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Match Threads Spurs vs Watford - Carabao Cup Match Thread

Shadydan

Well-Known Member
Jul 7, 2012
38,247
104,143
Nothing wrong with putting Harry on the bench for this, we're not playing Barcelona ffs.

Poch echoed my sentiments in his press conference, there's an over obsession with team selection in this country, people think if you rest players you're disrespecting the competition. Well we have players who need resting as I keep being told so you can't have it both ways.

Semi strong team tonight with stars on the bench if it's all going tits up.
 

iddebu52

Well-Known Member
Jun 5, 2007
974
1,325
I can easily see this going to 90 minutes and then us losing on penalties. Its the kind of annoying thing that would happen to us, but at least if it does we might have a chance in the shootout without Lloris in goal.

They do have quite a big squad of players so might rest most of their team. But with Man Utd going out and with one of liverpool or chelsea going out, clubs that are unlikely to get relegated in the PL should be going full strength to win this competiton because its a great source of silverware.

I mean midtable teams like Watford, Everton, Leicester, Bournemouth, Palace and Arsenal.
If you see it like this go to specsavers!!??
 

jimbo

Cabbages
Dec 22, 2003
8,034
7,432
It's not that it's beneath us, but do you remember when Kane first injured his ankle? As I recall (I might be wrong) an FA Cup tie against someone sh*t where he shouldn't have been risked.

I'm not saying we should put out a scratch side, but Harry shouldn't play tonight

Yep, that was the quarter-final against Millwall two seasons ago, last FA Cup game at old White Hart Lane.
 

Bobbins

SC's 14th Sexiest Male 2008
May 5, 2005
21,548
45,031
We’ve got a strong enough squad to rest the likes of Kane, Verts and Dembele, whilst still playing top players.

Lamela and Son need game time anyway.

The worry about not taking the competition seriously is more about the attitudes and motivation of the players IMO - in previous years we’ve gone with strong line-ups but we’ve played like we can’t wait to go out of the competition, or like players are scared of putting too much effort in and getting injured.

Poch’s selection will probably be perfectly fine - but he must motivate the players and make it clear this is a competition we are absolutely aiming to win - use the City/Chelsea examples of recent years.
 

Bobbins

SC's 14th Sexiest Male 2008
May 5, 2005
21,548
45,031
Want to see Winks and Wanyama starting in the middle, Eriksen rested, Son, Lamela, Alli and Moura up front.

Wouldn’t even mind seeing Lamela in a false 9 role - he’s actually been pretty good playing that previously. I’m not always convinced by Son centrally, much more effective coming from wide IMO.
 

1882andallthat

Well-Known Member
Feb 2, 2009
2,821
4,157
We aren't good enough to win the league. We aren't good enough to win the Champions League. Recent history shows we collapse when we get into sniffing distance of the FA Cup.

So, to me, it makes sense to go all out in our most winnable competition, get the "Don't win trophies/bottle jobs" monkey off our backs in February so we can go into the last part of the season and whichever competitions we're still competing in with less pressure.
The previous 5 seasons do not support this statement that it's the most winnable competition, it has been won in the last 5 seasons by Man City 3 times Chelsea once, and Man Utd once, so at the business end of it they do take it seriously, and the final is usually in a week when the Champions League/Europe League knock out stage is is played, so it's not as easy to win as many people think it is, we found that out in that loss mentioned above to Chelsea.
 

Shadydan

Well-Known Member
Jul 7, 2012
38,247
104,143
The previous 5 seasons do not support this statement that it's the most winnable competition, it has been won in the last 5 seasons by Man City 3 times Chelsea once, and Man Utd once, so at the business end of it they do take it seriously, and the final is usually in a week when the Champions League/Europe League knock out stage is is played, so it's not as easy to win as many people think it is, we found that out in that loss mentioned above to Chelsea.

Yep, have always said this...the FA Cup is an easier competition to win than Carabao IMO, although you need to have an element of luck as per all cup comps.
 

