Cartilage Free Captain

And... breathe.

Feel that?

That’s what a week of rest feels like. And boy, did Tottenham Hotspur need it. It’s full steam ahead from here, though, and with some reinforcements due for Ange Postecoglou’s men thanks to recoveries from injury, he will be hoping this match can signal a renewed push for results in the tail end of the season.

Ruben Amorim will have similar hopes, with his Manchester United side floundering just above Spurs on the table. He has his own injury struggles as well, with reports emerging that he is struggling with midfield options due to multiple training injuries in midweek.

You merely adopted the dark; I was born in it, molded by it.

Will this be the new dawn of the Ange Postecoglou era we are hoping for?

COYS!

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How to Watch

Tottenham Hotspur vs. Manchester United

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, UK

Sunday, February 16, 2025

Time: 11:30 a.m. ET, 4:30 p.m. UK

TV: Not televised in US, Sky Sports Premier League (UK). Check international listings at livesoccertv.com

Streaming: Peacock

Match thread rules

The match thread rules are the same as always. To any visitors coming here for the first time, welcome! We’re glad you’re here! Wipe your feet, mind the gap, and be sure to check out the other pages at this outstanding site. While you’re here, though, we have a few rules and regulations:

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Have fun, and COYS!

A loss to Liverpool in the League Cup surprised no one, and an FA Cup trophy was still several rounds away, but there is no way to sugarcoat it: last week was a tough one for Ange Postecoglou and Tottenham Hotspur. As the Europa League Playoff Round continues on, the focus must now shift to the league, where Spurs remain closer to the relegation zone than the European places.

Sunday welcomes another struggling giant, Manchester United. The sides have already faced twice this season, in which Tottenham secured two of its best performances. A third victory would be highly welcomed, as the negativity surrounding North London grows louder, and three points are certainly attainable. A win this weekend may not solve everything, but a loss would add on to the frustration.

Tottenham Hotspur (14th, 27pts) vs. Manchester United (13th, 29pts)

Date: Sunday, February 16

Time: 11:30 am ET, 4:30 pm UK

Location: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London

TV: Peacock (US), Sky Sports Main Event (UK)

After Spurs knocked them out of the League Cup, United have found success in the FA Cup, taking down Arsenal and getting past Leicester to secure a spot in the Fifth Round, and in the Europa League, finishing third in the League Phase (one point ahead of Tottenham). The Premier League, however, has been less kind, with inconsistent results; the last four matches have produced two wins and two losses.

The first league encounter saw Spurs run riot at Old Trafford, winning 3-0 with 4.4 xG against Erik ten Hag’s side. Ruben Amorim took over soon after, but his team also lost to Tottenham, this time in the League Cup Quarterfinal — a wild fixture that saw the home side nearly blow a three-goal lead before Heung-Min Son’s Olimpico proved enough to keep the trophy hopes alive at that time.

A tasty recipe

It may feel strange to say for a club that has won just one of its last eight league fixtures and is coming off two poor performances, but this does feel like a prime opportunity this weekend. United are equally struggling, and Spurs have already shown they can beat this opponent. With few meaningful matches remaining domestically, Postecoglou’s side should be motivated to take on a big six club, regardless of form.

Even away from home, do not expect Amorim to take on an overly conservative approach, as has been the case against many lower-table sides Tottenham has struggled with. Both teams will likely go for it, potentially leading to another chaotic affair like the cup tie in December. All signs point to a winnable match for Spurs, who have a chance to win consecutive league games for the first time since September (against Brentford and United, coincidentally).

Reinforced

Another reason for optimism is the likely return of several key players. Djed Spence has been a revelation, but having Destiny Udogie available, even as an option, is a huge boost. A similar sentiment applies to Guglielmo Vicario, despite solid performances from Antonin Kinsky. Perhaps most crucial are the potential returns of James Maddison and Brennan Johnson, who would provide much-needed depth to a depleted and struggling attacking corps.

United are near the bottom of the league in goals scored, but with Micky van de Ven out and ongoing defensive issues, no one is expecting a flawless defensive performance from Spurs. However, the adding in some key attacking players could be enough to secure a couple of goals, and something like a 2-1 victory feels reasonable. Neither club is having a season to remember (at least in the league), but beating United is always satisfying.

It’s been an eternity since Tottenham Hotspur last played a football match. Well, ok, it hasn’t been but it’s FELT like it. But that’s what it feels like when you play 2-3 matches a week for three months then suddenly have a “normal” match week with only one match. Tottenham host Manchester United on Sunday after a blissful week’s rest and recuperation, and thanks to a press release from the club we know that they’re set to welcome three players back to the matchday squad.

