thfcsteff
George Hunt
Agree with this 100%. We need to get back in rhythm too...
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*** OMT Spurs v Fiorentina 1st leg ***
- Thread starter Denmark Spur
- Start date
Agree with this 100%. We need to get back in rhythm too...
thfcsteff
George Hunt
glorygloryeze
Tom Huddlestone
Perhaps the best indication of team line-up for Fiorentina:
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/18/nacer-chadli-tottenham-hotspur-fiorentina
Nacer Chadli and Tottenham Hotspur fit and ready for pivotal spell
• Fiorentina’s visit kicks off hectic 17-day schedule
• Chadli praises coaches’ GPS tracking
• Belgian revitalised by Pochettino’s methods
Nacer Chadli believes Tottenham's high-intensity training has made a positive impact on their performances. Photograph: John Sibley/Action Images
James Riach
@James_Riach
Wednesday 18 February 2015 22.30 GMT
76
76
Nacer Chadli believes the high fitness level of Tottenham’s squad will prove pivotal during a crucial few weeks for Mauricio Pochettino’s side that includes a Europa League knockout tie against Fiorentina and the Capital One Cup final.
Spurs play La Viola at White Hart Lane on Thursday evening in the first leg of their European double-header, with a league match against West Ham sandwiched in between before they face Chelsea at Wembley.
They will play six matches in the next 17 days but Pochettino was unfazed at the challenge posed by Vincenzo Montella’s Fiorentina, confident that his side have adapted to the mental and physical exertions of Thursday-Sunday matches despite his admission that the coming weeks are the most significant in his managerial career.
Chadli stated that his fitness was the best it has ever been thanks to GPS tracking that the Spurs coaching staff use to assess the players, something he believes will see them through a difficult period.
“They [the coaching staff] don’t kill us but they want to make us better and better,” Chadli said. “If you want to be better you have to work; if you don’t work your fitness level goes down. They know what to do to get it up,” said Chadli. We can fully play 90 minutes with a high tempo.”
Asked if it was the fittest squad he had worked with, the Belgium international said: “Yes, for sure. You have everything. We work in the gym, we run outside and train always with intensity. If you don’t train with intensity it is totally different.
“He [Pochettino] says before we start that we have to be sharp. He wants to make everyone sharp and be well trained. We always train with GPS. They are looking at players if they get tired, they can see it on the GPS. The amount we run, they can check everything. You cannot cheat. Or you put the GPS on a cat, I’ve tried that.”
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Fiorentina, whose squad includes the on-loan Emirates Marketing Project defender Micah Richards, sit fourth in Serie A and are unbeaten in 11 games, in good form despite the recent sale of Juan Cuadrado to Chelsea.
“I think that it is a good challenge for us,” said Pochettino. “For me personally, but I feel good. I am prepared to enjoy these moments. I think it is good for the club, good for our supporters and for our players, too.
“This is our 42nd official game in seven months and it’s important to manage the squad and always analyse after the games each case and each player. We have a strong squad for playing in the Europa League and Premier League and the final of the Capital One Cup against Chelsea, and I am happy. There is not a special worry about that. All the squad are fit and we are in a very good way.
“I think we share the same philosophy, Tottenham and Fiorentina. Maybe we play in different ways, the system is different. Fiorentina use different systems during different games but we play 4-2-3-1. But a lot of the philosophy, yes [it is similar].”
Tottenham (4-2-3-1, probable): Lloris; Walker, Fazio, Vertonghen, Davies; Mason, Bentaleb; Chadli, Eriksen, Lamela; Kane.
Fiorentina (3-5-2, probable): Tatarusanu; Savic, Rodríguez, Basanta; Joaquin, Fernández, Pizarro, Valero, Pasqual; Salah, Gómez.
Referee: Carlos Velasco Carballo (Sp)
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/feb/18/nacer-chadli-tottenham-hotspur-fiorentina
Nacer Chadli and Tottenham Hotspur fit and ready for pivotal spell
• Fiorentina’s visit kicks off hectic 17-day schedule
• Chadli praises coaches’ GPS tracking
• Belgian revitalised by Pochettino’s methods
Nacer Chadli believes Tottenham's high-intensity training has made a positive impact on their performances. Photograph: John Sibley/Action Images
James Riach
@James_Riach
Wednesday 18 February 2015 22.30 GMT
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76
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Nacer Chadli believes the high fitness level of Tottenham’s squad will prove pivotal during a crucial few weeks for Mauricio Pochettino’s side that includes a Europa League knockout tie against Fiorentina and the Capital One Cup final.
