please log in to view this image Thursday 22nd October 8pm Europa League Group Stage Tottenham Hotspur Stadium Another home league game and another failure to get over the line, this time in even more annoying fashion. We've somehow managed to earn two victories in the cups at home though and this is our third opportunity. The visitors are an Austrian side called LASK this time. Not one of the better known clubs that we could've faced, though they did play Man Utd last season. Can Mourinho replicate what his old club did to them or will we slip up again at home? Linzer Athletik-Sport-Klub are one of the oldest clubs in Austria and the first not from Vienna to win the league. It's their only title though, coming in 1964/65, when they also won their only other piece of silverware. They added the Austrian Cup to it, completing the double, which must be quite a unique feat. They finished in 4th place last season, dropping off slightly from being runners up in the previous season. This lead to them dismissing their manager, who'd only been there for a single campaign. Dominik Thalhammer took over the reins for this season, having spent a decade as Austria Women's coach. They're currently in 5th place after four games, having won 2, drawn 1 and lost 1. They had to get through two qualifying rounds to reach this stage and did so rather handily. Dispatching Dunajská Streda of Slovakia 7-0 may not have been a shock, but the next match was. They met Sporting in Lisbon and won 4-1, as former Liverpool defender Sebastian Coates was sent off: The club from Linz have white in both their first and second kits, so we may see that delightful pink number. They seem to have had some luck with it in Portugal, so they'll probably be happy to wear it again. They will be the second Austrian side that we've faced competitively. The first was Austria Vienna in the 1984 UEFA Cup who we met en route to the final: The full matches are available here with non-English commentary, if anyone's really bored: 1st, 2nd. No injury news yet, but Tanganga will still be out, while Dier and Lo Celso may be available. Neither side has any suspensions. Lineups for each side's last league game: Spurs: Lloris; Aurier, Alderweireld, Sanchez, Reguilon; Sissoko, Hojbjerg; Bergwijn, Ndombele, Son; Kane. Subs: Hart, Doherty, Davies, Winks, Bale, Moura, Vinicius. LASK: Lawal; Ramsebner, Filipovic, Wiesinger; Ranftl, Michorl, Holland, Renner; Gruber, Raguz, Balic. Subs: Gebauer, Andrade, Grgic, Haudum, Rieter, Sabitzer, Plojer. Ref: Mohammed Al-Hakim (SWE). Swedish-Iraqi, who's been reffing for 12 years, despite only being 35. Part-time officer in the Swedish Armed Forces and he's already reffed 23 games this season. TV: BT Sport 2. No more Premier Sports, apparently. How would you like to line up for this one and what would you change from the West Ham game? Would you stick with much of the same lineup, make a few changes or go for a wholesale switch? Which system and tactics would you use and what are you expecting LASK to go with?
Lilywhite Rose said last night that they think Clarke may be in contention for this one which is why he didn’t play for the U23s last night, happy with that, think that youthful unpredictability could add a bit of spark to the team if he does get the chance. I’d imagine we’ll make changes, real shame we couldn’t register Rodon for Europa as it’d be ideal to bed in, that said I’m more than happy if he starts on Sunday. There’s a rumour Bale may start but I’m not sure that’s the best call at the moment, coming on at HT or just after might be better, if he looks good then he can be in contention for Burnley. Hart Doherty, Tanganga, choice of **** CB, Davies Lo Celso, Sissoko Clarke, Lamela, Lucas Vinicius
Name doesn't register in my head I'm afraid. Yeah but he's still better than the others, even if he has to lie down on a treatment bed as he plays.
Rotating the CBs might be a bit of an issue... Dier - injured Tanganga - injured Rodon - not registered Eyoma - on loan Fagan Walcott - injured Paskotsi - not registered Okedina - get your boots on, lad!
Have to assume that Rodon will be in for the PL game at the weekend then. Let’s hope he gets his chance, makes his mark and can help us in solidifying the mess at the back a bit.
The game's not til Monday and Dier's probably back for this one, so I think we might just rotate the three we've got. Might be a little early to chuck Rodon in. Might've impressed in training already, though. We'll see.
On paper, this ought to be an easy game but the reality is there are never easy games. However, I hope Jose does rotate the players but not a wholesale rotation. This should be the kind of game where Bale can play more minutes and I hope Kane is rested too along with Sissoko. I'm concerned that Spurs are lacking in options for CBs at present!
Honestly, this is the game we should be taking seriously: LASK topped a group that also featured PSV Eindhoven and Sporting Lisbon last season before knocking out AZ Alkmaar in the round of 32, and this season trounced Sporting Lisbon in the playoff round While not on the same level the best comparison is Atalanta, as both have been Pot 4 teams in the last year (Atalanta in last year's CL, LASK in last year's and this year's EL) simply because they're not established in Europe - although based on the last three or four seasons, the word "yet" could be the important one
I don’t think Jose will under estimate the opposition I think if anything it’s the players who’s intensity will reflect their perception of this game. No way does Jose send his teams out to half arse it...he’s not Neil Warnock with Sam Allardyce’s trophy haul. hope the players are up for it...hope they play like they can claim a first team spot in the league games
I actually understand him getting picked He’s got no chance for Sunday if he messes up again...that’s 3 mistakes in 3 games...Jose being more than fair. plus a part of me thinks him playing tomorrow confirms his exclusion from the weekend squad
Tanganga and Dier are still injured so I imagine it’s Toby and Dave again at CB. GLC and Bale will surely get significant minutes you’d think.
If so, Jose is reading my postings here (in which case I will not charge the club for "services rendered" ) . For any player who is not in the process of returning from injury and is in a cup game starting XI prior to FA cup R3, should consider it the equivalent of being in a "penal battalion" .