Observations and Reactions from Tottenham 4-1 Reading

Tottenham Hotspur played their second friendly of the preseason on Friday, rolling to a 4-1 win over Championship side Reading FC at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Dele Alli, Son Heung-Min, and Erik Lamela all scored for Spurs, while Reading captain Omar Richards added an early own goal to open the scoring before George Puscas added a late penalty to get the visitors on the scoresheet.

Spurs were again without a number of players for this match. Harry Kane is nearing the end of his 14-day quarantine after his return from the Bahamas, while Tanguy Ndombele missed the match with a COVID-19 positive test. Davinson Sanchez also missed out, as did Danny Rose, Gio Lo Celso and Harry Winks.

Steven Bergwijn got his first preseason action of the campaign, while academy grad Harvey White got the start in central midfield alongside Pierre Hojbjerg.

Starting Lineup

Moussa

Highlights

Halftime subs: Moussa Sissoko, Erik Lamela, Joe Hart, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Serge Aurier, Ryan Sessegnon

Match Reactions

• The opening own goal belies a bit of what a good play it was. Ben Davies placed a beautiful ball to Son Heung-Min, and it looked like Sonny tried to fire it home himself. The ball ricocheted off of two Reading players and in the net. A lucky play, but Son’s movement and Davies’ pass were lovely.
• With his blonde hair and his excellent play at the 10 today, Dele looked a bit like Christian Eriksen in more ways than one. It’s two good preseason shifts in a row for Dele, who appears to have shaken off the last remnants of his hamstring injury. His lofted goal over the keeper was pretty friggin’ cool, and if he can play this well in that free role against better teams he could have a monster year.
• Reading aren’t a great team, but Sonny looked very good at striker today. He had one goal, and might have had a second if goal line technology had been turned on today. Also credit to Steven Bergwijn who fed Sonny in the center of the box.
• Harvey White plays a bit like Harry Winks if Winksy knew how to make long progressive passes. His positioning was mostly good and he has good instincts on and off the ball. I don’t think he’ll feature much for the first team but he could make some benches and I can see him playing in early round cup matches this year.
• After a pretty impressive debut, Hojbjerg looked a little more pedestrian out there. Nothing particularly poor, just a more anonymous showing than against Ipswich.
• Gedson isn’t a right back (yet) but he sure does play like he could one day become one.
• Tottenham pressed! It was nice! I have no doubt that we’ll go full Mou-ball against better teams, but Spurs still have the horses to be able to play pressing, progressive football and they looked good doing it.
• I don’t know if Erik Lamela will be a Tottenham Hotspur player when the transfer window closes, so I’ll just take this opportunity to say how much I love him. Nice goal, too.
• Joe Hart really does love to shout a lot, doesn’t he?
• The second half was kind of boring, and none of the kids really stood out one way or the other. Oh well.