Match Day Thread Tottenham Hotspur v Leicester City

[PleaseNotPoll]

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Sunday 10th January 4pm
White Hart Lane
FA Cup Third Round​

This is a repeat of last season's tie from this round, which saw us throwing away a lead in the dying seconds.
Both sides made a number of changes for that game and Michel Vorm's mistake sealed it:

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We had League Cup semi-final legs either side of it last time, so I hope we pick a stronger side for this one.
We face them again on the Wednesday in the league, though.
The team selection for each game will be quite a task for Pochettino, I suspect.

Leicester come into this game in virtually a mirror of their form before last season's fixture.
They were struggling badly in the league, but had picked up a little and improved their performances.
This time they face us after a bit of a dip, compared to their excellent form for most of the campaign.

It looks like Dembele, N'Jie and Pritchard will still be out for this one. No news on Mason, yet.
Leicester have Vardy and Schlupp out, both of whom are quite significant losses for them.

Lineups for the last league game:

Spurs: Lloris: Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies; Dier, Carroll; Eriksen, Alli, Lamela; Kane.
Subs: Vorm, Trippier, Rose, Bentaleb, Onomah, Chadli, Son.
League form: DLWWWD.

Leicester: Schmeichel; Simpson, Morgan, Huth, Fuchs; Mahrez, Drinkwater, Kante, Albrighton; Ulloa, Vardy.
Subs: Schwarzer, De Laet, Wasilewski, Inler, King, Dyer, Okazaki.
League form: WWWLDD.

Referee: Robert Madley.

Do we need to rotate for this one or should this be a priority?
Did Carroll do enough to keep his place in Dembele's shoes or should we try someone else?
Is there anyone that definitely shouldn't play for us in this one?

 

[Spurfect]

I'd maybe look at giving chadli and benteleb a start, son has also been on the fringes lately so I would start him as well. I cant see poch making too many changes though, its not really his style. Should be an interesting couple of games, hopefully we can win them both.

 

[SpursDisciple]

The 2 full backs can change, we could also bring Wimmer in for either of the Belgians - they have both played an awful lot of games. Mason and Bentaleb (if fit) should play, as should Chadli and Son. Lamela would need to play in the absence of Dembele and Alli or Kane would then make up the team.

 

[The Huddlefro]

The 2 full backs can change, we could also bring Wimmer in for either of the Belgians - they have both played an awful lot of games. Mason and Bentaleb (if fit) should play, as should Chadli and Son. Lamela would need to play in the absence of Dembele and Alli or Kane would then make up the team.

I agree, Wimmer has looked solid whenever I've seen him this season. For me Lloris has to play too.

IMO its hard to predict Leicester's approach to this game as they're clearly comfortable in the league, but I guess their selection will be a measure of if they're going to continue going all out or if they'll take a chance for the cup.

I'd go for

Lloris
Trippier Toby Wimmer Rose
Bentaleb Mason (or Carroll if Mason isn't fit)
Chadli Onomah Son
Kane

I'd give Alli a rest on the bench as he's been so key for us and we don't want him to burn out. Lamela too is very important this season so perhaps a rest might do him good too. I'd like to rest Kane but I think he has to play, Son up top with Chadli on the left is a bit risky IMO, maybe if we can put a few goals away before half time then we can revert to that. Big 'maybe' though.

 

[Citizen Kane]

Unless he was given specific instructions not to roam deep or to the flanks in search of possession, I thought Kane looked very drained against Everton, especially in the second half. I'd say the same for Eriksen although I worry for him that this is a proper dip in form rather than tiredness. Rest both of those and play Son up top off Huth's cumbersome shoulder and give Lamela free reign as a #10. Alli is basically undroppable at the minute. I'd definitely give Wimmer a start as mentioned and switch the full backs. Vorm had an absolute mare last year so giving him a chance to make amends would be a nice gesture and a big boost to his confidence. I also can't see Poch making more than 6 changes max. so:

Vorm
Trippier Wimmer Toby Rose
Dier Carroll
Alli Lamela Chadli/Onomah (I'd prefer the latter. Massive fan of the lad.)
Son

EDIT: Just watched that clip of highlights. I'd forgotten that a number of saves Vorm made that game were sheer class. A Gomes-esque performance if I've ever seen one.

