Anymore than 4 changes will get another disjointed Coventry performance
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Match Tottenham Hotspur v Qarabağ FK | Thursday 26th Sept | Tottenham Hotspur Stadium | 8pm
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Anymore than 4 changes will get another disjointed Coventry performance
5 sounds right to me. Dragusin for Romero is forced, then Moore for Son, Bergvall for Maddison, Davies for VdV and Bissouma for Bentancur.
Bentancur will play, he only has a few games till his ban starts?
Despite the good showing last Saturday, our problem is scoring and so it is the attacking players that need to be started to get a lead and not leave us having to get late goals. Therefore whilst we can get away with changes at the back, we need the likes of Solanke to start. Until Richi is fit and no sign of that he will have to play. At least he can rest during the International break. As to Bentencur he is expected to be banned between 6- 12 domestic matches which will take as many weeks to complete but can play every week in Europa and so should play as we do not know when the ban will start. Again as banned internationally he can rest in international break.
The team I picked for Coventry was so far out from the actual team that it seems pointless naming a preferred team. However whilst it would be highly disappointing if we do not win it will not be terminal as a defeat to Coventry would have been.
The team I picked for Coventry was so far out from the actual team that it seems pointless naming a preferred team. However whilst it would be highly disappointing if we do not win it will not be terminal as a defeat to Coventry would have been.
First 3 games in this comp are crucial - Qarabag and AZ at home and Ferencvaros away. Win all 3 and we are basically through to the next round - it’s then whether we want top 8 to avoid a KO round and be seeded for Rd 16 or not. Alternatively, we could go weak in the 4 group games after that - Gala, Rangers and Hoffenheim away and Roma at home. Elfsborg at home in the last game - we should be winning regardless and another 3 points would push us further up the table and give us a potentially better fixture in the first KO.
Win the first 3 and Ange has a bit of flexibility with the remaining games
Win the first 3 and Ange has a bit of flexibility with the remaining games
This is what I'd do - playing stronger teams now could potentially ease fixture congestion in December and January. If we make it to the quarters or semis of the league cup we do not want to be fielding strong teams in the Europa if we can help it, or having to play a playoff. It'll potentially derail everything.
Yup in my line up I've tried to rest 5 or 6 players (either completely or partly by substitutions) and giving Bergwall, Gray, Davies and Werner a lot of playing time plus suggesting Lankshear and Moore are given minutes off bench to take up their playing time
Aside from the minor knocks and bruises the players pick up I'm particularly anxious not to over play the likes of Solanke as we are playing midweek and weekends, and without him or the currently ever injured Richarlison we would have no focal point of attack and we are a very different team.
Hopefully that kind of line up can both get the 3 points off Qarabag without a tough match, whilst leaving plenty in reserve for ManU at weekend.
This season, EL rules are that we can have 12 subs on bench.
With Richarlison and Odobert injured, Romero suspended and Spence not registered, unless I have more than one GK on bench, I can't get past 9 on bench including Lankshear and Moore, so I'd guess Dorrington (just back from injury) and 2 other youngsters will be on bench.
With Richarlison and Odobert injured, Romero suspended and Spence not registered, unless I have more than one GK on bench, I can't get past 9 on bench including Lankshear and Moore, so I'd guess Dorrington (just back from injury) and 2 other youngsters will be on bench.
Romero suspended so expect Davies in his place.
Suspect Werner will start instead of Son.
Sarr will spell Deki who has been putting in some big shifts in the PL
Worth remembering that United are in the Europa also, although they get to play on Wednesday - still though, evens it up a bit
Yep, it is beyond obvious. Can't go weak at all. Why would you anyway? Win the games, qualify, then rest players once you're guaranteed a top 8 finish. 16 points does apparently, but I wouldnt be surprised if it is a couple lower.
We’re in a great position to get that, with Roma floundering, we are big favourites in the 4 home games.
We’re very capable of winning at Ferencvaros and picking up further points at Rangers and Hoffenheim. Gala will be a battle
Makes sense but my point is if Solanke is fully fit and Kulu has a bruised toe, isn’t training and needs injections, Solanke starts. You can’t pick and choose really
Agree. But as fans we don't necessarily know about Kulusevski's bruised toe, and similarly for other players.
About the only thing we do know is the playing minutes they do in each match - my rule of thumb is an outfield player needs some sort of rest if they've played 3 successive 90 minute games when playing both every midweek and every weekend as they are currently doing. Ideally I think they need 4 full days off between matches which of course can't happen if they are playing every midweek and weekend with 7 days in a week !
We do need to give some fringe or bench players some minutes though, mainly because this A Team \ B Team thing will never work. At some point we will have injuries and suspensions when we're up against better opposition and we need these players to be able to slot in without being rusty or not used to the system.
I'm not going to go all out on Werner, like Johnson I think he has confidence issues and to be honest the whole team was shite vs Coventry. I'd be allowing him some game time off the bench in this one, preferably if we're a couple up and he can get some confidence in him. Like him or not, we're paying him an absolute fortune by our standards and it's in our interests to get the most out of him if we can.
I'm not going to go all out on Werner, like Johnson I think he has confidence issues and to be honest the whole team was shite vs Coventry. I'd be allowing him some game time off the bench in this one, preferably if we're a couple up and he can get some confidence in him. Like him or not, we're paying him an absolute fortune by our standards and it's in our interests to get the most out of him if we can.
So, are Qarabag any good and is the game on the television?