please log in to view this image Sunday 25th February 12pm Premier League Selhurst Park Another round of the FA Cup and another unsatisfying performance that leads to a replay at Wembley. I'm sure that many neutrals will have appreciated the match, though. The FA Cup's not dead yet. Back to the meat and drink of the campaign and we've got a trip to Palace. The race for the top four spots is very congested as this is an opportunity to step up. Utd and Chelsea face each other in the following match, so at least one of our competitors is dropping points. Palace are another club that's had a bit of a roller coaster season. Having replaced Sam Allardyce with Frank de Boer and the promise of sexy football, they came into the campaign with confidence. That was quickly destroyed by a series of disastrous losses, breaking a record for the worst start ever. Losing four successive games without scoring a goal was enough for the board and De Boer was out. In came former England manager Roy Hodgson and their form gradually improved as he settled into the job. Wins have still been hard to come by and a tight table still sees them looking over their shoulder. 15th place doesn't sound too bad, but a solitary point separates them from the relegation zone. Can the Croydon boy keep his local club in the top flight? He's still got plenty of work to do. Our trip to Selhurst Park in the last campaign typified our recent run against the home side. They made it tough and kept it tight, as they battled to get over the line and avoid relegation. A goalless first half was largely reduced to attack vs defence, as we dominated without really threatening. Plenty of the ball and in decent areas, but they stayed resolute and chances were at a premium. Christian Eriksen broke their resolve late on to win it with a marvelous long-range effort: The match between us at Wembley had a similar tone, though Palace had more of an attacking threat. An injury disrupted first half saw them test Paulo Gazzaniga, as he made his first and only appearance for us. There was more of the same after the break, as we struggled to get through an organised defence. Starting without a striker may have cost them badly, as they missed some big opportunities on the break. Heung-Min Son's shot from a poorly cleared ball was enough to take all three points, in the end: No injury news for us at the moment, but it seems that we might be at full strength for this one. Palace have a ton of players out, in contrast. Wickham, Dann, Puncheon, Loftus-Cheek, Schlupp, Sako, Speroni, Kelly and Sakho are all out. Neither side has any suspensions. Lineups for each side's last league game: Spurs: Lloris; Trippier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Davies; Dier, Dembele; Eriksen, Alli, Son; Kane. Subs: Vorm, Aurier, Rose, Wanyama, Sissoko, Lamela, Moura. League form: DWDWDW. Palace: Hennessey; Ward, Fosu-Mensah, Tomkins, van Aanholt; Townsend, Cabaye, Milivojevic, McArthur; Benteke, Sorloth. Subs: Henry, Delaney, Souare, Riedewald, Lee, Wan-Bissaka, Rakip. League form: WWLDDL. Referee: Kevin Friend. TV: Sky Sports. Our cup match saw a very different starting XI with most of the big names left out. How many should return? Did anyone do enough against Rochdale to displace one of our regulars? Is there anything that we should do differently to help us create chances against this kind of side?
Palace are in the same predicament they were exactly one season ago. So the question is whether a draw is good enough for them if a smash and grab opportunity does not present itself to be taken. For Spurs, I suspect a combo of patience + serious clinical finishing will be required. So fast and aggressive attack for me IMHO (which means all of Son/Lamela/Moura featuring for a large amount of the game) .
Hugo Tripps, Dave, Jan, Davies Dier, Dembele Dele, Eriksen, Son Kane Vorm, Aurier, Rose, Toby, Vic, Lamela, Moura
That game at Wembley was a painful watch and we could easily have found ourselves a couple down before Sonny scored. Aurier had a ‘mare (where have we heard that before....) and Palace could have easily had a couple of penalties: the first from Gazzaniga when he tried to block Sackho and the 2nd when Rose pulled a Palace forward at the corner in the first half where Gazzaniga saved the header. Hopefully a more professional performance this time around and a vital 3 points secured. Best available side we can put out please.
So our being linked with him this week isn't a Man Utesque case of us using the media to unsettle them in the week before a match? Keelah Se'lai for that...
Potential banana skin here, however, the match being moved from my birthday is good news, we always fek-up on my birthday.
Basically what I’d go with, except potentially starting Moura over Son. He’s a bit of an unknown to our opponents, looks very direct, and linked up really well with Trippier against Rochdale. He may also be really useful in helping to add a finishing touch to Dembeles ball retention work in midfield. Sons been a bit wasteful recently and his form has dropped over the last few games.
I've blagged a ticket in the Main Stand for this one from a Palace supporting mate. So, we'd best put out our best team and make sure that there's no bloody slip-ups. So, no Aurier or DoF. The next few weeks our competitors get to play each other, whilst we don't. We need to be taking advantage. I agree with Dier Hard and Roo on the team. Let's get this done.
Yeah good shout mate, Sonny seems a bit run-down at the moment, a game or two on the bench may help him recover a bit to go full flow in other upcoming games. I doubt Lucas will start though as he's still a while off of being match fit for 90 mins, looked excellent against Rochdale but the Prem is a different beast and the speed is way more intense. I'd throw Lamela in, he's now 100% I'd say so can slot in nicely. Ease Lucas in a bit more, have Sonny recover and then bang, our AM options in a couple weeks will be a joke, lovely headache for Poch.
We need to be right up for this... either United or Chelsea or both will drop points so only a win will do in the race for 4th...problem is we have drawn our last 5 away matches and have had to come from behind in all of them. More worryingly 3 of the matches were aganst lower league (Newport and Rochdale) and relegation candidates (Southampton). We need to start fast and actually defend properly from minute 1!
This is where I feel Lamela is so indespensible to the team. He is probably the only player in the entire squad who you can guarantee will start every game in wide-eyed fury, irrespective of the opposition. He set the tone in the Wimbledon and Newport home ties, and was instrumental in our turnaround in Turin. I'd start him tomorrow, instead of Alli if possible (won't happen). We just don't have enough players who 'set the tone' from the off and as a result have seen far, far too many lackadaisical first half displays this season. Hugo Aurier Dave Jan Davies Dier Dembele Lamela Eriksen Son Kane For me.
Morning, people. A win today, and we are 2 pts off 2nd place plus put pressure on Man Utd / Chelsky later on.
A real blow that Jan is out and will unbalance us on the left, despite Dier being more than capable to slot in otherwise. For a variety of reasons I hate to suggest this, but we could have moved Ben into the middle (plays there for Wales successfully) and bring in the DoF....... Oh well - guess that remains an option if starting option doesn’t gel.
Whoever gave Jan this 'heavy knock in training' should be chained to the Bobby Moore statue and flogged. And if it was Sissoko, publicly executed.