Spurs play La Viola at White Hart Lane on Thursday evening in the first leg of their European double-header, with a league match against West Ham sandwiched in between before they face Chelsea at Wembley.
They will play six matches in the next 17 days but Pochettino was unfazed at the challenge posed by Vincenzo Montella’s Fiorentina, confident that his side have adapted to the mental and physical exertions of Thursday-Sunday matches despite his admission that the coming weeks are the most significant in his managerial career.
Chadli stated that his fitness was the best it has ever been thanks to GPS tracking that the Spurs coaching staff use to assess the players, something he believes will see them through a difficult period.
“They [the coaching staff] don’t kill us but they want to make us better and better,” Chadli said. “If you want to be better you have to work; if you don’t work your fitness level goes down. They know what to do to get it up,” said Chadli. We can fully play 90 minutes with a high tempo.”
Asked if it was the fittest squad he had worked with, the Belgium international said: “Yes, for sure. You have everything. We work in the gym, we run outside and train always with intensity. If you don’t train with intensity it is totally different.
“He [Pochettino] says before we start that we have to be sharp. He wants to make everyone sharp and be well trained. We always train with GPS. They are looking at players if they get tired, they can see it on the GPS. The amount we run, they can check everything. You cannot cheat. Or you put the GPS on a cat, I’ve tried that.”
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Fiorentina, whose squad includes the on-loan Emirates Marketing Project defender Micah Richards, sit fourth in Serie A and are unbeaten in 11 games, in good form despite the recent sale of Juan Cuadrado to Chelsea.
“I think that it is a good challenge for us,” said Pochettino. “For me personally, but I feel good. I am prepared to enjoy these moments. I think it is good for the club, good for our supporters and for our players, too.
“This is our 42nd official game in seven months and it’s important to manage the squad and always analyse after the games each case and each player. We have a strong squad for playing in the Europa League and Premier League and the final of the Capital One Cup against Chelsea, and I am happy. There is not a special worry about that. All the squad are fit and we are in a very good way.
“I think we share the same philosophy, Tottenham and Fiorentina. Maybe we play in different ways, the system is different. Fiorentina use different systems during different games but we play 4-2-3-1. But a lot of the philosophy, yes [it is similar].”
Tottenham (4-2-3-1, probable): Lloris; Walker, Fazio, Vertonghen, Davies; Mason, Bentaleb; Chadli, Eriksen, Lamela; Kane.
Fiorentina (3-5-2, probable): Tatarusanu; Savic, Rodríguez, Basanta; Joaquin, Fernández, Pizarro, Valero, Pasqual; Salah, Gómez.
Referee: Carlos Velasco Carballo (Sp)
Spurs7891
Jermaine Jenas
Surely, we have to play our best available team and try to get a comfortable win here. Unfortunately for us, the second leg away is just a few days before the League Cup final against Chelsea. Don't think we will be able to concentrate fully in the 2nd leg. So, if we are to progress to the next stage, we have to do it in this first leg itself.
Eriksen and Kane will be our key players again. It will be great if Kane can continue his goal run. Similiarly, Eriksen has been in great form this season Hope he too can get on the scoresheet especially from any freekicks we get. Lamela has been well in EL this season. Hope he can produce that form again. Still waiting for another magical moment from Lamela like his Rabona goal earlier in the season.
Our midfield have been getting better in recent matches, especially Dembele. Not sure how strong Fiorentina is but we need to control the midfield. Bentaleb and Mason seems to be the first choice for Pochettino. Hope they will be up for this match. Dembele have been doing well recently, especially in attack. Hope he can help us open up the Fiorentina defence. I think Dembele can unsettle their defence if he plays to his best ability.
We badly need to stop Fiorentina get that all-important away goal. If Fiorentina scores, it will be very difficult for us in the 2nd leg. Hope our defence will keep a clean sheet for once. Lloris really should be commanding our defence. Want him to be more vocal and shout at the defender to keep them more alert. Ofcourse, Lloris himself should avoid any silly mistakes like the one he made against Liverpool.
