Ben & Rob talk Spurs - Danjuma, Porro, Sonny and City...
Thu 02 February 2023, 15:15|
Tottenham Hotspur
Ben and Rob are back! N17 Live host Ben Haines and Club commentator Rob Daly return to tottenhamhotspur.com talking all things Spurs ahead of Sunday’s huge Premier League encounter against Manchester City at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Don’t forget you can join the pair and special guests on the Club’s popular pre-match show on SPURSPLAY and our official YouTube channel from 3.25pm, ahead of the 4.30pm kick-off on Sunday.
So here are the chaps on this week’s talking points - accompanied by the occasional nudge from Club Journalist, Paul Miles - including Ben asking the question, ‘has there been a better Spurs player at shooting from distance than Heung-Min Son?'
Danjuma and Porro
Rob: “Spurs have strengthened in two key areas in this window. Danjuma is a player with experience of the Champions League, of English football (previously at Bournemouth) and looked at home straight away in the FA Cup win at Preston. I think he’s a very smart signing. At Preston, he played as a ‘proper’ striker, through the middle, and his movement off the ball, dropping off defenders, attacking the near post, it really was a leading line performance. He’s done that a lot for Villarreal, playing in a front two of a 4-4-2. He can also play in the wide positions. Porro will address the need for more crosses into the box from open play, from the right. Just look at his numbers in terms of crosses from open play, shots, everything. He’s had six assists from 14 league games for Sporting this season, 11 in 26 in all competitions, three goals as well. It’s such an exciting signing - I’m sure fans can’t wait to see that Romero-Porro-Kulusevski right side in action!”
Ben: “Danjuma got off to the perfect start and I thought he was really bright when he came on against Preston. I loved that attitude, immediately part of the first team, demanding high standards, scoring a goal. Porro, I’m really excited about that deal. He’s such an attacking outlet and has that whipped delivery... it will be interesting in terms of seeing how teams open up to combat that threat, because, where we see Sonny at his best is when he gets the ball out of his feet, gets a bit of space to assess the game in front of him. Having width with Porro on the right could mean Sonny’s in a great spot, and it should give more service to Harry, as well.”
Watch - Pedro Porro's first interview
Preston
Rob: “My main take away from Deepdale was Heung-Min Son’s performance. It was interesting that Antonio Conte didn’t play Sonny through the middle, as maybe we expected, he was on the left (Ivan Perisic was central of the front three), and I understand the logic, to get Sonny back in the groove and he delivered with a classic long-range goal and penalty box finish that we all want to see. It was crucial to get through the tie, and Harry Kane will have had the best part of a fortnight’s rest by the time City comes around, that won’t have done him any harm.”
Ben: “I thought Sonny was incredible. That arcing shot that he hits... I’m going to go out on a limb here, I’m going to say Sonny is the best player we’ve ever had shooting from distance, in terms of ball striking and goals from distance. Milesy, you’ll know. Has there been anyone better than Sonny? I suppose, historically, you’d say Glenn Hoddle. Going through my childhood, Christian Ziege, Gareth Bale obviously...”
Milesy: “Yes, you’d had to bring Gareth into this debate, plus, in recent times, another Christian - Eriksen. Darren Anderton’s in the conversation, Gazza and before that, of course, Glenn Hoddle. Before our time, but we’ve all seen Martin Chivers' goal in the 1972 UEFA Cup Final first leg at Wolves, that is the definition of a piledriver!"
All angles - Sonny delight at Deepdale
City moments
Milesy: “I’ll kick you off on this one and, for me, it’s still Peter Crouch’s late winner at the Etihad in May, 2010, to get us into the Champions League for the first time. A huge moment for the Club matched by the celebrations in the away end as the ball hit the net and the team followed Crouchy around the back of the goal to our fans. I keep a clip of that on my desktop to his day! Scenes!”
Ben: “I’ve a couple. The Sonny goal in the 1-0 win in August, 2021 was really special, seeing Japhet Tanganga have such a ding-dong with Raheem Sterling. The atmosphere was unbelievable. The 3-2 last season, that was special, kick-starting Deki’s Spurs career and put us in position to attack the top four. Champions League quarter-final, I go on about it all the time, but, for me, that was the best moment in that run to the final. That was the night I thought, ‘wow, we could make it to the final...’ getting through that tie was amazing.”
Rob: “Mine’s Steven Bergwijn’s goal on his debut, in front of the South Stand. He’d just signed for the Club and it was a brilliant second half performance, and that memorable goal, for me, one of the best moments at the new stadium.”
Special - Crouchy on his fave Spurs goals
City on Sunday
Ben: “It’s massive for us, especially in terms of league positions - we have to win, really, and City have to win. I’m really looking forward to it.”
Rob: “Antonio certainly took encouragement from the first half performance at the Etihad and was right to do so - 2-0 up at half-time, and City hadn’t caused too many problems. I think in that first half and the previous two matches against City (1-0 and 3-2 wins) there is enough encouragement and evidence that Spurs can win on Sunday. City always have problems with Spurs, particularly with Harry dropping into that number 10 position. I was so impressed with City's Rico Lewis in the recent 4-2, moving from right-back into midfield, while Alvarez and Haaland have given them a new dimension this season, but there should be belief that Spurs can win. I can’t wait!”
