Newcastle United and former Tottenham Hotspur) right back Kieran Trippier said the friendly being waged this week in Australia, between his current and former teams, is not ideal. Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou responded to those comments:
“Our situation is a bit different from Newcastle’s. They’ve had a European season, Champions League, it’s been a big season. We haven’t. It’s no secret part of this [is] exposure but also revenue for us.”
Postseason Friendly FYIs
“I certainly wouldn’t have allowed it to happen if we were in Europe this year and had a bigger game schedule. I probably would have said no to it.
Tottenham Hotspur vs Newcastle United
Kickoff (local day and time): Thurs May 23, 7:45pm, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia
Team News: Tottenham Newcastle
Starting XI Predictions: Tottenham Newcastle
Premier League Finishes Tottenham 5th Newcastle 7th
Postecoglu continued:
“And I don’t think the club would have expected us to go. If we’re in Europe next year, I don’t think you’ll be seeing this happen. I don’t think it’s ideal. But I think each situation is unique.
“For us, on the back of our season, to play one more game two days after the end of the season, there is substance to it for us.”
Tottenham Hotspur Starting XI Prediction vs Newcastle United
Alfie Whiteman; Pedro Porro, Radu Dragusin, Micky van de Ven, Emerson Royal; Rio Kyerematen, Pape Matar Sarr, Oliver Skipp; Brennan Johnson, Dane Scarlett, Bryan Gil
Paul M. Banks is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He currently contributes to Ravens Wire, part of the USA Today SMG’s NFL Wire Network and the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America. His past bylines include the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated, Chicago Tribune and the Washington Times. You can follow him on Linked In and Twitter.