Tottenham reports that Destiny Udogie, Guglielmo Vicario, and James Maddison are all available to play against United. Three more players are close behind — Timo Werner, Brennan Johnson, and Wilson Odobert are all training on grass but weren’t deemed ready to play this week.

Head coach Ange Postecoglou gave an update on his returning players.

“Some of the lads who have been out for quite a while look like they’re in a good place now. Vic is probably the one who has come back ahead of schedule.

“He’s been training really well away from the team for two weeks. In the last 10 days he’s integrated back into the team and is fully into training, so he’s in a good place and that means he becomes available for us.”

There are still several players on the injury list including Micky van de Ven, Cuti Romero, Richarlison, Dominic Solanke, and, of course, Radu Dragusin, who is out for the rest of the season.

Tottenham kick off against Manchester United at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium at 11:30 a.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. UK on Sunday.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame released its list of nominees this week. And the list is questionable.

Now, let me get this out of the way: The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is pointless. Its opinions matter less. And whoever gets inducted is no greater than whoever is excluded. The RRHOF does some good work through its community programmes and archives, but its status as the arbiter of which artists reigns supreme is questionable at best.

Now, with that out of the way, let’s get to the nominees. It’s a smaller pool this year, reflecting how diluted the talent field is. Yet there are still no Monkees or Warren Zevon.

Longshots: Mana, Chubby Checker, Soundgarden

Two of these three make no sense. Those two are the Mexican group Mana (which I don’t think ever had a presence outside Latin America) and Chubby Checker (who only had one song, The Twist). I have no idea why these artists are here. They might get some consolation prize.

Then there’s Soundgarden, who keep getting nominated but never included. That continues this year.

Outside looking in: Bad Company, Joe Cocker, Joy Division/New Order, Phish

Lots of classic rock acts here. But who gets in? Joe Cocker, who’s become synonymous with Woodstock? Safe rock act Bad Company? Phish, who’ve never had a hit? Or synth-poppers Joy Division/New Order?

History tells us we should expect Bad Company to get in given the previous inductions of Foreigner, The Foo Fighters, The Doobie Brothers and Def Leppard. But all those bands had a far greater catalogue and influence than Bad Company.

Joy Division are the most exciting group for me here, but I don’t think they’ll get recognition.

Solid chance: Billy Idol, Cyndi Lauper, Mariah Carey, Black Crowes

Cyndi Lauper and Mariah Carey have been nominated before. And, considering the Hall’s efforts in recent years to induct more women, I can see them both getting in.

The Black Crowes features a solid rock act (the induction is a concert after all).

But what about Billy Idol? He’s probably known more for his name and image than his music. Is that enough?

Shoo-ins: The White Stripes, Outkast, Oasis

The White Stripes and Oasis should’ve gotten in on their first nominations. It’s criminal they weren’t, and they should be in this year.

That leaves Outkast, which is ironically the outcast here. But the Hall has made an effort to include more hip-hop acts lately. Outkast are a decent addition.

Fitzie’s predictions: The Rock Hall in recent years has added between five and seven artists to be inducted via the “Performers” category. I’m going to take the middle this time and go with six additions: The Black Crowes, Cyndi Lauper, Mariah Carey, The White Stripes, Oasis, Outkast.

But at the end of the day, this whole excericse is stupid and we shouldn’t take it seriously.

Fitzie’s track of the day: Lotta Love, by Courtney Barnett

And now for your links:

Alasdair Gold: “Tottenham submit plans to improve medical facilities at training ground amid injury crisis”

Dan KP: “Daniel Levy’s risk-averse strategy threatens Tottenham’s place among a new Premier League elite”

The Telegraph: “Anatomy of Merseyside derby mayhem: Tarkowski’s goal, agonising VAR check and four red cards”

Welcome to another edition of Fitzie’s Film and TV reviews, where your hoddler-in-chief reviews some things he’s recently seen at home and in the cinema.

The Teacher’s Lounge: This drama set inside a German school focuses on who in the school (is it pupil? a teacher?) responsible for thefts around the property. The thrilling 90-minute film is shot almost entirely in one location, giving the viewer little room to breathe. The second half fizzles a little bit, but it’s still a very good watch with some open-ended questions to be answered.

The Righteous Gemstones, season 3: Danny McBride’s evangelical comedy is back and packs far more punches than its frustrating second season. McBride, Edi Patterson and Adam DeVine are hilariou as three sociopathic siblings who try to take over the reins of their father’s (John Goodman) church. Of course, Gemstones delivers so much more of that. Excited to see what season four - its final - brings.

