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.