Team News and Expected Lineup against Monaco

Here we are, in the last game of the group stage of the Europa League, a league that former Manchester United players are embarrassed even exists apparently, and Tottenham Hotspur have a chance to win their group and avoid the “mighty” teams that have fallen through to this “lesser” competition from the “elite” grounds of the Champions League. And while Tottenham hosting Monaco doesn’t have the Wednesday night allure of Astana taking on Galatasaray, I guess we’ll have to make due with a true European match in a league that we have a legitimate chance of winning.

Last Time

Spurs travelled to the principality and took a 1-0 lead through Erik Lamela before Monaco rallied to draw even. This time, a 1-1 draw would take Spurs through as group winners.

What’s at Stake

A lot really. The Europa League is a grind, and winning your group is the key to making that grind easier. The round of 32 can be painful if you’re a second place team because the draw for the knockout stages will be a group winner or Champions League third place dropout. Spurs need a point to assure winning the group and having an easier path to the round of 16.

What the Coaches/Players are Saying

Defender Kieran Trippier is confident that Spurs will take each game in each competition seriously: “Every game we go into we believe we can win the match and that’s no different on Thursday against Monaco. We’ll make sure we’re ready for the game and hopefully we can win and top the group.”

Monaco boss Leonardo Jardim has been using youth and has been getting nice results: "It was an important victory because we achieved it with a lot of young players, which corresponds to the club's project of developing youngsters. It is great to win matches and that is always our ambition, but the team will continue to develop."

Pochettino:
"This is a good opportunity to win the game and to finish first in the group – this is our objective, our challenge."
"Maybe if you compare with the game against Qarabag there will be some changes, but not too much."

Game Plan

Again, this is tricky. With two straight draws in the league and a confident Newcastle coming to White Hart Lane on Sunday, no one would fault Pochettino for playing some young kids on Thursday. Hopefully we’ll see a nice mix of our “Europa Squad” (Ben Davies, Kieran Trippier, etc), some first eleven guys (Son, etc), and some kids (Onomah, Carroll, etc) against the fourth place team from France.

Team News

Mousa Dembele, Ryan Mason, Nacer Chadli, and Alex Pritchard are our for Tottenham while Monaco stalwarts Joao Moutinho, Jeremy Toulalan, and Fabio Coentrao are all expected to miss.

Line-up

Lloris, Trippier, Alderweireld, Wimmer, Davies; Dier, Carroll; Njie, Lamela, Onomah; Son

Spurs should at least get the point they need to win the group and avoid the “big boys” of the Europa League in the round of 32. Monaco will be fielding a young team as well, so I expect a hard fought game on both sides for players vying for first team minutes in league play.

 

Time for our summer signings to step up to the plate,we can put Kane in at half time if needed even with the kids we should still win the match..

 

Love it haha

 

Poch will need to utilise the squad as and when he can as i fear a perrenial april/may slump just when we need energy and results the most.

 

Perrenial Slumps I hope are in the past,Poch has changed the mentality of the team and up to now has managed the squad well,and with 1 or 2 additions in Jan and with the kids doing there bit we should be ok,also let us not forget the fans who act as an extra man,stay behind Poch and all should be well...................

 

Not sure poch would but I'd be making wholesale changes regardless who we meet in the next round. IMO some players look a little jaded and in need of rest in particular Kane and possibly dier and JV. Others such as wimmer Njie Bentaleb and son desperately need game time to ensure when called for later on in the season when needed are not going to be caught cold. Finally would love to see some young blood given a start and maybe find another Gem.
I'd go vorm trippier Vickers wimmer Davies bentaleb onomah Carroll lamela son njie

 

I understand the need for game time but,Poch has never made to many changes to the team at one time he might blood 1 or 2 but thats it,so I think the spine will be almost the same as WBA maybe Kane to the bench to come on later if needed,Son to lead the line and Clint to back him up,Tripper has started the other games so I think he will start,what ever he selects a win for us!!!!!

 

If Fazio was competent, Vertonghen/Alderweireld wouldn't have to play so much. We really only have three center backs if you count Wimmer who is only playing EL anyway it seems. Don't want to waste Dier there either. Definitely need to buy a right footed CB this January.

 

When Fazio first arrived I thought he would do the job but alas he seems to have gone down hill,and being linked as part of a swap deal last summer could not have helped his self esteem,I think we have a few young players who could possibly step up....

 

I think we,ve got the type of line-up we were hoping for so will be interesting to see how they get on now ... Can anyone stake a claim for a regular place ... C.O.Y.S ......

 

Well, a strong Monaco lineup as Moutinho and Toulalan made it. COYS

 

Job done,the kids did the job as we thought,a little concerning about Dier but he looked ok at the end so should be ok for sunday,not sure if any could stake a claim based on tonights game but it is good to know what we have in reserve,No Townsend again it looks to be over for him,onwards to sunday....

 

Some good positive pressing football and some rest for key players all round good result.

 

Hard to understand why Poch did not rest Dier,I hope his knock is not to bad and he can play sunday,is Kane on 5 yellows??if he is then Son will have to lead the line sunday.A good all round match credit to the lads.....