Match Day Thread Tottenham Hotspur v Sheffield United

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Thursday 2nd July 6pm
Premier League
Bramall Lane​

Our third game since football's return and our third United, which is somewhat odd.
Playing the Blades is somewhat unusual for us in itself in recent years, though.
It's our first visit to their ground for a league match since 2007, when we lost to a 2nd half penalty.
We haven't looked entirely comfortable after the break, but our hosts have struggled badly.
Can they regain their European place and return to form or can Mourinho manage back-to-back wins?

Chris Wilder's side started the campaign as one of the favourites for relegation and have surprised everyone.
They've largely spent the season pushing for a Champions League place and have impressed consistently.
Their unorthodox style and hard graft have caused many teams a lot of problems, as their results demonstrate.
The break appears to have come at the wrong time for them, though.
An unfortunate draw with Villa was followed by losses to Newcastle, Man Utd and Arsenal.

There was no equivalent fixture last season, but their first visit to our new ground was mixed, to say the least.
We had plenty of the ball and plenty of shots, but rarely troubled their keeper or defence.
The teams reached the break goalless, despite the visitors coming close several times.
An mistake at the back gifted Son the chance to put us ahead and he grabbed it.
A disallowed equaliser didn't deter them and they levelled it up fairly late on through a Baldock cross:

No injury news yet, but it seems likely that Foyth, Parrott and Tanganga will still be unavailable.
Jack O'Connell misses out for the hosts, while Lundstram faces a late test.
Neither side has any suspensions.

Lineups for each side's last league game:

Spurs: Lloris; Aurier, Sanchez, Dier, Davies; Sissoko, Lo Celso; Moura, Alli, Son; Kane.
Subs: Gazzaniga, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Winks, Ndombele, Fernandes, Bergwijn, Lamela, Sessegnon.
League form: WLLDDW.

Sheffield Utd: Moore; Basham, Robinson, Jagielka; Baldock, Fleck, Lundstram, Norwood, Stevens; Mousset, McGoldrick.
Subs: Verrips, K. Freeman, Berge, Rodwell, L. Freeman, Osborn, Zivkovic, McBurnie, Sharp.
League form: WDWDLL.

Ref: Chris Kavanagh. VAR: Michael Oliver.

TV: Sky Sports.

How would you like to line up for this one and what would you change from the West Ham 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 Sheffield United to go with?

 

Lloris
Aurier Dave Dier Davies
GLC Sissoko
Son Lamela Bergwijn
Kane

That'll do it for me. No idea what Sheffield United will do but I reckon we're more likely to have a game like West Ham where we have a decent amount of the ball, than against Man U, where we let them have a lot of possession. Its a toss up between Alli and Lamela tbh but Erik is doing more to earn his place right now IMO.

 

Var Michael ohLiverpool were doomed I tell ya

 

Yeah I’d go with Hudd’s teams.

Still wanna see a post-lockdown Tanguy in a 433 but don’t think Jose feels any of our CMs can play DM efficiently enough to allow Tanguy to play alongside Gio. I imagine he will start at some point though in the 4231, we’ve got 6 games in about 16 days, ****ing ridiculous really, so squad rotation is going to be vital.

 

right, i have son and kane in my fantasy football team so hopefully you smash them 10-0 with 5 goals each.

 

Oh ****, I forgot I had a fantasy team again...

 

well i wouldnt be bothered except i have money riding in a few leagues and i'm close to the top

 

That really would be Fantasy Football!

 

Nice one, Bob.

Guaranteed 0-0 now.

 

thats a win win for me in my book but i'd prefer it if you won 10-0 thanks

 

The last team we thumped with one player notching 5 goals went into administration today....

 

Steptonho has talked about deploying either Skipp or Gedson as emergency RBs

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Darth Levy needs to put his short arms into his deep pockets if that’s an issue

Aurier can’t play every game the way he is bombing back n forth acting like our most dangerous box ball

‘emergency’ being the keyword

 

Jose been talking up Ndombele...making clear the talent is their for him to succeed using Modric as an example of a player who couldn’t settle at Madrid for a season then just got his **** together and became the player he is

How about that for some good old Jose bashing, causing frictions and isolating players...typical Mourinho. Just like he targeted Pogba I’ve been hearing.

 

Thankfully our Ubermensch manager didn't sanction one of our RBs be loaned out in January...

 

He did also suggest that Toby can play there, he did after all win many Belgian caps playing as a right back, he may not bomb forward like Serge, but I guess Davies will need resting too, so maybe Sessegnon could be trusted to play on the left to be the more attacking full back.

Dier is also an option at RB, though I wouldn't move him currently as he is playing well at CB.

I am also not sure that either Skipp or Gedson would be any worse than Sanchez was when we experimented with him as an emergency RB.

 

It's no coincidence that Belgium started playing like the sum of their parts when they started using Toby at CB and Meunier at RB

...or, more likely, as they couldn't play Kompany and Vermaelen at CB as at least one of them was guaranteed to be crocked, they started picking a team rather than players

 

Still gives me nightmares!

 

Interesting to see (likely) Lucas playing the Dele/Lamela role, he's far quicker than either of them while being less physical so it'll be good to see that dynamic.

Sander Berge (remember him) starts for the Blades.