Juventus vs Tottenham Hotspur Match Thread

[JAYSTAR]

Why change anything? We've been on fire with our 4-2-3-1. Keep things as they are.

I agree we've been great, it's just about not letting them score for me. The two away goals could be the difference. Pros and cons either way. 4231 and we might get undone down the flanks, too defensive and we might invite too much pressure. A fit again Wanyama and Toby will make us even harder to break down, the question then is how he respond knowing they will have a few of their attacking players back.

 

[ernest_lowrider]

The only thing that worries me is that Juventus isn't going to play another that bad game in Wembley. Surely, Dembele and Eriksen were superb and really helped us to dominate the midfield, but from my point of view even bigger factor for that was tactic Juventus played.

Allegri made a huge mistake playing two man midfield with Pjanc and Khedira who is as bad as he could ever be. His last 2 games (vs us and vs Fiorentina) he played like 155 minutes and completed just 23 passes. Not to mention that in the first half Dembele and Dier completed more passes than whole Juventus team. Matuidi is going to be back for Wembley game and it's gonna be much harder for us to dominate the game.


But hey, it's the great result we had in Turin and we're in better position than we were before the game.

 

[Japhet]

The only thing that worries me is that Juventus isn't going to play another that bad game in Wembley. Surely, Dembele and Eriksen were superb and really helped us to dominate the midfield, but from my point of view even bigger factor for that was tactic Juventus played.

Allegri made a huge mistake playing two man midfield with Pjanc and Khedira who is as bad as he could ever be. His last 2 games (vs us and vs Fiorentina) he played like 155 minutes and completed just 23 passes. Not to mention that in the first half Dembele and Dier completed more passes than whole Juventus team. Matuidi is going to be back for Wembley game and it's gonna be much harder for us to dominate the game.


But hey, it's the great result we had in Turin and we're in better position than we were before the game.

It will be a different game because they have to come after us. They'll be aware of what we did to Real Madrid and Dortmund so I'd imagine they'll be bricking it, which will be a very unusual feeling for them. I'm confident we'll have Toby back as well which should give us a lot of extra confidence. Wembley will be a cauldron too.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

It will be a different game because they have to come after us. They'll be aware of what we did to Real Madrid and Dortmund so I'd imagine they'll be bricking it, which will be a very unusual feeling for them. I'm confident we'll have Toby back as well which should give us a lot of extra confidence. Wembley will be a caulron too.

And we "only" need 0-0 or 1-1.

 

[Roberts84]

I reckon we need to play 343 for the return leg and use crosses into the box to cause havoc and pen their fullbacks back. Toby and Wanyama back in this side will be enough to limit their returning players:

Lloris
Toby Sanchez Verts
Trippier Wanyama Dembele Davies
Eriksen Kane Son
​

Bench: Gazzaniga Rose Dier Alli Lucas Lamela Llorente

They'd soak up crosses all day long, I think that will be their game plan, push us out wide. They doubled up well on our wide men the other day.

 

[Adam456]

The way we have been playing and were so dominant you just feel like with home crowd behind us we can smash them.

But obviously it would be naive to assume that things will go the same way. But be to defensive and we risk encouraging them, conceding stupidly and then having to throw everything at them. I love the idea of defending as a 352 with Son and Moura parked inside left and inside right near the halfway line and everybody else behind the ball. But who to drop.

If we could reliably keep it tight first 60 then we bring them on as subs

Basically I keep coming back to the same team and swapping in Son for somebody for his pace on the break

 

[Adam456]

Part of me also thinks this. That nearly all of the attacks at Juve were down our flanks. So a 451 with a fast winger on each side will really hamstring them, even if our guys have to be defensive. Force them to play through the middle and pack 3 in there who will win the ball and offer something going forward. My choice below but could equally include Dier or Lamela

Lloris
Trippier Sanchez Vertong Davies
Moura Ericss Dembe Alli Son
Kane

 

[JAYSTAR]

They'd soak up crosses all day long, I think that will be their game plan, push us out wide. They doubled up well on our wide men the other day.

I don't think so, it was our game plan. We went through the middle then cut back in or went wide and crossed it. Even if it was, that was with Aurier, Trippier's crossing would be a nightmare for them. Kane had a free header in the middle, they just couldn't cover him.

