By Rachel Cohen

With the biggest final in Spurs’ history less than a week away there are questions about exactly who will be in the line-up at Wembley. But there are a few positions that we can confidently predict.

In a series of three blog posts I’m going to run the rule over how Spurs might line-up for the FA Cup Final. Today’s blog covers the nailed-on players: Five players that we can make a strong guess both that they will start and also where they will start.

Future posts will cover the two areas where there are question marks. First off, centre-back. Here there are three players competing for two spots and all of them have a decent case to start. The second area where there are questions is the attack. Here there are some very likely starters (including Bethany England and Jessica Naz) but still questions about the positions in which they will play and who will start alongside them.

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Starting with the nailed-on positions, however, there are three areas where we can be reasonably confident about manager, Robert Vilahamn’s selections. These include: Goalkeeper, Fullbacks and Defensive Midfield. This assumes, of course, that there are no new injures during this week’s training.

Goalkeeper:

Becky Spencer started this season as the clear first choice, with Robert Vilahamn praising her distribution as world class. She had a couple of poor games against Manchester City and Manchester United at the end of 2023 and lost her starting spot for a while after replacement Barbora Votíková had a player-of-the-match performance in the North London Derby. But since Spencer’s return, and especially after her heroics in the Quarter Final Penalty shootout, when she saved from both Alex Greenwood and Chloe Kelly, she has again cemented her spot.

Spencer can at times make errors and her willingness to play with the ball at her feet regularly produces heart-in-mouth moments for supporters, but we have repeatedly seen her rise to the big occasion (including last summer when she helped Jamaica keep clean sheets across the group stages of the World Cup). Spencer is also known for her calm under pressure. That, along with her big game experience, will be very valuable on Sunday and that means that she is likely one of the first names on the teamsheet.

Full backs

Ashleigh Neville (Right back) and Amanda Nildén (Left back) have started every game that each has been available. The only exception is a recent home game against Brighton in which Neville was rested (having relatively recently returned from injury) but nonetheless came off the bench to change the game. Both fullbacks are skilled on the ball, hardworking in defence and attack-minded. Where Nildén has a very good turn of pace and beautiful feet, Neville can be blindingly creative and puts her body in front of anything.

Charli Grant has regularly featured as a substitute (and is flexible – able to play on either side). The 20 year-old Australian is strong in the air, attacks on the overlap and makes impressive recovery runs. She does not (yet), however, have the same level of on-ball skills as Neville and Nildén. The only other player to recently feature at fullback is Ramona Petzelberger, who, under Vilahamn has evolved into a utility player (having spells at defensive midfield, attacking midfield and right back since Christmas). But she, like Grant is very unlikely to start should the two first-choice fullbacks be available.

Defensive Midfield

The season started with Eveliina Summanen and Olga Ahtinen in defensive midfield and Drew Spence in front of them. This proved a winning formula against Bristol City, Brighton and Aston Villa. Then Spence, Ahtinen and finally Summanen got injured. And by the time Summanen and Ahtinen returned in January and Spence returned in March there were alternative options in attacking midfield and Kit Graham, especially, had demonstrated she could handle a deeper role than she had previously played.

Since January there have been various combinations tried, not least because Spence has had an additional period of injury. Eveliina Summanen and Drew Spence have, however, consistently been Robert Vilahamn’s starters when available. Summanen has, for instance, started all the eighteen WSL games in which she has featured, while Spence has started eight of the ten WSL games where she has featured – the two times she started on the bench were when she was returning from injury.

And in case Vilahamn needed further information both Spence and Summanen produced excellent performances from defensive midfield this last weekend. Spence scored and got an assist, while Summanen got an assist. In terms of playing style, both are physically strong. Spence has an exceptional touch and is key for Spurs’ chance creation; Summanen covers a lot of ground, provides cover for the defence, is a set piece expert, and has increasingly demonstrated an excellent passing range.

It is likely that Spence, and perhaps Summanen, will not play the full 90 minutes (or longer should extra-time be needed). If so, one or both of Ahtinen and Graham are likely to be used as substitutes. Ahtinen is probably the best passer of the ball in the squad and can break the lines with a pinpoint long ball, while also making critical clearances. Graham is surprisingly good with her head (given that she is 5’2”) and her take-ons, as she drives through the middle of the pitch have made her something of a super-sub – including coming on to score a late winner against Charlton in the FA Cup Round of 16.

It is a sign of the team’s growth that in defensive midfield, a problem-position last season, Spurs now not only have two likely starters, but two excellent alternatives.

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That is it for nailed-on positions.

Coming next: Vilahamn’s options at Centre Back.