Pre Match - Spurs (a) - Sun 16:30

[Brizzle]

I wonder whether this game will go ahead but it would be nice to keep up our momentum before any breaks to the season potentially get made.

Virgil & Fabs are out for sure. We did a shit job of filling the Fabs void with Thiago & Hendo, but I expect us to try the same again.

----------------Ali------------------
Trent--Matip--Konate--Robbo
-------Hendo---Thiago----------
---------------Ox------------------
Salah------Firmino-------Mane


I'd like to see Bobby back and Jota or Mane used as a potent impact sub. Hard to make a call on the midfield, the balance sucks without Fabs as Hendo has lost his discipline lately (which helps us attacking but weakens us against a transition).

Spurs are theoretically without Son & Moura with Covid which would make the job for our midfield much easier.

 

[the count]

@Brizzle doing Fowlers work once again.
"applauds"

 

[MomoWASright]

Keita could be a starter. He was lively when he came on. I’d probably drop Mané for Firmino too. Other than deciding between Tsimikas/Robertson the rest of the team picks itself. I’d imagine Robertson starts Sunday and Tsimikas against Leicester.

I’d pick:

Alisson

Alexander Arnold
Matip
Konate
Tsimikas

Henderson
Thiago
Keita (Ox on 60)

Salah
Firmino (Mané on 60)
Jota

 

[Modo]

Nah, I want to see our best team out there. Rest everyone against Leicester.

 

[Brizzle]

@Brizzle doing Fowlers work once again.
"applauds"

Would be interested to see whether i've done the pre match thread for this 32 game run of scoring.

 

[MomoWASright]

[article]After almost a fortnight off, Tottenham should at least be refreshed; as Manchester City proved last season, the benefits of an impromptu winter break are not to be underestimated. But coming into a game cold has its downsides – all the more so if that game is against a steaming-hot Liverpool. Though they are nearer the end than the peak of their cycle, their familiarity, confidence and belief mean that even on a bad day, they are still too much for most teams. Antonio Conte will be well aware of this, so it will be fascinating to see what he has planned. If he sticks with his current 3-4-3 formation, it is hard to see Tottenham getting enough of the ball to do anything. Perhaps, just for this game, it is worth tweaking to a 3-5-2, the extra man in midfield giving Harry Kane and Son Heung-min greater scope to affect the game.
[/article]

 

[Hyena]

No need to rest anyone.

There's always the possibility that the next game will get called off anytime, so keep playing our best players, until it does. They can rest then

 

[darkstarexodus]

No need to rest anyone.

There's always the possibility that the next game will get called off anytime, so keep playing our best players, until it does. They can rest then

100% this. Life (and COVID) will give us rests. Play the hot hands. No points dropped

 

[FreshRed]

Keita could be a starter. He was lively when he came on. I’d probably drop Mané for Firmino too. Other than deciding between Tsimikas/Robertson the rest of the team picks itself. I’d imagine Robertson starts Sunday and Tsimikas against Leicester.

I’d pick:

Alisson

Alexander Arnold
Matip
Konate
Tsimikas

Henderson
Thiago
Keita (Ox on 60)

Salah
Firmino (Mané on 60)
Jota

I would really prefer to see Morton in Fabs role. I wonder if he played a youth game on Tues or Weds and that is why he was not on the bench.

Hendo can play the role, but so far this season he has been too adventurous and lacking discipline, leaving our back line exposed. We should have paid for that last night. Thiago’s brain farts didn’t help any, either.

 

[Aidan O' Neill]

I reckon this won't go ahead. Spurs are what a week into the outbreak in their squad? We have a few positive tests now with more probably to come.

 

[binomial]

99% not going ahead.

 

[Modo]

Fuck my fantasy team

 

[binomial]

Fuck my fantasy team

More like RIP.

 

[the count]

I wouldn't have been surprised if Virgil had been available for this, that Matip would be rested.
I am not sure if he has played three games in a week this season yet.
Don't know if Klopp would chance Gomez and Konate for this one though

 

[SummerOnions]

We had the Brexit midfield now we get the Rona midfield

 

[Frogfish]

Spurs fans not optimistic. On a Spurs TV channel preview all forecast 1-3 maybe 0-3 (one guy). Basically the fact they also have players out (6 with CV and 3 injured).

Any update on our player situation re. CV19?

 

[Frogfish]

----------------Ali------------------
Trent--Matip--Konate--Robbo
-------------Morton------------------
-------Hendo---Thiago----------
Salah------Firmino-------Jota

 

[FreshRed]

----------------Ali------------------
Trent--Matip--Konate--Robbo
-------------Morton------------------
-------Hendo---Thiago----------
Salah------Firmino-------Jota

I like, but would be tempted to try Gomez for Matip before Matip breaks. I wish Nat was available.

 

[Hansern]

Spurs fans not optimistic. On a Spurs TV channel preview all forecast 1-3 maybe 0-3 (one guy). Basically the fact they also have players out (6 with CV and 3 injured).

Any update on our player situation re. CV19?

Can't find anything in regards to Conte saying anything about the match getting postponed in his presser. Only that Reguilon is back, and that they'll have to ease back the players that have been out with Covid. From the sound of it looks like its being played, for now.

 

[Squiggles]

I'd be tempted to bring in Keita for this. Provides a bit more solidity and defensive nous than both Thiago or Chamberlain and is a better presser, which I think is useful if Fabinho is out.

Thiago couldn't have many complaints if he was dropped. Was a liability in the early stages against Newcastle, and whilst he improved, he didn't really dictate the game as he could have done against pretty poor opposition.

 

[Hansern]

Update, Conte says they are ready to play.

 

[Whaddapie]

I think that I would be ok with this one being postponed... We haven't played well for a few matches in a row now (we've persevered and we've won, but we've not been goo) and I think we're tired. I really don't want to face a good, rested team, away, without Fabs and Virgil. We can still win, of course, but I fear that we're due a stinker soon.

 

[Hansern]

Spurs are a mess now though. Covid, havent practised, several players out and who knows who they’ll start. I’d rather play them now.

 

[Whaddapie]

Spurs are a mess now though. Covid, havent practised, several players out and who knows who they’ll start. I’d rather play them now.

Fair enough. I see that side of it too... I haven't been paying attention to them. When fully fit, their attack scares me. I don't know who they're missing.

 

[Woland]

What the fuck else am I going to do with my Sunday afternoon anyway?

 

[MomoWASright]

Have plenty of wanks

 

[jon545660]

Weirdos that want footy cancelled over Christmas. Cancel it in January during Afcon.

 

[Frogfish]

I think that I would be ok with this one being postponed... We haven't played well for a few matches in a row now (we've persevered and we've won, but we've not been goo) and I think we're tired. I really don't want to face a good, rested team, away, without Fabs and Virgil. We can still win, of course, but I fear that we're due a stinker soon.

And yet the ESPN panel verdict was of the opinion that not playing for 2 to 2.5 weeks is worse and that if we come out of the blocks like we did against Newcastle then it could be over by HT. We played great in that first half - it was the second that stank.

 

[Frogfish]

Fair enough. I see that side of it too... I haven't been paying attention to them. When fully fit, their attack scares me. I don't know who they're missing.

They have 9 players out at present (6x CV and 3x Injured) ... including Son. & Moura (manager said they will be gently eased back in when they recover from CV, I don't know where they are at in that regard).

 

[Hansern]

Some Twitter twatter that there are positive cases. Hendo being one of them.