Team for Arsenal...

[Bluto Blutarsky]

Would not think Lloris has a serious injury - given that he finished the game.

I expect him back for Arsenal.

 

[EireYid]

Would love a 3-5-2, I just think it suits us so much better.

Lloris

Romero, Dier, Davies(if fit)

Deki Biss, PEH' Bentancur, Perisic

Kane, Son

 

[BorjeSpurs]

Would not think Lloris has a serious injury - given that he finished the game.

I expect him back for Arsenal.

Both Romero and Davies have injured themselves this season, continued playing and then been out for a while.

Agree that it’s rarely a bad injury however when they play on.

 

[wadewill]

Don’t forget none of their Brazilians have gone on international duty. Another bit of luck for these horrible wankers.

Im worried about this to be honest, we have been woeful there recently and they have definitely improved

They have so much confidence at the moment, completely misplaced, but while it’s there on the pitch and in the stands it’ll help them.

Shame it’s not the reverse fixture and at home I think we could give them a right tonking, away the opposite could well happen

 

[Qualsonic]

Hugo has a thigh injury so, depending on how serious it is, Fraser Forster will most likely start.

He won't most likely start, he might start.

 

[cozzo]

Don’t forget none of their Brazilians have gone on international duty. Another bit of luck for these horrible wankers.

Im worried about this to be honest, we have been woeful there recently and they have definitely improved

They have so much confidence at the moment, completely misplaced, but while it’s there on the pitch and in the stands it’ll help them.

Shame it’s not the reverse fixture and at home I think we could give them a right tonking, away the opposite could well happen

Would rather play away first against the top 6

 

[RuskyM]

Just copy United's gameplan imo.

 

[Trix]

Spence had Martinelli in his pocket when Forest beat them 2-1 last season. I know it won't happen but I'd love to see Spence play at RWB with 3 CMs.

So did Emerson tbf, and if I remember correctly Martinelli got hooked after an hour.

 

[Timberwolf]

In theory their high line should play right into our hands so it's going to come down to whether we can get the ball off them and effectively play through the press.

Even more so than usual, the first goal will be crucial. If we can get our noses in front it will open the game up and play perfectly into our hands. Arteta also has a tendency to completely bottle it and make stupidly attacking subs which again, would really help us. But if they score first and keep us at arms length it could go completely the other way.

I just hope we show up. Was so frustrating to see how poorly we played in the Chelsea game after all the hype, even though we scraped a draw in the end.

 

[EastLondonYid]

Would love a 3-5-2, I just think it suits us so much better.

Lloris

Romero, Dier, Davies(if fit)

Deki Biss, PEH' Bentancur, Perisic

Kane, Son

Love that formation
Love that team
And although I would definitely play that formation against them, and I would love to see that exact team against most teams,
I don't think I would play kulu or even perisic against Martineli and Saka.
Far too risky imo.
I would play Emerson and Sess to hopefully combat that very dangerous ,rapid pair.
If kulu is going to play there stopping Martineli, you nullify his qualities and run a serious risk of getting torn apart down the flanks.
Imo.

 

[spurslenny]

I like the idea on the 3-5-2, because it allows Bentancur to get forward more. No idea if it was just leicester's failings, but we saw a different dynamic to his play when he gets higher up the pitch.

 

[Nick-TopSpursMan]

So did Emerson tbf, and if I remember correctly Martinelli got hooked after an hour.

Yeah he did (and played ok in that match too) but the difference is Spence would also be a threat going forward (and give us the speed to hit them quickly on the counter). This will be even more important if we switch to a 3-5-2 formation because it will be vital that the wingbacks help get us upfield and provide an outlet out wide.

I still wonder whether Conte could play Kulusevski as a number 8 in the 3-5-2. He has the strength, the technique and workrate to play there imo and there was talk previously that Conte had looked at signing him as a number 8 for Inter.

The great thing if it worked would be we would able to switch our shape from 3-4-3 to 3-5-2 or back again at will without changing personnel. We could just see how a match is panning out and adjust accordingly.

