I couldn’t help it as my thoughts towards Dortmund. I’m going to start with team news and then a brief scouting report. This will be followed by formation discussions (to myself), my views and then predictions. I’ll top this off hopefully with confirmed team line-ups and discussions before kick off. This will be a rushed one as it is my first. I’ll be open with you, I’m a Football Manager addict (though I haven’t got the new one….yet) and I will look at that database and my research will only consist of the past couple of games, games in champs league and a brief look at their manager.
Team News
I haven’t decided on my most reliable website yet, so will just go for the first couple I find until I firm them up on reliability.
Dortmund will be reportedly be without Marcel Sabitzer (calf) . Ramy Bensebaini was also absent from their weekend’s game with illness, and he will continue to be a doubt. Chelsea loanee Aaron Anselmino (hamstring) is also a doubt having not played since the 2-2 draw against Bodo/Glimt in December.
Where do we start with Tottenham. Micky van de Ven is missing due to a yellow-card suspension. Ben Davies was stretchered off with a fractured ankle against West Ham. Also out are Dejan Kulusevski (knee), James Maddison (knee), Rodrigo Bentancur (thigh), Mohammed Kudus (thigh), Richarlison (thigh), Mathys Tel (ineligible), and Radu Dragusin (ineligible), while Joao Palhinha is also set to miss out with a knock. Conor Gallagher is also not registered alongside the returning Yves Bissouma, and the clash will surely come too soon for Pape Sarr, who finished his Africa Cup of Nations campaign on Sunday. Archie Gray is a doubt but should make it.
Brief Scouting Report
Only from watching the highlights of a few recent games I made the following notes
Strengths
• Brandt’s dipping free kicks and his ability to appear late in the box.
• Ryserson crossing from the right.
• No surprise here but Adeyami’s speed.
• Silva is very clever with his set-ups and linking play.
• They have a number of tall players and are dangerous from set pieces. They surround the keeper and Vicario will need to be protected.
• Schlotterbeck’s passing can be incisive from the back.
Areas to Exploit
• Their defenders are generally tall and seem slow in terms of acceleration.
• Offensive corners and set pieces can be exploited with movement from deep.
• No Sabitzer is a major plus as he is influential from the edge of the box
• There is space in front of their back 3 and their expected midfield does not have a major defensive influence.
• Switching the ball quickly to exploit one on ones and overlaps with their wing backs
Formation Discussions, My Views and Predictions
Judging from past games and other websites predicted formation Dortmund will definitely play with 3 at the back (see below). The question is will they play with two strikers or two number tens. I’m thinking two number tens as they will fancy their chances at competing for possession. The other question is whether they play with Silva or Guirassy up front. I went for Guirassy as I feel they might want to let us have the ball and break. Guirassy will be stronger to play on his own up front and will offer greater speed. Can played and was captain in their last game so I’m presuming he will continue though Sule could come in.
In terms of us (see below), I would play a back 3, even though Archie Gray is a doubt. I’d go for a back 3 to guard against their two no 10s and striker on the break. I’d also have one of midfielders dropping back to sit on Brandt. In the back three Micky would need to be ready for Adeyemi running from deep. Romero would need to be ready for the physical battle with Guirassy. Our midfield does not look the most physical and Bergvall would need to be closing down Nmecha- although there is a significant height difference. Odobert has a free role and Solanke would need to support with physicality. Muani’s speed needs to be utilised against the tall, older Dortmund defenders.
Confirmed Team Line-ups
In terms of Dortmund, Can in the back three is a change from their last game and from my prediction. Bensebaini has recovered form his illness- another tall defender whose lack off acceleration could be taken advantage of. He is left footed so could come in on the left side which would mean Schlotterbeck (left footed) in the middle and Anton on the right as he is right footed. Yan Couto is in at right wing back- he looks a good crosser and is creative- his height could be taken advantage of with solanke at the back post maybe. The rest of the team is as predicted I think. Threats off the bench that I have seen come in the form of Beier and Chukwuemeka who are goal threats from the no 10 positions. Also the clever Silva, lacking in strength but can knit attacks together if they are dominating possession wise.
A surprise for us with both Udogie and Spence. I can’t see Frank going to a back three so Spence as an inverted winger off the left or more likely on the right allowing Odobert to go left which he prefers? Mmmmmmmmm. Does that show Frank’s opinion of Muani’s widely criticised performance against West Ham? I would have given him another chance myself- providing he covers for his full back. In a four at the back, as I’ve said, I worry about their 3 attackers v our 2 centre defenders with our full backs going walkabout. If we are in a 4 we need to switch the ball quickly to take advantage of 2 v 1s and down the sides to take advantage of their centre defenders slow acceleration and turning. Brandt and Nmecha make them tick so a big game for our midfield with a lack of confidence and physicality and all with knocks and two youngsters. Help!
This has all been a bit rushed this first time so apologies for the lack of detail and any mistakes. 23 minutes to go until kick off. I hate to say it but I sense us trying to push forward and dominate and getting done just like West Ham. But we live in hope and Frank from the flames here we come.
Come on you Spurs!
Yours sincerely and faithfully.