The Sports Bank

Like the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League, AZ Alkmaar are coming to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. We joke about the Jaguars being London’s de facto NFL team, because they play there so much, but hey, the English capital is indeed a citizen of the world. And AZ Alkmaar are a Dutch side, so once again we have a team from a country that has had its turn as the world’s foremost superpower…coming to Great Britain, the country most synonymous with promoting that concept.

AZ Alkmaar at Tottenham Hotspur FYIs

Kick: Thurs. Oct. 23, 8pm, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Competition: UEFA Europa League Matchday 3 of 8

Spurs Preview Material: Team News Starting XI Prediction

UEL Standing, Form: Tottenham 3rd, 6 pts, WW AZ Alkmaar 18th, 3 pts, WL

Yes, that’s quite the sociopolitical tangent to get on there, when previewing a midweek Europa League clash. But hey, when it’s the UEL, you find your story lines where you can.

It’s a pretty strong lineup, all things considered, as you have some reserves, fringe players in there, but also some first team level guys too.

Tottenham Hotspur Starting XI Prediction vs AZ Alkmaar (UEL)

Fraser Forster; Archie Gray, Cristian Romero, Ben Davies, Djed Spence; Pape Matar Sarr, Rodrigo Bentancur, Lucas Bergvall; Brennan Johnson, Dominic Solanke, Timo Werner

Paul M. Banks is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”

He currently contributes to USA Today’s NFL Wires Network, the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America and RG.org. His past bylines include the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune. His work has been featured in numerous outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, the Washington Post and ESPN. You can follow him on Linked In and Twitter.

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In case you missed it, we had another classic example of transatlantic “game recognizes game” as Tottenham Hotspur and the Chicago Bears did a sensational signed shirt swap. You could see all the autographs on the two jerseys over at this link. The Bears defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars, at Tottenham’s home ground, in NFL action, 35-16 earlier today.

But THS will go back to its normal use, soon enough, as West Ham come calling on Saturday for a London derby.

Tottenham Hotspur vs West Ham United FYIs

Kick-off: Saturday, October 19, 12:30 pm local, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, UK

Tottenham Previews: Starting XI Prediction Injury Updates Team News

West Ham Content: Starting XI Prediction Injury Updates Team News

PL Form: West Ham LDLDW Tottenham LLWWL

PL Standing: West Ham 12th, 8 pts Tottenham 9th, 10 pts

In terms of previewing the London derby next weekend, we see the three injury absentees probably, or even likely, returning to training this week, but we predict only Son Heung-Min will be back in the first team.

Tottenham Hotspur Starting XI Prediction vs West Ham United

Guglielmo Vicario; Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Destiny Udogie; Dejan Kulusevski, Rodrigo Bentancur, James Maddison, Brennan Johnson, Dominic Solanke; Son Heung-Min

Paul M. Banks is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”

He currently contributes to USA Today’s NFL Wires Network. His past bylines include the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune. His work has been featured in numerous outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, the Washington Post and ESPN. You can follow him on Linked In and Twitter.

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With the National Football League contest at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium now complete, the giant, modern venue at White Hart Lane can now work shift back into Premier League, instead of NFL, football mode. The Chicago Bears, who beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 35-16, will soon be on their way home while West Ham United will be coming to face Spurs on Saturday.

Meanwhile the Jags will stay in old London town, to take on the New England Patriots, but this time it will be at Wembley Stadium.

Tottenham Hotspur vs West Ham United FYIs

Kick-off: Saturday, October 19, 12:30 pm local, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, UK

Tottenham Previews: Starting XI Prediction Injury Updates Team News

West Ham Content: Starting XI Prediction Injury Updates Team News

Google Result Probability: West Ham victory 17% Draw 18% Tottenham victory 65%

PL Form: West Ham LDLDW Tottenham LLWWL

PL Standing: West Ham 12th, 8 pts Tottenham 9th, 10 pts

West Ham Team News vs Tottenham

None really, as they have a nearly fully fit squad, which we covered already here. As we’re doing this preview insanely early (hey, it’s international break, what other options do we have?), we’ll be sure to update this article accordingly, should any injuries arise over these last few days of international matches.

