Opening PL team vs West Ham at the moment
It is beginning to become clear that Mauricio Pochettino has decided on his first choice starting XI with the West Ham season opener only 2 weeks away.
There will be disappointments for some fans as assuming fitness their favourite enemy will be playing. The front four are set with a question mark over only 1 place, the central striker role, but that may well have already been decided on the performances we have seen to date.
The World Cup stars have a bit of a problem, being behind the rest and not having played the system yet.
Hugo Lloris picks himself in goal with his fellow World Cup keeper Vorm as the number two, all very obvious.
Kyle Walker is a bit of a worry and I have my doubts he will be ready for the season opener. He didn't feature at all against Celtic in what would have been an ideal game to get into his legs. He has only had a couple of halves and looked behind the rest in terms of fitness in those, having only just come back from injury. I can see Naughton starting the season until Walker is fit.
Vlad Chiriches isn't playing at all, which suggests he is on his way and we don't want him getting any injuries to prevent it. The reason given for missing the North America trip was a slight feeling in his back. It has all the hallmarks of a transfer window injury although why clubs bother I don't know, it fools few.
Younes Kaboul is looking like the third choice centre-back at the moment with Dawson getting all the more important game time with what looks to be the first choice from what we have, rather than getting his playing time with the subs. Against Celtic he came off injured having twisted his ankle by the looks of it, assuming nothing is wrong I think he'll start the season, if the injury takes a couple of weeks though Kaboul will start with young Eric Dier fourth choice.
That may all change after the first game or first couple of games if we make late window purchases as most clubs do now.
Left-back is being confirmed by performances, Davies is better than Rose, it's as simple as that. When Rose came on against Celtic he passed to the opposition and looked for someone else to blame, An understudy season with plenty of games though for Rose but Davies will start.
Defensive midfield is the main dilemma difficult to solve at the moment. Capoue looks as though he is going to start, he is getting plenty of game time and performing well in it. The question is who starts alongside him, Bentaleb, Mason, Holtby, Paulinho, Dembele, Sandro.
At this stage given his performances and length of time he has had to work within the system Lewis Holtby may be in pole position although he looks as if he is going to be the right sided midfield understudy to Lamela in the long run to me.
Paulinho and Dembele have one game but I think they are going to be eased in after the World Cup so they will have to fight for a place. At the moment, while he is still at the club,Sandro is Capoue's understudy I'd say, so the first couple of games it'll be either Bentaleb, Holtby or Mason taking on the role. Bentaleb has a bit of time and if anyone he may be the man to wrestle the spot from Holtby.
The three behind the striker have been playing together in all the games, Lamela on the right, Eriksen central and Lennon on the left. Lennon has adapted to the role and seems to like the one touch passing, he looks a better player already and is making dummies and flicks around the box when he comes central. A few Spurs fans may have to start changing their opinion if he keeps this up.
Chadli may well suit this system if he can ping the ball about, but will he end up as Eriksen's understudy or Lennon's? Townsend covering both wide men, we'll have to wait and see how Pochettino uses him to get an idea of his future.
Up front it's a straight fight between Soldado and Adebayor for the lone striker, the spearhead of the four attackers. Harry Kane is another who may well also be covering the Eriksen role. Soldado has done nothing wrong but there doesn't seem like the feeling of goals with him at the moment so I think Adebayor is going to get the nod. He is a goalscorer who also offers the headed option, something Soldado doesn't.
My predicted starting line up at this stage for the seasons opener against West Ham is looking thus far:
There will be disappointments for some fans as assuming fitness their favourite enemy will be playing. The front four are set with a question mark over only 1 place, the central striker role, but that may well have already been decided on the performances we have seen to date.
The World Cup stars have a bit of a problem, being behind the rest and not having played the system yet.
Hugo Lloris picks himself in goal with his fellow World Cup keeper Vorm as the number two, all very obvious.
Kyle Walker is a bit of a worry and I have my doubts he will be ready for the season opener. He didn't feature at all against Celtic in what would have been an ideal game to get into his legs. He has only had a couple of halves and looked behind the rest in terms of fitness in those, having only just come back from injury. I can see Naughton starting the season until Walker is fit.
Vlad Chiriches isn't playing at all, which suggests he is on his way and we don't want him getting any injuries to prevent it. The reason given for missing the North America trip was a slight feeling in his back. It has all the hallmarks of a transfer window injury although why clubs bother I don't know, it fools few.
Younes Kaboul is looking like the third choice centre-back at the moment with Dawson getting all the more important game time with what looks to be the first choice from what we have, rather than getting his playing time with the subs. Against Celtic he came off injured having twisted his ankle by the looks of it, assuming nothing is wrong I think he'll start the season, if the injury takes a couple of weeks though Kaboul will start with young Eric Dier fourth choice.
That may all change after the first game or first couple of games if we make late window purchases as most clubs do now.
Left-back is being confirmed by performances, Davies is better than Rose, it's as simple as that. When Rose came on against Celtic he passed to the opposition and looked for someone else to blame, An understudy season with plenty of games though for Rose but Davies will start.
Defensive midfield is the main dilemma difficult to solve at the moment. Capoue looks as though he is going to start, he is getting plenty of game time and performing well in it. The question is who starts alongside him, Bentaleb, Mason, Holtby, Paulinho, Dembele, Sandro.
At this stage given his performances and length of time he has had to work within the system Lewis Holtby may be in pole position although he looks as if he is going to be the right sided midfield understudy to Lamela in the long run to me.
Paulinho and Dembele have one game but I think they are going to be eased in after the World Cup so they will have to fight for a place. At the moment, while he is still at the club,Sandro is Capoue's understudy I'd say, so the first couple of games it'll be either Bentaleb, Holtby or Mason taking on the role. Bentaleb has a bit of time and if anyone he may be the man to wrestle the spot from Holtby.
The three behind the striker have been playing together in all the games, Lamela on the right, Eriksen central and Lennon on the left. Lennon has adapted to the role and seems to like the one touch passing, he looks a better player already and is making dummies and flicks around the box when he comes central. A few Spurs fans may have to start changing their opinion if he keeps this up.
Chadli may well suit this system if he can ping the ball about, but will he end up as Eriksen's understudy or Lennon's? Townsend covering both wide men, we'll have to wait and see how Pochettino uses him to get an idea of his future.
Up front it's a straight fight between Soldado and Adebayor for the lone striker, the spearhead of the four attackers. Harry Kane is another who may well also be covering the Eriksen role. Soldado has done nothing wrong but there doesn't seem like the feeling of goals with him at the moment so I think Adebayor is going to get the nod. He is a goalscorer who also offers the headed option, something Soldado doesn't.
My predicted starting line up at this stage for the seasons opener against West Ham is looking thus far:
Lloris
Naughton Dawson Vertonghen Davies
Capoue Holtby
Lamela Eriksen Lennon
Adebayor
Subs: Vorm, Walker, Kaboul, Sandro, Townsend, Holtby (should say Bentaleb, I made a late change and swapped them), Soldado
4 comments
Beat Naughton and Dawson is not even a challenge. Capoue will work triple as hard.
If no new CB to replace Dawson I fear there'll be many more thrashing against the top 4-5 teams.
We have an excellent squad, what has been lacking is confidence aNd self belief. If our new manager can create the belief within the players minds that they are good enough to win the Premier then we will have a fantastic season.
We have the players aNd if Pocettino can create the self belief, which I think he has begun to do, we will do very well.
I like Dier, a powerful, tall and strong defender. Much faster than Dawson too. Although he lacks experience, but if you're good enough you're old enough. Still think it'll be another year or two before he steps in.
I think we'll see another CB coming in.