please log in to view this image Thursday 10th December 8.05pm White Hart Lane Europa League Group Stage The final game of the group stage and all four sides can influence their place and have something to play for. We're top with 10 points and through to the next round, but haven't won it yet. A point would do it, but Monaco need a win and have to hope that Anderlecht fail to beat Qarabag. A win for the Azerbaijan side and a win for us would see the team from Baku progress. Makes it a little more interesting. Avoiding the better sides in the next round could be crucial, but Pochettino might also view this as an opportunity for those not in the first XI. We've switched our fullbacks out consistently in this competition, so I expect that again. Son will want to play as much of this as possible, as he was benched against West Brom, so that's another possibility. Others returning from injuries or getting back to fitness might also be considered. Lineups for the last Europa League game: Spurs: Lloris; Trippier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies; Dier, Mason; Alli, Eriksen, Son; Kane. Subs: Vorm, Wimmer, Carroll, Townsend, Onomah, Winks, N'Jie. Monaco: Subasic; Fabinho, Raggi, Carvalho, Coentrao; Pasalic, Toulalan, Moutinho; Silva, L. Traore, El Shaarawy. Subs: Nardi, Wallace, Elderson, A. Traore, Bakayoko, Andzouana, Carrillo. Monaco have a good side on paper, so how many changes can we risk? Should either Son or N'Jie be given a shot up front to rest Kane? Is this game a route back in for Townsend or does someone like Carroll or Onomah deserve a go ahead of him?
Going with my now 18yr old daughter (God do I feel old) and we are both excited like a couple of kids...only get to go to EL matches cos of the cost COYS
Should be a good game, although we've qualified we'll still wanna finish top and we need a draw to do so, I think there's enough strength in the squad to definitely get that against a Monaco side that aren't as good as they were 2 seasons back. Some players really need game time too so I think there'll be a few changes. I'd go with: Vorm, Tripps, Toby, Wimmer, Davies Dembele, Carroll Townsend, Onomah, N'Jie Son Lloris, Jan, Winks, Lamela, Dier, Eriksen, Kane
Think Onomah's probably going to start since he didn't play the under 21s game last night. I'm hoping for a similar line up to SOS but with Winks starting ahead of Carroll. I take it Mason and Bentaleb are still out?
As I am making one of my all too infrequent visits to the lane on Thursday I am actually hoping for a fairly strong side and a decent match maybe something like Lloris, Trippier, Toby, Wimmer, Davies, Dier, Alli, Townshend, Onomah, Son and N'jie and a 3 - 1 win for the mighty Spurs
A win will be good to get the little blip of draws out of the system, and retain the squad confidence (Anderlecht and Monaco are not UEFA fodder) .
From todays Press conference Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has been speaking to the media before Thursday's Europa League tie with Monaco. Nabil Bentaleb and Nacer Chadli both return to the squad after ankle injuries. But Mousa Dembele is sick and will miss out, while Ryan Mason is expected to start training next week. Some early quotes from Mauricio Pochettino's news conference before Tottenham play Monaco in the Europa League on Thursday. The Spurs boss does not feel the Europa League is affecting their Premier League campaign, but refuses to respond to speculation linking his side with a January move for West Brom striker Saido Berahino. "It is a tough game," says Pochettino. "We have had Chelsea and Arsenal (after their last two Europa League games) but you know in football how you can recover. "I never speak about rumours. There are a lot of rumours, not only at Tottenham but at different clubs, but I never say anything about players at other clubs." Mauricio Pochettino admits Harry Kane may be rested for Tottenham's Europa League match against Monaco on Thursday. Kane has played in all of Tottenham's 21 fixtures so far this season and endured a hectic summer, after going to Australia on the club's post-season tour and then playing for England's under-21s. "Is it a chance to rest him? Maybe yes," Pochettino said. "He is in the squad for tomorrow but it is true we need to assess him this afternoon and we have to decide the starting 11 for tomorrow." Mousa Dembele is definitely out as he is sick. A draw against Monaco will ensure Pochettino's side finish first in the group, which would also guarantee them a seeding going into the last 32.
Mauricio Pochettino admits Harry Kane may be rested for Tottenham's Europa League match against Monaco on Thursday. Kane has played in all of Tottenham's 21 fixtures so far this season and endured a hectic summer, after going to Australia on the club's post-season tour and then playing for England's under-21s. "Is it a chance to rest him? Maybe yes," Pochettino said. "He is in the squad for tomorrow but it is true we need to assess him this afternoon and we have to decide the starting 11 for tomorrow."
Great news about Chadli. As frustrating as he can be, I think we've missed his goal threat in the past few weeks. But Dembele and Mason out? That leaves our central areas a little threadbare. I for one don't want to see Dier starting as he looked shot against WBA. His movement for their goal when he allowed whoever it was to cut inside and cross for McDirty resembled a man trying to run through treacle. I guess that leaves us with: Vorm Trippier Toby Kevin Davies Winks Carroll Njie Alli Lamela Son I'd love to see that team given a go but I doubt it will happen.
