Move over Bentancur: Spurs could bully Paqueta by unleashing frightening talent today

Tottenham Hotspur will look to regain momentum when they face West Ham United in North London today, following a disappointing 3-2 loss to Brighton and Hove Albion before the international break.

Spurs led by two goals at halftime, but a dramatic collapse saw them concede three goals in just 20 minutes. Yankuba Minteh, Georginio Rutter, and Danny Welbeck were responsible for Tottenham’s undoing, leaving manager Ange Postecoglou with plenty to consider ahead of this match.

On the other hand, West Ham will be riding high after their 4-1 win over newly promoted Ipswich Town. The Hammers, led by Julen Lopetegui, secured only their second Premier League victory of the season in that match and are looking to build on that success.

Spurs will have additional motivation for today’s game, aiming for revenge after losing last season’s home fixture 2-1 to West Ham. In that match, second-half goals from Jarrod Bowen and James Ward-Prowse proved to be the difference.

Looking at the history of Tottenham’s recent home fixtures against West Ham, Spurs have been somewhat inconsistent:

Postecoglou knows his side will need a reaction, and that might mean dropping one or two players to spark a change. Midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur, in particular, could find himself benched after a subpar performance against Brighton.

Bentancur struggled to assert himself in that match, managing just 59 touches and completing 39 passes with an 85% success rate. While those numbers are decent, his eight losses of possession and failure to complete any dribbles left a lot to be desired.

These stats highlight Bentancur’s struggles in the previous match, and with a derby on the horizon, Postecoglou may opt for a more reliable midfield option to take control of the game. It’s vital for Tottenham to be at their best, especially in a match where bragging rights and three points are at stake.

One possible tactical change could involve deploying Pape Matar Sarr, a player known for his physicality and defensive ability. Sarr could be the key to shutting down West Ham’s creative midfielder, Lucas Paqueta.

Paqueta, who has contributed two goals this season and completed 71% of his dribbles, poses a significant threat. His creativity and flair have been central to West Ham’s attacking play, and keeping him quiet will be crucial for Tottenham.

Sarr, although not a regular starter for Spurs this season, has shown his potential in limited appearances. The 22-year-old midfielder, praised as a “frightening” talent by talent scout Antonio Mango, could make all the difference in this fixture.

He demonstrated his defensive capabilities during the international break, winning 17 duels and making three tackles in Senegal’s win over Malawi. These attributes make him the ideal candidate to stifle Paqueta’s influence in today’s match.

In his Premier League appearances for Tottenham this season, Sarr has averaged 2.5 tackles won per game and 8.5 duels, underscoring his ability to disrupt the opposition’s play. These numbers suggest that he has the tenacity and physicality to mark Paqueta out of the game and limit West Ham’s attacking potential.

For Postecoglou, today’s team selection could be pivotal in determining whether Spurs can bounce back from their recent disappointment. With the right tactical adjustments, including potentially bringing in Sarr to handle Paqueta, Tottenham have a strong chance of securing a much-needed victory.

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