Tottenham Hotspur vs Leicester City – Preview

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Another fixture, another cup tie for Tottenham Hotspur.

Wednesday night was very much an anti-climactic one at White Hart Lane, with Spurs seeing off Sheffield United by the solitary goal. We can sugar coat the performance and result insisting the Blades are a good cup side and we should be thankful for the win as much as we like; the point is it took a penalty to beat a side two divisions below us.

We were lacklustre and lethargic, lacking a base formation. The up side to this is we have a squad large enough to rotate for our FA Cup clash with Leicester City.

Judging by our League Cup semi-final first leg, I expect many of Wednesday’s starters to be quaking in their boots ahead of next week’s return fixture at Bramall Lane. In fact, our tie with Leicester could be a real chance for others to push for a start next week.

Our last meeting with the Foxes was scrappy, with Spurs, arguably undeservedly, leaving the King Power Stadium with all three points on Boxing Day. The absence of Ryan Mason hurt us that game, as our midfield was overrun and we could barely string three passes together. The English terrier could play this time around after returning from injury in midweek, but will have to cope without his coveted Algerian midfield partner.

Replacing Nabil Bentaleb has proved a hard task thus far, with no midfield partnership bringing us a good combination of creativity and protection since his departure for the AFCON.

Luckily for us, tricky winger Riyad Mahrez is playing alongside Bentaleb in Equatorial Guinea, giving our defence one less worry. Nevertheless, the Foxes made too many chances for comfort last month, and this issue could be troublesome once more.

Like our third round replay with Burnley, I expect Mauricio Pochettino to keep our squad fresh for the upcoming onslaught of fixtures. Our philosophy may now be clear to the players, but it’s a gruelling one.

Michel Vorm was fairly untroubled against Sheffield United, and so could start again between the sticks.

With the departure of Kyle Naughton to Swansea City, DeAndre Yedlin could earn his spurs this weekend (sorry for that). The uber-pacey American has yet to feature in a matchday squad since his arrival, but now may be the right time to introduce him. If not Yedlin, then Vlad Chiriches could return to his recent role at right back. Either Chiriches or the returning Federico Fazio will probably partner Jan Vertonghen in the centre of defence.

Ben Davies, despite our obvious lack of width vs Sheffield United, barely set a foot in the opposition half, and could be dropped for these next two fixtures. Danny Rose has been in good form too, looking at the moment our most useful left back.

One goal and an assist vs Burnley in the last round may be enough to earn Paulinho a start; the Brazilian looked to have regained some confidence that night, and could even start as the number 10.

Etienne Capoue is likely to start alongside Mousa Dembele, as both midfielders push for a start in the second leg of the League Cup semi-finals.

All of Andros Townsend’s recent good form seemed to have evaporated on Wednesday, often running into nowhere and being predictable once again. Erik Lamela is scheduled to return from injury this weekend, and could do so with an appearance.

Nacer Chadli is still away due to bereavement, so Townsend may start on the left.

I’m hoping Christian Eriksen and Harry Kane are rested, as both put in excellent shifts against Sheffield United and could do with staying fit and fresh.

Despite various sections of the crowd booing Emmanuel Adebayor on vs Sunderland and off vs Sheffield United, I reckon Poch will keep faith with the striker.

We should be challenging on all fronts this season, and in a home FA Cup tie, we really should be winning this one.

Predicted XI: Vorm; Yedlin, Fazio, Vertonghen, Rose; Dembele, Capoue; Lamela, Paulinho, Townsend; Adebayor

Sean Walsh

Sean Walsh

The ramblings of a frustrated Spurs fan.
Sean Walsh

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