With Aaron Lennon set to return from injury and Paulinho available again after suspension, there are several questions in midfield ahead of today’s 4pm kick off at White Hart Lane. There are, however, mixed reports with some saying that Lennon is definitely out of contention.

If available, Aaron will surely drop into the starting XI but what other changes could we see? The lack of a defensive midfielder raised issues on Boxing Day but with Sandro ruled out and Dembele doubtful, options are limited.

Up front, Jermain Defoe is also struggling with a hamstring problem while there has been talk of Erik Lamela coming in and Roberto Soldado dropping to the bench.

This XI is a little more unpredictable – here’s our best guess but what’s your view?

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35 COMMENTS

    • No one in their right mind would pick Chadli! He has had his chance and really is not up to it! Lennon on the left and swap with Lamela every now and then.

      • Let’s be real playing Chandli as an inverted winger on the right side was a ridiculous idea his best position is left winger. So you expected him to play great. Then you had Holtby and Erkisen in cm and hardly utilising them prefering to pass these long balls from defence or just using the left and right wings.

  2. I really really do not understand why folk would choose Siggy? He contributes so little to our team effort and playing wide left is not his best position. Lamella must be chosen before siggy or even Chadli who has much better ball control and corsses the ball much better too.

  4. We better on 4-2-1-3- systeam not 4-4-2 erikson play better on behind attakinb striker not central lloris- naughton chiriches, dawson,rose, capoue,paulinho, lamela erikson sigurdsson soldado

  5. Walker is suspended so would like to see Frederickson, the young full back.

    Paulinho should not walk back into the team. He needs to prove in training he can move the ball quicker, tackle and track back. So Coupe for me to protect awesome dawson and crazy vlad.

    Would like to see lamela start of the left.

    COYS

  7. Because Stoke are a physical team I would play (if fit) Dembele instead of Eriksen. I am not a fan of Dembele and hope we ship him out soon but his physical presence is strong. This would allow Ade to play like he has in last two matches as a natural number 10 linking Soldado and the midfield/wingers etc. I would also consider Lamela as he is improving each game he plays on the right and Lennon on the left, dropping Siggy to bench as he has not performed well last two times out. Lennon and Bale used to swap over regularly and I would expect that to continue with Lamela

    • Dembele is a good player better than holtby and siggy.
      The Southampton victory shows that by luck the coach got the blend right. The WBA result shows the opposite.

  10. For me it should be:

    Lloris;
    Fredericks, Dawson, Chiriches, rose;
    Lennon, capoue, eriksen, Chadli (or siggy);
    Ade, soldado;

    With capoue helping cover defensive responsibilities and eriksen sat behind the strikers so more of a diamond in midfield. Lennon and Chadli to keep play stretched wide.

    And hopefully if needed Ade can be a target man and knock them down for soldado to finish, like crouchy and VDV used to a lot!

  11. please no not adebeyor i was at the match on boxing day and him siggy chadli were terrible
    start with lloris fredericks dawson chirches rose
    capoue paulinho dembele(if fit)(if not bentelab) lennon (if fit if not lamela) erickson soldado

  12. 4132

    ……………..loris……………….
    Fredrick’s….Daws..vlad..rose..

    ……………….capoue………..

    Lennon……eriksen……..lamela

    ………soldado……..ade…..

    When defending it turns into a 451 with ade dropping deeper

  13. I’d like to see young fredericks play at right back I’d like to see Lloris – fredericks- Dawson -chiriches- rose- Lennon-ericksen-holtby-lamela-ade–soldado if not holtby then Capoue seeing young bentaleb get bit game time as we’ll looks a great prospect COYS!

  16. ……………..loris……………….
    Fredrick’s….Daws..vlad..rose..

    ……………….capoue………..

    lamela……Pauliniho……..Eriksen

    ………soldado……..ade…..

  18. I dont see why people and especially Tim is so eager to play soldado. His current game is way of, and I simply don’t see him score any time sone. Excuses were made on his behave that he is a finisher, and his poor form was due to the lack of chances made by the team. However under Tim’s regime, the boys has produced 20 some crosses a match, and he still hasn’t been close to hit one home.
    Another thing we need to address is preparation for the big games. Tim’s suiside offensive show off will only get him to wherever AVB is now.
    We currently have a few players out due to injuries hence this is not my ideal formation, however;

    Lloris
    Naughton, dawson, vlad, rose
    Paulinho, capoue
    Lamela, Eriksen, Lennon/chadli
    Adebayor

    Naturally naughton is to be replaced by walker.
    Dawson should be out as soon as ANY other cb is ready.
    I like rose, and it don’t think we should persue coentrao.
    Dembo in when ready. Replaces either pau of capo. Depends on form.
    Townsend to play left side.

    The key man in this formation is eriksen. I think he has the biggest potential in our current side. I would like to see him playing a traquista, a totally free offensive position just behind adebayor where we can capitalize on his creativity. Much like silva at city and maybe a bit like messi at Barcelona, where he will move about and try to bag a few goals.
    I don’t see why this isn’t preferred over 2 strikers, when we just don’t have another in shape.

    COYS

  19. My team to play Stoke would be……Man City! You know they will play to win and it will be a good game to watch. The shit we are turning out at the moment I can hardly bear to watch,,,

  21. I agree with those who would play Capoue and also I would back away form 442. It is essentila to have DM, Sandro when fit againg should always play.

  23. I’m ashamed of my ignorance here… is Townsend not fit?

    Lamela – Paulinho – Eriksen – Townsend
    Adebayor – Soldado

    That six should be romping games, regardless how shaky our defense is.

  24. Just seen the team sheet and better start praying! Naughton and Fryers are full backs! Will they be told to bomb forward? Naughton has history of passing backwards or at best sideways..Oh well time for them to step up to the plate! COYS

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