The Spurs Web

The international break is over, and one Spurs star has come away from the fixtures on a high after putting in a strong performance for his country and making it into the EA FC25 Team of the Week.

Radu Dragusin stars for Romania

He may not get much gametime for Tottenham Hotspur, but Radu Dragusin is a regular fixture in the Romania national team.

It was a highly successful international break for Dragusin and his country this time around, too, with Romania registering two wins from two Nations League games, beating Cyprus 3-0 and Lithuania 2-1.

Dragusin even managed to get himself on the scoresheet this week, his first goal at senior international level, in the win over Cyprus on Saturday.

In an Instagram post after the game, Dragusin celebrated his goal and the win, writing: “Happy for my first goal in the national shirt. Really proud of the way we played and secured the 3 points. The hard work must continue.”

EA recognise Dragusin performance

It’s far more than just a goal for Dragusin, though, who put in solid performances in both the international fixtures.

That was enough to secure him an upgraded card as part of EA FC25’s Team of the Week, with Dragusin being bumped to an 84 rating.

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His score is made up of the following attributes: Pace 83, shooting 46, passing 63, dribbling 75, defending 84, and physicality 85.

Other players included in the Team of the Week include Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard, Borussia Dortmund striker Serhou Guirassy, Liverpool’s Dominic Szoboszlai, and Inter Milan full-back Denzel Dumfries.

Dragusin should get a chance soon

Tottenham return to domestic action at the weekend with a London derby against West Ham, and Ange Postecoglou’s players had better prepare for a ferocious team talk from the manager.

Brighton defeat a low-point for Postecoglou

Before the international break, Spurs left their fans bitterly disappointed when they threw away a two-goal lead against Brighton, coming away from the Amex Stadium on the wrong end of a 3-2 scoreline.

First half dominance made way for complacency and clumsiness, with Brighton completely overwhelming the Tottenham players to take all three points.

At the time, Ange Postecoglou described the defeat as his worst since taking over at Spurs, particularly because of the manner in which his team capitulated (ESPN).

Postecoglou needs catharsis after international break

Since then, most of the squad have been away on international duty, while Postecoglou has remained at Hotspur Way with a small handful of his first-team squad.

Speaking to Optus Sport about that period of time and how he’s feeling about the Brighton game now, Postecoglou revealed he is ready to let the players know how unhappy he is about that defeat.

He said: “You never know if [the international break] is good or bad. Maybe for the players it was good, but I don’t like sitting on a loss. There can be a tendency to over-analyse things. It wasn’t a good one. The first half was unbelievable, but I didn’t like the second half and what we looked like.

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“It wasn’t the loss, it was the manner I wasn’t comfortable with. I’ve been sitting on it for 10 days, I’m ready to explode once they get back in the building and that will be my therapy.”

Players deserve a dressing down

This is exactly the right approach. The players might think they can run away from that defeat and sweep it under the rug, but it absolutely needs to be addressed and those mistakes must become a valuable lesson for the squad.

Progress cannot be made unless you confront the bad and the good in equal measure, and Postecoglou is clearly going to make sure no one can shirk the responsibility of what happened at Brighton.

Tottenham Hotspur’s announcement of Djed Spence’s new contract until 2028 is a decision that reflects a renewed belief in a player once on the fringes of the squad.

After struggling to make an impact in his first two seasons, Spence has now worked his way into Ange Postecoglou’s plans and proven his worth at a pivotal moment in his career.

The 24-year-old right-back arrived from Middlesbrough for a reported £20 million in 2022, but loan spells at Rennes, Leeds United, and Genoa followed as he found playing time hard to come by under previous managers.

Djed Spence’s resurgence: A comeback story

As recently as January, Djed Spence’s Spurs career looked over. Training with the U21s and reportedly on the lookout for a permanent move away, he appeared to be surplus to requirements (Alasdair Gold).

However, an impressive preseason under Ange Postecoglou turned the tide. Spence not only earned his spot back in the first team but began to show his versatility—being deployed in both full-back roles and thriving under Postecoglou’s attacking system.

