Tottenham - EFL Cup Final | Pre-Match Thread

Result Prediction

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Struggling to get motivated for this unfortunately,as i suspect the team will disappoint and the outcome will be inevitable.

I'm a glass half full though....so hoping for a pleasant surprise,and a very well earnt trophy.
 
applecentral said:
With PSG game so close its inevitable Pep will rotate heavily for Spurs. So expect something like this.

Steffen
Cancelo
Garcia
Ake
Mendy
Fernadinho
Bernado
Gundoghan
Torres
Jesus
Sterling.

5 subs to use if we need them.
As it’s PSG away 1st Leg Pep won’t want to risk his key defenders in Spurs game.
Click to expand...
If we go with that may as well not bother turning up and just give everyone a weekend off and forfeit the trophy
 
Best case scenario: Pep plays mostly squad players and we win, with none of the starters in Paris having played more than 60 minutes and getting injured.

Worst case scenario: Pep plays our currently best players, it goes to extra time and we lose while suffering some injuries.

A good scenario: Pep begins with 6-7 starters in Paris, we score 2-3 goals, Pep makes 4-5 subs in the 2nd half and we manage to win.

A bad scenario: Pep begins with 6-7 starters in Paris, but we lose, in regular or extra time.

Many scenarios, some good and other bad, but those involving many of our best players from the start would be too risky (for Pep, imo). No line-up guarantees a win or a loss anyway. We may play our best players, but be unlucky and lose, or our squad players, but be lucky and win. It's unpredictable. Let's hope for the best.
 
I would like to see a strong spine surrounded by others. Something like:

Steffen
Walker
Dias
Laporte
Mendy
Fern
Gundogan
Bernardo
Sterling
Jesus
Foden

Would be a strong enough team to lift the trophy whilst protecting some of our best for Wednesday

Foden, Bernie and Laporte have not been overplayed so should be able to do both comfortably. Gundo and Dias have got a lot of hours in their legs so should be subbed when we can.

Wednesday

Ederson
Cancelo
Dias
Laporte
Zinchenko
Rodders
Gundogan
Bernardo
Foden
De Bruyne
Mahrez
 
applecentral said:
With PSG game so close its inevitable Pep will rotate heavily for Spurs. So expect something like this.

Steffen
Cancelo
Garcia
Ake
Mendy
Fernadinho
Bernado
Gundoghan
Torres
Jesus
Sterling.

5 subs to use if we need them.
As it’s PSG away 1st Leg Pep won’t want to risk his key defenders in Spurs game.
Click to expand...
That team would be a waste of train tickets
 
applecentral said:
With PSG game so close its inevitable Pep will rotate heavily for Spurs. So expect something like this.

Steffen
Cancelo
Garcia
Ake
Mendy
Fernadinho
Bernado
Gundoghan
Torres
Jesus
Sterling.

5 subs to use if we need them.
As it’s PSG away 1st Leg Pep won’t want to risk his key defenders in Spurs game.
Click to expand...
If that is the team and he rests so many surely there is no way Gundogan, the player of the season, would play ?
 
super_city_si said:
I honestly think theyre nailed on
Click to expand...
With the support and nice comments Pep gave in relation to Raz I think he’s nailed on to start.

Torres has been flat in his performance levels all year and I’d be very surprised if he gets another chance today. Think it will be next season before he finds his feet.
 
Saddleworth2 said:
I would like to see a strong spine surrounded by others. Something like:

Steffen
Walker
Dias
Laporte
Mendy
Fern
Gundogan
Bernardo
Sterling
Jesus
Foden

Would be a strong enough team to lift the trophy whilst protecting some of our best for Wednesday

Foden, Bernie and Laporte have not been overplayed so should be able to do both comfortably. Gundo and Dias have got a lot of hours in their legs so should be subbed when we can.

Wednesday

Ederson
Cancelo
Dias
Laporte
Zinchenko
Rodders
Gundogan
Bernardo
Foden
De Bruyne
Mahrez
Click to expand...
Not far off with that mate but we'll need to swap Cancelo and Walker, Walker has to start/play on Wednesday with the pace of Mbappe & Neymar
 
Raz will start, Bernado too. I think we're set for a dull 60 minutes of containment then we bring on some subs to quicken the pace and win the game.

