Line-up for tonight: Don't Take this Juve side for granted

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We may feel that after coming back from 2-0 down in the first leg to force a draw, looking the best side for much of the game and being one of the few sides to score twice against them in recent times that the initiative is very much with us. But much care is needed tonight.

This is Juventus, a supreme and capable Serie A side, a European powerhouse, whose pedigree is without question. And their Champions League form this season, with 3 wins and 3 draws from 6 outings says how dangerous they are on the road.

With Dybala just back from injury, they arrive at Wembley on anything but the back foot.

However we are The Spurs. We have been decisive and powerful at Wembley this season and have scored 3 in each of the Champions League ties at our temporary home. It is a sell out and it will be absolutely rocking.

For me the team picks itself, with little option, apart for HMF for me. I'd go with Lloris, Trippier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Davies, Dembele, Wanyama if he's really fit, Dier if not, Eriksen, Dele, Son, Kane.

At left back I feel Rose isn't playing with the discipline needed at this level. At his fittest and sharpest then yes include him. He's not back to that level yet, for me. I'm not sure Wanyama is fully fit and for this game you need to be. Dele for me has been patchy. The odd flashes of brilliance, with a lot of lightweight contribution, but he has risen to the occasion before, so he gets the vote. Son played really well on Saturday, has been great in Europe and plays with an energy and pace that will be key tonight.

I'm feeling a little nervous for sure, but better to be keyed up, than too confident.

COYS

 

Yup Baz, looks like a nailbiter to me, but we're not playing too badly and Juve know we can score against them so they'll be looking to strike first and then lock the house. They need a win or a 3-3 draw; a choice of 0-0, 1-1 or any win does us - however it's VITAL that we don't concede first (preferably not at all) as then it'll really be uphill, so we don't need to charge off looking to score early. Huge discipline needed, both tactically and mentally, with no kamikaze tackles or rushes of blood after a nudge or whatever from them. Always hated the "dirty cheating foreigner" nonsense but there's bound to be some provocation somewhere along the line, so the short tempered, easy wound elements need to be well tuned in. When I was playing, or coaching my teams, the bottom line was "FOCUS lads, everyone, all the time, you know what to do - you CAN do it, so go do it". Simplistic possibly, but how else can I put it. COYS.

 

Indeed Bazza, we were a whisker and a bad pen from being 4-1 down @Halftime in Turin.
We showed character to get back in and Draw the game, even dominating most of second half.
But we can't be thinking were home and hosed because we have the away goals, it could be a very tactical affair and we can't give away gifts like the 1st leg.
Like I've said many times on here if we want to be a big side then we have to start acting like one and winning/getting the result when it matters!
Best parts of the season when as fans the nerves are building way before kick off COYS!

 

Talk about nerves Felon I started with last nights BT coverage of PSG v RM, and sitting around waiting for departure is hell.....tummy very dicky....COYS

 

We are defo the faves and in a strong position but by all means not a shoe in to proceed as the media and some fans would believe. Juve are very experienced wily and the front line is as good as any in world football bar none.
Fact is if we score then they have to score 3 so I would be setting up to score rather than defend.
I'd be starting moura on the right for that reason and also to keep their fullback in his own half. Not sure wanyama will be fit enough so I'd go with dier n Dembele axis and Eriksen in his preferred no 10

 

Certainly so Fran - but not letting them score is different to setting out to defend. Keep them out by keeping the ball, defending sensibly (See Felon's " first leg gifts") and taking any chance(s) coming our way. Hard job but...... If we score first, fine and dandy, but methinks it's going to be a bum-clenchingly tough night.

 

Re- reading Fran; If we score they need 2, surely ? Always the pedant, me.

