Match Day Thread Tottenham Hotspur v Brentford

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Tuesday 5th January 7.45pm
Carabao Cup Semi-Final
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium​

An important win in the league broke a pretty poor run and took us back into the top 4.
Lots of games and very little time between them has lead to constant movement in the table.
Time for a little distraction. A cup semi-final.
It's a massive opportunity for both sides and one that we can't afford to miss taking.
Can Mourinho get us back to Wembley or will Brentford reach their first major final?

Last season was Thomas Frank's first full campaign at the Bees, having taken over from Dean Smith.
The latter left for Villa the previous October and his Danish assistant was promoted as his replacement.
He'd struggled in the role at first, but he hit his stride roughly a year after taking over and they took off.
An impressive run of 8 successive league wins took them to the verge of automatic promotion towards the end.
Losing their last 2 games was costly though, as they missed out and lost in the play-offs to Fulham.

The summer saw them lose two of their biggest names and most dangerous goal threats.
Ollie Watkins and Said Benrahma joined Villa and West Ham respectively.
The duo had scored 43 goals between them the previous season and combined well with Bryan Mbeumo.
Ivan Toney joined from Peterborough to replace some of that output and he's hit the ground running.
The former Newcastle youth player has 16 in 22 appearances already.

The club had a mixed start to the campaign, as they struggled to deal with new faces and a short summer.
They've picked up massively since then though and are unbeaten since late October.
It's a run of 16 games without defeat and they've only conceded 12 goals in that time.
Their Carabao Cup run has also impressed, as they've faced a Premier League team in every round bar the 1st.
Wins over Wycombe, Southampton, West Brom, Fulham and Newcastle have taken them to this point.

We haven't faced Brentford many times in recent years and the only modern era matches have come in this competition.
The last that I could find was this 2nd leg from the 98/99 season, with the flattest commentary ever:

Lamela, Lo Celso and Bale are out for this one and Rodon is cup-tied.
Baptiste is out for the visitors.
Neither side has any suspensions, as Doherty's counts for the league only.
The teams are allowed to make five substitutions in this competition from now on.

Lineups for each side's last league game:

Spurs: Lloris; Doherty, Dier, Alderweireld, Davies; Hojbjerg, Winks; Bergwijn, Ndombele, Son; Kane.
Subs: Hart, Tanganga, Rodon, Reguilon, Fernandes, Sissoko, Alli, Moura, Vinicius.
League form: WDLLDW.

Brentford: Raya; Dalsgaard, Jansson, Pinnock, Henry; Dasilva, Janelt, Jensen; Mbeumo, Toney, Canos.
Subs: Daniels, Stevens, Sorensen, Thompson, Ghoddos, Marcondes, Fosu, Gilbert, Forss.
League form: DWDWWW.

Ref: Mike Dean. VAR: Peter Bankes.

TV: Sky Sports.

How would you like to line up for this one and what would you change from the Leeds 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 Brentford to go with?

 

Massive game tomorrow, we need to play our strongest team , Brentford are no mugs as their league position shows

 

Think it’ll more or less be our strongest team with maybe just a couple changes. Would like to see Vinicius start with Kane and Son though, he played as a wide forward once or twice for Benfica so it’s not a strange position too him and he needs the game time. A start today and on the weekend against Marine would do him the world of good.

Hugo
Aurier, Toby, Dier, Reggie
Sissoko, Hojbjerg, Ndombele
Vinicius, Kane, Son

 

Mike Dean .

 

Would like to go with an EL starting XI, but Jose is not that brave,

 

I think you meant to say Mike "****" Dean

 

We’ll likely do that on the weekend with Marine.

 

Don’t blame him, the EL boys haven’t particularly impressed me. Kane and Son will probably be needed to get past Brentford

 

You’re spot on, they are no mugs. I thought selling Watkins would seriously weaken them, but Toney is a real livewire and an inspired signing. We must not be complacent on this one.

 

Be interesting to see if the Govt will suspend football again!

 

Rupert Murdoch will not be happy

 

Professional sport will continue and elite athletes and sportsman can carry on training and playing

 

So we've got the circuses, how about the bread?

 

Toney and Adam Armstrong have scored a combined 32 goals in the Championship, so far.
They were both at Newcastle earlier in their careers, who've scored 18 league goals. Hmm...

 

I can guess which manager in the semis won't be doing that...

 

So...
Today is my birthday...

School went back today...utter bastards...ate my own body weight in scones, jam and cream, opened some great presents...was put back into lockdown so a memorable birthday...signed my new new contract at work for my promotion with a 2 grade pay rise ... not utter bastards... Liverpool lost...watched far go again...the first film me and Mrs RCL saw together at the cinema.
...watch spurs send me into a deep depression tomorrow

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BROTHER @remembercolinlee!