Match Day Thread Tottenham Hotspur v Watford

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Saturday 8th April 12.30pm
Premier League
White Hart Lane​

Two away games against relegation battling sides since the international break and two wins.
Both were pretty tough, though the scorelines probably don't show that very well.
A depleted side grabbing a late, unlikely win should be another boost for us, though.
Our opponents look quite safe now, but their ex-Spurs contingent will have a point to prove.

Watford have had a very up and down season and their current run is no different.
They can pick up an unlikely result in their own favour or hand one to another side just as easily.
We'd do well to note their trip to the Emirates on the last day of January, where they left with all three points.
A quick start put them in an unassailable position, so we need be sharp from the off.
These Saturday lunchtime kick-offs don't always lend themselves to that, unfortunately.

The game at Vicarage Road earlier in the season was extremely one-sided.
I think it's fair to say that most people were disappointed by the late capitulation that allowed them to score.
It's not often that you can say that about a 4-1 victory away from home.
That shows just how dominant that performance was, in my opinion.

We brought in the New Year in some style, as our hosts seemed to be suffering from a hangover.
It took a while to make the breakthrough though, as Kane put us ahead just before the half-hour.
His second came almost instantly and Alli buried a third before the break.
He added his second and our fourth just after the restart, putting it well beyond an abject Watford.
Kaboul's late consolation came from some sloppy defending, as we gave away a cheap set-piece.

The game at the Lane in the last campaign was similarly one-side, but with a less emphatic scoreline.
We created plenty of chances, but it looked like it might become another one of those frustrating results.
Reaching the break scoreless didn't reflect the play, as Heurelho Gomes kept us at bay, somehow.
Kieran Trippier popped up with about 25 minutes left to become the unlikely hero, scoring the only goal of the game.
He's played for us against Watford quite a lot and tends to be a thorn in their side.

We have no suspensions for this one, but Watford will miss Miguel Britos, who was dismissed in their win over West Brom.
Kane, Lamela, Rose and Winks will all be absent due to injury, while Lloris and Wanyama will be assessed closer to the game.
Watford have Zarate and Pereyra out long-term, while a host of their players are injury concerns.
Walter Mazzarri might be playing this up a bit, but I'll point you to what he's said:
http://www.skysports.com/football/n...-spurs-without-a-defence-says-walter-mazzarri

Lineups for each side's last league game:

Spurs: Vorm; Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies; Dier, Dembele; Sissoko, Alli, Eriksen; Son.
Subs: Lopez, Trippier, Carter-Vickers, Wimmer, Onomah, N'Koudou, Janssen.
League form: LWWWWW.

Watford: Gomes; Cathcart, Prodl, Britos, Holebas; Amrabat, Capoue, Doucoure, Cleverly, Niang; Deeney.
Subs: Pantilimon, Janmaat, Zuniga, Mariappa, Perreira, Okaka, Success.
League form: LDLLWW.

Referee: Anthony Taylor.

TV: Sky Sports 1.

Did Son do enough against Swansea to keep his place, should Janssen replace him or should both start?
Should we stick with the system that we started with at the Liberty or revert to three at the back?
Do we need to rest or rotate anyone, given the midweek break that follows?

 

No Paul Stewart again

 

It's the last game in the hardest of post-international weeks. Two away trips to teams fighting for their PL futures, Burnley literally. We've accumulated injuries we could scarcely afford but have gained points on all our rivals.

Thankfully, Watford have more injuries than we do. The players need to grind this one out and then we've got a week to recover. I hope they can and our wonderful support will see us over the line in a week of really tough games. Was it really necessary to have mid-week fixtures when so many players are fatigued after international games and travel? It really increases the risk of injury at this time of the season.

 

Easily winable

I have to miss this game 'cus of work and stuff. Goal replays can be found at https://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/new/. A bot will post the Streamable mirror inside the comments

 

I am at this one...can't wait
COYS

 

Watford are a bit physical in MF.
So I am expecting that + a near repeat of the WHL game last season.

 

Harry Kane to play some part tomorrow. Woo hoo. Can I change my scorers on the Spurs Prediction League?

Suggestions that Mich Vorm may be out with a knee injury and Hugo's still ill. Pau Lopez may make his debut. Also Victor's back is still a problem.

Danny Rose not to train with the team for another week or two! Bollocks!

.

 

Amazing news about Harry. He'll definitely be able to play the bulk of the B'mouth game and get his match sharpness up in time for the SF.

Not so great news about Rose - especially with Davies delivering a few iffy performances of late. I like the Welshman, but feel that he is perhaps fatigued from playing so many games back to back.

Hoping one of the senior keepers is fit for the game - the thought of Paul Opez making his debut in a must-win game is a tad unsettling.

As for Victor, we'll need him more for the B'mouth game. I think we have enough to overcome a severely depleted Watford side even without him. The key is to AVOID playing Sissoko and stick with the shape that has served us so well. If that means Wimmer getting a game, so be it...

Senior GK
Toby Jan Kev
Walker Dier Dembele Davies
Eriksen Alli
Son

 

Third choice keeper possibly making a PL debut !!??
Jeez, are we being tested by higher powers right now.

Could try Sissoko in goal I guess.

The important thing is 3 pts and no additional injuries.
A quick check suggests that if Spurs win, that will be the first time since
mid December that any PL team has been only 4 pts away from Chelsky
(so a bit of pressure could be appled) .

 

...and people complain about Lloris' distribution!

 

Are people sure about the keeper situation?
Not one media outlet has mentioned it yet all are mentioning but are talking about kane returning...surely the media can't be that inept that they fail to report such a big thing when mentioning us

 

Pochettino's English is still a bit ropey, but his press conferences are very professional.
After spending most of that one dismissing mind games and their effects, that's a very good way to end it!

TL;DW: Kane is available and he should be involved, either from the start or the bench.
Vorm needs a scan and Lloris isn't 100%, but if they both don't make it, then he has confidence in Lopez.
The Swansea finish was important and it demonstrates our growth and improved maturity from last season.
Didn't bite on Conte's comment and felt that it was being misrepresented. Also dismissed mind games in general.
Janssen has pushed on a lot in the last month and everyone's happy for him now, as he's fitting in well.

 

Very professional, but notably VERY upbeat.
IMHO the nature of the win at Swansea has had an immense effect on the
mindset of everyone involved on-pitch.

 

Janssen has made a big step up lately. He's had to step into a few crucial games and has played a significant role in each win.

 

Hope we see more of GKN tomorrow. Considering he's been AWOL for 3 months i thought his brief contribution on Weds was excellent and looks like he is very much a popular member of the squad.

 

Hoping we see:
Lloris
Dier Toby Jan
Walker Dembele Vic Davies
Eriksen Alli
Kane

Worst case it looks like this:
Lopez
Toby Jan Kev
Walker Dembele Dier Davies
Eriksen Alli
Janssen

Or this:
Lopez
Walker Toby Jan Davies
Dembele Dier
Son Alli Eriksen
Janssen

Just please, no Sissoko

 

That home record must be preserved and tight at the back please lads. I hate it when we concede a goal, takes the edge away.

Our forwards can have a lot of joy tomorrow, I hope they are in a cheeky mood and turn it on a bit. Watford won't relish the thought of playing a team that does not give up and it won't bode well for them over the 90 minutes if we do our usual 70% possession in and around their box, that pressure is bound to tell.

So expect Watford to Nick it 0-1.

COYS

 

Looks like we're 4231 again

 

Watford XI v Spurs: Gomes, Mariappa, Cathcart, Holebas, Janmaat, Cleverley, Doucouré, Amrabat, Niang, Okaka, Success