 

They need to score Fran so us scoring first wouldn't really alter their plans too much i.m.o , even if we score first a 2 - 2 would mean extra time so i wouldn't expect too much panic from them ... We're not playing a dangerous dynamic team like Liverpool or Man City so I don't think we need to alter our game too much .. I'm not underestimating Juve at all they'll bring their own type of challenge , but we should play our own high intensity game , like the last time , that in theory will cause them plenty of problems ... Above all keep our cool , don't do their job for them and even if things go against us early , remember we can cause them a lot of pain in the long run ...

On selection issues Baz , I'll be surprised if we don't go 3 at the back , I think we do it more often than not in Europe , especially against the better sides ... If not Dier will play i.m.o and he will more or less be a third center back in that system anyway .. Also think Aurier might start again , his pace could be vital against Costa but he needs to cut out the brain farts , that's a fair ask from him tho on what we've seen so far ...

Big , Big game lads , really looking forward to it now , I'm rattling around the place like a 2y/o on coca cola , can't get the mind to settle at all ... Big , Big opportunity this , one we have to grasp ... Can we do it , Juve-tter believe we can .... C.O.Y.S ....

 

Not 3 at the back please Burnt....and Aurier....now I have got the willies......

 

Not my choices Bazz , what I think might happen , in fairness you'd have prob expected Tripps to have started last Sat if he wasn't going to tonight ... He's far from bomb proof either tho .... Lol ... C.O.Y.S ....

 

In fairness the FA cup games showed how rusty the likes of Toby , Victor etc , etc were and how badly they needed games so in hindsight the replays were actually a blessing in disguise given the opposition because there wouldn't be too many opportunities to be given lads games to get their fitness and sharpness up given the magnitude of every game at the moment ....

As for Danny Rose , what's going on there , I know about the injuries but he's gone full circle and has reverted to the guy nobody taught would ever make it ... Davies has done really well all things considered but Rose , the good Rose was some asset to the team and is a big loss ... We don't have strength in numbers in every position but if at some stage over last couple of years we saw a defence minus Rose ,Walker ,& Toby for a prolonged period there would have been some panicking going on around here ..... The game can be so unpredictable at times ... C.O.Y.S .....

 

I would say your 11 is for me. lets do it. they need a wake up call we are spurs lets relive those glory glory nights C.O.Y.S

 

Not sure what's happened to my math there sorry chaps

 

Aurier is suspended for this game for the exact reason that he shouldn't be playing - he is a liability.
I agree that we have to be careful but also feel that the Italian league is at a low ebb at the moment and Juve just happen to be the best of a poor bunch. We are the better team - we just have to go out and show it.

 

Well we well and truly f#cked that up

 

Looking good with no real danger looming, then we seem to drop our intensity and fall asleep twice in three minutes, gifting the two worst first-half performers on the park a chance each to snatch it away. Once we're behind you can see us drain and it's the inevitable end. Higuaín - did next to nothing, Dybala likewise but that doesn't matter now does it. Don't it hurt boys.

 

Absolute torture ..... My god .....

 

Think I'll do the Lottery this week.

 

As someone astutely stated on the BBC.. it's not so much the result but the manner of it.

Clearly we were the better side on the night.. but we (most notably the manager) fell asleep at the wheel.

We looked flat for a good 10 minutes or so leading up to the goals.. too much backward play.. not enough energy.

Allegri's subs/tweaks created a shift that was not countered.. even after their second goal we did not make a substitution for another good 5 minutes.. it's difficult to not concede that Pochettino let this game pass him by.

One final thought.. if Juventus proved one thing true tonight then that is you play your best players in big games.

For all his effort Davies is not the player Rose is.. and I think his general performance tonight doesn't reflect well on the manager given what transpired earlier in the week.

I think there is a myth about Spurs' famed fitness levels.. Juventus did not look any less fit than us at the end.. and they had a number of players returning from injury.

When you see the frustration players such as Alderweireld and Rose have expressed in recent times.. about being held back far too long.. then after tonight you would think they have a point.

 

Spot on Jam , I am bitterly disappointed at this.
It was ours to throw away and we did in a very sloppy fashion.
Lack of in game management and anyone at the club with the know how to get these games over the line.