EuroSpurs – CSKA @ Khimki Arena

Since Monaco pulled off a heist in Wembley on Match Day 1, Tottenham have bounced back emphatically in domestic action. The uncharacteristic defensive lapses that marred the Monaco tie have been absent since, and a Heung Min Son inspired Spurs attack has been on stellar form in recent weeks. Now Spurs face a massive challenge – The trip to Moscow to face CSKA. So, what should we expect from Tuesday’s tie?

What to expect from CSKA?

Performing against heavyweight English opposition has been something of a specialty for CSKA Moscow in recent years. In 2014, the Russian side recorded a draw and a 2-1 win in their two ties against Manchester City, while last year, Man United could only manage a draw in their trip to Russia. When the draw was made for Group E, taking a point back to London after a trip to the Khimki Arena would have been seen as a moderate success, but after dropping crucial points on Match Day 1, this game suddenly becomes much more valuable to Tottenham.

Domestically CSKA have been performing typically well. Unbeaten in their 8 league games so far this season, their only recent loss came in the Russian Cup last week (A 2-1 loss to FC Yenisey).

The Russian Champions pride themselves on being tough to break down, starting with the national goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev in the sticks. CSKA are particularly dangerous from set pieces where 6’8 target man Lacina Traore has hit form. The Ivorian giant has accounted for 3 goals in his 7 appearances this season, and will provide a major threat for Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld. Aside from the target man, Finnish midfielder Roman Eremenko has impressed this season, and has also contributed 3 goals thus far. Keep an eye also on the right wing where ex Man United winger Zoran Tosic is capable of causing problems.

Key Man: Alan Dzagoev

When the draw for Group E was made, we discussed Alan Dzagoev at length, and wondered how the Russian maestro has not yet earned his blockbuster move?

The 26-year old has been the lynchpin for both club and country since 2008, and seems to have slipped through the cracks of every transfer window since then. Peak Dzagoev hype came after Euro 2012, where the then 22-year old midfielder finished as joint top scorer. His form on the international stage has not reached such lofty heights since, but his playmaking ability has continued to be prominent to the success of CSKA and the Russian national side.

Playing in a deep midfield role this year, the playmaker has notched two assists in his 6 games, and has enjoyed a pass success rate of 85%. Dzagoev likely to be joined at midfield by defensive workhorse Pontus Wernbloom, who has been in immaculate form so far this year. If Tottenham are to succeed in getting something from this tie, winning this essential midfield battle will be paramount.

What about Tottenham?

As mentioned above, this tie now has extra weight for Pochettino and co., after Spurs unexpectedly fell to Monaco on Day 1. To add even more difficulty, to an already tricky task, Spurs travel to Russia without the injured Harry Kane, or the athletic power-quarter of Moussa Dembele, Moussa Sissoko, Eric Dier and Danny Rose.

This game now becomes a serious test of Tottenham’s depth, but thankfully, numerous players have been knocking on the first XI door in recent weeks. Heung Min Son has been lighting it up across the front of midfield, and Pochettino will be hoping his goalscoring form and European experience  come to play in the Khimki Arena. Meanwhile, creative duo Erik Lamela and Christian Eriksen have also been enjoying a hot streak, and we expect the pair to join Heung Min Son in our attacking midfield trio. Up front, Vincent Janssen will be hoping to add to last week’s league cup goal, as he continues to prove his worth in Harry Kane’s absence.

The defence appears to pick itself, with Ben Davies covering for the injured Danny Rose, however with Dembele and Dier sidelined, the spotlight will be shone on Wanyama and Dele Alli, who will go toe-to-toe with CSKA’s most impressive unit.

With the squad’s depth being soaked up in the starting XI, Spurs are somewhat limited when looking to the bench. Tonight could prove to be a great opportunity for new man George Kevin N’Koudou to enter the fray and show his talent on the big stage.

In Summary, Tottenham face a big challenge on their visit to Moscow. The long trip and lengthy injury list put Spurs in a hole, but on the flip side, Spurs currently have a selection of players in red hot form. Tottenham may enter the tie as underdogs, but if the defence can withstand the direct threat of Moscow and get the ball to the quartet of Lamela, Eriksen, Son and Alli all operating in midfield, then Tottenham will certainly create chances.

