Tottenham v Celtic Friendly Kick Off: 14:30 Available to Watch Online I haven't seen much about it on here but what's your thoughts on todays game against Celtic. Who are you looking forward to seeing out of the youngsters/new signings?
Tough, given Celtic are into their season already. However the last game wasn't very successful. 2-2.
Cheers for the link mate, though I think someone mentioned on my Twitter last night that it's only available to residents outside of the UK & Ireland, which is a blow but if that's true then I'm sure Wiziwig will throw something up. As for what I'm looking forward too, hopefully beating the Scots for a start! I think Celtic and Schalke will be taken a lot more seriously, Poch will look for strong performances AND results now as the season draws nearer. Having looked at the "Lads arrive in Helsinki" video on the OS, I can't see any of the internationals that returned from the WC the other day in any of the scenes, which is a bit worrying as it will mean a core number of first teamers will only have one pre-season game under Poch before heading into the new season.
Celtic will probably rest most of their team, as they've got the second leg of their CL qualifier coming up and the first game was a disaster. It'd be nice to see some of our World Cup players get some time and maybe Sandro and Chiriches, if they've recovered. Adebayor's still knackered from malaria and hasn't trained enough, so I doubt we'll see him play, unfortunately.
Drag the internationals along when they're not fit yet, or give them another week to settle in? I'd probably go for the latter as well. It does have the consequence of making most of our highest profile players have to work themselves into the team, which I can't help thinking may be intentional for a new coach trying to get a team to buy into a new system. The players who do play have to be conscious that it's their golden opportunity to determine their future, especially those who might or might not start or be sold or loaned, like Lennon, Holtby, Capoue, Carroll, Kaboul, Velkjovic and Townsend. When the internationals do play, they'll have to compete with a group who have had to be gung ho about the new system.
Ben Pearce ‏@BenPearceSpurs 2m #thfc line-up v Celtic: Friedel, Naughton, Dawson, Kaboul, Davies, Capoue, Mason, Holtby, Kane, Townsend, Soldado Ben Pearce ‏@BenPearceSpurs 2m #thfc subs: McGee, Fredericks, Fryers, Rose, Veljkovic, Bentaleb, Eriksen, Lamela, Lennon, Sandro, Adebayor
1-0. Townsend skins his man down the left, pulls it back to Harry Kane, who's totally free and blasts it into the roof of the net. Too easy.
2-0. Soldado and it's not a penalty. Great run from Kane, who was being fouled repeatedly, Holtby takes it off his foot and lays it off to Soldado, who's initial shot it saved by Gordon, but the rebound falls kindly and he buries it.
Dawson's picked up an ankle injury and has to come off. Think he landed badly from a header. He's wincing, but at least he's walking off, I guess. Replaced by Zeki Fryers.
Poor choice of opponent for this game, I think. Celtic's schedule was always going to mean that they'd field a weakened team. No idea why it's in Helsinki, either. An unnecessary trip to a half empty stadium.
What the f**? Half-time after 30 minutes? Drinks break? What's going on? Edit: It was a drinks break. In ****ing Helsinki.
Playing the Little Sisters of the Poor would be a good idea if it got Soldado a goal from open play. Helsinki is a poser, though. Shouldn't we be playing the Helsinki Cricket and Football club? It's funny to think how much Celtic must have liked going to Helsinki for a meaningless game when desperately needing to recover from a CL hammering. OG. Fryers finishes well with Friedel at his mercy. That should stamp his ticket for the football wilds.
BBC weather says it was 26C an hour ago in Helsinki. (yeah thats how bored I am) Still takes the piss.
2-1. OG from Fryers, I think. Asleep at the back, Naughton seemed to be miles out of position and a deflected shot was saved by Friedel, but went wide. Put back across and barely crossed the line (possibly), but it's hard to see who got the last touch. **** defending.