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Three Looming Questions Before Next Tottenham Match

By Justin Cober-Lake

A banner reads "Come on you Spurs' as fans wait for kick off in the the English League Cup final football match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley Stadium, northwest London on April 25, 2021. - - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by CARL RECINE / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by CARL RECINE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
A banner reads "Come on you Spurs' as fans wait for kick off in the the English League Cup final football match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley Stadium, northwest London on April 25, 2021. - - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by CARL RECINE / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by CARL RECINE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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After their disappointing Carabao Cup Final, Tottenham and interim manager Ryan Mason desperately need a quick bounce back performance.

Dropping any points against cellar dwellers Sheffield United likely ends Tottenham’s chances at qualifying for Europe next season. The team’s had time to recover but we all know too well that anything can happen on match day. Here’s three looming questions, the answers of which will become more clear after Sunday’s fixture.

1. Can Son Heung-min bounce back?

Son’s energetic play and goal-scoring contribution is essential to Spurs success. In the Carabao Cup Final, though, he disappeared and contributed to his side’s overall sloppiness. At the end of the game he was understandably devastated. Fortunately the South Korean has had a week to recover and find the right attacking mindset for Sunday’s tilt. With encouragement from Harry Kane, he should be more than ready to redeem himself. Expect to see a standout performance from Son this weekend. If not it may indicate how the rest of the season will go.

2. Can Ryan Mason separate himself from Jose Mourinho?

Before yesterday it felt likely that the Spurs were going to sign Erik Ten Hag as their new manager. With his contract at Ajax extended, the chances of Ryan Mason being appointed more permanently have increased, though remain incredibly unlikely.

If he wants to lock up that spot, though, Mason will need to put together something different than a Mourinho-like performance, beginning with the starting XI. The lineup almost certainly won’t look the same as it did against Manchester City, and it likely won’t look the same as it did when the Spurs met Sheffield United a few months ago, a game that saw them use a 3-4-3 formation.

Regardless of what Mason does with his roster, the key element to look for is his willingness to do something distinct. Will Dele Alli play (maybe even as a 10)? Can he put together a lineup and develop an attitude that pushes Tottenham forward?

3. Will Harry Kane win the Golden Boot?

The battle for the Golden Boot has essentially come down to two players, Harry Kane and Liverpool’s Mo Salah. Kane has 21 goals and leads Salah by the most slender of margins.

The chance for Kane to win his third Golden Boot while taking individual plaudits for most assists — a combination never achieved before in the Premier League — is a great individual incentive for Spurs’ ace. But qualifying for Europe will be Kane’s focus, an achievement that will help keep Kane at Tottenham for at least another season.

Next. Tottenham formation and team Ryan Mason should start with vs Sheffield United. dark

Hopefully the answers to these questions will become more clear after Sunday’s must-win game against the Premier League’s stomping boys.