Your line up for final...

[mpickard2087]

Cannot believe how many people would put Winks straight back in after a couple of months out. I think that is absolute madness. Yes, it might make the formation look prettier and more dynamic on paper, but that's not how it works. I strongly suspect Poch will feel the same.

People keep saying that Liverpool's fullbacks are the great threat, yes that's correct, but what you have to be able to do against them is gain a platform in midfield and a degree of control, otherwise their centre mids, who will run all day, end up steamrollering you. I'm not saying it cant work but I don't trust Eriksen or Alli, particularly on this seasons efforts, to be able to mix it and be diligent in their work (particularly off the ball) on a consistent basis for the whole game.

The alternatives then make gambling on Winks not seem such a bold decision. Wanyama looks way off the pace, and Dier (though less mentioned) has looked even worse still. Maybe three good weeks of training has changed that, but on evidence we have witnessed I don't see either of them being able to live with the intensity, get around the park, or zip the ball about any better.

 

[TottenhamMattSpur]

We just need to go out there and beat the shit out of them.
I don't mean physically assault them, but just run our arses off. Chase them down, make the tackles, be at our absolute best. Be alert at all times. Don't give away too many corners or free kicks around the box.

We both play a similar style, we both force errors from the opposition. We just need to make less errors than them. Like, ideally, none.

I don't think the names on the team sheet make much difference here. It needs to be which ever 11 Poch thinks are fit enough and strong enough to achieve this for 90 minutes plus the inevitable 7 minutes of injury time if Liverpool need a goal to get something (BANK on that)

 

[Pellshek]

People keep saying that Liverpool's fullbacks are the great threat, yes that's correct, but what you have to be able to do against them is gain a platform in midfield and a degree of control, otherwise their centre mids, who will run all day, end up steamrollering you. I'm not saying it cant work but I don't trust Eriksen or Alli, particularly on this seasons efforts, to be able to mix it and be diligent in their work (particularly off the ball) on a consistent basis for the whole game.

Ok, but this could lead to exactly the kind of "on paper" thinking I'm concerned about. On paper, yes, Winks helps with these issues, but in the real world he's still a 23 year old who hasn't played in a couple of months, and this is the CL final.

I really do get the temptation to make it all abstract and theoretical, and to think the player you imagine in your minds-eye will be the one you get. But that's not usually how it pans out. If this were a game against Palace or Dortmund, Poch just wouldn't start him. He'd take it steady, play a form player, and bring Winks on later if needs be. Which begs the question, why would he do it in a CL final?

 

[mpickard2087]

Ok, but this could lead to exactly the kind of "on paper" thinking I'm concerned about. On paper, yes, Winks helps with these issues, but in the real world he's still a 23 year old who hasn't played in a couple of months, and this is the CL final.

I really do get the temptation to make it all abstract and theoretical, and to think the player you imagine in your minds-eye will be the one you get. But that's not usually how it pans out. If this were a game against Palace or Dortmund, Poch just wouldn't start him. He'd take it steady, play a form player, and bring Winks on later if needs be. Which begs the question, why would he do it in a CL final?

Who is the form player though?

 

[Blake Griffin]

Lloris

Trippier
Toby
Vertonghen
Rose

Sissoko
Dier

Eriksen
Son
Dele
Lucas

Cannot believe how many people would put Winks straight back in after a couple of months out. I think that is absolute madness.

likewise i can't believe you could watch dier's performance against bournemouth and think he's in any way suited to starting this game.

 

[Tottenhamboy85]

Lloris

Trippier
Toby
Vertonghen
Rose

Sissoko
Dier

Eriksen
Son
Dele
Lucas

> Kane on no later than 55th minute, unless we're 3-0 up, in which case **shrugging emoji**.
> Other subs depending on how things go, but Llorente, Lamela and Winks at front of the sub pack.

Cannot believe how many people would put Winks straight back in after a couple of months out. I think that is absolute madness. Yes, it might make the formation look prettier and more dynamic on paper, but that's not how it works. I strongly suspect Poch will feel the same.

The idea of dropping Dele is equally crazy, and is equally unlikely to happen. And rightly so. It's no time to go all Kevin Keegan and start with wacky formations and playing players out of position and all that shite just because it looks clever on paper. Seen that nonsense a million times and it always backfires. I say this notwithstanding Poch having seriously worked on something new & fancy over the last couple of weeks, which is unlikly, but possible. What we can't have is last-minute brain waves about Sanchez at FB, or Kane at No. 10, or dropping Dele, or any of that mallarky. KISS.

