After our superb display in Georgia, this game is our first 'easy' one of the season. The Arsenal game is far more important, so I hope we field a team on Thursday that looks to the game on Sunday. Naturally, we still want to win on Thursday to maintain our 100% start, so a balance, as always, needs to be drawn. For me Freidel; Naughton, Captain Daws, Kab, Fryers; Lennon, Siggy, Holtby, Carroll, Chadli; Defoe is something like I'd want to see. If Aaron's not fit, then maybe we have someone from our youngsters who could play on the right side. Also, perhaps Dembele might benefit from another start, with Holtby say, coming on as a sub..
Rest everyone of importance and play the kids. + potentially use the game to give Kaboul, holtby and sandro more minutes.
Deffo, if they are anywhere near fit then Kab/Sandro/holtby should play 90mins even if they're blowing after 60. Perhaps friedel in goal. Carroll and Kane to start Perhap bring Bale on late, lol
Fair comment Roo, but I'd play Daws and Kab to give the defence solidity. Agree about Sandro, if he's fit enough to start then go for it AVB. Kane to start is a good shout too Spurm, alongside JD would be my preference. I want us to win this one and keep our fantastic start going.
This is a perfect opportunity for fringe players to get a run out, so we can assess what we want to do with them this season. If chiriches is coming in, I hardly see any point in Fryers sticking around. He's best off out on loan somewhere for the season. I'm not sure what the plan is for Harry Kane. Again, I can't see the point in him staying with us for the season. I've seen nothing from him yet that justifies he's a premier league player, let alone one who can be valuable for us in a top 4 battle or European campaign. The way i see it, is that we have the NLD at the weekend and we shouldn't risk anyone. we're 5-0 up.
Fair comments again Roo, I'd still play Daws and Kab though. I want us to keep on winning. Like you, to me Kane isn't a Prem player, but while he's with us he may as well play on Thursday. I'd love us to sell Ade and get another striker in, but that may be a tricky one.
Friedel; Naughton, Kaboul, Fryers, Rose; Sandro, Carroll; Lennon(if back), Holtby, Coulthirst; Defoe. Get Kane on at somepoint too.
Friedel, Naughton, Kaboul, Fryers, Stewart Holtby, Sandro, Carroll Lennon, Defoe, Sigurdsson Subs: Archer, Walker, Dawson, Bentaleb, Townsend, Coulthirst, Kane
Looks good SoS, even that starting 11 would give most prem teams a strong game, nice to see a bit more depth to the squad this year.
I think SOs' XI is a perfectly good shout for Thursday. But it would get beaten by most Prem teams IMO, and quite possibly be fighting a relegation battle. The back 5 looks a nightmare waiting to happen, the mid so-so in Prem terms. The front 3 is ok by Prem standards. Though I'm sure that XI would do the job v DT, I hope we don't play it as I could see that team failing to win on the night, though cruising the tie overall.
I would be looking at a lineup that enables Defoe to put Spurs 2 up by HT. And then give Kane the 2nd half as the striker.
Yeah the defence is a little suspect, with only Kaboul being a proper first teamer but midfield and front 3 are definite Prem quality in my opinion. Hopefully enough to see of Tbilisi at least. I wouldn't say back 5 is a nightmare but it's certainly not great either, Kaboul aside. The mid is pretty good I think. Front 3 are on par with most teams in the league outside the top 6. In fairness it should be good enough against Tbilisi, their defence is very suspect and I think the pace of Lennon will cause problems. Naughton played really well on the away league, Holtby and Carroll will have points to prove as will Sig. I really can't see Dinamo hitting 5 or 6 against that.
Can't see Tbilisi bringing their first team.They'll know the tie is dead, so why risk their first 11 players?
"They'll know the tie is dead, so why risk their first 11 players?" Hmm. If AVB is meticulous he may have a squad in mind for this possibility.
oh, but maybe tibilis will assume we won't play our first team so they will bring their first team with the hope of turning it around? But maybe AVB will foresee that, which the tibilisi manager might see.....
I can't honestly see a 5 goal reversal, but if things did start to go wrong, only 3 subs can put it right, so a little caution must be used, especially with too many players that haven't had good minutes so far...chicken and egg!
Put enough seniors on to get 2-0 up quickly. Then look at subs etc to give some of the kids a decent run out.
Obika's being sold to Charlton, isn't he? Ceballos seems to have disappeared entirely. Either injured or Real have abducted him and are threatening to kill him unless we sell them Bale. Levy still wouldn't budge. I think I'd go with: Friedel Naughton, Dawson, Kaboul, Fryers Lennon, Sandro, Holtby, Sigurdsson Kane, Defoe Depends who's fit, of course, and I don't think Villas-Boas will select that side, but we need to leave out as many players as we can for the Goons.