Otherwise watch for the rest of our London derby previews in the early portion of this week.

Paul M. Banks is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”

He currently contributes to USA Today’s NFL Wires Network. His past bylines include the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune. His work has been featured in numerous outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, the Washington Post and ESPN. You can follow him on Linked In and Twitter.

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Tottenham Hotspur Football Club are currently on international break, so their home was open and available for yet another NFL game today. In that contest, the Chicago Bears crushed the Jacksonville Jaguars, 35-16, handing the Jags their first loss (in three games) at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Jacksonville fell to 6-6 all-time in London with the result.

Ahead of the game, the Chicago Bears and Tottenham did a sensational signed shirt swap, and you can see that in the tweet below.

There are a whole lot of autographs, on both jerseys, right there. And it makes perfect sense that it would be the punter (Tory Taylor), as this is soccer/football/futbol we’re talking about, who posed with the Tottenham manager, Ange Postecoglu.

Tottenham Hotspur vs West Ham United FYIs

Kick-off: Saturday, October 19, 12:30 pm local, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, UK

Tottenham Previews: Starting XI Prediction Injury Updates Team News

West Ham Content: Starting XI Prediction Injury Updates Team News

But hey, we’re not done with the world football meets American football synergy. Once again, it’s a member of the Chicago Beats whose primary job is kicking balls (not throwing or catching them) who is pictured with the Spurs representative.

You can see Spurs’ German striker Timo Werner, on the THS sidelines with placekicker Cairo Santos.

They played back-to-back games in London last season and will do so again this year, taking on the New England Patriots next week at Wembley Stadium.

Also, inserted above, is what would happen if the Chicago Bears logo was made “British.” You might remember that graphic from that hilarious post that went viral 8 or 9 years ago.

Paul M. Banks is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”

He currently contributes to USA Today’s NFL Wires Network. His past bylines include the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune. His work has been featured in numerous outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, the Washington Post and ESPN. You can follow him on Linked In and Twitter.

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So far, the early returns on Julen Lopetegui are not good. Despite having what is probably the fittest squad in the entire Premier League, the Irons did not come out of the gates firing. Lopetegui hasn’t been able to take advantage of the fact that his side has had so few injuries, because they’re way down in 12th place right now. Having a road London derby versus a Tottenham team that really needs wins probably won’t help their cause much.

Anyway, let’s preview this puppy!

Tottenham Hotspur vs West Ham United FYIs

Kick-off: Saturday, October 19, 12:30 pm local, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, UK

Tottenham Previews: Starting XI Prediction Injury Updates Team News

West Ham Content: Starting XI Prediction Injury Updates Team News

Google Result Probability: West Ham victory 17% Draw 18% Tottenham victory 65%

PL Form: West Ham LDLDW Tottenham LLWWL

PL Standing: West Ham 12th, 8 pts Tottenham 9th, 10 pts

West Ham Team News vs Tottenham

None really, as they have a nearly fully fit squad, which we covered already here. As we’re doing this preview insanely early (hey, it’s international break, what other options do we have?), we’ll be sure to update this article accordingly, should any injuries arise over these last few days of international matches.

West Ham United Starting XI Prediction vs Tottenham Hotspur

Alphonse Areola; Aaron Wan Bissaka, Jean-Clair Todibo, Max Kilman, Emerson Palmieri; Guido Rodriguez, Edson Alvarez; Jarrod Bowen, Lucas Paqueta, Mohammad Kudus; Michael Antonio

Paul M. Banks is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”

He currently contributes to USA Today’s NFL Wires Network. His past bylines include the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune. His work has been featured in numerous outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, the Washington Post and ESPN. You can follow him on Linked In and Twitter.

