The first of many away games
So now we know that next Saturday's game against Fulham will not be our last Premier League game at our temporary home of Wembley. At least two more league games (Liverpool and Cardiff), and I suspect all our Champions League group games will be played at Wembley Stadium. There are three Champions League matches to be played before a provisional first league game at the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 28th October . One, or perhaps two, of these games will be at home, and I suspect all three of our home group games will have to be played at Wembley under UEFA's rues.
This is a major disappointment for Spurs fans, most of whom were asked to pay over the odds for their new season tickets, and now have to face several more inconvenient trips across London where they do not experience the traditional home atmosphere. My major concern is to know when we will move to the new "Tottenham Hotspur Stadium", and to know that all is well with the structure!
In the meantime here is Spurs Odyssey's first Premier League Review of the new season - written in a style I hope to maintain throughout the season:-
Man Utd 2 Leicester 1
United had a late scare when substitute Jamie Vardy scored in added time, but Jose Mourinho's team already had a two goal lead through an early Pogba penalty and a very first senior goal by Luke Shaw in his Premier League career with Southampton and United. There have been rumours that Barcelona might yet come in for Pogba before the European transfer window closes. Mourinho must be having nightmares after the club failed to meet his desired transfer targets.
Newcastle 1 Spurs 2
Jan Vertonghen's goal was his first in the Premier League since March 2013 (against Swansea). Goal line technology confirmed the goal by the narrowest of margins, but Jan was more than happy to take that decision, having been deprived of one or two goals in his time at Spurs when deflected shots have been deemed as own goals. A "goal" at home to Sunderland in January 2015 was one such example, and I also remember one being taken off him in a rare away win at Old Trafford.
Jan was voted your man of the match, narrowly ahead of our other scorer - Dele Alli - and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.
· See the spursometer in full.
Bournemouth 2 Cardiff 0
Eddie Howe was appointed as Bournemouth manager in October 2012, and he is described as the Premier League's most experienced manager, but this is still only the "Cherries"' fourth Premier League season, so perhaps that most experienced accolade belongs to Mauricio Pochettino, who started at Southampton in 2013, before joining Spurs four years ago.
Howe gave a debut to 21 year old midfielder David Brooks, signed this summer from Cardiff manager Neil Warnock's old club Sheffield Utd. Ryan Fraser (24) and Calum Wilson (90+1) scored the goals. Fraser was described by Warnock as the best player on the pitch. Wilson also won a first half penalty but had his shot well saved by Cardiff keeper Neil Etheridge making his EPL debut. Etheridge is the first ever Filipino to play in the Premier League. Begovic saved from Morrison at close range in a goalmouth scramble after a Cardiff corner. Warnock's side have not spent as much as the other promoted clubs and could be facing a season-long struggle for survival.
Fulham 0 Crystal Palace 2
Former Spurs player (and last season's U-18 coach) Scott Parker was seen on the Fulham bench in his new first team coaching role. Unlike Cardiff, the Craven Cottage side have spent big, including £22 million on Aleksandar Mitrovic, who they had on loan from January this year. Palace goalkeeper Hennessy made three good saves from the former Newcastle striker, but goals by Schlupp and Zaha gave Palace three points. It took them 8 games to get their first points last year.
Huddersfield 0 Chelsea 3
Huddersfield survived last season with only 37 points and they look like struggling again this time around. They were well beaten without too much trouble at all by Chelsea with goals by Kante, Jorginho (penalty) and Pedro. Jorginho has a trademark skip in his penalty run-up which often wrong-foots the goalkeeper.
Chelsea's £71 million keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga had a worry when Mounie hit the post with a header and the ball flew across the goalmouth with the keeper confused. Belgium's World Cup star Eden Hazard was not called upon off the bench until the 76th minute.
Watford 2 Brighton 0
There had been lots of summer signings by Brighton, but only one (Bernardo) started this game which was decided by two goals by Pereyra, who has now scored 5 goals in his last seven games for the "Hornets".
Wolves 2 Everton 2
Wolves' first Premier League game for over 6 years was greeted with enthusiasm and anticipation by the 31,231 crowd. The game was preceded by fireworks and featured a quite explosive incident when Everton's Phil Jagielka was sent off in the 40th minute for a foul on Jota. Everton had already taken the lead through £50 million signing Richarlison (signed from Watford by former manager Marco Silva). Neves hit a terrific free kick following the sending-off to equalise, but 10-man Everton regained the lead with the impressive Richarlison scoring again. Striker Raul Jimenez - on loan from Benfica - made the final score 2-2.
There are other Portuguese connections at Molineuz, including manager Nuno Esperito Santo who was a goalkeeper with Porto including a time when Jose Mourinho was the manager.
Arsenal 0 Man City 2
The new era at The Emirates began with defeat. Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva ensured that Unai Emery's managerial start in the EPL was not a happy one! Such a result against last season's record-breaking Champions was always on the cards, and it is too early to judge the new manager. Ominously City's three substitutes were De Bruyne, Sane and Gabriel Jesus.
Liverpool 4 West Ham 0
There have been waves of optimism from Hammers' fans after new manager Pellegrini's 9 new signings. Such feelings were soon extinguished at Anfield, where Wilshere & co failed to make an impression. Another expected result ensued with Liverpool winning 4-0. One goal was clearly offside, but there is no VAR in the Premier League this season. Of course, Salah scored one, and Mane scored twice. His second should have been given offside. Even Daniel Sturridge scored with his first touch , 24 seconds after replacing Salah. In fairness this was another expected result, and Hammers' fans will be hoping for better at home to Bournemouth next week.
Southampton 0 Burnley 0
Both goalkeepers (McCarthy for Saints and Burnley's new signing Joe Hart) were to the fore in a 0-0 game which I had predicted correctly! Burnley have already played three Europa League qualifiers and will have to play another three to reach the group phase of this competition. Former Burnley striker Danny Ings has been signed by Southampton from Liverpool on loan, but started this game on the bench.
Results 10-12.08.18
Man Utd 2-1 Leicester
Newcastle 1-2 Spurs
B'mouth 2-0 Cardiff
Fulham 0-2 C. Palace
Hds'field 0-3 Chelsea
Watford 2-0 Brighton
Wolves 2-2 Everton
Liverpool 4-0 West Ham
S'hampton 0-0 Burnley
Arsenal 0-2 Man City
Premier League Table
P W D L F-A GD Pts
1. Liverpool 1 1 0 0 4-0 4 3
2. Chelsea 1 1 0 0 3-0 3 3
3. B'mouth 1 1 0 0 2-0 2 3
4. C. Palace 1 1 0 0 2-0 2 3
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5. Man City 1 1 0 0 2-0 2 3
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6. Watford 1 1 0 0 2-0 2 3
7. Man Utd 1 1 0 0 2-1 1 3
8. Spurs 1 1 0 0 2-1 1 3
9. Everton 1 0 1 0 2-2 0 1
10. Wolves 1 0 1 0 2-2 0 1
11. Burnley 1 0 1 0 0-0 0 1
12. S'hampton 1 0 1 0 0-0 0 1
13. Leicester 1 0 0 1 1-2 -1 0
14. Newcastle 1 0 0 1 1-2 -1 0
15. Arsenal 1 0 0 1 0-2 -2 0
16. Brighton 1 0 0 1 0-2 -2 0
17. Cardiff 1 0 0 1 0-2 -2 0
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18. Fulham 1 0 0 1 0-2 -2 0
19. H'dsfield 1 0 0 1 0-2 -2 0
20. West Ham 1 0 0 1 0-4 -4 0
