"Pocketing Ivan 'bet365' toney" - Tottenham fans delighted as Antonio Conte names 'interesting' option in starting line-up against Brentford

Tottenham Hotspur fans have reacted in a variety of ways to Antonio Conte naming Japhet Tanganga in his starting XI for their match against Brentford. The two teams will lock horns at the Brentford Community Stadium in a Boxing Day Premier League encounter on December 26.

Spurs are without Argentine centre-back Cristian Romero, who is yet to return to the club after winning the 2022 FIFA World Cup with La Albiceleste. This opened up a slot in Conte's three-man defense, with Tanganga, who has played no Premier League minutes this term, getting picked ahead of Davinson Sanchez.

Sanchez, who is on the bench, has started six league matches for the London giants this season.

The decision to start Tanganga clearly created a buzz among Tottenham fans on Twitter. One of them tweeted a GIF containing some of former Spurs boss Jose Mourinho's iconic celebrations with the caption:

The caption was referring to Brentford striker Ivan Toney being charged with 262 alleged breaches of betting rules by the Football Association (via the Daily Mail).

Among other notable changes in Antonio Conte's XI, Fraser Forster replaced Hugo Lloris, who made the 2022 FIFA World Cup final with France. Yves Bissouma was picked ahead of Rodrigo Bentancur.

Tottenham Hotspur XI vs. Brentford: Fraser Forster; Eric Dier, Clement Lenglet, Japhet Tanganga; Ivan Perisic, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Yves Bissouma, Matt Doherty; Heung-min Son, Harry Kane, Dejan Kulusevski.

Brentford failed to beat Tottenham Hotspur last season

Brentford enjoyed a stellar 2021-22 Premier League season, their first in the top-flight after 74 long years.

The Bees finished a respectable 13th in the standings and even took the game to some of their more-fancied opponents. However, Thomas Frank's side didn't get much joy against Tottenham Hotspur.

The first meeting between the two teams was at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in December 2021. Spurs took the lead in the first half through a Sergi Canos own goal before sealing a 2-0 win through Son Heung-min's 65th-minute strike.

The reverse fixture in April 2022 at the Brentford Community Stadium ended in a 0-0 draw. Both teams managed just two combined shots on target. Spurs notably hit the woodwork twice, but the Bees held on for a largely deserved point.

About the author

Anantaajith has been covering European football news at Sportskeeda for almost three years. He previously spent five months at Total Football Analysis, where he deep dived into the likes of the A-League, Chilean and Argentine Primera Divisions, the Turkish league and the Maltese league. A graduate in English and Journalism, and currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Sport Analytics and Technologies from Loughborough University London, Anantaajith is adept at analyzing complex statistics and translating it into concise and reader-friendly content.

He started following football in 2010, watching the FIFA World Cup with his father, a memory he holds very special. The tournament also ignited his admiration for Lionel Messi, who he feels makes the game look simple and produces magic every time on the pitch. Luis Enrique and Sebastien Hoeness are his favorite managers. He supports Barcelona and their 3-2 El Clasico win in the 2016-17 season left a lasting impact on him. The 2022 FIFA World Cup final between France and Argentina is another match etched in his memory.

Anantaajith has interviewed many ISL footballers like Anirudh Thapa, Vincy Barretto, Samik Mitra, Jordan Murray, and covered the entirety of the 2022-23 ISL season and the 2023 SAFF Championship. He was cited on the ISL website several times for his efforts.

In his free time, he likes to sing, work out, play football, or play cricket at club/divisional level.

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