Cup Final! We have to start this game like we play the second halves- full intensity. If we find ourselves in a position of relative strength, then maybe slow the game down.
9 result combinations, where Spurs : 1. top the group = 5 2. finish 2nd = 2 3. are out -= 2 I am going for the second scenario in #3 (which is absolutely < standard > ) .
I can see us going out, after that farcical VAR decision to deny us qualification in the last minute, our poor away record in Europe and ability to crumble when it really matters, only Spurs could be celebrating qualification and end up in the Europa, that would be very Spursy indeed. Marseille need to win to qualify, so will be bang at it, and our team is slowly becoming more and more fatigued with every passing game. I can see another bad result against Varpool on Sunday also, they can rest their players mid week, we never beat them these days and they will raise their game like they did v City. I hope I am talking shiete obviously, but decades of supporting Spurs has conditioned me to think this way, seen it all before.
I don't think we can come 4th whatever the result. Since we have a close to zero chance of winning the CL and a reasonable (10% ish) chance of winning the Europa, I don't think it's a big disaster if we go out.
It'll be a cauldron tomorrow night, Marseille fans are quite raucous and their team needs a win too. If we turn up and start the game like we have done in most games this season then it could be game over at HT. As always, dreading our right flank whilst Kulu's out. Dumb or Dumber will start at RWB and then it'll either be Lucas at RW or a third CM. So yeah, as you can tell, super optimistic!
I think they have an enforced partial closure of their stadium so it might only be half the usual crowd
please log in to view this image Tuesday 1st November 8pm Champions League Group Stage Stade Velodrome Romero, Richarlison and Kulusevksi were all absent from training this morning, so probably miss out. Neither side has any suspensions, barring Antonio Conte. Lineups for each side's last league game: Spurs: Lloris; Sanchez, Lenglet, Davies; Emerson, Skipp, Hojbjerg, Bissouma, Sessegnon; Kane, Son. Subs: Forster, Doherty, Spence, Tanganga, Dier, Bentancur, Perisic, Gil, Moura. League form: LWWLLW. Marseille: Lopez; Kolasinac, Balerdi, Mbemba; Kabore, Guendouzi, Veretout, Clauss; Under, Payet; Dieng. Subs: Blanco, Toure, Tavares, Elmaz, Rongier, Gerson, Harit, Suarez, Sanchez. League form: DWLLLD. Ref: Szymon Marciniak (POL) . Reffed us twice in the past. We won neither. VAR: Tomasz Kwiatkowski (POL). TV: BT Sport 2. How would you like to line up for this one?
Most likely we get 3 or 4 rounds in the Europa including one against Arsenal or Man Utd. Only 1 or 2 in the CL so I doubt it makes much difference financially. Also going further in the Europa improves our coefficient more I think. But I would prefer to stay in the CL.
1. More money is made finishing the CL group stage than is made in the EL winning every tie and reaching the final. 2. There is little difference nowadays in the pts acquired in the CL and EL (UEFA have deliberately "fortified" the pts scheme as more of their darlings began to get usurped from the CL - by Sugga Daddy FCs or better performing clubs) . Excuse me, I have to go away now as Conte repeatedly playing on sundays wishes to enter the chat ...
I truly wish that were the case as maybe we’d have taken Europa more seriously over the years but unfortunately there’s a huge difference in prize money. We’ve already made more money than what the winner of Europa will get. Scary how much money is in the CL.
3rd Time lucky? The right side is a problem even more so if Romero is out. Lloris, Tanganga, Dier, Davies, Doherty, Hojbjerg, Bentancur, Sessegnon, Perisic, Son and Kane.
Simply avoiding defeat on Tues nets us a minimum £9m on the spot (£11m if we win) with another £9m should we progress to the last 8. That is excluding gate money etc. The total prize money in the Europa League for a perfect group stage and going on the win the tournament is around £18m. I remember working this out a few years back and came to the conclusion that a team that turns up in the CL and wins at least two group stage matches has essentially earned the same prize money as the outright winner of the Europa. The gulf is vast.
And not even including the slice of the broadcast revenues (which increase significantly per KO round - especially as the "glamour tie" likelihoods increase) .
