please log in to view this image Sunday 4th October 4pm Liberty Stadium Premier League A testing, rainy tie in Monaco with a pretty strong side probably wasn't ideal preparation for this game. The big win against City will have boosted morale, though and Swansea's is probably a little low at the moment. Their 3-1 loss to Southampton wasn't a bad performance, by all accounts, but they lacked a threat up front. It completed a pretty miserable month for the Welsh side and they'll see this is a big opportunity to get back on track. Son's foot injury may well add him to the casualty list for this game and I suspect that nobody will return from it. Mason's supposed to be closest to a full recovery, but the language used about his fitness is typically sketchy. Walker and Davies didn't feature in the Principality though, so I think they'll be back in the side. Chadli may keep his place, though he's not done enough to deserve it, in my opinion. Lineups for the last league games: Spus: Lloris; Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies; Dier, Alli; Lamela, Son, Eriksen; Kane. Subs: Vorm, Trippier, Rose, Carroll, Townsend, Chadli, N'Jie. League form: DDDWWW Swansea: Fabianski; Naughton, Fernandez, Williams, Taylor; Ki, Cork, Shelvey; Ayew, Sigurdsson; Gomis. Subs: Nordfelt, Rangel, Bartley, Britton, Routledge, Montero, Eder. League form: WDWLDL Ref: Mike Dean. Our results against Swansea since their promotion to the Premier League have been very good. They got a draw in the first game and have lost all of the subsequent fixtures, IIRC. I don't think that this accurately reflects their performances against us though, as they're generally tough games. Naughton, Sigurdsson and Routledge will all be out to prove a point, too. If Son is out, then who should we replace him with and do we need any other changes? Did Rose or Trippier do enough against Monaco to retain their places in the XI? Are there any signs of fatigue in the side, following some tough games and little rotation?
I'd like to see Townsend given a start. Maybe he'll be better starting than off the bench and Chadli hasn't done enough for me. Lloris Walker Toby Jan Davies Dier Alli Ledgela Eriksen Townsend Kane
I’d like to see Rose at LM, actually, but I’ll bet we see Chadli, with Clinton as a possibility. I think we need somebody pacy up front, though. That’s one reason Son helped so much.
Lloris, Walker, Toby, Jan, Davies Dier, Alli Lamela, Eriksen, Chadli Kane Vorm, Trippier, Wimmer, Rose, Carroll, Clint, Townsend Chadli gets in this one because A) I'm biased as I'm one of his biggest fans and B) With Son out and Clint still seemingly building fitness, Chadli offers the best goal threat, I know he's been pretty poor lately but the thing with Nacer is that he can just pop up with a goal or assist and I think he's due one now. After Rose's performance Thursday I'd have put him in the squad but he took an absolute beating and so I think asking him to play 3 days later is a big ask. After the international break it'll be interesting to see who gets the nod, Davies has done nothing wrong and has more than done his part in the impressive defence so far but Danny just has that speed and attacking instinct that I think suits Poch's system a bit better. It's nice having the LB problem though, two very good young players who are only improving as games go by.
We haven’t scored much this year, and the goals we’ve gotten have been either from set pieces or on the counter with, what, only a couple of exceptions, maybe Dier against City and Chadli against Stoke. The funny thing is, we’ve had fewer chances at both than almost anyone. We’re one of the least fouled teams and have a lot of the ball. So our attacking has been notably ineffective. Every time we pass it sideways or backwards, in other words, our chances of scoring from open play drop to near zero--which I suspect will surprise nobody. Our defending has certainly been good. We’ve only conceded two non-pen legal goals to the other team in 7 games. So we’re more or less the exact opposite of last year. Chadli, Eriksen and Kane, who had 41 goals in the Prem last year, have 2 between them in 7. To complete the transformation from last year, our GD works out to more than half a goal advantage per game, much better than the last few years.
Looking at the table this morning we have played 5 of the top 7 in our opening games and can go 3rd today ......strange season so far
I think we are very much on an upward curve atm with each game we grow in confidence. I am led to thinking that this has been one of our best transfer windows for some years. The new players have transformed our defence and our attacking options have also greatly improved.
I hope now that Kane finds his form again. Eriksen too. It would be perfect timing. A convincing win today would put us right in the thick of the top cluster of teams. With our new look sturdy and stubborn defence, we would be tough to shift from there.
#THFC team: Lloris (c), Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies; Alli, Dier; Chadli, Eriksen, Lamela; Kane. #COYS
No disrespect to them as I am a massive fan of Monk's style of football, but on paper we are vastly superior to them in most departments, with a far more impressive bench. Which of course means we'll lose In other news, Liverpool are cack.
Dembele back on the bench. Really could've done with Bentaleb or Mason coming back from injury. Ahwell, it's still a decent line up, the majority of which beat City and Chadli came on in that game and did well. Hopefully they got the poor game that usually follows a big win out of their system on Thursday.
Who from the Swansea XI would you want in the Spurs XI? Maybe Ayew in for Chadli but beyond that, on form, player for player we are simply better than them.
1-0 Swansea. Ayew. Terrible defending all round. Walker in no man's land and nobody getting back to support him. Crap marking in the box, too.
