Partizan Belgrade Vs Tottenham: Match Thread

[Spursidol]

I feel sorry for Soldado having to play in front of that attacking midfield trio. I can't imagine he'll get much service!

If you look back 12 months to the away leg v Dinamo Tiblisi, Soldado had Paulhino and Townsend in the team with him. All 3 scored with Townsend putting in 2 good crosses from which first Palhino scored and then Soldado scored from the second cross.

Lets hope Poch helps replicate that sort of form

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

If you look back 12 months to the away leg v Dinamo Tiblisi, Soldado had Paulhino and Townsend in the team with him. All 3 scored with Townsend putting in 2 good crosses from which first Palhino scored and then Soldado scored from the second cross.

Lets hope Poch helps replicate that sort of form

I actually think Townsend has regressed from that night in Tiblisi. He seems to try so hard now to be Roy of the Rovers, that he inevitably ends up taking the wrong decisions on the pitch. Decisions that he thinks will make him look good but ultimately they are to the detriment of good team play.

 

[Spursidol]

I actually think Townsend has regressed from that night in Tiblisi. He seems to try so hard now to be Roy of the Rovers, that he inevitably ends up taking the wrong decisions on the pitch. Decisions that he thinks will make him look good but ultimately they are to the detriment of good team play.

IMO Townsend was told by his coach to play in that way in the first half of last season (why else would a coach either not coach it out of him or drop him). Its unfortunate that Townsend was injured when he was and was not fit enough to play for the rest of the season - and seemed to have lost a yard of pace. Hopefully Poch will have tried to coach him to drop the 'shoot on sight' policy which a previous coach has drummed into him

But I certainly agree with you that Townsen's best game was against Tiblisi, and he regressed afterwards, even if we do not agree on the reasons.

 

[Bulletspur]

I think the initial "What has Rose done to lose his starting spot?" question was due to someone saying they hoped Davies would be integrated into the weekend team. Considering Rose has done nothing wrong so far this season, why would he be dropped? I guess it's just someone that can't get over their dislike for him and is waiting for him to slip up at any opportunity so they can slate him.

That's the way I saw it as well

 

[Firsttouch]

Would like to see Davies integrated to the weekend squad now really.

He has to out perform england international D Rose first in Europa!

 

[Berglad]

Does anyone know if this will be on Spurs TV?

I wouldn't think so, it's on FS1 in the US though.

 

[LexingtonSpurs]

I think the initial "What has Rose done to lose his starting spot?" question was due to someone saying they hoped Davies would be integrated into the weekend team. Considering Rose has done nothing wrong so far this season, why would he be dropped? I guess it's just someone that can't get over their dislike for him and is waiting for him to slip up at any opportunity so they can slate him.

Well, as someone who has come around on Rose, and has no problem with him starting, I would say its not a bad thing if Davies earned the starting job by playing better - every position on the field can be improved by playing better.

Sometimes its not about losing your job by playing poorly, as much as it is someone else simply improving the position by playing better.

 

[Gbspurs]

He has to out perform england international D Rose first in Europa!

No caps yet!

 

[Borks]

Well, as someone who has come around on Rose, and has no problem with him starting, I would say its not a bad thing if Davies earned the starting job by playing better - every position on the field can be improved by playing better.

Sometimes its not about losing your job by playing poorly, as much as it is someone else simply improving the position by playing better.

Don't disagree at all, just hate this current fan culture where certain players are disliked for no real reason and they're watched intently with the hope they mess up so they can be slated and blamed. Surely it's in everyones best interest if all of our players perform well?

Also, times change. Just because Dembele was good at Fulham doesn't mean he's the best central midfielder we have, he's not been great for us and if someone else is performing better than him then they should be in the team ahead of him. Just an example.

 

[LexingtonSpurs]

Well, one of the things I have learned in my relatively short time here, its that every player, save 1 or 2, has their supporters, and with only 11 starting positions, it seems that someone is always upset with the choice, or pining for their guy to get more playing time.

