Team for Dortmund...

[RicOfPeace]

Or alternatively not prioritising those cup competitions we have put ourselves second with a real chance of winning the league this year.

I understand what you're saying but winning in every competition possible breeds confidence.

our results since we lost to Crystal Palace in the fa cup (what a stupid cup to go out of now gutted looking at those semi finals) Swansea 2-1 win awful against West Ham lost 1-0 Struggled to keep a ten man arsenal out & smashed by Dortmund the only plus was that we had an awful Villa side to play next & Lets go back to early on in the season we lost with a very strong side to Anderlecht but we was still in the competition & the same side everyone is worried about Sunday we played straight after and smashed them 5-1 on there door step. We should have played a strong team away and at home because what was the point of playing the likes of Lloris, Verts, Alder, Kane, Eriksen, Dier, Dembélé in the group stages only to throw in the towel in a second competition where a quarter final is up for grabs.

To Dare Is To Do is our motto so instead of rolling over and crying about tired players how about they roll up there sleeves and play for the 30+ thousand spurs supporters that turn up tonight who paid money to see them and will travel all over the country for tonight's game because they wasn't aware we would put reserves out in such a massive game for us.

Europa league is nothing to be ashamed of winning & I personally don't see how getting knocked out of it improves our chances of winning the league I can however seeing a lot of pressure on us to win the league for throwing away any other chances of winning anything this season

 

[Thfc15]

The top teams always play their strongest team in these games, for instance look at Dortmund. They are in the title run in and im sure they won their game last weekend.

I think we all overplay the fatigue thing. Yes a player could get injured by playing if tackled badly etc but that can not be avoided. I think many on here over exaggerate tiredness.

There so much of 'we didnt win this game because we were tired from Thursday' or 'Kane didnt score because he is knackered' every time we draw/lose or someone has a poor display. The chances are its because we just had a bad day, what about the 2-1 loss to Newcastle after resting players on the prior Thursday against Monaco? How many of you would have said that was down to fatigue if our best XI played v Monaco?

Similarily, if that 1-0 loss against United first day of the season had taken place last week, how many of you would have blamed fatigue for the reason we couldnt score? It was a bad day at the office and a brain fart from Bentaleb.

Just my opinion..

 

[Matthew Wyatt]

I've been torn on this one but I'm swayed by the bullish crowd on here. Let's go all out to win it with our best possible team. We've won 4-1 at home three times in the PL this season -- just need to go one better against a (on paper) lesser side than City. Tough ask but well within the realms of possibility.

If Poch does field a strong side then it's because he knows the fitness/fatigue situation better than anyone and believes it won't compromise our performance against Bournemouth. After that, two week's rest -- all recharged.

 

[millsey]

Play the reserves and be done with this awful competition

 

[Shanks]

Going by the comments made by the manager himself below, he trusts the players he picked in the first leg so I doubt we'll see too many changes.

”I believe in my squad and for one negative result now it has not changed my vision of them,” Pochettino said.

”Sometimes it is difficult and I accept in a very good way the criticism because always in football if you win you are a genius, if not, you are a disaster.

”For me it is important to keep all players motivated. All players are important. It is not only to say it, it is important to show I believe in them.

Now I like this, mostly because you didn't rate a disagree, but instead posted up something, which I agree on.

Sometimes, I'm in the pot of lets go out and go for broke.

Mostly, I'm in the camp of progression, play it safe, er on the side of caution.

But tonight, I'm going to the match, I'd love nothing more than to be at WHL with it all going off on the pitch

 

[Mr Pink]

Anybody who thinks recovery and fatigue are overplayed don't probably exercise that much themselves. I do loads of high intensity running and have to plan recovery if I want to be at my optimum for any give race.

I'm telling you it does play a part, and they wouldn't have people analysing distance covered and how hard the body is working if it didn't either.

You only had to listen to Shay Given yesterday on SSN who also alluded to being at a disadvantage if one side has had less recovery time over the other. These margins might appear small to some people but at this level it can play a crucial part.

 

[nicdic]

My point is over recent weeks we have covered less ground, our pressing has dropped off and our performances have suffered, Bournemouth have only improved...

The stats a week or so, show that in 2016 we're the team covering the most ground. Significantly more than Bournemouth.

We dropped points to West Ham and Arsenal but it doesn't necessarily equate to what you're saying.

Bournemouth are flying, but if you're using ground covered as the only metric to make your case it's a bit foolish.

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

The top teams always play their strongest team in these games, for instance look at Dortmund. They are in the title run in and im sure they won their game last weekend.

I think we all overplay the fatigue thing. Yes a player could get injured by playing if tackled badly etc but that can not be avoided. I think many on here over exaggerate tiredness.

