Team vs Chelsea (Carabao Cup)

[Trotter]

Bookies have use at 7/2 outsiders tonight, I know we will be playing a 2nd XI side but that's a big price considering we are the home team.

We are 1/7 on Thurs.

I really don't think home advantage is a thing anymore.

So far in the 28 games. 9 home wins, 2 draws 17 away wins. (10 teams have gained more away points than home points, including us, and only 3 have garnered more at home, and all 3 of those have played more home than away matches)


I know it is small sample size, but with crowds the ratio was roughly 40:30:30, so still a very big swing

 

[WannaDanceWithUdogie]

Cirkin?

 

[Johno1470]

I take Jose's comments more as mind games with Frank for him to expect us to line up with a young inexperienced squad. The reality is if we win this game, there's only 3 more games left to win the full thing. Jose won't throw away a golden chance to win a cup, regardless of the stature or importance. What baffles me is the EFL's insistence for us to play this game this week. According to the EFL website, the next round after this one is played on 22/23 December. Surely we could have found a suitable week later down the line to play this game rather than a packed schedule for us right now.

Regardless, I can see us going pretty strong tonight.

Hugo
Aurier
Sanchez
Toby
Sergio

PEH
GLC
Tanguy

Lamela
Kane
Bergwijn

We won't need Kane or PEH to start on Thursday night to win against an average Israeli side. If we give the likes of Dier, Doherty and Winks a rest tonight we can compete with the team above.

 

[JerryGarcia]

We won't need Kane or PEH to start on Thursday night to win against an average Israeli side.

You just had to say that didn't you?!

 

[carpediem991]

Cirkin?

Surely Reguilon needs to start at LB. Cirkin should be on the bench.

 

[canadacelt]

We should park the bus with our 2nd string for the first 70 minutes, then bring on Kane,ndombele,loCelso for the last 15-20 if we're still in the game

 

[hazzaaa]

Disappointed Dele isn't in the squad for tonight's game. I feel this game could have been a good one for him to start seeing as he loves scoring against them and has a point to prove. Wasteful not to even include him at all.

 

[JCRD]

I'm gonna be honest, I find it pretty shitty re the whole Dele situation.

Yes he hasn't been performing but this would have been a game for him to play in.

 

[Trotter]

I take Jose's comments more as mind games with Frank for him to expect us to line up with a young inexperienced squad. The reality is if we win this game, there's only 3 more games left to win the full thing. Jose won't throw away a golden chance to win a cup, regardless of the stature or importance. What baffles me is the EFL's insistence for us to play this game this week. According to the EFL website, the next round after this one is played on 22/23 December. Surely we could have found a suitable week later down the line to play this game rather than a packed schedule for us right now.

Regardless, I can see us going pretty strong tonight.

Hugo
Aurier
Sanchez
Toby
Sergio

PEH
GLC
Tanguy

Lamela
Kane
Bergwijn

We won't need Kane or PEH to start on Thursday night to win against an average Israeli side. If we give the likes of Dier, Doherty and Winks a rest tonight we can compete with the team above.

Firstly, no there is no spare midweek date for us until January (assuming we get through on Thursday)
Secondly you are very much underestimating Haifa, they will be the toughest of the 3 sides we will have played in qualifying (and got a 2-1 away win against a Russian team in last round), and it is not as if we have looked significantly better than our opponents in either match so far, 1 down in Bulgaria with 10 minutes to go, despite starting Kane and PEH, and 1-1 and having to throw on Kane etc. to rescue it, despite being against much weaker opposition in North Macedonia, and with us playing a stronger side than the players you are proposing to start with on Thursday.
We will go much weaker than you are suggesting tonight.

 

[yankspurs]

Its absolutely crazy we havent a second striker to play tomorrow.

It’s very daniel levy

 

[neogenisis]

Disappointed Dele isn't in the squad for tonight's game. I feel this game could have been a good one for him to start seeing as he loves scoring against them and has a point to prove. Wasteful not to even include him at all.

If the talks with PSG are indeed a thing, I wont be surprised if he isnt involved.

