GiveMeSport

Ex-PGMOL chief Keith Hackett has offered his expert opinion on the controversial decision not to send Rodrigo Bentancur off for a poor challenge during Tottenham Hotspur vs Chelsea.

The two London sides met in what was a typically fiery Premier League derby. In the end, a single goal in the first half from Joao Pedro was enough to settle the affair. Poor defending from Tottenham allowed Moises Caicedo to set up his teammate for a close-range finish.

Beyond the goal, there were a number of rough tackles throughout the match, but the worst perhaps came from Spurs' Bentancur, after he crunched into Reece James. Despite ramming his studs into the Chelsea captain, the midfielder avoided a red card. Referee Jarred Gillet reached for a yellow card, and his decision was upheld by VAR.

Hackett Offers Bentancur Red Card Verdict

Former Premier League referee Hackett could not help but weigh in on the debate as he offered his thoughts on the foul. The ex-PGMOL said on social media:

"A red card for me."

This is at odds with the Premier League, who offered an official explanation on the incident, stating: "The referee’s call of yellow card to Bentancur was checked and confirmed by VAR – with the contact deemed to be a reckless challenge and not serious foul play."

Hackett wasn't alone in his verdict as CBS Sports Football Correspondent James Benge called out the poor foul, writing: "Horrible tackle by Bentancur on James, surprised that Gillett stopped a potentially promising Chelsea attack only to book him."

Journalist Simon Johnson also called it a 'terrible challenge' and noted that James was left 'disgusted'. Even so, and despite a very poor foul from Enzo Fernandez in the second half, both teams finished the game with 11 men each.

Chelsea would have been furious had the officiating cost them anything from the game, but they managed to cling onto their slender lead and win the game 1-0. They now sit just level on points with Spurs (17), as that victory took them only behind their London rivals on goal difference, with the two teams sitting third and fourth at the full-time whistle.

Chelsea play Wolves at home next in the Premier League and will be strong favourites for that one, while Tottenham have the trickier task of hosting Manchester United.

Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea will go head-to-head in the Premier League at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday evening, with both teams desperate to claim a win over their local rivals.

Thomas Frank's side have had a mixed start to the season and after claiming a 3-0 win over Everton last weekend, they crashed out of the Carabao Cup with a 2-0 defeat to Newcastle in midweek. Chelsea, on the other hand, bounced back from their disappointing 2-1 defeat to Sunderland last weekend to defeat Wolves 4-3 in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.

Both sides have major injury concerns heading into this game however, and this is how GIVEMESPORT expects them to line up.

Tottenham Team News

Spurs are in a bit of an injury crisis currently, with 11 players potentially missing from the game due to injury. James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski are long-term absentees with knee injuries, while Radu Dragusin and Ben Davies are likely to only return after the international break.

Wilson Odobert, Archie Gray, Dominic Solanke, Destiny Udogie, Yves Bissouma and Kota Takai are all battling to return before then but this game is likely to come too soon, while captain Cristian Romero and Wilson Odobert are pushing to return.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Frank shared an injury update on his squad ahead of the game.

"Positive news is that [Cristian] Romero, Destiny [Udogie] and Wilson [Odobert] are available for selection.We'll try to take the best possible decision (with Cuti). Every decision is on me. He is ready to be involved - let's see how much."

"We're very aware that we want Dom [Solanke]back. We want him back and no setbacks. We're very aware of doing it in the right way. It is going in the right way but he won't be back before the international break.

"[Kulusevski] is not back on the grass yet."

Tottenham Predicted XI

Tottenham Predicted XI: Vicario; Porro, Danso, Van de Ven, Spence; Palhinha, Bentancur; Kudus, Bergvall, Tel; Kolo Muani.

Tottenham Predicted Substitutes: Kinsky (GK), Byfield (DEF), Rowswell (DEF), Sarr (MID), Olusesi (MID), Xavi Simons (MID), Odobert (FWD), Richarlison (FWD), Johnson (FWD).

Thomas Frank has some decisions to make with his team with some players underperforming, and that could see Mathys Tel handed a rare start on the left wing as a result.

Summer signing Xavi Simons could find himself on the bench amid his poor performances recently, while Richarlison has seemingly lost his place up front to loanee Randal Kolo Muani, leaving the £270,000-a-week duo on the sidelines.

Chelsea Team News

The Blues are dealing with some injury concerns of their own ahead of this game. Star man Cole Palmer is still absent with a groin problem, and isn't expected to return until December, while Levi Colwill, Benoit Badiashile, Mykhailo Mudryk and Dario Essugo are also long-term absentees.

