Team news and expected line-up against Everton

Spurs can leapfrog into 7th place – just 2 points away from 4th – with a win against Everton at White Hart Lane on Sunday.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side have now won 5 of the last 6 games including back-to-back wins against Hull City last weekend and Partizan Belgrade in midweek, but have lost 4 out of the last 5 at home in the Premier League.

The Lane has become somewhat of a bad omen in past weeks as our 1-0 win over Southampton early last month is our only domestic victory there since August.

Team News

Spurs welcomed 5 players back to training this week after they all missed the trip to the KC Stadium last week along with our 1-0 Europa League win on Thursday.

Younes Kaboul and Danny Rose could return to the back 4 unless Pochettino sticks with impressive left-back deputy Ben Davies, while Fazio and Chiriches will battle it out with the club captain for a start at centre-back.

Kyle Naughton is unavailable at right-back having picked up a red card against Stoke City, this will be the second of his two-match ban. That leaves either Eric Dier or Vlad Chiriches to battle it out for the jersey.

Etienne Capoue will also have to fight countryman Benjamin Stambouli for a starting place after the latter scored his first Spurs goal in midweek during Capoue’s absence, while League top-scorer Nacer Chadli returns too.

Finally Emmanuel Adebayor has returned to training but is unlikely to be thrown straight in for the Everton clash.

Andros Townsend joins Kyle Walker on the sidelines for this one too having picked up an ankle problem.

Opponents View

Everton sit in an almost identical situation to Spurs having struggled to balance European football with domestic performance, sitting one place above us in 9th on goal difference.

Their poor start to the season has been almost evened out by a run of 8 games unbeaten, but only Sunderland (7) have drawn more games than their 5 this season.

Their 22 goals scored this season puts them near the higher end of the sides, beaten only by the League’s top 3 sides, but their 19 goals conceded is the worst of the League’s top 12 sides.

What They Said

Jan Vertonghen
“We owe our fans some points. We need to start winning our home games, we always play 100 per cent at home and sometimes we’ve been a bit unlucky but we want to put that right.”

Christian Eriksen
“Everyone wants to win at home. We know if we want to go higher in the Premier League we have to win our home games. It’s a big game for us and we want to get back on track at home.”

Roberto Soldado
“It’s always difficult playing against Everton and that hasn’t changed very much recently, so I’m expecting it to be difficult again on Sunday,”
“We have to really watch out for their counter-attack as they’re very dangerous on that – as they showed on Thursday in Europe.
“We have to create problems for them and try to stop them coming at us. It’s going to be very important for us to remain calm and to read the game intelligently.”

Expected Line-up

Lloris; Chiriches Vertonghen Fazio Davies; Stambouli Mason; Eriksen Kane Lamela; Soldado

 

Well, I hope against hope that your predicted lineup doesn't become reality. Soldato seems to do better with a partner.

It's okay being aggressive right from the start, but it seems we are leaving ourselves open at the back early in the game, so perhaps we might be better off gaining control and tempo, then pushing forward. Let us pray!

 

I live in hope that the suggested line up is what we get, with Lennon available as a 2nd half sub. Sadly I think Poch will revert back to Kaboul from the start, and possibly Adebeyour as a sub. I would like to see Lamela, Soldado, Kane, Eriksen and Lennon all on at the same time, but probably never will!

 

The whole Sunday after Thursday excuse is utter bollocks and Spurs need to put that to bed today by winning against an improving Everton team. It is also imperative that we see a positive performance today.
What has been hard to swallow for many ths season has been the manner of the performances , even in victory. The manager came in promising attacking and exciting football, and e are yet to see this materialise.

I agree with the authors team and hope that is what we see, although I would be inclined to relaxe Lamela with Lennon. In our last two games, it has been Lennon that has made the difference to the team where's lamela has spent more time doing impressions of Townsend.


Come n you spurs!!!!!! TTID!!

 

One thing is for sure Everton are a good side with some established and dangerous players who wont capitulate like the Hulls and Villas.
We will have to be solid play as a team with everyone switched on, no room for clowns/passengers/posers today.
I see a few people pointing out that a win today and were 2 points off top 4 and in with a shout, well today will be a good test to see how viable our credentials are. Cant see it personally but you never know if a run is just round the corner.
Both played midweek difference being Everton travelled and have a smaller squad so i dont want to hear any excuses about tiredness etc.
Fans should realise that a point today is a decent result but 3 points is obviously what the whole of WHL needs!
The team owe the fans a performance and it would put us all in good spirits heading into the Chelsea game.

COYS!!!!!

 

Play lennon and we lose.

 

You all might want to read this below:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/everton-tottenham-same-boat-only-4719199

I have to agree - and we know which one is sinking !!!

 

I will watch today with apprehension but not confidence ! Only against 10 men last week did we 'improve' and Lennon kinda changing the game ! I just couldn't see a goal coming from us ! I think Lukaku will batter us today !! Realistically we only have Harry K who can score and an injury or s/o will leave only Eriksen - the one-man show ! Have already lost faith in Soldado and Lamela trys too much fancy stuff and holds the ball too long ! At home is no longer an advantage for Spurs - and Everton will be blazing after comfortable win on Thu while we stuttered to ours !! Spurs 1 - 2 Everton (Lukaku both goals) !! Sorry but its how I feel , while against Chelsea in midweek I don't rate our chances at all .................... We will still be on 17 pts next w/e a lot less than this time last year - with AVB - and they sacked him !!!!!!! Who's our next manager then or will it be a Head Coach ??

 

His performances in the last two games have contributed to us winnng.

 

No. Play Lennon and our strikers might have something to feed off. Lennon being wide would make our midfield less congested and give eriksen a bit more freedom. I have said for a long time that 4 5 1 with 5 Central midfielders doesn't work.

 

Lennon is playing brilliantly, whatever Gerskin may say.
High pressing game working with Lennon working his bloody arse off.

 

There you go. Lennon assists Soldado scores. I'm glad someone finally agrees with me lol