 

[JCRD]

Firstly, no there is no spare midweek date for us until January (assuming we get through on Thursday)
Secondly you are very much underestimating Haifa, they will be the toughest of the 3 sides we will have played in qualifying (and got a 2-1 away win against a Russian team in last round), and it is not as if we have looked significantly better than our opponents in either match so far, 1 down in Bulgaria with 10 minutes to go, despite starting Kane and PEH, and 1-1 and having to throw on Kane etc. to rescue it, despite being against much weaker opposition in North Macedonia, and a stronger side than the players you are proposing to start with on Thursday.
We will go much weaker than you are suggesting tonight.

I agree re the weaker team playing tonight.

I do think Kane would be on bench, throw him on for 20 mins if we are down. Same goes for one or two more

 

[spursfan77]

We should park the bus with our 2nd string for the first 70 minutes, then bring on Kane,ndombele,loCelso for the last 15-20 if we're still in the game

I'm pretty certain that will be the tactics

 

[spurs mental]

Hart
Aurier Toby Sanchez Reggie
Sissoko Gedson White
Lamela Lucas Sess​

 

[Trotter]

Hart
Aurier Toby Sanchez Reggie
Sissoko Gedson White
Lamela Lucas Sess​

This is sort of the team I expect, maybe Foyth in at CB (assuming available), so one of Toby/Sanchez can be rested to play alongside Dier on Thursday.
Problem is also forward line, as one of Lamela & Lucas will likely be expected to play on Thursday, 3 games in 5 days is a lot.
Having Dele in there would make things lot easier.
Maybe bit stronger in midfield as don't think we need to rest all of Tanguy, Winks, Hojbjerg and LoCelso

 

[Johno1470]

Firstly, no there is no spare midweek date for us until January (assuming we get through on Thursday)
Secondly you are very much underestimating Haifa, they will be the toughest of the 3 sides we will have played in qualifying (and got a 2-1 away win against a Russian team in last round), and it is not as if we have looked significantly better than our opponents in either match so far, 1 down in Bulgaria with 10 minutes to go, despite starting Kane and PEH, and 1-1 and having to throw on Kane etc. to rescue it, despite being against much weaker opposition in North Macedonia, and with us playing a stronger side than the players you are proposing to start with on Thursday.
We will go much weaker than you are suggesting tonight.

I know we need to qualify for the competition (financially and competitively motivated) but the reality is if/when we qualify, we will be put into a group against much tougher opposition. Do you expect Kane, Son, Bale etc to play every match in the group stage? We will be expected to rotate the squad during this and likely see our best players missing some games. Quite frankly, if we need to play our first eleven to beat Haifa at home, then our squad players seriously need looked at and questioned. We reached a CL final without the likes of Kane and Dembele with gaping holes in our squad at the time, so I'm sure we can beat Haifa, regardless of what they are doing in their league.

 

[adamsky]

Winning the cup doesn’t even get you a Europa League place from next season. We should play a complete B side, Thursday’s game is far more important. I think this could be last year anyone takes this tournament even half seriously.

 

[dondo]

Winning the cup doesn’t even get you a Europa League place from next season. We should play a complete B side, Thursday’s game is far more important. I think this could be last year anyone takes this tournament even half seriously.

Agree to a certain extent but it’s Chelsea. Can’t stand losing to them

 

[SlotBadger]

You just had to say that didn't you?!

What's wrong? We are easily going to win.

Back soon. Just off to walk under a ladder.

 

[Saoirse]

I know we need to qualify for the competition (financially and competitively motivated) but the reality is if/when we qualify, we will be put into a group against much tougher opposition. Do you expect Kane, Son, Bale etc to play every match in the group stage? We will be expected to rotate the squad during this and likely see our best players missing some games. Quite frankly, if we need to play our first eleven to beat Haifa at home, then our squad players seriously need looked at and questioned. We reached a CL final without the likes of Kane and Dembele with gaping holes in our squad at the time, so I'm sure we can beat Haifa, regardless of what they are doing in their league.

The Group Stage I'd say is actually easier. An "average" draw for us is along the lines of Sparta Prague, PAOK and
Ferencváros. Not too much between that lot and Maccabi Haifa, and there's the huge advantages of a) it not being a straight knockout (we can afford to mess up in half of those games!) and b) having 5 subs from 12 making our selections much more flexible. I'd say the chances of us losing on Thursday in a one-off game are much higher than those of us conspiring to not get through the group.