***OMT Tottenham Hotspur v AEL Limassol Thu 28th Aug 19.45 KO***

[the dza]

We'll win 3 or 4 nil.

The Team:

--------------------lloris
naughton---dier-----vert--------davies
---------------dembele---velikovic(whatever his name is)
---lennon-----------kane--------holtby
------------------soldado


That allows us to make 8 changes for the Liverpool game on the Sunday.

 

[Rossi22]

I'd move Veljkovic back and play Paulinho but otherwise I agree.

 

[the dza]

I'd move Veljkovic back and play Paulinho but otherwise I agree.

I'd play Paulinho, I'm just not sure about his availability as he wasn't at all involved v QPR. If he's fit and not being sold, then we should play him.

 

[Spursalot]

The first leg has made this tricky, especially with the Liverpool match at the weekend. Rotation is key, but we'll need to keep some of the big guns at hand in case it all goes south.


Lloris
Naughton dier verts Davies
Sandro dembele
Lennon holtby Townsend
Soldado


With a strong bench. Hopefully we can rest one of dier and verts, but as far as I am aware there's nobody else fit or available at the moment.

Which gives you possibly 8 changes for Liverpool. Take off one of the cb's if we start winning, probably dier, if think it's more tiring playing games at rb than cb.

 

[the dza]

If we are selling Townsend and Sandro, I can't see them being involved.

 

[Spursalot]

If we are selling Townsend and Sandro, I can't see them being involved.

Eh, currently they're still both spurs players and their 'sales' are rumours.

 

[Jordinho]

Definitely starting: Davies, Lennon, Holtby, Kane, Soldado

Probably starting: Lloris, Naughton, Dier, Vertonghen, Dembele

If Mason is fit I can see him partnering Dembele. If not, probably Paulinho. Tiny chance we'll give Fredericks a go at RB. Kaboul will be rested. Fryers instead of whoever plays Sunday?

 

[the dza]

Eh, currently they're still both spurs players and their 'sales' are rumours.

They are rumours, but compounded by the fact that they weren't on the bench for QPR, with no report of either of them being injured. I might be adding 2 + 2 and making 5.

 

[Lemonade Money]

I think you can put Naughton (domestic ban) and Dembele (played well in the away leg) in the definitely starting. I'd rest Dier for Sunday, and only bring Paulinho on as a sub if the tie is as good as won.

 

[Cochise]

Given how this lot are probably the toughest opponent we have had so far this season, I'd be worried about just sending out a second string. Then again I don't think we can risk Kabs for this game with Liverpool on Sunday, nor would I want to risk Dier, Lamela, Eriksen or Chadli. Also is Vorm fit??

---------------Vorm/Lloris-------------
Naughton---Veljkovic-----Verts--Davies
-------------Holtby--Dembele----------
---Townsend-----Kane----Lennon------
----------------Soldado----------------

Kane did well floating around behind the front man last time and Lennon also seems to have a good relationship with Soldado. I'm most worried by the central area as I'd rather see someone with more defensive grit starting alongside Dembele/Holtby. If we had someone else able to go there then I'd likely bump Holtby into the middle three at the expense of Townsend, with Townsend coming on as an impact sub.

 

[Jordinho]

I think you can put Naughton (domestic ban) and Dembele (played well in the away leg) in the definitely starting. I'd rest Dier for Sunday, and only bring Paulinho on as a sub if the tie is as good as won.

Naughton has served his suspension. Do we keep him rested for Liverpool? Do we play Dier at RB for that game? The team selection for the two games are linked, but WE might not see the connection until afterwards. End of the transfer window and international break coming up as well.

 

[elltrev]

They are rumours, but compounded by the fact that they weren't on the bench for QPR, with no report of either of them being injured. I might be adding 2 + 2 and making 5.

Someone has to be left off the bench - there are only 18 match day places... what are the odds that if Lennon and Dembele had been left out rather than Townsend and Sandro, the rumours would be about the former instead? Pretty high I'd say...

