Spurs Wandering to Woolwich for the big one!!!!

Unbeaten in the league since day one and only 3 defeats this season, we now head to the Emirates library to take on the Gooners. It's the best defence in the league versus the highest scorers but this year it's Spurs who have the mean defence. Yes, you heard me right, Spurs with a mean defence!!

And we will need the back four and midfield to be at their very best to keep out the Gooners. Spurs had a harder workout than I would have liked on Thursday and I just hope there were no major injuries and that everyone is 100% fully fit for this massive game.

Dembele is expected to return to the starting eleven after impressing in the last few games and a winner like Thursday's down the road would have us Spurs fans singing and dancing into the international break!

Walker returns at right back thankfully as Trippier failed to take his chance on Thursday and looks like a poor signing in truth. Ben Davies had possibly his best game in a Spurs shirt, making one outstanding challenge in the second half and was also unlucky with a lovely dipping shot that rattled the bar.

Dier continues to impress in his new role and is now added to the growing contingent of Spurs players that are starting to become the backbone of our national team. Pochettino hasn't had much credit from us fans this season and he should take plenty for how he is developing our young talent. He was revered for this at Southampton and it is really positive for the future of our club. Alli was not great on Thursday but I put that down to him playing further forward and getting a touch over excited with the exuberance of youth. Poch will have him keeping to his position on Sunday and tell him to keep lurking on the edge of the box as he did against Villa. He has a good shot on him and his goal against Villa showed he has calmness when needed to put the ball in the onion bag. More of that on Sunday please young man!

Lamela is working hard and what better game for him to get a goal or two for his endeavours?

Toby and Verts have forged a good partnership at club level and have the attributes to keep Arsenal at bay. We look better at the back this year and also our midfield is stronger than it has been for a few seasons. The Dier, Alli partnership along with Dembele and Eriksen is working very well with pace, guile and skill all coming together to give the back four protection and Kane support up front.

Whilst there have been certain aspects of our game that have not been great in the past 2 game, I genuinely believe that what we are starting to see is a young, talented, growing Spurs team that have what it takes to get all 3 points at the new library.

Silly mistakes will cost either team and we must be at full performance levels and keep concentration throughout this match.

Let's ALL be positive, get behind the team, roar them on and let's go and get the victory!!!!!

As ever, louder than ever..... COME ON YOU SPUUUUUUURRRRRRRRSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!

 

Performance doesn't matter if the result is good. Arsenal missing key players will help, let's not be arrogant about that, but if we play to the top of our game we will get a result. I'd go with Lloris, Rose, TA, JV, Walker, Dier, Dembele, Son, Eriksen, Lamela, Kane.

 

Sunday will be all about the result, whichever way's possible getting the 3 points is the goal. We have to be aggressive with arsenal, take the creativity out of their game. I think Dier's going to have a big role in this game, he's just got to make sure he doesn't commit any silly fouls that get him sent off. Next to him, I'd like to see Mason; although Alli has been phenomenal thus far I think Mason's game is more mature...especially his long range passing and tackling (provided that he's match fit).
Next to the midfield, we'll need our full backs to be alert. arsenal has lots of pace on the wings and with our speedy back we ought to be able to neutralize it. With that being said, I expect Harry, Eriksen, Son to give arsenal a hard test up top especially since he's back in form...mertesacker's pace should be exploited

I'd go with Lloris, - Walker, Toby, Jan, Rose, - Dier, Mason, - Eriksen, Dembele, Lamela, - Kane

With Son and Alli substituting past the hour mark (for Dembele & Mason) depending on how the game's going. Njie's pace might be useful as well especially the last 20 minutes of the game or so.

 

Dont want to knock the team but the performances have been workman like nothing more. Not that this is a bad thing at all as hard work is the back bone of any sports team and something years gone by cannot be said of our beloved club.

But (theres always a but) we need a big improvement on our quality going forward.

Lamela although having improved just doesn't do enough for me attacking wise. On numerous occaisions ive seen him have a chance to go at his man yet he seems insecent on coming inside slowing the play and just playing a square ball. I spose whoever plays wide are guilty of the same thing but i really think Lamela has it in his locker to twist a full back up if the kid believed in his ability which Poch should be encouraging out of him.

Certain players did look knackered Thursday, we will certainly need a big performance from all the lads if we are to get a result. Its the NLD ffs of which weve already lost 1 so its not an option for the troops.

