Tottenham Hotspur vs. Southampton F.C.

I think we underestimate how much Kane does for the team, not just scoring goals, but his movement and ability to create space.
This could be a tough game.

Start with Son.
 
That's it...season is over we are sunk without our Harry - Apparently!


<br><br><a href ="http://www.vitalfootball.co.uk/router.asp?7522663">Click here to read the article</a><br><br>
 
OyVeh Maria sent us the following:

That’s it…Season is over we are sunk without our Harry… Apparently!

The Punters on TV and the papers can’t hide their pleasure in stating Spurs are a busted flush this season now Harry is out until the end of April. We will go into “Free Fall” it’s all over for Spurs!

Spurs have taken a Premier League-high 38 points at home this season, winning 14 and drawing two. We have conceded fewer home goals (seven) than any other Premier League team, while creating the most scoring chances (212). Away our overall record has improved since last season. Our clean sheet ratio (44%) has jumped by 10%, and our organisation is evident through being forced into nine fewer defensive actions per game (41). Spurs average more than two goals per league game this season with Harry that goes down to 1.2 when he was out for the ten weeks at the beginning of the season. No one takes into account that our back line has changed 3 times this season and yet we have still maintained the best defensive record in the Prem at home. Pochettino makes the valid point that one of the best performances by any side this season came during that period when Kane was out and Son led the line in the 2-0 defeat of Manchester City. “My job is to select only 11 players, but I was always happy with Sonny,” said Pochettino. “He can play like a striker. One of our best performances was against City here and he was the striker when Harry was injured. We have different opportunities to play, use different formations. I’m sad about the Harry injury, but now it’s about trying to find a solution and seeing who is the best to replace him.” During Harry’s ten-game injury absence from mid-September to early November 2016 we lost just twice in all competitions we remained unbeaten in the Prem beating Manchester City 2-0 along the way.

We can argue about the rights and wrongs of playing Harry for a game against Millwall and, in hindsight, he wasn’t really needed and that injury could have been avoided. But it is what it is, so now we have to face a tough defensive team in Southampton without the best striker in the Premiership. Someone who can score 19 goals from 22 Premier League appearances this season is going to be missed but as Poch says “We have enough players to try to replace him and win games. “It won’t be an excuse if we don’t win games or achieve our aims because Kane isn’t in the team.”
Son has had 23 games this season Janssen just 19. Son has 1,260 minutes under his belt whilst Janssen has just 663 minutes. Son’s shot accuracy is just 52% whilst Janssen is 44%. Son’s take on is just 45.00% whilst Janssen’s is just 16.00 %. Even without Harry Spurs share the most number of points gained from losing positions with Pool with 14 points taken by each team through comebacks.

Southampton too are missing their main striker, Charlie Austin faces a battle to get back into the Saints team. Austin is still the club’s top scorer this season with nine goals in all competitions, despite having not played since he dislocated his shoulder against Hapoel Be’er Sheva in December. He had to have surgery for that one leaving him with an extended period of rehab and recovery to get through. We all know that Saints are the last team to inflict a home defeat on us which was back in May last year. It was Ronald Koeman's men then that beat us 2-1 in the penultimate game of our season with two Steven Davis goals which led to Saints making their highest finish in 6th-place.

Saints think the odds have been evened out because Harry is not in the side which begs the question why everyone thinks we are a one-man team? Everyone is saying that our attack has been weakened through Kane's absence and the Saints think they will be catching us just at the right time. There is no doubt that Saints have found some momentum. Claude Puel's men are on a roll after back-to-back away league wins - in which they have scored four on both occasions. Last time out Saints defeated Watford 4-3 in a blinder of a game at Vicarage Road and prior to that they won 4-0 at Sunderland. While we have to make-do without our top marksman, Saints won't have that issue because their latest goal machine, Manolo Gabbiadini, will turn up at the Lane having netted six goals in his first four Saints appearances. However, whilst we may be missing our goal machine at the front, our defence remains the same and with all due respect to Watford and Sunderland we will be a bit of a tougher test for Gabbiadini. Since the change back to the 4-2-3-1 formation at Sunderland, Saints have netted ten goals in three games, with Gabbiadini, Dusan Tadic, Nathan Redmond and James Ward-Prowse forming a formidable attack. That offensive spearhead will be hoping to make it an unlucky 13 for Spurs cos we have won 12 games in a row at the Lane. Cedric Soares knows the organisation of Spurs is formidable but insists Southampton are in confident mood ahead of their “very difficult” away fixture. Dembele has an ankle injury and is rated at 75 per cent to be fit for this one so Winks may get the call. But Winksy could be in the midfield even if Dembele is fit putting Son up front as striker. Southampton must do without Alex McCarthy, Virgil van Dijk, Matt Targett, Jeremy Pied and Charlie Austin, while Jake Hesketh is a minor doubt.

