Team vs Tromso

[IMissTheWaddler]

I think we should play almost a totally different 11 on Thursday. We need to keep competition for places in the PL team intense, we need to keep "sqaud" players fit, and besides, what the point of having all these players if they aren't good enough to beat some team called Trombone at WHL on their own without the established first teamers in there? And I agree, going to Cardiff will be tough so we take no chances with key players.

This is a game where those on the fringes are given a chance to shine and show their attitude.

 

[Yid-ol]

I think we need to secure this win then rest on the gritty away days.

mmmm

I cant see anyone saying we need to secure the win, but winning 1-0 or 10-0 its still 3 points. We need to keep some players fresh for bigger games IMO.

 

[Lilbaz]

B team. Tromso are going to play their b team so ours should be good enough to beat them.
Have the players who are going to play against cardiff concentrate on winning that.

 

[Mr Pink]

B team. Tromso are going to play their b team so ours should be good enough to beat them.
Have the players who are going to play against cardiff concentrate on winning that.

Exactly. Our fringe players are more than good enough. Anyway, given that AVB has trimmed the squad and enhanced the overall quality within it - this is the very reason why he did that. So he could select and rotate accordingly without weakening the team too much.

I don't want Eriksen, Soldado, Paulinho etc anywhere near the pitch on Thursday night.

Lamela is different because his integration to the team has been different.

 

[TaoistMonkey]

Yes, so I don't see your logic in playing a weaker team away. Its points format, not aggregate score - otherwise I'd agree with you - score 10 tonight, then send the kids to Tromso, because losing 3-0 means nothing. That's not the case in a league format.

My logic is its easier to pick up points at home so go guns blazing at White Hart Lane to secure wins but play a weaker team away at the risk of picking up injuries.

 

[Kendall]

My logic is its easier to pick up points at home so go guns blazing at White Hart Lane to secure wins but play a weaker team away at the risk of picking up injuries.

OK, so you'd take the risk that 9 points would be enough to get us through? I know I'm being worst case scenario, but I really don't understand the logic of playing a weaker team for a tougher game where points are needed. We are more likely to get a result by playing a second string against Tromso and Sheriff at home than we are away. I don't see the point in winning the home game but making it much much harder for yourself away.

 

[talkshowhost86]

I agree with those saying we should field a much-weakened team.

Any 11 from our current squad should be fine to beat Tromso and we need to keep our good start to the season going against Cardiff.

Anyone who is going to be in the starting XI should be rested (apart from maybe Lamela who needs minutes) and I'd be happy to throw in a few of the kids to make up the numbers if needed.

 

[Lilbaz]

Exactly. Our fringe players are more than good enough. Anyway, given that AVB has trimmed the squad and enhanced the overall quality within it - this is the very reason why he did that. So he could select and rotate accordingly without weakening the team too much.

I don't want Eriksen, Soldado, Paulinho etc anywhere near the pitch on Thursday night.

Lamela is different because his integration to the team has been different.

Think partly he was left on the bench for jet lag, partly cause of his brother.

Can't wait to see him and erikssen playing together.

Remember we have 2 games a week for the next couple of months. It's a marathon not a sprint.

 

[talkshowhost86]

OK, so you'd take the risk that 9 points would be enough to get us through? I know I'm being worst case scenario, but I really don't understand the logic of playing a weaker team for a tougher game where points are needed.

I'm pretty sure 9 points would be enough to get us through, but I'm with you in thinking that TM is being batshit mental on this one.

 

[Mr Pink]

My logic is its easier to pick up points at home so go guns blazing at White Hart Lane to secure wins but play a weaker team away at the risk of picking up injuries.

To be honest mate, Defoe, Holtby et al will be more than strong enough to send this team packing. We should still win convincingly. Plus the likes of Lamela will start to. It will still be a bloody strong side!

 

[Kendall]

I agree with those saying we should field a much-weakened team.

Any 11 from our current squad should be fine to beat Tromso and we need to keep our good start to the season going against Cardiff.

Anyone who is going to be in the starting XI should be rested (apart from maybe Lamela who needs minutes) and I'd be happy to throw in a few of the kids to make up the numbers if needed.

I would normally be against wholesale changes as we have seen in the past we look disjointed and poor. But the team that plays won't be much-weakend. it will in all probability include Lamela, Holtby, Kaboul, Sandro, Defoe and Chadli. We'd have been happy if each member of that team was in our starting 11 last season!

 

[Lilbaz]

My logic is its easier to pick up points at home so go guns blazing at White Hart Lane to secure wins but play a weaker team away at the risk of picking up injuries.

