please log in to view this image Friday 26th January 8pm FA Cup 4th Round Tottenham Hotspur Stadium Too early for injury news yet, but there could be some returns after our small break. Son, Bissouma and Sarr are still away on international duty and Perisic has left the club. Veliz and Davies are out. Maddison has featured in training. Neither side has any suspensions. Lineups for each side's last league game: Spurs: Vicario; Porro, Romero, van de Ven, Udogie; Skipp, Bentancur, Hojbjerg; Johnson, Richarlison, Werner. Subs: Forster, Austin, Emerson, Dragusin, Dorrington, Gil, Santiago, Donley. League form: WWWLWD. City: Ederson; Walker, Dias, Ake, Gvardiol; Rodri, Kovacic; Foden, Silva, Doku; Alvarez. Subs: Ortega, Lewis, Gomez, Phillips, Susoho, Nunes, Grealish, De Bruyne, Bobb. League form: LWDWWW. Ref: Paul ****ing Tierney. VAR: Tim Robinson. They've even got Darren England and Jarred Gillett helping. TV: ITV1 and their app. How would you like to line up for this one and how do you think we actually will line up?
Going to this...my eldest bought me a ticket cos she got her work bonus! We're expecting a loss but a great match! COYS
VdV + Romero in starting XI to play for as long as they can. Strongest available attack. < for the honour >
Ange says Maddison’s available to start. Finally getting a Maddison x Bentancur midfield, tears in my eyes.
Absolutely against City - and every other team too. It’s a shame we have neither of the African lads but Bentancur and Maddison will be two of Ange’s first names on the team sheet.
I agree, I would go Kulu, Maddison and Bentancur midfield. They have the skill set and guile to match city.
I can’t see him starting both in midfield. I think it’s more likely Kulu on the right and a choice of Johnson or Werner on the left. Wouldn’t be surprised to see Skipp start in the Sarr role.
Hojbjerg offers more MF muscle, but less speed in forward movement. Skipp is the converse. I could see Ange starting with the former, and having the latter for the end game.
I disagree. Hojbjerg looks a bit lost as an 8 and I don’t think playing him as a lone 6 with Bentancur as the 8 is entirely comfortable. We know what the structure of the midfield will look like and it would surprise me if Ange deviates to using a Bentancur/Hojbjerg double pivot from the start, even if he does sometimes use it later in games. Skipp had a reasonable game against United and I think he understands the role in terms of the runs he makes and the spaces he occupies even if he isn’t as capable there as Sarr is.
Citeh tend to out-muscle (usually ref-abetted fouls) and overrun opposition MFs. When they cannot do that, then they have to take more risks (which is when opposition such as Spurs so often do them) .
Yeah I think that’s what it’ll be too and in general whilst Sarr and Bissouma are away. When the two Africans are back, Kulu then moves back up to RW and whoever wins the battle between Sarr and Bissouma joins Bentancur and Maddison in the midfield three. I’d be surprised if tomorrow’s line up isn’t: Vicario Porro, Romero, van de Ven, Udogie Kulu, Bentancur, Maddison Johnson, Richarlison, Werner
You may well be right. I just think those three are a level above Skipp as players and would keep the ball better, which we are going to need to do. City won’t have Haaland so they will likely try and pass through us, which they are more than capable of doing, and I don’t always think Skipp has the mobility or physicality to compete with the very best. However Ange may pick the player better for the system and that could well be Skipp. As you say Skipp was decent against United and if he does start he will need to raise his level again if we have any chance of beating City
I’m wondering if Ange will start with VdV, Romero AND Dragusin, like he did for part of the last game and just allow Udogie and Porro to focus upfield. I’m a bit nervous about tonight. Surely Man C has to score at our new stadium at some point! Still, I suspect they are feeling the pressure more than we are.
Am on my way with a mate and my eldest...at Liverpool Street...loads of fans around from city too. All of them gloating about klopp
