My stab at our starting XI against visitors West Ham features both Eric Dier and Gareth Bale, so hear me out. With Eric Dier, I’m guessing that José will have in mind the height of his back line, and whilst Sergio is a cracker-jack player, tall he ain’t. With Doherty on the bench, that would leave Tottenham with just two full size defenders.
What about Bale then? I maintain that Bale will be used judiciously by Mourinho, and to which end I do not think he will be wheeled out for our less than glamorous Europa League fixtures.
Mourinho understands what a Derby means to fans, and Spurs have lost just three of their last 27 home London derbies in the Premier League. However, two of those defeats have come in their last five such games, including one against West Ham in April 2019. This is not a game to take for the gaffer lightly.
I would definitely play the goat today. We need Sissokos metal in there… Coco has been putting it in too.
Thats a back 5. I dont think Davies and Reg would start together. Both competing for the left back they are. Toby and Dier are both too slow to partner against pacey forwards which Spam possesses. Depending on the opposition I believe they both need to be partnered with Sanchez or Tanganga who both have pace. Prime Vertonghen was fast and he used to compliment Toby perfectly….. I would start with a back four of Reg Toby Sanchez Aurier… Serge was a beast the other day. If mad Aurier turns up then hes a liability so any rashness then sub for Doherty.
Bale and Son can both play much closer to Kane allowing us to move to a back 3 with Regulion and Doherty providing the width.
I’d like to see:
Dier Toby Davies
Doherty Hojbjerg Ndombele Regulion
Bale Kane Son
Seems a much more balanced team with Davies covering LB when Regulion is in attack (a position he’s played in many time for Wales) and Dier the same when Doherty is in attack plus he’ll have Hojbjerg who has played RB on occasions at Bayern as cover.
Ndombele seems on great form at last and is covering so much ground.
Bale and Son can move into CF when the wingbacks are in attack and Kane can drop deep on occasions to provide the killer passes as he’s done so well this season
Marcus for lamela. Good team there. 🌚
He’s going to play Lamela in front of Bale? So Lamela gets preference over one of the best goal scorers in the world – not for me. Bale on the right of the front 3 whenever he plays with Son and Kane, not in midfield. Lamela would just get in the way when Bale cuts in field to shoot! That would be like having a Bentley in the garage and going out in your Ford Focus instead.
But we might well start with Lamela or Lucas on the right and then see Bale make his second debut at some point, replacing whichever is on.
I like it although feel he will play winks and moura, hope im wrong
Interesting selection H! However, I don’t think Mourinho will risk starting Bale and am not convinced that Dier will be fully fit. I agree about West Ham’s aerial threat, hence starting Doherty over Aurier. With that in mind, my projected team is: Lloris; Reguilon, Alderweireld, Sanchez, Doherty; Hojbjerg, Ndombele, Sissoko; Son, Kane, Lamela.