It looks like tonight it might be us who can use the excuse that it was only our kids that lost if things don’t go right.

Due to Arsenal’s injuries and inferior squad, it looks as if they’ll be naming a few more first team players than they normally would in the Carling Cup. Meanwhile, our own injury list could see us give an opportunity to some untried youngsters.

Steven Caulker, Jake Livermore and Sandro could all feature in the North London derby, along with some more experienced names who are short of match practice, such as Stipe Pletikosa, Alan Hutton, Sebastien Bassong, Wilson Palacios, David Bentley, Niko Kranjcar, Giovani Dos Santos and Roman Pavlyuchenko.

Those last lot of names, is the reason why I was only being half-factious when I said that Arsenal have an inferior squad. We do have an awful lot of experienced, international players in reserve.

In goal I’d go for Pletikosa, who looks like he could push Gomes for his position this season. Our new hero Alan Hutton would be at right back, with BAE at left back, because we don’t have any proper cover there. In central defence I’d go for Bassong and Gallas. Whilst I’ve heard good things about Caulker, this would be a difficult game to give him his debut in.

I’d play a four-man midfield of Sandro, Palacios, Kranjcar and Bentley, with Dos Santos just behind Pavlyuchenko up front. Unlike Caulker, I do think that this would be an appropriate game to blood Jake Livermore, as he’s a fair bit older.

However, it would be a bit much to start with two central midfielders who’d hardly played for Tottenham. Hopefully he’ll get his chance from the bench. I’ve got a feeling though that the team that plays tonight might be a bit younger than the one I’d go for. With the Champions League to play for, Harry won’t mind going out of the Carling Cup and could throw caution to the wind. Me? I just want us to beat The Scum.

Here’s my team. What would yours be?

———-Pletikosa———-

Hutton–Gallas—Bassong–BAE

Bentley-Palacios-Sandro-Kranjcar

———Dos Santos———-

——–Pavlyuchenko———

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7 COMMENTS

  1. id would pretty much agree with that team although i think caulker will get the start as gallas has played 3 games in a week now and harry cant afford to risk him burning out.

  2. I would pick Caulker, Livermore, Naughton, Howevere, I would promise them all a night to remember back at mine afterwards if they win, that should do the trick.

  4. I think it will be

    ———-Pletikosa———-

    Hutton–caulker—Bassong–naughton

    Bentley-Palacios-Sandro-Kranjcar

    ———Dos Santos———-

    ——–Pavlyuchenko———

    COYFS

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