Lloris, loving the jan/toby partnership, rose and walker are a must for the system to work. Id have the double ds (who wouldnt?) Dembele and Dier holding, son eriksen lamela and the HK!

Alli, Njie impact subs if needed.

In my totally unqualified expert opinion.

 

I always seem to have this nervous feeling come over me as we get close to playing away to the Gooners.

In the past we've been clearly inferior, but less so this year than for a long time. Their injuries problems and our improved defence do, on paper, give us our best going-in position for a long time.

I'll be nervous all day, at the start, throughout the game and until it's done. Let's hope it's not in vain.

COYS

 

Lloris
Walker Toby Jan Davies
Dier Dembele
Son Eriksen Rose
Kane

Moussa's been good going foward but we need him to add some steel in the middle with some licence to push up. Dier holding. For all Lamela's running around he doesnt do anything other than slow things down. Id rather see Rose on the left with his direct play adding some width and pace, something the gooners wont be expecting. Agree with others that Alli looks like he needs a spell.

 

Dembélé drops into midfield to add cover when he plays behind Kane. So he would add steel. Lamela doesn't 'do nothing but slow things down'. he is our second highest scorer with a good return, and promise of more, assists, facilitates our midfield passing game and strengthens the right defensively to a degree that some Spurs fans are massively underrating. Spurs fans need to stop looking at him and waiting for him to do one thing per game that is Bale-esque amazing and justifies the price tag, and start actually watching what he is doing. Besides, after decades of listening to fellow Spurs fans whinging about no-one being able to take a decent corner, Lamela takes damn fine corners on a pretty damned consistent level. No need to shoe-horn Rose in midfield (even though he started as a winger). Lamela Dembélé Eriksen would be fine. Keep Son to run at tired legs.

 

Nothing wrong with Lamela, that hefty price tag didn't do him any favors. He's starting to come into his own and with the investment we made on him, it's only right to give him time so long as he's trying. Dembele doesn't play well in front of the defense, he's attacking suffers when he has to cover the whole pitch. I don't like Eriksen playing on the wing but right now Dembele's doing more at the CAM position. I expect Son to sub in for Dembele about 60 minutes in the game, then Son Eriksen Lamela can finish the game. I agree with you about Lamela's set plays capabilities.

 

Have to admit to putting Rose up to MF is tinkering for the fun of it and a bit of wishful thinking on my part because for me there's still something missing from the balance of this team and I think that someone with width and direct running and pace would add another dimension to our attack.
I do know that its not going to happen for a number of reasons such as Poch doesn't play that kind of system and that the team needs at least two good LBs and Rose has been grown into that role but as I said a bit of wishful thinking, I still like to see natural sided wingers flying down the wing leaving hapless defenders behind and whipping in a brilliant cross...
As far as Lamela goes I do expect him to start and tbh I don't have a massive problem with that and he has been decent. However, I wouldn't put too much emphasise on him being our second highest scorer with a whole of two goals which is ok but not special for a player in his position and no more than a bunch of other players that also share the tag of second highest scorer this year such as Dier and Alli and Dembele. As I said he's been decent but still tends to take one touch too many and often slows the play down. And just for the record this Spurs fan isn't spending much time waiting or wondering if he will produce anything Bale-esque anytime soon. I hope that he does produce something special occasionally but I don't think that anyone is realistically putting him in that category at this moment.
Corner kicks aside, I think that if and when Son pushes for a regular first team spot, as well as Dembele staying behind Kane, then its Lamela who is the weakest, and the one who will give up his spot.
Really impressed with Dembele lately and he is on a hot streak with goals but for this game I still prefer him next to Dier playing box to box without the confusion of knowing who is the holding MF and giving him freedom to play his game, this is a massive game and I have a feeling and real concerns that Mason starts this game and we get rolled over in the middle.
Anyway im getting excited about this one and backing the boys to put in a massive effort for the points. COYMFS...

 

No one is expecting Bale-esque things from lamela. But i do expect him as a young man with talent willing to take his man on from time to time. Sterlin, Shaquiri, Mahrez, Bolasie esque etc
We seem to have things right up until the final 3rd where unless Arry is bulldozing his way through we go all AvB and all forward momentum comes to a predictable sideways whimper.
Thing is we are going to need at least 1 goal today to get a result as the scum always score, to do this we need players like lamela doing more than a shift type job.

 

Havent a clue who to predict in todays north london derby but im sure Arsenal will come flying out the traps....there could be a backlash after munich..just hope its not against us. COYS!