Great news on Nacer and Nabs! Big fans of both, hopefully they can get a few minutes at some point tomorrow night. What a perfect time for them to return with the Christmas/ New Year cluster of games soon approaching
Yeah, Chadli can play like **** sometimes and still pop up with a goal, something we definitely lack. When Kane's not scoring every game we need more goalscorers on the pitch. Bentaleb's back, lets party
Where do you see him fit in? I was one of his biggest admirers last season. I'm willing to overlook the fact that his brief cameos this season were far from impressive because they came very early on before anything had settled. Nonetheless, what concerned me about him last year concerns me still: he's a bit of an 'all-rounder', good at everything but not outstanding at anything. The dilemma now is that I think we have a better holding mid in Dier, and a better box to box mid in Alli and probably Mason too. We're now probably in a bit of a catch 22 in terms of his career development, in that he needs a huge stretch of games in order to really find his niche on the pitch, yet he is unlikely to get that with the aforementioned players simply at a higher level already. And on the flip side, a player of his talent isn't going to hang around forever waiting for first team football. It's a by sad in a way: I honestly thought this year would see him step up to be counted as one of the best midfielders in the league. But circumstances completely beyond his control (getting a bad injury just after the start of the season, Alli's revalatory start and Dier's surprise move to DM) may have conspired against him. He's an amazing option to have in reserve...but how long will he put up with that for?
I don't think that Bentaleb will have any problems getting games, as he showed his versatility last season. As you say, he's a good all-rounder in midfield, but he even managed to put in an impressive showing at left-back at Goodison. I don't expect him to walk straight back into the first XI, but I'm sure he'll get plenty of opportunities as the season goes on. I doubt he's particularly sharp at the moment, due to his stuttering start to the season, so sub appearances might be best for everyone. Once he's up to speed, then having competition for places will keep everyone honest.
Chadli and Bentaleb are supposed to be back.The thing about the Europa knock out phase seeding is that the CL clubs come in and some aren’t ranked. My memory is that a top seed tends not to help you either much or at all. That being the case, and a crowded fixture list coming up, it makes sense to give players a game who could use one and rest starters. Trippier Wimmer Alderweireld Davies Carroll Bentaleb/Winks Townsend Chadl/Alli Onomah Son
I think Nabs is a class act, admittedly he was **** against Utd and Stoke but he's still a player with a great future in the game (turned 21 last month), it's only a good thing that we now have him back to fight with Alli, Dier, Dembele and Mason for midfield spots, especially with games coming up thick and fast. Lets not forget that last season he was our best CM and many of us were desperate to see him sign a new deal, so while Alli and Dier have made an unbelievable pairing so far, any form of slip up and the likes of Nabs will be in the starting XI once he's fully fit to do so. As for Chadli, I know some find him frustrating but I've been a fan of his, he just has that swagger about him that I like, a bit of a luxury player on occasions that may need the team to carry but he can score a decent number of goals which is ideal for when Kane isn't firing.
So, from CL we have Shaktar Man Utd Galatasary Valencia Sevilla Leverkusen Olympiakos Porto Already Through as winners in Europa Napoli Lazio Through as runners up St Etienne Through - but not yet first or second Molde Liverpool Krasnodar Dortmund Villarreal Rapid Vienna Basel Tottenham Schalke Sparta Prague Bilbao So 22 of 32 decided
That's actually quite an impressive list there. Certainly a long way off the quality of the CL knock-outs (with the obvious exceptions of Chelsea and Arsenal ), but when you look at a list like that and the sheer amount of household names in European football, including plenty of teams who once upon a time were European powerhouses (As Adele would say to Man United, 'Hello from the other sideeeeee!' ), it kind of justifies why the EL exists. Sevilla to make it 3 in a row? I personally have a feeling the trophy will have Napoli's name on it this year. They're scoring for fun both domestically and in Europe but also look defensively very, very solid - despite now counting Super Vlad as one of their number).
If we play Napoli, I have the feeling Chiriches will score the goal of the year. I have no idea whose net it’s going into, though.
Similar could be said if we do sell Fazio back to Sevilla in January - you know he'd have a worldie at the back before scoring the only goal over both legs ...similar could be said if Partizan go through and Veljkovic heads that way, too.
i can't work out this stupid American channel situation but i think i get to watch this. I enriched thanksgiving for all the natives by putting the Qarabag game on so hopefully got this one too (listings say "to be announced" for some reason). It would be beneficial to top the group so i while i hope we rest some players i also hope we go strong enough to secure top spot. Gotta keep this run going
