How cynical! Of course his comments highlighting Alli and Sterling have nothing to do with us playing Spurs and then City soon in the LC final
Back to team ideas: I'd actually like to see Dele on the bench. The way Coco played the other night proves that he is back to starting material. I would play him on the left, Son on the right and Eriksen , middle. That would give us a decent bench for once with Moura and Dele both able to come on and change the game if need be.
I've been mulling over team selection since more or less full time on Wednesday. Poch will prepare with Juve in mind. I have no idea how he'll set them up but Toby is probably too fresh off the treatment table to make his proper return tomorrow. Another 3-4 days of intensive training and I'll be much more confident of him starting against Juve. 3 at the back hasn't worked this season with Walker gone and Rose letting himself go. I'd stick to a back 4 but replace Dave with Dier. The latter hasn't been amazing but I feel that Dave's inexperience shows against the good attacking sides. So for me: Hugo Aurier Dier Jan Davies Wanyama Dembele Eriksen Alli Son Kane With a monstrous bench of: Vorm, Toby, Trippier, Winks, Lamela, Moura, Llorente.
Sorry. Too many mistakes in Dier this season. However inexperienced Davinson is I prefer him at the back. However that said I think Toby can play again. It wasn't a tough game for him on Wednesday and he has been fit for a few weeks even if he hadn't played. I'd also stick with Tripps ahead of Aurier, as the latter is still committing himself to those horror slide tackles.
Hugo Tripps, Toby, Jan, Davies Dier, Dembele Alli, Eriksen, Son Kane Vorm, Aurier, Dave, Wanyama, Lamela, Moura, Nando.
A couple of options If we are going to play tippy-tappy football, I would play Alli because he did very well in his short camio on Wednesday and I'm hoping that has given him his confidence back. Hugo Trips Toby Verts Davies Wanyama Dembele Eriksen Alli Sonny Kane Bench: Vorm, Dier, Moura, Lamela, Big Dave, Llorente, KWP Alternatively, providing we are prepared to miss out the mid field occasionally and go long then Alli might need a seat on the bench. Trips, Toby, Big Dave, Verts, Davies Eriksen, Dembele Moura, Kane, Sonny Bench: Vorm Dier Lamela Wanyama, Llorente, KWP, Alli
Not that I'm defending Dier as he's been below par at times but Dave's made more mistakes than him this season. Most just haven't acknowledged them until recently due to him being a new signing and giving benefit of the doubt. No doubting his potential at CB is scary but he gives too many heart in mouth moments. Anyway, a 70% Toby is still better than Dave or Dier at CB. For me, it's a no brainier that he starts.
If the old adage of decisions evening themselves out over a season is true, and not some bollocks spouted by several generations of pundits to defend one of their favourites getting several rubs of the green in every single game, which match evening out would everyone prefer? The NLD derby decided by two offside goals, or the Man City match featuring an offside goal and the ref and pundits alike ignoring De Bruyne's thuggery but getting up in arms when Alli clogged him?
To me I'd have Toby back alongside verts his experience and understanding with his belgian compatriot sways it for me.nothing against big dave .The only problem I see is down the right aurier/Tripps need protection so we need whoever poch chooses right midfield to put in a shift and help out with defending as well as attack. Now we have players back we can at last field a strong 11 and a strong bench for the first time for ages and that's a big bonus. If ericksen is having a bad game coco can come on and slot into place which we haven't had all season.COYS Ps .pleeeeaassse nnnooooo sisssssoko
Agreed. There have been a handful of games where Dave has looked totally lost, barely putting a foot right all game. Dier gets the worst of it because he is in his 4th season. I also don't think the eyelash-fluttering at United in the summer helped his cause. I know you're a massive fan of his but in reality if Poch sticks to 4 at the back for the rest of the season, we won't be seeing much more of him either at CB or DM.
All I care about is the team, I like Dier's nut-case persona along with the fact I think he's excellent when on form (versatility is also a major asset) but if Poch feels the team is stronger with him benched then so be it. I think in terms of potential he can definitely be better than Wanyama but there's no denying that Wanyama is a superior DM right now. That said, I think Vic is still one or two games away from being fully ready for a Prem start. Taking aside his excellent cameo against Pool, he'd been extremely poor since returning from injury and looked miles off the pace but the Pool game could well have been his turning point and getting 80 mins against Newport will have no doubt boosted his fitness but I still wouldn't risk starting him just yet, especially in the NLD which is gonna be 100 mph.
The Goons have only won THREE PL away games this season. That is truly shocking considering a strong trait of PL top 4 finishers is winning at least half your away games.
Merson has quoted today that aubameyang will be le arse secret weapon because spurs won't know nothing about him.ffs we have played against him in both European competitions twat
If we have our shooting boots on, we will win. We will get chances it all depends on whether we are tuned in mentally or wasteful as usual.