We owe it to ourselves to get back into the CL. After watching Leicester’s performance you have to ask the question; why couldn’t we do that? We have the chance to continue our winning streak. Southampton won’t be easy but we need to keep winning until Danny and Harry are back so we can finish the job in April.
 
This one is tough even though at the Lane.....they were so unlucky against Manure in the Final a few weeks back, and their new striker Gabbiadini is looking sharp......they beat us at the lane last year as well..

So I reckon it will be close 1-0 to us!

 
Nothing's changed here. Harry may well be missing but we should bag all three points. I expect us to win, especially seeing we're at home.
 
I expect Son to start and Jannsen ready if required from bench. Poch has more or less implied that in the last post match interview as Son was the 1st name that came out of his mouth. Having just bagged a hat-trick, he should be buzzing to start. I just hope he is not overly selfish because will have other scorers supporting him. Whilst Saints might be potent with their new striker, their defence is vulnerable (3-4 @ Watford). But as always we need to score early. Home record at stake, so I expect our crowd will be very vocal to drive us to 13th home win! COYS!
 
Janssen and Son both to start for me. Without Kane we lose a lot goals, with a front 4 of Eriksen, Dele, Son & Janssen we shouldn't be struggling to score goals. Janssen confidence has got to be on the up after last week
 
ScottDaYid, out of curiosity, what line-up do you have in mind to accommodate Vincent?

Personally, I find having Wanyama, Dier and Dembele makes us too defensive. I would prefer to drop Dier and include Winks for more dynamic play.
 
How many games have we won without Harry and what was the formation in those games?
 
Critical_Spur - 17/3/2017 13:41

ScottDaYid, out of curiosity, what line-up do you have in mind to accommodate Vincent?

Personally, I find having Wanyama, Dier and Dembele makes us too defensive. I would prefer to drop Dier and include Winks for more dynamic play.
Click to expand...

I'd drop Wanyama and move Dier forward with Dembele and add Winks. Dier makes Dele play better. I'd also play Walker and Davies as full backs as opposed to wing backs with Walker given some licence.

Dele, Eriksen and Janssen to start up front.

If we get ahead I'd sub Dembele with Wanyama and have Son as a sub for one of the front three.

If we get behind, Son for Janssen or Eriksen.

 
I am leaning towards playing Winks too. Not sure he will though. He is more creative than Dembele, sees the game quicker and passes better. How about Hugo, Walker, Toby, Vert , Davies, Wanyama; Dier, Winks, Alli, Eriksen , Son , ?
 
80deg16minW,

I find this bromance thing getting stretched too far for my liking. As for Alli playing better for Dier being in the team...presume you refer to the long/diagonal balls? IMO, Dier has regressed somewhat since being moved in to defence.

I am fan of Wanyama. If you get a chance, have a read of this.... quite telling!

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11675/10800588/victor-wanyama8217s-tottenham-role-and-his-unbeaten-home-record
 
Just re-reading your post, yes, Dier plays better as DM...but I still prefer Wanna!
 
NRD, I'd be very happy with your line-up. I think there is only room for 2 of Dier, Wanyama & Dembele, unless forced upon through injury to either Toby or Jan.

Equally important, if we have a 2 goal cushion at say, 60 mins, I'd give Jannsen a good run-out. He needs more than 5 mins to make any impact and imo, deserves it.
 
Critical_Spur - 17/3/2017 15:24

80deg16minW,

I find this bromance thing getting stretched too far for my liking. As for Alli playing better for Dier being in the team...presume you refer to the long/diagonal balls? IMO, Dier has regressed somewhat since being moved in to defence.

I am fan of Wanyama. If you get a chance, have a read of this.... quite telling!

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11675/10800588/victor-wanyama8217s-tottenham-role-and-his-unbeaten-home-record
Click to expand...

The bromance thing is irrelevant and didn't even cross my mind as I wrote that. We were a more attacking oriented team when Dier played DM last season.

Similar stats could be attributed to Harry as well.

Really, when you cut through all the rhetoric, Harry at the front end is the difference. So, if pushing Dele forward is the solution then we should push Dier forward to optimize that. And I'd rather sub out Wanyama for Dier than Dembele.

Wanyama has completely changed my opinion of him. thought he would get himself carded at all the wrong times. But he has been terrific for us.
 
80deg, you never know, we may be forming a new partnership between Winks and Alli. I think the Alli/Kane combo has been proven to be the best for us and picked up by all and sundry. Hopefully, Poch is getting the whole of the team synchronising thus alleviating the reliance on individuals.

We so far have Toby/Verts combo, Dembele/Wanyama + Kane/Alli. COYS!
 
Would be interesting to see Alli given a chance as the main man up top. If that doesn't happen then Son should get the nod. His goal tally is to good to write him off.
 
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