Team v Fiorentina (EL Round of 32) - 1st & 2nd legs

[Spursidol]

First leg is away v Fiorentina on Thirsday, and the home leg a week later after an FA Cup tie v Crystal Palace.

With Vertonghen and Clinton almost certainly both out, the first team squad is just 20 players - Poch is on record as wanting a small squad, and that's what we've got.

GK (2) - Lloris, Vorm,
FB (4) - Walker, Rose, Davies, Tripper
CB (2) - Wimmer, Alderweireld
CM (5) - Dier, Mason, Bentaleb, Carroll, Alli
AM (6) - Lamela, Chadli, Eriksen, Son, Dembele, Onomah
FWD (1) - Kane
Total – 20 players

A few youngsters could be involved but Poch seems to like to give them a few run outs before starting matches, so the likes of Carter-Vickers (CB), Harrison (striker), Walker-Peters (FB), Oduwa (AM) are only likely to be considered for bench duty - and I'd have thought no more than two of them.

Its reasonable to assume Poch picks what he thinks is his 'best' team against ManCity, with most of the rest of the squad being on the bench.

So most likely the team rotation from the team against ManCity will be :

- Lloris plays (Vorm in the FA Cup)
- Rotate both Full backs
- Probably retain both CB's (only other likely option is for Dier to drop back)
- CM's 2 from Mason, Bentaleb and Carroll.
- Most likely 4 AM's with Chadli and Son (one playing as striker) with Onomah and Lamela - unless Poch decides to play Kane in EL but resting him in the FA Cup

 

[Twizzle]

2nd in the PL V. 4th in the Serie A. more like a UCL game.

 

[dagraham]

Looking at the three cup games I would be tempted to start Kane in Italy as that's definitely the hardest of the three and have him on the bench for the other two.

I would rest Dier though for a couple of those games and the one he does play rest Toby instead.

I would give Alli and Eriksen a rest too, again maybe playing them in one game each.

 

[Cornpattbuck]

One game at a time etc...

 

[Spurger King]

It's going to be very interesting to see the line-up for this one. It will say a lot about how Pochettino is thinking about the EL, the FA Cup, and the league.

For me, Palace is a massive game. We have a great chance of getting to the last 8 of the FA Cup, and desperately don't want a replay. Then again, a good result away to Fiorentina would hopefully let us rest players in the home leg.

Tempted to rest Kane for this fixture. Dier definitely deserves a rest too at some point.

For the full-backs I'd go something like this for the next three games:

Walker - Davies
Trippier - Davies
Trippier - Rose

That's based on my prediction that Trippier and Rose will start against Oil Money.

 

[Larryjanta]

Lloris

Whoever doesn't play Sunday
Toby
Wimmer
Whoever doesn't play Sunday

Bentaleb
Mason

Lamela (Onomah if Lamela starts Sunday)
Carroll
Chadli

Son

 

[spurs9]

Posted this in another thread, but here is what I think.

For Fiorentina, they struggle with pace and well timed runs cutting in from the side and their Central midfield is technically sound but physically weak, so I think players that can close down quickly and move the ball forward with speed would be beneifical as well as forward players with good quick movement.

Personally, I think we should go with a front 4 and cm 2 consisting of the below for the fist leg. The CBs we have to play the same 2 for now in all games IMO and FBs, I feel comfortable whoever plays, as long a s we rotate as we have been.

Chadli
Alli Mason Son
Carroll Bentaleb
​

The below for the FA Cup v Palace

Kane
Eriksen Lamela
Dembele Dier
​

The below for the 2nd leg v Fiorentina

Chadli
Son Mason Lamela
Carroll Bentaleb​

The below for Swansea

Kane
Eriksen Alli Lamela
Dembele Dier
​

If we get past Fiorentina (and I think the 2 teams above will), then we have the below games after EL games.

