please log in to view this image Saturday 9th December 3pm Premier League Wembley Stadium Another week has passed and we've had more success in the Champions League and none in the Premier League. The disappointing draw with Watford was slightly mitigated by the sending off of Sanchez. A routine victory in a dead rubber did little to fix things, but some weary legs were rested. A couple of squad players scored breakthrough goals, while inexperienced youngsters got game time. Will any of that be applied to this weekend's league game? Mark Hughes' side has started this season much as they went through the last one. The odd highlight interspersing poor results and some very dodgy defending. They're capable of scoring and even keeping a clean sheet on their day though, as the Goons found out. That 1-0 victory at the Britannia has probably been their best day of this campaign, so far. A 7-2 thrashing at the Etihad was the other end of the scale, but that might say more about Man City than Stoke. The dour Welshman will be hoping that he can avoid the fate of his compatriot, Tony Pulis. Any talk of his sacking was put on the backburner when Stoke beat Swansea last week, but it's still there. He's currently 2nd favourite in the Premier League sack race, with only his defeated opponent ahead of him. Paul Clement took a point from Wembley. Can Hughes do the same? Last season's home game against Stoke was a repeat of a rather familiar scoreline, somewhat strangely. A hat-trick from Harry Kane and a goal from Dele Alli saw us hit 4-0 before half-time, though. That turned the second period into a rather leisurely stroll, rather than the rout that some might have expected. Hard to complain too much about a comfortable win, of course: The away game was earlier in the season and was the second in that sequence of 4-0 wins over Stoke. The hosts started quite brightly, but faded as the half went on and collapsed shortly after the break. Arnautovic diving seemed to set things off, as he went into the book and his manager went into a rage. He watched his side go behind from the stands, as Son put as ahead before the break. Bringing on Lamela for Wanyama forced things and Son added another before Alli and Kane joined him on the scoresheet: Alderweireld and Wanyama will miss out again, while Sanchez serves the first of his three match ban. Ireland, Cameron and Martins Indi are all injured for Stoke. Lineups for each side's last league game: Spurs: Lloris; Trippier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Davies; Dier, Dembele; Eriksen, Alli, Son; Kane. Subs: Vorm, Aurier, Rose, Sissoko, Winks, Lamela, Llorente. League form: LWDLLD. Stoke: Butland; Zouma, Shawcross, Martins Indi; Diouf, Allen, Fletcher, Pieters; Shaqiri, Crouch, Choupo-Moting. Subs: Grant, Wimmer, Adam, Afellay, Sobhi, Berahino, Jese. League form: WDDLLW. Referee: Roger East. TV: Not televised. How should we deal with the suspension of Sanchez? Did anyone do enough against APOEL to keep their starting place? Should we continue to rotate the fullbacks or should we try a bit of stability?
No idea why we didn't appeal Dave's card given that Marco Silva himself admitted it didn't warrant more than a 1 game ban. Probably because we knew we'd fail anyway - saves time and paperwork. Jan is walking a tightrope now as 1 more yellow and he's suspended. We really are up a creek in chelsea without a paddle at the moment. I'd personally drop Alli after another meh showing midweek but doubt Poch will. I don't think 1/4th is ready to be thrown in the deep end just yet and can't imagine the DOF starting following his latest toys and pram session. I'm thinking along the lines of: Hugo Trippier Dier Jan Davies Winks Dembele Eriksen Alli Son Kane
Perhaps he should "manage" the issue by going out of his way to get a yellow tomorrow. Would he then miss the Brighton game or is there some reason it doesn't get processed immediately? Also not sure why we didn't appeal Dave's ban. It could easily be argued as accidental. After all, remember the Chelski player (sorry forget who) who pushed over another player quite aggressively - and deliberately - and on appeal, instead of increasing the ban for a frivolous appeal, the ban was reduced by a game.
Personally I'd give 1/4 his Prem debut, technically he's fine but the only downside to him at the moment is that he doesn't seem 'ard enough. He looks quite slim for a CB and you'd be worried if he had to come up against a Deeney type striker but for Stoke and/ or Brighton I'd like to see him given a chance, we'll only know if he's ready once he's actually been put to the test. One of the pundits or commentators made a point at the beginning of the Apoel game that Llorente isn't really an impact striker but someone needed from the off and I think that's a fair point, considering Alli's dip in form and Nando getting his first goal on Wednesday, it's an ideal time to give him a second successive start in my opinion. Hugo Tripps, 1/4, Jan, Davies Son, Dier, Winks, Eriksen Llorente, Kane Vorm, Aurier, KWP, Rose, Dembele, GK, Alli
So apparently we shouldn't worry about our form at the moment as our xG still has us finishing third ...yeah, bollocks to that, I'd prefer it if we had (at least) an extra four points on the board right now
I know we keep saying it, but this is an absolute MUST win game. We cant keep on dropping points at this stage and expect to finish in the top four. The team we have playing today is more than capable of winning. No excuses. COYS
It has to be. There’s no one else who could be part of a back 3 looking at that line up. I know we don’t have a lot of choice today, but I’m still happy to see someone playing in front of Trippier and Davies. Might just help with that bus arriving from stoke today.
I saw a statistic released from before the last game week (after 14 games), that showed us a equalling our best points tally from the last 4 seasons. (24 points). The difference this season, is that rather than drawing bloody loads at the start, we’ve won more and lost more. So it’s balanced out a bit and pretty much given us the same points tally. However, seeing us pick up poor results week after week recently, and city’s inability to take their foot off the gas, it’s made things seem worse than they are, IMO. Winning the title was going to be nigh on impossible playing away from home every week, but are still more than capable of top 4. However, I do think we need to address a couple of unforeseen (and existing) issues in January.
I think maybe Irishspurs is embracing and utilizing modern technology to let the whole world know what a ****er they are without anyone actually having to meet them in person. Which is handy.
Yay singing time...C'mon everybody... Join in... Ooooooohhhhhhhhhhhh Whhhhhhhheeeeennnnnnnnn Theeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Spuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrsssssssss
We love you Tottenham we do We love you Tottenham we do We love you Tottenham we do oh Tottenham we love you
Where is everyone...I feel like the nutty man on the bus wearing tracksuit bottoms with suspicious stains who everyone avoids