Pep won't want a PL title and league cup if he's blamed for a defeat on Wednesday, caused by injuries and tiredness from today.
 
Sounds weird but doesn't feel like Cup Final day at all, Normally I'd be buzzing but struggling to get motivated for it, It's going to be a weakened line up. But I can't stop thinking of PSG. Nust hope the players don't have my mindset!
Perfect day would be the big boys rested and still lift the trophy.

Come on City!!!!!!!!
 
didsburyblu said:
If we go with that may as well not bother turning up and just give everyone a weekend off and forfeit the trophy
Click to expand...
I would rather see Palmer,Delap and Doyle than some of the above at least im pretty sure they would pur some effort in.I have a feeling we are in for a Chelsea semi final performance.
 
I went to bed really worried spuds will want this more and would beat us, but after good nights sleep and waking up to blue skies we are going to smash them today! (BBQ and Beers all set to go when I get back from playing footy this morning!) COME ON YOU BLUES!
 
I think central midfield will be absolutely key against PSG so it's imperative we don't overwork our midfield 3. Fernandinho for Rodri is an abvious change today. But what to do with Gundogan and Bernardo? I don't want either playing more than 60 minutes. I'd like Cancelo given a go in there. Maybe some minutes centrally for Foden.
 
Should have fucked off this trophy IMO and gone all out for the treble with FA Cup. It doesn’t make much sense to me to play a strong lineup today having played a weakened team last weekend.
 
Pep plays a strong team, but rests a few key players, while possibly giving them 20-30 mins.

It is a well-known fact that midfielders do more hard work than other positions, so I expect more changes in there than anywhere, with the frontline basically picking itself.

Ederson

Cancelo
Dias
Laporte
Mendy

Bernardo
Fernandinho
Zinchenko

Sterling
Aguero
Torres

If we are going to make wholesale changes, I’d play a 5/3/2, with flying full backs, of...

Ederson

Cancelo
Garcia
Dias
Ake
Mendy

Bernardo
Fernandinho
Zinchenko

Sterling
Aguero

That team won’t happen, though.

My preferred line up would be much stronger:

Ederson

Cancelo
Walker
Dias
Laporte
Zinchenko

Bernardo
Fernandinho
Foden

Aguero
Sterling

This allows us to utilize Walker as a RCB (or RB if Cancelo caught upfield), and Laporte to slide over for Zin, if needed.

With the ball, Cancelo slots into RDM alongside Fernandinho & Zin sliding in on the LDM.

That frees up Bernardo & Foden to support the attack and even play as the False Nine, with the two forwards breaking wide at times.

Conversely, if Cancelo and Zinchenko can get forward down their wing, it provides us a near post and far post striker, with two strong attacking midfielders in support.

................Ederson
......Walker...Dias...Laporte
Cancelo....Fernandinho....Zinko
.......Bernardo.......Foden
.........Aguero.......Sterling

This allows us to have our AMs go wide, as both Bernardo & Foden can play as wingers, if Joao & Zin are not down the line, or come through the middle as the forwards pull the defenders wide, creating the space in the middle.

We need to win the midfield battle, which is where we failed against Chelsea in the SF. This set up creates a very strong defensive base, with 3 to 5 midfielders at any given time.

Once we have advanced into their half of the field with the ball, a defensive stay at home 3 allows us the close down those channels where Kane, Son & Bale are so effective, while dominating midfield. The flexibility of this set up allows a 3-5 with those 5 men collapsing to a 5-3.

Regardless, I just hope Pep utilizes his 5 subs wisely. Whether that means shoring us up defensively, if ahead with 10-15 mins to go, or refreshing the mix early enough for more attacking players to have a positive effect if we are behind.

COME ON, CITY!!!
 
P.S. I think there’s no reason NOT to play a FULL STRENGTH TEAM in this game. If players can’t play 2 big games in a few days with whats at stake, then there’s something up. Some of them can have a rest next weekend again at Palace, before the 2nd leg!
 
Please not the same front 3 as v Leeds and Chelsea. Not bad players but they are simply not gelling at the moment and Stirling is out of form ( Torres possibly needs more time) I know PSG is the priority but I hope we play a strong team. It seems odd getting to a final then effectively playing with a weak team.
 
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