Asteras vs. Spurs: Key Issues and Decisions That Will Shape Europa League Game
The Europa League group phase passes the halfway point on Thursday with the fourth of six fixtures. In Group C, Asteras Tripolis and Tottenham Hotspur will battle it out for three points that will go some way to deciding each team's fate.
Tottenham's 5-1 thrashing of the Greek outfit a fortnight ago gave the Premier League club its first win. Another victory would put them four points ahead of their third-placed opponents with two fixtures remaining.
A positive result for Tripolis would tighten up the group even further—especially if Besiktas drop points against Partizan Belgrade on Thursday.
Read on for key issues and decisions that will shape this Europa League contest.
Ben Davies Has a Chance to Put Pressure on Danny Rose
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So far in 2014-15, Ben Davies has been Tottenham's left-back in the Capital One Cup and the Europa League. Speaking to Sport Wales (via BBC Sport), he admitted "it's frustrating at times" he has had to sit behind Danny Rose in the Premier League pecking order.
Positively, he appears to have retained a healthy attitude regarding the situation:
"But coming here I was taking nothing for granted that I was going to walk straight into the first team. I have to bide my time, take my chances and work hard, as I do every day.
And when that chance arises to get the games in the Premier League, then I've got to be ready for that and take it with both hands.
"
The truth is Davies' performances in his first few Tottenham matches did not warrant him displacing Rose—especially with the Englishman performing adequately himself.
The Wales international's form has picked up in recent weeks, though. He played well against Asteras Tripolis last month, and versus Brighton & Hove Albion, he looked as confident as he has since his summer move from Swansea City.
Rose did not have his best game against Aston Villa, notably getting outfought by Charles N'Zogbia in the run-up to Andreas Weimann's opener.
Davies is unlikely to take Rose's place on the basis of one further good performance on Thursday. Nonetheless, an assured showing defensively and a continuation of his improving work getting forward will see him put further pressure on Mauricio Pochettino's current league left-back.
What Is Pochettino's Next Move for the Tottenham Attack?
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Pochettino was not going to choose the aftermath of Sunday's 2-1 win over Aston Villa to rain on Harry Kane's parade. The young striker had scored Tottenham's winner, and the head coach was prepared to acknowledge the time might have come for him to get more playing time.
"He maybe deserves to play in the Premier League more," Pochettino admitted to BBC Sport.
The Spurs boss yet again has a decision to make in regards to the makeup of his attack—both for Asteras Tripolis and for Stoke City on Sunday.
An impending first league start of the season for Kane could see him rested for the visit to Greece. Then again, an argument could be made Spurs' in-form striker (eight goals in seven cup games) should be used to try and see off Tripolis as quickly as possible.
Pochettino has shown he is not afraid to start players in back-to-back, Thursday-Sunday matches either. Even so, the use of either Emmanuel Adebayor and Roberto Soldado might indicate one of them is about to lose their place to Kane.
Soldado has been in better form than Adebayor in recent weeks, yet his struggle to score has not done him any favours in the contest to firmly cement his place in the team.
The Argentinian's use of a front two in Spurs' last two games also adds intrigue to his decision.
EDIT: Since writing, Tottenham's official website announced Adebayor did not travel to Greece.
Can Anyone Else Force Their Way into Pochettino's Premier League Plans?
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Despite Tottenham eventually getting the win, few players will have come out of the Aston Villa game thinking their league starting position was cemented.
Pochettino has not changed things dramatically in his team this season, but his decisions have suggested he will not ignore an inarguable case made by one of his players (see Ryan Mason forcing his way into the team, and perhaps now Kane, too).
Thursday could presents another chance for one of the potential midfield pairing of Mousa Dembele and Benjamin Stambouli to show they can offer more than Etienne Capoue in the league.
The latter had one of his least effective showings against Villa. Stambouli especially looked keen to make his mark against Brighton last week. If he has not already, another committed and eager display in Greece could convince Pochettino he deserves a chance to impress in the Premier League.
How Spurs perform in central defence this midweek will be worth paying close attention too as well.
Vlad Chiriches appears to have fallen out of favour for the time being, but Federico Fazio is gradually settling in at White Hart Lane. While accounting for the weaker opposition, he had his most assured performance against Brighton last week.
That match was also notable for him looking as in tune alongside Jan Vertonghen as he has in their fledgling, intermittently used pairing. With Younes Kaboul still unconvincing in the league, another good night from the Fazio-Vertonghen duo could give Pochettino something to think about.
Tripolis Will Seek to Test Tottenham Further on Home Turf
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The 5-1 scoreline would suggest otherwise, but Asteras Tripolis did not make things easy for Tottenham at White Hart Lane.
Staikos Vergetis' attack were able to get behind the home side's defence on several occasions. The late incident which saw Hugo Lloris bring down Tasos Tsokanis as the winger raced through on goal was the most notable incident (the goalkeeper got sent off for his troubles).
Despite those issues, Spurs will be expected to win again. They must be focused. Tripolis have shown they are a tough side to beat at their Kolokotronis Stadium.
Thanks to goals from Fernando Usero and Facundo Parra, they beat a Partizan Belgrade side 2-0 that Spurs failed to breach. This past weekend, they held an Olympiakos outfit 0-0 that would battle Juventus so well in the Champions League this week.
In fact, in all competitions, Tripolis remain unbeaten on home turf.
"I think the match will be very different to the first game at home," Fazio told Tottenham's official website. "We can take confidence from the first match, but we know this week’s game will be very difficult, very close and it’s important to take three points."
Should Spurs do so, they will likely have worked hard to earn them.
