It's an important game but I wouldn't say it's an absolute must win. An absolute must win would be if we needed three points to stay in the competition.

I'm with you on this Sandy, no point getting to the CL if you aren't going to take it seriously.

Full strength and all out to win, we really need a win to get the positive atmosphere back

I want to see full strength team for a few games in a row to get some consistency and build up some momentum. Up until the West Ham game should do it then maybe rotate a bit.

a draw keeps us second. but if we want to achieve either top spot, or secure qualification before the last game (Monaco(a)) then a win is a must, and really it's a 'home' game so we should look to win and at least put the whole Wembley hoodoo thing to bed.

It's a tough balance to reach but i think that the occassion of a NLD is enough to have our players at full tilt at the weekend, even if they have played Wednesday. In fact its almost better we have such a big game to follow.

Some players like Walker have already been rested while others have had enforced rest, like Dembele and Rose . These 2 should not be tired but they both are a bit injury prone so its a question of whether we risk them tonight. We will certainly need them come Sunday.

On balance i think some careful selection is needed. In the 2nd half at theirs neither FB looked good defensively, so i'd go with at least one of Walker/Rose.

Sisokko is banned for the NLD so he can start. Wanyama is a must and it just a case of whether we risk Dembele, have Alli drop deeper or perhaps go with Winks. I'd be tempted to rest Eriksen who has not impressed for a while.

Only Dembele/Poch know whether MD is fit to play 2 big games in a week.

Son must play for the injured Lamela
Janssen needs to start and a goal would boost him.

For me:

------------------Lloris-----------------

Walker--Dier----Verts----Davies

---------------Wanyama--------------

----------Winks--------Alli------------

Son-----------------------------Sissoko

---------------Janssen--------------------

Bench: Eriksen, Rose, Dembele, Wimmer, UncleDo

UncleDo

?!

Rodgers did this for us when we went to Madrid with a big game at home to Chelsea the coming Saturday.

Rested players in the CL to try win a league game to help us get back into the CL, was the first sign of the end of Rodgers reign as Liverpool manager.

comment by Devonshirespur (U6316)
posted 5 minutes ago
a draw keeps us second. but if we want to achieve either top spot, or secure qualification before the last game (Monaco(a)) then a win is a must, and really it's a 'home' game so we should look to win and at least put the whole Wembley hoodoo thing to bed.

It's a tough balance to reach but i think that the occassion of a NLD is enough to have our players at full tilt at the weekend, even if they have played Wednesday. In fact its almost better we have such a big game to follow.

Some players like Walker have already been rested while others have had enforced rest, like Dembele and Rose . These 2 should not be tired but they both are a bit injury prone so its a question of whether we risk them tonight. We will certainly need them come Sunday.

On balance i think some careful selection is needed. In the 2nd half at theirs neither FB looked good defensively, so i'd go with at least one of Walker/Rose.

Sisokko is banned for the NLD so he can start. Wanyama is a must and it just a case of whether we risk Dembele, have Alli drop deeper or perhaps go with Winks. I'd be tempted to rest Eriksen who has not impressed for a while.

Only Dembele/Poch know whether MD is fit to play 2 big games in a week.

Son must play for the injured Lamela
Janssen needs to start and a goal would boost him.

For me:

------------------Lloris-----------------

Walker--Dier----Verts----Davies

---------------Wanyama--------------

----------Winks--------Alli------------

Son-----------------------------Sissoko

---------------Janssen--------------------

Bench: Eriksen, Rose, Dembele, Wimmer, UncleDo
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Eriksen, Rose and Dembele have to be starters, what is the point of being in the CL, if you are not going to put out your best team. This aint the mickey mouse cup.

i think the point is that you put out a team that is strong enough to beat the opposition. Options on the bench if things dont go well.

Why is a team weaker than the one that couldn't beat Leverkusen last time considered one strong enough to win this time at a groud where your record is very poor?

Absolute full strength tonight. We strive to be in the champions league every season and we need to get out of this group so we can meet a Barca or a Bayern.
That is what top level football is all about.

I want to see Spurs playing the best, yes we may not be good enough to win but i want to see our young exciting side go toe to toe.
This is the only way we will progress as a club.

Complete and focused effort from the 1st whistle. No passengers, no prisoners, no excuses....

agree with Sandy-best team out-next game is not until Sunday

comment by SB&S (U17757)
posted 1 hour, 2 minutes ago
Complete and focused effort from the 1st whistle. No passengers, no prisoners, no excuses....
----------------------------------------------------------------------

To some extent this is almost more important that the personnel. Clearly the more of our best player that play the better, but the backups are certainly capable of doing an excellent job. Lets not forget we were lacking Kane, Dembele and Rose vs City and played our best game. We were energetic, committed, organised and clinical.

I think even if we have a Winks and a Davies in the team we can still put on a very decent performance good enough to see off Leverkusen

I didn't mention personnel for that reason Devon. Poch picks the team, the players cross the white line. COYS

Lost the game and lost Dembele to injury, this is why you don't go full strength.

Nice one Sandy