Tottenham Hotspur begins their European campaign in earnest, with their first Conference League Group Stage match at Rennes, here are the XI Nuno is likely to start.
Managing the load is the name of the game right now for Nuno Espirito Santo and Tottenham Hotspur. Injuries and the Covid enforced absences of six key players means Tottenham will potentially go deeper into the team than they have so far in this young season. Ultimately, we will learn a lot about both Santo and Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday, and based on what we know of Nuno thus far, here are our projected XI for the trip to Rennes.
Pierluigi Gollini is back in the saddle for Spurs
Pierluigi Gollini was signed in the summer to be competition or even the ear apparent for Hugo Lloris at N17. Gollini was okay in the preseason and then gave up one goal over two matches against Pacos de Ferreira in the Europa Conference League playoff qualifiers.
Given the team is back in a non-league competition, it seems likely that Gollini will be back between the sticks for the Spurs. The only reason not to start Gollini and use Lloris would be because the game is in France but that is not a really compelling reason.
Gollini needs the minutes and he is likely to get a lot of work, given Rennes’ desire to press, pressure, and dominate possession. To get a clean sheet in this one, Gollini might have to make three or even four big saves as the defense in front of him is going to be a mixed group, given injuries and absence.
Ultimately, for Gollini to seriously push Lloris for that #1 role on the team, it is going to take some brilliant performances, Thursday should be a real opportunity for Gollini to do that.
Tottenham projected starting defense
It is in the defense where Tottenham is facing the most missing players. Davinson Sanchez and Cristian Romero are both still out from their National team duties in South America. Then this past weekend Eric Dier was injured, leaving the team particularly short in the center of defense. Given the need to cover for missing pieces, while keeping Chelsea in mind, here is the Spurs defense.
Left fullback: Ben Davies
Ben Davies was in a difficult position over the weekend. Brought on at the last second instead of Bryan Gil as a result of Japhet Tanganga‘s red card. Instead of bringing on Bryan and adding attack, Davies came on to try and help fill in at center-back, given neither of the starters was still in the match. The handball was a bad play and surely Davies wants to make amends, getting his first chance Thursday in France.
Left center back: Joe Rodon
Joe Rodon’s development and ability may be the reason Tottenham did not sign a second center-back this past summer after Romero. Rodon came on for Dier at Palace after not playing a minute since Euro 2020 back in July and did a fine job overall. After getting more than an hour on the pitch, Rodon should be ready to help lead the line.
Right center back: Japhet Tanganga
Japhet Tanganga started at this position against Crystal Palace and did well overall, until his rash three minutes and early exit. The second challenge probably should not have gotten the yellow as he clearly had pulled out of the challenge but Jonathan Moss likes to make a statement and Tanganga got his walking papers. If other options were available in this position it would be a good time to push Tanganga back out wide, however, none are available and Tanganga gets a second straight start at center-half.
Right fullback: Matt Doherty
Like Gollini, Matt Doherty seems destined to play mostly in the non-league competitions for Tottenham this season. While it might not be a bad idea to get Emerson some more experience with the team, given he will likely go 90 on Sunday, Doherty gets the nod on Thursday. More likely than Davies to push forward, Tottenham can likely get away with the Davies Doherty fullback combination because Jeremy Doku is unlikely to play.
Goalkeeper: Pierluigi Gollini
Gollini gets his third official start with the team and will be looking to have a big game. Tottenham will need some leadership on defense, a vocal, box-controlling Gollini could really help with that.
Tottenham projected midfield
Tottenham clearly has some issues in the midfield in terms of finding the right balance of defensive graft and offensive creativity. Thus far in the regular season, the right combination has been difficult to identify. Given the presence of some new players in the midfield for Tottenham on Thursday, maybe some performers will rise.
Left midfield: Tanguy Ndombele
Tanguy Ndombele has not received a single minute with Tottenham Hotspur since Jose Mourinho was let go back before the Carabao Cup final. Given no move away from London materialized in the summer Ndombele was added to the squad for both Europe and the Premier League. Given he is in the squad and made the trip, it is time for Tanguy to play. Like Dele Alli, possibly the inability to really find the right position has been one of the factors holding him back. However, in a more traditional midfield three, being asked to play the number eight role, in his home country, we may finally see Ndombele again.
Center midfield: Harry Winks
This is not the call I really want Tottenham to make, rather I think it is the call they are going to make. With Skipp coming off a knock over the break and Chelsea at the weekend, it just seems right that WInks gets the call as the deepest of the three midfielders. The reality is, it will continue to take injuries – like we saw last week – for Winks to get playing time in the league so, like many others in the side, he is a non-league player for Spurs and thus starts Thursday.
Right midfield: Pierre Hojberg
There is any number of players who could get the call from Nile John to Dylan Markanday or even Dele Alli, but Hojbjerg gets the call on Thursday. This is because Nuno is more conservative as a coach and he wants that second defensive-minded midfielder on the pitch from the off. Hojbjerg was not great against Palace, and the Spurs need him right for Chelseas, so the Viking goes.
Tottenham projected offense
Besides the defense, the offense is the most impacted area of the team in terms of injuries and absences. Steven Bergwijn is back from injury and should be available but superstar Heung-Min Son remains out. Our ultimate hope would be that Tottenham would go young in the attack, but we do not find that likely.
Left forward: Steven Bergwijn
As much as we really want to start Bryan Gil, we think with Steven Bergwijn back and the need to get Bergwijn right, he gets to start on Thursday. Bergwijn has been the most attack-minded player for Tottenham thus far this season and leads the team in creating shooting opportunities. A strong hour before Chelsea would do wonders for the Dutchman’s confidence.
Center forward: Harry Kane
Tottenham is going to take the game seriously if for nothing else than to relieve some pressure later in the campaign. Kane is the best bet for the team getting out to an early lead and then limiting his minutes in the second half. Kane should get a couple of opportunities and will be looking to get back in the goals on Thursday.
Right forward: Lucas Moura
Tottenham’s Brazilian attacker will be on the right side of the team on Thursday. With both Bergwijn and Moura on either side of Kane, this makes for a particularly strong line-up. The idea here is that one of the two, Bergwijn or Moura is likely to warm up a bit in this match and the one playing the best will keep the starting role come the weekend and the visit from the Blues. Moura has been a relatively consistent driving force for the team this season and will want to look to nail a permanent starting role down.
Tottenham full XI and substitutes
The Tottenham XI is very strong based on the idea that Tottenham needs to win this game and get some positive energy heading into the weekend London Derby. While the team could zig the other way and go all young, the idea of playing to win is what we all want to see.
Tottenham Substitutes Bench
The bench has both youth and a little experience on it but is mostly a younger group, led by Bryan Gil and Dane Scarlett. Those two are joined by Jack Clarke to provide any attacking reserves. Dele Alli, Oliver Skipp, and Dylan Markanday provide midfield depth, and then Sergio Reguilon, Emerson Royal, and Hugo Lloris round out the defense for the full nine on the pine.
Spurs Starters
Gollini, Davies, Rodon, Tanganga, Doherty, Ndombele, Winks, Hojberg, Bergwijn, Kane, Lucas
Substitutes
Skipp, Bryan, Scarlett, Clarke, Reguilon, Emerson, Dele, Markanday, Lloris