Chapter 1: What were the key moments in Tottenham's win over Newcastle?
Winning start for Spurs at St. James' Park, just like last season. Jan Vertogen scoring the smallest of margins via the GDS system. A great response from Newcastle, one apiece. And Dele Alli with what proved to be the winning goal in the first half. 2-1 victory then for Tottenham. Let's see how that breaks down.
Well, Newcastle actually had 15 attempts, the same as Spurs, but that 15 is more than Spurs faced on their own goal in any away game last season. Two on target from Newcastle, five from Spurs who dominated possession, 60% Newcastle's, 40% just down on their season average of last year. A lot more passes from Spurs as well. Their distance was equal, 113 kilometres each.
That's one and a half below Spurs' average from last season. So the goal scorers were Vertonghen and Alli for Spurs, and both are speaking now with Greg Wheelock.
Guys, very well done today.
Chapter 2: How did Newcastle respond after conceding the first goal?
Dele, how good, how important to start with all three points out there?
Yeah, I think it's very important. Everyone knows the first game's a big one. Obviously, it's a very long season and we know we've got to improve, but you want to get off to a good start and it was a positive result in the end.
Jan, Newcastle really made you battle for that out there, didn't they?
Yeah, definitely there are a couple of good chances, especially in a ten-period time in the second half. But I think at the end of the game we did very well, we kept the ball well. I think it sounds crazy, but we defended well with the ball at this time.
You certainly defended well towards the end. There was a chance that Rondon had for them. You were in the right place at the right time.
Yeah, I was lucky to get a touch and then I was lucky that I just got a crossbar and didn't go over Hugo in the goal. But sometimes we're a bit lucky today.
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Chapter 3: What statistics highlight the performance of both teams?
Like Dele said, we need to improve. But a very good start for us. Always a difficult away game. Good three points.
Dele, goal's an important part of your game. Nine in the Premier League last season. How much of a relief in a way is it to get up and running so quickly this time?
Yeah, I think last season I scored against Newcastle away in the first game as well. So, you know, I just want to keep improving as a player. And, you know, as a squad, we want to keep improving. And it's always nice to score. But more importantly, we got the three points.
Well, Jan, on the subject of goals, I'm sure you're a fan of goal line technology anyway. You will certainly be now that by a margin of nine millimetres, that was over the line and it was given to yourself.
Yeah, I think I deserved it, so I'm as happy that I went in. Since I'm here, they took a couple of goals from me that were actually goals, so I'm happy I was on the lucky side now. I'm a happy man with goal-line technology, definitely. Five years since you've scored for Tottenham in the Premier League.
Yeah, like I said, that's not true, because so many goals I've scored and they took away from me. So, in my head, I score every season, and I think I'm on a good start now, and hopefully I can score a couple more than Dele, maybe. You never know.
Dele, yourselves and several of your teammates just back from World Cup duties, just how was it out there for you?
Yeah, it was a great experience. You know, when you're there, you're sort of in your own little bubble, concentrating on the games and, you know, trying to do as well as you can. And you sort of, you know, don't understand how much it means to the country until you get back. I think it was a positive World Cup for us.
Obviously, we were disappointed we didn't win it, but now it's all about Tottenham and about the Premier League. We've come back here and we had to recover as quick as we could and make sure mentally and physically we were ready for the first game. We've got through it and we've got the three points. It's been hard work and it's been a great experience, but now it's focused on the Premier League.
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Chapter 4: What did Dele Alli say about the importance of starting the season strong?
It's a difficult place to come. They've got unbelievable fans. It's a great stadium for them. It's an atmosphere that's not too nice to play in. But as players, we knew what we had to do. We knew the job we had to do. We've been playing together for a long time now. So, you know, we're all out there working and fighting together. And like I say, it's a tough place to come.
But in the end, we got the three points. So we're happy.
Great result to start. Dele, you're the Premier League man of the match. Jan, do the honors for us, please.
Chapter 5: How did the players feel about the intensity of the match?
Well done, guys.
Thank you. The Tongan will probably claim that one as well. In his head, Robbie Keane is still scoring for Spurs. So what was more important today, Robbie? Was it the result or the performance?
I think the result. I think all the players coming back on Monday, most of them, I think the key was just to get the three points. They didn't play that well. I think the first half they played well enough. The second half, certainly Newcastle were the better team.
Do you think Newcastle come away from this thinking they've been pretty unlucky?
