Matchday One!
As UEFA would have it. [Insert your own dramatic soundtrack here].
Finally, our first game in this season’s Moneybags League is upon us.
“Welcome to the world famous home of the Spurs”
Monaco’s last visit to White Hart Lane was only in December but they will note a few changes, not least that the stadium has apparently been picked up and plonked down about ten miles to the west, nearly trebled in size and doesn’t have half the atmosphere. Or does it? The experiment with Wembley is an intriguing and exciting one, it’s a glimpse into our future of course, but one of the challenges for us will be to create the Glory Glory Nights atmosphere in a stadium where generally there is none – unless Bruce Springsteen is in your starting eleven.
If nothing else, it’s a chance to find out what not to do in the new arena taking shape behind the North stand in N17 when it comes creating something closer to a cockpit than a library.
Be sure to Mark Falcao
We came out on top when the Monegasques made that referred to visit in the Europa League. Tom Carroll added to three goals before half time from Erik Lamela as we strolled to a 4-1 win. We’ll do well to emulate that victory this time around. After four games Monaco are top of the French league with three wins and a draw with one of those wins being over perennial champions PSG. Stars of the season thus far include full back Fabinho with 5 goals, including 4 penalties, thus far, Radamel Falcao and a man AVB will never forget whenever transfer deadline day comes around, Joao Moutinho.
Son-dry to requirements?
The spanking of Stoke at the weekend was both morale boosting and the first proper sign that the beast that struck fear in to the division last season was still there, hiding beneath the sluggish animal we’ve seen take the field in previous games this year. Never change a winning team? Well Pochettino has a decision to make. On paper Son has done enough to start the game but he only played on Saturday because of Lamela’s late return from South America and given that Erik is one of Poch’s favourites and the fact that he scored four times against Monaco last season, the South Korean might find himself unfortunate and on the bench. Davies will play if Rose is unfit but the big news is the return of Mousa Dembélé to the squad. He’ll be a sub almost certainly, but should make his season’s debut at some point during the evening.
Fortress Wembley
It doesn’t take a genius to realise how important it is to do well in our home games during the group stages. Three points would give the cockerel plenty to crow about before our trip to Moscow in two weeks.
Gianluca Rocchi from Italy is the referee.
COYS.
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