please log in to view this image Wednesday 2nd March 7.45pm Boleyn Ground Premier League There's no love lost in this fixture at the best of times, but this will be a really competitive one. Both sides managed narrow wins on the weekend and both are fighting for their league position. Three points from this one could mean all the difference for either side. Their visit to WHL was quite heavily hyped and pundits were predicting a close one. The teams were level on points at the time and both were playing well. A Payet-less Hammers side were a shadow of their usual selves though, crashing to a 4-1 defeat. The scoreline was probably a little flattering to them too, with Lanzini's late consolation coming from nowhere. Kane (x2), Alderweireld and Walker got our goals. Last season's game at the Boleyn was the opening game of the campaign. Kyle Naughton's early dismissal left the team with a mountain to climb. That's exactly what happened, though. A stupid foul by James Collins evened up the numbers and Eric Dier nicked it in injury time. Pochettino has suggested that there might be some rotation for this game due to tiredness. I'm sure that we'll see the usual fullback switch, but I suspect that our midfield will change a little, too. Mason, Bentaleb and Onomah will all be pushing for a start. Lineups for the last league game: Spurs: Lloris; Walker, Alderweireld, Wimmer, Rose; Dier, Eriksen; Lamela, Alli, Son; Kane. Subs: Vorm, Trippier, Davies, Bentaleb, Mason, Onomah, Chadli. League form: WWWWWW. West Ham: Adrian; Byram, Collins, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Kouyate, Noble, Lanzini; Antonio, Emenike, Payet. Subs: Randolph, Henry, Song, Oxford, Obiang, Moses, Carroll. League form: LDWLDW. Referee: Andre Marriner. Was there anything that we saw in the Swansea game that requires a change for this one? Do we need to address anything in particular about West Ham's tactics? Should we rest anyone in particular with the Arsenal game in mind?
Based on the information given what is the next letter in these sequences: WWWWWW..........................................W LDWLDW................................................L
The only change I'd make based on performance issues would be Chadli in for one of Lamela or Son, neither done much agaisnt Swansea and Chadli helped turn the game around so I'd like to see him back in the side, he's also been a player who's scored goal against big sides so I'm hoping he can do the same against West Ham and then Arsenal. I'd probably choose Lamela to be dropped as Son's pace could cause trouble. I'd look at rotating the full backs but that's not due to performances, both Rose and Walker were fantastic yesterday but the full back position in this team is probably the most physically demanding and after the yesterday's game, I wouldn't expect Rose and Walker to be able to perform similar against West Ham AND Arsenal, so I'd bring Davies and Tripps in for Wednesday and then revert back to Rose and Walker for Arsenal, it keeps all options pretty fresh. The lovely thing about this too is that both Davies and Tripps have been superb when they've played so it's really comforting knowing we can rotate them all when the time needs without fear of weakening. I'd also be inclined to stick Mason in for Alli, one because Alli had treatment before the Swansea game on his ankle and despite playing the full match may not have been 100% and two because I'd like him as fresh as possible to put a real shift in against the South Londoners on Saturday. Will Dembele be back for Wednesday/ Saturday does anyone know? Team I'd play: Lloris Tripps, Toby, Wimmer, Davies Dier, Eriksen Son, Alli, Chadli Kane Vorm, Walker, Rose, Mason, Bentaleb, Onomah, Lamela COYS!!!!!!
Not worried about this one. If anything, the fact this is a Spanner cup final + their spanking at WHL means they have to vaguely attempt to play just to quell their home crowd. And for the opponent whose most recent : - general form is P10 W8 D1 L1 - away form is P6 W5 D1 that is good prey indeed to be facing. On the squad side, now that Mason seems to be match-fit again, I would like Pochettino to be looking to do similar for Bentaleb ASAP (we need a fully fit squad MF if there are aspirations for the PL + EL double) .
I’d play SoS’ team, except for swapping in Mason and Lamela for Alli and Son. I agree Alli should get a rest. Teams with Son in them haven’t been effective lately, while those with Lamela (and everyone else, really) have. Son tends to dwell on the ball too much, and his confidence at this point isn’t high. I’d bring him in as a sub for the next few games, as I think a goal would be great for him. Little as I like to say it, West Ham are a good team this year, Payet is one of the leagues outstanding players, and they will be as up for this as for any game on their schedule. I agree they’ll attack more than most teams we’ll face, which is a good reason to play Lamela, who excels on sending players in on goal on the counter (or, as in the video above, sending players in to send players in on goal).
Koyate and Antonio are both dangerous as well. They have a decent side West Ham so we need to be careful
Agree with much of the above about selection for Weds and Sat, but not so convinced about Rose's performance (see SoS's post) yesterday, especially in the first half, when he was beaten for pace/outwitted at least three times when they attacked down the right. Much improved in the second half, and a cracker of a goal (not to mention the howitzer that was just tipped over by Fabianski!). I'm also worried about his temperament when under pressure - he gets riled too easily, and can be targeted by opponents such as those he'll face in the next two games. There were one or two "moments" yesterday - when he was still high on the euphoria of scoring.
"They have a decent side West Ham so we need to be careful" Spurs have to bring their best game to Lego towers. If they do that, the Spanners best game will not be enough to resist.
I'll take six and a full public enquiry into just how much of a swindle their tenancy at the White Elephant is - with no redactions.
I don't even think we need to be training in between this weeks matches. Just basics to keep the muscles flexi...id be spending my time sorting the heads out and really getting that focus spot on. Get them believing. I think they do, but now and again they need a reminder. That's why I welcome half times...we come out with fresh impetus and a kitchen sink.
not as big a swindle as the £40m your off-shore company received from Boris to help build your stadium. Gonna sign a petition on behalf of the taxpayers to complain about that are you?
We’ve certainly done much better playing twice a week this year than in years past. I wonder what part of that is simply success and competition for places being a miracle cure for tired legs and what part is different training methods. Eriksen, in particular, seems transformed from the player who seemed to run down in periods of fixture congestion. I wonder if the team or the starters are spending less time training between matches.
A Premier League club that is going to get Hundreds of millions of pounds from the new tv deal. It will make further hundreds of millions from ticket sales, sponsorships and player sales. Yet they have been given the keys to a stadium paid for by the tax payer (at the cost of hundreds of millions of pounds) that has was renovated with money from the tax payer (at the cost of tens of millions of pounds) and will only be paying £2.5m per year rent for the stadium. This mean they will pay £250m over a hundred years that the lease has been agreed for... Wembley cost around £500m, the Emerates cost around £350m and the new WHL is due to cost around £400m. This deal was agreed pushed for by Sebastion Coe (Tory party member and ex Tory MP), supported by and agreed by Boris Johnson (Lond Mayor...oh and a Tory) agreed by the London Assembly (run by the Tories)...oh and West Ham is Run by Gold and Sullivan (Tory supporters) and Karen Brady (A Tory member of the House of Lords)...any one who thinks this is ok is clearly an arsehole...and that's without even taking the effect on Orient into account. The money given to spurs is towards the cost of local infrastructure...road improvements, the local community and educational services that will be on site...personlly I am pissed that rich businesses of any kind are given public money when wages are so poor for so many Londoners and housing is so expensive...but to compare the 2 clubs on this issue is a joke imo
The only time they will fill that stadium RCL is if they hold a Pikeys Convention, and even then anything made of metal will be stolen for scrap. I think that's why they never bother to win any silverware, their board knows it would get nicked and melted down, in fact their board would probably melt it down themselves!