Villa (A) or FA Cup Quarter Final
Bournemouth (H)

Stoke (A)
West Brom (H) or FA Cup Semi Final

Chelsea (H)
Southampton (H)

If we make the Quarter Final of the EL, then we play a EL game after 4 of last 5 games.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

Fiorentina has rotated much of their squad for EL so far. But what they will do now is difficult to predict. On one hand, a repeat of the clash with Spurs from last season is a big thing, but on the other hand, they are in a three way race for the last CL spot in Italy. In between the matches against us they have Atalanta, who is on a run of 9 matches without victory, so that won't be too demanding. Of course Fiorentina faces Inter tonight, and a win there might represent the break they need to field a strong team against us. But, we play differently now than last Spurs & Fiorentina met. I think we can afford to rest a few key players, go for a good result, and adjust as needed for the home clash.

 

[jasswolf]

My take:

Hell, drop CCV in and rest Toby; might want to rest Lloris after he copped a solid knock to the head in the final minute today.

 

[DanielCHillier]

Full rotation for me, they must be knackered, I'm exhausted just from watching.

 

[JayB]

With an FA Cup match to follow we should put out our strongest XI and try to win this tie in the first fixture, then rotate at the weekend and hopefully the home fixture, giving (most of) the following players 10 days' rest before Swansea:

Lloris
Trippier Alderweireld Wimmer Rose
Dier Dembele
Lamela Eriksen Alli
Kane​

 

[Ghost Hardware]

We have a big enough team to rotate the core and still perform. Considering today's starting 11 I would expect Lamela, Chadli, Trip, Ben D, Carrol and maybe Mason to start. only questions come over defence and Nabil, Kane and Son.

 

[Lamelad]

People still want us to win this Europa tie?

It has to be a joke. We are ten games or so away from winning the league. Just drop the Europa.

 

[thinktank]

-Vorm-
-----------Toby-----Wimmer-------
------.--Trippier---Bentaleb----Davies.-----
---0Mason0--------
------------.Son--Lamela--Alli-0---------
Chadli

Lloris, Walker, Rose, Dier, Eriksen, Carroll, Kane​

 

[JayB]

People still want us to win this Europa tie?

It has to be a joke. We are ten games or so away from winning the league. Just drop the Europa.

Poch is trying to instill a winning mentality in the squad, no way would he countenance intentionally throwing away a competition. With the strength of our squad we can play our second XI and still have a decent chance of advancing. It just so happens that our first match in the knockout stage precedes an FA Cup fixture, which gives us an opportunity to play a stronger team in this one instance.

 

[littlemandefoe]

People still want us to win this Europa tie?

It has to be a joke. We are ten games or so away from winning the league. Just drop the Europa.

Dude you want Spurs to lose?

Ok, mate...

 

[sirleytonbrisbane]

He's got plenty of midfield and full back options. Its whetehr or not Kane can last the distance without burning out is the big issue.

on the other hand he's young and scoring loads of goals and so might be feeling pretty perky.

 

[carpediem991]

Lloris, Trippier, Dier, Wimmer, Davies, Bentaleb, Carroll, Mason, Chadli, Lamela, Son

Subs: Vorm, Alderweireld, Rose, Alli, Onomah, Kane, Eriksen

Save Dembele and avoid playing Toby and Kane. That would be my choice. I guess Poch is thinking of:

Lloris, Trippier, Alderweireld, Wimmer, Davies, Dier, Mason, Chadli, Alli, Lamela, Kane
Probably Eriksen in for Chadli/Alli and Carroll for Mason. Poch will not rest a lot.

 

[Lamelad]

Dude you want Spurs to lose?

Ok, mate...

Errr to lose one game so we win the title ? Do you understand ?

Check our squad list mate, check our many strikers we have. Lose Kane or Toby and we lose everything.

You have to play it clever. Or do you want to watch the gooners' bus parade again with Wilshere mouthing off! Is that what you want ?

 

[Sweech]

Don't drop the competition FFS, we just need some good rotation.

Rotate fullbacks as is customary, plus rest Kane, Dier, and Dembele.