Team news and expected line-up: Spurs vs Chelsea

Mauricio Pochettino will look to kick 2015 off with a bang as his Spurs side welcome Premier League leaders Chelsea to the Lane on January 1st.

With 4 wins out of the last 5 games in all competitions, Pochettino will be relishing the opportunity to take 4th spot with a victory over the bitter London rivals in the day’s late kick off.

But while Spurs may not have lost in the Premier League since their last meeting with The Blues – a 3-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge at the start of December – it cannot be ignored that Chelsea themselves have lost just once all season.

Team News

The home side have been granted a massive boost in that young Algerian midfielder Nabil Bentaleb has been passed fit to play despite missing the 0-0 draw against Manchester United on Sunday.

Bentaleb was unavailable due to an illness however the breakthrough engine-room-midfielder has recovered in time and should take Benjamin Stambouli’s place next to Ryan Mason, although Mousa Dembele’s impressive display from the bench could also see him called up.

Kyle Walker could also return at right-back in yet another huge break for the underdogs, as the England man was rested for the weekend’s draw at the Lane after returning from 6 months on the sidelines.

Jan Vertonghen and Federico Fazio are expected to play their 15th game together at centre-half – a partnership which has resulted in only one defeat so far.

Opposition View

Chelsea have been considered to be the team of the season so far, topping the table for the majority of the season and only slipping up once away at Newcastle.

They sit 3 points clear of chasers Manchester City going into the New Year, with new signings Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas contributing 13 goals and 13 assists respectively.

However, a lot of their success has come from work at the other end of the field where they have conceded a League-low of 14 goals in the opening 19 games of the season.

Spurs haven’t won this fixture since 2010, when Jermain Defoe and Gareth Bale gave us a 2-1 win. Since then, 5 draws and 5 defeats – including the most recent 3-0 loss thanks to Eden Hazard, Didier Drogba and Loic Remy – have followed.

What They Said

Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris – “It will be a tough game and we need concentration and desire in front of our crowd to get a great performance. We need to keep going. Every game is different and we need a lot of energy for another big game."

Winger Nacer Chadli - “I think we have a lot of confidence at this moment, we had a good draw on Sunday and we have been winning games as well. No games are easy but Newcastle beat Chelsea so why can’t we beat them?”

Expected Line-up

Lloris; Walker Vertonghen Fazio Davies; Bentaleb Mason; Eriksen Dembele Chadli; Kane

 

Lloris - Walker Vertonghen Fazio Davies - Bentaleb Mason - Lennon Eriksen Chadli - Kane

 

lloris, chiriches,Vertonghen,Fazio Davies,Bentalib, Dembele,Mason, Lamela,,Eriksen,Kane

 

All we want as fans is the team to treat a game like this with the same passion that we do. There is a gulf in money terms and squad yes but each player should be raising their game for this sort of derby, keep it tight, make it uncomfortable, run your socks off, put your body in line for the cause.
Countless times you see teams like Palace, Stoke, West Brom even Burnley FFS come away with a point against Cities n Chavs i just cant see why we rarely do it. Sometimes it feels like our side dont get it theres 3 teams in this league that you simply dont lose to and that means doing whatever it takes Scum Chavs and the Pikies so many times i watch feeling the others get this but were here for a stroll about.
I want to see Guts and Pride from my team tomorrow losing shouldnt be an option ever!

COYS!!!

 

Lloris - Walker Vertonghen Fazio Davies - Mason Dembele - Lennon Eriksen Chadli - Kane

 

For me the back 4 picks itself, so no Chiriches. Dembele to start, play a winger on their correct side and no Lamela. Start strong, no early goals against.....that will do for now..COYS

 

Lloris; Walker Vertonghen Fazio Davies; Bentaleb Mason; Eriksen,Lamela, Chadli; Kane

 

It's going to be a tough game. We ought to start strong and reduce the simple mistakes. Unlike Manchester, Chelsea will bite us if we commit those. Main reason I'd rather see Dembele in there with Mason, to help limit the amount of errors in the middle. Vert and Fazio have to be strong against those big Chelsea CFs, command the air!!

Lloris; Walker Vertonghen Fazio Davies; Dembele Mason; Chadli Eriksen Lamela; Kane

 

Right on! Put it on line, make it a statement game!

 

Lloris

Walker.........faz............vert.........Davies

.........................chirches....................

Lamela.............dembele............eriksen

..........................Kane.........................

......................adebayor.....................

 

Hope we buy on the cheap

A young
Adam johnson
Hernandez
Moreno

...........................lloris.......................
Walker.........fazio..........Moreno........davies
.......................dembele...................
Johnson............eriksen.........young..
......................kane.............................
.............................Hernandez.............

 

If we spend money we should buy

Scheiderlein
Moreno
Benteke
Johnson
Young

.........................lloris.................................
Walker..........faz........Moreno........young
..............dembele....scheirderlein...........
Johnson............Kane.................eriksen
.........................benteke.........................

Subs . Lamela, Davies, vert, bentalab, vorm

Sell . Paulinho, soldado, lennon, chadli, adebayor, naughton, capoue,

Loan. Mason and Townsend to prem clubs

That is what u call a team. Johnson eriksen and Kane will all make runs into the box for through balls
And Kane and benteke can put their heads on the crosses from young and johnson perfect for poch style.

 

keeper and back four are obvious:
Lloris
Walker - Mike England - JV - Davies
Two other players pick themselves: Eriksen and Kane.
Leaves four in midfield to actually select. I would go for:
Stambouli - Dembele - Mason - Benteleb

Use Walker and Davies as our wingers with their respective midfield partners to cover when they go forward. Dembele can be frustrating but is the only midfielder who offers something different. On no account put actual wingers in the starting X1 who cannot defend - which is all of them!

 

Chelsea are very good at absorbing pressure and then taking advantage of any opportunities and mistakes. Last few times weve played them its been like amateur night. I wouldnt mind Dembele for this one but he needs to be switched on and be able to keep Fabregas off the ball. hope we can continue the lucky streak. Fingers crossed.
Lloris
Wlkr Faz Jan Davies
Capoue Dembele
Eriksen
Lennon Chadli
Kane