A Hoddle of Coffee: Tottenham Hotspur news and links March 28, 2016

Good morning!

As we're in the final couple days of international break, it's worth noting just how crazy things have gotten for English football. And by crazy I mean possibly good. Tottenham Hotspur's English youth, shall we call them the Merry Marauders, are injecting life and vitality into the squad for the first time since, well, I don't know when. Also, the keeper let in a goal, not comically, but heroically, diving valiantly on what turned out to be a fractured ankle.

This team just may be fun.

On the other side of this coin, however, are the hapless Americans. Players out of position all over the pitch, lack of focus, and drive were all apparent in the loss to Guatemala. None of this really describes what went on during the game and are stock criticisms, but it should be even more worrying that it was against Guatemala. It wasn't like they were facing a full throttle Mexico.

With England looking good and the US plunging into football anarchy, I can only assume we are in a time warp of epic proportion so I'm sorry I have to take leave of you now, but there is IBM stock to purchase and ride to affluence. I suggest you do the same.

And now for the "news":

Eric Dier hails Mauricio for improving young players| Sky Sports

This has to be some type of karma, right? An Argentine showing that he understands young, English footballers better than any man on earth.

Dele Alli performances are no surprise| Independent

Honestly, anyone asking these questions or trying to create some type of narrative of shock around him are morons. He is the real deal, and that has been apparent to anyone who has seen him play from the first time, although it is difficult to comprehend the combination of skills and attributes he possesses.

This article says it's a combo of Stevie G. and Paul Scholes. Last week I said Rafa Van der Vaart, Dirk Kuyt, and Mark van Bommel. I still think mine is more accurate because Steven Gerrard, for all his glory in his younger days, was never a flair player. He didn't do tricks for fun in the middle of a match.

Roy won't drop Rooney in the most predictable move ever| Guardian

Ahhhhhhh. Breathe it in, the refreshing air of the status quo. See you in the pub for the knockouts, lads!