There so much of 'we didnt win this game because we were tired from Thursday' or 'Kane didnt score because he is knackered' every time we draw/lose or someone has a poor display. The chances are its because we just had a bad day, what about the 2-1 loss to Newcastle after resting players on the prior Thursday against Monaco? How many of you would have said that was down to fatigue if our best XI played v Monaco?

Similarily, if that 1-0 loss against United first day of the season had taken place last week, how many of you would have blamed fatigue for the reason we couldnt score? It was a bad day at the office and a brain fart from Bentaleb.

Just my opinion..

I agree with a lot of this.

It's almost as if fans can't accept sometimes we just lose because we play badly and there are no additional factors involved.

 

[nicdic]

Anybody who thinks recovery and fatigue are overplayed don't probably exercise that much themselves. I do loads of high intensity running and have to plan recovery if I want to be at my optimum for any give race.

I'm telling you it does play a part, and they wouldn't have people analysing distance covered and how hard the body is working if it didn't either.

You only had to listen to Shay Given yesterday on SSN who also alluded to being at a disadvantage if one side has had less recovery time over the other. These margins might appear small to some people but at this level it can play a crucial part.

Of course it plays a part, but the fear mongering that goes on here is ridiculous. We have a fitness team that know what they're doing. Since way back in November people have been citing fatigue as the reason for poor performances. I'm not saying it won't have any impact, I'm just arguing that any dip in performance isn't necessarily due to fatigue, and we won't really know exactly what the deal is.

The away tie made sense to rest players. We'd just played two very intense games in a short amount of time. Most of our key players have either now been rested or are unavailable, so I see no reason not to go with a stronger looking side.

 

[LexingtonSpurs]

I've been torn on this one but I'm swayed by the bullish crowd on here. Let's go all out to win it with our best possible team. We've won 4-1 at home three times in the PL this season -- just need to go one better against a (on paper) lesser side than City. Tough ask but well within the realms of possibility.

If Poch does field a strong side then it's because he knows the fitness/fatigue situation better than anyone and believes it won't compromise our performance against Bournemouth. After that, two week's rest -- all recharged.

How many are getting two weeks rest?

 

[Matthew Wyatt]

How many are getting two weeks rest?

Even one week is easing off the workload they've had before now, and besides, I'd hope our boys have their eyes on the prize and will play within themselves in international friendlies.

 

[Hazardousman]

The stats a week or so, show that in 2016 we're the team covering the most ground. Significantly more than Bournemouth.

We dropped points to West Ham and Arsenal but it doesn't necessarily equate to what you're saying.

Bournemouth are flying, but if you're using ground covered as the only metric to make your case it's a bit foolish.

Not using it as my only metric, I am using our general performances over the last few weeks when games have been coming thick and fast, we have seen a noticeable drop off in our performances and our pressing.

And this is down to the fact we are playing lots of games in short succession, which points to fatigue.

That is my point, the effort (physical and mental) it would require to overcome a 3-0 lead against one of the worlds best sides will have an impact (small or big) on our game against Bournemouth and it isn't worth the risk considering how important it is for us not to drop points against them.

It's foolish to play a full strength side knowing it could negatively affect our result against Bournemouth, if we were only 1-0 down VS Dortmund I would think differently but 3-0 the probability of us overcoming that is very slim and if they score (which you can almost guarantee) it makes it almost impossible.

It's just a pointless risk as far as I am concerned when all of us would rather win the PL over the ELand how important the game against Bournemouth is, why bother taking the risk? All it will do is heap pressure on Poch as well if we do drop points against Bournemouth because people will instantly say "Why did he play a full strength team against Dortmund"

Nobody wins in this situation unless we come out of both games as winners, can you see that happening? Realistically?

 

[Mr Pink]

Of course it plays a part, but the fear mongering that goes on here is ridiculous. We have a fitness team that know what they're doing. Since way back in November people have been citing fatigue as the reason for poor performances. I'm not saying it won't have any impact, I'm just arguing that any dip in performance isn't necessarily due to fatigue, and we won't really know exactly what the deal is.

The away tie made sense to rest players. We'd just played two very intense games in a short amount of time. Most of our key players have either now been rested or are unavailable, so I see no reason not to go with a stronger looking side.

Yeah we won't know the precise extent fatigue plays a part and like you say the fitness team will know what they're doing in that respect.

I won't have a problem with what Poch and his coaching staff decide to do really, but if it were up to me my team selection would seriously reflect the Bournemouth game as the absolute priority given the scoreline.

So you won't hear me complaining either way, I just would give ourselves the biggest chance of winning on Sunday, no matter how small a gain it could potentially be, the odds are its a gain, IMO, to rest as many key players as possible. I do understand though that people have paid to see a high profile match tonight and I'm sure that enters the thinking to some degree - so we'll see some sort of compromise with team selection taking into account all of the above I'd imagine.

