please log in to view this image Thursday 26th September 8pm Europa League Group Stage Tottenham Hotspur Stadium No injury updates yet, but Odobert and Richarlison will still be absent. Romero is suspended due to his red card a couple of years ago against Milan. Lineups for each side's last league game: Spurs: Vicario; Porro, Romero, van de Ven, Udogie; Kulusevski, Bentancur, Maddison; Johnson, Solanke, Son. Subs: Forster, Spence, Dragusin, Gray, Sarr, Bissouma, Bergvall, Moore, Werner. Qarabag: Kochalski; P. Andrade, Bayramov, Benzia, Cafarquliyev, B. Huseynov, Juninho, Mustafazada; Romao, Silva, Zoubir. Subs: Buntic, Addai, Akhundzade, A. Huseynov, Isayev, Jankovic, Kashchuk, L. Andrade, Medina, Qurbanly, Almeyda, Xhixha. Ref: Haven't been able to find the officials yet. Will edit and update when available. TV: TNT Sports 1. How would you like to line up for this one and how do you think we actually will line up?
They look worryingly useful, although the opposition is poor. And that early save reminded me of one of Vicarios last season.
The third was a very well worked counter-attack, which is probably what we most need to worry about. Fantastic layoff and a lovely finish.
Are we going to see a CB pairing of VdV and Dragusin for the first time? I sense a big banana skin for this game. Mustn’t underestimate them.
I’m expecting us to go fairly strong for this one. Especially as we’re at home so no travel. When you look at our fixtures for the EL, the fixtures don’t really slacken off until we have Hoffenheim away and Elfsborg at home as the last 2 matches, in January. So making a strong start in the league format is going to be really important if we want to be able to rotate a bit more when it comes to some of the more intense away fixtures in particular (like Gala or Rangers away). The away games are more impactful to fatigue because the travel takes away recovery and training days. Still kind of hard to predict how much we’ll rotate up top. I’d be tempted to be ballsy and chuck Mikey Moore in. So maybe Vic Porro Dragusin VdV Udogie (for another 45) Kulu Bissouma Bergvall Moore Son Werner Hopefully we get a bit of Lankshear off the bench. Wouldn’t be surprised if he starts with Solanke (and then Son on the left) though, and we make some big changes in the second half.
I want us taking Europa extremely seriously so just two changes for me: Radu in for one of the CBs (be nice to see him partner van de Ven for a game) and Davies in for Udogie as the latter hasn’t had a proper rest yet but with all respect to Davies, it should be Spence coming in. Vicario Porro, Dragusin, van de Ven, Davies Kulu, Bentancur, Maddison Johnson, Solanke, Son
Think that you might be on the money with that selection. Just want to make sure that Bergvall and hopefully Moore get some serious minutes.
I think there’ll plenty of minutes for Bergvall and Gray over the season, I’d imagine both will come on for a good 25-30 mins on Thursday if we’re in a decent spot. Can’t say I’m as hopeful for Moore though. The moment we re-signed Werner killed my hope of him getting proper game time.
Moore seems like a versatile player and I'm not sure left-wing is his best role. Odobert's injury should give us an opportunity to get him on the pitch now.
I think that's like when Modric started playing for us though, from what I've seen of him. He seems like somebody that you want to get on the ball as often as possible.
I get the feeling we might be looking to make him a left-sided Kulusevski, who started on the wing but becomes a central player Moore's certainly played as an AM in the academy teams, albeit a degree of that is our academy shuffles players into different roles to give them live fire tests on attributes they are working on
I don’t mind having players who can play multiple positions so wouldn’t mind seeing that either. The RW and middle seem stronger areas than the left though so I think Moore will stay on the LW for the foreseeable.
I’m not sure I see it for Moore long term. I think Kulu’s physicality is such a bit part of why he can play centrally. That said Moore is so young so who knows how he’ll develop. Being able to play and understand multiple positions is never a bad thing.
Shot ourselves in the foot a bit leaving Spence out as would like to see gray in the middle but can’t expect Porro to play every game with the amount of running our full backs do. Ideally I’d like to see Forster never put on a shirt again unless absolutely necessary but why put him in the squad with a view to not playing him. Hopefully spence can come in after Christmas for last two group games when we’re hopefully comfortable in the top 8. Would rather VDV get rest but obviously Romero suspended for this one. Definitely worth giving bergvall another go but I’d be amazed if Moore gets a start.
