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Match Day Thread Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City

Discussion in 'Tottenham Hotspur' started by PleaseNotPoll, Nov 19, 2020.

  1. PleaseNotPoll

    PleaseNotPoll Well-Known Member
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    Saturday 21st November 5.30pm
    Premier League
    Tottenham Hotspur Stadium​

    Another uninspiring international break is over and we're back to the Premier League.
    It's a big game to come back to and a lot of the focus will be on the managers.
    Mourinho and Guardiola resume their Real v Barca hostilities, though hopefully without any eye gouging.
    Neither side have been playing at their best recently and the fixtures are about to get really congested.
    Can Mourinho get one over his old adversary or will Guardiola push City back up the table?

    It says a lot about City's change in fortunes that last season was largely seen as something of a failure.
    They won the League Cup, reached the FA Cup semi-final and finished 2nd in the league, but it's not enough.
    A quarter-final Champions League exit to unfancied Lyon was seen as a real embarrassment.
    Being miles off the pace in the league didn't help either, despite a respectable points total.
    They never realistically challenged to retain their title, despite spending plenty of money.

    They've had a mixed start to this campaign too, by those testing standards.
    They've only lost one league game, though that was a 5-2 home loss to Leicester.
    I'm sure that Guardiola would also point to their impressive cup form, where they've won every game.
    They've basically qualified from their CL group already and progressed to the quarter final of the league cup.
    Playing one less league game has left them in a somewhat false midtable position of 10th.

    Their visit to our ground last season was symptomatic of their campaign.
    They had tons of possession and plenty of chances, but failed to take the lead and then lost the plot.
    Aguero hit the post, Gundogan had a penalty saved and missed an open goal, then Zinchenko saw red.
    That allowed Bergwijn the time and space to mark his debut with the opening goal of the game.
    Son added a second shortly afterward and City were done, though they did continue to see a lot of the ball:


    Our trip to their place near the start of the last campaign was similar, though the spoils were shared.
    The hosts capped a lot of early pressure with a headed goal from Sterling to go ahead.
    Lamela levelled almost instantly from virtually nowhere, shooting from 25 yards out while virtually unmarked.
    Aguero put them ahead again before the break and they looked like they'd push on and win.
    Moura headed us level again, then City had a moan about VAR, as a late winner was chalked off for handball:


    Not much injury or coronavirus news yet and neither side has any suspensions.
    Doherty will miss out due to isolation.

    Lineups for each side's last league game:

    Spurs: Lloris; Doherty, Alderweireld, Dier, Reguilon; Sissoko, Hojbjerg; Bale, Ndombele, Son; Kane.
    Subs: Hart, Aurier, Rodon, Davies, Lo Celso, Moura, Vinicius.
    League form: DWDWWW.

    City: Ederson; Walker, Dias, Laporte, Cancelo; Rodri, Gundogan; Torres, De Bruyne, Sterling; Jesus.
    Subs: Steffen, Ake, Garcia, Stones, Zinchenko, Foden, Silva.
    League form: LDWDWD.

    Ref: Mike Dean. VAR: Kevin Friend.

    TV: Sky Sports.

    How would you like to line up for this one and what would you change from the West Brom game?
    Would you stick with much of the same lineup, make a few changes or go for a wholesale switch?
    Which system and tactics would you use and what are you expecting City to go with?
     
    #1
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  2. Dier Hard

    Dier Hard G'day mate!

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    Gonna be a real test this, we haven't played well for a few games despite picking up points but we won't get away with it against City. I'd love for Jose to unleash both Lo Celso and Ndombele in a three man midfield with Hojbjerg but I think it's more or less guaranteed Sissoko will start. Sooner or later though those two need to be in the XI together, they're the ones who'll create everything for Kane and co, ideally replacing the Eriksen mantle in time.

    I'd like to see:
    Hugo
    Aurier, Toby, Dier, Reguilon
    Lo Celso, Hojbjerg, Ndombele
    Bale, Kane, Son
     
    #2
  3. O.Spurcat

    O.Spurcat Well-Known Member

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    Paul Stewart <ok>.
     