 

[Trix]

Yeah he did (and played ok in that match too) but the difference is Spence would also be a threat going forward (and give us the speed to hit them quickly on the counter). This will be even more important if we switch to a 3-5-2 formation because it will be vital that the wingbacks help get us upfield and provide an outlet out wide.

I still wonder whether Conte could play Kulusevski as a number 8 in the 3-5-2. He has the strength, the technique and workrate to play there imo and there was talk previously that Conte had looked at signing him as a number 8 for Inter.

The great thing if it worked would be we would able to switch our shape from 3-4-3 to 3-5-2 or back again at will without changing personnel. We could just see how a match is panning out and adjust accordingly.

Maybe, and it's only a maybe. I mean we have nothing in the way of actual sample size to say he can cut it at the level you claim. He did very well in a couple of cup games against Prem opposition, but cup games are completely different mentality wise, especially when you have an underdog playing a team everyone expects to win.

People keep saying Conte is stubborn but I don't believe that at all. Winning is his number one priority and he will always go with the side he believes is best placed to do this. Spence will get his chance but no way will he throw him in for his first start, against our rivals, and away from home, because it's far more of a risk than Emerson.

 

[Nick-TopSpursMan]

Maybe, and it's only a maybe. I mean we have nothing in the way of actual sample size to say he can cut it at the level you claim. He did very well in a couple of cup games against Prem opposition, but cup games are completely different mentality wise, especially when you have an underdog playing a team everyone expects to win.

People keep saying Conte is stubborn but I don't believe that at all. Winning is his number one priority and he will always go with the side he believes is best placed to do this. Spence will get his chance but no way will he throw him in for his first start, against our rivals, and away from home, because it's far more of a risk than Emerson.

I completely agree, there is no way he will start him away to Scum.

 

[mil1lion]

Got to play Richarlison and get him harassing their defenders

Lloris
Romero--Dier--Lenglet
Emerson--Hojberg--Bentancur--Perisic
Richarlison--Kane--Son

 

[VancouverSpurs]

3-4-3 without Kulu doesn't work well I'm now convinced. 3-5-2 works as it allows PEH and Bentancur to carry the ball forward (which they can't do as well when it's just the two of them in the middle).

All that to say, if Conte sticks to 3-4-3 then I suspect it'll be our traditional lineup (Hugo, Romero, Dier, Lenglet, Royal, Perisic, PEH, Bentancur, Kulu, Kane, Son). If 3-5-2, then I think it'll be the lineup we had on the field towards the end of Leicester, essentially Bissouma on for Kulu and playing in the deepest mid position.

 

[DiamondLites]

Lloris

Romero Dier Lenglet

Emerson Deki Højberg Bentancur Ivan

Kane Son

Have Deki almost as a CAM, helping us win the numbers game in there and driving from deep and slipping balls through to Son & Kane. Royal is very dogged defensively which we will need, these are the types of games where he does actually come in handy. Richy to boil piss from the bench

 

[ravo]

3-4-3 without Kulu doesn't work well I'm now convinced. 3-5-2 works as it allows PEH and Bentancur to carry the ball forward (which they can't do as well when it's just the two of them in the middle).

All that to say, if Conte sticks to 3-4-3 then I suspect it'll be our traditional lineup (Hugo, Romero, Dier, Lenglet, Royal, Perisic, PEH, Bentancur, Kulu, Kane, Son). If 3-5-2, then I think it'll be the lineup we had on the field towards the end of Leicester, essentially Bissouma on for Kulu and playing in the deepest mid position.

Agreed. 3 up top without Deki doesn't work - there just isn't the creativity. Deki should almost be the first name on the team sheet. If he needs to be rested, we should consider 3-5-2.

 

[ravo]

Lloris

Romero Dier Lenglet

Emerson Deki Højberg Bentancur Ivan

Kane Son

Have Deki almost as a CAM, helping us win the numbers game in there and driving from deep and slipping balls through to Son & Kane. Royal is very dogged defensively which we will need, these are the types of games where he does actually come in handy. Richy to boil piss from the bench

I like this but the problem we have then is that there just isn't any decent delivery from the RHS. Perisic is great from the left, but Deki currently provides all decent balls in from the right. I really want to Spence involved once the NLD is over.

 

[HNIM]

I don’t care. Just win, baby.