With my optimistic hat on, I’m predicting a 2-1 Tottenham win, with goals from Son and Lamela. Come on You Spurs!

 

EuroSpurs – Monaco @ Wembley

It’s been five long years in the desert, but Tottenham have finally returned to the promised land of Champions League. A completely different set of players will represent the Lilywhites in the 2016/17 edition of Europe’s elite competition, but Tottenham fans will be hoping for similar excitement levels to their last endeavour. Many fans still vividly remember Aaron Lennon’s run of the pitch against AC Milan before he teed it up for Peter Crouch, and who could forget Gareth Bale’s masterclass in the San Siro against Maicon? The Spurs faithful will be hoping for more of the same from Harry Kane and co. this season, and the campaign begins as we welcome Ligue Un leaders Monaco to Wembley…

What to expect from Monaco?

Tottenham and Monaco are familiar foes, having faced off against each other in last year’s Europa League. A Lamela-inspired Tottenham prevailed over two legs on that occasion (A 1-1 draw in France, followed by a 4-1 win at the Lane), however, the Monaco team coming to town this week appears to be a different beast.

Like Spurs, the Principality club are currently unbeaten in the league so far this season. AS Monaco lead the way in the French top flight with three wins and a draw, including a convincing 3-1 win against reigning champions PSG.

Monaco 3 – 1 PSG, Monaco Line-Up

During that impressive win, Monaco boss Leonardo Jardim set his side up defensively. With a defence built on captain Daniejl Subasic and No-nonsense Polish centre-back Kamil Glik. Defensive minded midfield duo Sidibe and Fabinho have been two of the leading performers at Monaco this season, while Portuguese winger Bernardo Silva provides spark from the wing. The team was built around key man (and long-term Tottenham target) Joao Moutinho who orchestrates Monaco’s play from the middle of the park. Looking ahead to this week’s action, Tottenham holding midfielder Eric Dier can expect his hands full with the likely task of shutting down the Portuguese maestro.

While there has been no shortage of goals so far this season at Monaco, they are lacking an out-and-out prolific striker. The likely starter on Wednesday is Valére Germain. The 26-year old Frenchman has been on the books at Monaco since 2010, but spent last season on loan at OGC Nice where he notched 14 goals in 38 games, but he is yet to score since his return to Monaco. Another figure Tottenham’s defence may come toe-to-toe with this week is former European goal-machine Radamel Falcao. The former Porto and Atletico Madrid star has returned to Monaco after a lacklustre time in England, and is yet to make an appearance in Ligue Un this season. Nevertheless, Falcao certainly has a nose for goals on occasions like this, and you can be sure that Pochettino will have pointed to the Colombian as a serious potential threat.

The last name Tottenham fans should become familiar with before the tie is that of Adama Traoré. The 21-year-old attacking midfielder starred for Mali in last year’s U20 World Cup, where he took home the Golden Ball award for Best Player after scoring 4 goals and recording 3 assists. The dynamic attacker is likely to cause problems for Tottenham, especially if he comes off the bench to test tired legs.

What about Tottenham?

As I alluded to in this week’s End-Game Round-Up of EPL action, I discussed the pleasant selection headache Pochettino now faces. Two weeks ago, Tottenham seemed limited in their options in attack, yet as of now, it’s highly likely that two of Sissoko, Lamela or Heung Min Son will start on the bench as Spurs start their European campaign.

Ben Davies ably deputised for the injured Danny Rose midweek, and will likely continue his role in Wembley, while it’s possible that Kieran Trippier could provide a break for Kyle Walker, though that may be more suited to a later tie. Breaking up the rock solid centre-back pairing would be lunacy for such an important game, while Harry Kane is a sure-fire starter up front. That leaves the last selection headache at centre-midfield, where Pochettino must be itching to write the name ‘Dembele’ on the teamsheet for the first time this season.

With that in mind, here is my expected line-up for Spurs X Monaco

Predicted Line-Up: Spurs x Monaco

While Victor Wanyama has impressed in place of Dembele so far this season, it’s likely that the Dembele-Dier tandem which served Tottenham so well last season will again be trusted to deliver in European competition. Similarly, the attacking quartet of Lamela-Alli-Eriksen-Kane has been Pochettino’s go-to unit since he started at White Hart Lane, and all four have come into form at the ideal moment. That said, Heung Min Son impressed at the weekend, and Moussa Sissoko offers a devastating combination of pace and power, so don’t be surprised if either of those two prove to be the matchwinner from the bench.

