Jonathan Woodgate: Kane bound to score against Leeds
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Jonathan Woodgate expects Spurs to win Leeds battle
In the third part of our exclusive interview wih Jonathan Woodgate, the former England defender discusses Harry Kane’s contract situation and the clash between Tottenham and Leeds as we launch our 5-A-Side bet for Sunday’s televised game.
Woodgate talked about his time with England in our first piece and a wide range of subjects in the second, including who he thinks will win the Premier League, Eddie Howe, Jadon Sancho and his disastrous Real Madrid debut, but he kicked off the final piece by giving us his thoughts on Newcastle’s prospects on Saturday.
The noise that crowd makes is something else, and when Eddie Howe hears it, he’s just going to think ‘oh my God’
I fancy a home win for Newcastle this weekend against Brentford – they’re actually a banker for me at over 6/4 when you consider everything.
Brentford have struggled recently after their impressive start, then you’ve got the Eddie Howe factor as well. The Newcastle fans will be going absolutely berserk and the atmosphere at St James’ Park will be extraordinary. The noise that crowd makes is something else, and when Eddie Howe hears it, he’s just going to think ‘oh my God.’
Kane is guaranteed to score against Leeds this weekend
As for Tottenham against Leeds, again, similarly to Eddie Howe at Newcastle, I think the Antonio Conte effect will be enough to help Spurs get three points here.
Leeds haven’t been great this season, they’re missing Patrick Bamford and they’ve been without Kalvin Phillips for quite a few games. I just think with Son Heung-min and Harry Kane up front, Spurs will be too much for Leeds.
Kane is guaranteed to score against Leeds this weekend as far as I’m concerned. He just needs that lift, and he’ll get that from a top manager like Conte.
If Kane doesn’t extend his contract this summer, then he goes… I don’t think Spurs have any other option but to sell
I always thought it would be difficult for Kane to leave Spurs in the summer, just through knowing how Daniel Levy operates. He’s a shrewd operator and he does a fantastic job for the club, so I always knew it was going to be very difficult for Harry to get out. But by bringing in Conte, I think it’ll be much better for Kane. Kane’s scored back-to-back hat-tricks for England so I’m expecting him to come back all guns blazing.
As for Kane’s future, I really feel like Conte’s arrival might make him stay at the club. But when we get to the summer, he’s going to have two years left on his contract. Spurs might need to cash in at that point. It’s going to be another one of those will he, won’t he situations regarding his contract. Does he sign a new one with the club, or do they look to cash in on him while they still can? If he doesn’t extend his contract, then he goes; I don’t really think Spurs have any other option than to sell.
Conte’s going to give Kane’s season a lift for sure, though, in my opinion. He hasn’t had the best of starts in the Premier League, but I don’t put that down to him responding negatively to the transfer speculation, I put it down to the team not creating enough chances for him in those opening games.
Bielsa only knows one way of playing…his way
For Leeds as a whole, though, over the past few seasons under Marcelo Bielsa, what he has achieved at the club has been nothing short of an absolute miracle. When he first came in they were down the bottom end of the Championship, and he’s turned so many names into top Premier League players.
Just look at the impact he’s had on Kalvin Phillips’ career. What he’s done for him, Patrick Bamford, Stuart Dallas, Luke Ayling; how he’s developed their careers and really put them onto a different level, it really is something else.
This season, they’ve struggled slightly – I just think teams have had a bit of time now to work them out, so it’s a difficult time for them at the moment. Bielsa only does things one way though, and that’s his way.
Match Info
Where: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
When: 16:30, Sunday 21st November
How to watch: Sky Sports
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
