Match Threads Spurs vs Antwerp - Match Thread - Europa Cup Rd 6

[Bulletspur]

SPURS 2-0 ANTWERP
Vinicius. Lo Celso​

Spurs: Hart, Doherty, Sanchez, Tanganga, Davies, Reguilon (Bergwijn), Winks (Ndombele), Lo Celso, Lucas (Sissoko), Bale (Son), Vinicius (Kane).
Subs: Whiteman, Dier, Alderweireld, White, Clarke, Dele, Scarlett.

Antwerp

Official Site Match Centre
Three changes from our last Europa League outing against LASK last week - Reguilon, Winks and Vinicius come in for Ndombele, Hojbjerg and Son. Otherwise it's nine changes from the win over Arsenal at the weekend with only Reguilon and Lo Celso keeping their places.

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TEAM FORM: Spurs WWDDW ------ Antwerp DWWWL -------- (All Competitions)

We and Antwerp both sealed our round of 32 berths on Matchday 5, but finishing on top of Group J is the mission for both of us to go head to head in north London.

Our 3-3 draw at LASK last time out, in which we benefited from two penalties but conceded an added-time equaliser, was enough to see us through, though it dropped us two points behind Antwerp. The Belgian side claimed their fourth win of the section by defeating Ludogorets 3-1 at home thanks to first European goals from Martin Hongle, Ritchie De Laet and Manuel Benson.

We must therefore make it three home wins out of three to top the group, whereas Antwerp have to avoid a first away defeat in the section to. Antwerp surprised us at home on Matchday 2 as Lior Refaelov's first-half strike proved enough to earn a famous victory for Ivan Leko's side.

Although that was our first meeting with Antwerp, we had faced Belgian clubs ten times previously, most famously in the 1984 UEFA Cup final, which we won on penalties after two 1-1 draws against Anderlecht. Our home record against Belgian visitors is W3 D2, the other draw having come in the most recent encounter, 2-2 at Wembley Stadium against Gent in the 2016/17 UEFA Europa League round of 32 – a result that eliminated us 3-2 on aggregate.

Although Antwerp won both legs against Aston Villa in the first round of the 1975/76 UEFA Cup (4-1 h, 1-0 a), their second and most recent pairing with English opposition until this season, against Newcastle United at the same stage of the same competition 19 years later, brought two heavy defeats – 0-5 at home and 2-5 away. Those results were the club's most recent in UEFA competition until they returned to the European fold last season after 25 years away.

We finished outside the top four of the Premier League for the first time in five seasons in 2019/20, our final position of sixth ending a four-season run in the UEFA Champions League that had taken us into the final in 2018/19 and to the round of 16 last season, where we were eliminated by Leipzig (0-1 h, 0-3 a).

Our 2020/21 European campaign began at an earlier stage than in any previous season, but we came through qualifying ties away to Lokomotiv Plovdiv (2-1) and Shkëndija (3-1) before beating Maccabi Haifa 7-2 at home in the play-offs to take the club into the UEFA Europa League group stage for the sixth time. Having failed to make further progress in 2011/12, we have qualified for the round of 32 in each of our last four group participations, most recently in 2015/16 when we reached the last 16.

We have lost three of our nine European games at our new stadium, including a record 7-2 defeat by Bayern München last season, but have won all three there this term, scoring 14 goals, with Group J successes against LASK (3-0) and Ludogorets (4-0) supplementing the play-off win against Haifa. In the UEFA Europa League group stage, our home record is now W14 D2 L1, with no defeats in the last 14 matches and wins in all of the last seven.

Antwerp beat champions Club Brugge 1-0 in the 2019/20 Belgian Cup final – the club's first victory in the competition for 28 years – to secure a place in the UEFA Europa League group stage for the first time.

Last season the club returned to European competition for the first time in a quarter of a century but were unable to negotiate their way through UEFA Europa League qualifying, going out in the play-offs to AZ Alkmaar after extra time (1-1 a, 1-4 h) following an away goals win, also after extra time, in the third qualifying round against Viktoria Plzeň.

The Great Old had not won away in Europe since 1992 – a run of seven matches (D3 L4) – until they beat Ludogorets 2-1 in Bulgaria in this season's UEFA Europa League opener. They made it two away wins out of two in Group J by defeating LASK 2-0 in Linz on Matchday 4.

Moussa Sissoko's next appearance in UEFA club competition will be his 50th.

Antwerp defender De Laet has played for ten English clubs, notably Leicester City, with whom he was a Premier League champion in 2015/16 – though he spent the second half of that campaign on loan at Middlesbrough, helping them win promotion to the top flight.

De Laet and our Toby won their first cap for Belgium in the same match – a 1-1 draw against Chile on 29 May 2009 in the Kirin Cup in Japan.

