Predicted XI vs Monaco

Being in Europe the games come thick and fast. I don't subscribe to this theory we shouldn't be in Europe as it affects our Premier League position. We would have to play twice a week in the UEFA Champions League anyway and we would have to field a stronger side so the first team would get more fatigued than they do now.

A club like Tottenham has to learn how to cope with playing twice a week for long periods, we have to expect it, we have to experience it so the players get used to it and become attuned to it. This week it is an away tie against Monaco. They are recently a UEFA Champions League side so we are in no easy group, but we have to continually bear in mind the Premier League is our priority.

Just as the Manchester City game was more important than the Arsenal game so the Swansea City away game on Sunday is more important that the Monaco tie. We still need to ensure we qualify and if possible in first place in the group, but we must also play a second team in the initial stages of the competition.

Bearing that in mind and bearing in mind we have sold VIP packages for fans, we can still field a reasonable strong side. In goal, we may well still see the Premier League's fourth ranked goalkeeper Hugo Lloris instead of Michel Vorm. Goalkeepers don't have the same fatigue factor as outfield players, they don't have to do all that running about. I'd expect to see Lloris play this game and Vorm play the remainder of the group matches.

Right-back is another opportunity for Kieran Trippier to get acquainted with the Pochettino system and Danny Rose will provide an attacking outlet on the left. With Ben Davies performing in the Premier League at the moment, Rose will have to bide his time and wait for his opportunity.

The centre-back pairing are the debatable positions. Do you either play one of Vertobghen or Alderweireld or neither of them. Kevin Wimmer deserves to play after his performance against Arsenal which means Vertonghen can be rested. Many will then pick Alderweireld simply because of the bad game Fazio had, but I'd stick with Fazio for Europe. He has won two UEFA Europa Leagues so has the experience of the competition others don't. If we have squad players we must trust them and we must rotate the squad.

We are still light in the holding midfield roles so Eric Dier may have to continue with Tom Carroll alongside him, allowing Dele Alli to have a rest. His game time needs to be monitored and managed while his body is still developing, we don't need him burnt out later in the season. I'd want to pull Dier off after 70 minutes if the game situation allows and bring Alli or another substitute on.

Ahead of them in the three attacking midfield roles Andros Townsend should get another game and Nacer Chadli was on the bench on Sunday so I'd start with him with a view to replacing him later. Son Heung-min is being monitored for a foot injury, Dembele, Mason, Bentaleb are also all out. Alex Pritchard has been struggling with an ankle injury that isn't clearing up as we hoped it would so he makes five midfielders unavailable.

With Lamela starting to show something and Eriksen only recently returning from injury, I'd play Eriksen behind Clinton Njie as the lone forward, allowing Harry Kane to have a rest.



It is important in fielding a side we don't undo the good work we did last week beating Manchester City so there is no point taking the chance of wearing players out. We can always recover from a negative result in this competition and we should select a team that rests as many as possible while giving chances and game time to others.

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