Tottenham Hotspur vs D.Zagreb 11/6 Pre/Post Match Thread

[vasilli07]

Back to the UEFA cup and against Modric former club. I will probably go with this formation, resting King for the game against Man City.

--------------Gomes----------
Hutton--Woodie--Daw/Zok--Bale
Bentley--Jenas--Hudds--Lennon
--------------Modric----------
--------------Bent-----------

or this

--------------Gomes----------
Hutton--Woodie--Daw/Zok--Bale
Bentley--Jenas--Hudds--Lennon
---------Bent--Campbell-------

Subs
Cesar
Zokora
King
O'Hara
BAE
Campbell
Dos Santos

[LuLe_bbb]

This should be our line up...predicted line up anyway

- - - - - - Kelava

Lovren - Drpic - Biscan - Ibanez

Sammir - Vrdoljak - Hrgovic - Morales

- - - - - - - - - - Mandzukic
- - - - - - Balaban
Should be a good game , we got nothing to lose and that's when we play our best football. Kinda sucks that Corluka can't play , he is our boy too...I will put my money on tie...3-3

Good luck boys!!!!!

[LuLe_bbb]

here is a video of out last game against NEC - uefa cup


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s41rCfVccDc

[rbpierce]

--------------Gomes----------
Hutton--Woodie--Daw/Zok--Bale
Bentley--Jenas--Hudds--Lennon
--------------Modric----------
--------------Bent-----------

or this

--------------Gomes----------
Hutton--Woodie--Daw/Zok--Bale
Bentley--Jenas--Hudds--Lennon
---------Bent--Campbell-------

Subs
Cesar
Zokora
King
O'Hara
BAE
Campbell
Dos Santos

We would be absolutely mad to leave Modric out. He has just been finding his form a little and to risk any chance of derailing that would be foolish. Besides, its his old club, maybe he will score or something. He should certainly be motivated.
What really strikes me about both of the lineups that you suggested is how weak the team is through the middle. I can see how people (myself included) thought spurs might even be anywhere around the top 4 with the Jenas / Hudds / Zoko partnership in the middle of the field (or Dawson at CB for that matter though that tragedy has been mitigated by Corluka in the league). Those CMs are simply not going to get it done. I know I'm preaching to the choir here, but before a win can be expected in games like this, we need to get a player who can dictate the game from the center of the pitch and I just dont see that name (or combination of names) on our teamsheet.

[cdmphy]

Here's the squad to pick from
1 Heurelho Gomes
21 César Sánchez
30 Oscar Jansson

2 Alan Hutton
3 Gareth Bale
16 Christopher Gunter
20 Michael Dawson
26 Ledley King
32 Benoît Assou-Ekotto
39 Jonathan Woodgate

4 Didier Zokora
5 David Bentley
6 Tom Huddlestone
8 Jermaine Jenas
11 Gilberto
14 Luka Modrić
24 Jamie O'Hara
51 John Bostock
52 Dean Parrett
53 Daniel Rose
55 Kieran McKenna

10 Darren Bent
17 Giovani Dos Santos
18 Fraizer Campbell
54 Andy Barcham

I think 'Arry might give Bostock a run out in this one. I'd love to see McKenna get a shot to see if he can play the DM role that he's so strong at in the reserves but we don't know if he can do at the senior level

[jumhed]

Balaban? Villas worst player ever?

KPB has been playing up a storm in the Reserves. It'd be good to see him have a game at some point.

[vasilli07]

What really strikes me about both of the lineups that you suggested is how weak the team is through the middle. I can see how people (myself included) thought spurs might even be anywhere around the top 4 with the Jenas / Hudds / Zoko partnership in the middle of the field (or Dawson at CB for that matter though that tragedy has been mitigated by Corluka in the league). Those CMs are simply not going to get it done. I know I'm preaching to the choir here, but before a win can be expected in games like this, we need to get a player who can dictate the game from the center of the pitch and I just dont see that name (or combination of names) on our teamsheet.

We played the midfield combo in our last few matches so i think we will stick with it. And we also don't really have anyone we can call upon now to play there.

Modric can be the dictator is our midfield. Uncle Harry had already said that he will build the team around Modric.

[rbpierce]

We played the midfield combo in our last few matches so i think we will stick with it. And we also don't really have anyone we can call upon now to play there.

Modric can be the dictator is our midfield. Uncle Harry had already said that he will build the team around Modric.

I think you are right that they will stick with the Jenas / Hudds combo that has been on the field the last couple games, I just dont think its a good enough option to be pleased with (not that better options exist on this team). Honestly, I dont think Modric is the answer to the problem that I'm talking about either. It seemed that Ramos was playing him further back in that midfield "dictator" role and it coincided with an incredibly bad run of form for such a gifted player. I guess we will see though...

[Phillystile]

Gio and O'Hara out injured, with King and JJ likely rested/out as well, and Corluka and Pav cup-tied.

My prediction:

----------Gomes-----------
Hutton-Woodgate-Dawson-Bale
Bentley-Zokora-Modric-Lennon
----Bent------Campbell-------

Bench: Cesar, Gunter, BAE, Huddlestone, Gilberto, Bostock, Rose

[cdmphy]

Balaban? Villas worst player ever?

KPB has been playing up a storm in the Reserves. It'd be good to see him have a game at some point.

Unfortunately he can't play in the UEFA Cup because he wasn't registered.

[Phillyspur]

No Lennon on your list cd?

[Phillyspur]

Interesting quotes from BBC preview:


Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp on the Uefa Cup:
"I would love to get to a cup final again, but getting Tottenham up the league to a respectable position is key as well. We've got a lot on our plate.
"Every game is big for us now, but the league games especially. It's so tight, there are 14 teams in a position where they will be looking over their shoulder worried at what is coming.
"I respect the fact Spurs have been a good European team over the years but the league is also very important this year."
Redknapp on John Bostock:
"He'll be on the bench and I'd love to get him on the pitch. He's only 16, a kid with terrific talent and a lovely left foot.
"He is a special young player with terrific ability, how far he goes is up to him. With all young players it will be up to them how hard they want to work at their game. "I'd love to get some of the youth team into the first team, that is the long-term aim."

[AudereEstFacere]

Television?

[YiddoInAkron]

FSC on delay at 5pm est.

[AudereEstFacere]

Shit. Streams?

[vasilli07]

Shit. Streams?

http://www.myp2p.eu/broadcast.php?matchid=22808&part=sports

[Colm]

It would be cool to see Bostock get some time on the pitch, wouldn't mind seeing Danny Rose getting some time too, will be tough game, hopefully we'll get 3 points.

[Aud300]

If you have Fox Sports in Espnaol ... I do live in a Spanish market .. .The game is live or you have to wait for the Delay on FSC!

[The Double]

Bent with his 7th of the season, set up by Luka.

1-0

[The Double]

2 goals in the space of 3 minutes, Bent again, this time set up by Huddlestone.

2-0