Tottenham Hotspur

David Lockwood
BBC Sport Editorial Sustainability Lead

Image source, Getty Images

Los Angeles or Chesterfield? San Diego or Salford?

The pre-season destinations of 20 Premier League clubs may be varied, but the issue remains the same - the impact of so many flights.

Half (10) of the clubs have flown to the United States for friendlies; three have travelled to the Far East and the rest are in Europe and the UK.

Manchester United's pre-season schedule see them flying almost 13,000 miles playing fixtures in Norway, Scotland, and across the US. Chelsea and Tottenham are also expected to fly in excess of 12,000 miles.

In contrast, Everton will fly the least, with just one fixture outside the UK in the Republic of Ireland.

Spurs and Newcastle also played an exhibition fixture in May - three days after the season finished - for which they both flew to Melbourne, Australia, a game Alan Shearer described as “madness”. Add in those air miles and both teams will have travelled in excess of 30,000 air miles in the close-season, equivalent to more than once around the globe, to play in non-competitive matches.

Newcastle and Spurs both have a target to be Net Zero by 2030, while Manchester United and Chelsea are in process of establishing an emissions reduction plan.

Net Zero requires the reduction and removal of all 'non-essential emissions' - so are these games essential?

Wycombe's David Wheeler is a leading sustainability campaigner in football and told BBC Sport: "These games are only necessary in the sense that the clubs want to make more money and grow their fan base".

He added: "The vast majority of players don't want to be away from their families, they don't want to be travelling around the world after a full slog of a season. They're overworked and injuries have gone through the roof, so there is a synergy between player welfare and planetary welfare."

An estimated travelling group of 30 flying 12,864 air miles business class generates around 200 tonnes of CO2 - the equivalent of 500,000 miles driven by an average petrol car, or the entire annual emissions for a year of 16 people in the UK.

Tottenham said it is "committed to minimising its environmental impact" in all its operations, "which will take time and effort". The club says it "ensures" all teams travel "as sustainably as possible throughout the season". It "measures, manages and reports on travel emissions" and will offsets "where possible."

Read more about the Premier League's pre-season air miles here

We asked for your views on Tottenham's friendly win over Vissel Kobe. Mikey Moore - Spurs' 16-year-old striker - found the net, just as he did earlier in pre-season in a win over Hearts.

Here are some of your comments:

Matt: Some good attacking football, and great to see the academy players step up. Hopefully he gives Moore and Lankshear a run with the first team squad rather than loan them out. As we've seen with Yamal, if you're good enough you're old enough!

Mark: That's the second goal in pre-season for Mikey Moore. I think he's had an assist or two as well in the three pre-season games so far. This boy is going to be a massive player for us in the near future. Apart from a couple of very sloppy mistakes that led to their goals, the early indicators are good for next season.

James: Moore has to be untouchable in this transfer window. Simple.

Daz: Mikey Moore putting in the Yamal performances but without the media hype. We have a superstar and he's one of our own.

Craig: Thought we played some good stuff first half. There were lots of changes in the second half for both sides but the young players did superbly. Mikey Moore could become a potential superstar. It was the sort of workout you want in pre-season as it was a competitive match.

Alan: Nice to see Ange keeping faith with the academy players, that's what tours are all about - giving them game time. Mikey Moore looks an exceptional player at 16 and could save Spurs a lot of money in the future.

Image source, Getty Images

Ange Postecoglou reacts to Tottenham's 3-2 win over Japanese side Vissel Kobe: "I thought it was good. Everyone can feel what the conditions are like. The boys have had a really strong week of training to say the least. I was really pleased with how they went about things tonight. It wasn't easy. We played some nice football.

"It was always going to be a good test for us - the conditions, the opposition. I told the boys before the game it was an opportunity for us to keep developing. I thought it was a positive step tonight.

"The lads were trying. In these conditions you will make mistakes sometimes. But the intent was there and that's what we are looking for."

Captain Son Heung-min found the net along with Pedro Porro and Mikey Moore.

The skipper said: "A lot of humidity compared to the UK. The lads worked hard during the week. The lads were trying to play our way. It's important we won the game in the way we want to play football.

"Most importantly the way we want to play is hard work, to be fit. And we worked so hard this week in Japan in different weather. I'm very proud of how they worked and played.

"Fitness wise I think we can get better. We want to make another step forward. We have got to be ready and make steps forward every single session."

