Team v Ludogorets

[Hoddle1982]

Hart; Aurier, Sanchez, Dier, Davies; Hojbjerg, Winks, Lo Celso; Bale, Vinícius, Bergwijn

 

[King of Otters]

I reckon he’ll go strong to make sure we get the win allowing us to rotate a bit more freely when the tough run of fixtures kicks in.

 

[freeeki]

Changed it. Don't even know whats the city of these two names lol

Razgrad is the city. Anywhere ending in 'Grad' is generally a city (Beograd (Belgrade in English), Blagoevgrad (where Berbatov is from), Leningrad (now St Petersburg), Stalingrad (now Volgograd), Kaliningrad, etc)

 

[journeyman]

I predict Kane will start. Jose will want no messing, a win. Then he might bring Vinicius back in for the reverse fixture at home.

 

[WiganSpur]

Hart
Doherty -- Sanchez -- Alderweireld -- Davies
Ndombele Winks Lo Celso
Bale ---------------- Lucas
Vinicius
​

Lloris, Aurier, Davies, Hojbjerg, Bergwijn, Son, Kane

 

[Japhet]

He won't get it but I'd like to see Cirkin get a chance.

 

[Russ1201]

Hart; Aurier, Sanchez, Dier, Davies; Hojbjerg, Winks, Lo Celso; Bale, Vinícius, Bergwijn

No winks please ?

 

[DEFchenkOE]

Just not Winks and Sissoko in midfield please.

 

[Shadydan]

Just not Winks and Sissoko in midfield please.

 

[wrd]

Ludogrets are a different animal to City though

 

[PrettyColors]

2020 Winks and Sissoko are also much different without Eriksen running around everywhere and bearing their entire creative burden.

From this season’s evidence Winks is a lot worse than 2019, and Sissoko doesn’t have half the technical skills he displayed in 2019 either. When you’re playing a team below you the key is to choose more offensive players and batter them 4-1 - Winks and Sissoko as a midfield is asking for a stagnant and frustrating match.

 

[WorcesterTHFC]

Razgrad is the city. Anywhere ending in 'Grad' is generally a city (Beograd (Belgrade in English), Blagoevgrad (where Berbatov is from), Leningrad (now St Petersburg), Stalingrad (now Volgograd), Kaliningrad, etc)

And that well-known university town, under-grad.

 

[Montalbano]

Lloris
Aurier Toby Dier Davies
Lo Celso Hojbjerg
Bale Lamela Bergwijn
Vinicius​

 

[SpursSince1980]

I reckon he’ll go strong to make sure we get the win allowing us to rotate a bit more freely when the tough run of fixtures kicks in.

I'm not so sure.

Judging by our display against Brighton, there's no point in over-playing out 'best players'. Everyone looked a step slow on Sunday. Brighton were definitely more energetic and focused for long periods of the game. I was actually really impressed by not just their spirit, but their football was admirable. They were constantly moving with and without the ball. They would trap us in different areas of the field and made it very hard for us to find an iota of space.

We looked mostly ploddish all game long. Wasn't all that different from Antwerp.

I'm not sure if that is an issue with Jose struggling to find a way to counteract these types of teams that play with 3 at the back and effectively use a hive mentality toward winning back the ball. We never seem to have an answer to that. Or, I guess, probably more importantly, we don't seem to have the players with the same level of energy, focus and skill to play through.

On a different day, if all of our players were at the top of their game against Brighton, we would have put three or four past them, as their game plan, while effective, was also dangerous. As it involved swarming two or three of our players when they have the ball, with about six of their players. Which means there is always space on the field... if you have players moving, taking good touches on the ball, and moving the ball quickly. In this game we were static, lots of poor touches and moved the ball slowly. I think in part, that had to do with last Thursday's game.

Sonny in particular looked shattered. And Lamela, is just not the type of player who you need in a game like that, as he is another that required a ton of touches to finally get the ball under control and then can take ages to make a decision.

So, I'd start most of the same team as he did last week. Give them another chance. Don't just shut the door on them as that sends a really shitty message. Let them show the fans and the coaching staff and the folks that pay their HUGE salaries that they can turn it around.

Because right now, we need to compete on all fronts, but can't just use a small set of players to do so. We'll fail on all fronts if we do that.

