Will be gutted if Nacer and Hugo are out, they've been our two best players at the opposite ends of the pitch, last thing we'd need when facing City at the Etihad!
Hopefully the lack of Hugo behind them will put the fear of a drubbing into our defence and they'll play like their lives depended on it for 90 minutes.
Naughton's injured, isn't he? I'd go with Townsend on the left, or maybe even Rose with Davies behind him and leave most of the attacking to Lamela and Eriksen. We're strongest attacking down the right and with Toure, Clichy and Mangala being the main defensive players down the side I think we could get some joy. Better than trying to attack against Fernando/Fernandinho, Zabaleta and Kompany anyhow.
Players of all descriptions have a tendency to come down with internationalitis, characterized by an injury which seems serious for as long as the there are games to play for the national team, but which clears up instantly once back at the club. Internationalitis can only be diagnosed after the first club game following an international break, so the true status of Lloris and Chadli remains unknown.
Why don't they just have one big International break rather than this increasing disruption to the football season. Because the sport attracts so much money everyone wants their piece of the action. Increasing cup games and increasing Internationals. The golden goose can be flogged to death if you really try.
Either this is a poorly-worded tweet, or we can add two more to the doubtful list: https://twitter.com/SpursOfficial/status/522748628461707265
A little over 36 hours before normal service is resumed I hope that doesn't mean City beating Spurs. I'd like to see you get at least a point.
Yaya Toure might be absent - either he picked up a knock, or he lost a game of pass the parcel and now won't leave his bedroom...
Ade and Bentaleb are doubts due to globe trotting. Mason would start anyway, it's fairly safe to say, but if Ade doesn't start, what then? Soldado, Kane, or does it depend on whether Chadli starts? I think there should be a ban on players playing competitively more than once a week. It's de facto in American so-called football. Too many football players spend too much time injured. Their careers are shorter than they should be. Either a game requires a week layoff or it doesn't, and I think football does. You shouldn't require players to play 2 or even three times a week because someone wants to squeeze a little more cash out of them.
Soldado up front with Kane on the left? Or would the tabloids kvetch about Townsend not getting games?
I'm not as down on Townsend as I've been. His near-zero football IQ is balanced by the fact he always gives it his all. But Kane is both a much, much bigger threat to score and a better fit on the left. Although--it would be interesting to replace Ade with Kane, move Eriksen to the left and let Soldado play behind Kane.
I wouldn't mind seeing either Soldado or Kane start but not both. This is the toughest game of the season on paper, there's no rivalry and we're in a decent position in the league so I don't think there's any pressure on getting a result, might as well experiment rather than stick with a couple of players that are underperforming.
If we're going to use the same tactics that we did against Arsenal, then we probably need pace on the break. If Chadli does miss out, then he needs to be replaced with either Townsend or Lennon. We'll also need to hold up the ball, so if Adebayor isn't up to it after playing for Togo, then I think Kane might be a better call than Soldado. He'll definitely need support quickly if that's the case, though.
Manchester City: Hart, Clichy, Demichelis, Kompany (C), Sagna, Milner, Lampard, Fernando, Navas, Silva, Aguero Subs: Caballero, Kolarov, Boyata, Toure, Fernandinho, Jovetic, Dzeko Tottenham Hotspur: Lloris, Dier, Fazio, Kaboul (c), Rose; Capoue, Mason; Chadli, Eriksen, Lamela; Soldado Subs: Vorm, Vertonghen, Dembele, Stambouli, Townsend, Adebayor, Kane Fazio and Soldado? Neither of them played for their countries, so maybe Pochettino's picking them for some fresh legs? Bit odd.
I think we're preparing for sitting deep and dealing with a lot of crosses. Interesting selection, hopefully Soldado and Fazio have been selected for their good performances in training rather than just injuries to other players.
