Spurs Vs Stoke City MATCH PREVIEW

​

The Europa league is gone. Europe has been a dismal affair for Spurs this year and in many ways I am glad we are back to Premier League football at the Lane on Sunday lunch time.
Spurs have put 8 past Stoke the last 2 times that the sides met at the Britannia and how Spurs could do with more of that at the Lane. We didn't play as bad as some said in Europe on Thursday but we have to focus now on finishing strongly in the Premier League and not let the season peter out like last season.

Stoke will provide a stern test as they look to finish as high as possible after a bad start to the season when they didn't win any of their first 7 games. Berahino is in line to start for the visitors, a player that could have been lining up for ourselves. A transfer saga straight out of the Levy guide of how to alienate players and other chairmen shafted that though and I only hope he doesn't show us what we could have had when he finally arrives at the Lane.

Pochettino said recently that he can see how Spurs will play after just 50 seconds. Which is remarkable considering there have been too many occasions where he hasn't been able to see how we were doing after 50 minutes let alone 50 seconds!
Saying Spurs need more time to win titles sounds like a cop out to me and seems to contradict his and players comments a few weeks ago that we were in the title race and looking to win the title. Perhaps Poch realises that with a chairman who isn't going to back his squad fully, he needs to appease the fans for a while longer.

The summer will be an important time for Poch and for Spurs. If Levy backs him, we can be optimistic of going for the title next season. If we stick with the same squad as this season, it will be a long time before we are capable of winning titles and I think Poch knows that.

But for now Spurs need to bounce back, win and make sure we finish in the top 4 and win the FA Cup. Although winning the FA Cup may prove tricky as it involves playing at Wembley. Something that so far Spurs have proved to be pretty dire at.

Let's beat Stoke and prove that we really are winners!!!

Possible Line Up:

Lloris, Walker, Vertonghen, Alderweireld, Davies, Wanyama, Winks, Dembele, Eriksen, Alli, Kane.

Subs: Son, Dier, Edwards (it won't happen but it should!!), Vorm, Carter-Vickers, Wimmer, Janssen.

As ever, Come on You Spurs!!!!

 

Huge game really, having slipped to 3rd level on points with le scum and just 2 points ahead of Utd in 6th it really is going to be a slug fest from here on in to stay in the Top 4.
This new spurs is formed in the image of Levy and Enic, full of sound bites, big talk, promises followed by ultimate failure and excuses.
Poch's comments are laughable if he knows how were going to play after 50 seconds why does he stand there doing absolutely nothing about it when it's obvious for all to see things aren't going to plan?
Also Poch was promising Silverware within 2 years of his appointment.
The standard of the Top 4 and Premier league is imo the lowest it's ever been, there's only room for improvement for the Sky Favourites so stuttering at this point for us is a waste of a golden opportunity.
Much more needs to be made of our dismal form in Europe barring our CL birth under Arry we've been utter dross and the Europa is a Competition we should be capable of winning but for the poor attitude of players and the non existent tactics or logic of the manager/s.
We are also more than capable of winning domestic trophies but again were having half arsed goes at things using players that never get a sniff and a mish mash of 1st teamers who all having won erm NOTHING! stroll about like it's a chore for them.
Then we have bands of 'Positive' Fans all making excuses for them with the adopted attitude "there's always next year"

And the year after that, and the year after that...................

Wembley has been a disaster for us and is now becoming a hoodoo. The whole Wembley hype if it hasn't already will soon wear off, giving away tickets for peanuts to fill it is almost on par embarrassing with the Pikies in Stratford.
Just take a second to think how we are going to fill it without CL football and if we continue to play so poorly there?
We need something out of this season because if we fail to deliver and we have what I predict to be a very tough season next year then how are we going to hold onto our core of Good players?

I'm so p;ssed off with the same old excuses, soundbites, the lack of deliverance, and the core of our fan Base accepting it as good enough or even more so 'punching above our weight' all stuck with the bar and mind set of the mid 90s.

Time the club delivered although I fear the famous Spurs self destruct button is on the verge of being struck!

 

I work in a little town called haslingden in between Blackburn and Burnley and the latter fans assure me that trippier has and is capable of playing as a left sided full bk as he has done so for Burnley on a number of occasions . Could be an option to readdress the balance lost in rose's absence. Don't understand the clamour for winks to be starting at all. I'd go lloris walker Tripp's jv Toby dembele wanyama eriksen (no 10 ) son from left alli right Kane.

 

I have to disagree with MattJ78 on formation. It is a home game, so 3 back is what MP will use for more aggressive outlook. He will also play Son in Davies's stead, as it worked well at Wembley.
Lloris
Toby, Dier, Verthongen
Trippier, Wanyama, Dembele, Son
Eriksen
Kane, Alli

 

Matt , have you forgot we play our home games in Wembley next season , can't see how anyone can be optimistic about a title challenge next season because of this ...

 

Yep, a must win against Stoke. Personally, I would drop Alli out for this one and bring Son in.

The following run of PL fixtures are generous too and an opportunity to really put some straight wins together. Not stuttering draws, dropped points and underachievement.

Unfortunately I'm finding it hard to remain positive after a majority of our recent performances and continuous choking.

Still seething about Thursday. I will move on, eventually!

Anyhow, COYS get back on track and ensure you deliver (something) come May.

 

I must be one of those "positive" fans, as I'd still see top four and the F.A. Cup as a decent season. Despite the current negativity, this is still an excellent Tottenham side, frankly I'd be well p*ssed off if it came and went without winning a trophy. The trophy cabinet has been empty way too long, the F.A. Cup would fill it nicely, I hope Poch recognises that, personally I see it as more important than top four.
Today's game is a "must win", like they all are until the end of the season, I fancy Spurs to get the show back on the road. COYS.