His performance in Tottenham’s 2-1 win over Coventry City in the Carabao Cup, where he netted his first goal for the club, cemented his comeback. It is performances like these that underline why extending Spence’s contract was a logical decision. The club clearly recognises his potential not only as a squad player but as someone who can grow into a key contributor over the next four years.

A perfect fit for Postecoglou’s system

Ange Postecoglou’s tactical setup demands full-backs who can do more than just defend. They must contribute to attacking phases, cut inside, and exploit spaces, especially against teams that play a low block. This is where Spence shines.

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His electric pace and technical ability make him a threat going forward, while his defensive stats—such as zero miscontrols and dispossessions this season—highlight his reliability at the back (FBREF).

With Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie being Tottenham’s primary full-back options, Spence’s versatility allows him to challenge for both spots, ensuring healthy competition.

Moreover, his aerial duels and progressive carries per 90 minutes are higher than any other full-back in the squad, meaning he offers something different in attacking transitions. This is crucial for Tottenham, especially in a season where squad depth will be tested due to injuries and fixture congestion.

Takeaway: Why Spence’s new contract is a win-win

Djed Spence’s new contract is not just a reward for his perseverance but also a shrewd move by Tottenham. In a season where depth will be vital, Spence’s ability to slot into various roles across the defence and midfield gives Postecoglou much-needed flexibility.

His pace, dribbling ability, and improved defensive work make him the ideal candidate to thrive in this system. Tottenham are betting on Spence’s potential to further develop and become a key figure over the next few seasons.

With the security of a long-term deal and the faith of the club, Spence now has every opportunity to prove himself. His journey from the fringes to a vital squad member is a reminder of the importance of patience and perseverance, and could this deal ultimately prove to be a masterstroke for Spurs?

A report suggests that one Tottenham player has been completely forgotten by his national team set-up in light of his struggles in North London.

Player fails to make the most of his chances

The player we are talking about is Timo Werner, who certainly cannot complain about a lack of chances at Tottenham.

The forward has got a run in the side over recent weeks in light of the injuries to Heung-min Son, Wilson Odobert and Richarlison, and he has failed to make the most of them.

While the German has certainly looked threatening at times and produced some impressive moments, his poor finishing has let him down time and again.

Timo Werner forgotten by the German set-up

RB Live now point out that there was a big debate in Germany recently regarding who Julian Nagelsmann should call up to the squad in light of the injury to Niclas Fullkrug.

However, the Spurs man was never considered one of the candidates, with the outlet simply stating that ‘nobody talks about Timo Werner’ anymore.

The 28-year-old was not in Nagelsmann’s mind because he is basically ‘forgotten in London’, according to the report, which goes on to add that his reputation is now of ‘a death of chances’, perhaps hinting at his inability to finish.

Things looking bleak for Werner

Werner’s opportunities will likely dry up when Tottenham’s key stars return from injury over the coming weeks, with the wide-man now also in danger of falling behind 17-year-old Mikey Moore in the pecking order.

Unless we see a dramatic turnaround from the on-loan Leipzig man soon, it is pretty clear that his stay at Spurs will be short-lived.

Radu Dragusin was an unpassable wall in Romania’s win over Lithuania, winning every single ground and aerial dual that he contested.

Romania seal quarterfinal spot

Romania maintained their perfect record in the Nations League, making it four wins from four in their clash at Lithuania on Tuesday, thereby sealing their place in the knockout stages of the competition.

The home side took an early lead through Armandas Kucys but goals in either half from Razvan Marin and Denis Dragus saw the eastern European nation seal their comeback.

They had their defence to thank for coming away with all three points, with Tottenham’s Radu Dragusin playing a vital role once again.

Radu Dragusin’s unbelievable numbers

Dragusin’s defensive numbers on Tuesday are nothing short of spectacular, with the Tottenham man making one block, three important clearances and recovering the ball on five different occasions, according to Fotmob.

