Decent result, but disappointing in the second half. The team did seem to be suffering from big win hangover. It also lost all impetus when Lamela left. Kane could have gotten the second a couple of times. I thought Rose was good, actually. It was Trippier who made me worry. Hugo could have done better on the goal, but they were gambling on a cross going in eventually, and one did. Good games from Lamela, Alli, Chadli and Rose, who had a great clearance late.
The team did look tired. That's why I would have rested Dier, Kane, Lamela, Vertonghen and possibly Alli or Eriksen. Of course, doing that might have cost us the point we gained, but I would rather prioritize the league at this point. Let's see how Swansea goes. Trippier goes charging at his winger near the box too much. It's cost us a pen and makes him easy to sidestep. His crosses do add something though, and they tend to be well placed. Alli, Lamela and Dier are playing noticeably better than our other non-defenders.
I don't get this concentrate on the league. We were 10 minutes away from a great result, In fact a draw is still a good result. If we had won we would be in a fantastic position leaving us able to rest players for future games in the group. I absolutely believe we should play our best team in this against teams like Monaco away. Against Qarabag at home it becomes less important. We are one of the favourites to win this and rightly so. The players have until 4pm on Sunday to recover and it's only travelling back from the south of France I don't think it's too much to still expect a good performance in Sunday. Confidence should be high as well given our recent results.
I would like us to win everything, ever year. But the evidence piles up that the Europa costs teams points in the league. So I’m torn. If I thought we had no chance in the league I’d be all for playing all the starters in Europe. As it is, neither Chelsea nor Arsenal look convincing this year, so I’d rather rotate in Cups and rest players for the league. I don’t understand why players can’t play twice a week without getting run down, but it seems they can’t. There do seem to be exceptions, including Chelsea teams. Their method is to rest players who are playing twice a week rather than making them practice. I think it’s a sound thing to do, and wish we would do it as well. I’d tell the starters to do nothing but relax and eat till Sunday. Go over some tactics and that’s it. In any case, I think it’s a difficult decision. In this one I think our reserves are good enough to get us through the group stages--and if they aren’t, we shouldn’t be playing in the Europa, because we’ll end up asking too much of our starters. That’s how Pochettino approached it last year, albeit with an easier group.
As I've said before...try to win it or get the hell out.Give the place to someone who would like to win it....like Liverpool!Oh they ARE in it....for a while!!!!!!
I would say its mainly due to prestige, or a lack of, when discussing the Europa League, as its viewed as a second rate European competition, while also impacting a teams league campaign in a negative way, if such team has any ambitions to finish top four. Uefa clearly recognise there is a lack of excitement, which is why they introduced the incentive for teams to take the competition serious, a place in the champions league, yet that has made the competition more difficult for a team like ourselves , while also trying to balance league/domestic cups. Can we win the competition? I don't believe we can go through the various stages and defeat quality teams from foreign leagues, teams which are much better placed for success, mainly Spanish teams or Germanys Dortmund. Of the previous 12 teams to win the Uefa Cup/Europa League, 7 have been Spanish teams, with two of them wins from our previous manager Juande Ramos, although he did achieve that by beating Middlesbrough in one final! So Cracker, for you positive fans, there is some hope, looking at recent history, you can argue if Boro/Fulham/Celtic and Glasgow Rangers can get to the Uefa Cup/Europa League final, then why can't the mighty spurs?
I bet those 7 Spanish teams played their strongest teams to win those cups.Unlike us,who think this is the equivalent of the Football Combination reserve league. Did we take the UEFA Cup as a nothing tournament?Of course not.We played our strongest team....and remember,there was a European Cup and a European Cup Winners Cup also. Old Bill must be turning over to think we don't want to win something (or everything!)
Smithy you're talking about the days when we where a cup side, we actually won major trophies. The Fa cup was the biggest cup competition in the world, while entry into the cup winners cup or uefa cup was met with excitement and a.challenge to win a major trophy. Now, its all about the champion's league, finishing 4th is more important then winning a cup , for the club anyway.
Boss,you are absolutely right.Money talks!....every club wants a share of those Champions League millions.Perhaps if they raise the anti in the Europa League..........?
The irritating thing is that if the CL had started in the early 60s we would have been in it from the start along with the likes of Man Utd and Wolves(!) and we would probably still been in it now given how much advantage participation gives.
Wolves,Burnley and Sheff Wed.Didn't they have some great teams.....before United started buying everyone?
They will have been rebuilding still from Munich in the early sixties. Mid/late sixties they would have been in it