 

[the dza]

Naughton has served his suspension. Do we keep him rested for Liverpool? Do we play Dier at RB for that game? The team selection for the two games are linked, but WE might not see the connection until afterwards. End of the transfer window and international break coming up as well.

I think we should play Naughton, even if we want to use him again for Sunday. He got sent off so early against West Ham, he hasn't had that many minutes in competitive games. I don't think it would do him any harm to gain some sharpness before Liverpool. Of course, we may just leave Dier there for that game.

 

[Jordinho]

Someone has to be left off the bench - there are only 18 match day places... what are the odds that if Lennon and Dembele had been left out rather than Townsend and Sandro, the rumours would be about the former instead? Pretty high I'd say...

Lennon and Dembele aren't going anywhere unless a crazy bid suddenly comes along. The other two have been subject to not just rumours of interest, but actual bids coming in.

Pochettino's selections ever since the start of preseason indicates that the former two are higher rated/less likely to be sold.

 

[Roy1983]

Definitely starting: Davies, Lennon, Holtby, Kane, Soldado

Probably starting: Lloris, Naughton, Dier, Vertonghen, Dembele

If Mason is fit I can see him partnering Dembele. If not, probably Paulinho. Tiny chance we'll give Fredericks a go at RB. Kaboul will be rested. Fryers instead of whoever plays Sunday?

Ryan trained today so hoping he comes on as a sub or starts the first hour or so.

 

[GrimsbyYid]

I'd play bentaleb and save dembele for Liverpool.

Lloris, Naughton, Dier, jan, Davies, bentaleb, holtby, Lennon, Kane, Townsend, soldado

 

[markysimmo]

There is no way Naughton will replace Dier at RB for sunday, its pretty simple really Naughton is utter dog**** and Dier hasnt put a foot wrong in his two games there

 

[Lemonade Money]

Naughton has served his suspension. Do we keep him rested for Liverpool? Do we play Dier at RB for that game? The team selection for the two games are linked, but WE might not see the connection until afterwards. End of the transfer window and international break coming up as well.

My bad, I thought Naughton's ban would be 3 matches for a straight red. Would still play him and save Dier for Sunday.

 

[Spursalot]

My bad, I thought Naughton's ban would be 3 matches for a straight red. Would still play him and save Dier for Sunday.

Hugely risky in my mind. Dier has been great offensively at right back, however he's not really been tested defensively. I'd rather have someone in there who's a natural in the position.


Plus I'd rather have Dier in the middle, out of all our CBs, I think he might be able to keep up with Sterling when he's played through our back four.

 

[braineclipse]

Hugely risky in my mind. Dier has been great offensively at right back, however he's not really been tested defensively. I'd rather have someone in there who's a natural in the position.


Plus I'd rather have Dier in the middle, out of all our CBs, I think he might be able to keep up with Sterling when he's played through our back four.

Agreed. Huge difference between playing against West Ham and QPR (Queens Park Strangers - credit football weekly) compared to Liverpool who still look a very potent attacking threat and scored over 100 goals last season. I think it might just be too much to ask Dier to keep up that kind of a performance against them. On the other hand form matters, difficult decision.

In a similar vein to thinking that Naughton could be preferred to Dier I think we might see Ben Davies ahead of Rose against Liverpool. For me only the centre backs look certain to start if fit - Kaboul and Vertonghen for me should play if fit and should probably be rested against Limassol.

I wouldn't change the midfield 5 from QPR at all against Liverpool and would like to see players picked against Limassol to reflect that. I suppose the two question marks are Dembele and Lennon. Dembele looked short on match fitness when chucked in against QPR and I don't think starting him against Livepool is a good idea - unless it's in one of the attacking 3 midfield positions to make us more solid and hard working. Lennon could be preferred for similar reasons, but that means dropping Lamela, Eriksen or Chadli and I struggle to see that as a good idea right now.