Tottenham Hotspur have surprised everyone by not making any signings in the transfer window, and many are predicting that would be a cause for their downfall in the upcoming season as all their major rivals have improved in some way or the other. However, this was always going to be a crucial transfer period for the North London club, not concerning acquiring players, but regarding holding on to them.
There can be some trouble at the start of the season as most of the Spurs players have been involved in the World Cup campaign. Mauricio Pochettino will have no option but to include some of them into the first team as they travel to the Tyneside to take on Newcastle United. The Magpies would be defensively solid and resolute, so Spurs will have their task cut out when they try to breach United’s defence.
Team News
As many as nine Tottenham Hotspur players reached the latter stages of the World Cup, and the Argentine manager has admitted that it would be a massive challenge for everyone to get match ready. He also isn’t helped by the fact that players who haven’t participated in the World Cup are out, as the likes of Juan Foyth, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Victor Wanyama, Erik Lamela and Harry Winks are all set to miss out due to various injuries. As a result, some players will be rushed back into the playing eleven.
Here, at The 4th Official, we take a look at the 4-2-3-1 Tottenham Hotspur predicted lineup Vs Newcastle United.
Formation(4-2-3-1)
Defence
France and Spurs captain, Hugo Lloris, arrived among the last contingent of players for training after the World Cup win. However, being the leader and goalkeeper, he can start over Michel Vorm. Though one shouldn’t be surprised if Pochettino opts for the Dutch custodian in goal for the first game, given Lloris just returned to training.
Pochettino has no option but to go for Jan Vertonghen and Davinson Sanchez as the centre-back pairing. Ben Davies has been impressive in the past two seasons, and he will start ahead of Danny Rose. The manager at least has the luxury of starting Serge Aurier over Kieran Tripper as he looks fit and raring to go.
Midfield
Mousa Dembele will resume his duties in the middle of the park. He would be partnered by Moussa Sissoko, a player who wasn’t picked by France at the World Cup and therefore missed a chance to be called a World Cup winner.
Attacking and creative impetus from midfield will come from Christian Eriksen, Lucas Moura and Son Heung Min. Eriksen has been one of the most critical players in Pochettino’s current setup, and in the absence of his usual partner Dele Alli, he should have more responsibilities on his shoulder. Lucas Moura, who moved in January, will get a look into the team and would be expected to start from the right flank.
Attack
World Cup Golden Boot winner Harry Kane is expected to have no breather, and he should be leading the line from the first game. Kane often finds it tough to get going from the start as he has a dubious record of never scoring in August for Tottenham. He has played around 900 minutes of football in that period over the course of 9 seasons without scoring.