Liam Delap is suspended after his reckless red card in the Carabao Cup in midweek, while Enzo Fernandez, Joao Pedro and Moises Caicedo are not training regularly but should still be available to play.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Maresca shared an update on his squad ahead of the game.

"They [Enzo, Caicedo and Pedro] are okay, they are available.

"The reason why Joao didn’t play against Wolves is that we tried to protect him. It was the same thing with Moi and with Enzo; just giving them some minutes [rather than them starting]. But the idea is to protect these players.

"Game by game, we can’t plan with them because of their problems, their situations. So, it's about taking it game-by-game and seeing how many minutes we can use them. We try to use the whole squad because, at this moment, we need the whole squad.

"With Cole [Palmer], it’s the plan is exactly the same. We will wait, and hopefully he can be back soon."

Chelsea Predicted XI

Chelsea Predicted XI: Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; James, Caicedo; Estevao, E. Fernandez, Neto; J. Pedro.

Chelsea Predicted Substitutes: Jorgensen (GK), Tosin (DEF), Acheampong (DEF), Hato (DEF), Andrey Santos (MID), Garnacho (FWD), Gittens (FWD), Guiu (FWD), George (FWD).

With a number of injury issues, Maresca could look to move captain Reece James into midfield once again, while the in-form forward duo Pedro Neto and Estevao should start in attack.

Paul Merson says Enzo Maresca ‘must start’ Pedro Neto for Chelsea’s visit to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday and is ‘almost certain’ Estevao Willian will occupy the other wing.

Chelsea will be looking to bounce back against their London rivals following a shocking 2-1 home loss to Sunderland last weekend, which saw the Blues suffer defeat for the third time in their last five Premier League games.

While the Stamford Bridge side secured a 4-3 win over Wolves in the Carabao Cup midweek, it came at a cost – they lost striker Liam Delap to a one-game suspension after the forward was sent off for two yellow cards in the second half.

Chelsea had four different scorers aged 21 or under in their seven-goal cup thriller, and Merson expects at least one to retain his starting spot when the Blues visit Spurs on Saturday afternoon.

Merson: Chelsea Must Start Neto and Estevao

Merson, writing for Sportskeeda, predicted Maresca will select his two wingers on Saturday based on who can track back and do the defensive work against Tottenham’s attacking full-backs:

“Chelsea must start with Pedro Neto in this game. It's a big pitch at Tottenham and he's quick as anything. I'm almost certain Estevao will also start the game.

“Both wingers must track back though. Spurs have full-backs who love to go forward, so if the Chelsea wingers do not help out in defence, their team will get overrun.

“I expect Enzo Maresca to make his team selection based on who he trusts more to do the defensive work down the flanks, otherwise Chelsea are in trouble.”

Neto, along with Joao Pedro and Enzo Fernandez, have been Chelsea’s three main sources of creativity this Premier League season, with the Portuguese international registering two goals and two assists in nine appearances.

Neto, who earns £200,000 per week, is one of only three Chelsea players to have started every top-flight game this campaign, along with Fernandez and Robert Sanchez, and has registered three goal involvements in his last two outings.

Estevao, who pockets £75,000 a week, has only started for the Blues on four occasions this campaign, scoring once, with his last league appearance in the first XI coming in their 3-1 loss to Brighton last month.

Maresca opted for the duo of Neto and Jamie Gittens on the flanks in the last three Premier League games, with the England international yet to register a goal contribution.

Everton are considering a stunning swoop for Tottenham Hotspur forward Richarlison in the January transfer window, according to TEAMtalk.

The Merseysiders are reportedly exploring the signing of a new striker at the turn of the year, with Beto and summer arrival Thierno Barry struggling to fire up front this season.

The duo have scored just one Premier League goal between them and Everton are considering dipping into the market in January for reinforcements to their attacking options.

The Toffees are claimed to be keeping a very close eye on Richarlison’s situation at Tottenham, with the Brazilian said to be ‘very open’ to a return to the club he spent four years at from 2018 to 2022.

Spurs could be 'open to the idea' of letting Richarlison depart mid-season if they manage to sign a new striker of their own in January.

Richarlison Open to Everton Return

According to TEAMtalk, Everton are ready to back David Moyes in January to boost the club’s chances of climbing up the Premier League table this season.

After starting the season promisingly, the Toffees find themselves 14th after back-to-back defeats to Manchester City and Tottenham.