JimmyG2

SC Supporter
Dec 7, 2006
15,014
20,779
It won't get the Monkey off our backs
even if we should win it.
The press will just revert to
yeh but it's not a top trophy
lets see how they go in the real top competitions.
Not saying we shouldn't try and win it
and that we possibly might
but that particular Monkey is pretty firmly stuck.

Remember the apocryphal JJ story.
Plays a blinder, scores three
heads two off the line
clear MOM.
Old Spurs fan
'Yeah but can he do it every week'
 

Legacy

SC Supporter
Mar 29, 2007
2,878
6,280
The previous 5 seasons do not support this statement that it's the most winnable competition, it has been won in the last 5 seasons by Man City 3 times Chelsea once, and Man Utd once, so at the business end of it they do take it seriously, and the final is usually in a week when the Champions League/Europe League knock out stage is is played, so it's not as easy to win as many people think it is, we found that out in that loss mentioned above to Chelsea.
Which competition is more winnable then? The one we haven't gotten to a final for since 1991, the one we haven't won since 1961 or the one we've never won?
 

stevenurse

Palacios' neck fat
May 14, 2007
6,089
10,022
Son, Lamela, Moura interchanging up top with Dele, Winks, Wanyama in Midfield. Dele joining in when he can

Davies, Sanchez, Dier, KWP at the back and big Gaz in goal.

Eriksen, Vertonghen, Toby, Trippier, Dembele, Kane, Rose all get a rest for Saturday.

Make it happen Poch.
 

Monkey boy

Well-Known Member
Jun 18, 2011
6,380
17,039
If Kane plays tonight then we really can’t have any complaints when England pick him for pointless games.

Frankly i couldn’t care less if we won or lost tonight. Personally I think it may benefit us if we went out as it gives Poch and his team a bit more time on the training ground to prepare for our more important games which should always be the league. We’ve had no time since the start of the season where we’ve had a free week which is what I see as a distinct disadvantage.

If we win then that’s good as it’ll do our confidence no harm and give more minutes to our fringe players. If we lose “meh” no big deal as far as I’m concerned.
 

Geyzer Soze

Fearlessly the idiot faced the crowd
Aug 16, 2010
26,056
63,361
It won't get the Monkey off our backs
even if we should win it.
The press will just revert to
yeh but it's not a top trophy
lets see how they go in the real top competitions.
Not saying we shouldn't try and win it
and that we possibly might
but that particular Monkey is pretty firmly stuck.

Remember the apocryphal JJ story.
Plays a blinder, scores three
heads two off the line
clear MOM.
Old Spurs fan
'Yeah but can he do it every week'
Is that a poem? ?
 

ajspurs

Well-Known Member
Jul 7, 2007
22,987
31,166
Yeah - I think that's right. But importantly, our best players need to be fresh for the top 4 fight. Kane should be rested tonight, no doubt about it

Yeah I do know what you mean, every league game is vitally important. I just think we have to get the balance right, if Kane is not playing for instance (which I would still actually agree with) then I would like for us to have a good mix/combination of the likes of Son/Lamela/Lucas/Dele/Eriksen in the team to compensate. I just think that if we're looking to rest too many and we're going to start with a team that consists of players such as Winks, Sissoko, Llorente etc then it would be no surprise to me if we don't make it far and that would be a shame.
 

JCRD

Well-Known Member
Aug 10, 2018
19,153
30,013
Which competition is more winnable then? The one we haven't gotten to a final for since 1991, the one we haven't won since 1961 or the one we've never won?

I do want us to win something but I really want us to concentrate on CL and PL and then FA Cup. I know there is less of a chance to win the three but theyre just such a dream for me arghhhhh... like im looking forward to the Huddersfield and Barca games more than this, its not because im intentionally thinking that way but because simply put they excite me more

Its a bit like just going for the 2am shag or the girl you really want and dreamed of but youre friend zoned. We are friend zoned.
 
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