Tanguy and Jérémy Gelin (Antwerp) are team-mates for France's Under-21 side.

Antwerp are one of six clubs making their UEFA Europa League group stage debut in 2020/21, the others being CSKA-Sofia (Group A), Granada and Omonoia (E), Leicester City (G) and Sivasspor (I). They are one of three, along with Granada and Leicester, to have already qualified for the round of 32.

Mourinho's only experience of the UEFA Europa League prior to this season was in 2016/17, when his Manchester United side lifted the trophy. His one season managing in the UEFA Cup also ended in glory as he steered Porto to victory in 2002/03.

Our sixth appearance in the UEFA Europa League group stage is a record for an English club. We became the first Premier League side to chalk up 50 matches in the competition proper on Matchday 2.

We are one of six former UEFA Cup winners in this season's UEFA Europa League group stage – along with Bayer Leverkusen (Group C), PSV Eindhoven (E), Napoli (F), CSKA Moskva and Feyenoord (both K).

Banner courtesy of @chrissivad

 

[TheChosenOne]

Looking forward to this ... And the closing part of the league format .. Been a slog.

Wanting a win but but JM is the boss.
.
Thanks @Bulletspur

COYLWS

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

As weak team as possible please, even more so than the usual EL rotations. Need squad players ready to be in the match day squad vs. Palace, and need first 11s to be protected before facing Liverpool. We already know that some seniors lack motivation for this and other seniors shouldn't play anyway. So no chances please.

 

[wirE]

I want us to win. We're facing tougher opponents if we finish second.

 

[Japhet]

I want us to win. We're facing tougher opponents if we finish second.

Think that's a bit of a lottery actually. I'd still like us to win the group though as it builds the confidence and attitude.

 

[carpediem991]

As weak team as possible please, even more so than the usual EL rotations. Need squad players ready to be in the match day squad vs. Palace, and need first 11s to be protected before facing Liverpool. We already know that some seniors lack motivation for this and other seniors shouldn't play anyway. So no chances please.

Nah, how do you want to explain the squad players "hey you wont play because I need you on the bench and maybe for 2 minutes against Palace"?
Rather fire them up who puts in a good shift will be in the squad on Sunday.

Rotation yes please, save our stars absolutely, still take this one serious enough to challenge Antwerp as much as needed.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

Nah, how do you want to explain the squad players "hey you wont play because I need you on the bench and maybe for 2 minutes against Palace"?
Rather fire them up who puts in a good shift will be in the squad on Sunday.

Rotation yes please, save our stars absolutely, still take this one serious enough to challenge Antwerp as much as needed.

Doubt you'd need to explain anything to professional athletes for a league leading club in the middle of a prolonged crazy busy period about a the least important match for weeks.

 

[Mr Pink]

Absolutely sweeping changes. We've got three league games in a week three days after this and I expect that to be at the forefront of Jose's thinking.

 

[carpediem991]

Doubt you'd need to explain anything to professional athletes for a league leading club in the middle of a prolonged crazy busy period about a the least important match for weeks.

Most of them are spoilt kids who have the expectation to play and will already left unhappy if they can not make it on the pitch in the league week in week out. Also we need to have the squad players matchfit. It is improtant on various levels to give them game time and chances to proove themselves. There you see if they are willing to put in a fight for a first team spot.

Thinking about the 3 league games coming up, Kane, Son, Pierre, Regui and probably others will if fit definitley paly all three of them. For what we are saving our squad players here?
Doherty, Tanganga, Davies, Winks, Dele, Lucas, Bale, Vinicius...they all need games.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

Most of them are spoilt kids who have the expectation to play and will already left unhappy if they can not make it on the pitch in the league week in week out. Also we need to have the squad players matchfit. It is improtant on various levels to give them game time and chances to proove themselves. There you see if they are willing to put in a fight for a first team spot.

Thinking about the 3 league games coming up, Kane, Son, Pierre, Regui and probably others will if fit definitley paly all three of them. For what we are saving our squad players here?
Doherty, Tanganga, Davies, Winks, Dele, Lucas, Bale, Vinicius...they all need games.

Well, it's more complicated. For instance, there's the risk on injuries, which is inherent in every game. So the heavier rotation in this game, the less of a chance for injuries that can have a potential ripple effect on the squad.
There's also the point that before last PL match, as many as maybe 4 or 5 in the starting 11 were doubts, and more than one came through right at the end. So a bit of caution I think is warranted.
But more to the point, this match doesn't matter in the context of being league leaders. And which team we may or may not meet in February in EL, I don't really care. In fact, bring on the stronger opposition I say.
There are enough opportunities for players to prove themselves. For instance look at Lucas playing 5 minutes vs. Arsenal and putting in a real shift. And do you not think they have to prove themselves every day in training. What do you think they do? Drink tea and swap childhood stories?
For this specific match, in this specifically busy period, in the specific leading position we are in, we must play as weak of a team as possible.