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Tottenham Hotspur will host West Ham United on Oct. 19 in what will no doubt be a very spirited London derby. Tottenham have three injury concerns for that one: Heung-Min Son (thigh), Richarlison (calf) and Wilson Odobert (hamstring).

Only the club captain, who has missed the last three matches, could be fit to feature a week from Saturday. The other two are ruled out until November.

Here below we list what manager Ange Postecoglu said about each of the injured players, the last time that he discussed the topic.

Heung-Min Son

“Sonny is unlikely; he’s pushing hard, but the turnaround might be too quick for him to be available at this stage,” Postecoglu said last Friday. After trying so hard to get into the last matchday squad, he should be fine here.

Richarlison

“[Richarlison] is a fair way off; I think you should stop asking me about him until I say I’ve got an update. He’s still not training with the first team,” Ange said on Sept. 20.

The Brazilian suffered a calf injury in training, ahead of the Newcastle loss.

Wilson Odobert

‘Wilson, it doesn’t look good. We’re still waiting for it to settle down to get all the information, but he’ll definitely be out for the next period. It’s his hamstring,” Ange said on Sept. 20.

This seems to be kind of a long-term injury now.

Paul M. Banks is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”

He currently contributes to Ravens Wire, part of the USA Today SMG’s NFL Wire Network and the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America. His past bylines include the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated, Chicago Tribune and the Washington Times. You can follow him on Linked In and Twitter.

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Heung-Min Son probably won’t be fully match fit for Sunday, so we suspect that it will be Timo Werner leading the line for Tottenham Hotspur at Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday. However, the good news is that Destiny Udogie should be fine. As another international break approaches, we just got to say that, yes, we agree- there are too many matches!

Too much fixture congestion! Way too many competitions, all shoved in with too quick of a turnaround. All the players who are speaking out against this are correct.

Brighton & Hove Albion Tottenham Hotspur FYIs

Kick off: Sun. Oct. 6, 4:30pm, Falmer Stadium, Brighton & Hove, East Sussex, UK

Tottenham Hotspur Preview Material: Team News Starting XI Prediction

Google Result Probability: Tottenham Hotspur 43% Brighton 33% Draw 24%

PL Form, Position: Tottenham Hotspur WLLWW, 10 pts, 8th Brighton WDDDL, 9 pts, 9th

It’s not just tough on the players, but it’s a negative for journos, media, fans and supporters etc. It’s watered down the product, overall, which diminishes the appeal.

Tottenham Hotspur Starting XI Prediction at Brighton

Guglielmo Vicario; Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Destiny Udogie; Dejan Kulusevski, Rodrigo Bentancur, James Maddison, Brennan Johnson, Dominic Solanke; Timo Werner

Paul M. Banks is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”

He currently contributes to USA Today’s NFL Wires Network. His past bylines include the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune. His work has been featured in numerous outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, the Washington Post and ESPN. You can follow him on Linked In and Twitter.

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The insanity of this fixture congestion continues as Tottenham Hotspur face a very quick turnaround after their victorious Hungarian odyssey in the UEFA Europa League. The upcoming international break will be well deserved. Heung-min Son and Destiny Udogie (both of which are nursing thigh injuries) are questionable for the Sunday trip to Brighton & Hove Albion. Maybe manager Ange Postecoglu gives them both a rest, with an eye on the aforementioned break period.

We do know for sure that Richarlison (officially an undisclosed injury) and Wilson Odobert (also a thigh problem as well) are certain to miss out.