What is even more eye-catching is the fact that the 22-year-old won all six of the duals he contested against the Lithuanian forwards, who got absolutely no joy against him.

The defender was also tidy in possession, having a total of 52 touches, completing one successful dribble, making seven passes into the final third, and not being dispossessed even once in the game.

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Much-needed confidence boost for Dragusin

Dragusin has not had the easiest of starts to the new season, struggling to get much of a look-in at Tottenham.

When the centre-back did get an opportunity against Qarabag in the Europa League, he was sent off quite early in the game after a lapse in concentration.

The Argentine media continue to be wowed by Cristian Romero, who helped his side keep a clean sheet and register a comfortable win against Bolivia.

Cristian Romero is Argentina’s Mr. Reliable

Romero’s absence was felt by Argentina in their 1-1 draw against Venezuela last week, with the Tottenham man suspended for the clash.

The defender came back into the starting eleven for the clash against Bolivia at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, with the home side registering a thumping 6-0 win.

Lionel Messi scored a hattrick while Laurato Martinez, Julian Alvarez, and Thiago Almada also got on the scoresheet.

Praise for Romero

As expected, Romero proved a calming influence at the back for the World Champions on his return to the starting eleven.

The Tottenham vice-captain put out all the fires at the back and was also praised for the way he helped Lionel Scaloni’s men build out from the back.

Argentine outlet Clarin wrote about his display: “Another remarkable game from Cuti, who gave his all no matter the opponent or the moment. He was constantly out with the ball and hardly made any failed passes.”

Romero’s form at club level

So far this season, Romero has fallen short of the high standards he has set for himself, being guilty of several poor errors that have cost Tottenham in a few games.

Pedro Porro is the toast of the Spanish press on the back of his excellent display against Serbia on Tuesday. The right-back will next be in action for Spurs against West Ham on Saturday.

Pedro Porro’s statement performance

It seems like Spanish football fans and the media have now seen what Spurs fans have known for a while about Porro, who delivering an oustanding display in the La Roja’s 3-0 win over Serbia.

The right-back set up the first goal with a lovely curled cross to the far post and he was a constant attacking threat throughout the 90 minutes while also remaining solid defensively.

High praise for Porro

A number of Spanish outlets waxed lyrical about the Tottenham man after his performance in Cordoba, with many of them suggesting that Luis de la Fuente has now found his long-term replacement for Dani Carvajal.

Diario Sport gave him the highest rating of 8/10, writing: “The first goal came from his boots and he created a lot of danger on his flank. He was also very attentive in closing down the Serbian full-backs’ runs. He was finally able to prove De la Fuente right in his candidacy to be Carvajal’s replacement.”

Marca wrote about Porro: “He provided a great assist for Laporte’s goal, showing that he loves to attack and has a good foot. A run and his subsequent shot led to the penalty that Morata missed, and he then rounded off his game with a good assortment of passes and shots. Carvajal has someone to cover for his absence.”

Meanwhile, Diario AS were also impressed by the 24-year-old, writing: “De la Fuente trusted him for the second consecutive match and he quickly returned those credentials, with the cross to the far post that Laporte converted into the first goal.”

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Finally, Relevo said: “This international break has vindicated the role of two worthy returning players like Pedro Porro and Alex Baena.”

Real Madrid watching Porro?

Over recent weeks, some outlets have suggested that Real Madrid are plotting a move for Porro, with the La Liga giants allegedly identifying the Spurs star as a potential alternative to Trent Alexander-Arnold (CaughtOffside).

If that is the case, performances like the one on Tuesday would only strengthen Los Blancos’ resolve to sign the former Sporting Lisbon man.

Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed that Djed Spence has signed a new contract with the club until 2028.

Djed Spence signs new Spurs contract until 2028

Djed Spence‘s future at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium had been uncertain during the summer, however, he has been reintegrated back into the Tottenham first team squad after loan spells at Leeds and Genoa last season.

Some eyebrows were raised when Ange Postecoglou decided to omit Spence from Tottenham’s Europa League squad.