 

[Thfc15]

Anybody who thinks recovery and fatigue are overplayed don't probably exercise that much themselves. I do loads of high intensity running and have to plan recovery if I want to be at my optimum for any give race.

I'm telling you it does play a part, and they wouldn't have people analysing distance covered and how hard the body is working if it didn't either.

You only had to listen to Shay Given yesterday on SSN who also alluded to being at a disadvantage if one side has had less recovery time over the other. These margins might appear small to some people but at this level it can play a crucial part.

Funnily enough i've worked in the fitness industry in my earlier years and infact one of my best friends is a strength and conditioning coach. As the topic interests us we were discussing it recently and both felt the fatigue in football is overplayed, hence why i posted the opinion on here.

Now i probably dont need to tell you this as you do lots of high intensity running so must already know, but for anyone that doesnt, you'd probably be amazed by the frequency and intensity of an olympic atheltes training regime. The training gets harder nearer comp time where they must be at their peak, atleast 30 hours a week.

..but according to SC their coaches must be overtraining them and they must be physically to fatigued to perform at comp time?

 

[nicdic]

Yeah we won't know the precise extent fatigue plays a part and like you say the fitness team will know what they're doing in that respect.

I won't have a problem with what Poch and his coaching staff decide to do really, but if it were up to me my team selection would seriously reflect the Bournemouth game as the absolute priority given the scoreline.

So you won't hear me complaining either way, I just would give ourselves the biggest chance of winning on Sunday, no matter how small a gain it could potentially be, the odds are its a gain, IMO, to rest as many key players as possible. I do understand though that people have paid to see a high profile match tonight and I'm sure that enters the thinking to some degree - so we'll see some sort of compromise with team selection taking into account all of the above I'd imagine.

I'm going tonight, but don't care about what people have paid etc. Pick the right team given the fitness concerns.

The best way for Poch to really keep his word about valuing the whole squad is to treat the next game as the most important, and pick the fittest, best team for each game.

Again, though the biggest difference from last week, is that it's not on the back of two huge games. The need to rest players are much slimmer. And last week was less about the upcoming game against Villa in my mind, as it was about the previous. This week too won't be about resting players for the next game, but rather managing players from the previous games.

 

[spursram]

For those who still believe we can do it, Sky bet has us at 100/1 to win 4-0, and 200/1 to win 5-1.

 

[nicdic]

I put a £1 on us to go through at 33/1

 

[Mr Pink]

Funnily enough i've worked in the fitness industry in my earlier years and infact one of my best friends is a strength and conditioning coach. As the topic interests us we were discussing it recently and both felt the fatigue in football is overplayed, hence why i posted the opinion on here.

Now i probably dont need to tell you this as you do lots of high intensity running so must already know, but for anyone that doesnt, you'd probably be amazed by the frequency and intensity of an olympic atheltes training regime. The training gets harder nearer comp time where they must be at their peak, atleast 30 hours a week.

..but according to SC their coaches must be overtraining them and they must be physically to fatigued to perform at comp time?

Yeah but the difference is you're generally not doing three high intensity races a week. You're training for one race at any give time so your regime is very different. You're not racing three times a week, week in week out. And if you were you're training would be vastly different as a result as the body would need time to adequately recover.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

I think physical and mental fatigue are factors without a shadow of a doubt, and it's also the travelling. As someone who does quite a lot of short haul flying I know how it fatigues you - I can't really explain why it does either, but I always feel more tired after flying even when it's an hour and a half flight or something.

I also think the fact that the EPL has no winter break plays a part too. I think people underestimate the benefit to players, physically and mentally of just having a couple of weeks without the physical and mental pressures of top level competition in front of huge crowds.

All that said, I still think Poch got the team and tactics horribly wrong for the Dortmund away game. Why play almost full strength teams in earlier rounds to then play a much weaker team against a team like Dortmund at this stage ? We could still have rested certain players like Kane, Toby, FB's and a CM, and still put out a more competitive team and - more importantly - been tactically much better prepared.

Love what we are doing generally, but Poch balls'd this tie up good and proper.

 

[Mr Pink]

I'm going tonight, but don't care about what people have paid etc. Pick the right team given the fitness concerns.

The best way for Poch to really keep his word about valuing the whole squad is to treat the next game as the most important, and pick the fittest, best team for each game.

Again, though the biggest difference from last week, is that it's not on the back of two huge games. The need to rest players are much slimmer. And last week was less about the upcoming game against Villa in my mind, as it was about the previous. This week too won't be about resting players for the next game, but rather managing players from the previous games.

The need for rest is slimmer yeah, but I would just take no risks whatsoever. Look I accept people will have different views on this, just my take.