Three Things Tottenham Need to Do Against Royal Antwerp

Besides win the match and secure first in the group, there are three things we would like to see from Tottenham Hotspur Thursday against Royal Antwerp.

Tottenham Hotspur face Royal Antwerp on Thursday evening with the winner receiving the reward of winning Group J. While winning the game is of course the most important thing we want to get from Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday, there are a few other items on our checklist of things we want to see in the final Group Stage match of this season’s Europa League.

Play with Plan A

Over the last several weeks since Tottenham have returned from the last international “break” Spurs have successfully played a mostly defensive first approach to their football. A big reason for this has been the caliber of competition Tottenham have faced. However, the onslaught of matches and working to keep everyone engaged and healthy play a role as well.

Tottenham have had some real success with the defense first approach in the Premier League but have an opportunity to really flex some offensive muscle in this European matchup. Given the opportunity to be a bit more aggressive and on top of the ball, Spurs need to take advantage. We know when Tottenham go all out, they can score a lot of goals. Likewise, we know when Spurs focus, they can defend well and keep a clean sheet.

What we need from Tottenham now is a mixture of the two, a nice 4-0 or even 5-0 victory. We concede that Antwerp is no pushover and did win the previous match-up. However, Tottenham are now at home with the opportunity to win the group on the line, they need to have a big game because it is a big game. It sure would be nice to see that big game come through Plan A, with A standing for attack.

Healthy Hart Recovery

We know Paulo Gazzaniga is not on the Europa League roster so for anyone clambering for the Argentine, it cannot happen. We also know that José Mourinho has faith in Joe Hart and Hugo Lloris was recently out. With keeping Hugo fresh and builing back some confidence for Joe Hart, he goes out there again to protect the net.

Hart had a solid start last week, but things fell apart just before half-time and then with a some late goals. Joe should have saved at least one of the three, but sometimes it just does not happen. Ultimately, Tottenham still have all their Group Stage goals to play for, namely winning the group, so it is no harm done, assuming Hart and company can redeem themselves this week.

While we want and frankly need to see that clean sheet, what we want to see more is to see Joe Hart make a couple good saves and see the ball NOT go into his net past him. Confidence is sports means a lot, for goalkeepers and strikers it means almost everything, Hart needs to get his back.

Bring on the Youth

Maybe the best thing about Tottenham being in Europa League as opposed to Champions League this season has been the fact that there have been legitimate opportunities to bring on some of the Tottenham Academy players. Two weeks ago, three youngsters got to play, because the senior team did their job. This is very much something we want to see happen again.

First, we want to see the starters take care of business, particularly in the first half and leave Royal Antwerp with little hope. We want the Belgians to believe their victory was a fluke by halftime, not give them the confidence to take another. That comes with the first team doing the job early.

If things go well, we may even get to see upwards of 15 minutes from some of the younger players like Dane Scarlett and Harvey White – who both made their Tottenham debuts a couple weeks ago. Additionally, Jack Clarke could use a run out and we would all still like to see the debut of Dennis Cirkin as well.

The simple fact that many of the youth get to be on the bench is really important in their development and understanding of what it means to be on the senior team. It is even better when that development is more than hypothetical and comes through actual playing experience. While the FA Cup presents a different kind of opportunity, this is probably the last, best opportunity for some of the academy to play with the senior team this season. Let us hope that happens, because it means good things for now and in the future.