There’s no official word from the club as yet but reports suggest that neither Danny Rose nor Younes Kaboul have recovered in time to challenge for a starting slot in Sunday’s game. The pair join Etienne Capoue on the sidelines but otherwise, Andre Villas-Boas may well have a full squad to choose from.
AVB’s selections for the FC Sheriff game in midweek suggest that we could see the same XI that started the game against Aston Villa last weekend. Christian Eriksen’s performance might put some pressure on Lewis Holtby but it’s unlikely that Erik Lamela would have done anything to shift Andros Townsend on the right.
The real question surrounds Aaron Lennon. Villas-Boas praised the winger after the game and has previously said how relieved he is to have Lennon back. Townsend is unlikely to be dropped but could be switched to the left to accommodate.
Here’s how we think Spurs will start but what’s your view?
Same…. But when is Rose back?
Don’t want Lennon anywhere near the league team until he is fit. I would personally play chadli.
AGREE. BUT ALSO SERIOUSLY THINKING OF 4-3-1-2 FOR THIS GAME WITH SANDRO,PAULINHO,HOLTBY AS THE 3, WITH ERIKSEN BEHIND SOLDADO AND ADEBAYOR. THE FULLBACKS CAN GIVE US THE WIDTH. LETS FACE IT , WHEN WE’VE PLAYED WITH WINGERS WE STILL CAN’T SCORE !!
Lloris
Walker Chiriches Dawson Vertonghen
Sandro Paulinho
Lamela Eriksen Townsend
Soldado
Subs: Freidel/Naughton/Dembele/Holtby/Siggy/Chadli/Adebayor
Gomes
Naughton Dawson Kaboul Fryers
Vertonghen Dembele
McEvoy Lennon Coulthirst
Kane
Paulinho doesn’t offer any creativity, is inconsistent and was rubbish in the last two games. Would be far better to play both Holtby and Eriksen in midfield.
…………………………..Lloris…………………………
Walker……….Dawson………..Chiriches……….Vertonghen
……………….Sandro………….Holtby…………………..
Lennon………………..Eriksen………………..Townsend
…………………………Soldado…………………………
I think the Tottenham 3 should be Townsend eriksen holtby. The direct play from Townsend and the creative force of holtby and eriksen and width provided by the full backs (when fit) could work I think!! Also the comments about paulinho are crazy, he scores breaks play down and assists, he set the soldado goal up last game. My 1st team would be
4231
Lloris
Walker
Chiriches
Verts
Rose
Sandro
Paulinho
Townsend
Eriksen
Holtby
Soldado
Against hull…
Lloris
Walker
Dawson
Chiriches
Verts
Paulinho
Dembele
Townsend
Holtby
Chadli
Soldado
Personally don’t think we need to use a deep holding midfield against hull.
Paulinho may have set Soldado’s goal up, but that was the only thing he did in the whole game. The rest of the match his performance was a disgrace.
Overrated player like Dembele.
Paulinho is well rounded and a decent player and as for dembele, yes his vision isnt the best but is difficult to get passed and nearly impossible to tackle.
Overrated yet he starts in the Brazil team when they start the WC.
NEED Dembele for tomorrows game to break down a well-drilled Hull team.
Neither Sandro or Paulinho have the guile, ability to beat a man or the skill to create space for themselves, that we will NEED to break down a resolute Hull defence.
It’s all well and good playing Holtby, but if the German has to drop deep and pick the ball off the back-four, in order to influence play, than your losing 20/30% of what makes Lewis so special.
Both Brazilians struggle to use the ball EFFECTIVELY when put under pressure, as we saw, until the game opened up (after our goal), against Villa.
Dembele is a MUST if Hull aren’t to frustrate a NOTORIOUSLY impatient WHL crowd!
Lloris
Walker Dawson Chiriches Vertonghen
Sandro Dembele
Townsend Holtby Sigurdsson/Chadli
Soldado
Dembele is rubbish at creating opportunities. He never links up with Soldado. Most of his passes are sideways or backwards.
Bring back Tom Carroll in January who is just what Spurs need.
Dembele is capable of creating opportunities for others WITHOUT, necessarily, delivering the final ball! His dribbling, capacity to create space for himself and ability to beat a man opens up space for others.
Mousa at his best, is up there with the best, as far as influencing a match goes!
After a slow start to the campaign, the Belgian looks as if he is finding his best form with his recent display against Chelsea proof of this. The biggest flaw Dembele has, for me, is his mentality, with his motivation against the ‘smaller’ sides found, sometimes, wanting.
For out and out ability, he is the most complete player Spurs have, as he has shown on numerous occasions in the past (references found on request)
Modric was an EXTREMELY influential player WITHOUT getting anywhere near double figures in either assists or goals. It was he ability to dictate play, keep possession and supply the players ahead of him (with the ball in the kind of areas where they could do the most damage) that made him so important to the balance of the team. Mousa, at his best, is the same kind of player.
Another trait BOTH Modric and Dembele also share, is the means to beat a man (or two), which in turn CREATES space and time for others to thrive. Having a player like that in the central midfield is how Spurs have developed the team in the last few years, and have PROVED most successful.
A midfielder like that tends to provide a level of unpredictability and variety to the teams attacks.
I believe I have made my point…
Carroll is good, but Dembele is on a COMPLETELTY different level overall.
Good post.
Mark I see ya point but it’s moments like that what win games! Tbf I don’t think it was a disgrace just maybe not his best but surely better option than dembele?? Anyways my holding two would be sandro and paulinho in bigger games.
Agreed. Or Dembele n Capoue when he returns.
Tomorrow: Lloris; Walker, Dawson, Chiriches, Vertonghen; Paulinho, Sandro, Eriksen; Lamela, Soldado, Townsend.
Friedel; Naughton; Dembele, Holtby, Lennon, Sigurdsson; Defoe.
I’ve grown so irritated by this squad and Andre Villas-Boring’s bland style of play that it’s going to take one heck of a performance for me to feel at ease. Thus far – and I refuse to use ”give them time to settle” as an excuse when we’re around a dozen games in and other clubs are coping on all fronts just fine – I’ve been very disappointed with perfomances.
This isn’t me bashing, I don’t want him out or anything like that. I just want him to stop playing counter-attacking football, stop telling the wingers to avoid the wings at all costs, and actually fucking tell them to take the ball and the opponents on for a change.
“It’s no use just winning, we’ve got to win well.”
Can we get BAE back during winter transfer ?
just hoping naughton dont play seems to be a favourite of avb