Sat 21 August 2021, 12:45
Tottenham HotspurWelcome back to the latest Ben & Rob's preview as N17 Live host Ben Haines and Club commentator Rob Daly look ahead to Sunday's Premier League encounter at Wolves (2pm), and an emotional return to Molineux for our Head Coach, Nuno Espirito Santo.
Thoughts on Wolves
Ben: "So, from memory, Wolves is always a very difficult away game for us. Even when we’ve won at Molineux it’s been incredibly tight, when Nuno was in charge there he made his teams incredibly difficult to break down and very dangerous on the counter. Thankfully he’s in our dugout this time around! Another thing that will give this one an added edge is it being Wolves first home game of the season. We saw the advantage that we had last week against City at home, but what a brilliant challenge for our squad now to test themselves off the back of that brilliant win - to dig deep and repeat the same result this weekend without home comforts to keep our league momentum moving."
Rob: "Bruno Lage went with three at the back against Leicester (in Wolves' opener last weekend, lost 1-0) and had their fair share of chances to get something but failed to take them. However, I’m expecting Molineux to play such a decisive factor here as Ben says. It’s a stadium that can generate a very good atmosphere anyway, but you sense they’ll really be up for it given it’s a full stadium again, Nuno is returning with his new club plus it’ll be a first competitive home game for Raul Jimenez since his awful injury. I agree with Ben, they’ll rally as Spurs fans did against City and make it difficult. Adama Traore was dangerous but wasteful with his chances at Leicester last weekend. If he fires like he has done against Spurs previously, it’ll be a tricky afternoon."
Ben: "What an opportunity for Traore last week!! At such a key moment as well. It kind of feels like we can’t allow him space like that, we will need to be as aggressive as we were last week high up the pitch."
Rob: "It might be another mission for Japhet Tanganga! Traore started left wing last weekend."
Key battle
Ben: "I think this is one of those weekends where the physical battle is so crucial. Yes, we’ll need to be tactically spot on, and our front four will have to be as ruthless as they have been in pre-season, but it feels so crucial that we are smart in slowing Wolves up when they look to break. We played fairly narrow last week to combat City’s possession, it will be interesting to see if Nuno uses that approach this time considering Wolves like to play with pace and overlapping wing backs."
Rob: "Wolves are still without Pedro Neto and Daniel Podence, who did damage before to Spurs with Olympiacos. So much attacking focus is on Traore and, given their lack of many other wide attacking options, you feel managing him is vital, especially with his ability to supply Jimenez. I know some Wolves fans have been crying out for a box to box midfielder in this window, so maybe there’s a sense they lack enough energy in the middle of the park at the moment. Spurs didn’t lack any energy with Skipp, Hojbjerg and the tireless running of Dele in the midfield three against City. Pressing will be key too. From what I’ve read, Wolves have been slow to move the ball out from the back at times."
Ben: "On Rob's point, it would be so so good to see Spurs press from the front, wouldn’t it? Particularly seeing the shape Dele was in last week - the guy is a machine!"
Rob: "Dele is very clever at reading when to step in, it's an underrated side of his game."
Molineux memories...
Rob: "It feels a bit lazy to only go back two seasons, but Jan Vertonghen’s header in the pouring rain to win it late in 19/20. Wolves didn’t deserve to lose. I was always impressed with Nuno’s Wolves and they were so fluid and dangerous that day. But after being battered about by Traore all game, it was incredible seeing Vertonghen score his header and pull out the Super Jan celebration."
Ben: "I think the other thing that stands out from the Vertonghen winner was the Lucas Moura goal that day - absolutely rifled it in but never really gets any credit because of Super Jan's late winner!"