I mean, look at the CB position - you will find people who think Kaboul should be starting, Fazio should be starting, Vertonghen should be starting, Chiriches should be starting (ok, less of those people), and even that Dier should be playing CB. You just can't please everyone. CM-2 position will have the same issues: "Capoue/Dembele/Stambouli/Bentaleb should be an auto-start if they are healthy, and Paulinho and Mason should be given a chance."

There simply is no pleasing everyone - we have a coach who gets paid a lot to evaluate these guys, and decide who should be playing based on fitness, form, match ups, partnerships, rotations, etc. I trust Pochettino to make the best decision he can - I think everyone of our players is capable of playing a key role for us, and at some point during this season we will have to rely on each of them (hopefully not Brad).

 

[TH1239]

This is a game can't afford to lose. Besiktas is a better team than Partizan, so if we want to assure qualification, a draw is the minimum we need tonight. A loss means we likely need to win at least 1 of the Besiktas games, which is going to be tough if we don't play our best attacking players.

Hopefully both Soldado and Paulinho start tonight, as they tend to link up well. I'm obviously concerned about our attack being stymied by the lack of end product of Lennon and Townsend, but we have options in the second hd if they keep up the poor form.

 

[Borks]

Well, one of the things I have learned in my relatively short time here, its that every player, save 1 or 2, has their supporters, and with only 11 starting positions, it seems that someone is always upset with the choice, or pining for their guy to get more playing time.

I mean, look at the CB position - you will find people who think Kaboul should be starting, Fazio should be starting, Vertonghen should be starting, Chiriches should be starting (ok, less of those people), and even that Dier should be playing CB. You just can't please everyone. CM-2 position will have the same issues: "Capoue/Dembele/Stambouli/Bentaleb should be an auto-start if they are healthy, and Paulinho and Mason should be given a chance."

There simply is no pleasing everyone - we have a coach who gets paid a lot to evaluate these guys, and decide who should be playing based on fitness, form, match ups, partnerships, rotations, etc. I trust Pochettino to make the best decision he can - I think everyone of our players is capable of playing a key role for us, and at some point during this season we will have to rely on each of them (hopefully not Brad).

Problem is a lot of the time I believe fan dissatisfaction rubs off onto the players. Moaning, booing, social media etc, just look at Rose signing a new contract or Kaboul being chosen as captain - A barrage of abuse towards the players on OUR OWN official page. Who needs enemies when you have Spurs fans? The atmosphere at the lane these days just puts me off going to home games, would much rather do an away day due to the fact that the people there generally want to support the guys and it's a shame we can't be like that at home.

 

[prawnsandwich]

Just seen they only went out to Ludogorets by virtue of the away goal rule.

Ludo played a square game against 'Pool and were excellent on counters.

 

[We'llWinThePrem]

Looking forward to this. COYS!

 

[Insomnia]

has the line up been announced yet, soz for being lazy, cant be arsed to explain why

 

[mark87]

Think we'll be in for a tough game today, hopefully it'll go our way.

 

[prawnsandwich]

Im just going by what I have seen from the tour on. Mason had a great pre season. Bentaleb had a shit 2 games in pre season and hasnt been great this season. Mason, IMO, is more deserving of a game. Same thing with Soldado and Ade. Soldado had a good pre season. Ade is clearly not fit and it is clearly effecting his form. He's been awful ever since returning from Malaria. FFS, Poch! Give him a week off or something!

Mason has not been sent on loan and neither has Ceballos so I expect both will get some EL time. As you say Mason was good in preseason but that is not usually a good indicator. Hopefully this season it is.

 

[jamaican_spurs]

Tottenham Hotspur @SpursOfficial · 15s
#THFC team: Lloris (c), Naughton, Fazio, Vertonghen, Davies; Bentaleb, Stambouli; Lennon, Paulinho, Townsend; Kane. #COYS #UEL

 

[Bobbins]

1-1 tonight I think. Reckon we might struggle to break them down.

 

[Borks]

Tottenham Hotspur @SpursOfficial · 15s
#THFC team: Lloris (c), Naughton, Fazio, Vertonghen, Davies; Bentaleb, Stambouli; Lennon, Paulinho, Townsend; Kane. #COYS #UEL

Would've liked to have seen Soldado but understand why Kane is preferred. Rest of the team looks good. COYS.