Lloris; Walker, Chiriches, Dawson, Vertonghen; Paulinho, Sandro; Townsend, Holtby, Sigurdsson; Soldado Big, BIG changes. Chirches is a huge risk, in my opinion. Really pleased to see Holtby and Sandro play but a bit surprised that Dembele was dropped and not Paulinho. Sigurdsson's understandable if Vertonghen's playing on the left but I'm not sure about any of that choice from Chirches starting to Vertonghen playing left back and Sigurdsson getting another start after some poor performances. No place to hide if AVB mucks this up but if we win he's officially a tactical genius
Delighted to see Holtby start, he really deserves his chance Am worried that Paulinho's travelling will be too much again, Paulinho is a better player than Dembele and offers more all round, but I just have to trust AVB on the fitness issue, not something I'm confident about BTW I think JV at LB is a smart move, lots of people have said he shouldn't play there, but he plays there for Belgium so I'm happy with that Vlad who knows, but he's an international CL player, so why not. No idea how the team will work out, I'll go for a draw, but obviously for top 4, which already looks a doomed aspiration, we need a win.
I'd be more worried about Chiriches if Benteke was playing, as he's absent then I'm a bit more comfortable with him. Theres never any place to hide if the manager mucks up YV, not on this board! Nice to see Holtby get his chance against a team he's already performed against this season, as O.S said we all love Eriksen but Holtby deserves his chance with his good cup/EL performances and Eriksen's slight dip in form. Thats the point of a competetive squad I guess - we can replace under-performing players usually. My prime concern is Paulinho as he looked badly affected by being off the pace before the international break and he's had two games in Asia and long flights since then...hope he'll be ok.
Wow- that's a very interesting line-up. Massive call for Chiriches. In the absence (and, I might argue, in the presence also) of Rose Verts really is our best LB IMO and I hope he's not there just to counter Villa this afternoon but is given free rein to get forward.
Having said that I bet Chiriches will line up as a right-footed LB now... Benteke not even on bench. Best bit of news.
Even if Verts isn't a natural LB he's still a better option there for us than Naughton IMO. Got no problem with Naughts at RB but not for me at LB unless its absolutely necessary. I don't get all the fuss about Chiriches starting I'm afraid, he looks solid enough if a little lightweight still, but the absence of Benteke mitigates this shortcoming of his somewhat. EDIT: apparently Benteke is on the bench now
If Kaboul's fit and playing well then I'd be happy with it but throwing in a signing who's young and has looked like he's struggling to adapt to the English game seems like a big risk to me. I'd rather we were weak at left back rather than centre back and Chiriches looks like he's used to having a lot more time and against lower quality opposition. Not saying he's rubbish but it reminds me a bit of how Sandro started for us, he took about 6 months to settle and start to show us what he could do but until then he looked a liability. Hope I'm wrong but that's worrying me right now.
Lloris; Walker, Chiriches, Vertonghen, Dawson; Townsend, Sigurdsson, Paulinho, Sandro, Holtby; Soldado Friedel, Naughton, Dembele, Lennon, Lamela, Eriksen, Defoe The good news is we won't be seeing Naughton's backpasses. The bad news is you know one of Verts, Daws or Chiriches will pick up a knock after an hour...
Nothing like as idiotic as the questions Lee Clark got asked after his side had just got stuffed 4-0 by Leeds.
Verts looked good at LB last year. I think people's main problem with being there is simply that we don't have the depth at CB for it right now. Know mine is. But let's see if Chiriches can step up.
Another 'new' team for Spurs the options for AVB are huge which is very much a doubled edged sword. Pleased to see Holtby given a start at last.
Didn't watch the post match stuff but I can imagine there were some stupid questions asked. Without turning this thread into Rival Watch, I hope they stick with him. Clearly a talented, young, English manager.
Well, fits the adage: always change a losing game. I like Jan on the left. I'm surprised Dembele is sitting. He's looked good, and only played one game for Belgium. Holtby does deserve a start. I wouldn't have risked Chiriches yet, or Sandro, for that matter. On balance, though, I'm glad AVB shook up a lineup that played so poorly against West Ham.
Dembele's omission has been overdue imo. His stats for the West Ham game were shocking when only 19% of his passes were forward ones.
