Our third match in Group D sees us travel to Germany to take on Europa League holders Eintracht Frankfurt. This is an insight into our opponents for those unfamiliar with them; the preview and discussion thread for tomorrow’s match will be published in due course. With that, let’s have a look at the Germans…
Colloquially known as “The Eagles”, Eintracht Frankfurt’s tense Europa League final victory over Rangers on penalties saw them clinch their second Europa League (or UEFA Cup, as it used to be known) title, and secure their first outing in the European big time since the 1959/60 European Cup. Indeed, this is their first time in the elite European League since the tournament’s name has changed to the “Champions League”.
Similarly to West Ham, The Eagles genuinely put all their eggs into the European basket as soon as it became apparent that they had a chance of winning the Europa League – they ended up finishing 11th in the Bundesliga, and
Since then, their overall form this season can be fairly described as ‘inconsistently consistent’. A startling 4-0 win at home to RB Leipzig was followed by succesive home defeats: a tame 1-0 loss to Wolfsburg, and a 3-0 defeat to Sporting CP in their opening Champions League match.
Since then, however, Eintracht have won three matches on the bounce – successive away victories at Marseille in the Champions League (0-1) and a 3-1 triumph over VFB Stuggart, and a 2-0 defeat of surprise Bundesliga leaders Union Berlin. This recent form has seen them rise to 6th in the Bundesliga, 3 points off the top, despite the loss of key player left-wing back Filip Kostic to Juventus.
Indeed, Kostic recorded the most assists in the Europa League and swung in more crosses from open play than anyone else in the Bundesliga last season, although his departure has been somewhat mitigated by the arrival of ex-Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund midfielder Mario Gotze, who has scored twice in 12 appearances thus far for the Eagles this season. However, he is ruled out of tomorrow’s match with an ankle injury.
Notwithstanding that, Eintracht Frankfurt will not be devoid of flair going into tomorrow’s game, being able to call on the services of playmakers Jesper Lindstrom and Daichi Kamada, who will have been likely to have caught the eyes of many English football fans, as will have German international goalkeeper Kevin Trapp and colossal young centre-back Evan N’Dicka.
A dangerous outfit that are well-versed in playing a back three under Austrian coach Oliver Glasner, they will present stern opposition for Spurs come Tuesday night. Any lapse in standards – as has been seen in our last two away trips – will be duly punished.
Five away games played this season. Five desperately poor performances in which we could have lost all of them – we certainly deserved to. Will anything change tomorrow – of course it won’t. Emerson Royal will still start at right back. We will play the same two players in central midfield, we will willingly concede possession and we will be relying on Frankfurt missing their chances and on Spurs creating something from the scraps we will get.
There will not be a hint of a change in the system, none of the young players will be given a chance and the previously injured players (bow fit) will not be given a chance due to their lack of match fitness. Where will it end – when Holjberg, Dier, Kane, Son, Bentancour etc have inevitably run themselves into the ground and Conte will be forced to make a change. I suspect it will all be too late by then though, we will be out of the Champions League and slipping slowly down the premier league table whilst being bored rigid by the negative cowardly football.
Are the players even happy playing like this
A note on wishing ill of Emerson Royal, which I have heard now and then.
He’s playing and he’s playing for us, so I wish him all the best. May tomorrow be the breakthrough match for Emerson Royal in which he fulfills his dreams and our dreams for him.
So I predict the breakthrough match of his career as he feels the support of the supporters. That’s right: the support of the supporters for Emerson Royal, aka known and Royal Jellie, straight from the Queen Bee.
Of course, I mean here by “predict” to “hope for.” lol.
And I call on all supporters to support the man while he’s starting for our club.
To Emerson Royal: Have an outstanding match on the morrow. It’s the match to settle in to your new position: right wing back.