South Korea's Son added it will be "next level" to captain Spurs on the next leg of their tour as their fixtures move on to his homeland.

Spurs fans, what did you think of your side's latest pre-season game?

Have your say here, external

The Premier League season is fast approaching and clubs are continuing their pre-season preparations.

Here are the teams in action on a busy Saturday.

All times BST

Brentford's plans to let Tottenham and West Ham target Ivan Toney leave the club could be shelved after the 28-year-old England forward's replacement Igor Thiago suffered an injury in pre-season. (Sun), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham are closing in on the signing of winger Yang Min-hyuk from Gangwon FC.

The 18-year-old is expected to complete a move to Spurs by the time the club face a K-League XI at Seoul World Cup Stadium in his native South Korea.

The Korea youth international has scored seven goals in his 24 senior matches for Gangwon and became the youngest K-League scorer since 2013 when netting his first goal for the club in March.

He is expected to become the latest Korean footballer to join Spurs after current captain Son Heung-min and Lee Young-pyo.

Having negotiated a 40% sell-on clause when they sold winger Jack Clarke to Sunderland, Tottenham are set to get a major part of any fee for the 23-year-old with Ipswich Town preparing a bid. (The i), external

Want more transfer news? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Image source, Getty Images

Ben Davies has officially completed 10 years of service at Tottenham, after joining the club from Swansea in July 2014.

The 31-year-old left-back has clocked up 330 appearances for Spurs, scoring nine goals and registering 23 assists along the way.

Tottenham captain Son Heung-min has been praising his team-mate of nine years and discussing how the pair's friendship now extends beyond football.

"Ben Davies. What a guy... I don't have any bad words, only good words," Son wrote on the club's website, external. "He is a family man, such a warm heart and so smart - the smartest guy I have seen.

"I would say he is my family member, someone I can really trust. If I'm struggling, if I need some advice, I will always ask Ben.

"I left Korea at 16 and when you leave a country at such an early age, you don't have many friends. Ben is the only one I would say is like that.

"If you need someone to say difficult words, he is the one who steps up and says those things. He says words that make you wake up.

"I'm in a position now where if I say something, people will probably say: 'Yes, you are right.' But Ben is the guy who will step up and say: 'No, that's not right.' That is so impressive.

"On the pitch, Ben is so consistent. He never complains, works so hard, plays for the team.

"He is a consummate professional, a player everyone can look up to. For me, he is a role model."

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

Image source, Getty Images

It isn't quiet in one specific part of the major football clubs - the acquisitions department.

I know that because I was once the acquisitions department - well me and the manager mostly. While each player returned from holidays like a bronzed Adonis, we were cooped up in a small darkened room, beavering the daylight hours away like vampires.

There is plenty of guesswork in the media and a fair bit of leaking from the players and their people, but the clubs usually try to keep their transfer moves as quiet as possible.

If word gets out that a player is available, they know they might lose him to another club or else the price will increase as a bidding war erupts.

‌These are high stakes games and many are impressed by those who gamble and go early.

Manchester City have always been good enough, and let's be honest wealthy enough, to be able to do this well.

The problem is that some clubs are trying to do the same thing and are ending up paying top dollar for less able players, because they haven't done their due diligence in the market.

This is another area where the use of data, or maybe over-reliance on pure data, comes into play - feed all of the numbers in, let the technology do the crunching, and out comes the answer.

The problem is that everyone else has got the same or similar data.

What is needed, of course, is good human knowledge and the vision to aid the use of the information they have got. This is why these departments should be busy just now, they shouldn't just be doing deals which are admittedly very complex legal and financial documents these days.

Even more time should be spent on ensuring the new £75m player hasn't got a hidden weakness in his game or even the odd skeleton in his closet.

Pat Nevin was writing for the BBC Football Extra Newsletter

Spurs winger Bryan Gil, 23, and 27-year-old left-back Sergio Reguilon, who are both Spanish, have been left out of the club's pre-season tour of Japan and South Korea so they can explore moves away from the club. (Standard), external

Tottenham value Brazil forward Richarlison at £60m, with Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli having indicated they are interested in the 27-year-old. (Times - subscription required), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Tottenham want to replace Oliver Skipp with a homegrown midfielder, if they allow the 23-year-old to leave the club. (Football Insider), external

Manchester United do not want to allow 27-year-old Scotland midfielder Scott McTominay to leave Old Trafford, amid interest from Spurs and Fulham. (Standard), external

Want more transfer news? Read Monday's full gossip column

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views after Tottenham's 2-0 friendly win at Championship side QPR.

