With Spurs starting their Europa campaign on Thursday,I thought I would start a thread focusing on our journey however soon it may end due to 'priorities'. However, I for one hope we take it seriously because I am a bit old school and still see it as a massive, prestigious trophy to win. This opens up the risk of compensating in the league etc, I do though believe that we can field a serious team in these matches. I would say that we will see the likes of Lioris,Dawson,Dempsey and Ade to be starting our first match against Lazio at White Hart Lane on Thursday. In some matches they will be replaced by the likes of Friedel,Sig,Defoe,Gallas and Lennon, all depending on our league situation. Either way we won't be short of a strong core to the team and potential match winners,thus not over relying on inexperienced youth i.e get knocked out asap. Thursday 20th September : Spurs v Lazio 20.05pm
I'm hoping we take it seriously this year. Being as the final is 50 years to the day since our first European trophy (I am led to believe), it would have major symbolism, as well as being a decent trophy that we genuinely have an excellent chance of winning. I think we should be able to tell by the starting lineup v Lazio how AVB will view the competition, so I'm hoping for the following: Lloris Naughton Dawson Vertonghen Walker Sandro Dembele Dempsey Bale Ade Lennon Unfortunately, BAE's injury means we can't really play two less experienced members in the back four, which means Caulker is unlikely to get a starting spot. However, I hope Gallas won't be playing, and Caulker replaces Daws in my line up, as I think he has the ability to play CB on a regular basis, but needs first team experience. I also think Ade is going to play, with Defoe to rejoin the starting line up in our next domestic match. Perhaps Bale to sit out, only to remind him that he isn't the be all and end all on the left wing, something he needs reminding of quite often.
Totally agree Ginger P. That is a good line up you have suggested and I expect such a line up to see us through to the business end of the competition. I don't however see Bale starting.he got a little knock today if I'm not mistaken? Either way he will be kept as a super sub I think and then will start against QPR on Sunday. I can see Sig starting with possible Dempsey getting a start on Sunday. Think the Sig needs a confidence match.
Yea, I'd agree with you Spurlock, I think in Sig we have an exceptional player, but he needs time to acclimatize to the level he's now playing at. His last 3 clubs have been Reading, Hoffenheim and Swansea, none of whom come anywhere near the standard we are currently at, challenging for Champions League football (all respect to mentioned clubs). If he gets the time he needs against quality opposition, which has to include Lazio, he can only improve. Back to the overall team, in place of Bale, Dempsey, and the Sig in the hole. We have a quality forward line, and surprisingly, plenty of depth
I think AVB will go for this. In some ways, this is a truer indicator of his ability than the prem. He's won this before. Hopefully we get to see what he's made of.
I too hope we take this seriously. The chance of winning silverware should never be disregarded. Hoping for a strong line up. Would like to see: Lloris, Walker, Dawson, Caulker, Naughton Sandro (or maybe Livermore if fit) Dempsey, Huddlestone, Sigurdsson, Townsend Ade
Looking at the bench yesterday its hard to see how we can't take it seriously!, the difference from last year is we don't have the key player injury list, Hudd Daws etc.
I think it's essential that we take it seriously for the sake of the squad. If the players see we are taking it seriously they will want to be part of it which will mitigate any feeling of being left out if they are not in the PL team for a while. While there is a lot of downgrading of this competition because of the CL hype there are a lot of very good teams in it AND if you win it there is serious prestige attached. This is a far more important competition than the league cup IMO.
I would like to see avb use a core of 6-7 players that start in the premier league, and then the other positions taken up by players such as townsend, caulker, naughton, carroll and possibly one of our promising young kids, as that would be the right balance.
Hernanes scored two outstanding goals to lead Lazio to a 3-1 win at Chievo on Sunday, maintaining a 100 percent record in Serie A after three games. German forward Miroslav Klose was also on target as Lazio, enjoying a superb start under new coach Vladimir Petkovic, won their first three matches of the league season for the first time since 1974. I'd suggest putting youngsters into this game would be rather silly. Lazio are out of the blocks firing on all cylinders. The very suggestion of using the likes of Carroll in this tie is a no no. Against the softer teams maybe.
I wasn't commenting much on the actual game against lazio, more the campaign as a whole, yet playing Carroll wouldn't be silly, it would just be an option as players can't be hidden from tough games, if we want to see their real potential.
I would like us to pick a team that we think can win the game and that means taking into consideration who is fresh and up for it. Use the squad that's why we have one.
I'd like to see Carroll in the EL squad. With the players we have now though I don't think he'll be starting much unless we pick up a few injuries so maybe a loan move in Jan might be better for him.
Despite the strength in our squad I don't think we should be making more than 5 changes if we're taking this seriously. We're only 4 games in and most of our backup players have barely kicked a ball. I'd go for: Brad/Lloris Walker, Dawson, Caulker, Vertonghen/Naughton Sandro, Dembele Lennon, Sigurdsson, Dempsey Ade As much as it'd be great to field Townsend, Huddlestone, Carroll, etc Lazio are no mugs and have won all of their 6 games so far this season so ideally we need as many of our best players as we can afford. Dembele and Vertonghen are the only 2 I've selected who played on the weekend and in both games on the international break so might need to be subbed off at somepoint but the rest should all be able to complete 90 and still be in contention for the weekend.
Caulker & Naughton are good enough to start games for us in the league and with BAE's injury Naughton would well be the guy to step up. The other option is to move Verts, but he has to be given a chance to settle at CB with us. Townsend & Carroll are two players I would like to see involved more this season, but as I said above I wasn't thinking much about the actual Lazio game, more the campaign as a whole as I expect players like Dempsey & Adebayor will start.
Don't know why you didn't just say yes I agree then! I only said silly against high flying Lazio, with no objection to an introduction in some of the other ties.
"softer sides"... personally I don't see any harm in giving young talented players a chance in tough games as yes there is a chance their confidence could be destroyed, but if that’s the case then maybe they aren't strong enough to make it. But, yes, Lazio has come too soon for certain players, yet if Carroll (or others) do great in other games, then I hope our manager doesn't shy away from giving them a chance in a bigger game.
After seeing what others have been suggesting,a thought. Benny is out for 4 weeks and Naughton is taking his place, what if something happens to Walker- do we have another RB to cover? Verts, everyone is saying shouldn't play LB yet,so what would happen?
Our U21s/Reserves are playing Stoke at the moment and there's no sign of Caulker or Townsend, so there's a good chance they'll start. The line up's Archer, Smith, Byrne, Veljkovic, Hall, Parrett, Falque, Mason, Obika, Carroll and Ceballos and it's 5-2 to us, just after half-time. It's a tricky game for Villas-Boas to get right. I want us to take the competition seriously and the Italians are the best opposition in our group, on paper, but I don't want to see our players run into the ground. The likes of Huddlestone, Dawson, Caulker, Lloris, Dempsey and Adebayor need to start playing some games, so I wouldn't be against them being given a chance. Either Vertonghen would move, despite people's reservations or Adam Smith would come in.