    #3
  4. remembercolinlee

    remembercolinlee Well-Known Member

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    Honestly see them slapping us stupid.
    We have not played well for a whole league game since the United game...and imho that is the only league game we have played well for 90 minutes this season.
     
    #4
  5. humanbeingincroydon

    humanbeingincroydon Well-Known Member

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    Allow me to boil the OP down to the key factor
    We're ****ed
     
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  6. PleaseNotPoll

    PleaseNotPoll Well-Known Member
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    Probably, but he was the ref in the 2-0 game above. Gave them a penalty and sent off Zinchenko.
     
    #6
  7. Lovearsenalcock

    Lovearsenalcock Homeboy
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    Pep signs new contract

    Will it focus their minds more?

    Since Aurier playing I expect Moussa to start on the right of mid to cover him. Or we start Moura instead of Bale if we get the dream midfield of Gio,Ndombele and Hojberg...can’t see that happening though.

    because I expect Aurier bomb up n down a bit more than Docherty would have.

    or stick Toby there(RB) for the discipline and Rodon CB
     
    #7
  8. humanbeingincroydon

    humanbeingincroydon Well-Known Member

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    Or, as is more likely, no lucrative options elsewhere showed up

    There's no way he didn't allow his contract to six towards its final six months if he wasn't playing the field - only for the field to say "Nah"
     
    #8
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  9. The Huddlefro

    The Huddlefro Well-Known Member

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    He’s kind of out of options when you think about it. He’s not going to manage any other club in Spain or Germany, the only big job likely to come up any time soon in the PL is Manchester United and I doubt that would happen, and Juve just appointed Pirlo. Inter could be a possibility but Pep would want funds and I don’t know that they’re there. If he wants to work then City is his best option right now.
     
    #9
  10. PowerSpurs

    PowerSpurs Well-Known Member

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    Out of interest, where would Grealish fit in?
     
    #10

  11. Dier Hard

    Dier Hard G'day mate!

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    For one of Lo Celso or Ndombele at the moment.
     
    #11
  12. humanbeingincroydon

    humanbeingincroydon Well-Known Member

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    Juve and PSG have been mentioned, while Inter have Chinese cash behind them and surely they're losing patience with Conte after he bottled the league last season
     
    #12
  13. PleaseNotPoll

    PleaseNotPoll Well-Known Member
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  14. Lovearsenalcock

    Lovearsenalcock Homeboy
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    Jose Mourinho says Harry Winks and Erik Lamela are his side's only injury concerns for the game against Pep Guardiola's Manchester City.

    "Training is at 15:00 and the players will report after 13:30. We are waiting for a couple of decisions," said Mourinho.

    "Harry Winks arrived with a little problem. Erik Lamela is still on the last period of recovery. Apart from that, no problems."
     
    #14
  15. Lovearsenalcock

    Lovearsenalcock Homeboy
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    Jose Mourinho can't be aiming a dig at this weekend's opposite number here, can he?

    Surely not...

    "I have read that Gareth Southgate has said some football club managers put pressure on their players not to play for the national team," said Mourinho.

    "Because of that, sometimes Gareth feels the needs to call some of the club managers to cool down the emotions. I would like him to say which are the coaches that put pressure on their players, and which are the coaches he calls.

    "He has the right to call the players he wants. He wants to win matches and, of course, we all know Raheem Sterling is going to play tomorrow."
     
    #15
  16. PleaseNotPoll

    PleaseNotPoll Well-Known Member
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    That was suitably vague, right up until it wasn't! <laugh>
     
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  17. PleaseNotPoll

    PleaseNotPoll Well-Known Member
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  18. Lovearsenalcock

    Lovearsenalcock Homeboy
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  19. Billy The Spur

    Billy The Spur Well-Known Member

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    It will not be easy against (the last legitimate) champions, and we are due a defeat against £ity. I think we can score but will be surprised if we keep them out and we may see a lethargic post international break effort, while Spendiola had the luxury of resting Sterling. Should be an interesting game to see if we really are title contenders or not.
     
    #19
  20. humanbeingincroydon

    humanbeingincroydon Well-Known Member

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    Place your bets, in which minute does Mike "****" Dean **** us over and ignore the VAR footage that shows him ****ing us over?
     
    #20

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