Match Day Thread Tottenham Hotspur v Everton

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Wednesday 10th February 8.15pm
FA Cup 5th Round
Goodison Park​

The win against West Brom was as welcome as the performance and the return of Harry Kane.
I think it's fair to say that they were up to much though, so this will be a much trickier hurdle to clear.
Everton have had a fairly similar campaign to us, so far and this is an important test for each side.
Both clubs have a respectable history in the competition, but it's been a long time since either has won it.
Who will prevail in the battle of the two ex-Chelsea and Real Madrid managers?

Ancelotti's first season on Merseyside started just before Christmas in 2019.
Marco Silva's disastrous reign ended with a big loss to Liverpool, which dropped them into the bottom three.
The Italian was an ambitious replacement and he comfortably lead them to safety.
Summer's transfer window saw some similarly high profile signings, as well as some squad trimming.
With news of a new stadium on the way, it seems like the club is moving in the right direction.

The Toffees started this season off well, winning the first four matches and topping the table.
They dropped off badly after that, with only one victory in the next seven games, but they've picked up since.
The Premier League has seen a lot sides plagued by erratic form this season and they've been no exception.
Their League Cup campaign ended in the quarter-final with a defeat to Man Utd.
The FA Cup has seen them defeat both Rotherham United and Sheffield Wednesday at Goodison:

Lo Celso and Reguilon miss out again and Aurier is doubtful, while Alli may return to the bench.
Gbamin misses out for the hosts. Allan, Pickford and Rodriguez face late tests.
Neither side has any suspensions.

Lineups for each side's last league game:

Spurs: Lloris; Aurier, Sanchez, Alderweireld, Davies; Hojbjerg, Ndombele; Lamela, Moura, Son; Kane.
Subs: Hart, Doherty, Dier, Rodon, Sissoko, Bergwijn, Bale, Vinicius, Scarlett.
League form: DWLLLW.

Everton: Olsen; Holgate, Keane, Godfrey, Digne; Gomes, Davies, Doucoure; Rodriguez; Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin.
Subs: Virginia, Coleman, Mina, Nkounkou, Delph, Sigurdsson, Iwobi, Bernard, King.
League form: LWDLWD.

Ref: David Coote. VAR: Chris Kavanagh.

TV: BT Sport 1.

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

 

Everton will really fancy their chances for this.
They are in good form...and Jordan pickford is injured so they will be hot favourites

 

I make Everton favourites for this one too, we have had a 2 decent performances in the last month against the teams 19th and 20th in the league.

Evertons form is a bit patchy, but they are generally well drilled, well prepared and hard to play against - some might say all the things that we aren't!

As for a team - I would go strong - but I expect some rotation I think Jose will pick Hart, Doherty, Rodon, Dier, Davies, Sissoko, Winks, Lucas, Bale, Son and Kane. Though I would prefer Hugo to play as they like a long shot and Hart doesn't!

Would not surprise me if it finished 1-0

 

Come on lads, if we can beat WBA then we should be able to beat Everton

 

Apparently James is injured - excellent news if true.

Anyone have any clue how much longer Lo Celso and Reguilon are out? It's getting a bit ridiculous

 

Lo Celso still a month away. Reggie should be back in a couple weeks.

 

Big test of the squad management skills of the "special one" ,
who will no doubt have one eye on the Citeh game at the weekend.

Everton have no such worries in the same time window, and
with no EL participation can go full strength in the only
competition they can still realistically win this season.

If Jose can get thru this one with a quite weaker starting XI
(compared to the strongest PL XI) , I won't care too much about
the performance (assuming no moments of immense good fortune
in Spurs favour) .

 

Come on lads , a bit of this tonight would be nice

 

Vini's loving life...

 

No Kane or Vinicius starting

 

Not starting a striker? Stupid.

 

The four forwards we have in the XI should be good enough.

 

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No Bale in the squad

 

Bizarre line up. I find Lucas, Son and Bergwijn are too similar in how they play and the areas they prefer to occupy, with Son obviously miles ahead of the other two. That, with Lamela's tendency to dwell on the ball 19 touches longer than he should, means we might see a lot of 4 players getting in each other's way.

I'm surprised Sissoko isn't starting but we're probably saving him for the City game. Also the fact that Dier isn't starting is either an excellent sign that Jose is finally realising how cack he is, or it means he's saving him for City, which is a scary prospect.

 

How do you fancy our defence against that lot?
Not a chance.

 

No striker starting, going to be a long night or he has one of Baldricks cunning plans up his sleeve

 

Looking at the bench it was probably a choice between him and Dele. As much as I have criticised the latter fact is he's a Spurs player until at least July. In light of Lo Celso's continuing injury problems, in all honesty if we can get Dele back to even 50% of his output of 2/3 years ago, it will help the team enormously. I'd sooner give him a run in the team than Bale.

 

When you look at that Everton team player for player there is really no reason why we shouldn't beat them, so why am I feeling that it will be such a long night?