please log in to view this image Thursday 28th December 7.30pm Premier League Amex Stadium No injury news yet, but Perisic, van de Ven, Maddison, Sessegnon, Solomon and Bentancur are still out. Bissouma serves match 2 of his 4 game suspension, while Udogie returns from his solitary ban. Lineups for each side's last league game: Spurs: Vicario; Porro, Romero, Davies, Emerson; Sarr, Skipp, Kulusevski; Johnson, Richarlison, Son. Subs: Forster, Dier, Dorrington, Phillips, Hojbjerg, Donley, Gil, Veliz. League form: LDLWWW. Brighton: Verbruggen; Hinshelwood, van Hecke, Dunk, Igor; Baleba, Gilmour; Adingra, Gross, Mitoma; Pedro. Subs: Steele, Kavanagh, Dahoud, Milner, Moder, Lallana, Buonanotte, Welbeck, Ferguson. League form: WLWDLD. Ref: Jarred ****ing Gillett. Really? VAR: Peter Bankes. TV: Amazon Prime Video. How would you like to line up for this one and how do you think we actually will line up?
please log in to view this image In this case it's not just that he's quite ****, but that he recently ****ed up one of our games. He was dreadful at Forest and we've only played once since then.
This will be a tough game, as Brighton have excellent home form this season. Therefore the strongest available starting XI has to be selected.
The big choice is Hojbjerg vs Skipp at 6, as the rest of the squad pick themselves. I didn’t think Skippy had a bad game on Saturday but Hojbjerg had a decent cameo and having Destiny back helps cover for both their technical shortcomings compared to Bissouma or Bentancur anyway. For me: Vic Porro Romero Davies Destiny Sarr Skipp Kulu Johnson Richy Son
On the subject of academy graduates, which of Ashley Phillips or Alfie Dorrington fancy their chances of playing if Cuti's hamstring isn't up to it?
Gillett came here with a glowing reputation but on the evidence so far he looks exactly like you'd expect a bloke to look having just moved from a league with an average attendance of 10,000 in a country with four more popular sports; to a league with an average attendance over 4 X the size in a country where it is by far the number one sport: Like a deer in headlights. So blatantly influenced by the home crowd it is embarrassing.
CK with all due respect where he comes from isn't relevant. He is FIFA accredited . I think he has watched too many average PL referees and has started to mirror them. Also having VAR hanging over your shoulder doesn't help either.
Possibly worth considering if he's worried about pundits suggesting he's doing his compatriot Ange a favour You have to imagine that, if a Spanish ref came over to the Premier League, if they made a bad call which just so happened to benefit Fraudiola, Arseteta, Emery or Iraola that would absolutely be the weekend's Narrative
My personal observation is that it is relevant as he doesn't look like he can handle the increased pressure and scrutiny, which will be exponentially greater than whatever he faced in the A-League. I don't mean this as a slight against Oz at all. I've often noticed when he's confronted with a baying home crowd, he looks visibly nervous and often caves in to whatever they are screaming for. He most recently let Forest kick lumps out of us with absolute impunity.
Fair call, but the PL chiefs must have seen something in his handling of pressure games to indicate he has the minerals to deal with it. However recent performances, such as our game at Forest shows that perhaps a spell in the championship is what he needs, some lower pressure games to get his mind off the crowds and more on the game. He also seems to be reluctant to sanction players who foul a lot and then try to get their opponents carded (Yates for example). Saying that a lot of his mates have been refereeing that way too. Time for a reset .
Suspensions or injuries with him. It’s constant. I’d seriously think about moving him on in the summer. Top sides have settled centre back partnerships. Spurs won’t get anywhere (winning trophies) unless Romero can go a sustained time without being missing for whatever reason
Almost as if higher powers want Ange to definitively know ASAP who in the current / prospective squad is (not) "fit for purpose" under his regime.
Gutted to see another player injured. Is it ever gonna end? Levy must bring another CB in at the start of January.