Can see this match being a difficult one. We don't seem to have a good record against Italian teams. Hope we will turn up with the right mentality and get a comfortable win.
Eriksen and Kane will be our key players again. It will be great if Kane can continue his goal run. Similiarly, Eriksen has been in great form this season Hope he too can get on the scoresheet especially from any freekicks we get. Lamela has been well in EL this season. Hope he can produce that form again. Still waiting for another magical moment from Lamela like his Rabona goal earlier in the season.
Our midfield have been getting better in recent matches, especially Dembele. Not sure how strong Fiorentina is but we need to control the midfield. Bentaleb and Mason seems to be the first choice for Pochettino. Hope they will be up for this match. Dembele have been doing well recently, especially in attack. Hope he can help us open up the Fiorentina defence. I think Dembele can unsettle their defence if he plays to his best ability.
We badly need to stop Fiorentina get that all-important away goal. If Fiorentina scores, it will be very difficult for us in the 2nd leg. Hope our defence will keep a clean sheet for once. Lloris really should be commanding our defence. Want him to be more vocal and shout at the defender to keep them more alert. Ofcourse, Lloris himself should avoid any silly mistakes like the one he made against Liverpool.
Can see this match being a difficult one. We don't seem to have a good record against Italian teams. Hope we will turn up with the right mentality and get a comfortable win.
90291Spur
Paul Walsh
Anderton is injured and Bassong is suspended. A decision on Ledley will be taken at 11am.
nayenezgani
Jimmy Neighbour
Clean bill of health! Will be vital for our treacherous run-in.. As many have alluded to, I hope for full strength tonight and on Sunday and then manage things from there, with the CC final obviously receiving preferential treatment.
It's an exciting time to be a Tottenham fan. COYS!
It's an exciting time to be a Tottenham fan. COYS!
Kandi1977
Garth Crooks
We're doomed! you blew it right there! Que injuries to Kane and Eriksen. Not even badgers can save this!
nayenezgani
Jimmy Neighbour
glasgowspur
Luka Modric
I always think you should always go out with the intention to win and the belief you will. If you don't think you can win why bother. We aren't at the stage yet where we have that ingrained in the team but I believe Poch is getting us there.
The squad is better than many believe IMO. Up until mason went off in the Chelsea win many of us (myself included) thought we were doomed if we had any injuries but dembele came and has been a major player for us. Who's to say Townsend, Bobby, ade or even Paulie couldn't be the same?
The squad is better than many believe IMO. Up until mason went off in the Chelsea win many of us (myself included) thought we were doomed if we had any injuries but dembele came and has been a major player for us. Who's to say Townsend, Bobby, ade or even Paulie couldn't be the same?
Craig_J
Mido
It's OK, we can rely on Bobby, Lamela and Chadli for goals.
In all fairness Chadli has a pretty impressive goal scoring record. 7 in 18 in the league, not a record that a striker would be ashamed off.
Gazza Dazzla
Chris Perry
I agree regarding the squad, we have got decent options in reserve. Soldado, ade, Townsend, paulinho, stambouli, Dier, vorm,Yedlin and Davies are all pretty good back ups, I've not even included capoue, Kaboul and vlad and prob missed out 1 or 2 others.
I've always thought we've rotated in a poor way before, instead of changing 8/9 players we should be rotating 2, at the most 3 each time, that way the core of the side stays the same and hopefully performances are more stable. It's also why I think no one rates our squad, because all the fringe players are thrown in together having not played much together and without the aid of playing alongside some of the best players to help them through. Look at Dembele for example, wasn't pulling up trees in the cup teams but dropped in to the first team and he's almost a regular now.
Ade's folks are ok really
Ramon Vega
BT Sport 2
7percent
Pascal Chimbonda
http://www.live-footballontv.com/ - useful website
jaysea67
Erik Edman
A piece of meaningless trivia: of the 32 teams in the knockout phase of the EL, Tottenham have the highest UEFA ranking (18th) and the difference between the UEFA coefficient points of Spurs and Fiorentina is the largest difference between opponents in any of the 16 matches.
LutonSpurs
Eric Dear
I think the philosophy will be all out attack. The personnel may be different but Poch knows we need to win and by a few to have some sort of a buffer for next week so we can plan for a potential trophy.
markysimmo
Johnny nice-tits
I think the Lane will be buzzing again tonight !!!
Everywhere we gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Everywhere we gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo