Team news and expected line-up vs Southampton - 05/10/2014

Mauricio Pochettino’s former side make the trip up from the South Coast in the hope of keeping their 7 game unbeaten run in all competitions intact.

Under the new management of Ronald Koeman, the Saints have lost just one of their 6 Premier League games this season – an opening day defeat to Liverpool – before a draw and 4 wins saw them take 2nd in the table.

In stark contrast, Spurs’ last-gasp 1-1 draw with Besiktas in midweek extended their barren run to just one win out of 7, an unconvincing victory over Nottingham Forest in the Cup.

Pochettino is chasing his first Premier League victory in the last 4 thanks to losses to Liverpool and West Brom compounded with draws at Sunderland and Arsenal.

Spurs took 6 points against the Saints last season, with Emmanuel Adebayor kick starting his comeback under Tim Sherwood with a brace at St Mary’s before Gylfi Sigurdsson’s stoppage time winner took the headlines in the home leg.

Having lost a huge chunk of their squad with the sales of Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren, Rickie Lambert and Luke Shaw, Southampton have reinvested brilliantly in the likes of Toby Alderweireld and Graziano Pelle.

Team News
Pochettino could be without first-team left-back Danny Rose for the visit of his former side, as the England fullback faces a late fitness test on an unspecified injury.

Rose was brought off in the 82nd minute of our North London derby clash with Arsenal last weekend and replaced by Eric Dier for the final minutes, a knock which saw him left out of our midweek 18-man-squad for the Besiktas draw.

However, nobody seems to quite know the extent of Rose’s injury or whether or not he will be available for the game on Sunday.

On the other side of defence, Kyle Walker remains a long term injury concern as he recovers from pelvic surgery.

Another player facing a late fitness test is Belgian midfielder Mousa Dembele, who impressed away at Sunderland but saw his place taken by Ryan Mason after his nightmare against West Brom.

But Dembele remains focused on on-the-pitch issues rather than the media talk before our match this weekend:

“Things like Mauricio coming up against his old club don't make a difference, we want to beat every team. In every game there is something special for someone but for the team and the club, we have to win every match,"

“It was a good performance at Arsenal but this is a different game. Southampton will do everything to beat us at our place but we know this and we've got a good team who will do anything to win."

Poch’s Previous

Our Argentine boss spent nearly a year and a half at St Mary’s after his appointment in January 2013, and won 23 out of his 60 matches at the helm.

His high-pressing philosophy made him a prefect target for Daniel Levy following the failure of Tim Sherwood’s tenure, and so Poch was handed the Spurs job in May.

Since then he’s managed to win 45% of his Spurs games, but he admits that this weekend will be an difficult one:

"It will be emotional. I love Southampton. I love a lot of people.

"One year and half in my life, it was an amazing period. I have amazing memories from Southampton. I'm happy for their start in the league.

"Did I expect them to be doing so well? Yes, why not? When they start with a new project and new players and staff why not?

"In football the most important thing is belief and Southampton have a great force and power and they believe and this is important, I am happy."

Expected Line-Up
Lloris. Naughton, Kaboul, Vertonghen, Rose. Capoue, Mason. Eriksen, Chadli, Lamela. Adebayor.

 

The Saints are in good form so this wont be easy, plus the conundrum of regularly losing points after europa lge thursdays. Tempted to put Kane in the side as the man in form, and wouldnt be surprised to see Mason in the team. Coys.

 

Stambouli should start. Looks a much better player than Capoue for me and Kane deserves his chance up front.

 

Just to add that i think there are alot of players in this first eleven with alot to prove, Lamela, Mousa, and Eriksen need to really step up and justify their position in the team. For me Kane, Dier and Stambouli are knocking on the door but we really need our flair players to produce the magic needed to win premier league games. Coys.

 

we have to start Harry Kane! Its his time this year,few games under his belt and he will start firing!! Adebayor never seems interested and strikers score goals and he has only bagged one!! Harry Kane has a lot of talent and is similar to Teddy Sheringham and we all loved him! And Kane is a threat on the floor and in the air!! We need a goal scorer and I believe it is Harry Kane

I agree that Stambouli should start he was also impressive on thursday

Lloris
Dier,Vertonghen,Kaboul,Davies
Dembele,Stambouli
Lamela,Eriksen,Chadli
Kane

 

With only one striker up front we really need the likes of Eriksen and Lamela to load the bullets. Ade looks out of salts so lets give Harry a go. Stambouli has a bit of bite about him and desrves the chance to prove his worth. Maybe Dier at RB and naughton on the left, but would would feel a bit sorry for kyle as being moved around, but Dier anywhere in the team adds a certain bullishness we lack. Coys.

 

Have to play Mason. He is Spurs best passer and most creative midfielder.

Lloris

Dier Vertonghen Kaboul Davies

Stambouli Mason

Lamela Eriksen Chadli

Kane

 

That looks like a team that might actually try to win the game!

 

We have alot of talented players but you surely have to go with the form players, the guys really willing to bust a gut to get the win. I think Andy has picked a pretty good and hungry starting eleven. We will always need fortune to shine on us too but to dare is to do. Coys

 

Lloris

Dier Fazio Vert. Davies

Capoue Dembele

Lamela. Eriksen. Chadli

Kane

 

Lloris. Naughton kaboul vertonghen Davies. Mason capoue. Chadli Erikson lemela. Kane ..

 

Agree with most comments posted, this will be a tough game, but we did beat these twice last year, and this will be a good marker of Pochetinos progress against a potentially weaker side. Lloris , Dier right back vertonghen and Fazio in the centre and Davies at left back if Rose out. I would go with Stambouli holding, Eriksen attacking mid, Chadli left and Lamela right. Two up front Soldado and Kane. After all we are at home tomorrow and need to get goals. COYS.

 

Only trouble is, we beat them twice when pochettino as their manager

 

Lloris naughton dier kaboul jv
Capoue
dembele mason
Lamela eriksen
Kane

 

Not sure if Fazio is quite ready for the prem lge. At some point we have to throw him into the premiership and just as Mertesacker struggled at the Arse Fazio will need a time of ajustment but i feel the argie centre backs always have the balls to come through. Coys

 

Lloris
Rose vertongen kaboul naughton
Capoue ericksen
lamela kane chadli
Adebayor

 

Naughton over Dier? Give over! Adebayor doesn't deserve to be in the ground, let alone start.

 

The Argies will hit Top Gear soon.

 

Not sure why some are leaving out Capoue, along with Lloris he's been our best and most consistent player, think Mason will get another start here and will look to get foward and link up, if Poch is true to his word about form then Harry should get a start. This should be a cracker if we go out and play positive football.

Lloris

Nton Kaboul Jan Rose if fit

Capoue Mason Eriksen

Lamela Kane Chadli

4-3-3

 

Capoue has done okay, but he hardly gets the ball going forward. I would give Stambouli a start this time, although if the manager applies the same tactics as the last two games, lloris is gonna one very busy goalkeeper.