Tromso away. Just pick the players that have pissed you off.

We'll be lucky if it's -20c.

 

[Mr Pink]

Think partly he was left on the bench for jet lag, partly cause of his brother.

Can't wait to see him and erikssen playing together.

Remember we have 2 games a week for the next couple of months. It's a marathon not a sprint.

Exactly why AVB will use the squad wisely. No doubt in my mind that his priority was addressing the depth of the squad. Far too many players he couldn't rely on last season. He's changed that now.

 

[Wardy]

OK, so you'd take the risk that 9 points would be enough to get us through? I know I'm being worst case scenario, but I really don't understand the logic of playing a weaker team for a tougher game where points are needed.

I think he means that it's wise to guarentee us at least 9 points in the league table. If you look at the standings from last year:

http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=2013/standings/index.html

10 points was the highest tally that 3rd place didn't qualify and that was an exception. So you'd win all 3 home games and then just get at least 1 draw away and you should be fine. With our team we're definitely going to get more than that. Looking at our group we could qualify with 7-9 points I feel.

Honestly though, I feel our 'b team' can win all 3 home games very comfortably, so I wouldn't risk the 1st team anyway

 

[TaoistMonkey]

OK, so you'd take the risk that 9 points would be enough to get us through? I know I'm being worst case scenario, but I really don't understand the logic of playing a weaker team for a tougher game where points are needed. We are more likely to get a result by playing a second string against Tromso and Sheriff at home than we are away. I don't see the point in winning the home game but making it much much harder for yourself away.

I'd have no doubt our second team could pick up points away. But I personally wouldn't risk (at this stage) any of our first team in conditions that could cause injury. (i'm assuming these teams play in cow fields)

 

[TaoistMonkey]

I'd have no doubt our second team could pick up points away. But I personally wouldn't risk (at this stage) any of our first team in conditions that could cause injury. (i'm assuming these teams play in cow fields)

As I suspected...

Alfheim has a playing surface made of artificial turf with under-soil heating. It had natural grass until 2006. However, the condition of the pitch, especially during the winter months, received considerable criticism from sports pundits and visiting managers. Usually in October, when the Norwegian Premier League is in its last rounds, winter sets in Tromsø. This, along with the wear and tear from football matches and practicing sessions, caused the grass to disappear and reduced the pitch to a muddy field. To make up for this, Tromsø I.L. installed artificial turf at the stadium during the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Funding for the turf came from contributions to the club from several businesses in Tromsø, including 7.5 million NOK from an anonymous donor. The artificial turf laid in 2006 was replaced with a new one in June 2010 after taking much criticism.

 

[dontcallme]

I'm from norway and i can honestly say that we Will beat Tromsø 10 out of 10 no matter what team we line up. Tromsø currently is at the same level as bottom championship i recon.

Therefore we should use the oppertunity to rest all our regulars and field a team of youngsters and those who nede game time (lamela, holtby, etc)

Tromsø played tonight and beat rosenborg 1-0. Rosenborg is on top of the league so that Was quite good. The win means They got above the relegation spots.

Norway has currently a very low level compared to ten years ago When Rosenborg were doing good in Champions league. Players from u21 at United and city have been in norway on loans and are dominating the league.

We should however get a more difficult away game as Tromsø is playing on an artificial field and it can be very cold the next 6 months (-10).

Any information on their style of play?

I agree with others that our fringe players are good enough to beat them.

If they aren't very physical then I'm happy for some 1st team players to play to build an understanding and give players like Holtby and Kaboul to get a run out to get some match fitness.

If they're very physical then maybe not.

 

[Kendall]

Weird, really weird. I do hope that AVB plays a strong team away as it would be very embarrasing to go out of this group.

 

[dagraham]

Weird, really weird. I do hope that AVB plays a strong team away as it would be very embarrasing to go out of this group.

I think we should be playing our fringe players in all the away group games. We saw last season that playing a strong team in the group stages of the EL is no guarantee of a good performance. In fact, quite the opposite as those playing regualrly simply couldn't be arsed.

We also have the luxury that this year our "fringe" players are of a high quality (apart from the full back position). Players such as Friedal, Kaboul, Chriches, Sandro, Holtby, Defoe and Ade have been nowhwere near a PL start.

In each of the away trips I would make sure that Soldado, Verts, Eriksen and Paulihno were at home with their feet up.

 

[TaoistMonkey]

A teaspoon of honey is actually the lifework of 12 bees.