This is the thread for discussion on the Tottenham Hotspur Starting XI, opinions, banter, general chat etc

Any news on Pavlychenkos hamstring injury?

he's fine, didn't go to Portugal with main squad as a precaution but played and scored in a Spurs XI on Tuesday night.

http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/articles/ledley-back-for-xi-030810.html

Thanks. What's the feeling regarding 'Arry and Pav after they made up over their spat. Will it still be Crouchy and the wee man or will play offs bring Pav into early games?

RP "best XI":

Gomes
Corluka Dawson King Bale
Lennon Huddlestone Palacios Modric
Crouch Defoe

Can't argue with that too much.

Spurs will nick fourth spot again, according to the Racing Post. They deserved it last season, putting in a excellent performance in the vital game at Eastlands to silence a feverish crowd. Will the novelty of the Champions League be too much of a distraction however? They do have good strength in depth in most positions but they also tend to pick up a lot of injuries. Huddlestone to me is the one who makes the team tick and any injury to him could be damaging.

Nicolas Anelka backs Spurs to win the Premiership
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528, ... 22,00.html

Thats the formation they started with last year. However, it became apparent that Bale ahead of BAE on the left was a MUCH more effective formation. It was easy when Palacios was injured, but either he or Huddlestone would have to make way (or Crouch in a formation change).

Harry Redknapp is 'bemoaning' the lack of transfer action. He has stated he has identified 3 targets to improve the squad.

It does seem that the Milner deal will(will it?) be the one that kick starts a flurry of action. Chat of Croatia keeper Pletikosa seems realistic and welcomed. Villa look set to get Stephen Ireland + Cash which seems to be touted toward a move for Robbie Keane. Now with Keane, Arry may have a lined up replacement in the World Cup impressing Giovanni? It seems however, that Harry is keen on Ashley Young coming to Spurs as part of the deal. Villa have Downing for one side & Agbonlahor for the other - if Keane was to support Carew - so its possible. I would imagine Young would be a LM/LAF for Spurs, a move that would signal the end of Gareth Bales promising play in that position. Elsewhere, Harry is also rumored to have been interested in Scotty Parker. A good player - but where exactly would he fit in? Modric/Huddlestone/Palacios/Sandro - even Jenas all vying for one spot? And then there Craig Bellamy. He can play when he isn't broke, but where? alongside Defoe? Where he (might be) planning to slot Ashley Young in? Whtever we pay it'll be risky due to his injury record (not to mention his disruption/use of a putter record). Crouchy (The man who put us in the Champs League?) is being lined up by Liverpool in a move that makes a lot of sense. Abbey's from Liverpool, He's some grovelling to do if the tabloids are to be listened to, and I can see him getting a lot of game time at Liverpool (as back up to Torres ) for the touted £10mish. Are we still trying to sign Fabiano? Has interest in Bentley cooled?

In my opinion we need a CB (or a RB if Corluka was to be moved inside) and a Champions League Quality CF. Fabiano may be it - but Bellamy? Not sure what is going on down the lane. My only comfort is Spurs proclivity to deal behind closed doors and announce once down - like Modric.

Your move Levy...

The question is will King start?

Spurs line-up for the 1st leg against Young Boys:


Gomes,
Corluka, Dawson, Bassong, Assou-Ekotto,
Giovani, Palacios, Modric, Bale,
Pavlyuchenko, Defoe.

Subs: Cudicini, Kaboul, Huddlestone, Lennon, Keane, Crouch, Kranjcar.


Young Boys: Wolfli, Sutter, Spycher, Affolter, Jemal, Lulic, Tape Doubai, Degen, Hochstrasser, Costanzo, Bienvenu.
Subs: Burki, Marco Schneuwly, De Pierro, Christian Schneuwly, Raimondi, Regazzoni, Mayuka.

*waves hello*

is there a lineup for young boys?

Yeah, just queue up outside Gary Glitter's house.

Ahemmmmm!


How about: a 1-1-8 formation (always was in the schoolyard when I played)

Fatso in goal, slaphead in defence, stinky in midfield and everyone else up front?

Any Spurs fans care to ponder on BAE's future at left back after last night's shambolic showing and early substitution? Is Arry likely to learn and rejig or keep faith?

Some of us have him in our Eggcup teams (thanks Alan) and others may worry about Bale getting shoved back 20 yards.

If Modric is out, Harry's hand might be forced to play Bale on the left side of midfield.

BAE was the most improved player last year, and excellent against Man City. I'd guess Young Boys was a playing on artificial surface blip.

....after Gareth Bale Though they're the best combination down the left, very solid and I think Harry sees it this way too

SSN reckon Gallas signing tomorrow.

Interesting, where do people see him fitting in? Taking Bassong's place rotating with Ledley? Fighting it out with Corluka for RB, who may switch to DM or LB? Or just a bench warming squad player? I can't decide

Any word on whether Defoe will/not start this weekend?

See the main Injury thread in 'team news'

Any update on Crouch's ribs?

or on Defoe's latest apparent minor injury>

What's 'arry been up to?

From Racing Post this evening:

Harry Redknapp was the subject of a surprising plunge to be the next Premier League manager to lose his job after Hills reported plenty of money for him to leave Tottenham.

The Spurs chief started Thursday morning at 100-1 to go and that was backed into 9-1. A Hills spokesman said:
"We have seen a number of new clients opening accounts purely to bet on Harry being the next to go. We can see no possible reason why this should happen, but we have had to react to the money as no one else is being backed at the moment."

When does he face those legal charges ? Might he be wanting to focus on preparing his defence ? The timing certainly seems odd,with the club riding high and a CL game looming, but gamblers often transpire to have been the first to know,and for the bookies to have reacted,there must have been some serious money laid down.

Realize this is a news thread but...
[mod note: moved to general thread]

another possibility is that Redknapp is replacing Fabio Capello as the England boss (gawd help 'em).

He's certainly the hot favourite to do so eventually when Capello's contract expires,but a clean sheet will be imperative for that to happen.

edit: a bit more news in the Daily Mirror,pointing out the tax evasion case isn't being held until the Summer http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Bo ... 18700.html

I've split the recent posts to a thread for this season
It's not 2010 anymore

Perhaps lock these 2010/11 threads?

There would be no need if people stopped posting on them