Match Day Thread Tottenham Hotspur v Wolverhampton Wanderers

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Sunday 15th December 2pm
Premier League
Molineux Stadium​

The Bayern game was a dead rubber, but the performance still raised a question or two about the squad.
Mourinho will be very keen to get back to winning ways, but this will be a difficult trip to do it on.
The Midlands club had their own irrelevant European midweek game, which they managed comfortably.
The two coaches both previously managed Porto, so it'll be nice for them to be able to compare notes.
Can Mourinho get the best of his countryman or can Wolves continue their impressive run of form?

Wolves had an impressive season last time out, following on from their promotion as champions.
Most clubs would settle for just staying up, but they have higher aims and secured a European place.
Burnley showed everyone the perils of being unprepared for the extra games and that warning was heeded.
Jimenez, Dendoncker, Cutrone, Jordao and Neto added depth to an already strong squad.
Their Chinese backers and Portuguese super-agent weren't taking any chances.

The early Europa League schedule still took it's toll, as they entered into the 3 qualification rounds.
Crusaders and Pyunik offered little resistance, but Torino were a harder task, if one that they were up to.
They failed to record a win in their first six league games though, drawing 4 and losing to Chelsea and Everton.
They've been unbeaten since then, going ten games without defeat in the league and five more in Europe.
It's their best run of form since 1959 when they won the title.

This fixture last season was part of a pattern that's become disturbingly familiar in recent months.
We overcame a first minute injury to Mousa Dembele to dominate for an hour, going 3-0 up.
Lamela opened the scoring, then Moura added to his goal a few minutes later, before Kane made it three.
Game over? Of course not. Juan Foyth and Mike Dean combined to give away two penalties.
Both were scored, leading to a very nervy finale:

The return at Wembley featured a lot of that familiarity and another poor end but with a worse result.
Another fairly comfortable start saw Kane score from distance in the first half to lead at the break.
Moutinho and Costa were introduced in the second half and Pochettino failed to react to the changes.
Boly leveled with around 20 minutes to go and the collapse was on.
Jiminez and Costa grabbed another two in the final ten minutes to take the points:

Davies, Lamela, Vorm, Lloris and Ndombele are all out, but Winks has returned to training with the team.
Boly and Gibbs-White miss out for the hosts. Neither side has any suspensions.

Lineups for each side's last league game:

Spurs: Gazzaniga; Aurier, Sanchez, Alderweireld, Vertonghen; Sissoko, Dier; Moura, Alli, Son; Kane.
Subs: Whiteman, Rose, Skipp, Lo Celso, Sessegnon, Eriksen, Parrott.
League form: DDWWLW.

Wolves: Patricio; Doherty, Coady, Dendoncker, Saiss, Otto; Traore, Moutinho, Neves, Jota; Jimenez.
Subs: Ruddy, Bennett, Kilman, Vallejo, Vinagre, Neto, Cutrone.
League form: DWWDWD.

Ref: Stuart Atwell. VAR: David Coote.

TV: Sky Sports.

How would you like to line up for this one and what would you change from the Bayern game?
Would you stick with the same lineup, make a couple of changes or go for a wholesale switch?
Which system and tactics would you use and what are you expecting Wolves to go with?

 

Gazza
Aurier, Dave, Foyth, Jan
Skipp, Sissoko
Lucas, Dele, Son
Kane

 

Paul Stewart

 

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Leftist commentator.

 

I expect Jose to persevere with the PL formation he is shaping.

The big issue though is CM. Wolves can actually retain possession
even if their MF get the same level of harassment that Burnley did last week.
Similarly there has to be bodies in MF to ensure Wolves cannot readily
go box to box when they play their counter-attacking game.

 

We really need to try Skipp in the role Winks has been playing since last season...mainly because that's the role Skipp actually plays in, rather than being crowbarred into it like Winks has been

 

Picking players in the position that they favour? Madness.

 

Not that it wasn't already a must win but this is where Jose needs to earn his dough and get us three points. Chelsea losing at home now means we can cut their lead to three points with a win.

 

Big week now. Beat Wolves tomorrow and the Chavs next week and providing Manure drop points, we will be in the top 4.

 

1. Beat me to it.
2. Spurs play them the week after.

As so often in recent seasons, these are the fixtures where both manager
and squad need to front up big time.

 

Let’s hope the players don’t do what they usually do when we are faced with a defining game

 

Jan getting roasted by Traore

It will be Dier over Skipp I think
Aurier getting bamboozled by Jota

Didn’t Jose say Foyth won’t be playing Sunday?(might be wrong)

Dier and Sissoko eugh ffs

 

The first match I ever went to was against Wolves in the 1981 fa cup semi final replay at Highbury.

Great first match to go to but @Spurf beats that as he his first match was the Spurs v Wolves 1921 Fa cup final!

Wolves are in great form while we a slightly less ****e than before Maureen.

Aurier has rediscovered his ability to cross but continues to resemble Titus Bramble when defending.

Toby has rediscovered his ability to spray around long passes but continues to resemble Stevie Wonder when it comes to tracking attackers in the box.

Rose has rediscovered his stash of mars bars and has started sharing them with Dier.

Eriksen has rediscovered his ability be consistent...he is ****e every minute he is on the pitch.

Mrs RCL has been ill this week, the teenbeast has been ill and now I am ill... we all know what is going to happen today...

Bah humbug to all you mofos in your decorated homes, with inflatable reindeer and lights outside...it ain't "festive" or "fun"...it is twatty...and putting just white lights outside ain't "classy" ...it's pretentiously twatty

Saw one of you lot walking through the streets with a fully decorated tree...FFS do you happy clappies have no sense of dignity???



I am going back to bed...msybe when I wake up my head will have stopped spinning and I won't feel like we just lost to newcastle, or Brighton, or 7-2...

Ho fecking ho ho

 

This phenomenon occurs (sadly) often enough to warrant
IMHO a specific term. I propose 'micro-Spursy' as that term.

 

I actually cannot remember the first game I saw at WHL I think it was against Everton in the 60's

It's all your bad thoughts making you ill RCL ......................... 1921 bastard.

The wife and the girlfriend both think I am doing very well for my age

So **** you


I do like this :
Bah humbug to all you mofos in your decorated homes, with inflatable reindeer and lights outside...it ain't "festive" or "fun"...it is twatty...and putting just white lights outside ain't "classy" ...it's pretentiously twatty

We have ONE in this village Have they no shame?

 

Get well soon RCL

 

Slightly over the top

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Yep. It’s just wishful thinking on my behalf mate lol.