It’s almost like you don’t want to win this final

 

[chinaski]

For me

Lloris
Trippier Alderweireld Vertonghen Rose
Sissoko Winks
Eriksen Dele Son
Kane​

Lucas on the hour for Winks if we are trailing (and a formation shift).

 

[thenickh]

For me

Lloris
Trippier Alderweireld Vertonghen Rose
Sissoko Winks
Eriksen Dele Son
Kane​

Lucas on the hour for Winks if we are trailing (and a formation shift).

This seems the most logical, and what I would go for! Hopefully it works!!

 

[james Stock]

Who is the form player though?

Against Everton we had 5 or. 6 possible starters missing. People are making too much of our apparent lack of form and energy. I saw no evidence of it in recent Champions League games, or away at City, where their keeper was MOTM. We were also unlucky not to get a point against Liverpool. We were poor against the Hammers and B'mouth preceding big European games .

 

[chinaski]

This seems the most logical, and what I would go for! Hopefully it works!!

It's not an easy decision.

I think there is a reasonable case for Dier over Winks as starting both Harrys after being out for injuries is a risk)

There is a clear case for rewarding Lucas with a start (if Kane isn't fit he goes up top)

I think Trippier's fate is tied to Kane's as he seems more successful with Harry at the end of his crosses. Same goes for Davies if you watch the past few years of Harry's goals -- so many come from Trippier and Davies rather than Rose and Aurier.

We seems to have a bad habit of starting out poorly and then adjusting well, hopefully we don't over think the start of the match and aren't forced to be overly reactive.

 

[mrboombarrakoomba]

Boombarrakoomba
Boombarrakooomba

may this be the line-up for the final..........


casting spell in 3..........2...........1...........


Lloris

Rose
Vertonghen
Alderweireld
Aurier

Sissoko
Winks

Son
Eriksen
Dele

Kane

BOOM.

 

[kaz Hirai]

Everyone's fit for the first time it seems in an age.
With that the team picks itself and we all know what the lineup will be . It's only trippier or aurier the slight doubt

 

[DFF]

Boombarrakoomba
Boombarrakooomba

may this be the line-up for the final..........


casting spell in 3..........2...........1...........


Lloris

Rose
Vertonghen
Alderweireld
Aurier

Sissoko
Winks

Son
Eriksen
Dele

Kane

BOOM.

Fuck me, the voodoo shaman is back. CL final bringing everyone out of retirement.

 

[mrboombarrakoomba]

Well you know, I just couldn't stay away without casting a spell. It's been so long. I hope I haven't lost my magic touch.

Off to Madrid tomorrow morning.

Toodles x

 

[peter123]

I’m out there tomorrow too and can’t wait for Saturday, we’re gonna win and it’s gonna be an epic weekend ???

 

[Grey Fox]

IMHO I want us to play 4 3 3, no back three and no diamonds please. Think this will be won in midfield

 

[sparx100]

We need to focus on the midfield for this one. Need to match them in the middle. No back 3 bollocks either.

Lloris
Trippier Toby Jan Rose
Sissoko Winks
Moura Eriksen Son
Kane

I have dropped Dele and I feel dirty. Moura and Son have done so much to get us to the final I just feel that they will have a bigger impact. I don't think that Poch will do this however, I suspect that Winks will not start and Dele will play.

 

[holmesy]

Although trippier has had a poor season, IMO he still starts ahead of Aurier... Auriers not been fit recently, and he has way to much of a hot head for a big game like this.... I could see him picking up an early yellow and then we're in a bad way with salah , mane and firmino etc running at him.....

Trippier being left out of nations league squad, also has extra incentive to prove himself..

I hope i am not wrong,,, but i think he should start and i think Poch will choose him

 

[strader]

Lloris
Trippier Alderweireld Vertonghen Rose
Sissoko Winks
Eriksen Dele Son
Kane​

That is the lineup for me.

Lucas as a second half sub. He has always done better in the second half of games, probably his pace and direct play pays dividends when opponents tire at the later stages.

Moreover the key question is will winks be fit enough to start in a game of this magnitude.

 

[EastLondonYid]

I said to my son it would be so harsh on Moura not to play after his hatrick, he's answer....... '' do you think kloop will play Origi who's two goals knocked out Barca?''