Tottenham Hotspur 0-2 Newcastle: Jaissle’s Magpies keep Spurs down

Roberto De Zerbi has been speaking in North London, and says he felt his team was a bit hard done by the 2-0 loss.

He’s asking for calm and says things will come together (Full quotes here).

“I’m not panicked,” De Zerbi said. “I know very well where I’m going, what’s the plan, and what could be a difficult problem. We can find our way. I’m sorry for the fans for the result and sorry for the players. We have to improve and to change a season like the last two is impossible in two days and with the transfer market. We have to find the connection with the players because last season we were headed for the Championship and we stayed up together, not just the players but with the fans and the club. We have to be calm and to focus on improvement. We have a great squad, great players. We can’t use all the players we brought. If we work in this way and believe in ourselves, we will change the last two seasons. If the rush is more important than the journey we have to do, we can’t find the solution.”

Jaissle on the performance: “I’m really, really proud. As a coaching staff to see a team delivering and players really, really committed to what we’re doing.”

A big step forward this week? “We did well also last week therefore it was a step in the right direction again against a strong opponent with huge signings in the window. Obviously we were aware of that but how we handled that challenge was amazing.”

How does the team look so good, so early? “It’s also not a complete new team and the DNA of Newcastle United is a good fit to the playing style I like to see.”

You praise the signing of Nico Gonzalez for ‘quality.’ Expand on that: “Obviously when he has the ball, he has good timing when to deliver in the last line but also when to slow down the game a little and finding time to regenerate our batteries — a really good debut.”

Newcastle striker Yoane Wissa is giving huge praise to new boss Matthias Jaissle:

“Eddie Howe’s done a top job at the club — we need to respect that,” Wissa said after the game. “But a new manager came with a new identity. Every part of the game we do precise and we have a dynamic new manager. I think he’s the best signing of Newcastle so far.”

Wissa was also asked about his performances, and Newcastle’s surprise start.

“We lost so many players but it’s good because it’s challenging,” said Yoane Wissa. “We need players to step up. Like me for instance, I didn’t play well last year, I didn’t have strength to play. Anthony now, and new guys like Amar. With the fans behind us, no one can stop us.”

So what’s different with Wissa this season?

“First, I’m not injured. Secondly, I’m confident now. I trust myself. I trust the manager. I just my teammates. Even though I didn’t play well last year we had so many training sessions together.”

With Newcastle 2-0 up and cruising, perhaps the biggest roar from their fans today has come when Sandro Tonali was subbed off.

The Italian midfielder had a game to forget against his former club. He was turned easily by Elanga before he scored Newcastle’s crucial opener and that summed up a miserable afternoon for the midfielder.

After his big-money move from Newcastle to Spurs this summer, plenty was expected of Tonali.

It’s still early days but he has struggled in his first two games for the north London club.

“You should have stayed at a big club!” sing the Newcastle fans to Tonali as he trudges off the pitch.

Ouch.

Newcastle have a corner and their sub forward sets up their starter.

A corner kick is knocked down by Woltemade, and Wissa whips the outside of his right foot at the ball — back to goal — to defy Antonin Kinsky in the 72nd minute.

Gonzalez has been good but he’s done after 70 minutes.

Sean Steur takes his place, while Nick Woltemade replaces Willock after the ex-Arsenal man failed to replicate his Week 1 feat.

De Zerbi is quick to ring in changes after going down 1-0.

Mikey Moore replaces Gray, Mohammed Kudus takes the place of Tel, and Destiny Udogie is on for Andy Robertson.

Out of nothing Spurs are behind and the general reaction from the fans was “meh, we’ve seen this before.”

Spurs had such a poor record at home last season and aside from a bright 15 minutes at the end of the first half thanks to Marmoush and Tel, they’ve not looked great today.

Lots of new players are still settling in but this is not what Tottenham’s fans would have expected.

Mathys Tel spanks a free kick way over the bar amid jeers and that about sums it up so far.

20 minutes to go and there is a huge standing ovation from the Spurs fans when Mohammed Kudus comes on.

They are hoping the Ghanian winger, who spent most of last season out injured, can be the spark to grab them at least a point today.

Time is running out though...

The Swede is loving life after Eddie Howe.

Nico Gonzalez’s arrow of a diagonal ball is knocked down by Harvey Barnes for Elanga, who still has work to do.

It’s a pretty turn, as Elanga dinks the ball off the far post as inside the near one.

To be fair, there isn’t much proof that Marmoush is ever feeling the opposite of audacious.

He dances past Lewis Miley and then through Nico Gonzalez to tear into a shot from 35 yards that felt quite capable of beating Hornicek.

The keeper had to imagine the same, and dives to his right as the ball flies wide of the goal.

0-0, 60'

Here’s a look at the stories developing here at Tottenham, plus what to expect from Spurs and Newcastle United in the second half.

Spoiler: Omar Marmoush is very good.

After that bright start from Newcastle, Spurs are looking the more likely to go ahead now.

Marmoush has been really sharp on the break and he is linking up well with Porro and Tel.

The latter just sent in a cross which Tonali couldn’t quite direct towards goal.

Spurs have been much better after that shaky start. Newcastle haven’t been able to keep the ball at all, which is probably going to be the norm under Jaissle as he prefers counter attacks.

Possession is 52% to Spurs, who are edging shot attempts 4-3 and lead xG by 0.29-0.11.

Roberto De Zerbi’s men have been just a bit tidier in execution, while Newcastle’s attackers and midfielders have run into each other’s areas too often.