The last Tottenham boss to oversee a Champions League game was the Great Harry Redknapp, and Harry himself has often spoken of his admiration for the current Spurs side. However, this week Redknapp bemoaned the fact that Tottenham will play their home UCL games in Wembley, referring to it as a major disadvantage. I beg to differ though – This opportunity gives Tottenham the unprecedented chance to fill an 80,000 seater stadium. With the majority of that monstrous crowd in Lilywhite, there’s great hope that the team will be further driven to rise to the occasion, making a trip to Wembley an extremely daunting proposition for opposition sides.

Prediction

• A cautious Monaco side to set up extremely defensively, relying on moments of magic and set pieces from Joao Moutinho to steal a result
• Tottenham’s playmakers to thrive in the extra space provided by Wembley’s bigger pitch. Look for particularly productive days from Erik Lamela and Kyle Walker, as the superfit duo should wreak havoc given the extra space.
• Man of the Match performance from Moussa Dembele – The Belgian midfield general must be craving some Tottenham action, and doing under the bright lights of a Champions League evening gives him the perfect platform to dominant
• Result: Tottenham Hotspur 1 – 0 Monaco

Tottenham Hotspur Power Rankings

There’s one thing that seems to appeal to us Sports fans – Lists. They’re so neat and definite. It’s as if seeing things in a ranked, ordered fashion is like seeing a jigsaw fit together.

So, as International week starves us of club action, I’ve decided to look at the Spurs panel, and with the early part of the season in mind, compile the first ‘Tottenham Hotspur Power Rankings’

The key concept of the Power Rankings will be the following question – How important is this player to Tottenham’s success?

The player’s quality over the past few years will of course be taken into account, but as this list is likely to change regularly, current form, and current team situation will also be prominent factors.

Last note: I’ll be using the 22 man squad currently listed on the official Tottenham Hotspur website, so that means young players like Harry Winks or Josh Onomah who are yet to get regular senior game time are excluded.

So, without further adieu…

1. Toby Alderweireld
   Tottenham currently boast a wealth of talent in the first team, and while a handful of players could have a fair claim to the top spot in the power rankings, I think many fans would agree that Toby Alderweireld is the current ‘Most Valuable Player’.
   In the days pre-Toby, Tottenham floundered at the back as the likes of Federico Fazio or Younes Kaboul partnered the often disinterested Jan Vertonghen. The addition of the classy Belgian has since turned Spurs into one of the league’s meanest defences (fewest goals conceded in 2015/16). As Kane searches for his scoring touch, and Lloris and Dembele remain sidelined, Toby Alderweireld has been a leading light for Spurs this year as he continued last year’s stellar form by shutting down attacking threats of all types so far this season. As such, he tops the early season Tottenham Power Rankings.

2. Moussa Dembele
   They say that absence makes the heart grow stronger, and this is certainly the case with Moussa Dembele. Dembele established himself as the heartbeat of the Tottenham team last year, dominating games from central midfield. With the dynamic midfielder currently serving a lengthy suspension, Tottenham appear like a ship without a rudder, urgently need of someone to provide direction.
   With Dembele at central midfield, Tottenham went on a lengthy unbeaten streak last term, and Tottenham’s late season collapse also coincided with the Belgian’s absence due to the start of his suspension. With the current side crying out for a player of Dembele’s ability in the opening games of 2016/17, you can expect to see Dembele high up this list for quite a while.

3. Harry Kane
   While he may be trumped by Alderweireld and Dembele in terms of importance to the team at this very time of writing, there’s little doubt that Harry Kane is the face of this Tottenham team. The local lad who came out of nowhere to become a star within two years. The fact that he’s already a vice-captain speaks volumes about the respect he holds within the dressing room.
   However, as he is still struggling to find freshness after a whirlwind last 12 months, Kane finds himself at third position in the Power Rankings. The much needed addition of Vincent Janssen also means that a loss of Kane for game would not be the catastrophe it would have been last season, but his all-round game keeps him high up this list.

