please log in to view this image Wednesday 30th January 8pm Premier League Wembley Stadium A distastrous week in the cups has put a ton of pressure on this league game. Injuries and other absences have mounted up and put us firmly on the back foot. Watford rested a lot of their players for their FA Cup victory and come at this one fresh. They're at the head of a tight chasing pack in 7th and will be hoping for European football. Can Pochettino produce a performance to spark a recovery or will our January end grimly? Javi Gracia's first full season at Vicarage Road is going pretty well. He's generally tried to rely on a strong core of about 14 players and left rotation for the cups. This has kept them pretty consistent, with everyone knowing their job and those of the players around them. Most of their losses have been against the better sides in the division and they'll be happy with how they've done. The real test for them will come in the second half of the campaign. Will they be able to slog through it with that key contigent or will they start to falter as the games pile up? The manager's future could depend on a strong finish, as Watford have been quick to pull the trigger. A Europa League spot via the league or cup would certainly secure his place, though. The match at Vicarage Road earlier in the season saw a bad result and a poor performance. Both sides came into it with a 100% record, having won the first three games. There was no sign of that quality in the first half, as neither side created anything or tested the keepers. Little changed at the start of the second, until Doucoure put through his own net. This seemed to spark Watford into life and they came from behind to win with two goals from set-pieces: Wembley's meeting last season was a similarly disjointed performance from both sides. An early error from Karnezis in the Watford goal gave Alli an easy chance, which he gobbled up. There were chances created and missed at either end, as the solitary goal separated the sides at half-time. Kane extended the lead just after the break and more missed chances meant that it remained 2-0 at the end: No injury news yet, but Son should be available again, following his return from international duty. Watford have no major problems and neither side has any suspensions. Lineups for each side's last league game: Spurs: Lloris; Alderweireld, Sanchez, Vertonghen; Trippier, Eriksen, Winks, Rose; Lamela, Alli; Llorente. Subs: Gazzaniga, Foyth, Davies, Dier, Skipp, N'Koudou, Sterling. League form: WWLWLW. Watford: Foster; Femenia, Mariappa, Kabasele, Holebas; Cleverly, Capoue; Sema, Pereyra; Deeney, Deulofeu. Subs: Gomes, Britos, Masina, Wilmot, Quina, Success, Gray. League form: WLDDWD. Referee: Graham Scott. TV: Not televised. How should we line up for this one, given our last couple of poor performances? Who needs dropping, resting or benching and what system would you use? Should Son immediately return to the starting lineup or would you give him more time to adjust?
Hugo Foyth, Toby, Jan KWP, Dier, Sissoko*, Rose Eriksen, Lucas Llorente Think it’s too soon for Son to start, he must be shattered what with the amount he’s played plus the flights. Despite KWP’s brain fart he showed signs of promise and deserves a chance on his stronger side. Foyth over Dave at the moment, big fan of the latter but he’s had a few poor performances in recent weeks. *If Sissoko isn’t fit then Winks.
I'm with you on the shape but I think Son has to start and should be fine to do so, its only 6 hours or so back from the UAE and I imagine he got back over the weekend, rested and I very much hope he will be ready for Wednesday. I'd be happy for Dave or Foyth to start tbh, neither is perfect right now but we need the 3 at the back because we lack fit midfielders.
Just been on the OS. There are soooo many tickets available, even with the top tier closed. It's going to be not much more than 30,000 at this rate. I can't help but feel disappointed. Right now, MP and the boys need our backing. Let's ****ing go!!!!!
I hope Poch has his eyes on the injury list and decide not to rush Son back. Remember as soon as he landed in UAE, he immediately played pretty much a full match and this was a few days after playing for Spurs. He needs a little rest but hope to see him on the bench and only bring him on if necessary. Spurs need to win this game - they need CL next season in the new stadium and they need to get back to winning! This game has "banana skin" written all over it unless Spurs up their performance.
A decent starting XI should be available for this game. But CM is really going to have to front up. Agree with everyone on Son, have him on the bench and trust the other players to get the job done without him.
If Son came back on Saturday he has had plenty of rest. He last played on Friday in what was probably a less intensive game than we played on Thursday night. The game was in the Middle East so not such a long flight. He is ready to start tomorrow IMO
Mauricio Pochettino in today's presser... "We have played four semi-finals and one final, we were there. We were close. We have consistently played in the Champions League and been in the top four. How do we get to the last level? Improving the way we operate, the facilities, the squad - make a list, you can tick nearly all the boxes.Patience is difficult in football. We see something and we want it straight away. It is about working hard and developing the project. It is easy to destroy, it is so difficult to build. It has taken 18 years to build the new stadium. White Hart Lane was destroyed in one day. We are working hard to try and deliver. We need to have faith. The moment when we win will arrive. At the moment we are trying. It is tough to win. We are focused on many things." ...This is how it is, let's just get behind him and the boys.
I so much love Poch. Also the way he speaks, again gives the impression he is staying long term. The whole press conference
I think we need to start without Son and probably Sissoko as well, unless he's really fully fit. Could we try Eriksen on the left, Lamela on the right and Moura in the middle? I'd like to see KWP and Rose. Watford may get forward more often than some, so pace should help. Winks and Eriksen need to have big games. Alderweireld's long diagonals would be welcome.
Me and my teen beast are going... We have both had long hard fortnight so God help any quiet types nearby
If we were in the new stadium, you could sell it out twice over. We can't get out of Wembley quick enough, for my money.
I assume Wembley is well out of the way for the great majority of ST holders + those who would like to attend the occasional game. If so, then this + general Wembley dis-satisfaction + results last week + the general 'January feeling' is a seriously toxic combo for attendance. I hope this is conveyed to the squad (they owe the supporters a performance) .
Further from MP's presser... "I am a very positive person and I am going to try and deliver in my job. I am going to stick with the club until the end to help the club achieve all they want." There it is folks. He could walk away to Madrid or United or pretty much anywhere else he wanted....but he's going to stick it out, through the tough times, to make the club a success. We're lucky to have him and whatever he wins us, he's the best manager that we've had for a very long time...and a top bloke!
I think that we may see Llorente dropped back to the bench for this one. Lloris; Aurier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose; Dier, Winks, Eriksen, Lamela; Son, Moura. Midfield diamond. Edit: Players in the video: GK: Lloris, Gazzaniga, Whiteman. DEF: Foyth, Sanchez, Aurier, Alderweireld, Rose, Walker-Peters, Trippier, Vertonghen. MID: Eriksen, Wanyama, Sissoko, Winks, Dier, Skipp. ATT: Son, Lamela, Sterling, Parrott, Moura. Players that aren't reported as injured, yet aren't in the video: Vorm, Llorente. Could we be moving on a couple of players in the window?