There were plenty of eyebrows raised when Omar Marmoush signed from Manchester City, but the Egyptian striker could really work out to be a great fit for Spurs.

On his debut he’s already holding the ball up well and two good chances for Spurs come after clever play for him.

First he turns and crisply plays it out to Tel who goes close with a shot that is saved.

Then he turns and connects another pass which leads to Pedro Porro somehow being denied.

Marmoush is buzzing around and looks really sharp.

Given the way they want to play under De Zerbi, Spurs seem to be a much better fit for Marmoush’s strengths than Man City were.

Jan Paul van Hecke cuts an incisive pass into the midfield to Omar Marmoush.

The Egyptian finds Mathys Tel on the left, and the Spurs man beat Amar Dedic to curl a shot toward the far post.

Lukas Hornicek has been quite good in his early days at Newcastle and this flying save to mark the first quarter hour attests to that.

Sandro Tonali, who left Newcastle for Spurs this summer, is widely booed by the Newcastle fans in the away end when he gets on the ball.

Despite a superb few years at St James’ Park, Tonali is no longer their hero.

Newcastle’s fans then sing about Tonali being greedy and he’s then fed a short pass by Robertson which ends in Willock clattering him.

Moments later Tonali gives the ball away again. Much to the delight of the away end.

Spurs spent a lot of money to bring in the Italian midfielder and, like Spurs, he’s started this game slowly.

There are so many new players out there for both teams that it’s a little bit scrappy so far.

Lots of loose passes and turnovers.

Wow, what an atmosphere here.

Spurs’ fans go bonkers when the names of Sandro Tonali and Omar Marmoush are read out over the PA system.

Roberto De Zerbi is clapping along from his seat.

It is very loud in here. And we are off and running.

First home game of the new season for Tottenham Hotspur and their resident DJ continues to dish out the bangers.

Techno music is thumping out over the speakers here and there is a real buzz and energy about the place.

The first home game of a new season is always such a special moment.

So much excitement, optimism, hope.

Let’s see if Spurs can put right last season (and the shocking loss at Brentford last week) and start as they mean to go on at home this season.

Meanwhile, it’s impossible not to bob your head along to this music. The vibes are phenomenal.

Savio dazzled on his Spurs debut against Charlton Athletic in the League Cup on Wednesday, but the 22-year-old Brazilian winger has been left out of the squad to face Newcastle today.

Roberto De Zerbi explains.

“Marmoush is starting, Marmoush is starting!” shouts an excited young Spurs fans sat near the press box here.

And, I can confirm, Omar Marmoush is starting for Spurs. The Egyptian striker is straight in for his first appearance for Tottenham Hotspur after his arrival on a season-long loan, with an obligation to buy, from Man City.

New signings Savio isn’t on the bench and there are whispers here of a small injury for him.

Pedro Porro, Mateus Fernandes, Micky van De Ven and Rodrigo Bentancur also come into the starting lineup.

It looks like Marmoush is up top with Porro, Fernandes and Tel underneath him and Tonali and Bentancur sitting in midfield in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Spurs will be looking to prove that loss at Brentford last weekend was a one-off.

Tottenham Hotspur starting lineup

Kinsky; Gray, Van Hecke, Van de Ven, Robertson; Tonali, Bentancur; Porro, Fernandes, Tel; Marmoush

Nico Gonzalez starts in the midfield as Matthias Jaissle has seen enough over a few days training to plug the Man City transfer into his team.

Starting XI
Hornicek
Hall
Botman
Thiaw
Dedic
Gonzalez
Miley
Willock
Barnes
Elanga
Wissa

Subs: Jaouen, Schar, Bamba, Steur, Toure, Murphy, Ramsey, Woltemade, Shahar

There is plenty of excitement in the streets here in north London as Spurs host Newcastle United in their first home game of the season.

The sun is out, for now, but it has been blustery and wet for most of today. Summer could finally be over, here.

Anyway, back to the game, most fans are expecting a wild one with plenty of goals.

There has never been a 0-0 in this fixture in the Premier League after 62 games. This is the most played game in the PL to never finish goalless.

Spurs and Newcastle both look suspect at the back so there will be chances galore and the stunning record with a lack of 0-0’s will continue. I guarantee it.

Tottenham Hotspur’s fans are full of hope, especially with over $400 million spent on new signings, but there’s a nagging sense of things unravelling quickly if they don’t win a few games soon.

Newcastle boss Matthias Jaissle has said that big signing Nico Gonzalez could debut Saturday despite just arriving from Man City.

“He trained with us and he looked sharp — he’s an option,” Jaissle said. “He is a smart player, he has huge potential, and already he brings huge quality to the squad.”

Roberto De Zerbi did not take the easy out when asked about the time he needs to turn Spurs into his team.

“We don’t need time to win the game,” he said, via Spurs’ web site. “Maybe we are not ready yet to play our best in terms of physical condition, in terms of style of play, quality of play but, anyway, we have the quality enough right now to win the game and to play much better - it’s normal to play better than we did in Brentford.”

These two have been tangling for over 121 years dating back to a 1-1 draw in the FA Cup on February 18, 1905.

Spurs have won 74, drawn 35, and lost 66, though the Magpies are on a six-match unbeaten run with just one draw. That run includes a pair of 2-1 wins in the Premier League.

Kick off time: 12:30pm ET Saturday
Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium — North London
TV Channel: NBC
Stream link: Watch online via NBC.com