West Brom has now become a massive game for us and our PL season. We win it, we remain in the top 4 going into the international break. When we return, we have a PL 6 game fixture list from hell: City, Chelsea, Arsenal, (Palace), Liverpool, and Leicester. So, we need to stockpile points now when we can. 'Cos that is going to be a bastard set of games... in between our Euro games during the week. We can't afford to only play with a small squad of trusted players. Those 'fringe' players need to get their shit together. And play with a modicum of pride. And Jose needs to give them that chance to show they can do it; firstly, because it benefits the whole team. secondly, we need a rested, set of attacking players for West Brom.

So:

Hart

Aurier
Sanchez
Dier
Davies

Winks
Dele
Lo Celso

Bale
Vinicius
Stevie G

subs: Moura, Toby, Reggie, Lamela, Sissoko, PEH, White

 

[Tottenhamboy85]

Have to win the home games

Lloris
Aurier Toby Dier Reguilón
Sissoko Gio
Bale Dele Son
Vinicius

 

[Yid]

 

[GLC10]

Do not underestimate your rival, you have to play with the best players and start leading the group.
Hart
Aurier
Sanchez
Dier
Reguilon
Sissoko
Tanguy
Lamela
Lucas
Son
Vinicius
At 60 min. Bale x Son. Kane x Vinicius- Gio x Ndombele.

 

[Nayim60yards]

Do not underestimate your rival, you have to play with the best players and start leading the group.
Hart
Aurier
Sanchez
Dier
Reguilon
Sissoko
Tanguy
Lamela
Lucas
Son
Vinicius
At 60 min. Bale x Son. Kane x Vinicius- Gio x Ndombele.

As Jose has already said that Bale is starting my line up would be similar to yours but with Bale in and Son out with Son coming on if needed on the hour mark. I also think Davies will probably play as he will want Sergio for WBA IMO.

 

[cliff jones]

I'm not so sure.

Judging by our display against Brighton, there's no point in over-playing out 'best players'. Everyone looked a step slow on Sunday. Brighton were definitely more energetic and focused for long periods of the game. I was actually really impressed by not just their spirit, but their football was admirable. They were constantly moving with and without the ball. They would trap us in different areas of the field and made it very hard for us to find an iota of space.

We looked mostly ploddish all game long. Wasn't all that different from Antwerp.

I'm not sure if that is an issue with Jose struggling to find a way to counteract these types of teams that play with 3 at the back and effectively use a hive mentality toward winning back the ball. We never seem to have an answer to that. Or, I guess, probably more importantly, we don't seem to have the players with the same level of energy, focus and skill to play through.

On a different day, if all of our players were at the top of their game against Brighton, we would have put three or four past them, as their game plan, while effective, was also dangerous. As it involved swarming two or three of our players when they have the ball, with about six of their players. Which means there is always space on the field... if you have players moving, taking good touches on the ball, and moving the ball quickly. In this game we were static, lots of poor touches and moved the ball slowly. I think in part, that had to do with last Thursday's game.

Sonny in particular looked shattered. And Lamela, is just not the type of player who you need in a game like that, as he is another that required a ton of touches to finally get the ball under control and then can take ages to make a decision.

So, I'd start most of the same team as he did last week. Give them another chance. Don't just shut the door on them as that sends a really shitty message. Let them show the fans and the coaching staff and the folks that pay their HUGE salaries that they can turn it around.

Because right now, we need to compete on all fronts, but can't just use a small set of players to do so. We'll fail on all fronts if we do that.

West Brom has now become a massive game for us and our PL season. We win it, we remain in the top 4 going into the international break. When we return, we have a PL 6 game fixture list from hell: City, Chelsea, Arsenal, (Palace), Liverpool, and Leicester. So, we need to stockpile points now when we can. 'Cos that is going to be a bastard set of games... in between our Euro games during the week. We can't afford to only play with a small squad of trusted players. Those 'fringe' players need to get their shit together. And play with a modicum of pride. And Jose needs to give them that chance to show they can do it; firstly, because it benefits the whole team. secondly, we need a rested, set of attacking players for West Brom.

So:

Hart

Aurier
Sanchez
Dier
Davies

Winks
Dele
Lo Celso

Bale
Vinicius
Stevie G

subs: Moura, Toby, Reggie, Lamela, Sissoko, PEH, White

Christ, an intelligent post. I must be on the wrong board- or you are.

it’s time for the fringe to step up, and to qualify without needing Son Kane and PEH to bail them out...

 

[dbspurs]

I would go strong these 2 games against Ludogrets. That will get 9 pts on the board going into LASK who were pretty shit.