Match Day Thread Tottenham Hotspur v Bournemouth

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Saturday 4th May 12.30pm
Premier League
Vitality Stadium​

Another match, another 1-0 loss. Far from ideal as we lurch to the end of the season.
Fortunately the other sides around us have been equally useless and we now have a chance to seal top four.
Our hosts are safe from relegation, but they're in very erratic form and will want to go out with a bang.
Can a patched up, makeshift side do the business or do we face a nervous final day?

Eddie Howe has done a good job with The Cherries in the Premier League so far.
He's personable, professional and the media seem to like him.
I think it's fair to say that this campaign hasn't been one of his better ones, though.
In a season where Bournemouth were expected to push on, they haven't really improved.
There have been some bright moments, but it doesn't take much to turn stability into stagnation.

The good? The signings of Brooks and Lerma, the form of Fraser, plus the goals of Wilson and King.
The bad? Conceding 65 goals, which is already more than the 61 of last season.
The ugly? 18 losses, early cup exits and questionable goalkeepers.
There was a decent amount of money spent in the summer and there's little to show for it.
We've all seen how these things can go, if a club isn't careful.

Our trip to the Vitality late in the last campaign started about as badly as was possible.
An early goal for ex-West Ham academy player Junior Stanislas gave them the lead, then Harry Kane got injured.
Replacing him with Lamela and changing the system turned the game completely.
Alli netted a minute later to go into the break level, then Son gave us the lead just after the hour.
Late goals from the Korean and Aurier put a shine on a day that began very bleakly:

The game at Wembley was a fairly strange one, as the visitors were quite competitive, but lost badly.
Kyle Walker-Peters got three assists before the break, setting up Eriksen, Son and Moura.
It was harsh on Bournemouth, who had chances to take the lead or get back into it, but were done by half-time.
Kane killed any doubts on the hour, finishing a lovely Eriksen chip to make it 4-0.
A scrambled fifth finally fell to Son, allowing him to nick a second and add insult to injury:

Aurier, Kane, Lamela and Winks are all out, while Vertonghen probably won't be risked.
Bournemouth have a long list of casualties, including Stanislas, Daniels, Surman, Francis, L.Cook and Smith.
Neither side has any suspensions.

Lineups for each side's last league game:

Spurs: Lloris; Foyth, Sanchez, Alderweireld, Davies; Dier, Eriksen, Rose, Alli; Son, Moura.
Subs: Gazzaniga, Trippier, Walker-Peters, Wanyama, Skipp, Llorente, Janssen.
League form: LWWLWL.

Bournemouth: Boruc; Clyne, Mepham, S.Cook, Ake, Simpson; Brooks, Lerma, Gosling; King, Wilson.
Subs: Begovic, Hyndman, Surridge, Fraser, Ibe, Mousset, Solanke.
League form: DLLWLD.

Referee: Craig Pawson.

TV: Sky Sports.

A tricky and essential fixture, but who do we risk and who needs to be left out?
Do we go as strong as possible, risk some rotation or just pick whoever's fit?
Defence seems to be an area where we have some choice, so how would you line up there, in particular?

 

Paul Stewart rules OK

 

We need a strong team to get the job done. No sense in risking a last game of the season, after the lord mayor's show decider against an Everton side who could well be playing for 7th place. We have an extra day's rest before the 2nd leg and I think we'll make it count.

Hugo
Foyth/KWP Sanchez Toby Davies
Sissoko Dier
Lucas Eriksen Alli
Son

And then for Ajax assess Dier (I'd rather he starts over Wanyama after that horror show on Tuesday) and go with:

Hugo
Trippier (why oh why) Toby Jan Rose
Sissoko Dier
Lucas Eriksen Son
Llorente

Llorente caused them all manner of problems in the air. Alli meanwhile did nothing last time to justify his selection this time, so I'd leave him as an impact sub.

 

Can we hypnotise Dier into thinking he's playing the Chavs. That's the version we need - in their faces! What we don't want is the lackadaisical Dier who trots around.

 

Would rest Lloris on Saturday.

Gazzanigga
Foyth Toby Sanchez Davies
Wanyama Dier
Eriksen Dele Son
Llorente

Would like Son and Llorente to build there under standing as they'll need it in the 2nd leg.

In the bench I would have Skipp, Moura, Rose, Trippier, Lloris, Sissoko, Walker-Peters plus ???

That'll mean we have some game changers on the bench if needed, which is very likely given our erratic form over the past 2 months.

 

Rest Lloriente, start with Jannsen. Apart from that I'd go with RCL's selection.

 

Holy ****...if I have the right answer you really really need to look at what fecking question you're asking

 

How can we give Sissoko at least 2 minutes rest before he has to come on as a substitute to rescue the situation? Is that good enough?

 

One more win and it's happy St arseholes day COYS

 

Could be a double celebration, if Notts County win at Swindon and Macclesfield lose, our friend Judas will be visiting the national league or picking up his P45.

 

Line up is very strong

3 PTS expected

Get set to turn over Ajax

COYS

 

""

Strong team hoping maybe they play themselves into form for Wednesday

 

"

Interesting team for Bournemouth - keeper making his debut cue a blinder from the lad - I would like to wish him well, but I hope he lets enough in for us to win!

 

Big game for the lads today, let’s finish the job. COYS!!

 

Nailed onto to have an amazing performance and in three years time this will be the game he remembers for his breakthrough once he’s become Ireland number one.

 

Pochettino has selected a starting XI to get the PL job done.

 

For those who don’t have sky sports, this is being broadcast on Sky 1

 

Poch has chosen a strong team, yet I really don't know what kind of game to expect today.

Our last two performances have looked flat and toothless. All I know is with Sonny on the pitch, he'll bring energy and full commitment. I really hope we can get the job done and take some positive momentum into next week's return leg at Ajax. COYS!

 

Thanks for that - just put on the main event channel to find them showing Celtic!