Tottenham Hotspur V Wigan Athletic 10/11

[1990Hotspur]

WE ARE THERE!!! Back with the elite!!! Back at the highest level!!! Back where we deserve to be......
Bring on Barca. Bring on Milan. Bring on Munich. The mighty Cockerel is crying out once more across Europe and my good does it feel good!!!!!




So back to Premier League action again this Saturday. A funny quirk delivered by the fixture computer, sees us in the next four League fixtures play all the teams beginning with the letter “W”; first up Wigan.
Last year, I think its safe to say, that this fixture provided us with a bit of a memorable experience. I know, I know, you're all there scratching you're heads wondering what he's on about. I can hear you all saying it now, “Wigan......at home........last year?” Well, I'll try and refresh your memories.......................................... ................9-1!!


Yes my friends, it was an unadulterated goal extravaganza. We ran riot against the Latics, especially in the second half, and finally showed that ruthless streak in our performance that had been missing against many a lower-end-of-the-table team.
We embarrassed them so much that the Wigan players offered to repay their travelling supporters for the tickets that they brought......
I bet they wished they kept their mouths shut now, as since then they have lot 8-0 away on the last day of the season last year at Chelsea, and have continued in a similar fashion in this campaign by first losing 4-0 to relegation favourites Blackpool at home, and then getting a 6-0 walloping at the DW Stadium, to a familiar face in the shape of Chelsea.


After that atrocious start, I bet the last place they would want to come is White Hart Lane, where the memory of the 9-1 win is still pretty fresh in the mind. However, as loyal Spurs followers I know you know that we have been in this situation many a time before. Going into a match as firm favourites, only to come out of it with egg on our face. After getting 4 points from our two toughest opening fixtures, Harry will see the next 4 games as a good opportunity to gain build on our current standing and push the top teams early on., so it is important that we are professional and do not think that these games are a guaranteed 3 points....


We should be near full strength for this one, with only really the long termers missing. Modric will probably be 50-50, but Defoe may miss out if the decision is that he needs to undergo the surgery on his groin injury.
Harry may ring a few changes to allow some of our regulars a bit of a rest and could hand a debut to our new signing Gallas.




Predicted Line-ups:
Tottenham Hotspur: (4-4-2) Gomes; Corluka, Dawson, Gallas, Assou-Ekotto; Lennon, Huddlestone, Palacios, Bale; Pavlyuchenko, Crouch.


Wigan Athletic: (4-3-3) Kirkland; Stam, Alcaraz, Caldwell, Figueroa; Diame, McCarthy, Thomas; Nzogbia, Boselli, Rodellega.






Predicted Score:
3-0

[woody]

we have to win this game, if blackpool can beat these jokers 4-0 on there own patch we have to beat them at the lane, last season we dropped points at home against stoke, wolves and hull, two of those sides were actually half decent and one had a possessed keeper, wigan are just sh1t, they have conceded 10 goals in 2 games without scoring, both at HOME ffs!! if we can't beat these boys on saturday the whole team needs a bout of counselling, a top 4 team does not drop points at home to the worst side in the league, full stop, and this is the last game wigan will want after those two thrashings, spurs away where they lost infamously 9-1 last season, so they'll have that in the back of their minds

team:

cudicini, corluka, dawson (c), gallas, assou-ekotto, lennon, huddlestone, kranjcar, bale, pavlyuchenko, crouch

subs:

pletikosa (if signed in time), bassong, hutton, palacios, giovani, jenas, keane

with gomes out for a month cudicini comes in with pletikosa as cover if signed in time, gallas to make his debut (i'm sure harry will put him straight into the team) in place of rested ledley, palacios drops to the bench for kranjcar simply because kranjcar tore wigan apart last season and we need a bit of flair which we lacked at times last night, pav in for defoe who's hurt

and no i'm not resting any players, if it aint broke don't fix it, if a player is in form you play him every game, simple as that, and that goes for bale, crouch and huddlestone at the minute

prediction:

8-0 (and i'm not joking!)

[Robbie_B]

I wouldn't mind seeing dos santos playing as a 2nd striker off crouchy.
By the way i think Hutton has a long term injury and wont make the bench

[Tottenham-ManU]

i'de replace Crouch with GDS give crouch some time 2 relax :P:P and giv Gio ago if it doesnt work get crouchy on the act

[BrumSpur]

Well, I might be a bit biased here, but like Woody, I think Niko deserves a start against Wigan. It's a squad game now and, if Harry wants to keep everyone hungry and up for the fight, he has to give them regular reminders that they've got to earn their Spurs!

If the likes of Niko, Gio, JJ, Pav and the other bench warmers come into the team tomorrow and do well, it puts pressure on the usual starters to up their game even more, in order to keep their places in the starting eleven. Which, to me, is no bad thing. Keeps them all on their toes.

Conversely, leaving the same people on the bench every week won't be good for their morale. If they think that they can't get in the team, even against the poorer Premiership teams, they might lose their desire and their fighting spirit.

Just a thought!

[gazza]

niko will play he is a very graceful player

[THFCWill]

Lads and ladies, i'll pocket myself £100 if we beat Wigan and Bale scores first! WISH ME LUCK !!!

My prediction: 5-0

I hope Niko starts, along with GDS but i don't think Gallas will. He's struggling with a knee injury i think, according to the spurs website.

COME ON YOU SPURS!

[Kid Chameleon]

Tottenham Hotspur: (4-4-2) Gomes; Corluka, Dawson, Gallas, Assou-Ekotto; Lennon, Huddlestone, Palacios, Bale; Pavlyuchenko, Crouch.

The news reports say that Gallas won't make his debut tomorrow because he lacks match fitness; it's likely to be either Bassong or Kaboul alongside Dawson in central defence.

[ctw01]

I agree somewhat , if we are to have this big squad for the extra games, then we need to use it accordingly, players get stale on the bench and lose morale, so Niko, Bassong and even Kaboul need match practice. I reckon Crouch could do with a rest after two hard games in 4 days with that body , his bones must be aching
The important thing is to win the game tomorrow, never mind by how many.

[Kid Chameleon]

I agree somewhat , if we are to have this big squad for the extra games, then we need to use it accordingly, players get stale on the bench and lose morale, so Niko, Bassong and even Kaboul need match practice. I reckon Crouch could do with a rest after two hard games in 4 days with that body , his bones must be aching
The important thing is to win the game tomorrow, never mind by how many.

We could even rest Huddlestone and give Jenas another start.

[Jailbreak1]

Hi all,
Sorry if this is the wrong place to ask but is there any word of a Stream or Sopcast of the match? Searched most channel guides and can't seem to find it anywhere on TV (Again).
Thanks.

[THFCWill]

Hi all,
Sorry if this is the wrong place to ask but is there any word of a Stream or Sopcast of the match? Searched most channel guides and can't seem to find it anywhere on TV (Again).
Thanks.

http://www.myp2p.eu/broadcast.php?matchid=83726∂=sports

Check that tomorrow, links start to appear at 12:00.

[Siberian Dreamer]

Yeah, I hope Niko starts today as he's due a go and was vital last season.

[424style]

Yeah, I hope Niko starts today as he's due a go and was vital last season.

Still cant believe Kranjcar didnt cost us much, I wonder what happened behind the scenes on that transfer, IMO he is worth more like £10m.

[Robbie_B]

I reckon Crouch could do with a rest after two hard games in 4 days with that body , his bones must be aching

I'm sure he will get a nice rub down:P