Vorm Trippier Alderweireld Vertonghen Rose Dier Bentaleb Dembele Eriksen Chadli Kane (?) I don’t think Lloris, Mason and Lamela will be deemed ready to start, nor will any new signings. Even though Dier looked awkward at DM against the MLS All-Stars, the only alternatives we have are youth players or Dembele, and Pochettino seems to prefer Dembele further forward. So, come on Dier! COYS!
Vorm; Tripper, Vertonghen, Alderweireld, Rose; Bentaleb, Dembele; Lamela, Eriksen, Chadli; Kane I was sorely tempted to give NEW CM a starting berth...
Mason has some kind of injury. Lamela came back to the team last, or next to last, and wasn’t deemed ready as of the MLS game. We’ll see where he’s at in the Audi Cup games. Pritchard also isn’t far away from playing. Carroll or Alli at DM would certainly be daring. If I didn’t play Dier, I’d go with HBIC’s team, or perhaps subsitutute Carroll for Lamela. I don’t think Pochettino will, though. He hasn’t started Dembele as DM in a long time. I think Walker looked good for a game or two after he came back, but not since then.
I guess Lamela had a later return to preseason after the Copa America but I reckon he'll be fine to start. Not sure about Mason but I guess he's had some injuries. If they can't start and neither can Lloris, then I'd go: Vorm Trippier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose Alli, Dier, Bentaleb Chadli, Kane, Eriksen
I like how that lineup would put Bentaleb more on the left, when he looked so good at LB the last game last year. If we ever went with a 4-3-3 I might start Eriksen in the midfield three, as the closest thing we’ve had to Modric. Dembele in the middle and Dier on the right also has its merits. Pochettino has consistently brought players back very slowly. He’s also greatly decreased the number of injuries the squad has suffered, not coincidentally, it seems. Mourinho certainly looked foolish saying Costa was fully recovered from a hamstring pull, then watching him pull up minutes into his return--especially when he missed the Community Shield with what was apparently a problem with the same hamstring.
Bentaleb could play anywhere, he's just a great footballer. I also don't think Dembele adds much that he doesn't, which is why ideally I see Bentaleb partnered with a proper defensive midfielder, or a playmaker like Mason. Outside of the final third, I think Eriksen looks very average so I think it's important to have him further forward and with Rose bombing down the left we should still have width.
I heartily endorse this team, although I wouldn't cry if Trippier got selected. I expect Walker though. About the only time I'll be a Dembele advocate...
This is Spurs first XI -except Dembele for Mason -in the established formation which will also match up like for like against Utd's formation. So it's a no brainer, although Trippier has a case for selection ahead of Walker, doesn't he?
Trippier looked better than Walker in Denver, most thought. The Walker of two years ago is our best RB. But he didn’t look good last year after his injury or in the one pre-season game this year. But there is something to be said for giving the incumbent a good shot at keeping his place after he comes back from injury, and Pochettino may see it that way. Dembélé has a brilliant history against Man U, not just with us but with Fulham. We couldn't beat Man U. till he got here, and haven't lost since, except the last game, when he didn't play.
Vorm*, Trippier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose Dier**, Bentaleb Dembele***, Eriksen, Chadli Kane Subs: McGee, Wimmer, Walker, Davies, Alli, Carroll, Onomah * - Lloris if fit with Vorm on bench over McGee. ** - Mason if fit with Dier on bench over Onomah. *** - Lamela if fit with Dembele on bench over Carroll. Bench is a little inexperienced to say the least but I'm hoping we'll have a striker to place there soon enough, though if one of Soldado or Ade don't go, it's not the end of the world albeit disappointing (would actually rather keep Ade, for as much of a knob as he is, he is a proven striker in the league on his day and that's what counts more in my opinion). A part of me also wants to see Alli start, he's supposedly been superb in training and from what I saw of him against the MLS All Stars he looks a very good player, wouldn't be against seeing him start in the attacking three over Dembele but I'm pretty sure that won't happen.
I don’t hate Ade, believe he’s due a big year, and would want to keep him if it didn’t seem the coach and the great majority of the fans demand he move.