Tottenham (A): Predicted line-ups, pre-match thoughts & team news

Olly Hawkins

It’s been a funny old start to the season.

We beat West Ham convincingly on the opening day, were reminded of our limitations in a fortunate win over Blackburn in the cup and then got hammered by Brighton in what can only be described as a diabolical effort from all involved last Sunday.

Then, just a few days ago, our fringe men stepped up to put SEVEN past Morecambe in the Carabao Cup. Our third clean sheet in four, an impressive attitude throughout and a game that saw several squad players stake a claim for a place in Steve Bruce’s side with devastating displays. 

This weekend we face a trip to Spurs – a side who’ve had an equally mixed start, with them putting five past Southampton last week after looking toothless in an opening day defeat to Everton in North London. 

They arrive into this one having played in a Europa League qualifier in Macedonia on Thursday night – a game which surprisingly saw Mourinho field several of his star men. 

A capable side who have the ability to blow us away if they’re on and we’re off, however they also looked woeful defensively in the first half of their 2-5 win at Southampton, so there’s weaknesses to exploit here. The game will also come too soon for Real Madrid loanee Gareth Bale, so that also helps!

After Bruce got his tactics all wrong and the players downed tools in our last Premier League outing, we’ll have to hope we’re at it in all areas for this one.

Stopping Kane and Son is more than half the battle, yet we did that in our last visit to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and will be looking to replicate that memorable away-day win here. 

Team news

It’ll depend on how they managed in training on Friday, but Bruce’s comments in his most recent press conference suggest both Jamal Lewis (eye) and Allan Saint-Maximin (ankle) are ‘doubts’ for this one.

A thigh injury picked up in the 0-7 win at Morecambe could keep Ciaran Clark out, while Martin Dubravka, Dwight Gayle and Matty Longstaff remain sidelined.

Paul Dummett and Fabian Schar have been spotted back in training, however it’d be a surprise to see either involved tomorrow. 

Predicted line up

Predicted NUFC XI (4-2-3-1): Darlow – Manquillo, Lascelles, Fernandez, Lewis – Hayden, Shelvey, – Hendrick, Almiron, Fraser – Wilson.

Darlow is likely to continue in goal, but there’s an argument to say Gillespie should come in after two faultless displays in the cup and clean sheets in both.

Manquillo seems likely to continue at right-back, although he may be moved to the left IF Lewis‘ eye isn’t deemed right – meaning one of Yedlin or Krafth would come in at right-back.

In the middle, Clark had been pushing for a start after a few rock solid displays in midweek, however his latest knock means Lascelles and Fernandez should continue. After the gaps they left in our last league game, they’ll need to be better if we’re to keep Harry Kane quiet!

In midfield, a part of me wonders whether Bruce could opt for the harder working Hendrick over Shelvey – who was woeful against Brighton – however I don’t see him breaking up his partnership with Hayden just yet.

Down the right, he must decide whether to reward Murphy for his superb display in that 0-7 win over Morecambe, or go with a more industrious yet less dynamic Ritchie or Hendrick. Given the man on that side will have Son to worry about, I fear Bruce will play it safe and go with the latter.

I expect Fraser to come in down the left-hand side IF Saint-Maximin misses out – I personally wouldn’t risk him – and Almiron seems certain to start in the league for the first time this season (somehow!) after three assists and a goal in just 201 minutes of action in our opening four games!

Up top, Wilson will surely come back in after he was rested in that Morecambe massacre – although we may well see Joelinton join the attack at some point after his confidence boosting brace on Wednesday night.

The opposition

Here’s a few ones to watch in Jose Mourinho’s Spurs side:

Son Heung-min – The South Korean couldn’t find a way past us in this fixture last season, but he’s started 2020/21 in fine form. He scored FOUR in Spurs’ 2-5 win at Southampton and followed that up with two assists and a goal in their midweek win in Macedonia.

Harry Kane – He needs no introduction, does he? We denied him of good service in our 0-1 win at Spurs in August 2019, but he proved over ‘Project Restart’ that he’ll punish us if we don’t cut off the supply and give him a yard of space.

