please log in to view this image Saturday 17th September 5.30pm Premier League Tottenham Hotspur Stadium Moura is still out, but there's no news of any other injuries. Neither side has any suspensions. Lineups for each side's last league game: Spurs: Lloris; Romero, Dier, Lenglet; Royal, Bentancur, Hojbjerg, Sessegnon; Richarlison, Kane, Son. Subs: Forster, Doherty, Sanchez, Tanganga, Davies, Skipp, Bissouma, Perisic, Kulusevski. League form: WDWWDW. Leicester: Ward; Justin, Ndidi, Evans, Thomas; Maddison, Soumare, Tielemans, Barnes; Iheanacho, Daka. Subs: Iversen, Castagne, Amartey, Mendy, Dewsbury-Hall, Praet, Albrighton, Perez, Vardy. League form: DLLLLL. Ref: Simon Hooper. VAR: Andre Marriner. TV: Sky Sports. How would you like to line up for this one?
They ain't won this season, have lost their last 3 matches against us with an aggregate score of 10-5 and we are unbeaten in our last 11 Premier league games...and there is no football for 2 weeks after this game... We all know what's coming
Just a reminder, Michael Owen says we shouldn't drop Son If Conte knows what he's doing, we'll have a front three of Kane, Richarlison and Deki
Hugo Sanchez Dier Davies Spence Bissouma Hojbjerg Perisic Kulu Kane Richarlison That's what I'd go with. Romero looks like he playing through a considerable amount of pain atm which is a stupidity given the fact that we have two backups for his position. Sanchez hasn't done badly in his various cameos although I acknowledge playing him with Spence is a massive risk defensively. I'd just like to think a combination of Hojbjerg and Bissouma can offer enough protection to the defence for our WBs to really push forward. Kulusevski has to be brought back into the team, even at the expense of Richarlison. His absence is upsetting the whole balance as without him (especially if Emerson plays) our right flank is impotent and opposition sides are able to double up on our left flank.
I’d go similar to CK but bring in Lenglet, possibly Sess too to give Perisic a bit of a rest. Just want Conte to utilise the squad more. It’s really frustrating seeing more or less the same lineup and minimal subs each game when we’ve got an abundance of good players to choose from now to help freshen things up and keep players on toes.
His press conference was illuminating in reference to some of your points above. It’s clear that some players either aren’t fully recovered from injury yet (Skipp, Doherty) or are still bedding in tactically (Bissouma). It sounds like Conte is expecting those 3 to be ready on all fronts after the international break, which is good. Given Conte has also said that Lucas is the only one who definitely can’t play, I suspect we’ll see the below Lloris Romero Dier Lenglet Emerson Bentancur Højbjerg Sess Kulu Kane Richy
Illuminating yes, but still bizarrely inconsistent. At least I'm personally struggling to see any real consistency. Doherty might not be fit to start, but if he is named on the bench - he is fit to play at least a cameo. He did so against Marseille and actually looked quite sharp (I was sitting almost on top of the right flank in the second half). Where was he (or Spence) against Lisbon when Emerson was blowing out of his arse by the 80th minute? Would that second goal have happened if a fresh player had been on that flank? Unlikely. Bissouma is 'bedding in' tactically yet apparently Richarlison, Perisic and to a lesser extent Lenglet have already made the bed? Sounds illogical to me. Bissouma is by a great distance the most PL-proven of the lot, and playing for a club that used the same formation as us. Richarlison is PL proven at a total circus of a club, Perisic isn't PL proven and Lenglet is barely La Liga proven either. It just doesn't add up and what did us on Tues night wasn't the fact that these players didn't start; it was the fact that they weren't utilised at all while the only sub we made was to bring on a player who without question should have started in the first place. It is maddeningly inconsistent and I hope Fabio is having a word in Conte's ear about utilising the squad he has worked so tirelessly to assemble over the last two windows.
Rest Kane!!!!!! He was soooooo out of sorts in Portugal. His passing and first touch are not what they can be. He needs a rest.
Gotta be honest I’m not quite believing/ buying some of what Conte’s said. I’m in no rush to see Doherty play for us but he’s been back training since before pre-season started. Cannot buy that he’s not fit enough to play. If Skipp has been able to make the last 2 or 3 squads then he should be able to play a set amount of minutes, otherwise don’t select him. Bissouma’s scenario is very puzzling though and I can’t help but get AVB-Paulinho vibes from this. Paulinho was a box to box midfielder that AVB tried converting to a DM with devastating consequences for us as a team and him as a player. We all know what Bissouma’s about and what made him one of the most respected CMs in the Prem. If we’re trying to modify/ change his game or talk about how he’s struggling in a particular aspect then even though it’s early days I'm wondering why we’d sign a player that isn’t stylistically what the manager seemingly wants, and seeing as Conte signs off all transfers, it’s a bizarre situation. It’s similar for Spence too. Though even arguably more puzzling seeing as he’s the most suited to the RWB spot in the squad yet isn’t getting a look-in. We know Conte’s never been a manager to promote youth but the two supposedly senior and experienced RWBs are - with the greatest respect - utter dogshit in the role. Some strange stuff from the gaffer lately to say the least.
One obvious thought: why not try Perisic and Sessegnon as WBs for this one? Perisic has played RWB, most recently at Bayern, and if Son starts finding space on the left because of his linkup with Sess then at least that explains the yawning chasm between midfield and attack we've seen in some games can be fixed very easily
I agree with the rest of it, but I think this is unfair to both Emerson and Doherty. The former just isn't a wingback and isn't suited to the system, but still does alright. He's totally lacking in creativity, though. Playing another uncreative player in front of him just destroys any chances down that side. When Doherty finally got a good run under Conte last season, he was excellent. Battered Leeds and Everton, were unlucky at Old Trafford, then battered Brighton, West Ham and Newcastle. Flew out of the blocks against Villa and took the lead, then Cash killed him. The ****. The final two games of that he was even playing LWB and got Emerson a goal. Conte seems to be suggesting that he'll play the Brazilian again tomorrow. Doherty will have to get up to speed playing for Ireland, then he might be considered. I don't even think Spence is in the running, for some reason. Maybe as a desperation sub.
I’ve said the same RE Emerson but I don’t think he does alright. His lack of productivity destroys our right flank, he’s fine when we’re the team on the back foot but should be nowhere near the pitch in games we’re expected to control and win. He’ll make a good career as a RB but Conte needs to stop this RWB experiment with him, it’s holding us back. Doherty had a brilliant purple patch last season but I don’t believe he’ll replicate that over a long term basis. 5 of his 6 goal contributions also came against relegation candidates such as Leeds, Everton and Newcastle. The cynic in me says that purple patch was the product of fortunate timing with regards to opponents. In general we’ve managed to progressively downgrade on RBs/ RWBs over the last 5 or so years. Spence isn’t in the running and that’s what’s annoying. He’d likely be the best option for the role and it’s frustrating seeing us persist with trying to fit square pegs.
