Spurs vs Sheffield United | Ben's one to watch, Rob's tactical analysis
Fri 15 September 2023, 11:15|
Tottenham Hotspur
SPURSPLAY matchday presenter Ben Haines and Club commentator Rob Daly look ahead to our Premier League clash against Sheffield United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday (3pm).
Rob's tactical analysis
"Sheffield United have lost a few notable players including Sander Berge to Burnley, Tommy Doyle was only on loan from Manchester City last season while Illiman Ndiaye has joined Marseille - he scored the FA Cup winner against Spurs back in March. However, striker Cameron Archer already looks like a really effective signing from Aston Villa. He scored a cracking first half goal in the 2-2 draw with Everton two weeks ago, made well by strike partner Oli McBurnie, while another strike of his hit the post before going in off of Jordan Pickford for an own goal. Clearly, he has the ability to shift the ball out of his feet quickly and get a shot away.
"Manager Paul Heckingbottom seemed relieved to have had some concentrated time on the training ground this week with his players. He also said in his press conference that James McAtee could come in for his first appearance of the season after re-joining the club on loan from Manchester City on transfer deadline day. He played 37 times last season helping the Blades to an FA Cup semi-final. Think we can expect 3-5-2 too - they’ve used it in every game including the unfortunate late defeat to Manchester City last month.
"From a Spurs point of view, do you change much if everyone is fit and well after the international break? Dejan Kulusevski scored one and assisted two on international duty, while Manor Solomon made two in the win over Burnley. Will Heung-min Son start at centre-forward again? I’d suspect so after his hat-trick at Turf Moor. It could possibly be an unchanged 11 from Ange Postecoglou - but there’s now Brennan Johnson in the mix too. I think we’re all hoping to see him make a debut of some kind."
Ben's one to watch
"Spurs first this time around - and it's James Maddison. Last time out at Burnley, he was absolutely unreal. There is an angle of his goal from behind and it's the most perfect angle, it's almost tailor-made for James with the whip, the power and ferocity of the shot. Clive Allen said on our Review Show that you have to watch it back and watch how many times he looks - he looks up once to get his position, once more at where the goalkeeper is and just feeds it into the corner. It's just stunning. I believe he's one of those players now where fans come to watch him, he's up there now.
"So, it's Madders for us, and for Sheffield United, I'm going to go for two - Cameron Archer and Oli McBurnie as a partnership. If it's those two up top, there is an interesting battle there with Micky van de Ven and Cuti Romero. McBurnie vs Cuti - just imagine the physical battle there, a proper ding-dong. I first watched McBurnie when Sheffield United came up first time around, 2019/20, he was playing against Chelsea, socks rolled down, shirt all untucked, I thought, 'who's this guy?' and he gave their defence the most horrible afternoon, so physical, so aggressive. It's another interesting narrative - I feel we have a really exciting central defensive partnership building, but every week, opposing strikers will want to try to get the better of them - this is another fascinating one this weekend. I can't wait!"
Join Ben and Rob for our pre-match Warm Up Show on SPURSPLAY on Saturday and our post-match Review Show, where they will be joined by legendary former striker, coach and top pundit, Clive Allen.
