No you didn't. Swansea next in the league, which is when Arsenal go to Old Trafford. Our league momentum could go on, although I can't see Utd beating anyone at the moment. Cup is a different matter.
At home I'd fancy us to beat Florentina with a fairly rotated side. Kane's broken nose will apparently mean he'll likely sit out tomorrow nights game and then go Zorro against Swansea on the weekend. Dembele is also a doubt. Vorm Walker, Toby, Wimmer, Rose Mason, Bentaleb Lamela, Alli, Chadli Son McGee, Tripps, Davies, Dier, Carroll, Onomah, Harrison I'd play Tripps and Davies against Swansea on the weekend, Davies will likely want to perform well against his former side and Trippier's delivery could cause their defence problems, they've not kept many clean sheets of late so I'd want his deliveries to worry them. Dier's played a hell of a lot and could do with a night off ideally. Would love to give CCV a go and keep Toby fresh but I think his leadership at the back is too big to miss for this one.
Might be a good match to give this young Marcus Edwards a place on the bench. As a kind of reward for destroying the goonlets.
I understood it to be much less severe: that he got spiked on his Achilles, and will be ready in a week or two. Do you know differently? If he does have a torn Achilles, he’ll be out for the year, or close to it.
Kane and Dembele are supposedly out of this one, while Lloris is back in contention. Shayon Harrison has been training with the first team, as our numbers appear to be dwindling somewhat.
Speaking after training on Friday (February 19), Mauricio Pochettino reported: "Tom suffered a cut on his Achilles. We hope it’s only seven to 10 days and he will be available again.
Lamela is confirmed to be back and fit to play. Looking forward to unleashing our Euro Demon on Thursday
That Mason-Bentaleb axis has a familiar and somewhat worrying look to it but given what we need out of our next 2 league games and Dembele's injury, I'd rather rest Dier if we can and bring him on if needed in the second half. Both need to show that they can actually do those jobs effectively, especially providing defensive cover and safe and secure passing out from the back. The players we'd be missing also leave us lacking height and aerial threat.
Admittedly Bentaleb has looked way off the pace this season but it's worth remembering we finished 5th last year with him and Mason as the two mainstays in those CM roles. Neither are as good in the tackle as Dier/ skilful as Dembele/ eye for goal like Alli but they're both competent in all aspects of the game, they just don't really excel in anything (not that it's a bad thing, all rounders are welcome in every squad on the planet in my opinion), if they can both find a bit of form then I'm more than comfortable seeing them both feature. It probably hasn't helped them that injuries and form of others has meant they're appearances have been pretty infrequent and it's always hard for players to come in every two weeks or so and put on a level of performance that'd be on par with those that are starting regularly.
That starting line up just goes to show how we desperately we need cover for Dier. He's a bloody rock in the middle and with him gone, that midfield looks a tad lightweight. I can understand Poch wanting to rest him but this is a risky move.
It is mainly Bentaleb that I'm worried about. When I've seen him this season he's worried me. His passing has been off and he keeps trying to play like Moussa without the strength or experience. He just needs to keep it simple to be most effective.
I've noticed the exact same and ironically, it was his simple style last season that I thought made him excel and become one of the Prem's best young stars, not sure why he's tried switching things up, maybe he feels by trying to be more like Mousa it'll improve his game or game time (although not working!)?
Pressure, I think. He's lost his place and is trying too hard to regain it, just like Townsend did. He's really rusty and trying to do things that he feels he's capable of, which currently isn't accurate. It's a shame that he hasn't had more appearances from the bench to get up to speed, as he's miles off the pace at the moment.
It's also worth mentioning that for the first month or so of this season, especially with Eriksen out and Kane stuck in a dry spell, Mason was probably our most dangerous and creative player on the pitch. He was superb in a couple of games. Unlike Bentaleb, Mason's role is much easier to define. He has a top engine and a good eye for a run/for goal/for a cute pass. In that sense, he is a far more natural understudy to Alli/Dembele or even as a #10 further up the pitch. I said last season when Bentaleb had that one incredible game at LB that whilst he deserved the plaudits that went his way, the fact that he slotted so naturally into a completely unnatural position made me worry that he hadn't yet 'found' his natural position as a cog within the Spurs Juggernaut. Injuries at crucial times this season along with the form of Dier, Alli and Dembele have meant that he hasn't been able to improve on this whatsoever this year, which is a shame. The part I think he struggles with immensely is the slotting into the back 2 to make it a back 3 when the FB's push up. Dier excels at this - largely because he is equally comfortable as a regular CB. Watching Nabs, he often drops back too early, leaving acres of space between our attack and defence. He often drops back too late, leaving us outnumbered on the counter. And even when he times it perfectly, he doesn't seem at all comfortable as the last line of defence - simply because he has never played as a CB and it will take months until he has this DM role nailed to a T. But, like Jenas, I just don't think he's ever going to get the run of games he needs to reach that level of experience. It pains me to say it but I wouldn't be surprised if we let him go in the summer.
As I agree with CK about Mason and Bentaleb, I think we’ll see a deep 2 of Dier and Mason for this one--though not if Pochettino prioritizes the league very strongly. Also, I believe the FBs have rotated come hell or high water, so it will be Davies and Trippier on Thursday. I think the rotation policy has been a real success, incidentally. Not only has it kept the FBs fresh, Pochettino has in effect provided four starting spots for the price of two. And I think at least two and perhaps three of the four seem to have improved markedly since it began, while the other one (Walker) has not gone downhill any. If it were up to me, I’d consider a similar rotation policy elsewhere, perhaps with 7 or so players for the five attacking spots. I just don’t think we have the players to rotate for the 2 CBs and DM. Alderweireld could replace Dier at DM, I think, CCV could play as the right footed CB, and Davies could be the left-footed CB. The problem is that none of them, or for that matter Bentaleb at DM, give me any confidence. Does anyone else wonder if we might do better with Harrison in than with Chadli or Son trying to deputize for Kane? He’s very young, but unlike Son and Chadli represents a like for like swap, so the rest of our attack might function more smoothly, even if Harrison doesn’t provide Kane’s goals.
I'd agree with most of this apart from the statement that Walker has benefited from the rotation system. I know I pick on him and he's my new scapegoat but he has been back to his haphazard best over the last few weeks. I had high hopes for him as we approached the midway point of the season but the heart-attack inducing moments are creeping back into his game with worrying regularity. I think Trippier has improved nicely but actually still isn't as good as Walker. To my mind, we are far, far stronger down the left with Rose and Davies - both of whom have been utterly superb of late. It also seems as though Poch views Chadli as the go-to player to deputise for Kane. I'd also love to see Dier rested but then we have to bear in mind: If he's rested tomorrow will he play Swansea-W Ham-Arsenal back to back? I'd go for Vorm Trippier Wimmer Toby Davies Mason Bentaleb Son Lamela Onomah Chadlii
