Team v Middlesbrough

[Berbatonghen]

This is the perfect game to show the quality in depth we have. Dembele and Dier reportedly out along with rose and kane.

Very curious to see how we handle this game. This time last year we would of felt less optimistic with the likes of Mason, Chadli and Carrol maybe stepping in (no disrespect to these named players).

Today will show just how strong we are so be it against a team just came from the championship. There is no easy games in the premierleague so hopefully we turn up today and the players can step up and show what they can do.

 

[Vincent30]

It's been done to death to be honest mate. Sissoko plays amr or am but half the people on this site see him as a dembele backup.
I maybe wrong but unless we have a injury crisis or chasing a goal late on in the game sissoko is always going to play amr or am

Why does everyone forget he started out as a DM and box to box player at Toulouse, he has only played wide AM for the last couple of seasons. He offers us versatility and could easily do a job along side Wanyama and Dier.

 

[dondo]

I think Sissoko himself said he likes to play as a number 8 so by definition that would be a central midfielder or box to box midfielder.

What sissoko wants is mainly irrelevant as he will play where poch wants him to or not at all

 

[dondo]

Why does everyone forget he started out as a DM and box to box player at Toulouse, he has only played wide AM for the last couple of seasons. He offers us versatility and could easily do a job along side Wanyama and Dier.

He's not good enough defensively to play cm in pochs team imo

 

[Pellshek]

The whole notion of a "Dembele replacement" is wrong-headed. He's a unique player. If he doesn't play, there is no replacement, just a different set-up, or alternative focus.

 

[pallettWHL]

Lloris
Walker Toby Wimmer Davies
Wanyama Winks
Sissoko Alli Son
Janssen

Subs: Vorm, Trippier, Vertonghen, Dembele, Eriksen, Lamela, GKN

No point in rushing Rose to return, Davies should be able to handle 'Boro.

Alli starts as he can make runs beyond Janssen, which Eriksen can't.

Winks earns a start and makes the holding 2 a bit more creative.

Dembele, Lamela, Eriksen and GKN are all available as impact subs.

 

[spids]

Given Eriksen and Lamela played midweek, and are probably both in our best CL XI, I think they'll not start today. I expect Walker, Dier, Dembele and Rose to also be given time to be 100% for Tuesday. So I expect to see:

Lloris
Trippier Alderweireld Verts Davies
Wanyama Winks
Sissoko Alli Son
Janssen​

 

[Giovanni]

I personally dont like the idea of tooo many changes from our proven pl 11. Im all for resting but having eriksen,lamela, walker, rose, dembele, dier and kane out of our best 11 at once is too much for my liking!!

Id play at least 1 of walker/ rose and maybe one of lamela/eriksen for an hour or sit them both out and bring lamela on for some late in the match urgency.

Hugo

Walker
Toby
Jan
Davies

Wanyama
Alli

Son
Sissoko
Lamela

Janssen

 

[mattie g]

Given Eriksen and Lamela played midweek, and are probably both in our best CL XI, I think they'll not start today. I expect Walker, Dier, Dembele and Rose to also be given time to be 100% for Tuesday. So I expect to see:

Lloris
Trippier Alderweireld Verts Davies
Wanyama Winks
Sissoko Alli Son
Janssen​

I agree with this lineup.

We're in a series of games with players being rotated in relation to what Poch thinks the best combination of match ups and experience will bring to each game.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Vorm

Walker TA JV Davies

Winks Wanyama

Lamela Eriksen Son

Janssen​

 

[Giovanni]

The pl is our bread and butter, and we are looking to kick on from last season. Win this first and then lets worry about tuesday....resting 3/4 is ENOUGH! People leaving 7odd changes from our best 11 are well over the top. Boro will be tough to beat and well drilled in defence! Leaving dembele out is enough of a downgrade on our forward play without adding eriksen, lamela, walker, rose and of course kane.

 

[spids]

The pl is our bread and butter, and we are looking to kick on from last season. Win this first and then lets worry about tuesday....resting 3/4 is ENOUGH! People leaving 7odd changes from our best 11 are well over the top. Boro will be tough to beat and well drilled in defence! Leaving dembele out is enough of a downgrade on our forward play without adding eriksen, lamela, walker, rose and of course kane.

I think the reason people are suggesting so many changes is that Dier, Dembele and Walker all had hamstring strains/twinges in the last game, and Rose is also recovering from an injury.

 

[Sophos151]

https://twitter.com/SpursOfficial/status/779666725193277440

Lloris
Walker Alderweireld Vertonghen Davies
Wanyama Alli
Sissoko Eriksen Son
Janssen​

 

[Jamturk]

mmm Alli in the DM2 again, Winks would have been the better for balance but I supposed Poch is pulling rank.

Good to see N'koudou on the slightly unbalanced bench.

Middlesbrough are cagey and will look to do us on the break, so Alli needs to be smart.

 

[Vincent30]

He's not good enough defensively to play cm in pochs team imo

How do you know this, he has played a lot of his football as DM in his early career. Plus to play devils advocate here, the majority moans that when we put Dier and Wanyama together its too defensive, yet Sissoko would be a worse option because he is not defensive enough?