please log in to view this image Sunday 5th November 12pm Premier League Wembley Stadium Lose to Man Utd and West Ham, then beat Real Madrid? Typical Spurs roller coaster. We've got one more fixture before the international break and it's one that we need to win. Another London derby, of sorts, but with both teams eyeing opposite ends of the table. Can we keep up with the Manchester clubs or will Palace start moving towards safety? Will there be fireworks or will it all be a bit of a damp squib? Our visitors started the season with Frank de Boer taking over from Sam Allardyce at the helm. The ongoing push for change at Palace was supposed to usher in some sexy football to replace solidity. It lead to four games, no goals and a departed Dutchman. Boring, predictable Roy Hodgson was called on to fix the mess. Could an old-school Englishman return them to the results of the last old-school Englishman? If they were looking for an instant impact, then it certainly wasn't forthcoming. Three more games, three more losses and still no goals to speak of. Losing to City and Utd may have been expected, but 5-0 and 4-0 are still bad results. A cup victory over Huddersfield did little to lift the gloom amidst that run. Who was next? Current champions and fellow Londoners, Chelsea. Probably not ideal. Wifried Zaha's return from injury sparked them into life and a shock victory, though. A narrow loss at St James' Park and a late, late leveler after being 2-0 down to West Ham followed. Shoots of recovery or a false dawn? This game could tell us a lot. This was our 2nd fixture last season, following our opening draw at Goodison and a mixed performance. The pressure was on to put on a good display and get the points and that's what eventually happened. Plenty of chances and possession went to waste as the game steadily drifted towards full time. A goalless draw loomed, but Victor Wanyama rose to nod home Alderweireld's header late on. That was enough and it started the unbeaten home run in White Hart Lane's final season. The visit to Selhurst Park was similarly tight, despite our overall dominance, again. Allardyce had replaced Pardew by this point and the home side was on a decent run. They had pulled away from the relegation zone and had hit the 38 point mark and almost certain safety. Their performance didn't show that though, as they made us fight hard for everything. It wasn't enough, as Christian Eriksen showed a flash of brilliance, scoring the winner from range. Wanyama, Lloris and Alderweireld all miss this one through injury. The goalscorer from last season's game is still working his way back, while the others were hurt against Madrid. Benteke and Wickham miss out for Palace, while Sakho, McArthur and van Aanholt may play. Lineups for each side's last league game: Spurs: Lloris; Alderweireld, Dier, Vertonghen; Aurier, Sissoko, Winks, Davies; Eriksen, Alli; Kane. Subs: Vorm, Trippier, Rose, Sanchez, Dembele, N'Koudou, Llorente. League form: DWWWWL. Palace: Speroni; Ward, Dann, Tomkins, van Aanholt; Loftus-Cheek, Cabaye, Milivojevic, Schlupp; Townsend, Zaha. Subs: Hennessey, Fosu-Mensah, Delaney, Kelly, Riedewald, Puncheon, Sako. League form: LLLWLD. Referee: Kevin Friend. TV: BT Sport 1. With both Wanyama and Alderweireld missing, where should we utilise Eric Dier? Should we stick with three at the back or shift to a four? Should Vorm replace Lloris or should Gazzaniga get a chance between the sticks?
Palace are a really awkward opponent for Spurs. We may beat them, but it often takes til the final 10 mins to get ahead. A win is most important (however it comes) . The back three will be a problem, unless Jan can front up and be "squadron commander" for this game.
I’ve often been critical of him, but Jan has been brilliant this season and have no doubt he will take the reins. Palace will be awkward and well-motivated, but we should have more than enough in reserve to get a much-needed win. Zaha is on fire after his long lay-off and may be trying to put himself into the window for a move to us in the NY. Aurier to start, also Rose and a back three of Foyth, Sanchez & Verts. Otherwise would play strongest available and then withdraw them all from the Internationals! Would like to see GKN get more than 10 minutes. He was abject against the Spammers, but really has not had any sort of chance to settle in: 5 mins here, injury, 10 mins there, injury...... This is surely the sort of game for him to start as his pace could be important against a speedy Palace side. Just hope that this isn’t a case of ‘after the Lord Mayors Show’...... PS - Another great thread, PNP - thanks!
Palace have started using Townsend and Zaha as strike partners recently. I wouldn’t be surprised to see us switch to a back 4 today to deal with their pace. I hope this isn’t the case, as more often than not it ruins the fluidity of our game. Even if we stick with the same formation, it’s hard to call the starting XI today. Will foyth play? Will the wingbacks be rotated? Are there other players that need a rest? Will son start?
The last 5 teams which beat Real Madrid in the CL all lost their next league matches so let's be CAUTIOUS shall we. It's TRICKY this one.
I take your point about this being a potential banana skin, some would say this game has got "Spursy" written all over it, but the last 5 teams have actually drawn, not lost their next league match.
Na mate. Vorm Dier Dave Jan Aurier Winks Dembele Rose Eriksen Alli Kane No disrespect to Palace but there's no way they'll attempt to pass their way through us. They'll sit deep and look to hit us on the break with Zahahaha and Townsend. No need for a dedicated DM in this game and I'd like us to stick with 3 at the back as a 4 against parked buses hasn't worked well this season.
As much as I enjoyed Mousa ****ing up Ramos, he actually looked pretty terrible when he come on, lost possession once or twice and gave away petty fouls but it was easily forgivable given the fact we were 'ole-ing' Real Madrid. Wouldn't want him starting until he's 100% ready to do so, he's fragile as it is, last thing I want is an 80% Mousa pulling up midway through the first or second half and being out for another spell, it's not worth the risk. Sonny could do with a run out in one of his preferred wide roles, he's been benched a lot lately and when he has played it's often been out of position in one of his secondary roles (up front or CAM), didn't even make it onto the pitch against Real so I hope he gets a prolonged period against Palace.
In a way I agree. The problem with Mousa is that even a few weeks on the sidelines renders him really, really rusty when he returns and he needs a good 3+ weeks to build himself back to full match sharpness, by which time he has usually picked up the next knock or sprain. It is rapidly becoming a vicious cycle whereby as much as it hurts me to say it but he will start to decline into a bit-part player and in all honesty probably won't be at Spurs beyond 32. We got very lucky over the past 2 seasons with him but the aches and niggles are occurring quicker and healing slower. May even be an idea to look at bringing in a young understudy for 'powerful midfielder' this summer. I'd say Onomah is the perfect candidate (that's one argument you won me over with. Just the one mind.), but Bruce is playing him in the '3' so he isn't gaining much experience at all in his international position. Perhaps that was the thinking behind the Andre Gomes links? Did Poch see this happening to the Belgian? I still think we need to go with 3 at the back against Hodgson's bus. Too soon for Foyth but maybe Davies in a back 3 with Jan and Dave, then Rose at LWB?
This might get rectified soon, as Villa have Callum O'Hare coming through and he plays in the role Onomah's currently filling. They've got quite a few injuries and the youngster scored a hat-trick in the reserves against Newcastle the other day. Bruce has suggested that he'll get a chance to start soon, so using Onomah deeper would make sense to fit him in.
I'm going with Vorm Aurier, Sanchez, Dier, Vertonghen, Rose Winksy, Sissoko, Son, Harry Kane, Dele However, today could see one of MP's 'out there' selections. Just win it. No other result is acceptable. I am excused clapping, singing and ranting today as I've had my elbow nerves done and managed to perforate an ear drum..........yeah, like that's going to stop me.
Llorente to start. If they are going to park the bus , then why not have another striker on for them to deal with?
What are the odds on Chelsea and Arsenal winning and us not...cos we all know that's what is gonna happen
