Tottenham versus Tottenham: Creating two starting lineups

With the impending fixture congestion awaiting Tottenham Hotspur across the start of the season, Spurs need two complete XIs to compete, but do they have it?

Normally a squad does not need to be 22 deep and even with the expanded rosters from the end run of last season, only 20 players could be on the team sheet at once. However, after the abrupt stop and start from the 2019-20 season, already the 2020-21 season is not a normal season.

Add in the twin qualifying campaigns that will soon commence in the Europa League and League Cup with the potential for matches on back-to-back nights; suddenly Tottenham Hotspur looks like a team in need of two XIs. And with a back-to-back this weekend in preseason, now is the time to consider fielding two squads.

Please note: I have not included youth/academy players in this assessment, only players in the senior first-team squad.

Who is available for Tottenham right now?

Assuming injuries are not an issue and the requisite quarantines are completed, Tottenham Hotspur should have enough players to create two full sides within the team. If you look at Spurs’ first-team on the website, there are some 27 players listed – not including Oliver Skipp who is on loan at Norwich. With 27 players they should be okay, but then you realize four of those 27 are keepers in Hugo Lloris, Joe Hart, Paulo Gazzaniga, and Alife Whiteman.

So, we are now down to 23 field players to occupy 20 slots, which should be okay, but then will Cameron Carter-Vickers, Jack Clarke, and Danny Rose be on the team in two weeks – as all were loaned out last season?

Let us just assume all three stay and play for Jose Mourinho and Spurs for the sake of conversation, knowing any of the three could be gone and maybe someone new would be in their place. Of course, the same could be said for Serge Aurier and Tanguy Ndombele, but they were both in the squad last season and are Spurs until we are otherwise notified.

Here is the breakdown of our 27 players by position:

Goalkeeper: Hugo Lloris, Joe Hart, Paulo Gazzaniga, and Alfie Whiteman

Fullback: Danny Rose and Serge Aurier

Center-half: Toby Alderweireld, Davinson Sanchez, Eric Dier, and Cameron Carter-Vickers

Miscellaneous Defender: Juan Foyth, Ben Davies, and Japhet Tanganga

Midfielder: Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Harry Winks, Moussa Sissoko, Giovanni Lo Celso, Ryan Sessegnon, Tanguy Ndombele, and Gedson Fernandes

Attack: Heung-Min Son, Harry Kane, Erik Lamela, Dele Alli, Steven Bergwijn, Lucas Moura, and Jack Clarke

Given that roster, here are the two sides broken down by Defense, Midfield, and Offense.