4. Danny Rose
   Arguably the biggest beneficiary of the Pochettino regime has been winger-turned-fullback Danny Rose. Rose always possessed the tools and skills to be a productive player, but lacked the consistency and tactical awareness. Pochettino famously promised Rose in his first season, that if he listened to him, he would make him an English international. Fast forward and we see that Pochettino has made good on his promise, as Rose now finds himself as one of the league’s premier left backs.
   For Tottenham, Rose’s job goes far beyond defending. In a Tottenham team severely lacking pace, Rose’s ability to overlap at speed and provide pace has been a crucial part of the Spurs attack this season.

5. Hugo Lloris
   Every Spurs fan knows the world class quality of Hugo Lloris, and he is another player who could lay claim to the Power Rankings top spot. Yet, in his absence due to a hamstring injury, fans have been reassured by the safe hands of Michel Vorm. Hugo remains the absolute number one, but having a safety net called ‘Michel Vorm’ in reserve can let Spurs fans rest a little easier.

6. Erik Lamela
   After a very rocky start to his career in white, Lamela’s star has continued to rise in the last 12 months as he has reinvented his game under Mauricio Pochettino. Gone is the lightweight, inconsistent winger we saw in Year 1, and in his place is a super-fit, hard-working playmaker, who is the epitome of Pochettino’s high press philosophy.
   Many assumed Lamela would be the man to make way for Moussa Sissoko in the First XI, but I’ll be very surprised if Mauricio Pochettino decides to drop one of his on-field lieutenants.

7. Eric Dier
   Another player reinvented under Poch is holding midfielder Eric Dier, who is now not only a key component of the Tottenham side, but one of the first names of the teamsheet for England. Dier’s work is not flashy, and rarely makes the headlines, but having a player of Dier’s quality minding the house is what allows flair players like Alli, Eriksen or Lamela the space and time to create.
   Dier finds himself at (the very respectable) 7^th place in the Power Rankings, purely due to the addition of fellow protector Victor Wanyama who provides another option for Spurs at the base of midfield.

8. Kyle Walker
   Much like Danny Rose, Walker has flourished in the past few seasons. Having seen off the challenge of Kieran Trippier at Tottenham, Walker’s impressive club form has also seen him force his way ahead of Nathaniel Clyne on the England charts in recent months.
   Much like Rose, Walker is essential in providing width and pace for the current Spurs team.

9. Jan Vertonghen
   Having found life difficult with a range of sub-par defensive partners over the past few years, the steady presence of Toby Alderweireld has finally brought out the best in Jan Vertonghen.
   Much like his compatriot, Jan is a smooth tackler, a quick mover and an even quicker thinker. The Belgian duo were the EPL’s finest central defensive pairing last year, and this year’s showing has been a continuation of that good form. Keeping a consistent is key to most successful defences, so Jan’s position in the Power Rankings top 10 is justified.

10. Christian Eriksen
    In the days before Pochettino or Harry Kane, Eriksen may well have been top of this list, with two or three empty spaces behind him to emphasise his importance. As Tottenham struggled to find their identity in the days of Tim Sherwood or AVB, it was often Eriksen who produced a moment of magic to save the day.
    However, in the current progressive Tottenham unit, as most of the team continue to move forward, Eriksen appears to be standing still. Contract negotiations may be affecting his focus, resulting in sub-standard performances this season. However, a winning goal for Denmark in last night’s World Cup qualifiers will hopefully reignite his confidence before he returns to the Lane.

11. Dele Alli
    After going from child prodigy to International Golden Boy in the blink of an eye, I couldn’t blame Dele Alli for being tired. Alli looked like he had no fuel left in the tank during England’s European Championship campaign this summer, and he looked similarly jaded during Tottenham’s first league game this season – lacking that spark that sets him apart from the rest.
    Pochettino wisely rested Alli against Crystal Palace, and he looked more prominent in the Liverpool tie. Alli shone again after coming off the bench on international duty, so don’t be surprised if Alli gets the odd day off this campaign, as keeping him from burning out will be crucial to his continued development.