The Merseyside outfit are claimed to be considering adding to their options up front amid a difficult start to the season for both Beto and Barry but have not yet decided on pursuing Richarlison.

The striker’s future will depend on whether Tottenham are able to sign a new forward in January, with Crystal Palace ace Jean-Philippe Mateta reportedly under consideration.

After netting a brace in Tottenham’s season-opening 3-0 win over Burnley, Richarlison has only scored once for the North London side since – in their 2-2 draw with Brighton last month.

The Brazilian forward registered an assist against Everton in Spurs’ 3-0 win last weekend, coming off the bench for the final 30 minutes.

Thomas Frank has trusted both Mathys Tel and loan signing Randal Kolo Muani up front in recent weeks, with Richarlison’s last Premier League start coming on September 27 in the 1-1 draw with Wolves.

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Richarlison has scored 23 goals in 105 appearances for Tottenham.

The ‘outstanding’ Brazilian forward is likely to find himself further down the pecking order once Dominic Solanke returns from his lengthy injury layoff.

The England international has made just three appearances for Spurs this term, amounting to 49 minutes, and remains out with an ankle injury.

Enzo Maresca was not happy with Liam Delap on Wednesday night.

Only just back from injury for Chelsea's Carabao Cup fourth round clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers, the striker will now miss another Premier League match after being sent off at Molineux.

The 22-year-old had missed ten matches in all competitions due to a hamstring injury and will now miss the Premier League clash with fierce London rivals Tottenham Hotspur this weekend.

Maresca said after the game: "After the yellow card, I told him four or five times, keep calm. But Liam is a player inside the pitch, playing the game for himself and he struggles to listen to things around him.

"Very stupid red card that was completely unnecessary. Absolutely deserved. It was a stupid foul. We can avoid that. I completely support the red card."

Disciplinary problems

Chelsea have the worst disciplinary record, not only in the English top flight, but across Europe's top five divisions. Delap's sending off was the Blues' fifth of the season in all competitions, with only Spanish side Girona suffering as many red cards.

Chelsea take on Spurs at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, with the game live on Sky Sports at 5.30pm. It is the big game of the weekend, with the two teams expecting to be jostling for Champions League positions come the end of the season.

Without Delap, Maresca is likely to have to call upon Marc Guiu again in the striker role, unless he goes with Joao Pedro as the central striker, although he has hinted already that he does not see the Brazilian playing there.

"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to score 20 goals each year. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to score and give assists but he's a different kind of nine to ones that score 20 to 25 goals each year like [Robert] Lewandowski, [Kylian] Mbappe or [Erling] Haaland."

Injury problems

Delap is added to a list of players Maresca cannot call upon for the derby with Spurs, and while it will be frustrating not to have him available, after just getting him back, there are two, perhaps bigger problems for the clash.

Chelsea's injury list boasts key names like Cole Palmer, Levi Colwill and Benoit Badiashile already and two of those names are perhaps bigger misses than Delap would be.

Palmer is a hugely influential figure for the Blues, while Colwill is also an integral part of the defence when he is available. Not only that, but both have a perfect record when playing against Tottenham.

Palmer has been involved in all four games against Spurs in the past two seasons, with a 100% record from those matches, scoring three goals and providing two assists.

Colwill missed one of those four through injury, but also has a 100% record as a Chelsea player against Tottenham. He did, however, lose to Spurs while he was on loan at Brighton - a 2-1 defeat in 2023.

For many people, becoming a professional footballer is their dream. Although many have pursued that fantasy, only a select few will ever make it to the top — be it the Premier League or another top European division.

Alfie Whiteman was, to many, one of the lucky ones. The north London-born goalkeeper joined Tottenham Hotspur's academy at just 10 years old, going on to represent the club's youth teams. And when he signed a three-year senior contract in 2019, he might have assumed that it would be the first step in a long and prosperous football career.

But earlier this year, the goalkeeper decided to quit the sport at just 26-years-old following the expiry of his contract at Spurs to pursue a career in photography and film.

Although many footballers have gone on to pursue unusual jobs after their careers, it seemed strange to quit when in your peak years as a player. But while others might have been shocked, it was a decision that had been years in the making for Whiteman.

The signs were certainly promising for the goalkeeper when he was a youngster. At the time, he was featuring for both Spurs and England's youth teams, picking up appearances for both the under-17 and under-19 international sides.

