Looking at the lineup I can't help but wonder if we'll be overhauling central midfield this summer. As it stands at the moment it's clear that the Dier/Alli bromance (soon to be shipped as Dielli...) and Dembele will all be in Poch's plans for next season, and Winks seems to be in the long-term plans as well, but what about the rest? A lot's been written about Bentaleb going from a key member of the team last season to someone who can't even get in the team this season, Mason seems to be getting used as an impact sub these days, while Carroll is supposedly out of contract at the end of the season - and we have yet to see a picture of him holding a silver pen while Poch has his arm around his shoulder on the club's Twitter. A few names have obviously surfaced more than once lately, notably Victor Wanyama and Axel Witsel during the January window while Milan Badelj and Youri Tielmans have been linked in recent weeks - and given he scored against the Chavs last night we'll probably be linked with Rabiot once more by the weekend.
Having seen the lineups, I'll be very impressed if we're still in this for the second leg. Some players will have to pick up their recent form massively for us to get anything tonight, unfortunately.
"Looking at the lineup I can't help but wonder if we'll be overhauling central midfield this summer. ..." Seems to be a mixture of failings (no backup striker) , injuries (Pritchard, N'Jie) , squad management (not getting Bentaleb and Mason match-fit in tandem etc) . Any result (ie non-loss or mauling) tonight will be down to the will of that starting XI. We shall see ...
I've felt really positive this season, but this is the first time I've felt really worried with one of our lineups. As others have said, I'd have thought we'd have seen Walker over Trippier, for the reasons stated. - However, that's the least of our worries. Carroll and Mason... I don't see any protection there whatsoever. Maybe I'm in the minority, but I've not seen much from Son that has me convinced. And although Onomah is young, I am yet to see what the fuss is about. But still, COYS.
"Delighted with that line up, the mickey mouse cup gets the lineup it deserves" Group stages, yes. But not for an opponent such as Dortmund.
The Spurs pressing game, with extra pace and ball control. Going to be a long night. And ... Robbie Savage : WTF !!?? How can a TV channel NOT get a "pundit" suitable for this game !!??
oooh good defending from alderweild then good save and offside goal disallowed, nice open game so far.
Dortmund are gonna tear us a new one unless we sort our midfield pair out. Being overran too easily. Not sure what this side is set up for? No Kane so can't be goals. If it's defence, put Dembele in there to hold the ball better
I'm starting to think the Pochettino game plan is to try and hold Dortmund until 60 mins, then sub on the regulars to try and do the damage.
dortmund starting to bypass the spurs midfield with ease now, spurs need to get tighter in the middle