 

[remembercolinlee]

was at that match with my then 12 year old daughter...was a great cup tie (apart from the result)...hope it is as good a game but with a better result for us as I would love us to finally win the cup again.

 

[Dier Hard]

Tough call for this game, want to win a trophy but genuinely think we can do something special in the league this year and don't want to risk burnout, a few lads need game time while others could do with a rest, so I'd definitely make some changes and hope the side that plays can come away with a win - which it should be able too if all perform.

Vorm,
Trippier, Toby, Wimmer, Rose
Mason, Bentaleb
Townsend, Carroll, Chadli
Son

It's still a good side despite mass changes, you'd be forgiven for thinking Mason and Bentaleb are genuine "back up" calibre players considering they were instrumental last season for us but the form of Dier, Dembele and Alli has kept them out (albeit injuries played a role too), Rose has a real challenge to get back in the main XI as Davies has been playing really good in my opinion, Trippier done well against Watford whereas Chadli and Son are £30m worth of signings, so although it's a rotated side, we're still pretty strong. Vardy is out for Leicester and I'll wonder if they'll play their strongest side anyway seeing how they're doing in the Prem. The fact they've gotta travel down here twice in 3 days also makes me think they'll definitely make some changes.

 

[Citizen Kane]

Last I heard, Mason has suffered a minor injury setback and will be out for another couple of weeks. Can anyone confirm or deny this?

 

[Dier Hard]

Last I heard, Mason has suffered a minor injury setback and will be out for another couple of weeks. Can anyone confirm or deny this?

**** sake, it's probably true mate, he's been blighted by injuries his whole career, last season was the first he was able to make a prolonged period of games and even then he broke through into the first team in late September due to an injury in pre-season. My mates are good friends with him and say even in school he was getting little niggles.

 

[rockspur]

I also thought mason was out. I think Dier and Kane need a rest. Eriksen too. Meanwhile Bentaleb, Son and Chadli could do with game time. And if Carroll is to be a long-term option in the "2", then it makes sense to give him a game like this. So something like
Lloris
Trippier, Verts, Toby, Davies
Bentaleb, Carroll
Lamela, Alli, Chadli
Son

 

[redwhiteandermblue]

I also thought mason was out. I think Dier and Kane need a rest. Eriksen too. Meanwhile Bentaleb, Son and Chadli could do with game time. And if Carroll is to be a long-term option in the "2", then it makes sense to give him a game like this. So something like
Lloris
Trippier, Verts, Toby, Davies
Bentaleb, Carroll
Lamela, Alli, Chadli
Son

My only changes would be Wimmer for Vertonghen and Onomah for Alli.. Kane and Dier need a break, certainly. I wish we had an alternative to starting Lamela, who I thought finally started looking a little run down last game. I think this could be an important game for Bentaleb to show he’s willing to embrace the DM role. I think he can be a very good DM, but would rather be more of a box to box player. The problem right now is that while he’s good in that role as well, he’s not going to displace certainly Dembélé and Alli, and probably Carroll also. Chadli also needs to show he deserves more time. If not, could either one or both be off this month? They’re too good not to play somewhere.

The statistical anomaly of playing the same teams in the same round of both the FA Cup and the Europa make this a real groundhog year for two cups. My guess is that Leicester will field a very rotated squad, and that we should as well. Why not give the whole squad a run out for these two games? Other things being equal, it benefits both clubs.

 

[humanbeingincroydon]

I'd go for something like...
Lloris; Trippier, Alderweireld, Wimmer, Davies; Dier, Bentaleb; Lamela, Alli, Chadli; Son
...with a strong bench, just in case.

 

[No Kane No Gain]

Rotation, Rotation, Rotation.

FA Cup(5 changes):
Lloris
Trippier, Toby, Wimmer(if fit), Davies
Dier, Bentaleb
Lamela, Carroll, Chadli
Son

League(6 changes):
Lloris
Walker, Toby, Jan, Rose
Dier, Bentaleb
Alli, Eriksen, Lamela
Kane

I'm assuming Dembele's out.

 

[O.Spurcat]

Irrespective of there being a league game just days after this cup match, I will go nuts if Poch makes as many changes as he did for the COC game against Arsenal when he basically threw the game.

The reason guys such as Wimmer, Fazio, Vorm etc are not in the league side, is because they're nowhere near as good as those who are keeping them out.