But while he was living out most people's dream, Whiteman wasn't fulfilled by his pursuits. Speaking to The Athletic, he said: "I left school at 16 and went straight into this full-time life of football.

"When I was around 17 or 18, living in digs, I just had this feeling inside of, ‘Is this it?’ Getting on the mini bus, going to training, doing the Sports Science BTEC and going home to play video games. I realised, ‘Oh, I’m not happy here’ from quite a young age."

It was at that time when Whiteman began exploring his other passions. He took acting classes when he wasn't training and also hosted his monthly radio show, 'Sweet Tooth'. But it was photography that really hooked him in.

His ex-girlfriend's best friend was a director. They allowed him to connect with other leaders in the creative industry, including directors and photographers, while the Tottenham star also assisted as a runner on sets, in an attempt to set himself up for life after football.

"It just started opening my eyes to what life has to offer."

Quitting the Game

Whiteman's football career was still progressing, though. He made his professional debut in 2020, coming on as a substitute against Ludogrets Razgrad in the Europa League, and then went on to earn regular minutes on loan at Swedish side Degerfors for two years.

It even seemed like a future at Spurs was not out of the question, as he put pen to paper on a two-year extension in February 2023. But, after he suffered an ankle injury in Singapore and spent most of the 2023/24 season rehabbing, he started to think about his long-term future.

"During that rehab, I worked so hard every day to try to get back," he said. "I eventually did, but even then, it was just to be sat in the stands. It was so hard applying myself and really trying and then just not getting the games.

"Tottenham have an incredible training ground with incredible facilities, and I was working with the best players. But it wasn’t fulfilling. I want to be in a high-pressure game, or feel progress. When you’re not playing, it’s very difficult to do. It’s even worse, it’s more like you’re regressing."

Check Out Alfie Whiteman's Career Path Below

The club then refused to sanction a loan move in 2024/25, as they needed Whiteman as a club-trained player for their Europa League campaign. Although he collected a winners' medal, after Tottenham beat Manchester United in the final, he left the club after his contract expired.

Continuing in football was an option — the then 26-year-old went on trial at two clubs over the summer. But the goalkeeper decided to follow a new path, considering that he would no longer be playing at the top level.

"There was a weekend when I went home, and I started contemplating all my options. I had other things I’ve been building on the side and it was more exciting to me. To put it plainly, I saw happiness in these other avenues.

"It got to this point where I’d rather end this on my terms than go to a club that I just didn’t want to go to. When I was younger, I always said I didn’t want to play in the lower leagues; it was always about the highest level. Otherwise, I’d rather do something else."

Whiteman Thriving as a Photographer

Now pursuing photography and film full-time, it's safe to say his career's gone pretty well so far since retiring. He was on set with photographer Harley Weir and rapper Central Cee for a shoot with Nike and has shot for brands On and Paloma Wool. He's also got a solo exhibition coming up, which he pieced together while on loan at Degerfors, and helped shoot a feature documentary in Norway and Ukraine.

Signed to production company Somesuch and helping out with their photography, Whiteman's got big aspirations for the future: "I’ve got project ideas for photo stuff and short film ideas. The plan is to do some short films, and then hopefully one day a feature-length. But there are no real strict steps. You can decide.

"I just want to be on set and work with some of the most talented cinematographers, directors of photography, producers and meet new people. There’s just so much to learn."

Tottenham Hotspur are one of the sides showing an interest in signing former Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay ahead of the January transfer window, according to a report from TEAMtalk, and it could be the exact type of signing they need.

McTominay made the move to Serie A side Napoli recently, and the Scottish international has flourished in Italy after leaving the Premier League. McTominay was going through a tricky spell with United, struggling to become a guaranteed starter, but everything has changed since his move to Serie A.

The 28-year-old has been playing a more advanced role over the last few years, arriving in the box to score regularly for Napoli, something that we saw in spells during his time at United. McTominay is enjoying an impressive period in Italy, and was even nominated for the Ballon d'Or this year.

Tottenham Eyeing Move to Sign Scott McTominay

According to a report from TEAMtalk, Tottenham are one of the sides showing an interest in signing Napoli midfielder McTominay ahead of the January transfer window. It's claimed that a move in the winter is unlikely, and the midfielder, described as 'sensational' by TEAMtalk, has been a key member of Antonio Conte's squad, so they likely want to keep him for as long as possible.

The signing of McTominay could really suit Thomas Frank's system, with the Danish manager playing a high-intensity game. McTominay is a keen presser and a box-to-box midfielder, and his experience could be vital with Tottenham having such a young set of players.

