da lvbet： Tottenham Hotspur have, through their continued European disasters, ended up with only domestic football on the schedule for the closing weeks of the season. This weekend, their domestic campaign takes them into FA Cup quarter-final action against bitter London rivals Millwall, and while we can hope that the rivalry does not go beyond friendly chanting, the on-pitch action should be intriguing.
da 888： Spurs have a top four push to continue in the league, which may force Mauricio Pochettino to rest some of his star players. Although silverware is most certainly a priority for Spurs this season, the building of their new stadium and failure to make the knockout stages this season elevate the importance of Champions League qualification.
FA Cup glory won’t bring the riches of the premium European competition, but Spurs need to prove they have the squad depth to win trophies to avoid falling into the ‘top four is a trophy’ cycle.
Their fringe players need to step up, and here are THREE options for Millwall…
Harry Winks
The latest starlet to be nurtured to a key squad member by Mauricio Pochettino, Harry Winks has come on leaps and bounds this season. A smooth retainer of possession with the vision to create in the final third, Winks is the type of player who could be key in breaking down Millwall, especially if Pochettino opts to rest Christian Eriksen.
Winks has made 30 appearances this season, albeit mainly as a substitute, and has worked his way into the mainstream of Spurs’ squad. A tidy, hard-working midfielder, he can function in a number of midfield roles, making him a vital member of the squad.
Moussa Sissoko
Few players suffer the same criticism that Moussa Sissoko does. Not all of the vitriol fired in his direction is necessarily fair, but the inconsistency of his performances naturally infuriate fans and pundits alike. His displays for France this summer went some way to justifying his lofty price tag, yet not a single display this season has come close to that level.
Spurs, despite talk of a complex deal with Newcastle that could see the Lilywhites pay a lot less than expected for Sissoko, are not in a position to cut their losses on the Frenchman. He needs more opportunities and Pochettino needs to find a way to bring out his summer performances.
Vincent Janssen
Harry Kane is up there with the world’s best strikers, now Spurs just need a back-up adequate to lace his boots. Although Janssen’s link-up and hold-up play have impressed at times this season, his abysmal record in front of goal is making a summer sale likely.
Janssen may well be given a chance from the start against Millwall. He should be starting the match if Pochettino has any faith in his future as a Tottenham player, not appearing in this match would be tantamount to acceptance that he is out of the club in the summer. Chances are few and far between as second fiddle to Kane, its time Janssen finally takes one of them.