Last week’s trip to Manchester City proved to be nerve wracking for Spurs fans with Mauricio Pochettino’s side on the back foot for the majority of the match.
Tottenham are likely to enjoy a lot more of the ball at home against Newcastle on Sunday which could also present the opportunity for a home debut for Giovani Lo Celso after the Argentine hardly touched the ball in his late cameo at the Etihad.
Newcastle come into the game having lost both of their opening games and should be a straightforward home win if Spurs wish to aspire to challenge for the title.
Some Spurs fans have been left angered by the announcement that Mike Dean will be officiating the match.
Dean and Pochettino got into a fierce war of words after Tottenham’s loss against Burnley last season and the Spurs manager was subsequentially fined for the incident and served a two-game touchline ban.
Although the Argentine apologised and played down the incident back then (BBC), some Spurs fans weren’t pleased with the decision to appoint Dean to officiate a Spurs game.
Check out how some fans reacted to the news (some of these tweets contain explicit language) :
Just seen we have Mike Dean reffing on Sunday ffs, no doubt we’ll have Alan Smith commentating & Paul Merson assisting with VAR, with Graham Souness in the sky pod saying how poor we are!
Fuck sky, fuck the FA
YIDS COYFS TTID
— Pee (@itstartedin1882) August 22, 2019
Mike Dean on Sunday 😡 I’m sure he’ll take centre stage as usual…#spursVNewc
— Nicki (@hotspurchick1) August 20, 2019
I know it shouldn't be a focus going into the game, but I would much prefer VAR refereed the entire game, as opposed to Mike Dean stepping onto the field for a second.
His arrogance makes my blood boil and he clearly has a chip on his shoulder when it comes to Spurs. Vile man.
— Joe Z. (@JosephZakMerino) August 22, 2019
I really hope Mike Dean gets welcomed with open arms and open mouths on Sunday 🤣🤣🤣
— BarksTHFC ©️ (@Kevbark3r) August 21, 2019
Last season Mike Dean at the end of match said something inappropriate to Pochettino & Jesus? Poch got fired up & retaliated,got punished but Dean was dropped from PL officiating for 1 week. Will we ever find out what was said? Dean should never referee another Spurs game. #COYS
— Alf Love (@alf_love47) August 21, 2019
https://twitter.com/DanielElsom2/status/1163817807726821376
Poch to Mike Dean this weekend after another appalling refereeing display against Newcastle…https://t.co/R6Qukrqg2S
— Chris (@spurslogic_) August 21, 2019
Spurs Web Opinion
We might never get to know the truth of what Dean actually said last season that angered Pochettino so much. However, one cannot expect the Premier League to not let Dean officiate any Spurs game as that will be viewed as showing favoritism. Hopefully, there is no controversy with any of his decisions on Sunday.
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The funny thing is that supporters of other clubs believe that he gives us favorable calls because of that one .gif where he’s doing the play-on hand gesture after we score a goal, and it looks like he’s celebrating.
Reality is, we’ve lost more games with him in charge than won.