Two unsatisfactory performances thus far, but two wins is better than no wins. There’s no disguising though that both outings have been more of a struggle than we’d have hoped for. It’s very early days obviously but so far there’s not much sign that much has changed – we’ve struggled creatively and have looked unsure at the back.
There have been positives; we have showed a bit of spine to get both wins, Capoue and Dier did ok at West Ham where Lamela also looked more like a grown up than a callow youth. The latter was excellent in Cyprus of course and Bentaleb and Kane were good in both games. Kane will probably only get a start at the moment if the manager changes formation, Adebayor should retain his place for QPR despite his current two main rivals for the lead marksman role both scoring on Thursday. He’ll be aware of the promising start to the season young Harry has made.
Elsewhere on Sunday, Eriksen, Lamela, Capoue and Bentaleb will probably make up four fifths of the midfield but Townsend has made a case to start instead of Lennon. The absence of Naughton and Walker means either Dier or Fredericks at right back. Size or pace? Which is more useful against Junior Hoillet or whoever is chosen to lead QPR down the left. Kaboul and Vertonghen is the obvious pairing in the middle if both are fit, the Frenchman really has to up his game though, he was very poor last week. I’d prefer to see Davies start than Rose; he’s just a disaster waiting to happen in my book.
It’s the return of Redknapp of course. It’s over two years now since he was called in by Levy and told it was time to pack his stuff. It seems a lot longer than that, there’s no doubt that our star has fallen since he went. Harry quite rightly will point to his time as the most successful at Spurs in recent times, Levy would respond with accusations of favouritism on the field and behind the scenes, some very strange winter transfer window signings and the legacy of an unbalanced squad. Us punters will in al likelihood never know the full reasons for his departure after finishing fourth for the second time in three seasons.
QPR started slowly with a loss at home to Hull and Harry’s already responded with another couple of visits to the transfer market this week, Leroy Fer & Eduardo Vargas joining Isla, Caulker, Ferdinand and Mutch in the summer shopping bag. The R’s played three at the back last weekend with Richard Dunne joining the two new centre halves in the middle. There are plenty of familiar faces elsewhere with even Joey Barton getting a game. Loic Remy will start up front (unless we sign him before then) and they’ve got Bobby Zamora on the bench ready to come on and prove once more that he never has a bad game against us.
Behind another good result the thing we should be most looking out for is an improvement on last week. Better passing and possession, fewer nerve jangling moments at the back and hopefully more of the pressing and energy we were expecting from Pochettino. Three at the back should hopefully mean more space down the flanks. A good display in the first home game of the season with a good tempo and result would crank everyone’s optimism dial up a notch or two.
The referee is Anthony Taylor. COYS.
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