please log in to view this image Sunday 8th November 12pm Premier League The Hawthorns We got back on track in Europe and there were some encouraging performances, too. Our last couple of league games have been a bit dodgy though, so we need an improvement for this one. West Brom are struggling, so it's a massive game for them and Bilic will be desperate for a result. He'll have had a full week to prepare for this one and I'm sure he'll have used every minute of it. Can Mourinho continue our current string of results or will the Baggies take some points off us? Our hosts had a very successful season last time out, finishing in 2nd place and returning to the top flight. Slaven Bilic joined the club in the summer after a short stint in Saudi Arabia and had an immediate impact. They'd reached the play-offs at the last try, but replaced Darren Moore before that point, despite being 4th. Their place remained the same and caretaker James Shan was unsuccessful in his attempt to get them up. They lost on penalties in the semi-final to local rivals Aston Villa and remained in the Championship. Bilic got his new club off to a very impressive start and their form continued for most of the season. Between the start and Boxing Day they played 24 matches and only lost 1, which was to fellow challengers Leeds. The second half of the campaign wasn't quite as good, but they were still hard to beat and didn't lose many. A win over Derby in July put them top, but they failed to win any of their last four matches and it nearly cost them. Leeds took the title and Brentford narrowly missed out on 2nd, losing on the final day to Barnsley at home. Our hosts spent some money this summer and showed some ambition, but it's yet to pay off. They've found it very tough so far and have yet to win a single game. The have drawn three though and were very unlucky against Chelsea, who came back from 3 goals down. Their latest loss came against fellow promoted club Fulham and Bilic will be feeling some pressure now. They face Utd after us and we all know how fickle club owners are nowadays. Lamela misses out on this one and Tanganga is also likely to be absent, but Aurier and Reguilon should be fine. Field and Robson-Kanu are out for the hosts, who should see O'Shea return to the squad. Neither side has any suspensions. Lineups for each side's last league game: Spurs: Lloris; Doherty, Alderweireld, Dier, Reguilon; Sissoko, Hojbjerg; Lamela, Ndombele, Son; Kane. Subs: Hart, Rodon, Davies, Winks, Lo Celso, Bale, Moura. League form: WDWDWW. West Brom: Johnstone; Furlong, Ivanovic, Ajayi, Townsend; Krovinovic; Diangana, Livermore, Gallagher, Pereira; Grant. Subs: Button, Bartley, Gibbs, Sawyers, Phillips, Edwards, Robinson. League form: LDLDDL. Ref: Andy Madley. VAR: Simon Hooper. TV: Pay-per-view nonsense. How would you like to line up for this one and what would you change from the Ludogorets game? Would you stick with much of the same lineup, make a few changes or go for a wholesale switch? Which system and tactics would you use and what are you expecting West Brom to go with?
Our CBs are much of a muchness so I think we’ll see: Lloris Aurier CB CB Regulion Sissoko Højbjerg NDombele Lucas Kane Son GLC isn’t quite there yet and Sissoko does help us mop up. I hope Tanguy plays a little deeper because we need players who can run the ball from deep as well as pass in order to break teams down. In terms of CBs I’d really like to see Rodon given a go some time as he was getting great reviews in the Championship and none of the seniors are exactly pulling up trees. But Jose might think it’s too early.
Agree with Hudd about Rodon, literally can’t be any worse than the usual three and he’s most likely to get better too. WBA is also a team he’ll be familiar with. I’d like to see Bale given a league start as well, he looked the sharpest he’s been so far on Thursday and a start alongside Son and Kane for an hour or so should be doable. Hugo Doherty, take your pick, Rodon, Reggie Sissoko, Hojbjerg, Ndombele Bale, Kane, Son
WBA have been quite an awkward opponent for Spurs in recent times. Based on recent team complacency + shaky DM, it will definitely not be 90 mins of comfortable viewing.
Went to the WBA match at Wembley in 2017-18 season. Dele dropped a clanger that they scored from in the first 5 minutes and then we spent from that point onwards watching Ben Foster time waste with no punishment until the 84th minute. Ended up drawing 1 all. Think we lost the away game 1 nil in the last minute. Was also at the WBA in 2015-16 when they got a late equaliser which really damaged the slim hope of catching Leicester
That game also saw Dele pick up a post-game ban for punching one of their defenders in the ribs, which ultimately led to our collapse as for our last few games both Dele and Dembele were suspended
A fully-fuelled jet taking off from Mar a Lago bound for Moscow with Jared & Ivanka working the shredding machines for the entire flight?
Mike Jones masterclass. I remember asking the bloke sat next to me what minute he thought Foster would get booked in after about 30 seconds. He went for 85th and it was actually the 82nd. Kept warning him, tapping his watch and doing nothing. ****ing clown. Should have sent him off much earlier in the game for kicking the ballboy. Only non-rival keeper that gets persistently booed pre-game, as far as I know.
