Match Day Thread Tottenham Hotspur v Crvena Zvezda

please log in to view this image

Tuesday 22nd October 8pm
Champions League Group Stage
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium​

That's the repackaged Red Star Belgrade, for those who were wondering, as they're our next opponent.
Our domestic form is still appalling, so this is a big opportunity to do something about our European results.
We face the Serbian champions in back-to-back group games, which we really need to win.
They're not a team that lose many games though, as Liverpool found out last season.
Can we finally put in a decent display or will another trophy opportunity fall by the wayside?

Vladan Milojevic spent most his playing career as a defender in the Greek League.
His only silverware came during a short stint in his homeland Yugoslavia with Red Star Belgrade.
His managerial career has followed a fairly similar path, switching between the two countries, plus Cyprus.
He earned promotion and a cup with Cuckaricki in Belgrade before moving to Cypiot club Omonia.
Greek side Panionios were his next port of call before he returned to what was now Serbia.

His two and a bit seasons at the helm have been exceptional, as the club has barely lost any domestic games.
They've also done pretty well in Europe, overcoming the odds on a number of occasions in that time.
His first campaign saw them progress through four rounds of qualifiers to reach the Europa League group.
They drew with Arsenal and finished second in the group, before going out to CSKA Moscow by a solitary goal.

They won the title and faced a Champions League qualifying mountain last season.
Four more qualifiers ended with them sneaking past Red Bull Salzburg on penalties to reach the group.
The draw wasn't favourable, as they faced PSG, Liverpool and Napoli and they struggled badly.
They lost four, drew one, but they won their home game against Liverpool 2-0:

This season has seen another gruelling qualifying campaign with a couple of tricky draws.
A win against HJK Helsinki was marred by racist chanting, for which their fans received a ban from this game.
They beat FC Copenhagen on penalties and knocked out Young Boys on away goals to reach the group.
Their first game was a sound 3-0 loss to Bayern, but they bounced back with a win against Olympiakos.

Lloris is out long-term, but Eriksen has returned to training with the squad.
Jovicic, Gajic and Boakye appear to be out for our visitors. Neither side has any suspensions.

Lineups for each side's last league game:

Spurs: Gazzaniga; Alderweireld, Sanchez, Vertonghen; Aurier, Sissoko, Winks, Rose; Moura, Ali; Kane.
Subs: Austin, Foyth, Davies, Dier, Ndombele, Lamela, Son.
League form: DWLWLD.

Red Star: Popovic; Gobeljic, Milunovic, Pankov, Rodic; Marin, Jovancic, Vulic, Garcia; Pavkov, Tomane.
Subs: Vasiljevic, Degenek, Babic, Petrovic, Simic, van La Parra, Ivanic.
League form: WLWWWW.

Referee: Marco Guida (ITA). Might be his first Champions League game. VAR: Gianluca Rocchi (ITA).

TV: BT Sport 3.

How would you like to line up for this one and what would you change from the Watford game?
Would you stick with three centre-backs and who would you pick for the fullback roles?
Which system and tactics would you use and what are you expecting Red Star to go with?

 

Gazza
Foyth, Dave, Dier, Davies
Sissoko, Tanguy
Lucas, Dele, Son
Kane

 

Well we won't be getting a 3-0 walkover...

please log in to view this image

 

So another chance to say this could be the turning point occurred on Saturday.
VAR saved us from conceding a penalty and we scored a late equaliser as the time waster supreme, Ben Foster, screwed up.

So maybe tomorrow is the night we finally prove that we are able to put the beginning of a run together...



But I thought that after the city away match...we lost to newcastle the next match...


I then thought that after the
40 win v palace but we then threw away a 2 go lead v Olympiakos, threw away a goal lead against Leicester and then lost to Colchester...


I then thought that after we beat Southampton with 10 men for over an hour...we then lost 7-2 and 3 nil ...


so my football instincts are about as sharp as Danny Rose's defending and as pinpoint as an Aurier cross

There has been a lot of puzzlement at our form but Pochettino has been seen working hard to work things out this week...


I am going to this with my teenbeast so in the name of all that is holy please give her a night off from having me sobbing all the way home!

 

Poch has hinted that Lo Celso might play a part in the game

Hopefully that part mainly involves a pass from midfield to the forwards, because we've been lacking those in recent weeks, and we can't rely on Red Star to keep providing Naughtonesque backpasses...

 

That looks the team to me too - unfortunately I can't see Poch agreeing with us

 

Pvl Stevrt

 

Milenko Acimovic & Goran Bunjevcevic

The early days of ENIC were weird

 

Think there is tribute to him tonight as he played for both clubs ... died a couple of years back.

 

The Academy lads have just gone 2-0 up in their game. Parrott with a stunning bit of forward play.

PICK HIM FOR THE BENCH!!!

Just scored our third as well...

 

Currently 3-1 up at half-time

The side looks a lot more balanced than earlier in the season for two reason: J'Neil Bennett returning from injury to play on the left flank, and Denis Cirkin being elevated to the U23s so Harvey White can play as the box-to-box midfielder he is

Not sure why I felt the need to mention things such as a balanced starting xi...

 

No we only pick him for pre season games...then he can **** off back to the pecking order behind Kane like everyone else

 

I thought you wanted us to spend money, which picking the youth teamers doesn't involve...

 

I want us to use our Bonce...I’m not a WAG

 

So, yeah, this was a thing...

Parrott, White and Eyoma certainly should be giving Poch a few things to think about

 

As has been pointed elsewhere

Youth team draw 1-1 with Olympiacos
First team draw 2-2 with Olympiacos

Youth team lose 4-1 to Bayern
First team lose 7-2 to Bayern

Youth team win 9-2 against Red Star
First team...well for one thing the law of averages states we should be scoring in double figures tonight

 

I love this place...
So looking forward to a great night with the teenbeast to round off a great day together.
COYS

 

Not much of a crowd though judging by the picture. I'm guessing four million quid a ticket was a little too much for the average fan

 

Spurs make four change

please log in to view this image

s from the Watford draw as Davies, Ndombele, Son and Lamela all start.