please log in to view this image Saturday 28th December 5.30pm Premier League Carrow Road Brighton was pretty much the stereotypical game of two halves, the first awful and a much improved second. The victory was a big plus, but the performance wasn't and it came at the cost of a couple of suspensions. We'll need some new ideas and some raised games for this quick turnaround in the fixture list. The Canaries' kit bares some resemblance to a banana skin and it's one that we'll do well to avoid. Can Mourinho switch things up or will the bottom side embarrass the big name manager? Daniel Farke joined Norwich in the summer of 2017 replacing caretaker Alan Irvine. He'd lead them to 8th place and his German replacement didn't pull up any trees in his first campaign. A mediocre season saw them win 15, draw 15 and lose 16 in the league, finishing 6 places lower in 14th. The departure of star youngster James Maddison to Leicester in July won't have raised expectations, either. Some canny bargains and good coaching overcame a bad start to finish champions, though. Three losses and a solitary win from the first five games probably had Farke worrying about his job. Ending the season with only one loss in the last 21 matches demonstrates how much they turned things around. Teemu Pukki scoring 29 goals in 43 games had a lot to do with that and he's got 9 in 16 this season. Two early wins, including one against champions City, saw them defying expectations again this time. Their form since has been appalling though, as they've dropped to bottom of the table. There obviously weren't any equivalent matches last time out and we've yet to face them this season, either. Somewhat strange that we've played Brighton twice and haven't played Norwich at all, but it is what it is. I'll replace the normal highlight videos with two from the Spurs Youtube channel. The first is a Bale-heavy goals against clip, while the second is a very short pre-match conference: No official injury update yet, but Lloris and Davies are going to still miss out. Son serves the second of his three match ban, while Winks and Sissoko join him after picking up 5 yellows. Klose, Godfrey and Drmic miss out for the hosts, who have no suspensions. Lineups for each side's last league game: Spurs: Gazzaniga; Aurier, Sanchez, Alderweireld, Vertonghen; Sissoko, Winks; Moura, Alli, Sessegnon; Kane. Subs: Vorm, Foyth, Tanganga, Dier, Lo Celso, Eriksen, Lamela. League form: WWLWWL. Norwich: Krul; Aarons, Zimmermann, Hanley, Byram; Tettey, Trybull; Buendia, McLean, Cantwell; Pukki. Subs: Fahrmann, Lewis, Amadou, Vrancic, Stiepermann, Hernandez, Srbeny. League form: DLLDLL. Ref: Kevin Friend. VAR: Chris Kavanagh. TV: Sky Sports. How would you like to line up for this one and what would you change from the Brighton game? Would you stick with much of the same lineup, make a few changes or go for a wholesale switch? Which system and tactics would you use and what are you expecting Norwich to go with?
3 suspensions and 2 matches in 3 days should result in changes - elsewhere talk of a Dier/Wanyama pivot has got me concerned about the sanity of our new manager if this nightmare scenario plays out! I would pick - Gazza, Walker-Peters, Sanchez, Foyth, Rose (reluctantly), Skipp, Ndombele, Lamela, Lo Celso, Sessegnon & Kane; but Jose may well pick Gazza, Aurier, Sanchez, Alderweireld, Rose, Wanyama, Dier, Eriksen, Dele, Lucas and Kane
I fear that Dier ( or should that be Dire?) will get picked again and then lumber around for 45 mins, get booked, and get hooked at HT. I’d like to see Dele rested as a precaution, assuming he’s not crocked. Lo Celso and Eriksen to start as both should be fresh. And to add some much needed creativity. Gazza, Aurier, Sanchez, Toby, Rose, N’dombele, Skipp, Lo Celso, Eriksen, Lucas, Kane.
Making a move in an hour or so. First trip to Carrow Road so hoping for a positive first experience there. Similar to what NSIS said, I want to see a bit of creativity so Gio and/ or Eriksen in the side will be great, Tanguy too! I’d also like to see Foyth get a run out, either at CB or RB.
Lo Celso/Sissoko CM for me Ndombele might not be ready...do we sell Snoodes in the club shop by any chance?
Going to be Dier then...need someone who is more interested in defending than attacking regardless of the fact that he’s not very good at his job of late.
It wouldn't surprise me if we had Winks/Dier starting this one On the one hand they actually kept us ticking along nicely for the first hour against West Scam as they kept things simple (Dier breaks up play, Winks pings around quick passes, and generally neither of them had time to dwell on the ball) - but in the last half hour they had no control of midfield whatsoever, so we'd need a Burnley-like scoreline to calm the nerves as being 1-0 up with that pairing would take a few more years off our lives
That is a serious 'eff you, Spurs 606' starting XI by Jose. IF *** it results in a spectacular win. *** The Spartan "If" .
