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Team v Madrid (H)

TottenhamLegend

Well-Known Member
Jun 13, 2012
3,273
9,439
Win tonight and we'll have mathematically qualified from the "group of death" with 2 whole games to spare. Huge incentive.
 

BringBack_leGin

Well-Known Member
Jul 28, 2004
27,719
54,929
I agree, cannot see Rose starting this. Still seemed well off the pace against West Ham, and think it will be a while yet still, before he's really firing. For now, and the foreseeable, Davies is no.1 in that position.

I'm interested to see how we might go in the middle and up top.

The back 6 is very likely to be Lloris, Alderweireld, Sanchez, Vertonghen with Aurier and Davies as wing backs.

But in the middle with Dembele seemingly back fit, and Alli returning from suspension there are some big decisions to make.

Do we stick with Winks who has performed so well? Does Dier move back into midfield? Does Sissoko remain in the side in order to offer a little more directness from the middle?

Then you have similar issues further forward. Kane seems in line to start. Do we play two up top again? Does Son keep a place? Alli?

I have no idea.

More and more I think about it, the less I can bring myself do drop Winks. Ergo, assuming Kane is fit, two of Son, Dele, Dembele or Dier miss out depending on whether we value break pace, goal threat, ball retention or ball recovery the most.

My gut tells me that when up against Madrid, ball recovery before they reach the final third will always be equally hard and the ability to ghost in to score will be more useful than the ability to charge upfield with ball like v Dortmund. I’d also suggest that the ability to keep ball under pressure out weighs the charge. Ergo, Dembele and Dele in for me, so I’d like to see:

Lloris
Alderweireld Sanchez Vertonghen
Aurier Winks Dembele Dele Davies
Eriksen
Kane​
 

Bobbins

SC's 14th Sexiest Male 2008
May 5, 2005
21,548
45,031
Rose should start ahead of Davies not because he deserves to. He doesn’t. He should start this match because he’s the best option vs. Madrid and his pace down the wings will be invaluable this match.

Davies is the best option as he’s currently the better player. Rose doesn’t have his pace back yet.
 

aliyid

Well-Known Member
Dec 28, 2004
6,944
19,928
Can I just take a moment to remind everyone that we’re playing Real Madrid in the Champions League... :woot: pinch me, I could only dream of this a few years ago.
 

hughy

I'm SUPER cereal.
Nov 18, 2007
31,842
56,932
Eh? That's only if BVB drop points again which is unlikely
If we win tonight we'd be on 10 points. If BVB win their final three they'll be on 10 points. And if Madrid lose tonight, beat Apoel, and lose to BVB they will also be on 10 points. As we'd have a better head-to-head than Real we will be through, it wouldn't matter what our result against Apoel or Dortmund is.

I very much doubt the above would happen but just to prove it is a fact that a win tonight puts us, or Madrid for that matter, through.
 

shelfboy68

Well-Known Member
Jun 14, 2008
14,566
19,651
Would be one of the best night's in our history if we won this which like everyone else I hope, however I think Madrid may well turn up tonight and turn it on I so hope they don't.
 

degoose

Well-Known Member
Jul 3, 2004
2,832
3,012
the best news overall is that ronaldo has been off all season, marcelo has been pretty poor and varane is injured , also no carvajal.They have a much weakened back line either because of injury and form so i think Son starting is a must for a quick counter.
 

Cavehillspur

Well-Known Member
Jan 28, 2011
13,967
18,271
Same lineup as the Liverpool game but only if Kane is 100%, wouldn't want to risk him otherwise.
 

kungfugrip

Well-Known Member
Apr 8, 2005
1,613
1,523
Can I just take a moment to remind everyone that we’re playing Real Madrid in the Champions League... :woot: pinch me, I could only dream of this a few years ago.
.....and Liverpool against Maribor STILL dominates the Sky Sports webpage. Think anything relating to our Real Madrid game is about 6th or 7th story on their page! Real Madrid are in town. Ronaldo is in town. Yet the headline news story is about Alex Oxade Chamberlain. LOL
 
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Pellshek

Well-Known Member
Dec 30, 2015
2,509
7,289
I have a funny feeling* Madrid are really going to turn up tonight.


* It should be noted that funny feelings have no scientific basis in fact.
 

Partizan

Well-Known Member
Aug 3, 2005
6,573
3,405
Can I just take a moment to remind everyone that we’re playing Real Madrid in the Champions League... :woot: pinch me, I could only dream of this a few years ago.

A few years ago we were playing Real Madrid in the Champions League :sneaky:
 

aliyid

Well-Known Member
Dec 28, 2004
6,944
19,928
A few years ago we were playing Real Madrid in the Champions League :sneaky:
I'm eternally stuck in the Ginger Pele years :bag:

Anyway to get it back on topic.

Aurier ahead ofTrips due to his pace against Marcello (and Trips can tear apart Palace at the weekend)
Kane to start as I think the media focus on him (and his performance in Madrid) will see them give us a tiny bit of respect and space.
Dembele over Winks as I'd love to see Dembele take on Modric & Kroos
 
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TottenhamLegend

Well-Known Member
Jun 13, 2012
3,273
9,439
Eh? That's only if BVB drop points again which is unlikely
Dortmund can only catch us if they beat Madrid. If they beat Madrid, then they can still catch us, but Madrid can't. They can't both overtake us, only one can.

If APOEL beat Dortmund tonight, the same applies but with them instead of Dortmund.

That is all assuming we win tonight - a huge ask of course!
 

Grey Fox

Well-Known Member
Jul 10, 2008
5,126
31,089
If Llorente gets on the pitch then Trippier should also be there to give him some service, without Varane they are weak at the back, Ramos is vastly overrated IMHO and getting slower each season
 
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