Filed under: Tottenham, Europa League (UEFA), Football, Match Previews
EUROPA LEAGUE: TOUMBAS STADIUM, THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 15, 2011. KICK-OFF 1800 BSTHarry Redknapp has made it clear that his priority with Tottenham this season is to challenge for a place in the top four of the Premier League, rather than progressing in Europe.
With that in mind, the Spurs manager is expected to rest a host of players for the Europa League clash against Greek side PAOK when the group stages start.
Redknapp's team lost their first two games of the domestic season so there has been an emphasis on getting back on track and keeping within sight of the freescoring Manchester United and City at the top of the table.
They earned their first win when they travelled to Wolves last weekend and recorded an away victory, and they have an important clash against Liverpool coming up.
Facing PAOK between those two fixtures in not at the top of Redknapp's list of priorities and his team selection is likely to reflect that.
He fielded a team of youngsters against Hearts in the play-off to reach the group stages, and they will be given another chance to impress in Greece.
Key Match-up: Vieirinha v Jake Livermore: Vieirinha poses an attacking threat for the hosts, mainly from a starting position in wide areas in midfield. Livermore will be looking to control the midfield and not allow opponents time to build momentum. He was allowed out on loan last season but Redknapp feels he is part of the first-team squad this time around.
Form Guide: Spurs have not hit top form yet but their win over Wolves at least means they are off the mark in the Premier League season. PAOK lost to Ergotelis in their last match, and are fifth in their league.
Odds: PAOK 2/1, Draw 9/4, Tottenham 11/8
TOTTENHAM:
Tottenham's preparations have been overshadowed by Rafael van der Vaart's comments when he found out he was left out of the Europa League squad for the group stages.
'I still think it's a peculiar situation. Spurs could at least have consulted me,' he wrote on his official website.
Redknapp explained that he left the Netherlands midfielder out because he thought his players would be sidelined with a hamstring injury.
He said: "Diagnosis on Rafa's hamstring was he would be out for six weeks, at least. He misses the first four games, and we only have six games [in the group stages], so we thought there was not much point of putting him in.
"That was the reason behind it, he was away in Holland having treatment. I would have sent him a carrier pigeon with a message but I didn't feel it was that important."
Redknapp, meanwhile, insists he has not spoken to the Football Association over taking the England job when Fabio Capello stands down after the European Championships next year.
"Until I get offered the job I wouldn't have a decision to make but at the moment I haven't spoken to anybody about being England manager," he said in the London Evening Standard.
"I want to see England do well, I want Capello to get them to the Euros and I want them to win it. And if they win it under Capello, I definitely won't get it.
"I love doing what I'm doing. I enjoy my job at Tottenham. I'm lucky to be managing a top club, a great club, and I love it."
Strategy: They will try to get something out of the game using the enthusiasm of the club's youngsters. That means they will probably play at a furious pace rather than a slow passing game.
Injury Update: Brad Friedel and Van der Vaart are not registered. Vedran Corluka, William Gallas, Michael Dawson, Tom Huddlestone and Sandro are injured. Senior players will be rested.
PAOK:
PAOK president is Theo Zagorakis, who played for Leicester between 1998 and 2000 before eventually returning Thessaloniki later in his career.
He came on as a late substitute in the 1999 League Cup final when Tottenham defeated Leicester at Wembley, with Allan Nielsen grabbing a late winner.
Coach Laszlo Boloni was in charge at Standard Liege earlier in his career and in six games against English opposition recorded one victory.
Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Rafael Nadal Rafael van der Vaart Retief Goosen Ricardo Carvalho Ricardo Quaresma
No comments:
Post a Comment