There are quite a few mids we have who are ahead of Hudd, and it may well be JJ is one of them. He can play the pressing, high tempo game that AVB seems to like and is beyond Hudd. But I've thought Sandro and Livermore for a while now for this game, still think the same. As for Gallas who knows, not me.
Hudd just now on twitter Tom Huddlestone ‏@TomHuddlestone6 Good luck to the lads today up at Newcastle, devo not to be involved but will be watching later on!!
someone's just asked him if he's not fit and he's replied with "nah, I'm fit mate". it looks like he's had a falling out with AVB, as he tweeted on thursday saying "Respect needs earning before being given #Fact" obviously this might not be the case at all, but it doesn't look good...
Given that we're playing them in an U21s/Reserve game too, which allows the selection of three overage players, you'd have to say that it looks like he's on the way out. Disappointing.
Especially bearing in mind there's no modric or Parker. I'm sorry, but it's insulting that jenas has a place instead of thudd.
Everyone's fit except for collocini. Lineup as been announced on talksport. Cisse, Ba, Ben arfa, cabaye all start.
We line up as : Friedel, Walker, Gallas, Kaboul, Assou Ekotto, Livermore, Sandro, Sig, Lennon, Bale, Defoe Subs: Vertonghen, VDV, Cudicini, Naughton, Jenas, Kane, Townsend.
Thats great, Gallas our captain in a highline agaisnt cisse and ba..........in saying that today has had results no one expected.
Compare Arsenal's line up today. I'm not sure I'd have many of their team instead of this. In fact Vermalen, Santi Cazorla and Podolski would be my only possibles and the the last two wouldn't displace Modric and Adebayor (or hopefully whoever replaces them).
I'm hoping that the 'high line' idea will be on hold for now, that's the only way that Gallas makes sense. Plus, he is an obvious captain in the absence of King and Parker. To be honest, I'm just happy that Jenas is on the bench and not on the pitch. We have a chance, with Sandro and Livermore, of controlling the midfield. The combination of Sigurdsson and Defoe even makes some sense, over VDV and Defoe, considering the heights of the players. We could get a good result. Fingers crossed. ...and toes.
Ignore the above post that was just a 'mic 1-2 check,1-2 check,testing,testing' Just to see if im in full working order for kick off! 'cmoooon you SPURS' 'get the ****r past the first defender!' 'jenas?..jenas?' 'Ffs' Yeah I'm ready....hope you Yids are aswell!
i'm baffled as to why Vert's isn't starting though. no place in the squad for Dawson or Caulker either!!! jeezz. I don't expect Rafa will like being on the bench either, but i guess he's gonna have to get used to rotating with Sig.
Twatkinson's the ref today. He got a year long ban from United matches for giving 50-50 decisions against United but barely a handful of games after ****ing up the semi finals he's back to screw us over. If anything the FA have hurried up his choice for another Spurs game after the almighty **** up.
Spurcat said Dawson didn't make the squad because of a family bereavement but I can understand and agree with AVB chosing experience in Gallas. Vertonghen will needs time to adapt and I imagine we'll be playing a bit deeper and looking to counter a fair bit today.