Team v Tripolis + Team v Newcastle

[prawnsandwich]

Kane should definitely start and we should rest Lloris/Eriksen. The rest I'm not that fussed about.

Still people are talking about "resting" Lloris. I can't see that happening without a settled back 4.

 

[Spursidol]

Kyle Walker-Peters has not been included in the squad for an u21 freindly tonight.

Possibly to include him in the squad on Thursday EL ?

 

[prawnsandwich]

I am hoping Soldado starts on Thursday and "poaches" a couple of goals. No chance he will start v Newcastle.

 

[prawnsandwich]

Kyle Walker-Peters has not been included in the squad for an u21 freindly tonight.

Possibly to include him in the squad on Thursday EL ?

I saw his last game and he did not look ready. I would expect a sub spot if his non selection today is not because of injury.

 

[Gbspurs]

Still people are talking about "resting" Lloris. I can't see that happening without a settled back 4.

If Lloris gets injured we are fucked. If resting him means the defence is at sea and we only beat these part timers 5-4 then I couldn't care less really!

 

[Spursidol]

I saw his last game and he did not look ready. I would expect a sub spot if his non selection today is not because of injury.

Don't disagree with that. Besides which as Naughton was being said by Poch to be possibly in contention for Thursday, we no longer have a RB crisis.

Virtually all youngsters coming into the first team squad make their first few appearances from the bench, not as a starter, so it would be unlikely he would be a contender as a starter unless we had a RB crisis and few other viable alternatives

 

[Kendall]

Dat greek team:

Vorm

Naughton Fazio Vertonghen Davies

Stambouli Bentaleb

Lamela Dembele Chadli

Kane​

 

[onthetwo]

I think Vlad will play Thursday. Got a feeling that with Verts not automatic choice recently he may take this opportunity and play sensibly. Like Lamela "there is something there."

 

[SpursManChris]

v Tripolis

Vorm

Dier_Chiriches_Fazio_Davies

Paulinho_Bentaleb

Townsend_Lamela_Dembele

Kane



​

 

[maltahotspur]

Dat greek team:

Vorm

Naughton Fazio Vertonghen Davies

Stambouli Bentaleb

Lamela Dembele Chadli

Kane​

As far as I know, Naughton (32 nd minute vs Southampton) is injured and probably not ready yet.

 

[Mr Pink]

I notice that almost everyone is picking a somewhat weaker team for the EL than the PL. This is on the basis that we are stronger than the "weak" European opposition. The same sentiments were expressed about our previous two ties, and we didn't win either of them.
I think that the EL is an easier route for us to the Champions league than getting top four.

Not for me. Its open season at the moment in the prem for third and fourth spot. Someone can stake a serious claim for these spots if they can put a run together.

 

[browndchl]

If our first team plays on Thursday and then plays again on Sunday. If they lose to Newcastle, do you promise not to start spitting blood about how they were tired and should have been rested. Because, that's what'll happen.

I won't be spitting blood (we're going to beat the Barcodes), promise.

Just a had look at all our starting lineups for games which were followed by a game 3 days later:

AEL - QPR 7 changes, won 4-0
AEL - Liverpool 9 changes, lost 3-0
Partizan - WBA 10 changes, lost 1-0
WBA - N.Forest 11 changes, won 3-1
N.Forest - Arsenal 10 changes, drew 1-1
Besiktas - S'hampton 10 changes, won 1-0

No wonder we're looking disjointed and lacking confidence. Poch is basically managing 2 teams. He's either trying to keep everyone happy or is experimenting to see who are the 'keepers' and who to discard in the next transfer window. I just want to see a settled lineup game to game with the only changes being enforced ones either through injury, lack of form or tiredness.

 

[chrissivad]

Personally I think we're making too many changes from game to game. We need a settled back four and DM for a run of games, so they can start getting a better understanding of each others strengths and weaknesses. Get into a winning run of games and the confidence levels will increase. When players are winning, they don't want to be rested. That's the time to rotate 2 or 3 players at most IMO.

Lets go bold and put out our strongest available lineup for both games. Thursday we start positively, get a good lead and then we can think about resting important players for the Newcastle game.

I think this is a good opportunity for some players to play Thursday and Sunday.
Both home games, so travel isnt an issue and as you say a run of games could be a benefit for us.

 

[Good Doctor M]

I won't be spitting blood (we're going to beat the Barcodes), promise.

Just a had look at all our starting lineups for games which were followed by a game 3 days later:

AEL - QPR 7 changes, won 4-0
AEL - Liverpool 9 changes, lost 3-0
Partizan - WBA 10 changes, lost 1-0
WBA - N.Forest 11 changes, won 3-1
N.Forest - Arsenal 10 changes, drew 1-1
Besiktas - S'hampton 10 changes, won 1-0

No wonder we're looking disjointed and lacking confidence. Poch is basically managing 2 teams. He's either trying to keep everyone happy or is experimenting to see who are the 'keepers' and who to discard in the next transfer window. I just want to see a settled lineup game to game with the only changes being enforced ones either through injury, lack of form or tiredness.

I understand your point, but I don't think it can be underestimated how fatigue takes it's affect. We've always found it notoriously more difficult to gain wins in the league following an excursion in Europe. Of course, I would like to see a settled team and for us to line out with our strongest 11 as much as possible, but the reality is, it does have a negative affect on the league when we play in Europe. Minimizing the use of our "best" 11 against the fodder of the Europa League, really is the only realistic option in attempting to keep our key players free of injury and fatigue.

We lost to WBA and Liverpool, but I don't see how that can be realistically attributed to the team being changed from three days previous. Liverpool outplayed us and WBA caught us on a day where we lacked ideas. I wouldn't necessarily conclude that the reasons for those below par showings in the league were a lack of cohesiveness brought on by playing a second string in the Europa. It doesn't really add up when we're able to come back after an international break and outplay Southampton.

 

[ClintEastwould]

Not winning this game could put us in a tricky position in terms of getting out the group, so I think we need a strong-ish team, or at the very least not play chiriches.

 

[Bulletspur]

Personally I think we're making too many changes from game to game. We need a settled back four and DM for a run of games, so they can start getting a better understanding of each others strengths and weaknesses. Get into a winning run of games and the confidence levels will increase. When players are winning, they don't want to be rested. That's the time to rotate 2 or 3 players at most IMO.

Lets go bold and put out our strongest available lineup for both games. Thursday we start positively, get a good lead and then we can think about resting important players for the Newcastle game.

One of the things with your suggestion is that there would only be 3 rested

 

[0-Tibsy-0]

Bentaleb and Naughton out tomorrow. Makes Stambo a nailed on starter I'd have thought which is good-see potential there once he's adapted. Perhaps a youngster at RB too if we want to make sure we have Dier fit, which again would be nice to see.

 

[SEANSPURS1975]

Europa League:-

Lloris; Dier, Fazio, Vertonghen, Davies; Stambouli, Dembele; Lennon, Eriksen, Townsend; Adebayor.

 

[carpediem991]

Already excited of the possibility KWP is playing.

 

[goughie1966]

I am hoping Soldado starts on Thursday and "poaches" a couple of goals. No chance he will start v Newcastle.

I'll be very disappointed if he doesn't start against Newcastle. Adebayor needs to be dropped to the Europa League to give him a kick up his arse that he needs.

Bobby won't get a better chance to start scoring than against Newcastle at home. Madness if he doesn't start.