Tottenham are set for further ridicule without CBs as unlikely Champions League chasers clash

We can’t wait to see who Ange Postecoglou plays in central defense against Wolves, or if he even bothers, as unlikely Champions League chasers clash on a big Sunday.

Match to watch: Fulham v Bournemouth
It’s really quite crazy that one of these two teams could be in a Champions League qualification spot (assuming fifth place is enough as it is at the moment) comes at 17:00 on Sunday with victory over the other, just as it is wrong that neither of these two sides are the a pleasant surprise for the season. More on that later.

Fulham will be buoyant on the back of theirs brilliant last gasp victory over their hair-raising local rival on Boxing Day, while Bournemouth will be hoping that a clash against another European hopeful will spark some more energy and quality than they showed in their dismal 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace.

Neither team is blessed with an abundance of individual talent. Fulham can struggling to hold on to Antonee Robinsonwho has proven to be the best left-back in the Premier League this season, while there are probably a big club or two willing to take Antoine Semenyo off Bournemouth’s handsbut in both cases the success of these sides is more about their excellent leaders consistently making the whole far greater than the sum of its parts.

Team to watch: Tottenham
Just when we thought there was no possible way for Tottenham games to get more watchable, Radu Dragusin limped off against Nottingham Forest, meaning Ange Postecoglou will have to find a non-centre-back to partner, the non-centre-back Archie Gray at heart. by a Tottenham defense that is troubled even at the very best of times.

They are currently on a run of four defeats in five Premier League games and it could be argued that they have not beaten a proper team since the 4-1 win over Aston Villa at the start of November, with their beating Manchester The city becomes insignificant. Wolves’ resurgence could not be better timed for those wanting further misery to be heaped on Postecoglou and his side.

We can’t wait to see who he plays in central defense, or if they become one so That’s who we are, mate, Postecoglou not even bothering to find a stopgap partner for Gray and taking the We’ll Score More Than You mantra to new levels, leaving six players on halfway when defending a corner and conceding with lines (high or not) completely.

Manager to watch: Nuno Espirito Santo
In a season where several clubs fight for banter supremacylike Chelsea, Nottingham Forest’s journey from basket case to serious club has been astonishingly quick, but in retrospect it shouldn’t be all that surprising.

To be clear, it’s completely wrong that they are in the top four as they were in a relegation battle until the last day of last season. But Nuno Espirito Santo is an experienced, down-to-earth and serious coach with his fingerprints all over not only the team and the tactics, but their sensible transfer window after a series of seemingly foolish coaches, similar to the side they now sit just one point behind. The Premier League table.

But like Chelsea, the effect of buying so many players in a short space of time has been that Nuno had plenty of wheat to separate from the chaff before deciding not to continue with the scattergun approach in the summer, instead signing quality individuals such as Elliot Anderson and Nikola Milenkovic to create a solid first XI. with just enough quality in forward areas to win games by the odd goal, which has been the case in all but three of their 10 wins this season.

Player to watch: Niclas Fullkrug
We’re definitely here for someone who celebrates an assist like they’ve just scored the winner in the World Cup final, like Fullkrug did when he kicked the ball past Jarrod Bowen against Southampton, and frankly, if there’s anyone who hasn’t want a proper Center-Forward with a tooth missing anything but the best, we don’t want to be friends with that person.

It’s been a frustrating first season for Fullkrug at West Ham thanks to an Achilles problem, but he’s started their last two games and we’re still hoping the guy who starred for Borussia Dortmund was in charge of the Champions League -final last season before he played a big role for Germany at Euro 2024 can be the guy to lift the Hammers striker’s curse.

However, he could use a big moment to get him going and Liverpool’s visit on Sunday gives him that opportunity.

EFL Match to Watch: Grimsby Town v Port Vale
Walsall are running away with League Two but it’s fun under them. Four points separate second-placed Port Vale and ninth-placed Salford City, with Grimsby one of four teams with 34 points between them.

The Valiants could really do with a win after going six games without one, while the hosts will be hoping to jump a few notches into the automatic promotion places on the back of a win over Harrogate Town on Boxing Day.