Match Day Thread Tottenham Hotspur v West Bromwich Albion

please log in to view this image

Saturday 15th October 3pm
Premier League
The Hawthorns​

The international break is finally over and we're back to proper football, thankfully.
Time to see if the momentum which had been building up has dissipated or we can kick on.
The victory against Man City was important, but this kind of game might be even more so.
A tough, defensive side that will clog and attempt to hit us on the break and from set-pieces.
It's also the first of four consecutive away games, which will be tough.

The Baggies have had a mixed start to their campaign, but will be happy with their current position.
Their victories over Palace and West Ham will have been well received.
A narrow loss to Everton's acceptable too, but draws with Stoke, Boro and Sunderland will grate.
Losing to Bournemouth will also be looked on as winnable points dropped, I think.

West Brom might not score much, but they don't let in many, either.
They're currently the joint fourth best defence in the division, having only conceded 7 times.
Their main threats at the other end are Soloman Rondon and a familiar face for us, Nacer Chadli.
Our recently departed winger will surely be looking to make a point against Pochettino.
McCauley and McClean are their only other scorers this season.

Last season's visit to The Hawthorns was a frustrating disappointment, for various reasons.
The team started well and took the lead through Dele Alli, who scored from an Alderweireld pass.
It's definitely one of the more persistent weapons in our armoury since:

The team took their foot off the gas a little towards half-time though and paid the price.
James McClean beat his marker at the back post to equalise:

To add injury to insult, McClean then went on to commit a terrible foul in the second half.
He somehow avoided a red card and we couldn't regain the lead:

The return at White Hart Lane later in the campaign was a similar match, but with worse consequences.
It was another 1-1 draw with us taking the lead and throwing it away.
Gardner scored at both ends and it saw our chances of catching Leicester virtually disappear.
Alli also picked up a suspension for a stupid foul off the ball.

We have no suspensions for this one, but Kane's still out injured.
Dembele's also having an issue with an old injury and will probably miss out.
West Brom have no suspension either, nor do they have any current injuries.
Fletcher picked up a knock for Scotland, but should still be fit.

Lineups for each side's last league game:

Spurs: Lloris; Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose; Wanyam; Sissoko, Eriksen, Alli, Lamela, Son.
Subs: Vorm, Trippier, Davies, Dier, Winks, N'Koudou, Janssen.
League form: WDWWWW.

Baggies: Foster; Dawson, McCauley, Evans, Nyom; Philips, Fletcher, Yacob, McClean; Chadli; Rondon.
Subs: Myhill, Olsson, Gardner, Morrison, Leko, Robson-Kanu, Berahino.
League form: LDLWDD.

Referee: Controversial Kevin Friend. Clattenburg's the fourth official, so let's all wish Friend good health!

A lot of international minutes and travel under some players belts, so do any of them need to be rested?
Our Champions League fixture in Germany is on Tuesday, so do we need to keep that in mind?
Does anyone need changing from our bench?

 

He played for Wolves

 

Someone called Paul Stewart was a DJ at a pre-Skegness Weekend disco evening at West Bromwich Town Hall a few months ago.

http://www.soul-source.co.uk/soulforum/calendar/event/44648-west-bromwich-town-hall/

 

Very worried about Nacer in this game.

 

http://www.skysports.com/football/n...g-min-wins-premier-league-player-of-the-month



Fully deserved and delighted that we didn't let him go in the summer. Quite amazed that he's the first Asian player to win the award...surely not?!

 

Played for both
Nacer Chadli
Sandro
Garth Crooks
Ruel Fox
Alex Pritchard (in theory...)
Ossie Ardiles (Spurs player and manager, West Brom manager)
Martin Jol (West Brom player, Spurs manager)

 

The usual display of Narrative (TM) killing etc.

 

Keith Burkinshaw has managed both.

 

Graham Roberts? I know he was there to have allegations of the white powder made against him, even if he didn't play. Scandalous!

 

Buzzing for this, my first away game in months! Last went to the Hawthorns for the 3-3 a few years back so if it can be as entertaining but with a Spurs win then that'll be a right result!

Tough to pick the side, the team that faced City were superb and technically no one deserves to be dropped from that but I think it'll be good if Janssen was given a start. Also hope Rose and Walker are ok to play, both played in the England games so maybe Poch will switch things up a full back if he doesn't feel they're 100%?

Hopefully go something like:

Hugo
Walker, Toby, Jan, Rose
Wanyama, Eriksen
Lamela, Alli, Son
Janssen

Vorm, Tripps, Davies, Kev, Dier, Sissoko, Nkoudou

COYS!

 

I wonder if we may have one eye on Leverkusen on Tuesday and Trippier and Davies may start tomorrow

 

Still amazed how that challenge on Dembele went unpunished. You can't really see the ref ignoring it if he'd crocked a Sky favourite team player could you?

 

Tricky selection for Pochettino. Walker, Rose, Lamela and Son have all had exhausting travels. The former are more likely to sit than the latter, I think, considering the fullback rotation is well established--and Son has been scoring most of our goals, while Lamela has had a hand in more goals than anyone but Son. But

Trippier Alderweireld Vertonghen Davies
Wanyama
Eriksen
Sissoko Alli N’Koudou
Janssen

on paper is a good team to face West Brom: lots of width, Janssen to occupy the CBs, and Trippier to get the ball at the goal. I might guess we’ll see rotated fullbacks, but the same front 6 as started v. City.

 

Im actually very surprised they havent played more.

I had assumed that last season's method of alternating full backs each game, was a deliberate polocy to keep them all fresh for the season, rather than uncertainty over which was the first choice.

On the basis that that appears bot to be the case, i am somewhat concerned about walker and rose lasting the season tbh.

 

Agree with Rob.

Think Poch will rotate. We should be able to beat WBA with Davies and Trippier if we are the real deal this week. That's my 'the real deal' challenge for today's match lads.

 

Trippier v Chadli worries me. I'd love to have Walker in the team to 'do a job' on Nacer, which I think he would. If we can keep our old boy out of the game, I think it'll take much of their recent optimism away. Before they signed him their form was not great.

However, England took the piss again by calling up only 1 right back and he has to be rested some time. This is a big game going into the next 3 weeks. No mistakes and everyone at full power, please?

 

TOTTENHAM TEAM NEWS

Team to play West Brom: Lloris, Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies, Wanyama, Sissoko, Eriksen, Alli, Lamela, Janssen.

Subs: Son, Vorm, Nkoudou, Dier, Trippier, Dembele, Onomah.

 

Very surprised dembele is on the bench given what Poch said in the press conference. Great news though. Just need Kane back and we are looking in great shape

 

Would have liked Vorm and Trippier to get full run outs, but otherwise looks ok. Hope to see a few new scorers today - at least Janssen. A special like he managed for the Neths last week would be good

 

Surprised Son isn't starting but it still looks a good team. I'll be furious if it turns out England have injured Rose again though.