I’m hoping he’ll be available by the Ajax game so he can boss Frenkie and Donny. It’ll also allow us to push Dele further forward in the absence of Sonny.
This is not rocket science. Pochettino should have a strongest starting XI in mind for the CL game, based on who is available TODAY for that game. So "work backwards" to select the appropriate starting XIs capable of definitely winning the two PL games.
If we were to get past Ajax, I wonder if they will open the Stadium with big screens for the final. It would be a money maker, especially if it turned into an all night party.
One has to think ahead, beer in this country is excessively expensive. One has to plan beer tokens, especially as it would run in double figures if we were to win in Madrid.
Good grief, after playing tonight they don't play again until after the second leg. That is a big advantage! No chance they could get rusty over the weekend?
As ever it’s six and two threes - there is something to be said for being in a rhythm of playing regularly especially if your squad is in good shape and you’re in a winning run...on the other hand a break can go one way or the other, could refresh them or jolt them out of a good phase. Ultimately teams just have to play their hand as they’re dealt it, if we lose at home to Ajax it won’t be primarily because we played West Ham on Saturday IMO.
It all makes winning tonight all the more important. Win tonight there is an option to rest a couple of players against the spam. Lose tonight it has to be full strength Saturday.
That I understand We should be looking to tonk Brighton tonight to help ourselves on the weekend That's game management
Hence my 'audition for the CL final team sheet' remarks. It should not come to that (the squad should be professional/proud enough to get the PL top 4 done and dusted ASAP regardless) , but if Pochettino needs to give additional motivation to them, then IMHO he has it.
But it's only a week's break. The semis are 30th and 8th, just means they don't play the weekends before. I see no downside in that.
As it should DH, he’s walked away from games against Spain and Real Madrid with his head held high. This is a very handy Ajax midfield but Winksy tends to do better in Europe and international games where it’s a bit less frantic than the PL. Plus you know how I feel about The Hemel Hempstead Messiah
I’d agree with the doing better in Europe statement but he’s essentially coming up against the guy who’s everything we wanted Winks to be and some. I hope you’re right FWIW because we’ll need something special to nullify Frenkie, the lad has it all and he’s noway near reaching his prime. ****ing hate Barcelona, he was meant to be ours!
I think we’ll go a diamond with Nando and Lucas up top, Dele in behind as 10 to break into the box and do the same job on Frenkie as he did on Jorginho earlier this season. Then Dier/Wanyama, Winks and Eriksen to do the rest of the midfield work. Trouble is it’s not just their midfield, both their CBs are great on the ball as well. Lucas is going to have a lot of chasing to do.
