Team news and expected line up vs Qarabag

Discussion in 'Tottenham forum' started by dnoll5, November 25, 2015.

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  1. dnoll5

    dnoll5 Member

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    Tottenham Hotspur currently sits atop Group J and while Spurs can’t technically clinch the group with a win, they would control their own destiny. The biggest threat to success is the fact that Spurs have a noon kickoff in London against Chelsea on Sunday. What does Pochettino do?

    Last Time

    Spurs beat Qarabag last time at White Hart Lane, but they had to come from behind to do it. Heung-Min Son scored twice and Erik Lamela scored a late one to give Spurs a 3-1 win.

    Baku

    Yep, Baku is far away. It’s 2,878 miles to be exact. Not an easy travel day (or more realistically, days), but the city looks interesting, right on the shores of the Caspian Sea. It’s not the farthest east that a European club could potentially travel, but it’s close.

    Their current squad features 20 Azerbaijanis so national pride will be in full effect. Expect the 31,200 seat Tofiq Bahramov Stadium to be packed when Tottenham come to town.

    Words from the Coaches/Players

    Mauricio Pochettino on the academy players making the trip with the first team: “It is great for the club to be able to give the possibility for young players to play with us and travel with the first team. I think it is fantastic and this is the future of the club. We feel proud about that and it is a very important thing for the club.”

    Midfielder Eric Dier on Qarabag: “They’re a very good side and you can never underestimate a team in the Europa League. We saw in the first game against them that everyone’s very good, they stick to their identity and try to play their football so credit to them for that.”

    Team News

    Mousa Dembele, Kyle Walker, and Danny Rose haven’t made the trip to Baku as they are being reserved for Chelsea on Sunday at the Lane. Erik Lamela is also staying in London, presumably because he will take Dele Alli’s place in the starting XI against Chelsea and because he is still nursing a sore groin. Nabil Bentaleb and Nacer Chadli are missing because of injury.

    Game Plan

    Play lots of kids, Poch. You know you want to. If you’re going to give first teamers like Christian Eriksen, Harry Kane, Heung-Min Son, Eric Dier, and Jan Vertonghen minutes, sub them on or off for each other to keep them fresh.

    Likely Starting XI

    Vorm, Trippier, Wimmer, Vertonghen, Davies, Mason, Alli, Carroll, Townsend, Onomah, Son.
     
  2. CoysRus Guest

    Wimmer and Verts are both lefties so that won't happen. Will be Toby and Wimmer.
     
  3. CoysRus Guest

    NJie should play instead of Eriksen too. If they have travelled then they could still rest up the best they can.
    Chelsea the more important game, as we still have it in our hands to beat Monaco to qualify.
     
  4. Mitch Guest

    And with 12 players on the pitch we're sure to win!
     
  5. Isn't Townsend still suspended for getting into an altercation with the fitness coach?
     
  6. Jonny Guest

    No, he was on the bench Sunday
     
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  7. Terri Guest

    I believe in Winks more than I do Carroll.
     
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  8. big fran Guest

    The fact that Poch has gone to the trouble of taking such a strong squad such a distance away suggests most will play from the start in a game he wants to win. The problem with this game isn't the quality of opposion nor the playing of games in in such a space of time it is the physical and mental fatigue caused from the traveling. Once you have made the journey u may as well in fact play also.
    Its a shame the fixture comes so close to a crucial game with Chelsea in which we could almost eliminate them from top 4 contention. But remember this its not the **** or bust scenario that we faced with carling cup final last yr.
    Personally I would have made wholesale changes and backed the squaddies to do a job and allow one or two like Townsend to get bk in the gaffers thoughts. Something like vorm trippier Davies Vickers summer mason Carroll Alli onomah Townsend son/njie.
     
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  9. Spurporter Well-Known Member

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    Alright, no one knows who will Poch start and who will show up from the bench. I am no different. COYS!!
     
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  10. notnats

    notnats Well-Known Member

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    Agree with BF. I would have preffered to see a few more first teamers stay at home and the squaddies given a chance to prove themselves. This year more than any previous year is wide open and we should be giving ourselves the best chance of burying chelsea and any hopes of them making top 4.
     
    Mattj78 likes this.

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