We need to score and probably more than one. I'd be tempted to pick a second XI and try out Soldado and Adebayor together. Chadli and Townsend (especially) caused them quite a lot of problems and their central midfielders don't seem to like tackling much. Vorm; Chiriches, Fazio, Kaboul, Davies; Townsend, Stambouli, Capoue, Chadli; Soldado, Adebayor, perhaps? Fill the bench with the U21s and possibly Yedlin and Paulinho, if they're fit.
I think that Pochettino will go with the side that's worked well for him recently and Dembele's been in impressive form. He may pick the side that won in the 5-3 at WHL, though.
I enjoyed the game, particularly the first half and I would agree that the 2nd half was a bit flat and I don't think Pochetinos subs helped. As someone who was looking forward to seeing him play I was disappointed with Eriksen and surprised he played the full 90, I would like to have seen Townshend given a run down the left when Lamela came on. I thought Bentaleb played well his ability to find space was very impressive and though his passing was not always as progressive as I would have liked, he was always available to receive the ball unlike some of his colleagues. I guess as Spurs fans you all have very strong hearts because some of the passing between the back 4 I found very worrying with Fazio appearing particularly ponderous at times. I have now been to the Lane 4 times in the last 12 months and Soldado has scored 3 times, but last night he seemed to me, to be good and bad in equal measure.
If everyone’s playing their best, I think the Chadli/Eriksen/Townsend trio may just edge Eriksen/Dembele/Lamela. I might go for Eriksen/Dembele/Townsend against Chelsea. Eriksen/Dembele/Lamela has three centrallish players, whereas Townsend provides more width. Dembele has often been a big game player. AG, I’m hoping nobody was watching Liverpool play us, because I thought they had it just right. Hang around, pick a spot to intercept, then break at full speed. I think we need to punt it away from danger at times.
Let's say that Pochettino is going to pick the team that beat Chelsea 5-3 at WHL for the final. That would make sense, but who would it leave us with, if we were to rest them all for the Thursday game? The final side would be this: Lloris; Walker, Fazio, Vertonghen, Rose; Mason, Bentaleb; Townsend, Eriksen, Chadli; Kane. That leaves us with this, in my opinion: Vorm; Chiriches, Dier, Kaboul, Davies; Capoue, Stambouli; Lamela, Paulinho, Dembele; Soldado. Friedel, Carter-Vickers, Walker-Peters, Yedlin, Winks, Onomah, Adebayor. Probably not good enough to get through, in all honesty, but I think that putting out the first team might still not be enough. The travelling and playing so close to the final will be too much, especially against a very good Chelsea side.
Either we go for it or we don't at all. Given that Eriksen and Kane have both had their work loads lightened in the last 2 games by starting on the bench for one I think the only player we should have any special concern for is Walker who I'd leave at home for the Fiorentina game. Other than that I'd either leave everyone penciled in to start against Chelsea on the bench/at home or play them all. I'd be inclined to send out the first team and go for it, the tie is still up for grabs and we've gone 3 without a win now so I think the side could do with a victory going into the final. Not that it would be a certainty that we would win, obviously, but it's what we should be targeting. So for me: Lloris/Vorm(whoever's starting the final); Chiriches(is he fit?), Dier, Vertonghen, Rose; Mason, Bentaleb; Townsend, Eriksen, Chadli; Kane.
I'd go for Fiorentina: Vorm, Yedlin/ Chiriches, Fazio, Kaboul, Davies Stambouli, Capoue Dembele, Paulinho, Lamela Soldado With Onomah, Winks, Adebayor, Walker-Peters, Khumalo (if registered?), Friedel, Ward as subs. And for the final: Lloris, Walker, Dier, Vertonghen, Rose Mason, Bentaleb Townsend, Eriksen, Chadli Kane With Vorm, Fazio/ Kaboul, Davies, Stambouli, Dembele, Lamela, Soldado as subs. Have a feeling Poch will choose Dembele over Chadli though for the final and I think there's a good chance a few final guys will play on Thursday anyway, Poch hasn't really fully rotated a squad from what I can remember, so I'd be surprised if my selection was what he chooses. Just hope the final guys are as fresh as possible.
The other issue to remember for this game is that if we send a strong team and it's 1-1 after 90 minutes, then we're ****ed for the final. The scheduling for this is really, really crap.
Well according to Mourinho, we have the advantage going into Sunday, because we don't have to face Matic !
Matic has been immense for them this season and it's shown by their results when he's not in the side. That being said ^-^ I wouldn't exactly say 'advantage'...
If ever there's a way to invalidate a sentence discussing Premier League football, it's starting it with the words "According to Mourinho."
Agreed. This is no time for half measures. The entire first team should either start or not get on the plane.
Harry Kane has definitely flown out to Italy, its on the Official Twitter. Make of that what you will.
I think the reasoning behind Kane and Eriksen etc going to Florence, is because we are staying there until Friday evening for training in preparation for Sunday.
Both are young enough to handle it imo. Plus both have been benched in recent games, even if they did come off.
I’m guessing Pochettino has tried to optimize for this week’s two games, and that he’s thinking he can play a virtual first choice both games, maybe with Chadli, Dembele, Townsend, and/or Lamela rotating. I hope he succeeds.
