Watching Tottenham on a Wednesday night, 2022/3 edition, begins with a home tie vs. the Frenchies... who are in good form in Ligue 1 level with PSG at the moment. Even though they came from pot 4 in the draw they were probably the strongest team from it. Also, there is the spectre of the game with Citeh on Saturday. I do not envy Antonio deciding who plays when. Lucas is the only injury absence I am aware of. I hope we field a strong team. A loss at the Etihad wouldn't be a surprise, even if we won there last year. I say make a strong start in the group and maybe rotate more in later games. How about Lloris - Romero, Dier, Davies - Emerson, PEH, Bentancur, Perisic - Deki, Kane, Son. I don't have access to the game, and I'll be in transit anyway for some of it, so will see highlights later.
I'm off to work in about 15 minutes, and can't see myself done by kickoff, though perhaps before the final whistle. Quite nervous about this one, though that's hardly a shock. I don't know anything about how they set up, but if they sit in, it could be a long night.
I read someplace that Marseilles play a style similar to ours. I wouldn't mind seeing Richarlison start again.
I posted this in the Europe thread - some background on Marseille: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/sep/01/marseille-igor-tudor-ligue-1
Watching the undercard match. Sporting take the lead 2-0 at 67 minutes, with two goals in 2 minutes. Ex-Spur Marcus Edwards with a goal and an assist. Must agree with the announcers, he's been the best player out there.
Here are the teams: Tottenham Hotspur: Lloris, Romero, Dier, Lenglet, Emerson, Hojbjerg, Bentancur, Perisic, Richarlison, Son, Kane. Subs: Doherty, Skipp, Sanchez, Gil Salvatierra, Sessegnon, Forster, Kulusevski, Spence, Tanganga, Sarr, Davies, Bissouma. Marseille: Pau Lopez, Mbemba, Bailly, Gigot, Clauss, Rongier, Veretout, Tavares, Guendouzi, Gerson, Suarez. Subs: Ngapandouetnbu, Balerdi, Payet, Under, Gueye, Kolasinac, Kabore, Blanco, Harit. Referee: Slavko Vincic (Slovenia) They actually have three ex-scum in their squad, Guendouzi, Kolasinac and Alexis (not in the team tonight) and ex-spammer Payet on their bench.
Concerned that Bissouma doesn't get a start again, not sure what is going on with him. We do have a history of signing players who looked great AGAINST us, but flopped once they came to us. Let's hope that this is not the case.
The Marseille team coach was late arriving (the bus, not the actual coach...). Alexis is not in the squad because he is serving a suspension he picked up last year with Inter - so one less player to boo.
Lloris with another bizarre moment: under no pressure at all, he punches straight up into the air instead of catching.
Poor play from Kane, with space on the right and plenty of teammates in the area, he checks back on his left foot and is easily blocked. Conte is going ballistic on the touchline.
Newcastle reject Mbemba sent off for hauling down Son who would have been clear through. Man U reject Eric Bailly gets booked for dissent. Marseille down to 10.
Lloris' distribution has been terrible, he puts Royal under pressure with a terrible pass out and Marseille win back possession.
Marseille players are just falling and clutching their heads any time a Spurs player goes near them and the idiot ref is buying it.
The ref is terrible - a ball clearly goes out for a corner off them and Son gets booked for arguing - dreadful.