Let's take the FAC seriously as we always used to and start concerning ourselves about the next game with Leicester on Monday morning.

Strongest side to be played please.

 

[No Kane No Gain]

Irrespective of there being a league game just days after this cup match, I will go nuts if Poch makes as many changes as he did for the COC game against Arsenal when he basically threw the game.

The reason guys such as Wimmer, Fazio, Vorm etc are not in the league side, is because they're nowhere near as good as those who are keeping them out.

Let's take the FAC seriously as we always used to and start concerning ourselves about the next game with Leicester on Monday morning.

Strongest side to be played please.

I get what you're saying, especially with Fazio and Vorm, but if we can't make a few changes and still have a good chance of winning at home then I don't think we have the squad to compete across 3 competitions in the second half of the season anyway.

If players like Wimmer aren't good enough then I'd rather know now, whilst the transfer window is open, rather than spending the rest of the season praying Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Dier, Alli, Lamela and Kane never get injured.

 

[humanbeingincroydon]

Playing the same xi week in, week out is possible when a team has no European commitments and a handful of cup matches - but once more matches get added to the mix, that stance becomes both short-sighted and self-defeating. For example, in 2005-6 we played the grand total of 40 games due to a lack of European commitments and early eliminations from both cups so could afford to stick to the same team, while a couple of seasons ago Brendan Rodgers almost looked like a competent manager due to Liverpool playing just 43 games that season.

However, as things stand right we'll have played 48 games by the end of the season, potentially more if results against Leicester and Fiorentina in the FA Cup and Europa League respectively go our way, so from that standpoint if we play the same team every week all we'll do is knacker the first xi while the players that could come in for a few games would be sat on the bench lacking match practice. Also, some players obviously need to regain match fitness, most obviously Bentaleb, Pritchard and Chadli who have all missed significant playing time this season due to injury, so they need to get back to peak condition sooner rather than later as there's half a season still to play and they'll all come in useful at some point.

Also, as I say every time somebody brings up the "x isn't as good as y" argument, neither Wes Brown nor John O'Shea were as good as Rio Ferdinand or Nemanja Vidic - but they could do a job when called upon, and those are the sort of players that any squad who wants to balance domestic and European football needs to have. That's the whole purpose of the squad game.

 

[O.Spurcat]

I do get the squad game logic, but I dislike it when managers make 7 or 8 changes and then wonder why they're out of the competition. A couple of changes is fine, but more than that is questionable imo. It doesn't help that the PL in their wisdom, have organised a full programme in the week following the cup games.

 

[humanbeingincroydon]

I do get the squad game logic, but I dislike it when managers make 7 or 8 changes and then wonder why they're out of the competition. A couple of changes is fine, but more than that is questionable imo. It doesn't help that the PL in their wisdom, have organised a full programme in the week following the cup games.

The thing is that some players need to have a rest, be it for form or fitness, just as some players need minutes. For example we've been dreading Kane getting burned out since August 31st, while Eriksen's influence has been waning for the past few weeks so both of them could do with a rest - while on the other hand Bentaleb and Chadli need to get their match fitness up, Son's not been a regular starter and he could do with some minutes, so it balances itself out more than, say, deciding to give Harrison, Edwards and CCV starts for the sake of giving them starts.

 

[O.Spurcat]

The thing is that some players need to have a rest, be it for form or fitness, just as some players need minutes. For example we've been dreading Kane getting burned out since August 31st, while Eriksen's influence has been waning for the past few weeks so both of them could do with a rest - while on the other hand Bentaleb and Chadli need to get their match fitness up, Son's not been a regular starter and he could do with some minutes, so it balances itself out more than, say, deciding to give Harrison, Edwards and CCV starts for the sake of giving them starts.

Fair comment.

 

[Blue and White]

Also, as I say every time somebody brings up the "x isn't as good as y" argument, neither Wes Brown nor John O'Shea were as good as Rio Ferdinand or Nemanja Vidic - but they could do a job when called upon, and those are the sort of players that any squad who wants to balance domestic and European football needs to have. That's the whole purpose of the squad game.

If x was as good as y he wouldn't agree to sitting on the bench every game- we are not a good enough team/rich enough to have 'as good' players just being squad numbers. If x was better than y then he would be starting and roles reversed.