Tottenham: Bergwijn and Doherty get their shot vs West Ham

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 02: Ben Davies, Oliver Skipp and Eric Dier of Tottenham Hotspur after the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Brentford at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on December 2, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 02: Ben Davies, Oliver Skipp and Eric Dier of Tottenham Hotspur after the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Brentford at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on December 2, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Tottenham Hotspur has dropped the starting XI for their quarter-final matchup with West Ham United and a little rotation has given a few squad players a chance.

Having played on Sunday, some rotation was expected in Antonio Conte‘s Tottenham team, which sees Steven Bergwijn and Matt Doherty as two players getting their shot, in the Carabao Cup quarter-final against West Ham.

Bergwijn and Doherty among Tottenham starters

After recovering from Covid it is not all that surprising that Heung-min Son is starting the Carabao Cup from the bench. As a result, Steven Bergwijn gets a big opportunity to show himself for his current manager or even his future manager as rumours swirl about his future.

Having missed Spurs’ last European match Bergwijn has not had much of an opportunity under Conte and needs to show something today.

Alternatively, Matt Doherty has seen some minutes under Conte, and with him playing in front of Japhet Tanganga and Emerson Royal – who started Sunday but is on the bench today- that may say something about the Irishman’s standing with Conte. Playing in the position he was known for at Wolves, right wingback, Doherty needs to be an impact player today as well.

Other notes on the Spurs team

The normal starting midfield for Tottenham under Antonio Conte – Pierre Hojbjerg and Oliver Skipp – is back in the middle of the park. This tells us Spurs are likely in a 3-4-3 formation as opposed to the 3-5-2 they ran against Liverpool on the weekend.

Harry Kane and Lucas Moura are the two running upfront with the recalled Bergwijn. Additionally, Sergio Reguilon is back in the starting XI after Ryan Sessegnon picked up a knock.

Hugo Lloris is the captain and is playing in front of Pierluigi Gollini, who like Hojbjerg is returning from an extended bout of Covid. Lloris is playing behind the same back three – Davinson Sanchez, Eric Dier, and Ben Davies – who faced the Reds Sunday.

Sunday stars Dele Alli and Harry Winks are both on the bench, along with Tanguy Ndombele, Giovani Lo Celso, and Joe Rodon.

What do you think of this team? What would you have done differently?

Next. Tottenham has unfinished business with West Ham and Carabao Cup. dark