Tottenham travel to strugglers Bournemouth on Thursday for the second of three crucial Premier League matches this week.
Jose Mourinho’s side picked up a much-needed three points against Everton on Monday and will be looking to climb above rivals Arsenal ahead of Sunday’s north London derby with what would be only their fourth away league victory of the campaign and first since February.
However, the Portuguese has some defensive problems – with Japhet Tanganga (back), Juan Foyth (knee) and now Eric Dier (suspended), who earlier today was handed a four-match ban for jumping into the crowd against Norwich City in March, all unavailable for Spurs.
Dele Alli also remains sidelined with the same hamstring injury that saw him miss the 1-0 win over the Toffees.
Dier’s absence means we expect to see one defensive change, with Davinson Sanchez, who was dropped for the Everton game, starting alongside Toby Alderweireld.
In midfield, Moussa Sissoko could be given his first rest since the restart – with Giovani Lo Celso likely to partner Harry Winks, meaning Tanguy Ndombele is once more expected to be named amongst the substitutes.
Moving forward, with Sunday’s game against Arsenal in mind, Mourinho could recall Steven Bergwijn in place of Lucas Moura – and also give a first start in four matches to Erik Lamela, who’ll join the familiar faces in Heung Min Son and Harry Kane in the front-four.
Here’s our predicted XI to face Bournemouth: Lloris, Aurier, Sanchez, Alderweireld, Davies, Winks, Lo Celso, Son, Lamela, Bergwijn, Kane.
Let us know yours in the comments below.
Here’s what Spurs fans would like to see (bearing mind we do have injuries at present):
Lloris
Alderweireld. Sanchez. Vertonghen. Sessegnon
Lo Celso. Skipp. Ndombele
Bergwijn. Kane. Son
Playing Davies over Sess is criminal, especially at this stage where we have nothing to lose and have been woeful for a long time. Sess is hungry, quick and skillful. Everything that Davies isn’t. And give Ndombele a chance. He’s a more expensive Sub than Torres was when he went to Chelsea!
Mourinho has past it. No creative flair, awful defense, doesn’t use all his subs and his selection is predictable and sub-par. On top of that we have ENIC and Levy, who continually fail to back the Manager (poor Poch) and just buy what ever players Levy wants. It’s a joke. Get them out of our club!!!
Lloris yes.
Vertonghen and Alderweireld centre backs. Vertoonghen a bit slow but with the reassurance of Davies at left back would mean he would have adequate cover. Now to the problem of right back. Get rid of Aurier and put Sanchez there. A solid defender just poor positional play at centre. That way you have a solid back four. Sess on the left of mid, that way you have someone that has energy and pace to track back and bomb forward, Gedson in the holding midfield that can also create a bit flair in the middle of the park, Lo Celso just in front of him, Bergwijn on the right and Sonny and Kane up front. Job Done!
Idiot if you do some homework you would know why sess and the lazy French tart are not playing.
Did we buy two sessagon. You describe him as skillful. Maybe in the championship but not from what I have seen of him in the premier league. So you are going to play two backs who can’t defend but can run quite quickly. That’s great. Then in attack you want an overweight who does not put a lot of effort into training. Would love to see you running the team. It’s alright lads don’t worry about training we’ll just turn up on the day.
Amen to that Marco! All Spurs fans should sign a petition as exactly as you have put it!
Cheers!
Agree that Mourinho is negative, and out of touch with current footballing trends, he is destroying the creativity within players, Kane is beginning to look like Lukaku did at Man U. Didn’t like or support his appointment and nothing has happened to change my mind. Get rid now and employ a forward thinking positive and adventurous young manager.
I would go for a 4 3 3 with back 4 of Sanchez Alserwierld Aurier Sess./Cirkin NDOMBELE Winks LoCelso
Son Stevie B Lamela…
KANE NEEDS A REST …Give Jose a chance next season we can assess…I Need Silverware next year. DO THAT AND IT’S WORTH IT
he has become so slow
I would organise a trainiing programme to get him ready for next season
Right now withn Kane playing it is like we are one man down before we start
I think the issue we have is not investment or backing the managers..we are spending money on players who are WRONG the whole recruitment / scouting system needs overhauling at the club
Clarke, Sessignon, Gedson clearly not Premiership standard yet, NDombele fitness issues and when fit unable to adapt to the pace of the Prem, Bergwin great potential but didn’t need another winger and going back to the previous season Lucas and Aurier squad players at best
I would say only Le Celso could be considered a great buy out of the last 10, not a great return for 150 million+ -would rather 2 good players than 10 average ones.
My starting 11 from available players.
Lloris, Aurier, Alderweireld, Sanchez, Sessegnon, Sissoko, Lo Celso, Son, Bergwijn, Kane, Ndombele.
Play Ndombele as attacking creative midfielder, we need to know how good he is ( or not) before the season ends.
Davies has been poor since he has been back from injury hence Sessegnon who we also need to assess more before end of season.
Drop Davies is the best option because he could not play attack and I count his back pass and forward pass in 2 games it is 84% back pass and only 8% forward pass and 8% pass to middle what a player he has definitely no skilful
What I see here is supporters who have little knowledge of their players. From what I can find out both sess and the lazy French man are just that. Lazy. They are not putting the effort in on the training field. How is any manager supposed to run a team if he gives in to the lazy ones. When poch stood up to adebayor he got the fans respect. Why is jose not getting the same. Why are you all blinded by what is obvious from what we have seen from Ndombele and sess. One is clearly not fit however that is not the fault of the club but the player. Yet you all want him in the team. What message does that send to the other players young and old. As for sess anything I have seen of him he looks championship standard and again seems to have problems. I’m guessing if Jose had a super fit Ndombele he could trust he would be playing him. The same would be said for sess. I wish he would play them just to prove to you lot what so many can see. My question is when you see they are not what you think they are who will you blame then.