Team vs Panathinaikos

[ShelfSide18]

I'm thinking it's easier to think who should NOT play...

I would say especially after Saturday's drain Vertonghen needs resting, having played in more or less all matches do far, sandro and Dembele, Defoe, bale and Lennon...

I would go for;

Lloris

Smith Dawson Caulker Parrot

Siggy Huddlestone Carrol

Townsend Dempsey Mason

Subs; Falque, Gomes then a few first teamers just in case.

I know parrot is a DCM, but Verts despite being the THOR of the football world is the last player we need injured right now, and tiredness brings injuries. Surely Parrot could do a job, leaving a spine of Lloris Dawson Caulker Huddlestone Siggy Dempsey which is experienced and talented enough to secure a win?

Shame that the fryers transfer got complicated, and this game shows how our squad is just a tad slim....

I'm all for Total Football style rotation of positions, but a right footed CM at left back? That's abstract in the extreme!

Townsend has played LB before, then you could put Falque and Mason wide supporting Dempsey.

 

[eddiebailey]

I know parrot is a DCM, .

Peter Reid was convinced that the only position he could play was in the hole...

 

[noahrobert]

I'm all for Total Football style rotation of positions, but a right footed CM at left back? That's abstract in the extreme!

Townsend has played LB before, then you could put Falque and Mason wide supporting Dempsey.

I did think of this! My reasoning that Townsend deserved a starting spot in his actual position, also being a goal threat outweighed the fact he has played left back before.

It doesn't make Townsend a good left back though does it? Or a good choice. Would you play Lennon at right back?

We need goals in this match snd if we are resting players we need a goal threat. Dempsey needs games do definately starts as striker 9. I think then from the back ups or team I selected townsend is most likely to score or be a threat, with Siggy also a likely but less likely that Townsend to trouble their goal.

I think moving Townsend to LB creates more of a problem than playing a DCM at left back. My opinion of course.


Edit] though I suppose moving Smith to left back and putting Parrot as right back would probably be more sensible

 

[HotspurFC1950]

If we are saying "when certain players return to fitness we will be able to rotate more". We are assuming that there are no injuries at all to those currently playing.

 

[eddiebailey]

I am inclined to the view that a good shape for a squad is 18 first team players who can be deployed fairly flexibly, plus a good reserve for each position; that is almost exactly what we have, except that loaning out Rose and Kane left us two reserves light. It is that shortfall that seems to be our problem, as it is precisely in their positions that we are struggling.

 

[tippspur59]

It's incredible that not even an update on his situation has been discussed. Why can't a journalist just ask already?

Will you stop,the Sun will have a story tomorrow that Ade is at war with AVB

 

[yid-down-under]

He'll keep playing defoe up front.

Whens Ade back?

 

[thinktank]

Whens Ade back?

No idea, need him back in contention though.

 

[Pedro]

Whilst I'm sure many of you are still basking in yesterday's historic win (and quite rightly so), it will be interesting to see what AVB does with our trip to Greece, followed by Aston Villa on the weekend.

Unlike the Lazio match where I didn't expect wholesale changes, I wonder if the squad will be utilised more in this match although I still think it will be a very competitive side;

Injuries permitting, perhaps it will be something along these lines;

Lloris

Walker Dawson Caulker Naughton

Huddlestone Sandro

Lennon Sigurdsson Townsend

Dempsey

I would go with that, maybe switch Sandro for Dembele though and take the risk. The way Sandro is playing we really depend on him so much right now, if we can rest him we should, we need him for villa. Hope scott comes back soon so we can altenate them a bit. Maybe bring bale on for Lennon in the 2nd half.

 

[PrettyColors]

doing some sleuthing, Adebayor revealed on Sept. 28 that he'll be back "in a week."

So... Guess we'll see Dempsey/Defoe up top.

 

[ChristianBaler]

Naughton

Wont be fit until after the international break

 

[ChristianBaler]

but he could play Cameron Lancaster.

Nope because he's just come back from injury

 

[ItsBoris]

Assuming Naughton and Ade are fit:

-----------------Lloris---------------
Smith----Caulker---Dawson --Naughton
-------Siggy----Hudd----Carroll--------
---Falque-----Adebayor----Townsend

If this isn't enough we can always use subs in an attempt to win, but I would far rather Bale/Dembele/Sandro/Vertonghen not start this game if possible.

 

[ChristianBaler]

Kevin Stewart (development player) traveled with the squad to PAOK last season and can play RB/LB so he may be an option for us if we want to rest Vertonghen at LB.

 

[Mouse!]

Players who are in need of a rest: Walker, Gallas (35), Vertonghen, Sandro, Dembele, Lennon, Bale, Defoe.

Injured players: Kaboul, Naughton, BAE, Livermore, Adebayor.

Players who need a game: Lloris, Dawson, Huddlestone, Sigurdsson, Townsend, Smith, Falque, Carroll, Mason.

My team:

Lloris
Smith, Dawson, Caulker(Hall 80), Stewart
Sigurdsson(Pritchard 60), Huddlestone, Carroll
Falque, Dempsey(Mason 45), Townsend

According to the BBC, left-back Stewart is part of the squad.

 

[Kendall]

Lloris​

​

Smith Caulker Dawson Vertonghen​

​

Huddlestone Carroll​

​

Townsend Dempsey Sigurdsson​

​

Defoe​

 

[kazzah9]

They've won 1 of their last 8 games

 

[daehanmingook]

Lloris​

​

Vertonghen Vertonghen Vertonghen Vertonghen​

​

Vertonghen Vertonghen​

​

Vertonghen Vertonghen Vertonghen​

​

Vertonghen​

​

domination​

 

[HotspurFC1950]

Players who are in need of a rest: Walker, Gallas (35), Vertonghen, Sandro, Dembele, Lennon, Bale, Defoe.

Injured players: Kaboul, Naughton, BAE, Livermore, Adebayor.

Players who need a game: Lloris, Dawson, Huddlestone, Sigurdsson, Townsend, Smith, Falque, Carroll, Mason.

My team:

Lloris
Smith, Dawson, Caulker(Hall 80), Stewart
Sigurdsson(Pritchard 60), Huddlestone, Carroll
Falque, Dempsey(Mason 45), Townsend

According to the BBC, left-back Stewart is part of the squad.

No Players are in need of a rest unless carrying injury. Players do not feel tired whist winning I can assure you

 

[HotspurFC1950]

Preventing players getting injured is a totally separate consideration though.