please log in to view this image Saturday 13th April 12.30pm Premier League Tottenham Hotspur Stadium Two games and the new ground and two wins, but at what cost? Harry Kane is almost certainly out for the rest of the campaign and Dele Alli has broken his hand. That leaves us with a potential banana skin against an already relegated Huddersfield. We need all three points and it's the sort of stupid game that we could let complacency slip us up in. Will we continue to ride the homecoming wave or will it dash our top four hopes on the rocks? The Terriers came into this campaign hoping to pull off another surprise relegation escape. The previous season had seen them start well and rarely get close to the danger zone. David Wagner performed miracles with little cash to spend and he was widely and deservedly praised for it. His attempt to replicate that success was always going to be a tough ask and so it proved. Loses to Chelsea and City started things off and they never really got any better. November saw a little recovery for them, as they beat Fulham and Wolves and drew with West Ham. Rooted to the foot of the table in January, the board had seen enough and Wagner was replaced. His fellow German, Jan Siewart, took charge but the fresh face didn't lead to a fresh set of results. A 2-0 loss to Crystal Palace at the end of March sealed their fate and matched Derby's record for pace, too. It all seems a little unfair and dispiriting for a side that did well to get promoted and stay up. They've played decent football and often been competitive in games, despite losing almost constantly. There's been a stark contrast between them and fellow dropees Fulham, who spent loads and were awful. The Premier League is a harsh, punishing division, though. Tread water and you'll drown. The match at the John Smith's earlier in the season was typical of their performances. They huffed and puffed, creating a few half chances, failing to take any of them and lost quite comfortably. Kane opened the scoring with a header from a Trippier cross, after Moura did well and was probably fouled. The brace wasn't long in coming, as Rose was pulled back naively by Hadergjonaj in the box. The hosts rarely looked like getting back into it, despite hitting the bar with one good effort: The game at Wembley last year was something of a stroll, sandwiched between Juventus games. Goals by Son either half of the break were enough to see off the visitors, as we largely dominated. Poor marking allowed the South Korean a free run at the keeper for the first, as he rounded him to fire home. The second saw his hard work rewarded, as Kane picked out his tireless run with a fantastic ball to kill the game: Kane, Aurier, Dier, Lamela and Janssen are absent for this one due to injury. Alli will face a late test. Huddersfield don't appear to have anyone missing. Neither side has any suspensions. Lineups for each side's last league game: Spurs: Lloris; Trippier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies; Sissoko, Alli; Eriksen, Son, Rose; Kane. Subs: Gazzaniga, Walker-Peters, Sanchez, Foyth, Wanyama, Winks, Moura. League form: LLDLLW. Huddersfield: Hamer; Smith, Schindler, Kongolo, Durm; Mooy, Hogg, Stankovic, Lowe; Pritchard; Ahearne-Grant. Subs: Coleman, Hadergjonaj, Mbenza, Williams, Bacuna, Kachunga, Mounie. League form: WLLLLL. Referee: Lee Mason. TV: Sky Sports. How do we approach this one and how should our tactics and personnel differ from the City game? Who replaces Kane in the starting lineup and who takes up the absent place on the bench? Would you risk resting anyone or pick a full strength side and then try to use early subs?
Think we’ll see some rotation for this. We’ve got a huge opportunity to make the semi finals of the CL next week and we should do our best at keeping a few lads fresh for it. Hugo/ Gazza KWP, Dave, Foyth, Davies Wanyama, Winks Lucas, Eriksen, Son Nando Skipp to maybe feature from the bench. Maybe an unexpected debut for someone like Parrott too?
Definitely won't be playing... Harry Kane (ankle) Dele Alli (hand/wrist) Serge Aurier (hamstring) Eric Dier (hip) Erik Lamela (hamstring) Vincent Janssen (ankle) Jack Roles (not being allowed to have nice things)
Really tricky call this for Poch, with 3 points an absolute must yet the CL somewhat unexpectedly opening up a path to the semis. Does he rotate heavily and risk a similar performance as we saw at Palace in the cup, or does he play his strongest side and risk fatigue and/or more injuries ahead of Wednesday? I think Son has to be rested - if he gets injured we might as well pack it all up and call it a day until next season. No disrespect intended but this is by far our easiest fixture between now and the end of the season. I'd go for: Gazza KWP Foyth Dave Jan Davies Wanyama Winks Eriksen Lucas Llorente Subs: Hugo, Toby, Rose, Trippier, Sissoko, Skipp, Son.
Deffo need to rest Mighty Mousa. Big Vic looked strong when he came on midweek and should start. RB & CB's as per DH. Skippy must also be ready for some game time and I'd like to see Lucas get a full 90. With an eye on Weds night I'd save Ben as he's much stronger defensively than Rose. But what a brilliant pass that was from Harry to Sonny for that 2nd goal last year
I continue to live in the seemingly bygone era where I firmly believe that as this is now the business end of the season, then we should be picking our strongest available team. I don’t agree with this resting or rotation lark. Play our strongest tomorrow from the start. Then if we’re winning well, use the subs wisely to give the vital players xtra rest before Wednesday.
Years of supporting Spurs says what will happen: 73 shots on target, every single one of them at the goalkeeper, so rather than being able to take off Son with 25 minutes to go he's on the pitch until the 94th minute where a shot from the edge of the area takes a deflection, hits the post and slowly rolls in after hitting the goalkeeper in the back of the head
Given how poor Huddersfield have been in front of both goals this season, scoring just 19 while conceding 63, we can be a little bolder in selection - so Lucas, Wanyama and Foyth in for Son, Sissoko and Toby in the starting lineup with Skipp on the bench wouldn't be unreasonable if that's what the starting xi looked like, although if we started with Eyoma and Oakley-Boothe on the pitch then would probably be the time to have a few words...
If the walking wounded list was not bad, and all the squad had sufficient match time in their legs, then I would say yes. But this season fate is too often being tempted on the injury front. If was the manager, I would be telling squad players with possibly being 3 games max away from a CL final, fronting up now for the PL cause is a good way of booking a slot on that team sheet.
Full strength from the start for me, get 2 or 3 goals up and secure the points, then sub off whoever to give them rest. PL has to take priority as we need CL for next season and its unlikely we will go all the way and win the CL.
Rest whoever we can rest. id rather give ourselves the bigger chance in the CL tie...Huddersfield are poor...we should have enough to beat them with some rotation. Our pressing game was back against City...i get the feeling we are focusing on European glory. I suspect we will be pressing hard again on Wednesday...that can be achieved better with more rest.
Pleasing level of self-awareness by Trippier and hopefully his improved level of performance midweek against Citeh will continue. (Yes, when I first saw the title I did consider putting this in the No ****, Sherlock thread ) 'Trippier: I could have done better' http://www.skysports.com/share/11691833
Definitely one for the NSS thread, lol. Although respect to him, not many players have the bollocks to come out and admit they’ve been **** and made mistakes.
If we can't beat the worst team in the league with a couple of players rested, then there's something wrong with the whole damn squad Besides, with our run-in and the injuries we have, having some of the secondary options getting a full run-out is vital
They tell you not to drive and then block busses going up the high road. Kuntz. It's just cost me £23.50 in beer and £6 in fry ups walking up the High Road. If they'd have done that 50 years ago, Grevsie would have never made it to a match. Edit: I'll be the one singing 'when the slurs go matching in'.
