please log in to view this image Tuesday 2nd January 7.45pm Premier League Liberty Stadium The appalling display at City was followed up by two comfortable victories and two hat-tricks by Harry Kane. The ridiculous scheduling of our New Years fixture against West Ham has meant that we're a game behind, though. A week long break leading into this game is swiftly followed by that rescheduled match less than 48 hours later. Will that effect Pochettino's plans and will we see more rotation than usual? First things first and that's a trip to Wales. Our hosts have had a very poor start to the season under Paul Clement, ending the year at the bottom of the table. They could only muster 11 goals in 21 games in that run, so it was no surprise when he was sacked. His replacement was quite out of the blue, though. Carlos Carvalhal was sacked earlier that week by Sheffield Wednesday. Sacked by Wednesday, hired by Thursday was the resulting poor joke. So what do we know of the new boss? Journeyman seems to be the most appropriate word, at the moment. He had a decent, if unspectacular, career as a centre-back before basically replicating it as a manager. It appeared that his coaching career may have ended, following a three year break after a short stint in Turkey. Wednesday surprised everyone when they announced that he would be taking over from Stuart Gray. His time there was well spent though, as they finished 6th then 4th, reaching the play-offs on both occasions. The Portuguese coach likes a well drilled, counter-attacking display, by all accounts. Keep it tight, allow the other team to have possession in non-dangerous areas, then hit on the break. It's a tactic that we've struggled against and it earned them a win in his only game in charge so far. Watford took the lead and had chances to kill the game, but didn't take them. Two late goals wrapped up the points for Swansea and it's a result that will give them a big boost. Our trip to the Liberty last season was one of our more memorable games. Having gone behind early to a goal from ex-Spurs player Wayne Routledge, we struggled to get back into it. Chances came and went, but a hard working display from Swansea looked like it was going to give them the points. Alli's late equaliser deflated them badly though and they collapsed, conceding twice more in injury time. Heung-Min Son put us ahead before Christian Eriksen added insult to injury with virtually the last kick of the game: The game at Wembley earlier in the campaign was typical of our early form at the ground. Despite dominating possession and chances, we failed to put the ball in the net and largely huffed and puffed. Son started at left-back, for some reason and a lack of width lead to a lot of play around and in front of their box. Kane hit the box and Mike Dean made some unusual decisions, as the game drifted towards a 0-0 draw: Toby Alderweireld is still out, but Victor Wanyama has returned to full training and may be available. Moussa Dembele went off against Southampton and there's no news on his injury yet. Swansea will be without Wilfried Bony, while Ki and Britton face late tests. Old boy Kyle Naughton faces the first of a three game suspension, having been banned by the FA panel. Lineups for each side's last league game: Spurs: Lloris; Aurier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Rose; Dier, Dembele; Eriksen, Alli, Son; Kane. Subs: Vorm, Trippier, Davies, Sissoko, Winks, Lamela, Llorente. League form: DWWLWW. Swans: Fabianski; Naughton, Fernandez, Mawson, Olsson; Clucas, Mesa, Carroll, Sanchez; Abraham, Ayew. Subs: Nordfeldt, Rangel, van der Hoorn, Fer, Narsingh, Dyer, McBurnie. League form: WLLDLW. Referee: Bobby Madley. TV: Sky Sports. Do we need to make any changes from the Southampton game? How much attention should we be paying to our upcoming games against West Ham and Wimbledon? Does anyone need a break or need to be dropped entirely, due to form?
IMO we have been playing better with just the 2 CBs-forced on us by injuries and suspensions. With Wanyama back, we could revert to the 3 of Jan, David and Dier. Hopefully we won't but I fear that is what Poch will do as he likes that system. Unfortunately that will take away from our recent up-form in scoring goals that has arisen from playing 3 behind the striker.
We need the 6 PL pts, and the Spanners have possibly their last cup final of the season, so there must be the strongest possible starting XI for that game. Rotation is possible for the FA Cup tie, so IMHO possible injuries aside I trust in Pochettino to use the squad to get thru this week.
Lots of speculation Kane will be ok to play despite a bout of man-flu recently. Difficult to predict how Poch will manage these 2 games aside from the usual FB rotation. I'd go with: Hugo Dier Dave Jan Aurier Wanyama Winks Davies Son Alli Kane Then Hugo Trippier Dave Jan Rose Dier Dembele Lamela Eriksen Alli Kane 5 changes should do it.
Against teams like Stoke, WBA, Swansea, Newcastle and the like, there's just no point to playing 3 at the back. 2 centre backs is plenty and that gets us Sonny or Lamela in the team, which means there's more goal threat as none of our central midfielders provide much of one. Against Citeh we looked like we really missed the third centre back. There was a bloody great hole where Davinson Sanchez should have been and De Bruyne and Sane spent the whole second half running into it. So, play the back 3 against Liverpool, Juve and Chelsea away. Apart from that, we need wins in the second half of the season and will have to go for it. Starting tomorrow.
Any news of possible cancellation? Storm Eleanor not due to pass through until 6-10pm and if the winds are as bad or worse than they are here in Cork right now, then wouldn’t rate chances too highly.
I’d like to see Vorm start. With the game against West Ham so soon after and let’s be honest Hugo hasn’t been great recently. Also Vorm will be keen to impress against his old side to earn a new contract as he’s out of contract in the summer.
I'd suggest giving birthday boy Gazzaniga a start...but then I remember Lloris had a 'mare against Southampton on his birthday.
