please log in to view this image Sunday 22nd November 4pm White Hart Lane Premier League The international break's over and it's back to business. A lot of our players have been off around the world with their countries, so let's hope that they've all returned unscathed. Lamela and Bentaleb both appeared to have some issues, but neither would've started this one. The Argentinian is suspended and the Algerian's returning from injury and will face a real fight when he's fit. Chadli and Pritchard are still expected to miss out, though there's no news on N'Jie. West Ham have their own share of injury issues, especially in regards to their current star player, Dmitri Payet. He was hacked down quite cynically in their last fixture, a 1-1 draw with Everton and he faces three months on the sidelines. There are question marks over Song and Sakho, too. Last season's fixture might be something to pay attention to for this one, despite our opponents' change of manager. We dominated possession and had more of the chances, but were hit on the break effectively. Kouyate and Sakho gave West Ham a commanding lead with ten minutes to go, but Rose pulled one back before Kane leveled it up from the spot. I'd prefer it if we didn't wait until the last kick of the game to get something this time, though. We need to be aware of their tactics under Bilic and do a better job of dealing with them. They've been getting good results against better teams, as they thrive when they're organised and compact. They've started the season well, but have lost the man who has arguably been their best player. We may miss Lamela's constant pressure, but it's something that we have to learn to work around. Son's return may mean that he's the obvious replacement, but they offer different things. The Korean's goal threat may be more useful if West Ham sit back, though. Lineups for the last league game: Spurs: Lloris; Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose; Dier, Alli; Lamela, Dembele, Eriksen; Kane. Subs: Vorm, Trippier, Davies, Mason, Carroll, Onomah, Son. League form: WDDWWD West Ham: Adrian; Jenkinson, Tomkins, Reid, Cresswell; Kouyate, Noble; Moses, Lanzini, Payet; Carroll. Subs: Randolph, Ogbonna, Cullen, Antonio, Zarate, Valencia, Jelavic. League form: DDWWLD Referee: Anthony Taylor. Should Son replace Lamela directly or have his fitness and the travelling with his national side made this too early to start him? Is there a suitable alternative, if he's not up to speed? Have Mason or Onomah's sub appearances earned them a shot? Do we need to take the Qarabag game into consideration or is that not a priority?
Lamela's suspended, so the attacking trio is likely to be Son on the right, Dembele through the middle and Eriksen on the left.
Lamela being out makes selection a bit easier. Think we all know the eleven already. Not many times I ever remember that being the case !
Problem is that, with Pritchard and Chadli both out for a few more weeks, the attacking trio against Qarabag is probably going to be just as easy to guess.
I dunno. Bentaleb, Mason, Carroll, Lamella, Townsend, Onamah could probably give it a shot ? Trouble is, first team starters will need to fly out there anyway, even if it's to bench.
While we can rotate the central midfield pair, for the sake of argument start with Carroll and Bentaleb (Poch has said he could be available for that match) with Winks on the bench - but the attacking players are harder to rotate with the absences of Chadli and Pritchard. Case in point, if we rest Kane for Qarabag the only forward options are Son or N'Jie, which means one if not both of Son and Lamela will be starting against Qarabag and Chelsea. Don't suppose Wolfsburg would be willing to sell Azzaoui back to us? Our need is greater than theirs!
I've just listed a possibility there though. And I forgot NJie. And Winks. So, maybe : -------------NJie Onamah Lamela Townsend Bentaleb Mason Bench : carroll, winks, alli Only one of the first team (alli) needs to travel. Sorted.
The game has some interesting angles, aside from it being a London derby. West Ham has a rather shocking series of wins against top teams this year. Spurs are playing well and getting a little notice. The PL is filled with reversals of fortune and there are a couple here for Spurs. Lamela was widely mocked his first couple of years. Son looked well on his way to becoming the PL’s biggest east Asian star after three goals in three games. Lamela has had a very good year so far, even if it hasn’t been particularly pretty. 4 goals, 3 assists, the eighth most chances created in the PL, and easily one of the league’s best defensive forwards is not too shabby. Son was knocked out of action by a foot injury, and when he came back and replaced Lamela, he deserved some of the blame for Arsenal’s equalizer. He looks very likely to replace Lamela for the entire West Ham game. No doubt he’s dying to get his season back on track. I’d say West Ham should be happy to get anything out of this match, but they have been able to beat a number of top teams. Spurs need to start getting three points more often. COYS!
A shame that Lamela is out, as RWAERB pointed out, his statistics has been really impressive and in fairness his all round play has been pretty good so he'll be missed. On the plus side, Son should be near full fitness and so will hopefully be fine to start and play a good 75-80 minutes. Lloris Walker, Toby, Jan, Rose Dier, Alli Dembele, Eriksen, Son Kane Vorm, Tripps, Davies, Wimmer, Mason, Onomah, N'Jie COYS!!!
Could be a great game. Their record against last seasons top 7 is great....they beat arsenal, city, liverpool (all away) and chelsea at home, plus they drew with everton. We are unbeaten since the opening day of the season and are due a good performance against them at the lane. So a boring nil nil then
Big match for both teams, a victory will keep either of us in touch of the leaders. I have a feeling the prem might be won with about 85 points this season.
Results have gone our way this weekend. The performance today will again be a statement of ambition and resolve.
Too true, above us are Leicester, class manager but probably lacking depth, however, if they remain injury free the sky is the limit. Manure, probably favourites now but anyone can beat them on a good day, Citeh, who should win it but without Kompany look like headless chickens and the Goons, who can piss most off but are a shadow of what they were. A decently organised side, such as WBA under Pullis can quite easily see them off. Below us are Wet Spam, Bilic has awoken them, Southampton, well worth watching, the red mousers who, like them or not were well worth watching yesterday. I think yesterday was the first time that they played the Klopp methodology properly but he still has a long way to go, they might be there or there abouts at the end and of course the Chavs, well, next year for them methinks. If we win substantially today, one or two might start to believe.
You missed out Everton. 10 goals in their last two home games and looking good most weeks. We did very well against them and should've beaten them, limiting them to one real chance late on, but they're steadily picking up points.
"If we win substantially today, one or two might start to believe." Just need the boys to have the "tunnel vision" to look at who is top each week and think : a win today will put us within N points of them.
Lloris (c); Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose; Alli, Dier; Dembele, Eriksen, Son; Kane Subs: Vorm, Trippier, Davies, Mason, Carroll, Onomah, Townsend
Starting XI has more or less picked itself on season-long merit. Gotta be concerned that Pochettino may go full AVB and take too strong a squad to Qarabag with the Chelsky game being very important (beat them and that could take them off our worry list this soon) .
88 degree Fahrenheit over here day. I'm also expecting us to give West Ham a warm welcome today. If we work the ball quickly around the final third., we should win this comfortably.
West Ham without Payet who plays the ball on the ground are obviously going to revert to long ball tactics with Carroll. I fear it might be an ugly game. We struggled when the Woolwich played that system.