McTominay could play in an attacking midfield role for Spurs, or potentially slightly deeper, so his versatility could make him a useful option. A January move appears to be unlikely, but Tottenham should be looking to make a move in the summer if he's keen on a return to the Premier League.

Frank could be perfect for McTominay to reestablish himself in the Premier League, but there does feel like little reason for him to make the move away from Serie A considering his form of late. At the age of 28, Spurs will have to be careful not to spend too much on a player approaching the latter stages of his career, which could be a problem as Napoli won't want to lose him.

Dimitar Berbatov

Dimitar Berbatov was a Premier League cult hero, impressing at Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Fulham during his time in England. Known for his silky style and immaculate first touch, the Bulgarian retired in 2019 but is still a presence in football, occasionally popping up to give his thoughts on the current era.

Having also spent time at Bayer Leverkusen before making the switch to English football, it should be no surprise that Berbatov has been keeping a careful eye on Florian Wirtz, who also played for the German outfit. The young midfielder completed a £116 million transfer to Liverpool in the summer, but has failed to hit the ground running.

Despite this, Berbatov has insisted that the 22-year-old will come good. What's more, he even compared Wirtz to iconic former Spurs teammate Luka Modric.

Berbatov Asks For Patience With Florian Wirtz at Liverpool

Berbatov was speaking on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast when Wirtz came up as a discussion point. The German has yet to score the Liverpool, and has not registered a single goal contribution in nine Premier League outings so far. Amid his poor form, there are concerns about how suitable he is for Arne Slot's side.

Brushing aside any fears over the player's quality, Berbatov said: "I love him. He’s a fantastic player. He will be unbelievable, trust me. Hopefully, he will be patient. Hopefully, he’ll have good people around him, agent, family, whatever. Hopefully, the coach sees his quality like everybody sees him. I’m sure that everybody sees his quality, and they’ll give him that time that he needs to fit into the team. And I guarantee you, he’s going to be a success."

Berbatov played with many great players across his career, but Modric would have been among the very best of them. They shared the pitch together just once, actually, as the striker left for Man Utd the same summer the Croatian arrived at Tottenham. Even so, the 2018 Ballon d'Or winner left a big impression.

It will comfort Liverpool fans, then, to learn that Berbatov believes Wirtz can be the Premier League's next Modric. He explained how his technical ability can make up for any perceived physical weakness:

"The way he sees football, how he looks for the space, how he knows how to position himself, the touches on the ball, the improvisation, the eye for the pass and for the goals. Of course, someone can argue that his physique is not that great for the Premier League. But then you can easily see the great players of his position, like Modric, also the same build. Modric. F***ing monster. It’s unbelievable. So give him time. I think he’s going to be unbelievable for Liverpool."

Berbatov went on to compare his struggles with Wirtz’s current form at Liverpool. He spoke about his early periods at Leverkusen and Spurs, as he too needed time to adapt to these new environments:

"The same process was happening when I went to Leverkusen. In the beginning, it didn’t work out quite well. I needed to be patient. In Spurs, again, new environment, again, new people, new language, new everything. Again, the things were taking slowly to happen for me. I was thinking, maybe I need to go back.

"But when I was thinking like this, then my other, not personality, but my other me, was telling me 'No, no, no, no. You see what happened in Leverkusen. Just be patient. Keep working. You have the quality. You deserve to be here. You wanted something to change. Now you’re here. Now be stubborn. Be patient. Keep working. Not sitting. It’s not going to fall like this on your lap. Work smart or hard. Try to know when, which when, and work. And it will happen'. You basically want to go to your safe place, your safe environment. But you need to have that motivation and that ambition in you as well to overcome the fear. So my ambition was bigger than my fear."

If Wirtz can settle in England, he certainly has the potential to be as good as or perhaps even better than both Berbatov and Modric. However, it feels as though we are some way from seeing that just yet.

Tottenham Hotspur head coach Thomas Frank needs to prioritise raiding Premier League rivals Crystal Palace in 2026 as Richarlison's performance in the midweek Carabao Cup defeat to Newcastle United highlighted how badly they need to lure Jean-Philippe Mateta to Hotspur Way.

Spurs splashed the cash during a summer of change, with Mohammed Kudus and Xavi Simons bringing added creativity to north London after Europa League-winning Ange Postecoglou had been removed from the dugout, and they have enjoyed a productive start to their European campaign at the same time as flying high domestically.

