Match Day Thread Tottenham Hotspur v AFC Bournemouth

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Saturday 30th November 3pm
Premier League
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium​

Two games, two wins and we're conceding two a game. New manager, some of the same problems.
Mourinho may have reversed our form so far, but he's clearly got some work to do.
His first home league game sees him face one of the other favourites to replace Pochettino.
Eddie Howe's Bournemouth have had a rollercoaster start to the campaign and sit one place below us.
Can we continue the new manager bounce or will our weaknesses be exposed?

The Cherries had an excellent start to the last campaign before slowly fizzling out and struggling at the end.
That form has continued into the new season, where they've had a fitful few months.
4 wins, 4 draws and 5 losses is far from ideal and elimination from the League Cup by Burton won't have helped.
Starting the month with a win over Utd will have eased some tensions.
Losing the next two to Newcastle and Wolves will have put the pressure back on, though.

Eddie Howe's reputation grows every season and it's possible that he'll want to leave the club soon.
Their summer transfer activity sensibly focused on youth, but results have probably suffered in the short-term.
The manager will know that fans and boards are very fickle in today's game.
How many years can he afford to wait before a few too many losses taint his name?
It sounds ludicrous, but we've all seen fans turn on beloved coaches.

Our Boxing Day meeting last season in front of a half-empty Wembley was a very one-sided result.
There wasn't that much between the teams, but the scoreline of 5-0 suggested otherwise.
Kyle Walker-Peters picked up three assists in the first half, as Eriksen, Son and Moura made it 3-0 at the break.
Harry Kane inevitably added a fourth on the hour, as he wasn't picked up after a run down the wing.
Son found the 5th after a scramble and the win left us in 2nd place after 19 games:

The visit to the Vitality Stadium for the penultimate game will be remembered for very different reasons.
Son and Foyth both picked up red cards, leaving nine men to defend virtually all of the second half.
They were unable to do so, eventually going down to an injury-time header from Nathan Ake.
MOTM still went to debutant goalkeeper Mark Travers for the hosts, though.
His first-half heroics kept the scores level, prior to the dull, defensive stuff after the break:

No official injury news yet, but Lloris, Lamela, Vorm and Davies will all miss out.
The visitors have King, Daniels, Brooks and Stanislas out, with doubts about Surman, Kelly, Solanke and Fraser.
Francis and Billing are suspended, due to a sending off and accumulating 5 yellow cards, respectively.

Lineups for each side's last league game:

Spurs: Gazzaniga; Aurier, Sanchez, Alderweireld, Davies; Dier, Winks; Moura, Alli, Son; Kane.
Subs: Austin, Walker-Peters, Foyth, Rose, Sissoko, Lo Celso, Eriksen.
League form: LDLDDW.

Bournemouth: Ramsdale; Francis, S.Cook, Ake; Smith, L.Cook, Billing, Rico; H.Wilson, C.Wilson, Fraser.
Subs: Boruc, Mepham, Gosling, Lerma, Groeneveld, Stacey, Solanke.
League form: LDDWLL.

Ref: Lee Mason. VAR: Paul Tierney.

TV: Not televised.

How would you like to line up for this one and what would you change from the Olympiakos game?
Would you stick with the same lineup, make a couple of changes or go for a wholesale switch?
Which system and tactics would you use and what are you expecting Bournemouth to go with?

 

Mostly, I'd like to see Eric Dier replaced by someone, possibly Moussa Sissoko. Bournemouth are pretty ****ing dirty and cynical and I can see them targeting Dier, who is a cert for an early yellow card the way he's currently playing. Plus Moussa covers Aurier really well and I'd like to see him continue on the right. He's on a roll, so play him.

The left side is a real problem. Bournemouth have some pacy forwards and Rose gives me zero confidence. However KWP's never looked comfortable on the left and Sessegnon's an unknown right now. If Jan Vertonghen's fit, I'd play him.

The rest of the team pretty much picks itself. I'd like to see our summer signings get on the pitch and get some game time and Parrott on the bench. Please?

I'm in The North Upper again with my daughter....it's cheap and you can buy Junior tickets, okay? It was good to see that a lot of tickets had sold in the last few days. We're moving forwards again.

COYS!

 

The youth player that he talks up is Dennis Cirkin.

 

Injuries down to a single tweet once again

...no, that is not a challenge

 

Who will be back first, Hugo or Michel

 

In summary :

1. The Jose hairdryer is in "pre-season" mode (will make a nice Christmas
present for someone ... )

2. Not putting the boot into the likes of Wanyama, and shouting out to the
academy prospects.

3. I will see him in court, as "match fit" vs 'PL starting XI fit' is the property
of RDBD enterprises.

 

So either we're playing 4231 with Sissoko as a winger, or 4321

...and yes, I did notice that Eriksen's on the bench

 

Verts left back? That's the side I would pick so no complaints Jose.

 

It makes sense in respect to how our system goes from 4231 when defending to 3421 when attacking as we can't have two flying fullbacks who can't defend in that system, as was made obvious on Tuesday when Rose had yet another brainfart that cost us a goal, so Verts at LB makes a lot of sense as he can play there and tuck in when we're attacking

On the other hand, though, there does need to be consideration given to flipping the system to have Rose on the left and Foyth on the right, especially with Davies' injury

 

We are in Brighton visiting our uni kid... bring me good news guys
COYS

 

The Vue cinema in Wood Green is ablaze, traffic should be fun in and around Tottenham today.

 

Funnily enough my daughter did her English Literature degree down at Brighton Uni and now lives in Brighton so hopefully yours will do just as well!

 

Should be Sissoko as a forward no?

 

Passing is sh*te, 2nd best in the 50:50s. Not good signs.

 

Get in Deli,

 

We got Deleeee Aliii

Welcome back son

 

Need to tighten up in midfield a bit, Dier has been sloppy

 

Assisted Toby ball to Alli.