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Tottenham should start this back three against Middlesbrough

By Rucker Haringey

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Ben Davies of Tottenaham Hotspur walks out for the warming up wearing the t-shirt of get-well message for Ryan Mason of Hull City prior to the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Tottenham Hotspur and Wycombe Wanderers at White Hart Lane on January 28, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Ben Davies of Tottenaham Hotspur walks out for the warming up wearing the t-shirt of get-well message for Ryan Mason of Hull City prior to the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Tottenham Hotspur and Wycombe Wanderers at White Hart Lane on January 28, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images) /
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Ben Davies should start in a back three for Tottenham

Mauricio Pochettino has an interesting tactical decision ahead of him in Tottenham’s match against Middlesbrough today. The Argentine boss must choose between a back three or a back four when he tries to get Spurs back on track.

Unfortunately, his choices are being greatly influenced by injury. Danny Rose, Jan Vertonghen and Kieran Trippier will all miss the match due to injury. Those aren’t the only Spurs injuries on the afternoon, but they are the applicable defensive concerns.

That means Pochettino can’t go with his ideal back three or back four. He’s going to have to start a makeshift defense of sorts. The question is which makeshift option he feels most comfortable with.

His primary motivation against Middlesbrough should be to get his best 11 players on the pitch. Tottenham’s formation will be less important than the talent it selects. That’s precisely why he should elect to employ a back three today. The Spurs attack is healthier than the defense, as a result, minimizing the number of defensive players in the starting XI is a wise move.

The question then becomes which three players to select in the back of a 3-4-3 formation. There’s only one player who is an absolute lock to start provided he avoids a last-minute knock. Toby Alderweireld will certainly start the match no matter what.

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It’s also a safe bet that Eric Dier is going to get an opportunity to play alongside him. He might be better used as a defensive midfielder, but he’s needed as a central defender at the moment. The young Englishman will be counted on to man one of the spots next to Alderweireld.

That leaves only the third spot in defense up for grabs. Many Spurs fans would like to see Kevin Wimmer get another opportunity to start a Premier League match. Given his struggles as of late, I don’t see Pochettino trotting him out there. Instead, look for Pochettino to go with Ben Davies as the third member of the defense.

Davies, of course, has primarily been utilized as Danny Rose’s backup at left back. He does play in a back three for Wales on a regular basis though. That’s precisely the role he should play today. Playing him in a back three would lessen his need to get up the pitch and contribute to the attack. That’s his primary weakness when playing as a fullback in Pochettino’s system.

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Starting Davies, Dier and Alderweireld in a back three isn’t ideal, but it’s the best option for Spurs today. Tottenham should be much more concerned with their attack than their defense against Middlesbrough.

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