Call Me By Your Name: Given his campaign to be the next Best Male Actor in a Leading Cateogry, now seems as good a time as any to watch Timothee Chalamet’s breakout film.

It’s beautifully shot and directed. It’s only the third film I’ve seen him in (Lady Bird, Beautiful Boy). I entered this one wanting to think he was better in Beautiful Boy (considering my contrarian streak) but it’s easy to see why this was his breakout given the depth he was able to achieve playing his character.

This film was one of two Best Picture noms Chalamet was part of in 2018 (along with Lady Bird). They both lost out to The Shape of Water.

Fitzie’s track of the day: Minor Inconveniences, by Bebe Stockwell

And now for your links:

The Athletic ($$): “How much of a problem is Tottenham’s wage bill?”

Alasdair Gold: “The unusual thing that will happen in Tottenham training on Wednesday for Ange Postecoglou”

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium welcomed a special guest to the stadium on Wednesday as His Majesty King Charles III visited to “celebrate the positive socio-economic impact of the Club on its local area.”

Making the visit to the stadium with the impact that the club is making in the local area for the regeneration of deprived areas, King Charles was greeted by Tottenham Hotspur Chairman Daniel Levy, Tottenham Hotspur Foundation Chair of Trustees, Donna-Maria Cullen, and MP for Tottenham, David Lammy, and had a chat with men’s captain Heung-Min Son and women’s captain Bethany England.

The clip that went viral this afternoon showed King Charles asking who Sonny and the boys were playing this weekend. After saying United, King Charles followed up by asking how the team was doing. Sonny pointed out that the team is in a difficult moment but is working to get out of it.

Going onto the pitch and seeing the overall impact Spurs have had in N17 with The Huddle.

King Charles was given a gift from the club and the NFL, with His Majesty receiving a golden cockerel and a football from the NFL London Games that he played around with.

Another Tottenham Hotspur player has sustained a significant hamstring injury. Thankfully, this one isn’t Ange Postecoglou’s fault. (OR IS IT?????)

According to Alasdair Gold in Football.London, Alfie Devine will miss the next 4-6 weeks after injuring his hamstring while playing on loan for Westerlo in Belgium.

Alfie’s currently playing for the same club as future Tottenham central defense legend Luka Vuskovich, and Devine’s playing well there. He’s been a regular starter for Westerlo as both a defensive and attacking midfielder and has been getting plenty of opportunities to play and improve. Gold says he pulled up in the 21st minute of Westerlo’s most recent match against Standard Liege.

The joke is that Ange Postecoglou’s hamstring menace strikes again, and his reach is so great that his tactics are now injuring young players on loan in a different European country. The truth, of course, is that injuries just happen, and hamstring injuries in particular are on the rise all across football. It’s a bummer for poor Alfie who was starting to find form on loan, but at least it’s not a serious enough issue that it requires surgery.

But still — this just proves nobody is safe from the Tottenham Hotpsur injury curse! Hide your kids, hide your partners! And no matter what, don’t tell anyone you play for Spurs!

Social media is atwitter (pardon the pun) over a story in the Guardian this morning that appears to hint that Tottenham Hotspur could be the subject of a purchase bid from current majority stakeholders ENIC. The story suggests that a group of “private” Qatari-based investors are potentially interested in a bid for the club, and that they would prefer to keep Daniel Levy on board as “Executive Chairman” even after the takeover is complete.

This story has rustled quite a few jimmies in the Tottenham fan base, and for good reason. The piece outlines a hypothetical that would manage to piss off virtually every single fan — a moral and ethically challenged petro-state-based takeover of the club that somehow would result in Daniel Levy staying on as the head of operations. Can you imagine?

And that, in part, is why it probably won’t happen. It’s worth being skeptical of this piece and not get too concerned over what it says. Here’s why.

For starters, the piece is long on sensationalist content, but very, very short on actual details. This piece has EVERYTHING: takeover rumors! Qatari businessmen! Daniel Levy! But notably, it doesn’t say who the Qatari investors are, apart from that they’re apparently “not Qatari government-backed,” something I have deep skepticism about from the jump, and doesn’t even state that a bid is forthcoming — merely that the investors are “in talks” with the club.