 

[Mullers]

And we "only" need 0-0 or 1-1.

If we play for a draw, I think it will end in disaster. Better we go for the win and all doubt. My prediction, 3-1 to us in the 2nd leg.

 

[slartibartfast]

If we play for a draw, I think it will end in disaster. Better we go for the win and all doubt. My prediction, 3-1 to us in the 2nd leg.

To dare is to do.

 

[spids]

Whether we play 3 CBS or 4-2-3-1, we should be looking to dominate the ball and keep our ‘foot on their throat’!

 

[davidmatzdorf]

If we play for a draw, I think it will end in disaster. Better we go for the win and all doubt. My prediction, 3-1 to us in the 2nd leg.

That's not even a realistic idea. Pochettino would never consider "playing for a draw" in any game, home or away, least of all a crucial knockout game at home with 80k+ howling fans behind the team. It's not in his psychological playbook and I suspect it is against his principles. Sure, sometimes he sets up to soak up pressure and break, but the objective is never to secure a draw.

Let's say it's the 85th minute and the score is 1-1. He might bring on a defensive midfielder for a winger. Just as it was in the away leg, the players will continue to try to score and win the match. But sensibly.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

If we play for a draw, I think it will end in disaster. Better we go for the win and all doubt. My prediction, 3-1 to us in the 2nd leg.

Not necessarily saying we should play for it. But regardless of strategy, such a result would serve us well. They must score. We don't have to score. This will colour the match.

 

[ohtottenham!]

That's not even a realistic idea. Pochettino would never consider "playing for a draw" in any game, home or away, least of all a crucial knockout game at home with 80k+ howling fans behind the team. It's not in his psychological playbook and I suspect it is against his principles. Sure, sometimes he sets up to soak up pressure and break, but the objective is never to secure a draw.

Let's say it's the 85th minute and the score is 1-1. He might bring on a defensive midfielder for a winger. Just as it was in the away leg, the players will continue to try to score and win the match. But sensibly.

Agree with you. It’s also the same mentality which has put us where we are right now. We play for the best result we can get, and that doesn't mean aiming and setting up for a draw.

We didn’t get results against Real, Dortmund, Utd, Liverpool, Arsenal and Juve by just having an offensive press or sitting back. We adapted our strategy against each opponent. Home and away against Real, Dortmund and Liverpool.

Right now, we got a great away result away at Juve after clawing our way back from that calamitous start. We clawed our way back against ‘pool away too and finished the stronger.

I was looking at the threads on City’s bluemoon forum, and there’s a thread on who you would least like to face in the CL last 8. For them, Liverpool’s the team they fear most. A lot of that’s down to how they experienced their first league defeat in that hostile Anfield atmosphere.

We’ve been through Real, Dortmund, Liverpool and Juve away, and could quite easily have made those great results even better with our strong performances. I obviously hope we get past Juve, ‘cause this Spurs team has the talent and the stones to play anyone in any hostile environment.

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

this Spurs team has the talent and the stones to play anyone in any hostile environment.

Couldn't agree more.

But you know, you just know, that our next loss in a big away game will be greeted by some genie-eye SC'er calling those stones in to question again

 

[hughy]

Couldn't agree more.

But you know, you just know, that our next loss in a big away game will be greeted by some genie-eye SC'er calling those stones in to question again

Not even a loss mate, we had it after 10 minutes against Juve.

 

[Roberts84]

I don't think so, it was our game plan. We went through the middle then cut back in or went wide and crossed it. Even if it was, that was with Aurier, Trippier's crossing would be a nightmare for them. Kane had a free header in the middle, they just couldn't cover him.

Kane had one header. How many other crosses got through, they shut down Davies and Aurier well. We need to draw them on to us and try to get one on one situations with Kane, Son or Dele. A bit like our goals in the first half against Dortmund at home. The Italian teams are past masters at getting a one nil win. However, if we have the power and movement of the other night, I think we will be ok.

 

[ajspurs]

Juventus are playing on BT Sport right now for those who may be interested in having a look. I just tuned in and Dybala has come on but Higuain went off injured early on so will be interesting to see how long he'll be out for and whether he'll miss our tie.

 

[TheChosenOne]

Dybala played today v Torino.

Higuain and Bernadeschi were both injured.