This one has been triggered by the game yesterday. Specifically, those "sound" supporters of our lovely neighbours and their whining about their squad injuries materially affecting the outcome of the game. Spurs have injury plagues for CB and DM, but it is what it is and we have to get on with it. Correspondingly I do not want neither manager nor supporters to go down that road of excuses (leave that to inferior clubs) . Pochettino last year went on about "being brave" . But what does that actually mean ?? Well, I have a definition that goes from now til February (and perhaps even further) . Bravery right now is to : 1. put pragma above dogma 2. assume the worst, and proceed on that basis On #1, we have players on the payroll who are gathering dust. GKN, Llorente. Regardless of their "attitude" , get them out there on the pitch and running into the ground 90 mins for the cause. If they cannot do that, then really get rid. So for all the domestic cup games in January, I want to see the following in the starting XIs : Gazza, KWP, GKN, Skipp, Llorente. If they are the root causes of losses in those games, then I can live with that if they are at least putting in a shift for the cause. On #2, assume that NONE of the CB/DM wounded will be starting XI ready until February. If any are before then, that is a bonus. Therefore be "brave" and recall both CCV and Onomah, and tell them that their time to front up for the cause has now come as it has for Skipp, in 2-4 cup games next month. Opinions on this ?? Do nothing, and risk running key players into ruin well before the business end of the season ?? Do the usual whining of activity in transfer windows ?? Or really be brave, backed by the understanding and goodwill of the fans ??
Honestly, I think we should ship out GKN and give his spot in the squad to Georgiou - not least because that frees up a non-HG spot for the CL squad
Is Georgiou currently starting XI fit ?? After his stint in the 2017 pre-season games IMHO he deserved to have been senior squad fast-tracked regardless of squad injury totals.
He's recently returned to the U23s after being out since mid-August, so while he's not 100% match fit now he'll have a couple of weeks in training before the transfer window starts, but more importantly he can play in Development squad games to regain fitness - something that GKN can't If he's not deemed match fit, Jack Roles is another option who deserves a chance in the squad for the FA Cup games
Now that we’re in the real crunch stages of the League Cup, I’d prefer to see a side like we played last night. Minimal rotation with just a few changes but still strong. I really want a trophy and even though it looks like if we manage to beat Chelsea, we’ll face City in the final, I want us to really go for it. I’d be disappointed if we faced Chelsea with KWP, Skipp, GK, Llorente etc all in the XI.
Not sure Tripps would be missed tbh. I am a fan of his, but he was poor last night and KWP might be worth a run out if Aurier still crocked. Ben had another good game at CB - against a full strength Goon side - and although not great, the DoF was ok. Winksy was hit and miss - lots of effort and some good stuff, but too many times he twisted and turned into trouble. Skippy could fill in ok for him I think.
Weren’t Tripp's best game but I still wouldn’t wanna risk KWP up against Hazard. Winks... everyone knows how I feel about him anyway, I’d rather Alli/ Eriksen dropped deeper alongside the DM.
We need to shift some of these players to make way for new ones that may arrive in January and/or the summer. We’ll never get rid of them all in 1 transfer window, but a change of approach is needed IMO. We’ve demanded too much and ended up being stuck with them. I just don’t see the point in paying the likes of GKN, Janssen etc. Even those who we currently have loaned out might be able to fetch some dosh if we sell them. Onomah featured years ago for us in the EL and hasn’t got anywhere near the first team since. At what point do we call it a day? CCV is another, will he ever be good enough? Just loan after loan. Being brave now IMO is wage bill reduction, the sale of constant players out on loan and those who never get near the first team, and giving the newcomers like Skipp and Georgiou many more chances.
With Son potentially playing between 0-5 games in the Asia Cup between Jan 16 - Feb 1 (and injury risks therein) , you may wish to revise that in addition to what I initially wrote.
Sew some larger pockets into Sissoko's Shorts and Hazard could climb into one, and Willian into the other.
So they could be out (in which case no point in going) , or the final group game is a dead rubber for top spot (in which case one less game to play) . Time will tell ...
I want a strong team vs Chelsea. We still have four top AMs to utilise while Son’s away. It won’t be being brave if we played kids and a strongly rotated side against Chelsea, it’d be stupid, they’re too good of a side to do that against (see Dortmund as an example a few years back in Europa). No issue playing them against Tranmere as that should still be enough but against Chelsea - in both legs - we’ve got to go strong. The players should be well up for it as well.
