Here’s the first of my 2 articles on the 2 Europa League teams. The Europa League gives the teams involved before transfer window 2 four extra games. The opponent difficulty isn’t too bad either for Tottenham and Everton in their Groups so a chance for significant points in Sun Dream Team. The trick is to pick players who won’t be rotated. Firstly were going to look at Spurs and the prospects finding such a player in their squad.
Dreamteamfc transfer window 1 – Tottenham and the additional games of the Europa League
Group Stage games
Tottenham play : Partizan Belgrade A, Besiktas H, Asteras H, Asteras A.
Besiktas will be challenging as Arsenal saw in the Champions League qualifiers. However the other games should be winnable. That in itself will allow Pochettino to use his squad. Pochettino’s energetic pressing game high up the pitch also necessitates rest and recuperation. These factors should see rotation if players are available. Besiktas is the game that may see a stronger lineup.
There.s no doubt in my mind that Pochettino will want to win the Europa League but the bigger prize is a top 4 place in the premier league and this could also see an avoidance of risk in not over playing his first team premier league sqaud.
Lineups
Firstly lets look at how they lined up in the 2 Europa qualifying games and then in the most recent premier league game. We’ll then look at each position in turn.
Europa League games v Limassol:
1st leg: Lloris, Dier, Davies , Vertonghen, Naughton, Townsend (Lamela – 72′ ), Paulinho (Chadli – 59′ ), Bentaleb, Holtby (Dembélé – 66′ ), Kane, Soldado
2nd leg: Lloris, Naughton, Davies, Sandro (Holtby – 78′ ) Kaboul, Chiriches (Veljkovic – 86′ ), Townsend, Dembélé, Kane, Paulinho, Lennon
Its worth noting that Soldado was injured for this game.
Premier league game v Liverpool
Lloris, Dier, Rose (Davies – 72′ ), Capoue, Kaboul, Vertonghen, Lamela, Bentaleb (Dembélé – 59′ ), Adebayor, Eriksen (Townsend – 59′ ), Chadli
Not a great start to our analysis as the only player to play all 3 was Lloris. With Vorm coming back to fitness Vorm could easily take the Europa League spot. There were some people who played in 1 leg but and the premier league game such as Dier, Kaboul, and Bentaleb. I’ll deal with them in turn when I go through each individula position.
Looking at each individual position
GK
Lloris and Vorm: As I said above Vorm hasn’t been fit but it would be surprising if he didn’t line up in the Europa League and the domestic Cups
RB
Wlaker, Dier and Naughton: With Walker having had surgery with no return date, Dier and Naughton could rotate the RB position. Dier is quite cheap at £2.0m so that value in itself may make it worth the risk. How much longevity he has is questionable though as Walker has to be the favourite. Dier himself has a knock and is an injury doubt for the game away at Sunderland
LB
Spurs have 3 here in Rose, Davies and BAE. Rose has started the premier league games and Davies the Europa League. Rose also has a knock with no return date. Rotaion looks likely here.
CB
Spurs have Vertonghen, Kaboul, Chiriches and new signing Fazio. They also have 18 year old Veljokivic. Vertonghen and Kaboul at the moment look like the premier league partnership although the new Argentinian CB Fazio could easily take first choice. Whatever the combination rotation looks likely.
DMs
Again Spurs have 4. Capoue and Bentaleb have been the starters in the premier league and Dembele and Sandro (now left for QPR) in the Europa League. Stambouli has now joined from Montpellier to fill in Sandros position. Again rotation seems likely here again
AMs
There’s a multitude here. Chadli, Eriksen. Lamela, Lennon, Townsend and Paulino. Chadli, Eriksen and Lamela seem to be certain for the premier league and Towmsend, Paulino and Lennon for the Europa League as we saw in the games above. Rotation looks likely here.
FWDs
Seems a straight swap between Adebayor for the premier league and Soldado for the Europa League so rotation seems likely here.
So what does this mean?
There’s no real obvious player who will play in both the premier league and the Europa League. It could rely on injuries or a loss of form of one player that would necessitate someone playing in both games. The size of the squad, the energetic style of play and the priority of challenging for a top 4 place could avoid any risk of the first team premier league squad over playing though.
However if Spurs can beat Forest in the Capital one Cup that gives the Europa League and Cap One Cup team 6 games vs the premier league team of 8 games. However those 6 games could be alot easier than the premier league games bringing in more goals and clean sheets.
So if the downside isn’t that bad where is the real value to take a punt with?
The value players
Harry Kane Striker £1.5m
You may think I’m mad but Harry Kane is likely to play 6 games against pretty ordinary opposition. He’s already scored 2 goals and is the 11th ranked striker. It would be even better if he didn’t miss a pen in the 2nd Europa game. Plus he gives you a load of cash to invest elsewhere. He probaly wont touch the premier league but 6 games against ordinary opposition isn’t too bad a position at that price.
Nacer Chadli midfielder £2.5m
Really good value for a Spurs attacking midfielder. You know if he lost his place he’ll have the back up of the Europa League and the Cap One as a fall back. Already scored 2 goals and the 5th ranked midfielder
Erik Lamela midfielder £3.0m
For such a talented eye catching player who will often play behind the striker £3.0m is a bargain. Is yet to score but is the 11th ranked midfielder in Sun Dream Team
Eric Dier defender £2.0m
Benefitted from the injury to Walker. With 2 goals he’s the top point scoring defender and 3rd overall. He’s £1m cheaper than any other Spurs defender and should play in either the Premier league or the Europa League at least until transfer window 2 closes. The risk scenario is that Walker returns early and Naughton is preffered to Dier.
Summary
- Excellent Europa Group with good fixtures give 4 extra games
- No obvious player who will play in both premier league and Europa League
- Kane, Chadli, Lamela and Dier are the value players to gamble with
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