Spurs travel to Doncaster in the 2nd round of the Carling Cup, for once with the manager not having a gun to his head, following a terrible start to a season. In the last couple of years, both Martin Jol and Juande Ramos have used the competition as a means to buy a result by playing a full strength side in must win games, for both the club and their own jobs.
This time Harry has the comfort of three straight league wins and perhaps the luxury that we can make changes and take risks, without the fear of condemnation should we go out of the cup early.
With Spurs so far retaining a settled starting eleven, I would expect at least a few changes tonight and wouldn`t have any complaints if we played a team made up of squad players and rested the “best” for Birmingham at the weekend, in what is a far more important fixture all of the sudden, but at least for the right reasons.
Spurs will certainly rest Ledley King and look to give games to the likes of Crouch, Pavlyuchenko, Bentley and several more international players, yet to start a Prem game. The interesting thing tonight is how far Harry is prepared to go and will he stick with a core of his side and mix it with squad players or simply play the rest and have a strong bench of those who have played the opening games?
Defence is again the key area for selection, with only Bassong and Corluka as established (to a point) centre backs, will Harry give then both playing time tonight and risk injury or look at Chimbonda and/or Dervite to fill one or both places? Cudicini, will probably get the nod over the inexperienced Button, but should he suffer any injury we have problems and I would feel a little happier in giving Button a debut.
With Hutton the likely starter at right back, It will be interesting to see who plays on the left, with Ekotto, surely deserving a rest and be wrapped in cotton wool for the next game. Harry may look to play either Naughton or Chimbonda, depending on whether he is in a position to play and perhaps being cup-tied may well upset Blackburn if the transfer in well advanced. Another option could be Jamie O`Hara at left back where he has impressed pre-season and for England U-21s.
It would be great to see both David Bentley and Giovani Dos Santos get 90 minutes and in resting Lennon and Luka, it makes sense on all counts. Similarly with Wilson and Hudd in the centre, we have options, in Jamie, KPB or Danny Rose, so I certainly expect one to be rested.
The reality is that tonight could well be the last time we see Roman Pavlyuchenko in a Spurs shirt, if we believe the rumours that he wants to leave, a pairing with Peter Crouch will certainly be a “tall” order for Doncaster and former Spurs keeper, David Sullivan, but could be perfect targets for Bentley and Gio to aim for.
After two straight finals, the Cup has great memories for Spurs fans and I would not like them to throw this game away with a lacklustre performance, but with so many players fighting for places, I hope we see another game where we show the same commitment and quality as we have seen in our opening three games. Players like Crouch and Hutton will see this as a real opportunity to show their worthy of a starting place at the weekend and although it is “only” Doncaster, it is an opportunity that they have to take with both hands.
Despite Doncaster drawing three and losing one of their opening four Championship games, we have to consider that the opposition has been from teams likely to be expecting play offs as a minimum target. An away draw at Watford, was a respectable start, while home draws against Preston and Coventry and an away defeat to Middlesbrough are not too disappointing considering the form of the opposition, in a league where Rovers are not expected to shine.
Whatever Spurs team is selected, we should be expected to win. Barring an inspired Rovers showing or a poor game from us, we should be looking to go into round three with relative ease, as have the other Prem sides so far. With mass team change, there is always a risk that things won`t click, but if we can`t win tonight, we perhaps don`t deserve to progress and some of the players cannot expect to gain a first team opportunity as a result, so a good showing is vital on many levels.
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