Remembering [Tottenham Hotspur](https://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com)’s schedule for December is easy — across three competitions, Spurs will play every Sunday and Thursday this month, starting with the draw against Fulham. With players seemingly dropping out injured in every match and prolonged recovery timelines for others, this stretch promises to be a grind.
Thursday’s trip to the South Coast exemplifies this challenge. Bournemouth is a decent yet beatable Premier League side, though Tottenham’s unpredictable form makes that distinction somewhat irrelevant. With Chelsea looming on the weekend and another Europa League fixture next week, a win on Thursday feels important. However, given personnel limitations and ongoing inconsistencies, another adventurous outing seems likely.
### Bournemouth (13th, 18pts) vs. Tottenham Hotspur (t-8th, 20pts)
**Date**: Thursday, December 5
**Time**: 3:15 pm ET, 8:15 pm UK
**Location**: Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth
**TV**: USA Network (US), Amazon Prime Video (UK)
The Cherries sit just below mid-table with a goal difference of +1, a fitting spot given how they have fared the past couple seasons. However, they have had some excitement this year, claiming one of Arsenal’s two defeats in the league and taking down Manchester City (though that seems to be less impressive by the day).
Tottenham has won three of the last four meetings in this fixture, including two consecutive wins at the Vitality Stadium. Last season’s visit came in Matchweek 2, with James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski scoring in a clean-sheet victory. The sides met again on New Year’s Eve with the home side claiming a 3-1 win in North London.
### Identity mirage
Tottenham’s lack of lineup consistency under Ange Postecoglou has been glaring but not surprising. Injuries and fatigue necessitate rotations, while Postecoglou also continues to tinker with his available resources in search of solutions. The result is a WLWLWLWD streak in the league with no reprieve expected soon.
One player who Postecoglou could really use back is former Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke, and he looks to be trending in the right direction. The Cherries are actually fifth in xGA, but have conceded multiple goals in their past three matches. Matches against Palace, Ipswich, and Fulham featured a total of four Tottenham goals, while the recent wins have seen Spurs put in three-plus. Obviously scoring more goals makes a win more likely, but it has been all or nothing in terms of attacking production, so taking advantage of the home side’s form is crucial.
### Makeshift putting in a shift
The Fraser Forster-Ben Davies-Radu Dragușin trio conceded just one goal against Fulham and will likely start again on Thursday. Bournemouth, ninth in goals scored but fifth in xG, will test their cohesion, and while Forster played admirably over the weekend, relying on him to consistently deliver above-average performances feels risky.
Davies and Dragușin must contend with Bournemouth’s aggressive attackers, including Justin Kluivert, Evanilson, and Antoine Semenyo, who thrive on charging at defenses, especially at home. If Tottenham’s defense holds — which is far from guaranteed — this could open opportunities on the counter. Spurs can exploit the Cherries’ pressing and openness, but with chances likely at both ends, Thursday’s match could really go any way.