Brighton & Hove Albion vs Tottenham Hotspur FYIs

Kick off: Sun. Oct. 6, 4:30pm, Falmer Stadium, Brighton & Hove, East Sussex, UK

Tottenham Hotspur Preview Material: Team News Starting XI Prediction

Google Result Probability: Tottenham Hotspur 43% Brighton 33% Draw 24%

PL Form, Position: Tottenham Hotspur WLLWW, 10 pts, 8th Brighton WDDDL, 9 pts, 9th

Brighton & Hove Team News

Shifting gears to the host Seagulls, Brajan Gruda (undisclosed), Simon Adingra (also undisclosed), former long time Liverpool man James Milner (thigh) and Solly March (knee) all face late fitness tests in order to make the matchday squad.

Meanwhile the likes of Joao Pedro (ankle injury), Jan Paul van Hecke (unspecified issue) and Matthew O’Riley (ankle) are ruled out here.

Paul M. Banks is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”

He currently contributes to USA Today’s NFL Wires Network. His past bylines include the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune. His work has been featured in numerous outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, the Washington Post and ESPN. You can follow him on Linked In and Twitter.

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Tottenham Hotspur have to be considered among the favorites to win the UEFA Europa League this term (the other English side in the tournament, Manchester United, look a major mess right now- they’re not going to do anything), so Thursday presents a chance to truly make a statement at Ferencvaros.

Winning, and winning decisively at Ferencvaros, Spurs’ first road tie in the UEL would certainly send a statement of intent, an “in it to win it” kind of vibe.

UEFA Europa League FYIs

Tottenham Hotspur at Ferencvaros

Matchday 2 of 8

Kick: Thurs. Oct. 3, 5:45pm, Groupama Arena, Budapest, Hungary

UEL Standings, Form: Tottenham 4th, 3 pts, +3 GD, W Ferencvaros 26th, 0 pts, -1 GD, L

Tottenham Preview Material: Team News Starting XI Prediction

Despite this reality, expect Spurs manager Ange Postecoglu to rotate his side for this clash. This will be a lineup that has some solid strength to put, but obviously not the strongest possible from Ange Postecoglu.

Tottenham Hotspur Starting XI Prediction at Ferencvaros (UEL)

Fraser Forster; Archie Gray, Cristian Romero, Ben Davies, Djed Spence; Pape Matar Sarr, Rodrigo Bentancur, Lucas Bergvall; Brennan Johnson, Dominic Solanke, Timo Werner

Paul M. Banks is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”

He currently contributes to USA Today’s NFL Wires Network. His past bylines include the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune. His work has been featured in numerous outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, the Washington Post and ESPN. You can follow him on Linked In and Twitter.

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The headliner fixture this weekend, at least in England, features two big money yet still underachieving sides. Man United welcome in Tottenham Hotspur for a match that is actually very, as the kids say, “mid.”

Two middling, middle of the table teams, filled with players who are not currently living up to their expectations (i.e. salary and price tag) will do battle at Old Trafford.

Man United vs Tottenham Hotspur FYIs

Kick off: Sun. Sept 29, 4:30, Old Trafford, Manchester, UK

Team News: Tottenham Hotspur Man United

Starting XI Predictions: Tottenham Hotspur Man United

Key Players to Watch: go here

Transatlantic Passage: How the Premier League Redefined Soccer in America: LINK

Google Result Probability: Tottenham Hotspur 33% Manchester United 42% Draw 25%

PL Form, Position: Tottenham DWLLW, 7pts, 10th Manchester United WLLWD, 7 pts, 11th

As the late Donald Rumsfeld famously said, “you go to war with the army you have, not the army you wish you had. This is the first choice army, at least in our opinions, that Spurs boss Ange Postecoglu has.

Tottenham Hotspur Starting XI Prediction vs Man United

Guglielmo Vicario; Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Destiny Udogie; Dejan Kulusevski, Rodrigo Bentancur, James Maddison, Brennan Johnson, Dominic Solanke; Heung-Min Son

Paul M. Banks is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”

He currently contributes to USA Today’s NFL Wires Network. His past bylines include the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune. His work has been featured in numerous outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, the Washington Post and ESPN. You can follow him on Linked In and Twitter.

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