Yeah, I mean, you look at the chances that were created in the second half, most of it was down the Tottenham end, wasn't it? With the two hitting the post and the crossbar. Newcastle can feel unlucky about losing the game because they did take it to them. They took the game to Spurs, created a plethora of chances and on another day we could have come away with a point or maybe a win.
How important do you think those three points could be for Spurs when they look back at a few weeks down the line, Jamie?
Absolutely. I mean, they've not had a lot of luck in August this last few years, so it's important to get off to a good start. Robbie's hit the nail on the head. They weren't at their best, but it was so important just to get the result. You know, especially when you've got players coming back from the World Cup, not quite as sharp as what you'd want.
You know, picked up a couple of little knocks as well. But I think that he will be delighted in Richo Pochettino because it was such a big three points for them. And he can't always play well, especially here. And Shola's right. Newcastle were exceptional today. So many good individual performances. And as a team, they had to suffer second half Tottenham. But big three points for them.
Did he get as much out of those players as he possibly could have expected, Robbie, do you think?
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Chapter 6: What were the main challenges for Newcastle in this match?
It's from Ayoze Perez.
That's what you want from a keeper, Keno. Yeah, great reactions. He's very agile and he's very sharp. That's bread and butter to him.
I thought there were many positives, especially in midfield. I mean, Jon Jones, this pass there, that's world-class. That's the sort of pass only a few players can do. When it is a forward, that's what you want, that ball getting played early, with real pace. He's unlucky there. Maybe as he goes to shoot now, can he drag it back inside and he can see Vertonghen's gone?
But he was just trying to put it into the bottom corner there and he's so unlucky that doesn't sell it.
Bits of luck that you need, I think, in a game. to go your way. He's done everything right there, great touch. Vertonghen's obviously come across, great defending as well. Like I said, there's a lot of good things that have come out of this game. I know Rafa will be disappointed. I think he wants to win every game, especially at home.
This has been a fortress for us for so many years and I know he... He likes to... This is our bread and butter.
I think the fans will go home happy today, do you?
Yeah, definitely. I think the fans want to see, especially against the top teams, you go and talk to them. Obviously, you have to respect the quality that they have, but... When you're on the ball and you're behind in the game, they want to see you have a go and I think those fans will be really happy.
I think especially with the players that he picked today. You can't ask Jonjo, Shelby and Diame.
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Chapter 7: How significant are the three points for Spurs in the long run?
It's not in their instincts to be defensive. You've got Iozzi as well and I thought the balance in there worked really well. They controlled the midfield, they were unlucky, they passed forward when they could. There was a bit of pace. I thought Rondon coming on added something as well. I think that's the next step. Can Newcastle go and play at that high intensity against better teams?
Because the fans want to do it. You can see Lachelle's there talking about it. He wants to do it as well. And I think as a player, you don't want to take a backward step, especially at home. You want to have a go at teams. Of course, there's going to come a time when you play Man City where they're going to unlock you at times. But there's a lot of quality in this Newcastle side.
Do you think the framework is there? We were surprised to see Hussle who played today. I think a lot of the Newcastle fans wanted Rondon from the start. He gets his goal. Do you think it's one or the other moving forward?
Yeah, definitely. We know the way Rafa likes to play. He likes to play a big man up there. But like I said at the start, I think he rewarded the players that finished 10th. last season, you know, let's not forget, they finished 10th in the Premier League, this side, who started the game. And, you know, I think Rafa went with what he knew, what he had worked with for the whole of pre-season.
I think that worked well. Obviously, Hoselu got his goal, which is great for him, confidence-wise, because he's...
obviously struggled for goals last season so that's a real positive for Newcastle to have him off the mark right from the get go but yeah Rondon's coming he's going to put pressure on Hustle and that can only bode well for the squad bringing all these players in fighting for places I think that's a good thing for Newcastle
More from Jamie and Robbie in just a moment, but time to get reaction from Rafa Benitez. Wasn't a happy man before the transfer window closed. Seemed to have calmed a little yesterday. How does he feel, though, after that opening day defeat? He's with Greg Whelan.
Rafa, commiserations, nothing to show for it, but what, in your opinion, did that performance deserve today?
Yeah, obviously, from our point of view, at least a draw, because I think that we were pushing them all the way. We were fighting until the end, and then we had some chances, especially in the second half. So, again, it's a good team, because you have to say they are a very good team. I think we did OK to get something.
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