Harry’s pre-match comments have pretty much given us the starting line up for tonight but there are still some gaps to fill in,
“I was doing a little bit of work with them this morning and there’s seven internationals in there,” said Harry.
“Defoe is here, Gio Dos Santos, Benoit Assou-Ekotto, Kaboul, Pienaar, Niko, Sandro, they will all play. Danny Rose is an England Under-21 international.
“I’ve left five or six of the senior players behind – the likes of Modric, Parker, Adebayor – but we have a very good team.”
That still leaves a question in goal with many Spurs fans hoping to see Carlo Cudicini in between the posts. In front of him, Bassong and Corluka will hope to get a starting slot while William Gallas is likely to be rested.
Up front, it’s a question of who will provide the goals in what has been a barren campaign to some extent. Overall, here’s our team to face Shamrock Rovers, what’s yours?
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{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
sandro on the right wing?
Rose in the middle of the park?
Pienaar can play right side, and should. Kranjcar on left. Sandro in middle, with Carroll. Go with Dos Santos & Defoe up front. Rose at LB, and the rest is the same. Failing that, Dos Santos on left, and Niko behind Defoe as a forward.
Rose as a CM? Doubt it. More likely Rose will start at RB, resting BAE for Sunderland this weekend. And like it or not, Dos Santos is NEVER going to get a fair shake at Spurs, so I’m not even putting him in the side.
Cudicini
Corluka – Gallas – Bassong – Rose
Pienaar – Sandro – Livermore – Kranjcar
Pav – Defoe
You should change rose and sandro
but that’s it.
Can’t/shouldn’t risk Bassong – need him for the weekend in case Ledley isn’t fit so I think Livermore has to play there. I also wonder how many of the ‘seniors’ will start? We know what ‘Arry says and what he does don’t necessarily match. I suspect Niko will only be fit enought for a place on the bench. If Sandro is fit he’ll play but I doubt he is from what we’re hearing – So- I’d guess Cudicini/Gomes – who knows which will be picked but Cudicini certainly deserves it
Charlie, Livermore, Kaboul, Rose.
Falque, Carrol, Pienaar Dos Santos
Kane, Defoe.
PS that’s what I expect not what I want!!
Cudicini; Corluka, Kaboul, Bassong, Rose; Giovani, Sandro, Kanjcar, Pienaar; Defoe, Kane (lennon).
My team would be:-
Cudicini
Corluka, Kaboul, Bassong, Rose,
Dos Santos, Sandro, Kranjcar, Pienaar,
Defoe, Kane,
Why does everyone forgot HOW BAD Niko was in the centre?
Cudicini
Corluka Kaboul Bassong Rose
Pienear Carroll Sandro Niko
Dos Santos
Defoe
looking fwd to take some positives from this game and see Sandro Niko Pienaar doing well and JD banging in the goals, so, 4-2-3-1 :
Cudicini
Corluka Kaboul Bassong Benny
Sandro Rose
Pienaar D.Santos Niko
JD
…and why is everyone forgetting young Carroll and Falque?
Cudicnini
Corluka. Kaboul. . Bassong. Rose
Santos. Sandro. Livermore Pienaar
Kranjcar
Defoe
Subs: Gomes, Falque, BAE, Gallas, Carroll
GOMES
CHARLIE – GALLAS – BASSONG – ROSE
SANDRO – LIVERMORE
DOS SANTOS NIKO PIENAAR
DEFO
HARRY PREFERS RESTING PLAYERS FOR EPL SO PLEASE DONT TEMPT FATE AND PLAY KABOUL ON A DODGY PITCH AND HE GET INJURED FOR A MONTH OR SO – SUICIDE
I realize the game is played — I haven’t seen it yet, though, so I don’t know what the lineup ended up being — but I like the look of Dave’s lineup here.
People don’t like Niko in the middle of the pitch (mostly due to his defending, I’d guess) but with those two behind him he’d be free to focus on incisive passing (which he can) and scoring long-range shots (which he does).
A lot of players listed here that I’d be comfortable with as backups to the 1st team — as long as they get some game time. Can we bring back the reserve team? Does it really cost so much that it’s worth having the entire second string out of form?
Tom Carroll has to play