We’ve been here many, many times over the past decades. Stories about interest in a potential takeover from ENIC have popped up numerous times over the past 15 years. You probably remember some of them — Cain Hoy, Iranian businessman Jahm Najafi, Sheikh Jassim, various random American-based consortia that have popped into the news and then gradually faded away as the bides either materialized or interest waned. None of them panned out. I’m skeptical that this one is anything either, and that this group of non-governmental rich Qatari actually have enough money to make a serious bid.

Consider: if this were real, we’d probably be reading stories about an actual bid for the club, not vague news pieces about prospective bidders wanting to keep Daniel Levy on as chairman. My guess is that there are some Qatari businessmen sniffing around, but they likely aren’t ready to make a bid large enough to entice ENIC to actually sell the club. This piece feels like it’s the result of someone from the Qatari side of the issue shopping a story around to various English media sources.

Now, maybe this rumor is real. It could be! One of them eventually will be! The club will eventually be sold, and the nature of football business is that it’s very likely to be to some group, individual, or nation-state that is going to be pretty gross. There’s a small chance that I’m wrong about this, and I could look pretty foolish in the coming weeks.

But I doubt it. The club, at any rate, is very unlikely to comment on any “talks” until there’s something concrete that they can talk about. Until you hear solid news that there’s an actual bid for the club that’s likely to be accepted, it’s in your best interest as a fan to remain deeply skeptical of stories like this one that have big headlines, but are very skimpy on the details.

We’re into our second week of exploring Queen’s discography. Last week we went into some of the mysticism Freddie Mercury channeled into My Fairy King on the band’s self-titled debut.

Today, we’re going to skip ahead to A Day at the Races.

It feels weird to bypass Queen II, Sheer Heart Attack and A Night At The Opera. Maybe today’s Track of the Day could supplement the latter a little bit.

Because one of the songs on A Night At The Opera was 39, a song about space exploration in the future penned by lead guitarist Brian May.

Today’s TOTD, Long Away, could be thought as a companion piece to that. I feel it’s a more mature piece of songwriting from May and perhaps a more mature piece of music from Queen in general. There’s a bit less of the overdubs and the backing vocals. It’s really a Brian May song, and he’s a terrific songwriter.

Like 39, the song evokes thoughts of space travel and exploration referencing stars, the heavens, the travel. But it attempts answers a question 39 fails to address: What happens when you travel? What do you leave behind when you go?

I feel this song fails to answer that question. Maybe that’s the point.

“Do we leave our way behind us? Such a long, long way behind us?”

May doesn’t answer the question. He ploughs forward: “Leave it for some hopeless lane.”

What are these stars he’s chasing? The blazing orbs in the sky, or the bright lights of America after finding mainstream acclaim and stardom with Queen’s previous record?

They’re fascinating questions to ask, and a fascinating juxtaposition to explore in a record that Queen purposely made would be unlike anything they did on A Night At The Opera. There’s none of those elongated operatic pieces here.

We’ve got a a rocking opener with Tie Your Mother Down, stripping away the belief this album would be anything like its successor, of course Long Away, the springtime The Millionaire Waltz, the gospel-rock Somebody to Love, the campy vaudeville Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy and the Japanese-inspired Teo Torriate (Let Us Cling Together).

So, of course, Long Away is unlike its astronautical sister. There’s a place in Queen’s catalogue for both, and both are lovely songs. And both should be a reminder of Brian May’s brilliant songwriting.

Fitzie’s track of the day: Long Away, by Queen

And now for your links:

Jack P-B ($$): “Can this matchless midweek help change Tottenham’s fortunes?”

Finally, on a week that Tottenham Hotspur does not play multiple football games, we’re getting some more good news. According to Dan Kilpatrick in the Standard, five Tottenham Hotspur players are returning to training and could be made available for Spurs’ home match against United this weekend.

We talked about Destiny Udogie yesterday, but the other four are somewhat unexpected. Vicario hasn’t been seen since fracturing his foot against Manchester City back in November. Maddison has been dealing with a calf injury since the Leicester City loss in late January, as has Brennan Johnson. Timo Werner had a minor hamstring pull but nevertheless has missed several weeks.

So this is all fantastic news, even if it’s likely we won’t see many if not any of these returning players starting. Ange Postecoglou has been slow-walking his players’ return to fitness for good reason — he’s seen several players including Richarlison, Micky van de Ven, and Cuti Romero reinjure themselves shortly after returning from a prolonged absence. That said, if even a couple of these players can get some minutes in reserve or off the bench, or even a half of football, that is good for them and good for the squad.

Spurs still have a number of high profile players out injured, including the aforementioned Richarlison, van de Ven, and Romero, as well as Dominic Solanke and Wilson Odobert.