The Hoddle of Coffee: Tottenham Hotspur news and links for Thursday, October 29

Hello, all!

I guess it’s old friends week, because I come again with an update from our old friend André Villas-Boas.

Ramble of the Day

In the very early days of my tenure writing the Hoddle, I wrote about how I like Julian Nagelsmann’s casual approach to style on the touchline. As a result, it’s worth coming back around to this topic because Nagelsmann has changed his approach as he’s

He still keeps it casual for domestic matches, wearing puffer vests and casual button down shirts whenever RB Leipzig is playing in the Bundesliga or the DFB Pokal. He really pulls out formal attire for the Champions League, and refuses to be forgotten. Here’s what he sported against Manchester United yesterday.

Photo by ANTHONY DEVLIN/AFP via Getty Images

It is his go-to formula for formal wear: shirt, pants, tie, vest, and a blazer. It’s already too many pieces to be wearing — I don’t think vests are particularly trendy, but even if they are, I’m not so sure they suit Nagelsmann. Even then, that’s not the biggest complaint here, because he has picked out a tie and blazer that are both gray and somehow completely clash. The blazer may be strong, but there’s a way to rock it. The tie tucked into the vest truly messes up any harmony this outfit could’ve achieved.

Xinhua/Kevin Voigt via Getty Images

Last week, he wore a pretty similar outfit in formula and colors — he really likes neutrals, which is a fine choice. This is the more normal version of the above outfit, but also has some issues, including the clashing grays. I think he somehow manages to just overcomplicate things, which he could definitely avoid if he didn’t feel an obligation to pick so many pieces. It’s already better without the vest, and maybe a step better than that without the tie though the tie doesn’t ruin the impact in this case.

Photo by John Walton/PA Images via Getty Images

I only went as far back as March and the game Tottenham played at Leipzig, but he was wearing the uniform on that day, instead going for shades of tan. He seems to have a hard time finding colors that match, because he went for browns and I don’t think the light tan of the coat works with the brown tie at all. I also don’t think black is the right contrasting color, and this might be the worst iteration of the look.

Photo by DAVID RAMOS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

He does stray from that uniform, though. During the Champions League bubble in Lisbon over the summer, he rocked a classic black suit and white shirt, but we know Nagelsmann to be more interesting than that. For the team’s semifinal against Paris Saint-Germain, he went again to his trusted neutrals and came with a lightly printed suit that if you saw from a genuine distance would carry no significance, but changes your opinion the closer you get. It’s somehow so harsh for something so subtle to the point where it’s almost shocking.

I really have no other words for his choices, but in the end, I’m glad Nagelsmann brings us something to look at. Keep doing you, Julian.

tl;dr: A revisiting of Julian Nagelsmann’s style choices, because he likes to dress up for the Champions League.

Stay informed, read this: model and actress Emily Ratajkowski on her pregnancy and the overwhelming nature of gender stereotypes and expectations for Vogue

Links of the Day

A Philadelphia Union player tested positive for COVID-19.

Bundesliga teams will go back to playing games behind closed doors for the month of November in compliance with new coronavirus restrictions in Germany.

Bev Priestman is the new manager of the Canada women’s team.

Arsenal’s David Luiz will miss a few weeks with a thigh injury.

A longer read: Jonathan Wilson on football journalist Kevin McCarra, who died Saturday from Alzheimer’s aged 62 for The Guardian