City, who have been in a weird run of form lately. Just three more matches remain in 2023.

SAtP Player of the Match: Dejan Kulusevski

Deki has that rare combination in a footballer of passion, focus, and intelligence. The total package, in other words. And when he's on a hot streak he's almost unplayable. That's the Deki we've been getting to watch the last few weeks, and long may it continue.

Plus, he looks cool in the mask. Our ginger superhero!

Notable and quotable:

• Richarlison's goal was the 500th of the season across the entire Premier League. It was also a league record for the quickest number of games to hit that milestone, with ours being just the 161st game of the season overall.

• Richarlison also marked his 50th appearance for Spurs.

• We currently have the best away record in the league, by two points.

• This was our first clean sheet since matchday 9. Guglielmo Vicario did have to make a quick reaction save with his knee to preserve it!

• Son Heung-min and Ben Davies both picked up their first yellow cards of the season.

Previewing PL Matchday 18 — Everton

I'm feeling a little more nervous about this one than I was a few weeks ago, mostly because Everton have been in great form in the league ever since they got docked ten points for Financial Fair Play breaches, except for the very first game after the announcement (a loss to Manchester United). They just got knocked out of the League Cup in the quarter-finals by Fulham, but only on penalties.

Everton have scored multiple goals in each of their last three league games, but a player who contributed two of those goals, Abdoulaye Docouré, is expected to miss our matchup. They also have a few more players who are doubtful to be fit. I honestly haven't heard what the situation is with Dele, but I wouldn't expect him to play.

We got a boost on the injury front, with Giovani Lo Celso available for selection and apparently Ashley Phillips is, too. Phillips is yet to make his senior debut, though he featured regularly for the U21s before his injury. Brennan Johnson is also available after clearing concussion protocol and training all week.

There are two suspension absences to deal with, however; Bissouma is starting his four-match ban while Destiny Udogie misses just this fixture after accumulating five yellow cards already this season. On that note, Cristian Romero and Pape Sarr are both one yellow away from a suspension—though that threshold resets soon with the start of the second half of the season. If they can get through this match and the next one they'll be safe.

As for the implications for the starting eleven, I would expect to see Emerson Royal replace Udogie at left fullback and Lo Celso replace Bissouma in the midfield pivot, now that we know he's fit. The first time he started in that role he had Rodrigo Bentancur as his partner, then Bissouma in the next game. Now he'll be playing alongside Sarr unless Ange throws us a curveball. The frequent changes in the dynamic are not ideal, but it's a moot point with the injury crisis still firmly in effect.

Interestingly, Dominic Calvert-Lewin is fit and playing regularly for Everton again but hasn't had a goal contribution since November 1. We will have to keep a watchful eye on him during set pieces since he's always an aerial threat no matter his current form.

Even with the players we're missing we still have a strong enough squad to get the business done against Everton.

I'll try to get the next issue out pronto, mostly for my own sake so I can stay off my laptop on Boxing Day! There's going to be a tight turnaround between the following two games (Brighton and Bournemouth) so I'll preview them both in the next issue and then recap them together after the new year. Maybe we'll have a cheeky signing or two to talk about then as well...

COYS

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