Matt Doherty – The former Wolves star will start as a right-back but plays more like a right-winger! Who ever is starting down our left-hand side will be have to combine much better than Lewis and Saint-Maximin did against Tariq Lamptey last weekend, because Doherty will bomb on and look to ghost in at that back post at every opportunity.

Predicted Tottenham XI: (4-2-3-1) – Lloris – Doherty, Sanchez, Aldeweireld, Davies – Winks, Sissoko – Lucas, Lo Celso, Son – Kane.

Prediction

I think we’ll see a response to last Sunday’s diabolical display, but will it be enough?

Bruce’s pre-match comments suggest we won’t be going toe to toe with them, meaning a more cautious approach could be adopted – even if it’s not a return to five at the back (which is still very possible).

If that’s the case, we must be efficient on the counter and take the chances when they come, but much more resolute and hard working in the other direction to stop their star men doing damage.

I back us to score and think our pace on the break could cause problems, however I fear this new formation may give Son and Kane that bit of space they don’t need a second invitation to exploit.

Prediction: Tottenham 2-1 Newcastle

HWTL!

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About Olly Hawkins

As a Junior Magpie since birth and season ticket holder, I eat, sleep and breathe all things NUFC! Here at the blog, I aim to bring you news, views, match reports and transfer exclusives as and when I get them.

View all posts by Olly Hawkins →

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34 thoughts on “Tottenham (A): Predicted line-ups, pre-match thoughts & team news”

  1. There’s a Guinness ad blocked your predicted team mate ?

    I think it depends what Newcastle & which Spurs turn up. I think both teams are that inconsistent at the moment.

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  2. Sharpy17:
    There’s a Guinness ad blocked your predicted team mate ?

    I think it depends what Newcastle & which Spurs turn up.I think both teams are that inconsistent at the moment.

    Inclined to agree, play like last week though and we’ll be soundly beaten .

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  3. problems with the newly launch covid app. Not accepting tests results from hospitals and labs 😳 🙄
    Oh dear.

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  5. I agree that will be the team OLLY.

    Bruce will play all of the new players and I think they can patch up Lewis’s eye.

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  9. This has been the longest 17mins of my life ?

    This is just horrible!!. Attack v defence yet again. No high press, no energy – just sit back and let them keep coming.

    Watching Brighton take the game to Man U yesterday – we are worlds apart.

    I would take a Graham Potter type manager all day long. We might still loose as many games, but at least we would watch our team TRYING to win one!!

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  11. Turned it off. I can’t watch this **** show anymore – 30mins is my limit now I think.
    So boring!!. I can’t imagine playing in this team – HORRIBLE BRUCE, ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE.

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  21. I don’t care if you are Joelinton, Callum Wilson, Ronaldo or Messi – you are not scoring in this NUFC team set up that way.

    Apparently Sky put a stat up that our only 2 shots on target so far in the league this season was the goals against WHU. NO OTHER SHOT ON TARGET????

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  24. That’s the worst decision I’ve ever seen.

    I’m a toon fan, but have to be honest. If that was given against us we’d be foaming – terrible decision and terrible toon performance.

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  27. Shocking decision to give a pen, but it’s not much different to one Brighton had against us… this rule is ridiculous! But…. having said that, I’ll take that totally undeserved point away!

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  28. I can’t be more clear of mind – I want Bruce SACKED!!.

    I’m done with trying to be fair minded. That team selection and the approach in the first half was a joke. I’m done with him, because my loyalty to NUFC is being tested to it’s limits. I can’t keep watching that brand of football. It’s horrible.

    I want Bruce sacked.

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  30. What a great result.
    The stars of the show had to be Darlow and the goal frame keeping the goals against us to only one.
    Expected the worst when Joelinton started but he surprised me and had a good game.
    Commentators thought the penalty decision was a joke. It must have been cos I laughed for a good five minutes. Even Mike Ashley was still laughing after the final whistle so he must have found it funny as well.
    We will have plenty of bad decisions go against us through the season so I for one will enjoy them when they go in our favour , and especially when it results in a point from a game we should have lost by a cricket score.

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