But it has already become abundantly clear in the early months of Frank's reign that he needs to secure a prolific goalscorer if he wants to take this Tottenham side to the next level and add to the trophy cabinet. Mateta, who has been in scintillating form for Crystal Palace, would be a perfect addition to the squad.

Spurs are Keeping Tabs on Mateta Contract Situation

Tottenham are keeping tabs on Mateta's situation at Crystal Palace, according to Football Insider, and they may have an opportunity to pounce if he shows a reluctance to signing a new contract. Should that prove to be the case, Frank needs to take advantage and hand him an exit route out of Selhurst Park.

The two-cap France international grabbed his seventh goal of the season as his current employers overcame Liverpool to book their place in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup, while he also bagged a hat-trick in a stalemate with Bournemouth earlier this month, emphasising that he is in the form of his life.

Although Crystal Palace kept their hopes of winning silverware alive, Tottenham were knocked out of the competition by Newcastle. Richarlison was not at his best, appeared to lack sharpness and did not profit when Lucas Bergvall put a glorious pass across the face of goal in the first half. There is absolutely no doubt that Mateta would be an immediate upgrade.

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Jean-Philippe Mateta has been averaging a goal every 157 minutes in the Premier League this season

The striker is on course to enter the final 18 months of his deal at the turn of the year and, if he gives indications that he is not prepared to extend his stay, Spurs need to ensure they are at the front of the queue. The north Londoners would also be in a strong position to hand him a significant increase on his current salary of £50,000-per-week before bonuses.

Mateta would thrive off the service from Kudus and Simons, along with creative midfielder James Maddison when he returns from his long-term injury, and he would surely be interested in making the switch if the opportunity to compete in the Champions League is on offer.

North Londoners Need to be Ruthless in Mateta Push

Tottenham are long-term admirers of Mateta, having also made a £40million enquiry when the transfer window was still open for business during the summer, and they need to make sure they get the deal over the line instead of having a repeat of the situation which saw his former teammate Eberechi Eze head to arch-rivals Arsenal.

Considering the 28-year-old FA Cup winner's form in the final third of the pitch, Spurs should expect serious competition for an agreement if they choose to up the ante by entering discussions. As a result, they will have to be smart and make sure they cannot be gazumped in the race for his signature.

Missing out on capturing Eze was a painful experience for Tottenham supporters, mainly because of who he ended up joining. It highlighted that they need to be more ruthless in the transfer market. Of course, then-executive chairman Daniel Levy would not be leading negotiations on this occasion, but they need to have Mateta at the top of their priorities list.

Tottenham Hotspur fans cheered as Thomas Frank brought off Brennan Johnson, with journalist the Evening Standard reporting that there were 'ironic cheers' coming from the away end at Newcastle United.

Johnson hasn't been a guaranteed starter under Frank this season, but he has started both of their last two games, against Everton and Newcastle. The former Nottingham Forest forward hasn't set the world alight this term, and the Tottenham supporters are clearly growing increasingly frustrated with his performances.

Johnson has started four games in the Premier League so far this season, scoring twice. Spurs suffered a 2-0 defeat away to Newcastle at St James' Park on Wednesday evening in the Carabao Cup, with Johnson lining up on the right-hand side of attack before he was substituted after around 65 minutes.

Tottenham Fans Ironically Cheer Johnson Sub

According to the Evening Standard, Tottenham fans ironically cheered the decision to bring Johnson off against Newcastle. The Welsh international winger was described as 'wasteful' on the night, and the Spurs supporters appeared happy to see him substituted.

"Too often he is hesitant when in good positions. Inconsistent with his final ball - some were dangerous, most wasteful. Ironic cheers from the away end when he went off."

The ironic cheers from the Tottenham away end might be slightly harsh, and it's not going to be a nice feeling for Johnson to hear that from his own supporters. Johnson hasn't hit the ground running this season, but he proved his worth last season under Ange Postecoglou.

During the 2024/2025 campaign, The Welsh forward provided 14 goals and assists combined in 24 starts in the Premier League, but we're yet to see this kind of production from him this term. It's not fully clicking for Tottenham in the final third, despite some impressive results, and Johnson is suffering due to that.

Tottenham return to Premier League action on Saturday, hosting London rivals Chelsea at home. Spurs then host Copenhagen in the Champions League, before a game against Manchester United followed by the first north London derby against Arsenal.

It's a tricky run of fixtures for Frank's side, with a trip to Paris Saint-Germain still to come at the end of November, and it will be interesting to see how involved Johnson is after his recent performances.