Team v Vitesse Arnheim

[ShelfWatcher]

This is being done in knowledge that, even if we lose, we are still guaranteed to top the group if we win our final 3 group games (at home to Vitesse & Rennes, and away to Mura). And we will still want to do that, I think, given group winners get a bye in round of 32.

Yep, I reckon that's the thinking, let's hope it's not one of Baldricks cunning plans ?

 

[chrissivad]

I would have prefers to go strong and rest once we had top spot secured (if that's possible, not sure the order of games).

 

[Montalbano]

I think he's making the right call with wholesale changes. We have a very busy schedule coming up with important matches in the Premier League (West Ham away, Man U home, Everton away) and our squad players need to be challenged. Our "second XI" should be capable of beating a mid-table Eredivisie side, and if not, we're not going to survive in this competition anyways.

The focus this season needs to be securing Champions League football. Winning the Europa Conference League does not get us that.

 

[carpediem991]

As I said before, not a fan of having two seperate squads at the moment, should be "one" team.

Nothing wrong with mixing up the line up a bit, but its not just very risky to trust these XI, its even more risky not to take anyone with you who could be a trusted substitued.
At least Markanday should finally be close to some first team minutes, but maybe we see zero change Nuno again....

 

[YB123]

I would have prefers to go strong and rest once we had top spot secured (if that's possible, not sure the order of games).

Highly unlikely as Rennes is our last game.

 

[spursfan77]

I would have prefers to go strong and rest once we had top spot secured (if that's possible, not sure the order of games).

Yeah I agree, especially with Kane looking like he is starting to turn a corner. We all know that our second string isn't really good enough to win these games, maybe he just wants them to go there and get a draw. For whatever reason they just don't turn up. Plus of course we didn't want to buy a second striker, which was ludicrous.

It is only 45 minutes flight to Holland, they could fly back the night of the game and stay at the hotel. West Ham are playing too on Thursday of course. Seems like over kill to me.

 

[DogsOfWar]

Thanks for important update. So Nuno is going to gamble. Fair play, it's his neck on the line. Just hope it works, but we have seen before our B team fail. All I can say is COYS ??

I doubt his neck would be on the line, top four will be his objective from Levy, not the europa conference.

He won't take any chances with our league performances for this competition.

 

[isaac94]

with the news,
whats the team gonna look like
gollini
tanganga sanchez rodon davies
winks lo celso
stevie dele gil
scarlett
bench will be v weak

 

[ShelfWatcher]

I doubt his neck would be on the line, top four will be his objective from Levy, not the europa conference.

He won't take any chances with our league performances for this competition.

Fair comments, for me it's more important to win a trophy than to get top 4 and win nowt again
But I agree that's not how ENIC think and it's one of the reasons I want them out of the club
Our worst trophy haul in over a hundred years depresses and infuriates me. But of course as you rightly say it's what Levy thinks that's important.
What I and other trophy starved fans think is neither here or there in ENIC's world view

 

[PLTuck]

I would leave everyone planned to start vs West Ham at home to prepare for West Ham. Even losing this game wouldn't be a disaster and it's imperative that we do everything we can to carry the momentum forward in the league.

Gollini
Tanganga, Sanchez, Rodon, Davies
Winks, Lo Celso
Gil, Dele, Bergwijn
Scarlett

Bench: Youth players and Doherty.

EDIT: Just seen this line up is all but confirmed. Ignore me lol.

 

[YB123]

I would leave everyone planned to start vs West Ham at home to prepare for West Ham. Even losing this game wouldn't be a disaster and it's imperative that we do everything we can to carry the momentum forward in the league.

Gollini
Tanganga, Sanchez, Rodon, Davies
Winks, Lo Celso
Gil, Dele, Bergwijn
Scarlett

Bench: Youth players and Doherty.

EDIT: Just seen this line up is all but confirmed. Ignore me lol.

Doherty injured not in squad.

That will definitely be team with Markanday, White, John, Clarke only real possibilities of coming on if struggling. I'd imagine all the starters bar Bergwijn will get the 90.

