Team v Belgrad

[Spursidol]

In the qualifying rounds Poch showed he was very happy to rotate many of the players so I'm assuming he'll do the same again to :
- Give Vorm a debut
- Give Davies another run out at LB
- Mason played about 60 minutes for u21's on Friday after being injured just before Schalke, this would be a good game to play him in tthe first team
- Stambouli had a good 20 minutes against Sunderland, so needs a start to complete his move into the first tream squad.
- Etc
- Only real question for me is whether he starts Kane (who has been a sub in PL) and brings on Soldado later or vice versa.
- Strong subs bench - but maybe one or two youngsters on it. Harry Winks brought off early in the u21's so maybe a few minutes at the end of this one ?

Vorm
Naughton, Fazio, Chiriches, Davies-
Stambouli, Mason
Lennon Paulinho Townsend-
Kane

Subs: Lloris, Dier, Veljkovic, Winks, Bentaleb, Chadli, , Soldado
Travelling - McGee, Ball, Oduwa (nb. Ogilvie injured)

 

[Strikeb4ck]

Kane
Townsend - Paulinho - Lennon
Mason - Stambouli
Davies - Chiriches - Kaboul - Dier
Vorm

Vorm to get his first start.

I want Naughton back starting in the Prem so let Dier play one more game at RB and have Naughton fully fit for WBA.

If Fazio can play both this game and vs WBA then by all means put him in, but I'd rather see him in the Prem.

Mason/Bentaleb, either works, want to see what Mason is capable of though. Maybe Bentaleb for 45-55 minutes then sub. Stambouli won't start v WBA based on how good Capoue/Dembele looked, so give him a full 90, we'll need a player of his style in such a rough venue.

Townsend/Paulinho/Lennon/Kane is a solid front 4 for this sort of match, hopefully Townsend is done showboating for his Cypriot family and plays as part of the team again. If he does so he'll do fine. Partizan's fullbacks are quite weak from what I saw last round so I think he can have some joy against them. Lennon deserves a start, Paulinho did well last EL game, Kane has been in good form and was just unlucky on that own goal today.

 

[double0]

Lloris

Naughton
Fazio
Chiriches
Davies

Bentaleb
Stambouli

Lennon
Paulihno
Townsend

Kane.

 

[eddiebailey]

A lot of consensus in this thread, the disagreement seems to be around whether Bentaleb or Mason should start alongside Stambouli, and who should start up front out of Kane and Soldado.

 

[matthew.absurdum]

Vorm
Naughton Fazio Dier Davies
Stambouli Bentaleb/Mason
Lennon Paulinho Townsend
Kane

I don't think soldado would be fit enough to start, otherwise I think I will start him

 

[teok]

I definitely want to give faz a run out. He will be crucial for our defence in the future imo.

 

[Yorkville Spur]

I think we need a strong team for this one. Let's rack up some early points and make the last couple of games dead rubbers so we can play the kids.

 

[Mr Pink]

I agree with the general consensus in here.

We have a strong squad and I expect Poch to use it.

 

[mpickard2087]

Agree with most about what the team will/should be. I'd like a creative option in the 4-2-3-1, but we are a bit bare in this department with Ceballos not even registered for example, so I guess it will be Lennon-Paulinho-Townsend and then Kane up top.

 

[We'llWinThePrem]

Vorm
Naughton Fazio Chiriches Davies
Mason Stambouli
Townsend Paulinho Lennon
Kane​

 

[TH1239]

It's games like this that make me wish we kept Sandro, Sigurdsson, and Holtby, especially since their sales didn't really lead to us bringing in another quality attacking option. They all would've been excellent options in matches like this with their experience.

Lennon and Townsend have been poor in both league and in Europa League games in the last year, so if they get starts in the group stages, they have to deliver. This group is much stronger than what we faced last season. Besiktas with our full first XI wouldn't be an easy game, and Partizan away is going to be one of the more hostile grounds we'll go to this season.

 

[beats1]

It's games like this that make me wish we kept Sandro, Sigurdsson, and Holtby, especially since their sales didn't really lead to us bringing in another quality attacking option. They all would've been excellent options in matches like this with their experience.

