please log in to view this image UEFA Europa League Tottenham Hotspur v. FK Qarabag 17 Sep 20:05 - White Hart Lane Thursday night sees us opening our Europa League campaign this season against Qarabag FK of Baku. The Azerbaijani side won their league last season and lead it in this one. They've visited Britain already this year, having been eliminated from the Champions League by Celtic by a solitary goal. They progressed to the group stage by beating our old mates Young Boys 4-0 on aggregate, including a 1-0 victory in Switzerland. I don't have much of an insight into the squad of our visitors, to be honest. Their current top scorer is the exotically named Brazilian, Richard. Given that they've got two of his countrymen in their squad called Reynaldo and Robinho's brother Chumbinho, perhaps he got off lightly? Given our injuries and the Sunday game against a dangerous looking Palace side, it'll be interesting to see how we line up for this one. I'd expect a number of our non-starters from today's game to make an appearance. Vorm, Trippier, Fazio, Wimmer and Rose could make an entirely new defence, for example. No idea how we'll approach it, though. What would people prefer to see? A strong team to try and guarantee a good start, all change or a mixture?
I'm expecting Pritchard and possible Carroll to get starts in this one, and would've be surprised if Wimmer and Trippier have their debuts too.
Didn't Paul Stewart end his career there? Am going with my eldest daughter so hoping for a good match...love euro nights at the lane
Don't want to sound over-confident but I think we can (and should) field a weakened side and come out with a comfortable win. We've gotta be careful with CM choices as Mason, Bentaleb and Dembele are all injured now, leaving just Dier and Carroll as first team options with Winks and Onomah in reserve, so I'd leave Dier out completely but give Carroll a run out as he may need the minutes to be ready for a start in the Palace game. Vorm Trippier, Fazio, Wimmer, Rose Winks or Onomah, Carroll Townsend, Lamela, Pritch Onomah or N'Jie if fit.
Completely forgot about Alli, he's looked great so far, I'd probably have him on the bench for this one seeing as we'll be going into the Palace game light on CM's so I'd rather avoid any potential risk of injury to him.
I'm guessing we'll play a strong(ish) team, but with a few changes, ie not the likes of Vorm, Fazio, Winks, Onomah. And I think that's probably right - aim to get the 3 points at home and give some game time to some players who need it. Perhaps: Lloris Trippier, Jan, Toby, Davies Carroll, Dier Lamela, Alli, Townsend Son
We've got 4 home games in a row with the quality of opposition increasing after each game. As much as I'd love us to make big changes and test the depth in our squad, I think there are a number of starters that could do with more confidence and that just haven't quite clicked into gear yet so I'd go for a side that will mostly be playing in the other games too. Vorm Trippier, Toby, Jan, Rose Carroll, Dier Townsend, Lamela, Son Kane I think that makes just Lloris and Walker being rested, whilst Alli, Davies and Chadli are dropped and presumably Mason, Bentaleb and Eriksen won't be fit for the game.
I’d go for everyone who needs a start since I don’t see much drop off from the starters to the reserves. I’d think about starting Kane, though. Rose Wimmer Fazio Trippier Winks Carroll Lamela Pritchard Son/Townsend Onomah (?) Dier ? Chadli ?
I think he's lacking in match fitness, as he missed Lyon's pre-season due to injury. Might be an idea to have him on the bench for this one and give him some minutes.
I doubt he'll do this. When has a Spurs manager not fielded a strong side in the first game of a Europa group ? I think he will be more inclined to send out a weaker side against Arsenal the following week.
I hope we get a few of the first teamers for 45 mins or so, hopefully we get well up and then we take the key men off and we see the youngsters shine. I doubt that will happen though.
The answer is Harry Redknapp, for the match vs PAOK Salonika on 15th September 2011 Cudicini; Walker, Bassong, Corluka, Townsend; Dos Santos, Livermore, Carroll, Falque; Kane, Pavlyuchenko Subs: Gomes, Stewart, Barthram, Fredericks, Nicholson, Pritchard, Parrett
I’d play the reserve advanced players because I’m not convinced the first team is any likelier to get the win. Against Sunderland, we brought on two players who had become afterthoughts, who were only still around because deals to shift them fell through. They looked comfortably better than our starters. So I don’t think it’s at all clear who our best attacking midfielders are at this point, and getting more players time could help sort it out. I’d play all reserves because I think the first team, whoever they are, may be able to play three big games in a week but not four in ten days. Everything’s a risk, and I’d rather see a fresh team facing Crystal Palace. I doubt I will, though. The temptation to play a strong-ish team and make sure of a second win will be very strong. I’d expect to see Kane, partly because we don’t have another striker, partly because our nearest facsimile to one still isn’t ready, and partly in the hopes of getting him off the mark.
I tend to agree but I think I'd prefer a system where we changed 2-4 of the starters each match so that more of the squad get regular competitive games alongside each other. I'm sure in three years time we will look at who is starring in our team and wonder why we didn't play them sooner, but whether those stars are going to be Dier, Lamela and Pritchard or Bentaleb, Townsend and Alli, or Carroll, Mason and Njie, or Winks, Chadli and Son - who can tell. They all need to get some game time to give them a chance.
I'd go with Vorm Trippier Wimmer Vertonghen Rose Dier Carroll Pritchard Lamela Son Kane With a healthy dose of Townsend off the bench too.
