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Opposition Q & A

Opposition Q&A with Tottenham

This week West Ham welcome (is that the correct word?) Spurs to the London Stadium. We have had varied results against our nearest Premier League rivals over the past few seasons, and it is sure to be a great atmosphere inside the ground. Ahead of the game I spoke to Andy of the Spurs fanzine"spursforlife":http//spursforlife.com to discuss the game and his thoughts on the season.
First of all what’s the latest news on the stadium? It seems like it’s being constructed by the same firm that is making Crossrail. You must be dying to get back to White Hart Lane.
Other than what’s been published in media recently there is still no set date for the stadium to open. Last week however I did receive an email saying my season ticket entrance card is now in the process of being sent, so hopefully soon. Wembley is very flat as all our supporters are very spread out, and the council also limit the tickets that are allowed to be sold for certain games.

Anyhow we’re playing at the London Stadium this week, are you confident you can repeat your 2-3 victory of last year against us?
We have not been firing at all this season. We have gotten results, but we need a much improved level of performance to win this game. West Ham always up their game against us so we also need to raise ours.

It’s pretty tight at the top of the table with you being one of five of (the so called Top) six clubs with 6 wins so far. What are your ambitions for the season? To win the League, Champions League berth, or continuing your recent record of ending above Arsenal?
Finishing above Arsenal is nice, but not something the club should focus on as a whole. It’s not a trophy at the end of the day. I don’t feel the league is realistic with the spending power of Man City and the other clubs, and we have lost our first two Champions League games. Top 4 is what we need to aim for again, and I’d be very happy with an FA cup or even the League Cup.

I think a lot of fans look quite enviously at the young crop of players you have at Spurs. But is your lack of investment in players over the summer going to cause you problems during the run in to the end of the season? Is this down to Daniel Levy keeping his wallet closed whilst you finish off paying for the stadium rebuild?
We have a good squad but everyone else has improved around us. I feel we needed to strengthen, but the window is closed now so we have to move on. What is a positive is we didn’t lose any key players. As for why we didn’t spend this summer, that’s not really a question I can answer – I could only make an assumption. The person to ask would be Mr Levy himself I suppose.

Of course you are playing us in the League Cup, so let’s hope that wish doesn’t come true! Pochettino continues to impress, I like the way he handled himself over your summer transfer dealings, compared with the way Jose Mourinho bleated over his. Surely it can only be a matter of time before ‘Poch’ returns to Spain to take on one of the big clubs there?
If he gets an offer from one of the big boys he has earned it I feel. He turned down Madrid this summer, but if he’s not backed in the transfer market his head could possibly be turned.

Do you think Manuel Pelligrini is going to raise West Ham to a new level? What are your thoughts on him?
Pelligrini has won the Premier League, and is a proven winner; he is capable of doing a job at any club. West Ham have bought a lot of new players so he needs time. The team will need to gel and he will need a couple more windows to really make his mark. Once he knows his best 11 he can then improve on it and who knows what he can achieve? Unfortunately, there are a few clubs in the league that can spend more than West ham and Tottenham put together so it’s always hard to reach a new level. Top 8 for West Ham would be a good achievement this season I feel, and possible.

Which West Ham players if any have you got in your fantasy team?
I was bottom of my fantasy league after the first two weeks and I had a good moan and haven’t looked at it since. Maybe I’m More of a Mourinho than a Pochettino.

If you were bottom after two weeks, then given our start I presume that means you had quite of few of them. Which Tottenham players do you wish had been shipped out during the summer?
Well We didn’t sign anyone, so it’s a good thing no one left.

*Even now I cringe when I think of the game at Upton Park when you beat us 3 – 4 in 2007. Any particular memories of games against West Ham? Feel free to mention the Currygate game.
My last ever game at White Hart Lane was the 4-1 victory against West ham so that one I suppose is my favourite memory. I left to travel for a year so didn’t manage to get back there again. As for the worst memory, when we lost 3 nil at The Lane sticks out as Ravel Morrison (what a waste of talent) was on fire. I wasn’t too happy after that game.

Gary Lineker or Harry Kane?
Kane.

Glen Hoddle or Christian Eriksen?
I’m only 28 so I’ve seen Eriksen play more so I have to go with him.

How are Tottenham likely to line up against us this weekend? Team/Formation?
That’s a question for the manager. Eriksen is fit now though as is Dembele.

Well many thanks to Andy for his time and considered responses. I am sure if he had seen Hoddle play he would have put him above Eriksen. No score prediction from Andy, but for my part on a wing and a prayer I’m going for a famous 2 – 1 home victory. COYI

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