What will Harry do IF we progress to the last stages of the Europa League. Does he want to win it?Meaning,is he going to bring the First team into it,or just play the reserves? I mean,if Harry is not interested in this competition,why doesn't he let another team take Spurs place? I want Spurs to win this comp as,I'm sure,a lot of you do
I think that it depends upon our opponents and the fitness levels of our squad. The January transfer window might have something to do with it, too. If everyone's fit, then we can field a very strong side. Cudicini, Corluka, Dawson, Gallas, Bassong, Sandro, Huddlestone, Kranjcar, Pienaar and Defoe all need games and we've got some promising youth players like Carroll, Kane and Townsend waiting in the wings, too.
Many of the players in this side were part of the starting XI that secured 4th, so theoretically they should be in with a chance of winning the EL.
It'll depend on how we do in the FA Cup, Methinks. If say we get Man City away early on and get knocked out I think 'arry will really give it a go.
Same as King, gradually more first team as necessary. I see what you mean by 'interested', he has dissed the travel and the alteration to PL days, but I wouldn't read that as not being interested, just think it makes things more difficult, and he was having a moan.
I'm sure I read somewhere that Harry said he'd basically take it more seriously once/ if we got to the knockout stages. On the other hand, IF all our players can get fit, our "2nd string" team is frighteningly strong and there's no reason that with the right run and a bit of luck, we could do very well in the competition with a team of: Cudicini, Corluka, Dawson, Gallas, Bassong/ Rose Livermore, Huddlestone Dos Santos, Carroll, Krancjar, Defoe Plus the likes of Townsend, Pienaar, Gomes, Kane, Pavlyuchenko, Falque plus first teamers to call on if needed, pretty good eh?!
We're taking it as seriously injuries and the domestic schedule let us and even then we've played Benny in most games, in the absence of proper backup(Rose) being fit and we've also played Kaboul, Bassong and Gallas when we've only had 2/3 centrebacks fit. To put it in perspective, for the home game against Rubin there were 264 caps between the 14 involved and that's not including Walker's recently gained caps. We have a big squad so we need to give a lot of players gain time and the only sensible way to do that is to prioritise competitions, otherwise we'd never play a full first 11.
I think it might be relevant too that Levy was quoted just today or yesterday that we wanted to take the EL seriously. Might be interesting to see if we have, say, an early-round FA Cup game before a knock-out EL game how Harry prioritises them. We have more strength in depth than perhaps ever before. We should use it. It'll also be interesting to see who is registered for the tournament when we're allowed to rejig the squad, whenever that is.
Schteffen: "To put it in perspective, for the home game against Rubin there were 264 caps between the 14 involved and that's not including Walker's recently gained caps." Now that's a stat!
A clue as to our intentions will be given by the squad additions, if we make it to the last 32. VDV definitely will want to be involved, and I would imagine Brad would like the chance of a medal, so who will drop out of the squad? There's also a place for one more, as we can add three. My guess is that each tie will be taken as it comes, a bit like now, where I expect a fairly strong team against POAK. Some of the fringe players will be upset doubtless, as they lose their place to more experienced players, but they do have limitations and the younger ones can see it's for the best they've gained experience, even if they don't play in the latter stages. The great thing these days is there are lots of medals that are given out, so anyone who's played a substantial part in our run IF we get to the final, should get a medal.
Pav and Gomes' spaces may become available, Pav doesn't stop moaning and Gomes has supposedly signalled his intention to leave so I wouldn't be surprised if they were sold. Pienaar can also be dropped IF we sign someone in Jan (though I'm not particularly bothered if we do or don't providing we get no major injuries).
Surely if we make the knockout stages Harry will up the ante a little bit but not to the detriment of the senior squad. I'd there are new signings great, but if not the squad may remain basically the same.
Good points SOS, except I disagree with the bit about Pienaar, I would expect a fit SP to be a key part of our Europa squad.
Hi PL, it has to remain basically the same as only 3 changes are allowed. I'm sure VDV will insist on being one of the three, he won't want to miss out on a European medal if it's up for grabs, and he loves playing European football.
GH10, I'm sure Rafa would want to be part of it, but knowing his recent Injury issues would Harry really want to risk him on the run in to the business end of the league season?
God I hope not, otherwise we're f*cked if we're relying on him I'd insist on Rafa being one of the three as well for all that counts, we'll definitely need him come the semi's/ final should we reach it.
I think Rafa will insist on being in. He was fuming with Harry about being left out of the group stages, I can't think Harry will screw him over again by leaving him out without consulting him. May be wrong of course, but IF we get in the final stages, my money is on VDV being in the squad.
SOS. It's not a case of relying on him, I just think he will have a lot to offer the squad If I remember correctly from before, you have a really low opinion of him, which I very much don't share. Agreed I think Rafa will get very annoyed if Harry leaves him out again without consulting him.
Indeed G10, just think he's an awful player, definitely a "miss" in Redknapp's transfer dealings with us (see the article by lennypops ) and is someone who's earning a wage that we could re-invest into someone who can actually add positively to the team rather than being consigned to the injury table or playing utter tripe on the pitch. I doubt Harry will leave Rafa out for the next stages if we progressed through the group, be very surprised if he was. Rafa will (like any footballer) want to get as many games as he can and baring in mind we're one of the favourites for Europa, Rafa's one of the main reasons we're considered so highly for the competition.
