Tottenham vs. Asteras Tripolis: Key Issues That Will Shape Europa League Game
Tottenham Hotspur will attempt to record their first win of Europa League Group C on Thursday when they host Asteras Tripolis.
The Greek outfit top the table with four points after beating Partizan Belgrade last time out, and holding Besiktas to a draw prior to that. Tottenham need to beat them if they want to avoid a potentially frantic conclusion to the group stage.
Read on for key issues that will shape this Europa League meeting.
Grafter Stambouli Has Chance to Stake His Claim
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Benjamin Stambouli has had to bide his time since he joined Tottenham in August. A substitute appearance against Sunderland is the extent of his Premier League involvement. He has, though, started the three cup games since his arrival.
The central midfielder's considerable work ethic has made a good early impression. An eager tackler and willing runner, he is keen to impose himself physically and creatively either side of the halfway line.
Stambouli's passing has not been as accurate looking forward as it has been around the midfield. The errant balls of the 92 percent and 81 percent completed passing rates against Partizan Belgrade and Besiktas respectively—as record by Squawka—have mostly been in more crowded attacking areas.
That happens with higher-risk passes of course. The greater takeaway is Stambouli's positivity, his willingness to have an impact on the game.
With three starts under his belt now and another couple of weeks to get to know his team-mates' traits, Thursday's game offers the Frenchman a chance to stake a claim for a more regular role.
The changes head coach Mauricio Pochettino has made to his side for cup outings has mostly resulted in the the team taking their time to adjust to one another and settle into games. Spurs will want to avoid a nervy start against a confident Asteras Tripolis team.
The able and decisive Stambouli could be the man to set the right tone for Tottenham in the early going.
Spurs Need to Produce More in the Final Third
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Away at Partizan, Tottenham had seven shots but none on target. They managed three on goal from nine at home to Besiktas—including Harry Kane's opener—but that fell way short of the 24 attempts the visitors fired on them (both recorded by BBC Sport).
Spurs would have liked to have done more in Serbia, but away from home and in an imposing environment, a draw was not bad. Against the Turkish club, though, the failure to create more chances cost them in the end when they were pegged back. Besiktas are a good team, but greater endeavour will have been expected under the lights at White Hart Lane.
Pochettino has a few things to think about in the make-up of front-three in particular. Roberto Soldado started against Besiktas, but having played Spurs' last Premier League game, may be kept out with Newcastle United in mind.
Harry Kane is a likely starter. But whether that will be leading the line or in a supporting role will depend on whether Soldado or Emmanuel Adebayor—rested at Manchester City—are selected.
Whatever the names on the teamsheet here, between them and the supporting cast of players like Andros Townsend, Stambouli, Nabil Bentaleb and Paulinho, they need to do more.
Bar the energetic Townsend and constantly probing Kane, there has been little urgency in Spurs' work entering the final third in the Europa League.
Kane's fine finish against Besiktas followed Townsend and Bentaleb combining well before finding the striker inside. It showed what Tottenham are capable of when they up the tempo and augment it with intelligent movement.
Tripolis have shown already they will not be turned over easily. Pochettino's men will need to force the issue to get past them and win this one.
Chiriches Needs to Assert Himself in Defence
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Vlad Chiriches has had a shaky start to the 2014-15 season. Recent iffy displays at home to West Bromwich Albion and Besiktas have been problematic at a time he is attempting to prove his worth to new boss Pochettino.
The handball to concede a costly late penalty against Besiktas was the headline mistake of Chiriches' last appearance for Tottenham. He had looked unsure of himself most of the night, though, especially lacking in conviction in close-combat tussles. Against West Brom the centre-back's positioning had left a lot to be desired.
Chiriches' performances have largely underwhelmed since he came back from an injury suffered in early February last season. Up until then he had enjoyed a good run in the Spurs team, looking assured and comprehensive in his work.
It is telling his partner in this period was Michael Dawson. Without someone like his ex-skipper to marshal him and keep him on track, Chiriches has played with less discipline and a whole lot less confidence.
Chiriches will likely play alongside Federico Fazio as the Argentinian is now suspended in the Premier League. Given Fazio is still settling into life at Tottenham, he is perhaps not the ideal partner to help the Romanian to a nerveless display.
The 24-year-old cannot think like that. If he wants to earn a regular starting position for Spurs again he needs to begin asserting himself regardless of who he is playing with.
Chiriches' performances at the turn of the year demonstrated he is a more than capable defender. He was particularly strong in a win away at Manchester United and was reliable enough elsewhere.
Spurs need more performances like that to help see them through what is proving a tricky group stage. It is up to Chiriches to find that in himself.
Can Asteras Make a Breakthrough on the Road?
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Asteras Tripolis' draw away at Besiktas was some statement of intent. The Turkish side had given Arsenal a run for their money in the Champions League qualifying stage, and were unlucky not to get more than a point at Tottenham in the Europa League.
That the Greeks built on it by beating Partizan Belgrade 2-0 at home has seriously marked them out as a team to be wary of. Argentinian forward Facundo Parra netted his second in two games after the much-travelled Fernando Usero had given them the lead.
Even accounting for all this, Spurs will fancy their chances of beating Staikos Vergetis' team at home, imposing their Premier League superiority in the process.
The test for Asteras Tripolis will be mustering similar fortitude to that which they displayed in Turkey.
As noted on UEFA.com, they have yet to win in seven European games on the road.
AEL Limassol and Besiktas have shown in their different ways that Spurs are not so strong in north London as to be immune to opponents getting at them. Led by striker Demba Ba, the latter in particular had a lot of joy getting through at White Hart Lane.
Thursday's visitors can also look at the job PAOK did beating Spurs in the Europa League in November 2011. Plenty has changed since then, but it shows the value of having some belief.
The reality might prove otherwise, but considering they gave Besiktas a game of it, Tripolis should be optimistic in their ability to do so against Spurs.
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