Just a quiet, run of the mill match tonight then? Almost everyone fit - Trippier hasn't travelled ("slight problem" according to Poch, whether he means fitness or form is open to debate), question mark over whether Dier can manage the full 90 after a while out and Dele still a week or so away, but apart from that good to go. Lloris Toby - Sanchez - Jan Aurier ------- Dier - Winks ------- Rose Eriksen Kane - Son Sissoko for Dier depending on fitness, or possibly instead of a defender to play the back 4 / diamond midfield. Either way, with 7 from the likes of Lucas, Llorente, Lamela, Sissoko/Dier, Wanyama, Foyth, Davies, KWP, Gazza on the bench we have a fair amount in reserve and a lot of talent on the pitch. <deep breath everyone> COYS!!!!
I would prefer Llorente on the field for the height, but not sure who to take off. Winks, maybe, but not really a good switch.
Well it should be the blitz, shouldn't it? Hope they have studied the first half of the first leg. Although I don't expect it, starting someone like Lucas would keep them honest and threaten to hit them on the break. Eriksen has been notably flat for a while but I can't see him being left out.
after a week off for vacation, I have to return to work today at 1:30pm. somehow I feel relieved by this, as I expect it to be nervy. hopefully my work will keep me busy enough that I won't be dwelling on it. it shouldn't be nervy, and perhaps it won't be … a first half goal on the counter should put it to bed. but, y'know …
Dortmund are living their own German-style Squeeky Bum Time. When the draw was made, they were walking the Bundesliga, undefeated and 9 ponts ahead of Bayern. When they rolled up to Wembley for the first leg, their lead had been cut to 5 points. Since the first leg, their lead has evaporated and they are now level on points with Bayern having lost their last game 2-1 away to Augsburg. Like us, they have been leaking goals since the turn of the year, which means if we could nick an away goal, they would need to score 5 to beat us. For anyone who thinks this is a foregone conclusion, two things: 1. In the last 2 seasons of the CL, Roma and Barcelona have overturned 4-1 and 4-0 reverses respectively from the first leg to go through. 2. It's Spurs, if there is a way to turn a 3-0 lead from the first leg into a nailbiter, we'll find it.
Here are the teams! Tottenham Lloris, Aurier, Alderweireld, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Davies, Winks, Sissoko, Eriksen, Son, Kane Subs: Gazzaniga, Rose, Dier, Wanyama, Lamela, Lucas, Llorente Dortmund Burki, Wolf, Akanji, Weigl, Diallo, Witsel, Guerreiro, Gotze, Sancho, Reus, Alcacer Subs: Zagadou, Hakimi, Delaney, Pulisic, Schmelzer, Bruun Larsen, Hitz
I actually have a good feeling about this game. Dortmund will not be playing a low block and hoping to absorb pressure. Unlike Burnley, Chelsea and Arsenal they will have to open up which will give our players space to operate.
The issue with Chelsea was the high pressing. It is, ultimately, why I think Trippier made the bad decision/own goal.
Spurs playing a back 3 with Davies and Aurier as wing-backs, but a back 5 when Dortmund have the ball.
10 mins in and we have barely had the ball, not surprising, we have to ride out the early stages without conceding a sloppy goal.