Lennon and Townsend have been poor in both league and in Europa League games in the last year, so if they get starts in the group stages, they have to deliver. This group is much stronger than what we faced last season. Besiktas with our full first XI wouldn't be an easy game, and Partizan away is going to be one of the more hostile grounds we'll go to this season.

I cant remember either having bad games in Europa league, Townsend hasn't been fit tbf to him and lennon has done alright. Not set the world alight but both have done well. If anything townsend was brilliant in the group stages before his injury

 

[TH1239]

I cant remember either having bad games in Europa league, Townsend hasn't been fit tbf to him and lennon has done alright. Not set the world alight but both have done well. If anything townsend was brilliant in the group stages before his injury

Go back and watch Townsend against Dnipro away in the first leg that we lost 1-0. Tim had to pull him early because he was so poor. As for Lennon, in 276 Europa league minutes, he didn't score a goal, nor assist a goal, and created all of 1 chance per Squawka. I don't believe Townsend scored or assisted a goal in the group or knockout stages either, so I'd like for you tell me specifically which games in the knockout stages he was "brilliant in."

 

[beats1]

Go back and watch Townsend against Dnipro away in the first leg that we lost 1-0. Tim had to pull him early because he was so poor. As for Lennon, in 276 Europa league minutes, he didn't score a goal, nor assist a goal, and created all of 1 chance per Squawka. I don't believe Townsend scored or assisted a goal in the group or knockout stages either, so I'd like for you tell me specifically which games in the knockout stages he was "brilliant in."

Err I said he was brilliant in the matches before his injury, you are mentioning games after his injury. It also appears I was wrong since Townsend wasn't playing in the group stages before his injury but was MOTM in the Dinamo games.

However Lennon was injured for the group stages before trying to regain fitness.

Now I don't think Lennon is good enough for us and don't want him at the club, but to suggest that they aren't good enough to play in the europa group stage is a fucking pisstake

 

[Snarfalicious]

My preferred team:

------------------------ Vorm -----------------------
Naughton ---- Fazio ---------- Veljokvic --- Davies
------ Stambouli --------------- Bentaleb ----------
-- Townsend --------- Paulinho -------------- Kane
------------------------ Soldado ---------------------

I want to see how Kane could operate in the "starting LWF" position but we all know the 3 behind the striker will be fluid and move around a lot. I also want to see a relatively younger side and I think this gives us a nice blend of some youth but also players that need to get used to our style of play and/or need match minutes.

 

[Larryjanta]

Lloris

Davies
Fazio
Chiriches
Naughton

Stambo
Bentaleb

Chadli
Paulinho
Lennon

Kane

Bench
Vorm
Dier
Capoue
Mason
Townsend
Lamela
Eriksen

 

[Benjos]

A little different view:

------------------------ Vorm ------------------------
Dier -------- Fazio ------- Chiriches -------- Davies
-------------- Stambouli------- Bentaleb -----------
Townsend / lennon --- Paulinho ------ Mason------
------------------------ Soldado ---------------------

If Soldado is unfit replace with Kane.
Fazio needs game time and this is the perfect opportunity to introduce him. I think Naughton is very underrated and a more than decent defensive right back, he should start in the PL for now until Walker is fit. Let Dier play RB/CB in the EL and cups for now, he's got fantastic potential and these games will provide him more than enough game-time.
I think this blend of players in the "3" attacking midfielders is well balanced. The "3" in poch's system are interchangable
and I think it's a nice blend of a creative midfielder (Mason - I think he's a pretty creative passer, tidy with the ball and has good energy to apply pressure), a goalscoring midefielder (Paulinho) and a pacy midfielder ( Townsend/Lennon - I preffer Lennon for now, seems to understand the system more and helps defensively). Another option - Kane can start in the "3" too as a wide forward, he's a very good young player imo.
If Soldado and Fazio play well and the result is good enough, sub them in the 2nd half and start them on Sunday against WBA.
That's my first line-up suggestion, be gentle with me

 

[HotspurFC1950]

I didn't want to start a new discussion so I chuck it in here.

Sandro off v Manure tight calf. Supposedly cramp. Heard this before ? Good business selling him.

 

[ShaunL84]

I agree we need to take this tournament seriously but not now, in the knockout stages.

 

[TheHoddleWaddle]

What about the young lad ceballos? Is he registered for these games? Or fit?