West Ham's fighting talk; Kaboul replacement lined up; Conte praise and familiar faces at Fiorentina

After a weekend of no football for Tottenham, it is set to be a busy few days with a clash against Fiorentina in the Europa League tomorrow night before we take on West Ham at the weekend.

Jenkinson

On loan Arsenal defender Carl Jenkinson has added fuel to the fire ahead of the match-up at White Hart Lane on Sunday by stating that the Hammers want to knock us off our perch.

"Yeah, they're doing alright, aren't they?" the defender said.

"They've always had some good players and they've been doing well lately. It's important we knock them off their perch a little bit and that's the mentality we need to bring into the game.

“We're a great side as well and play to our strengths. If we do that, we have a great chance of getting a good result.”

Jenkinson’s words add to Stewart Downing’s comments from earlier in the week, with the winger saying West Ham’s players were just as good as ours.

With a London derby there is no need for additional motivation, but it would be very satisfying to bang a few goals past Sam Allardyce’s men at the weekend to put West Ham in their place.

Mustafi

With Spurs likely to part company with Younes Kaboul this summer and Besiktas said to be sniffing around the Frenchman, a new name has been mentioned as a potential replacement.

talkSPORT claim that Spurs are ready to battle Borussia Dortmund for Valencia’s Shkodran Mustafi, who has impressed at the Mestalla this season.

The 22-year-old centre-half is also versatile enough to play as a full-back, and would fit into the mould of a player Spurs should be targeting.

However, with Valencia’s financial issues behind them and qualification for next term’s Champions League looking likely, why the Germany international would leave the Spanish side remains to be seen.

Fiorentina and familiar faces

As Spurs prepare to take on Serie A side Fiorentina at the Lane tomorrow night, more than a few players that the home faithful will recognise could well be on show for the visitors.

Micah Richards, Mohamed Salah, Stefan Savic, Marcos Alonso, Alberto Aquilani, David Pizarro, Borja Valero, Alessandro Diamanti and Giuseppe Rossi are all in Vincenzo Montella’s squad and all have experience of playing in the Premier League.

The Mirror state that these familiarity could well be an advantage for the Italians, but in all likelihood the Serie A side will have done their homework on us without having to ask their players for guidance.

Conte

Finally, Italy national boss Antonio Conte has paid a visit to Spurs’training facilities and met with Mauricio Pochettino in a bid to educate himself about the workings of English clubs.

The former Juventus boss was impressed by the North London club’s facilities and put us as favourites to beat Fiorentina over two legs.

“Impressed is exactly the right word,” Conte said about our training facilities.

“It looks like a very good place to work and for Tottenham Hotspur to develop their potential.

“The reason for my visit is to study and to look at some of the situations at clubs in England – especially in London. I am meeting with some managers who I think are doing well and to discover the reasons why they are doing well.

"Fiorentina's centre forward is slow and lazy and the full backs don't mark up properly.

"I would like to see Fiorentina win, but I think Spurs have the better team and are vastly superior.”

An important few days ahead; two wins would be bliss….COYS

 

Carl Jankinson has 1st hand experience of being knocked off his perch-

Hes a Gooner who plays for Wet Sham!

 

Gonna be three on the trot at 3 point lane for the mighty Hammers

 

Love the sarcasm mate, keep it coming.

 

Interesting article, the Italians do have an intresting and experienced squad, so we will have to be at our best to progress in the tournament. Wet Spam always want to spoil any party but this maybe a good time to meet them as their resent results aren't overwhelming. Coys.

 

Just to add that Wet Spam have only won two of their last ten games, against Hull and Bristol city ! We cant let them spoil our party again, surely ! Coys.

 

You have had so much luck with nicking games when you should have lost due to oppo players being sent off. Looking forward to watching Totscum become a laughing stock again. COYI.
Were coming for you were coming for you,West Ham united are coming for you. Irons Irons Irons.

 

If memory serves me right it was Spurs who had a player sent off when we last played wasnt it, what was the score in that game again?
Wet Sham what a grubby little club, always a laughing stock. Were your biggest game of the season coz lets face it what else have you got?
Small club, dodgey owners, repugnant fans, dull manager, cr@p football, 'iron'ic nickname, nothing to play for what a confused ignorant mess you all are.
The Wet Sham way- Hahahahaha

 

Outplayed Totscum for fifth time on the bounce

 

Your just bitter the game didn't go to extra-time and penalties, after all it was your cup final....

 

You would like to think it as our cup final but we don't see you as a threat, we worry about the potential top 6 and your shower isn't in that. More like your cup final which you was lucky to get away with. Chelsea must be really worried. Totscum have only two players that would get in our side and one of them would be on the bench. The future is claret and blue.
Read and learn...

Garth Crooks believes that Tottenham were lucky to get away with a point against West Ham, he said: “There is no doubt in my mind that Spurs were outclassed for much of the match against West Ham.

Pay attention to the word outclassed