Hull vs. Tottenham Hotspur: How Spurs Should Line Up in EPL Game

Thomas CooperNov 21, 2014

The international break has meant Tottenham Hotspur have had to dwell on their disappointing performance to Stoke City last time out for longer than they would have liked.

The 2-1 home defeat left Mauricio Pochettino's side 12th in the Premier League, and in close proximity to either end of the table. Sunday's visit to Hull City is the latest opportunity to instigate some momentum in a campaign beset by inconsistency.

Based on evaluations of recent individual performances and subsequently recognised areas in need of addressing, the following article looks at how Spurs should line up for the game.

Ultimately, the selection decisions are this writer's opinion. At the time of writing there has not been official availability confirmation from Tottenham.

First up, we start at the back.

Goalkeeper and Defence

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Younes Kaboul should keep his place in the Spurs team for now, but he needs to lead an improved showing from the defence.

Hugo Lloris will be in goal for Tottenham against Hull City. Nothing has changed in the quality of his performances to suggest he should not be.

Who you believe should be in front of him in defence depends on what school of thought you subscribe to.

Should Pochettino make changes to a leaky defence frequently undermining itself with poor concentration and communication? Or does he try to remedy these problems with a consistent selection policy that allows his defenders to establish a familiarity which should aid their work?

Well, the latter is going to be partly difficult at Hull. Previous starting right-back Kyle Naughton is suspended, while PhysioRoom.com currently has left-back Danny Rose as doubtful.

Eric Dier coming in for Naughton is no problem. The versatile 20-year-old has proven himself more than capable this season.

As for Rose possibly missing out, his replacement Ben Davies is probably due a proper Premier League run-out. The Welshman's performances in cup games have steadily picked up over the course of the campaign. Having been caught out for goals in both of Spurs' last two games there is a case to be made for Rose stepping back for the moment regardless.

Where Pochettino can and should implement some consistency is in central defence.

His decision to drop Jan Vertonghen in favour of Federico Fazio did not pay off against Stoke. Arguing for a switch back might sound contradictory, but the Belgian's longer relationship with Younes Kaboul has shown in Spurs' better defensive work this season.

Kaboul has rarely shone this season, still too often a tad distrait. Nonetheless, his status as captain and the responsibilities that entails warrants him retaining his place for the time being.

Beginning with Hull, Spurs have a three-game league stretch also taking in Everton and Chelsea. By the end of that run Kaboul will have had ample opportunity to prove if he deserves to keep his place and title. Or, alternatively, if a change of leadership needs to be made.

Midfield

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Benjamin Stambouli has played well enough in cup games to earn a Premier League start.

Etienne Capoue and Ryan Mason have been Tottenham's central midfield partnership since the Englishman broke into the first-team in late-September.

Together they have worked hard to provide a reliable and solid core in their head coach's 4-2-3-1 formation. At times they have been highly effective—notably against Arsenal and Southampton—less so in other games.

Mason has adjusted well to top-flight football. He has shown good awareness at both ends, as well as energy levels and a desire to direct Spurs into positive positions on the pitch lacking from his team-mates. He should keep his place for Hull—and barring a drastic drop in performance—for the next few weeks.

Working with more defensive responsibility, it has not been easy for Capoue to protect his defence in such an attacking setup—though his efforts have been commendable. The time has come, however, where Spurs need more aggressiveness in midfield.

Benjamin Stambouli has yet to start in the Premier League since his transfer from Montpellier. In a similar fashion to Mason, though, he has been one of Spurs' more committed performers in the Europa League and Capital One Cup. He is not afraid to make a tackle, or to drive his team forward.

In large part he provides characteristics missing since the departure of Sandro to Queens Park Rangers (at least when the Brazilian was fit).

He and Mason might take a little time to work out the balance of their partnership. Stambouli is more defensively inclined, but he is not shy to get on the ball and go on a run. The Frenchman would have to be careful not to do so at the expense of leaving his defence exposed, especially as Mason likes to push on too.

The chief appeal of these two teaming up lies in the combined fighting spirit they could bring. An attribute Tottenham need more of for sure, both against Hull and in the long-run.

Attack

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Erik Lamela and Harry Kane will look more cheerful if they start against Hull on Sunday.

In addition to imposing themselves on the Tigers in midfield, the Tottenham attack will be keen to give their defence plenty to think about, too.

Spurs have not scored more than twice in a Premier League game since beating Queens Park Rangers 4-0 in August. The common thread that links that game with Spurs' best other attacking work—again, against Arsenal and Southampton, and in spells elsewhere—has been the teaming up of Nacer Chadli, Christian Eriksen and Erik Lamela behind a lone front-man in Pochettino's preferred 4-2-3-1 formation.

It has not always worked, as evident in Spurs' league position and results. Mostly, though, the team has looked at its most purposeful and creative in the hunt for goals when they have been playing.

This writer has argued for Eriksen being dropped back further into midfield since September. It would allow him a bigger canvas to work on, while also allowing Lamela more space to operate in further forward. Such an understanding naturally emerged in the Saints win and the two were at arguably their most effective this season.

Pochettino has given no indication he is going to sanction such a tweak against Hull. So at the very least, Eriksen and Lamela being reunited with Chadli should get Spurs back to the formula missing from the last two league games in which the Argentina international did not start.

It would also benefit Harry Kane up-front to have a supporting trio well honed in their combinations.

While things did not work out for the striker in his first league start of 2014-15 against Stoke, the reasoning for him getting more playing time has not gone away. He scored another two goals for England under-21s this week, and all-things considered he has looked Spurs' most well-rounded forward this autumn.

With Emmanuel Adebayor underwhelming and Roberto Soldado's finishing still off (albeit not helped by him not playing), Kane deserves to be leading the Spurs front line for now.