12. Victor Wanyama
    Quickly becoming a fan favourite is new boy Victor Wanyama, who impressed with his powerful displays in his first three Tottenham outings. In a side without Moussa Dembele, the box-to-box midfield role was handed to Wanyama who productively popped up all over the pitch on his first three outings, including for a crucial winning goal versus Crystal Palace on Match Day 2.
    However, with Dembele’s comeback on the horizon, and with Eric Dier still the frontrunner in the holding midfield position, Wanyama may have to be content with a rotation role in the coming weeks.

13. Michel Vorm
    With goalkeeper injuries being so rare, an injury to a keeper often causes panic within a camp. Tottenham are fortunate to have an understudy of Vorm’s quality in the ranks. Vorm was rock solid in his first two outings, and stole the show against Liverpool with some point blank saves. While Lloris remains the number 1, Vorm has pushed himself relatively high up the Power Rankings with his eye-catching displays.

14. Vincent Janssen
    After crying out for an entire season, Spurs fans were finally rewarded with some Harry Kane back-up, and it has arrived in the form of Dutch hitman Vincent Janssen.
    Janssen ripped it up last year in the Eredivisie with a van-Nistelrooy-esque 27 goals, and while he has yet to hit the net in Tottenham colours, his all round play has inspired many promising reviews from the Tottenham faithful. Bought primarily as a back-up, the 22 year old has already forced Pochettino to consider other ideas, as Tottenham started with out-and-out strikers against Crystal Palace for the first time in the Pochettino era.

15. Moussa Sissoko
    So where does the man of the hour fall in the Power Rankings? He is still very much an unknown commodity, as nobody seems to know what to expect from the powerful Frenchman, yet given the obvious faith the coaching staff must have in him (as the £30million price tag would suggest) he finds himself quite high up the Power Rankings.
    Coming off some impressive international performances, Sissoko will most likely make his full debut for Tottenham this weekend against Stoke, as Dembele remains suspended, and as Erik Lamela is expected to be rested following a late trip back from international duty. All eyes on Moussa, as a handful of promising displays could see him shoot up these ranks.

16. Kevin Wimmer
    The young Austrian impressed last season in Jan Vertonghen’s absence last year, but finds himself stuck firmly behind the Belgian duo at the moment. Make no mistake though, if anything should happen to Jan or Toby, Wimmer would find himself becoming an integral player very suddenly, given the relative lack of depth at the centre back position.

17. Ben Davies
    Davies comes in off the back of a promising European campaign with the Welsh. Davies has almost always delivered the goods when called upon for Tottenham, yet he is unfortunate to find himself behind the league’s in-form fullback in Danny Rose.
    However, as Tottenham’s schedule heats up between league, cup and European action, expect Davies to see significant game time.

18. Heung-Min Son
    The South Korean attacker has shown glimpses of his ability at Tottenham, but is yet to find that patch of consistent good form. Most fans were glad to see Spurs turn down big bids for the winger late in the transfer window, as he provides important attacking depth, and as the season progresses, Son possesses the pace and goalscoring threat to become one of Spurs most important players. However, until he is given the requisite opportunity, he will remain in the back end of the Power Rankings.

19. Kieran Trippier
    Much like Ben Davies, Kieran Trippier hasn’t put a foot wrong, but finds himself firmly as the number 2 in the depth chart at Right Back. Should hope to impress in some upcoming cup appearances.

20. George Kevin N’Koudou
    The lightning quick winger could prove to be a lethal weapon for Tottenham’s attack, yet until we see the young Frenchman in action, he’ll be unable to shoot up the Power Rankings.

21. Tom Carroll
    Having seen some of his teammates in similar positions, such as Nabil Bentaleb or Ryan Mason, leave the club over the summer, Tom Carroll must wonder if he has been left in limbo.
    The technically gifted centre midfielder has been a regular in Tottenham squads over the past 12 months, but the additions of Wanyama and Sissoko, and the emergence of Onomah and Winks have pushed him down the depth chart, and one wonders whether he will be given the chance to prove he has a future at White Hart Lane?

22. Pau Lopez
    We have every reason to believe that the young Spaniard is a fine goalkeeping prospect, but the fact of the matter is, it would take a disaster or a miracle before we see him rise up the Power Rankings.

Agree with the Power Rankings? Let me know in the comments!

Thanks for reading!