Broken record but it just reiterates what an absolutely ridiculous decision it was to not get a striker in. No Sonny is not back up.

 

[djhotspur]

Fair comments, for me it's more important to win a trophy than to get top 4 and win nowt again
But I agree that's not how ENIC think and it's one of the reasons I want them out of the club
Our worst trophy haul in over a hundred years depresses and infuriates me. But of course as you rightly say it's what Levy thinks that's important.
What I and other trophy starved fans think is neither here or there in ENIC's world view

But would you really consider it a trophy? If we won it everyone would still laugh that we won some new lower tier competition. I just don’t think it’s important.
Getting champions league again, with some real money to spend and able attract high calibre players i think should be the focus.
With United faltering there is an opportunity there.
I hate the lack of trophies too, but I think a second rate competition win whilst sacrificing the league is worded or us.
It’s a massive game against West Ham and we need to go into it fresh. We conceded nine goals in 3 London derbies so far.

 

[WHL1947]

Have to support the line that the PL is far more important than a third rate trophy , return to the CL by finishing top four has to be the priority so Nuno and coaching staff doing the right thing in making the game on Sunday a priority.
In tomorrows team it's time for Lo Celso to step up in midfield and show us he is a top player.

 

[cabinfever]

I would leave everyone planned to start vs West Ham at home to prepare for West Ham. Even losing this game wouldn't be a disaster and it's imperative that we do everything we can to carry the momentum forward in the league.

Gollini
Tanganga, Sanchez, Rodon, Davies
Winks, Lo Celso
Gil, Dele, Bergwijn
Scarlett

Bench: Youth players and Doherty.

EDIT: Just seen this line up is all but confirmed. Ignore me lol.

You have to say it’s not a bad team on paper!!

 

[ShelfWatcher]

You have to say it’s not a bad team on paper!!

I would say it's definitely a bad team on paper if we're planning on winning the game. There are major weaknesses running through that team, from back to front

 

[Spurslove]

Doherty injured not in squad.

That will definitely be team with Markanday, White, John, Clarke only real possibilities of coming on if struggling. I'd imagine all the starters bar Bergwijn will get the 90.

Broken record but it just reiterates what an absolutely ridiculous decision it was to not get a striker in. No Sonny is not back up.

We tried very hard to get Martinez away from Inter but even offering close to £90 million wasn't enough despite the club being virtually skint, because they'd only recently sold Lukaku to Chelsea and wouldn't have any strikers if we signed Martinez.

Then we were trying to bring Vlahovic over but that failed too.

People think it's easy signing whoever we want but we're not a top 4 club and we're playing in the European Dustbin League, so bringing in the best players, while the other, financially doped clubs, can sign virtually who they like because they have bottomless pits of dirty money.

.

 

[karennina]

"What do you know about Vitesse?

A lot.

Can you tell us?"

Sometimes with dumb questions Nuno's taciturn nature can get to a better place.

 

[SpursTillIDie1882]

Thanks for important update. So Nuno is going to gamble. Fair play, it's his neck on the line. Just hope it works, but we have seen before our B team fail. All I can say is COYS ??

Its not really a gamble, its good call. Our priority is the PL and to be as competitive, fit and push all efforts above other comps for the PL.... Prioritising the PL above the Vanarama Johnstones Paints Intertoto inaugural is exactly what we should be doing.

 

[spursfan77]

Doherty injured not in squad.

That will definitely be team with Markanday, White, John, Clarke only real possibilities of coming on if struggling. I'd imagine all the starters bar Bergwijn will get the 90.

Broken record but it just reiterates what an absolutely ridiculous decision it was to not get a striker in. No Sonny is not back up.

If we had a back up striker to play I’d be much more relaxed about that second team. It makes such a difference. I bet we get no cover in January either.

 

[SpursTillIDie1882]

If Markanday is not given some minutes at least tommorow, writing is on the walls for him and will be a huge shame he is not given the opportunity to try and prove himself.