A postseason friendly? Really? Why? Well, you know why- more marketing exposure. Yes, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United will battle each other down under, in match that means nothing other than whatever box office it directly and indirectly happens to brings in.
Spurs jetted off to Australia immediately after their Championship Sunday win over Sheffield United.
Postseason Friendly FYIs
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
Tottenham Team News
Cristian Romero and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg the only notable absentees on the 24-man travel squad.
As expected, Tottenham will not take their contingent of injured players, which is now nine strong.
That list now consists of Destiny Udogie, Timo Werner, Ben Davies, Richarlison, Yves Bissouma, Giovani Lo Celso, Fraser Forster, Ryan Sessegnon and Manor Solomon.
The staging of this match has drawn a lot of criticism, from numerous corners, including environmentalists (as there is a lot of jet fuel being thrust into the atmosphere for a mere exhibition).
However, defenders of the idea of this match point to it taking place in Spurs manager Ange Postecoglu’s hometown, and the feel good story that provides.
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.