UEFA rules permit 25 players to be named, however, Spurs were restricted to 23 as they were unable to pick the required eight ‘locally-trained’ players with only Brandon Austin and Alfie Whiteman, fitting the criteria.

After a solid start to the season when given the opportunity to play in his role as a back-up to Pedro Porro, he has put in some decent performances and has been rewarded for his efforts.

A statement on the official Spurs site read: “We are delighted to announce that Djed Spence has signed a new contract with the Club, which will run until 2028.”

Antonio Conte called Djed Spence a ‘club’ signing

Former Tottenham boss Antonio Conte famously claimed that the arrival of Spence from Middlesbrough was a ‘club’ signing rather than his own, with the Italian overlooking the young defender in favour of the likes of Matt Doherty and Emerson Royal (talkSPORT).

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Spence scored his first goal for Tottenham in the 2-1 win over Coventry City in the Carabao Cup in September, with his equaliser paving the way for Brennan Johnson to score an injury time winner.

The England Under-21 international has made four appearances for Tottenham across all competitions already this season and will be hoping to be part of the squad for Saturday’s Premier League clash against West Ham United.

Spence is a key part of Tottenham’s future

While it looked to many that Spence would not be a Tottenham player come the end of the summer window, the decision to extend his deal is a shrewd piece of business.

Spence’s versatility to be able to cover at left-back is a huge plus for Tottenham, with Ben Davies’ lack of pace still a liability if Destiny Udogie is injured.

If Tottenham have one eye on potentially selling Spence down the line, the extension and hopefully, his continued impressive performances would see the club net a decent fee for the player.

Pedro Porro announced himself on the international stage on Tuesday, delivering the sort of performance for Spain that we have seen him do so many times for Tottenham.

Comfortable night for the Spaniards

Spain made light work of Serbia, emerging with a comfortable 3-0 win in Cordoba and sealing their place in the knockout stages of the Nations League.

While there were several star names on show for La Roja, it was Porro who stood above the rest, with Fotmob naming him their star of the match with a rating of 8.9 out of 10.

Pedro Porro’s impressive numbers

Porro was one of Spain’s biggest threats going forward and that is reflected in the Tottenham man’s stats.

He picked up a superb assist early in the game, with his cross being met at the far post by centre-back Aymeric Laporte. He then forced a penalty when his shot from inside the box was blocked by a Serbian hand.

According to Fotomob, Porro had three shots on target, had four touches in the opposition box and created six chances in total across the 90 minutes.

The Tottenham man also completed four successful crosses, one of which was the assist, and he made a total of five passes into the final third.

Porro’s defensive exploits

While we all know the 24-year-old’s qualities going forward, he was also rock solid defensively for Spain on Tuesday. The right-back was arguably Tottenham’s only decent defender in the 3-2 defeat against Brighton too.

The Spurs man made two defensive interceptions for his side, recovered possession on seven different occasions and made one clearance. Porro also won six of the eight ground duels that he contested.

Tottenham Hotspur welcome West Ham United to North London this weekend in the Premier League – a welcome return from two weeks of international football.

The worst timing for Spurs

It really was the worst time for Tottenham to endure an international break. Fresh off the back of letting a two-goal lead slip against Brighton, Spurs fans and players everywhere have been forced to stew in those three dropped points.

What better way to get the blood pumping again than a London derby? West Ham have struggled for form at the start of the Premier League campaign, finding themselves two points below even Spurs.

A win for Tottenham would go a long way to dispelling the concerns raised on the South Coast, but a defeat could compound the troublesome headlines for Ange Postecoglou.

Spurs vs West Ham score prediction

Pascal Chimbonda expects Spurs to bounce back from that Brighton defeat with a narrow win in the London Derby this weekend, while we expect something a little more stylish.

Pascal prediction – 2-1 Tottenham win

Spurs Web prediction – 3-0 Tottenham win

The Table

Spurs Web – 8 points after 10 games (5 correct results, 1 correct score)

Pascal – 5 points after 10 games (5 correct results, 0 correct scores)