Thomas Frank go dey sideline as Tottenham Hotspur head coach for the first time this Saturday afternoon, as Spurs begin their pre-season waka go Reading. Spurs dey prepare for summer tour go Far East, while Reading never lose any of their three friendly matches so far.
Match Preview
“Seventeen” na the theme wey follow Tottenham for 2024/25 season — dem finish 17th for Premier League table (na disgrace), but dem still manage end 17-year trophy drought under coach Ange Postecoglou.
Postecoglou, wey win treble with Celtic before, keep hin promise for second season as he deliver Europa League trophy with 1-0 win over Manchester United. That one mean say Spurs go play Champions League next season, and na their first trophy since Jonathan Woodgate help dem win EFL Cup for 2008.
But chairman Daniel Levy no gree make Postecoglou continue, especially after wetin many call Tottenham worst-ever season for Premier League. As Levy talk say dem get plans to win Premier League and Champions League, dem don carry Thomas Frank come as new oga wey go lead the waka.l
Frank don land with him trusted assistants, and new players don join too — like Mohammed Kudus (now their second-most expensive signing ever), plus young defenders Luka Vuskovic and Kota Takai.
Dem go play five friendlies before UEFA Super Cup clash with PSG on August 13 — Luton Town, Arsenal, Newcastle, and Bayern Munich dey among the warmup games.
As Spurs dey try rebuild, Reading too dey under new management. Billionaire Dai Yongge don finally waka, and Redwood Holdings Limited don buy the club.
Under Ruben Selles and now Noel Hunt, Reading nearly enter League One playoffs last season, finish just 3 points behind sixth place Leyton Orient. For pre-season, dem don beat Hungerford Town 5-1, draw 0-0 with Gillingham, and beat Swindon Town 2-1. Dem still get matches with Slough Town and Portsmouth after Spurs.
Last Meeting: Spurs 3-1 Reading (January 1, 2013)
Reading Pre-Season Form: W D W
Team News
Kudus don join Spurs training already, so he fit make him unofficial debut on Saturday. Players like Dejan Kulusevski and Radu Dragusin still dey recover from knee injury. Mikey Moore, Archie Gray, Wilson Odobert and Mathys Tel dey enjoy holiday after international duty.
New defenders Takai and Vuskovic fit also play their first Spurs minutes, and coach Frank go likely rotate squad well.
For Reading, Ben Elliott play 30 minutes vs Swindon as he dey return from serious hamstring injury. Nobody get injury after their midweek 120-minute friendly, and Premier League loanees Finley Burns (Man City) and Mark O’Mahony (Brighton) play second half.
Possible Lineups
- Reading: Pereira; Yiadom, O’Connor, Burns, Jacob; Wing, Savage; Osho, Knibbs, Camara; Ehibhatiomhan
- Tottenham: Kinsky; Porro, Takai, Van de Ven, Spence; Maddison, Bentancur, Sarr; Kudus, Solanke, Son
Prediction
Reading 1-4 Tottenham Hotspur
E go take small time for Spurs players to adjust to Frank’s style after Postecoglou’s gung-ho approach. But with all the attacking firepower wey dem get, e be like say Frank go start hin Tottenham reign with gbosaaa!