A quick look at the OS indicates that all but 500 or so of the tickets have sold. Some seats haven't been put up for sale as yet. They are the last 5 or 6 rows in some parts of the ground, which is probably 2,000 - 3,000 seats. So, I reckon with some empty corporate areas (probably all in Madrid), we're probably looking at an attendance of 55,000+.....at the moment. However, on Tuesday 10.00 am, tickets go on sale for guests of ST holders, members etc. It's a maximum of 2 tickets per person and I reckon that will see off the lot. If there's anyone who wants a ticket and isn't a member or ST holder, please PM me today....
The countdown to the match starts in earnest and we have news that everyone should be fit for selection. Several tricky decisions for Poch this week, how many (if any) of our recently injured players who would generally be in our best team for a European match should be in the starting XI. What formation should we play and do we need to make any special adjustments to counter their style, or just play our game and hope that in doing so they have to adjust to counteract us? For me, it’s imperative that we play with a back 4, the match at Anfield was almost lost before we went to the 4 and gave them a decent game that we should have got something out of. Do we go 4-3-3 and match up with them or play our best formation which I still think is 4-2-3-1, but Poch has also dabbled with a diamond, though I am never entirely happy with that, but it’s a third option. I would only play 1 of the previously injured players and depending on which formation we play would depend which one it is. 433 – Lloris, Trippier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose, Sissoko, Winks, Alli, Eriksen, Moura and Son 442 Diamond with the same personnel though Dier could be preferred to Winks at the base of the diamond. 4231 would see Kane start in place of Son, based purely on the Koreans form since the 2nd leg v City and Dier ahead of Winks on the basis that we can’t start 2 players who have barely played for 2 months. On balance I think I have ended up favouring the Diamond utilising Kane as a 20 minute impact sub. But I think Poch may go with 4231 – Now just need the week to pass quickly so that I can spend 90 minutes of not knowing whether to laugh or cry as once again I foresee a match that will be a rollercoaster for all of our emotions.
Until you hear otherwise, not everybody in the UEFA registered Spurs squad is fit enough to play more than 30 mins.
Lloris Trippier, Toby, Jan, Rose Sissoko, Wanyama (man mark Mo) Moura, Eriksen, Dele, Llorente Son and Kane to come on at 64min and carry us to a 2:3 victory after being 2:0 down.
Saturday will decide if we are destined to be the modern day nearly team like Newcastle of the late 1990s, early 2000s or breakthrough team like Forest, Ipswich or Villa from the late 1970s, early 1980s. Two third place finishes, a second place, 2 fa Cup semi finals, a League cup semi final, a league cup final will all look like a great build up if we win...or a horrible pattern if we lose.
I'd go for 4231 - mainly because the best tactic to try and nullify them is to pin back their fullbacks, so Son and Lucas on with wings with Rose and...whoever wins the coin toss on the overlap The fact I can't actually name a good option for starting RB is a problem, though - Aurier has the pace but is a confidence player so is as reliable as having a parcel delivered by Yodel, while Trippier is a name we dread seeing on the teamsheet at this point so any advantage of him getting in a cross due to Robertson being occupied with Lucas is negated by the probability of yet another of his costly brainfarts
The signs are looking as though Kane will be fit to start. If that is the case, team for me has to be: Hugo Trippier, Toby, Jan, Rose Sissoko, Eriksen Lucas, Alli, Son Kane Trippier to hopefully rediscover his 17/18 form for what will likely be his final game for us.
Trippier dropped by England. A decision that is a candidate for the No **** Sherlock thread..... But just hope he reacts in the best way.
I wonder how much a three week delay will affect the teams? Some of the World Cup players had a shorter pre-season. It's hard to play at the level the teams were at after being idle for so long. The winner might be the team who has adjusted to this the best.
Here’s hoping he now has the game of his life on Saturday to stick two fingers up at Southgate for dropping him.
Liverpool were in great form at the end of the season. We were ****ed and running out of fit players. Whatever the outcome, the delay is unlikely to have harmed our chances.
Unfortunately Trippier just isn't that kind of player. He's the type who needs an arm round the shoulder and loads of encouragement in order to find his confidence. A blow like this is likely to break his self belief even further.
Hence Carragher was screaming conspiracy while believing that only Premier League teams play in the CL
Random stat, we’ve played 12 Champions League games this season and we’ve won just 6 of them, yet we’re in the final. Crazy!