Here are some of your responses:

Peter: Second game of pre-season and another win. We played really well in an attacking sense, but QPR luckily failed to convert the chances they had. I would rather say they were playing well than we were playing badly.

Brian: Lucas Bergvall looks like a tremendous bit of business and I was also impressed by Archie Gray. Get a striker and it could be a good season.

Glenn: We look much more on the front foot. Still work to do when we don't have the ball in our own half in shutting the opposition down much earlier, and we gave QPR too many opportunities near the end. The young players could save the club a fortune in transfer fees and provide the depth we need this season.

Ellington: A good, competitive run out for Spurs. Mikey Moore now has a goal and an assist in pre-season. It will be interesting to see if he stays with the first-team squad this season. I think Djed Spence is also ready to be the back-up right-back too. So far so good. COYS!

Brian: Why are we playing pre-season games against second-rate teams? Surely playing better opposition would give us a better idea of where we are?

Marseille are closing in on a £13.5m deal for Tottenham midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. (Mail on Sunday), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Sunday's full gossip column

Image source, Reuters

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has said he does not think the injury suffered by Lucas Bervall against QPR is "anything significant".

The midfielder was forced off during the first half of Saturday's 2-0 win at QPR.

But Postecoglou told Spurs club media, external: "He's just a bit sore.

"For him - and for Archie [Gray] - the way we train is all new.

"We've got to look after them but I don't think it's anything significant."

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Yves Bissouma and Dane Scarlett got the goals Tottenham secured a 2-0 pre-season victory over QPR at Loftus Road on Saturday.

The opener came from midfielder Bissouma, who sensationally rounded goalkeeper Paul Nardi and scored after a one-two with Dejan Kulusevski.

Late substitute Scarlett turned home from inside the six-yard box after an outside-of-the-boot cross by Mikey Moore.

Son Heung-min, Timo Werner and substitutes Will Lankshear and Moore could have added more goals as Ange Postecoglou played two different XIs in each half.

However, the hosts also squandered chances as Lyndon Dykes and Alfie Lloyd both missed from close range in the second half, after Rayan Kolli had a long-range shot saved on to the crossbar by Brandon Austin before the break.

There are also concerns after 18-year-old Lucas Bergvall, a summer signing from Djurgarden, came off injured midway through the first half.

Have your say on the game here, external

Image source, Getty Images

A superb Yves Bissouma goal and a close-range effort by second-half substitute Dane Scarlett gave Tottenham a 2-0 friendly win at Championship side QPR on Saturday.

What did you learn from this game, Spurs fans?

Let us know your thoughts on the match here, external

Forward Richarlison is open to moving to the Saudi Pro League but Tottenham will demand £60m. (HITC), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Saturday's full gossip column

Image source, Getty Images

It seems inevitable a host of Premier League managers will point to fixture congestion in the months to come.

When injuries mount, or when time on the training ground is squeezed, coaches often reference the intense nature of the calendar.

But research conducted by the respected CIES Football Observatory has delivered data which shows clubs are - on average - not playing more competitive games than they have in the last couple of decades.

The CIES looked at 677 clubs across 40 leagues. In looking at a period from 2012 to 2024, its findings show in 2023-24, the average club played 42.4 competitive matches. In 2014-15 that figure was 42.6 and in 2020-21 it hit 43.9.

And if focus is placed on sides competing in the Champions League, data gathered between 2000 and 2024 also shows sides are not setting fixture records in the current game, as some managers may like to loosely imply.

In looking at the five major European Leagues, the CIES claim Champions League competitors played an average of 50.8 matches last season.

In 2020-21 they averaged 57.9 and in 2002-03 they contested 55.2.

Manchester United played in 52 competitive games last season, down from highs of 71 in 2020-21 and 66 in 2008-09.

Across all of the clubs analysed, only 4% played more than 60 games last season. In 2012-13, the figure stood at 5.1%.

While clubs may play added friendlies and - it would be fair to say - individual matches tend to be longer given increased injury time in the current game, the data shows that competitive fixture numbers are flat or have in most cases fallen, even if disgruntled managers say otherwise.

The full study is here, external