Tottenham host Bournemouth at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the Premier League on Sunday
Tottenham Hotspur fans have endured a season littered with disappointment. Just when things were starting to get better in the Premier League, Manchester City ended their three-game winning run before AZ Alkmaar beat them 1-0 in the first leg of the Europa League last-16 tie on Thursday evening.
It was an underwhelming display in the Netherlands in midweek, with a Lucas Bergvall own goal eventually becoming the difference between the two sides. They now have 90 minutes to overcome the Eredivisie side and advance to the quarter-finals of the Europa League. However, before that they face Bournemouth at home on Sunday, which BBC Sport pundit Chris Sutton expects to end in a 2-2 draw.
Ange Postecoglou is expected to ring changes following a quick turnaround. With several players returning to the squad in recent weeks from injury problems, the Australian tactician now has options to shuffle his squad and keep some of his key players fresh for next week’s return leg of the Europa League last-16 tie.
Mikey Moore backed to replace James Maddison at Tottenham.
Mikey Moore was an unused substitute against AZ Alkmaar
Dominic Solanke returned from months out with a knee problem against AZ Alkmaar as a substitute but suffered another injury setback, picking up a knock on his back in the closing stages of the game. This has left questions marks over Solanke’s availability against his former employers.
Son Heung-min, Mathys Tel and Brennan Johnson barely offered anything in attack in the first half, while Wilson Odobert struggled to make an impact after coming off the bench. Thus, Spurs podcast Lilywhite Rose owner John Wenham thinks Ange Postecoglou will make changes to his side and hand Mikey Moore a start against Andoni Iraola’s side.
“I think we could see Mikey Moore start against Bournemouth,” John Wenham exclusively told Tottenham News.
“That front three who started against AZ Alkmaar cannot start as a front three again. That has got to be the end of those players playing together. We’ve seen it a few times now, and that front three just doesn’t work.
“It is like starting eight players against 11. They’re not offering any attacking outlet, they’re not taking it past players, they’re not creating chances for each other. However, they’re also not winning the ball back, which means the opposition defenders are just camped in our half and applying constant pressure.
“Those three cannot start together again and if that means major changes against Bournemouth, with Moore coming in, then so be it.”
Big Ange will be desperate for a reaction from his boys against Bournemouth
Mikey Moore was an unused substitute in midweek, as Big Ange opted for experienced players off the bench to help Tottenham get a result. However, that didn’t happen as AZ held onto their 1-0 lead and will take it to North London next Thursday.
The return of forwards such as Odobert, Johnson and Solanke has provided a timely boost to the squad but negatively impacted Moore’s game time. The academy starlet from Southwark has had a tough season, with a bad virus limiting him to just 16 appearances across all competitions. As the focus will be on the return leg against AZ, Big Ange is expected to give his big-hitters some rest and give players like Moore a chance to impress from the onset.
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If he gets an opportunity to start, the teenager should grab it with both hands and help Tottenham prevail over Bournemouth.