Tottenham versus Tottenham: Creating two starting lineups

Tottenham Hotspur attack

There are two keys for the Tottenham attack, one is to get numbers against the opposition and the more Spurs can rely on just one of the two in the pivot to sit allowing the other to attack, the more often five players will be involved, which is ideal for the offense.

We know Harry Kane is the tip of the sword for one team, playing the striker role. Of course, who that other striker would be for the second XI is a mystery. While any of Son Heung-min, Steven Bergwijn, or Lucas Moura in theory can and have played in that role, the reality is Tottenham only have ONE recognized first-team striker on the squad in Kane. So, no matter who is left from the attackers to lead the second line, it is not a striker and necessitates changes to the attack. This is STILL a major hole and MUST be addressed prior to the season.

Outside of the questions around who can replace, support, supplement, dare I say supplant Harry Kane, it’s who is going to sit in the hole behind him. It used to be easy to say that was Dele Alli and despite his renaissance for part of last season, the idea of penciling Dele in as a nailed starter has not existed for nearly two seasons.

So, who plays in that role support the striker and surging the attack, my money is still on Dele Alli, however, I would think we will see quite a bit of Giovani Lo Celso or Erik Lamela in that role as well and maybe even some of Bergwijn. The starting wings seem clear in Moura and Son, with Bergwijn the one known back-up there.

Spurs have Kane, Dele, Lucas, and Son leading one line and then Lo Celso, Bergwijn, and Lamela on the other, without a striker. This means we now move Bergwijn up to striker, push Lamela out to the left, Lo Celso central and give some minutes to young Jack Clarke. Maybe this ends up being Gedson or Sessegnon playing here as well, splitting times as wingbacks and wings, but for simplicity, we will call it Clarke.

Spurs’ two squad XIs

Here are the two sides:

Side 1

Keeper – Lloris

Defense – Aurier, Alderweireld, Sanchez, Davies

Midfield – Hojbjerg, Winks

Attack – Son, Dele, Moura, Kane

Side 2

Keeper – Hart

Defense – Gedson, Foyth, Dier, Tanganga

Midfield – Sissoko, Ndombele

Attack – Clarke, Lo Celso, Lamela, Bergwijn

Bench

Gazzaniga, Whiteman, Rose, Carter-Vickers

What do you think, can Tottenham legitimately field two competitive XIs, or at least competitive enough to compete in the League Cup and Europa League qualifying with a second team?

Can Spurs makeshift a second striker again? Is Gazzaniga third string to Joe Hart? Lots to talk about, but hopefully we discuss some new transfers first.