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Nicholas Mendola

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Pochettino upset with attacking stars, speaks on Eriksen status

By Nicholas MendolaAug 25, 2019, 2:49 PM EDT
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Mauricio Pochettino might’ve understood Tottenham Hotspur dropping points last week at Man City, but he didn’t plan on not taking anything from Newcastle United on Sunday at home.

“You need the capacity to step up in this type of situation but we didn’t show that quality today,” Pochettino said. “When the ball arrives in the last third you need something from the talent and quality we have there and today we didn’t have that.”

[ RECAP: Spurs 0-1 Newcastle | Bruce reacts ]

So that’s pretty straight forward, but Pochettino was less happy to answer the question of why he didn’t start Christian Eriksen. Some (read: this writer) have questioned the philosophy of putting a man you may sell for $50 million on the bench. Either put him in the Starting XI and risk him, or leave him off the 18.

“When you lose, the players who don’t play are the best. With Christian we win and we lose a lot of games. I accept that situation is like this. If we won 3-0 today no one talks about different names.

“I cannot find excuses about the transfer window being open to justify that performance or the result. We cannot find the way to be solid and to have consistency for different reasons. I am going to be happy in 10 days after we play Arsenal when the transfer window closes in Europe and to have the player involved until the transfer window again in January.”

We’re not gonna read too much into it, but it does sound a bit like Pochettino is daring teams to bid for Eriksen. Would it make sense for him to hold onto Eriksen until January before cashing in?

Newcastle’s Bruce heard criticism, happy to beat Spurs

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By Nicholas MendolaAug 25, 2019, 2:24 PM EDT
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Steve Bruce heard a lot of the criticism from fans upon his hiring at Newcastle United, and it rang out louder after the Magpies started 0-2 including a loss at newly-promoted Norwich City.

[ RECAP: Spurs 0-1 Newcastle ]

He may well hear plenty more down the road, but the childhood Newcastle supporter was feeling relieved and maybe redeemed after a fortunate and wonderful 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday. From the BBC:

“We came to this fantastic stadium, this fantastic club and we performed. I mean, to say I ‘cannot even do a warm up’ is mad. I have managed 900-odd games and over the years you would think there would be some sort of respect but I go back to the fact that whoever took over from Rafa Benitez was going to get the abuse.”

Newcastle faces struggling Watford at St. James’ Park next week, and another result will ease a lot of nerves (though certainly not all of them.

Wolves snatch late point vs. Burnley

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By Nicholas MendolaAug 25, 2019, 1:53 PM EDT
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Raul Jimenez’s penalty seven minutes into stoppage time gave Wolves a point with a 1-1 draw against Burnley on Sunday at the Molineux Stadium.

[ MORE: Watch full PL match replays ] 

Wolves now have three draws in three matches, while Burnley has four points.

Three things

  1. We’re paying rent in Ashley Barnes‘ world — Known most for his combustible, some-would-say dirty nature, the Burnley striker now has four goals this early season and more than one, including Sunday’s opener, have been bangers.
  2. Nuno’s men could use a break — Wolves fought well, but you can tell the Europa League schedule has heavily taxed their spirit. How tired are they? Here are the thoughts of an exhausted Raul Jimenez, and you can read the “Thank you, God” inside them –> “I think [the penalty] is the right decision. When I get in possession he tried to kick the ball, then he kicked me. It came at a good moment for us.”
  3. Don’t ever bet against Sean Dyche — We’ve written it 100 times. The big man can get a result from anywhere, at any time.

Burnley was easily the better unit over the first 45 minutes, and was rewarded with a goal even after VAR ruled one out.

Barnes chested a neatly-headed flick into shooting position and unleashed a missile that zipped past Rui Patricio for a 1-0 lead.

Both sides began the second half brightly, with Morgan Gibbs-White lashed a shot offf the outside of the netting and Barnes unable to get purchase on a ball over the top of the Wolves back line.

But Erik Pieters cut down Jimenez in the box late to set the Mexican international up for a win.

[ VIDEO: Premier League highlights ] 

Newcastle stuns Spurs in North London

By Nicholas MendolaAug 25, 2019, 1:24 PM EDT
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Joelinton scored a first half goal and Harry Kane was denied a second half penalty cry as Newcastle United stunned dominant Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday.

[ MORE: Watch full PL match replays ] 

Newcastle entered the game at 0-2, while Spurs fall to 1-1-1 on the season. The Magpies host Watford next week, while Spurs are off to Arsenal.

Three things

  1. Record signing comes good — Newcastle United smashed its transfer record to sign Joelinton from Hoffenheim, and the Brazilian was decent but without end product in the first two matches of the season. He wasn’t clinical on Sunday — he could’ve scored two or three — but the Brazilian gave Newcastle the early goal it needed for hope of points in North London.
  2. Pochettino outfoxes himself — Look, you either start Christian Eriksen or you don’t dress him. He’s one of the best playmakers in the world, and if you’re protecting him from injury to maximize whatever bid will come from La Liga or Serie A, then fine. But if you’re not, then you put that wizard on the pitch and get yourself the three points.
  3. VAR continues its madness — It’s almost as if Video Assistant Referee’s goal is to prove the technology shouldn’t have been implemented. Harry Kane might’ve embellished by moving onto the path of Jamaal Lascelles‘ launch toward him, but VAR not finding a penalty out of the matter was absolutely shocking.

Man of the Match: Sean Longstaff. The Newcastle youngster looked a lot like the prospect being courted by Manchester United than he did in Week One (He did not start Wk2).

The chances were all over the place in the first half, most of them for Tottenham, but Newcastle converted one of what were probably the two best between both teams.

Sean Longstaff had earned a corner for Newcastle through a hard strike well-saved by Hugo Lloris, and Newcastle’s next best effort ended up in the goal.

[ VIDEO: Premier League highlights ] 

A 15-pass sequence saw Joelinton register his first Premier League goal when Christian Atsu picked him out between Toby Alderweireld and Davinson Sanchez and the Brazilian record signing slotted past Lloris.

The Magpies were barely in the Spurs’ third after that, the remainder of the first session looking a lot like Spurs’ match versus Aston Villa on Opening Day.

AT HALF: Joelinton puts Spurs down; Barnes scores again

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By Nicholas MendolaAug 25, 2019, 12:18 PM EDT
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Two of the Premier League’s traditional Top Four contenders have already dropped points this weekend, and dominant Spurs may join them after making another first half mistake at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

[ MORE: Watch full PL match replays ]

Spurs and Wolves are both trail at the break, though the latter is being out-performed by Burnley at home. Tottenham, however, appears to be on the verge of its equalizer.

Tottenham Hotspur 0-1 Newcastle United — STREAM

If we told you that one team would score before the half-hour mark, stringing together 15 passes and making a defense look a bit unorganized, you certainly would’ve been mouthing Harry Kane.

Uh-uh. Joelinton.

Wolves 0-1 Burnley – STREAM

Everything Ashley Barnes touches is turning to gold.

Burnley’s cantankerous striker has his fourth goal of the season after just two matches and a dozen minutes.

Chesting the ball on the run, Barnes lashed a 20-yard effort near post for a stylish goal that gave the Clarets a surprise 1-0 lead at the Molineux.

It was a well-earned Dwight McNeil headed flick that got the ball to Barnes, who hit one of those shots that seems to make the ball shrink on its way past the keeper.