By colorado 
Right then, woke up this morning still smarting from that last defeat, figured I’d tackle predicting Tottenham’s lineup against Liverpool. Proper headache it is, managers keep changing things like socks lately. Grabbed my notebook first thing, still half-asleep, spilled tea on it already. Typical start.
The Frustrating Start
Sat down at the kitchen table – only flat surface not covered in Lego. Opened the laptop. Thought it’d be easy peasy finding reliable sources. HA! Clicked around football sites like a madman. One place claims Son stays central, another insists he drifts wide, third reckons they’ll bench Kulusevski for some kid nobody’s heard of. Bloody confusing mess. Closed half the tabs in frustration.
- Scrolled through fan forums arguing over formation. Pure chaos.
- Checked old team sheets, but Ange rotates like a washing machine.
- Tried tactics websites littered with pop-up ads giving me a migraine.
Realized I needed a system. Grabbed my notebook – dried the tea stain mostly – and drew boxes for positions. Used the salt shaker for goalie. Seriously.
The Ugly Process
Dug into recent injury reports next. Porro doubtful. Maddison fit? Maybe. Udogie definitely out. Scribbled all that mess down. Crossed out “Porro at RB” roughly. Tried plugging Emerson Royal in mentally, felt wrong instantly. Sketchy right side giving me the fear.
Stared at my notebook boxes. Decided on that 4-2-3-1 shape everyone bangs on about. Ain’t rocket science. Vicario behind the salt shaker solid enough.
- Center backs easier: Romero’s a given, dragged Dragusin into box beside him.
- Left back – Ben Davies? Felt dull but Van de Ven’s hamstring probably made of glass still.
- Right back debacle: pencilled in Royal, groaned, added question marks everywhere.
Midfield was the proper brain-twister. Bentancur has to start, right? Engine room. But who partners him? Sarr? Bissouma? Hojbjerg? Tore that page out, started fresh. Reckoned Ange would go Sarr for the legs against Liverpool’s pace.
Throwing Darts Blindfolded (The Front Line)
Attacking midfield slots. Just threw my pen down. Maddison if fit – and everyone prays he is. Left wing? Sonny drifting inside? Put him central striker maybe? Wild shouts today suggesting that. Settled on Richarlison down the middle. Son on left, Kulusevski on right – least ’til Ange changes his mind tomorrow.
Kept coming back to it feeling flimsy. Like building a chair with missing screws. That right side especially. Probably why Royal will get roasted by Diaz. Not great vibes. Wrote down potential subs impacting shape: Werner’s pace late on, maybe lo celso pulling strings… but honestly? Didn’t feel confident jotting any of it.
Abandoning Ship (Sort Of)
Neighbour’s kid banged on the door asking for his football back. Gave it him. Stared at my scribbled masterpiece. Final “prediction”:
Vicario / Royal, Romero, Dragusin, Davies / Bentancur, Sarr / Kulusevski, Maddison, Son / Richarlison
But here’s the kicker: It’ll be wrong. Guaranteed. Ange will see injury news I missed, or just fancy Perisic suddenly. Gave up trying to nail it exactly. Formations change minute-by-minute anyway. Ended up just listing likely players instead of boxes. Close enough for government work. Packed up the notebook. Salt shaker went back to the table. Still don’t know how they’ll actually line up. Bugger it.