please log in to view this image Friday 4th January 7.45pm FA Cup 3rd Round Prenton Park The first game of the year was a successful return to winning ways, after a disappointing end to 2018. Now it's time to see if we can do it on English soil in a classic banana skin draw, away to a lower league side. The League Two Merseysiders have had to fight to get here and this is their reward. A televised match against a Premier League side at their home ground with nothing to lose. We've made hard work of these games in recent years, so will we progress or will we get embarrassed? There's an interesting article about Tranmere's resurgence on the BBC site, so I'll link it here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/46739485 There aren't many clubs owned by ex-players, let alone those that used to play for the club in question. Tranmere currently sit in 9th place in League Two, only three points from a play-off position. It's a fairly impressive place to be, considering that they were promoted in the last campaign. The primary reason for it is their strong home form, as they've only lost twice in all competitions at Prenton Park. Once was in the League Cup to League One Walsall, while the other was a 1-0 loss to Newport. We'd do well to remember our 4th round tie against the Welsh side last year, where we nicked a late draw. Our hosts have already played four matches to get to this point, twice being held to draws and forced to replays. 6th tier Oxford City and Southport were their opponents, so I'll embed and hide the highlights for those that want them: Spoiler: Tranmere 3-3 Oxford. Spoiler: Oxford 0-2 Tranmere. Spoiler: Tranmere 1-1 Southport. Spoiler: Southport 0-2 Tranmere. Injury news is that Dembele, Vertonghen, Lamela, Dier and Wanyama are all still out. Tranmere have no injuries. Neither side has any suspensions. Lineups for each side's last league game: Spurs: Lloris; Trippier, Sanchez, Alderweireld, Rose; Winks, Sissoko, Eriksen, Alli; Kane, Son. Subs: Gazzaniga, Walker-Peters, Foyth, Davies, Skipp, Moura, Llorente. League form: WWWWLW. Tranmere: Davies; Buxton, Ellis, Monthe, Ridehaigh; Caprice, McCullough, Harris, Smith; Norwood, Jennings. Subs: George, McNulty, Bakayogo, Gilmour, Cole, Mullin, Stockton. League form: WLLWDD. Referee: Andre Marriner. TV: BT Sport 2. We've got big games coming up against Chelsea and Man Utd, so how should we approach this one? Who do we risk rotating and resting and who needs to play? Should we go all out from the start or try to pass them to death?
Proper FA Cup round 3 fixture. Should be able to rotate in order to remain fresh for the other games. 1. Go all out from the start ?? Depends on the mindset of the players (do they understand it gives the chance for subs early on to lessen the chance of fate making injuries) . 2. Pragma over dogma - GKN etc start (regardless of their future) . - With this and potentially another lower league opponent in round 4, Pochettino may have to start putting in academy CM/DM talent into the starting XIs / teams lest less than two of our seniors do not return from injury by Feb (these are the games to see if they could front up for a season run in with the seniors) .
One thing worth mentioning: my dad's a Tranmere fan, growing up within a stone's throw of Prenton Park It's also worth pointing out that, if we win, that means that in the space of a year Spurs would have knocked out the clubs both my parents, my sister and my brother in law support from various cups...
If some of your family relations can support a club that is going to reach the CL final this May, that would be much appreciated.
Gazza KWP Dave Foyth Rose Winks Skippy Lucas Nando GKN Dele (to get over the strange performance the other night) Frankly, with the PL abd LC coming up fast and CL on the near horizon, if this team isn't good enough then so be it.... COYS!
Gazza KWP, Dave, Foyth, Davies Winks, Skipp Lucas, Lamela*, GKN Nando *If fit, if not, go 4-4-2 and give Parrott a run out.
Golly.This takes me back.I had 5 teeth filled by the school dentist,without injection.When he had finished,the dentist told me to walk to the window and take a deep breath. ….I staggered to the window,took a deep breath ….and fainted.I haven't liked dentists since. The good thing? Spurs beat Tranmere in a cup replay 9-1.That was 1953!
Apparently Georgieu has been training with the 1st team ahead of this one, wouldn't be too surprised if he gets a spot on the bench.
And looks like a bloody zombie in the photo they chose on Twitter Also, why does it look like Vorm just caught Anthony Georgiou talking **** about him behind his back?
We're coming off the back of Christmas and Have Chelsea and United next week. If everyone was fit we'd have a squad for competing in 4 competitions but we don't have everyone fit. Rest everyone and see how the kids do.
League Two teams are well drilled. Tranmere won't be much different from Rochdale last season. They have two good forwards too. This is a game for those players with some physicality who can get stuck in.
in 35 mins it will be January 4th I will be 52 yrs old... Last year on January 4th we drew 1-1 with West Ham in the league. On January 4th 2017 we beat Chelsea 2 -0 in the league. On January 4th 2014 we lost 2-0 to Arsenal in the Cup. so this decade we have played on my actual birthday 3 times and have only won once. In 2005 we played United on my birthday and drew 0-0 in the Pedro Mendes game. In 2003 on January 4th we lost 4 nil to Southampton in the cup. So this century we have played on my birthday 5 times... we won 1 drew 2 and lost 2 and failed to score in three of them, and only scored 3 in total and conceded 7 and had the single worst decision given against any team in premier league history... We are DOOMED ... DOOMED I tell you
