Solanke, Spence and Gray start, no Romero - The Tottenham team Postecoglou must pick vs Coventry
Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham team have the opportunity to immediately bounce back from their North London Derby defeat when they take on Coventry City on Wednesday evening. Coming up against the Championship outfit in the third round of the Carabao Cup, the game takes place at the CBS Arena.
Tottenham exited the Carabao Cup at the first time of asking 13 months ago and they will be keen to avoid a repeat scenario this time around. Many were critical of Postecoglou's wholesale changes away at Fulham and all eyes will be on how many alterations the Australian makes for the tie against Mark Robins' side.
So how exactly should Tottenham line up against Coventry? Our Tottenham writers at football.london have had their say below.
Alasdair Gold - Tottenham Hotspur correspondent
Ange Postecoglou needs to strike that delicate balance between giving players minutes to ensure his entire squad is happy and sharp if called upon, while not putting the team in a precarious position to compete in a potential banana skin of a game at the CBS Arena.
Radu Dragusin needs to play and Postecoglou must decide whether Djed Spence, after his Europa League exclusion, should join him as well as potentially the experienced Ben Davies.
Archie Gray could also come into the team, having played 52 games last season in the Championship and faced Coventry home and away. He played in those matches for Leeds as a right-back and Postecoglou must decide whether to switch out the entire back four or play the youngster in midfield.
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Rodrigo Bentancur could get another chance to play with a potential ban on the horizon, while Pape Matar Sarr and Wilson Odobert will likely come in as well. Lucas Bergvall will be pushing for a start while Timo Werner could also come into the team and Postecoglou will be keen to give youngster Mikey Moore minutes from the bench.
Gold's team: Forster; Spence, Dragusin, Van de Ven, Davies; Gray, Bentancur, Sarr; Odobert, Solanke, Werner.
Rob Guest - Football writer
Coventry may have endured a bit of a mixed start to the 2024/25 season but Tottenham cannot underestimate them at all as they are a very good team. While the game does give Ange Postecoglou the opportunity to rotate ahead of a busy few weeks with the team set to return to Europa League action next week, it's about getting the balance just right as Tottenham must go through in this game and avoid a potential cup shock.
For that reason, Guglielmo Vicario starts in goal rather than handing one of Fraser Forster or Brandon Austin a rare opportunity between the sticks. Micky van de Ven and Destiny Udogie remain in the team from Sunday's North London Derby defeat, with the duo joined in the side by Djed Spence and Radu Dragusin.
In midfield, Archie Gray makes his full Tottenham debut and operates in the No.6 role. Pape Matar Sarr should come in after starting on the bench against Arsenal and Spurs need to get James Maddison back to his very best so he starts against his hometown club.
Dominic Solanke would also benefit from more minutes and should start after only featuring in two Tottenham games since his move from Bournemouth. Wilson Odobert and Timo Werner then complete Spurs' attacking trio.
Guest's team: Vicario; Spence, Dragusin, Van de Ven, Udogie; Gray, Sarr, Maddison; Odobert, Solanke, Werner.
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