 

[carpediem991]

Well, it's more complicated. For instance, there's the risk on injuries, which is inherent in every game. So the heavier rotation in this game, the less of a chance for injuries that can have a potential ripple effect on the squad.
There's also the point that before last PL match, as many as maybe 4 or 5 in the starting 11 were doubts, and more than one came through right at the end. So a bit of caution I think is warranted.
But more to the point, this match doesn't matter in the context of being league leaders. And which team we may or may not meet in February in EL, I don't really care. In fact, bring on the stronger opposition I say.
There are enough opportunities for players to prove themselves. For instance look at Lucas playing 5 minutes vs. Arsenal and putting in a real shift. And do you not think they have to prove themselves every day in training. What do you think they do? Drink tea and swap childhood stories?
For this specific match, in this specifically busy period, in the specific leading position we are in, we must play as weak of a team as possible.

Then we just disagree.

Some of the players I listed can pull up trees in training, they won't suddenly play instead of Toby/ Dier/ Regui/ Pierre/ Kane/ Son. The Bergwijn position is maybe up for grabs with Lucas, Bale and Lamela looking out for it and at the moment thats it because it works.

And the chance of injuries increase when they get thrown in cold without match rhythm. It is actually good for players fitness to have matches. Or why do you think we have several matches in pre season? There is no need to play Antwerp with the highest intensity, but it is very important for the confidence of the depth players too to keep them all on board.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

Then we just disagree.

Some of the players I listed can pull up trees in training, they won't suddenly play instead of Toby/ Dier/ Regui/ Pierre/ Kane/ Son. The Bergwijn position is maybe up for grabs with Lucas, Bale and Lamela looking out for it and at the moment thats it because it works.

And the chance of injuries increase when they get thrown in cold without match rhythm. It is actually good for players fitness to have matches. Or why do you think we have several matches in pre season? There is no need to play Antwerp with the highest intensity, but it is very important for the confidence of the depth players too to keep them all on board.

But they rotated last week and still it was pointed out that there wasn't even motivation. I don't see playing a match you are not motivated for as a terrific way to keep match fitness.

 

[carpediem991]

But they rotated last week and still it was pointed out that there wasn't even motivation. I don't see playing a match you are not motivated for as a terrific way to keep match fitness.

But maybe Jose now wants to see who gets fired up with his comments. Tell them last chance to get an easy run out and they need to prove themselves if they want to be part of it the next weeks. Our squad is big, we have next to no injuries, no need to pack the squad players in cotton wool. Players shouould want revenge for the first leg against Antwerp otherwise they are wrong in their job and wrong in this team.

Still time to throw in Scarlett, White and Clarke after 60 minutes.

Edit: Not to mention how goals, assists or good games can players who doubt themselves give them a confidence boost.

 

[mightyspur]

I think we'll see a similar team to the one that started against Lask, except Son and Højbjerg making way for Carlos and Winks, so basically the same team that played Ludogorets. Hopefully Ndombele also gets a rest though. Let Lo Celso start. I was impressed with Scarlett when he came on against Ludogorets, so hopefully he figures again.

 

[rabbikeane]

Think that's a bit of a lottery actually.

At the moment the Champions League teams dropping down that will face 2nd ranked teams from EL group stage are:
RB Leipzig Manchester United, Ajax, Real Madrid Shakhtar Donetsk, Club Brugge

The unseeded teams dropping down that the Europa League group winners might face are at the moment:
RB Salzburg, Krasnodar, Olympiacos and Dynamo Kyiv.

 

[Serpico]

Jose will start a strong core of a side on Thur to get the job done and done it will be-Im sure of it. They won't fancy this and want to play out the draw they need. I don't feel there's pressure on us, its all on them.

 

[Tucker]

I’d give a couple of youngsters a start in this one. Rest the likes of Hojbjerg, and let White show what he can do in the middle from the start.

 

[Mr Pink]

Jose will start a strong core of a side on Thur to get the job done and done it will be-Im sure of it. They won't fancy this and want to play out the draw they need. I don't feel there's pressure on us, its all on them.

Job is already done, no guarantees of the strength of opposition regardless of topping the group.

We have three huge games in a week after this, then the quarter final in League cup with the congested festive fixtures to follow.

This game should be rank bottom of our priorities and I'd be amazed if his line up suggested anything to the contrary.

So I wouldn't expect a strong core at all. None of the players who started on Sunday should be playing...maybe Lo Celso, that's it.

 

[king26]

winks ali and carlos need game time and joe hart needs to get lost

 

[Real_madyidd]

winks ali and carlos need game time and joe hart needs to get lost

Support the players that get picked. Fans like you are the reason we do better with a closed stadium.

Our fans are absolute poison and are one of the reasons we never win anything.