please log in to view this image Leicester City v. Tottenham Hotspur 22 Aug 15:00 - King Power Stadium We travel to high-flying Leicester on Saturday, who appear to have carried on from last season's positive finish. Claudio Ranieri has largely stuck with the tactics which rescued the team from a relegation battle and it's won them their first two fixtures. We won this one 2-1 last time out, with goals from Kane and Eriksen, so a repeat and our first victory of the season would be nice. Starting lineups from the previous league games: Spurs: Lloris; Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies; Mason, Dier; Dembele, Chadli, Eriksen; Kane. Leicester: Schmeichel; De Laet, Huth, Morgan, Schlupp; Albrighton, King, Drinkwater, Mahrez; Vardy, Okazaki. Clinton N'Jie should be eligible for his first appearance in a Spurs shirt, assuming the work permit is sorted. Doubt he's fully up to speed, but a place on the bench is definitely up for grabs after our capitulation against Stoke.
They played for both - Harry Kane Gary Lineker Ian Walker Stephen Clemence Paul Koncheskey Keith Weller Can't think of any more.
We beat them in the 1961 fa cup final to complete the double and in the league cup final in 1999 is the most tedious cup final imaginable. That's my addition to the thread
I'd like to see: Lloris, Trippier, Toby, Jan, Rose, Mason, Dier, N'jie, Chadli, Eriksen, Kane. Subs: Vorm, Walker, Davies, Dembele, Bentaleb, Lamela, NEW STRIKER.
Sorry, but there is no justification whatsoever in picking Trippier ahead of Walker. It was quite clear on Saturday and also the week before at OT, that Walker is getting back to his best.
TBH I didn't see much to impress from Kyle against Stoke, although he was good against Utd. I think in fairness to him part of the problem (again) is that he has no support from the right flank. Dembele drifts too far inside too often, and Lamela spent most of his cameo running around like a headless chicken to have inspired much confidence in his full back. Out of interest, do you not rate Trippier, or do you just think Walker is a better player?
I didn't see much from walker vs Stoke and he was also very lucky not to get sent off after being a total moron near the end
So if Walker is replaced, what makes you think Trippier will be more supported from the right flank ?
Nothing. Hence I begun the sentence with 'in fairness to him [walker]...' which was defending what I saw as a less than impressive performance against Stoke and mitigating starting him again, as many of the issues I saw were not of his making. I happen to rate Trippier; I think he was a solid performer last season and had a good pre-season. Whereas Walker accomplished neither of those things. That's all.
Fair enough CK. I like Walker and prefer him to Trippier. You see it the opposite. I will say though that I think Walker has been fine defensively so far this season, in fact he was arguably our best back line defender in both games this season.
He's certainly looked sharper than last season; perhaps due to the knowledge that he finally has serious competition for his place. Much like Rose after Davies came in. But the lack of cover on the right flank is a major concern and could leave us massively over-exposed against teams with dangerous wingers. If Lamela's approach to defending his flank is now simply tripping people up, we are in trouble.
I'd go with Trippier too. The last two games won't exorcise the nightmares of the last two seasons that I've been having watching Walker trying to read a game of football. Comes across as a bit of a numb nuts to me.
Walker the scapegoat, any excuse to have a pop. As for our manager, if he loses to the tinkerman then surely he has to resign
Walker's looked OK defensively in fairness to him (makes a change!) but still offers very little/ nothing when going forward in my opinion, his pace allows him to bomb it back and forth superbly but rarely does he contribute to anything successful on the front foot other than perhaps drawing a defender out wide when another player has possession (which is a plus point in case anyone thinks I'm saying that's not useful). Trippier has a proven cross, a very good one in fact, when Burnley were in the Championship the season before they came up I remember reading last year that he picked up about 15 assists which is ridiculous for a RB, not sure what he got in the Prem last season but I presume he chipped in with a few for Ings and co? It's now a tough call because Walker has played OK in the past two games and so by rights doesn't deserve to be replaced but then you could get a better attacking outlet from Trippier which ultimately improves us. It's sort of, do we play safe with Walker, he'll "do a job" but don't expect a great deal especially when in possession going forward or do we give Trippier a go, who may or may not be better defensively (genuinely don't know) but can guarantee a better outlet when on the ball going forward? How many times have we cried out for Harry and Nacer needing crosses into the box, Nacer proved that on Saturday after Ben's great work. I'm just about leaning towards Trippier as I wanted him to start at the beginning of the season and prefer the idea of having a good attacking outlet but if Walker gets the nod I won't be disappointed. Team I'd play: Lloris, Trippier, Toby, Jan, Davies Dier, Mason Dembele, Eriksen, Chadli Kane Vorm, Walker, Wimmer, Bentaleb, Alli, Pritchard, N'Jie Lamela doesn't deserve to be on the bench after two poor cameos (the one vs Stoke was terrible, genuinely shocked he looked so bad, bit worrying now to be honest as it's looking bleaker and bleaker for his chances to come good, especially if he can't beat a CM to his RW position), Tommy Carroll unfortunately loses his bench place too, a shame because I think he's a good player who deserves a chance here but I feel we need to have Pritchard and N'Jie more, N'Jie's pace and Pritchard's attacking instincts + set pieces outweigh what others have. Leicester have looked really impressive, Mahrez & Vardy are killing it but I do think they're weak-ish at the back and I think we have enough attacking power to leave with 3 points, Kane tends to enjoy his days out against em!
I'd love to see Pritchard get his chance but my gut feeling is it won't be till November after some great performances in Europa and then he will be undroppable.
