Doncaster Rovers V Tottenham Hotspur (Carling Cup)

[1990Hotspur]

Our first involvement in cup competition this season sees us compete against Championship outfit Doncaster Rovers in the 2nd round of the Carling Cup at the Keepmoat stadium.

After the second weekend of the premier league campaign, we find ourselves sitting at the top of the pack after making our best start to a league campaign since 1961, in which we completed a famous double.

Our latest triumph was a tough away derby at Upton Park against West Ham. Having beaten Liverpool and Hull City so far there was a huge optimisum going into this match.It was a fast paced game where both teams where finely balanced even though we were playing well within ourselves. We started sloppily in the second half and saw us a goal down after Carlton Cole smash in a vicious strike to cap an impressive display by the England striker. However, 5 minutes later all his good work was to be undone after a lapse in concentration saw him play a poor back pass in between his two centre halves to Jermaine Defoe, who continued to show his great form in front of goal, with a clinical strike. The game went back to a stalemate, but with us looking more threatening in the final third. Aaron Lennon had been a thorn in Johnathan Spector's side all game with his pace and sharp turns, and when the Hammers full back took a heavy touch our player of the season last year pounced a finished neatly in the bottom corner with his weaker foot. Overall we deserved to win in the end, winning all the statistics, but West Ham made it very difficult for us to continue our 100% record.

Our opponents on Wednesday night are facing two table toping teams in the space of the week, facing us in the Carling Cup and then at the weekend face Championship leaders Cardiff City. Its been a tough start to the season for "Donnie" Rovers having lost 2 and drawn 2 out of their first 4 games. Their only win so far this season has come away at Notts County in their first round match of the competition.

Last season, we reached a consecuative Carling Cup final at Wembley having beaten Chelsea in 2008. Unforunately we could not replicate the result and after a very impressive performance and lost to league champions Man United on penalties.

Many feel 'Arry will ring the changes for this match, giving the lads that have not started yet a run out. The most notable inclusion would be Roman Pavyluchenko as our Russian starter has only played 2 minutes so far this season after pledging his alligance to the club by saying he is ready to prove himself in the premier league and fight for his place in the team. O'hara, Naughton, Rose, Crouch, Bentley, Hutton, Dos Santos, Chimbonda, Dervitte all haven't had a big part to play in our season so far and many expect some, if not all to feature against the Championship outfit, with first teamers like Bale, Jenas, Woodgate and Dawson either out or doubtful. Another player who has not featured for us this season is Kevin-Prince Boateng who career with us looked over at the beginning of the summer after going on loan to Brussia Dortmund last season. However, the young German born midfielder seems to have turned this around, as talk coming out of the club states that 'Arry is very happy with the center midfielder. Could he feature in our opening cup game?

'Arry Redknapp will see this as another very important game, even though it is one that we should be winning, as he will want us to continue our winning streak to bread confidence for the rest of the season......

Possible line-ups:
Doncaster Rovers: Sullivan, Chambers, Shackell, Lockwood, Roberts, Coppinger, Stock, Oster, Wilson, Sheils, Hayter

Tottenham Hotspur: Cudicini, Hutton, Chimbonda, Dervitte, O'hara, Dos Santos, Bentley, Boateng, Rose, Pavyluchenko, Crouch

Predicted score line:
0-3

[P UNIT 1980]

Youth team please....................

Save all our boys for the Chav game.

[Justice]

Youth team please....................

Save all our boys for the Chav game.

We have Birmingham before the Chav game mate.

[P UNIT 1980]

Our youth should be able to sort that bunch out too!!!

[Justice]

Our youth should be able to sort that bunch out too!!!

I bloody hope so ha ha.

[DarlingtonYid]

whos going to doncaster and waht pubs you going in ?

[Croatia_Gracac]

Will ther be a stream for the game?

[Havocc]

^

Not sure, highlights are on BBC 1 @ 11:15

Manure v Palace is televised

[williegoat]

Will be good to see the two big men up front

[1990Hotspur]

As many have guessed, 'Arry has confirmed that there will be whole sale changes for the game at Doncaster Rovers. Quotes are taken from the Daily Mail.

Speaking ahead of Wednesday's Carling Cup second round match at Doncaster, Redknapp said he could make up to nine changes to the side that beat West Ham 2-1 on Sunday.

New signing Peter Crouch, Roman Pavlychecnko, Jamie O'Hara, Alan Hutton and David Bentley are some of the players likely to start against the Championship team.

The Spurs boss said: 'I respect Doncaster. Shaun O'Driscoll's done a great job, but I've got players I need to play. They need to play. And some of the others need a rest.'

'The other players are all top players - it's up to them to come and do the job. I will make lots of changes but it will still be a very, very strong team.'

In the interview he also was questioned on possible transfer targets such as J.Cole, James and the sale of our little magician Modric. The answer to all of which, was a resounding no.

'We're not looking desperately for anything, really. We're pretty much OK. If someone came along we felt would change the team a bit and improve us then we might be interested but I haven't got anyone on the horizon who we're close to doing at all.'

Finally, Redknapp has urged fans not to get too over confident about our 100% start, but has reiterated that qualifying for the Champions League is the target for the season.

'You've got to be optimistic. There's no reason we can't do it. We don't fear anybody, we can play against anybody.

'We've had a great start and we've got to keep believing we can push on and try and get into that top four. That's the aim. It's going to be tough, but it's certainly something that's not impossible.'

[steelktm]

i hope that Pav does well in this game, i would like to see him in more of a role at Tottenham although one has to state why change a winning thing at this time come league games. i am predicting a 4-0 win for us Yids! COYS!!!

[yidno1]

Yeah Harry is right to give the squad players a chance and people like Bently and Crouch need first team action.
Think it will be tougher than some think so i go for a narrow 2-1 or even a 3-2 win for the Spurs.
On a side note i cant beleive no TV networks wanted to show the clash of the pikies Spam v millwall, oh what fun that will be on and off the pitch.

[BigDub]

With Pav and Crouch up top we will score quite a bit in this match

[Haz Spurs]

is there keeper neil sullivan ? , and ill liek to see bostock in action and giovanni and co ,

[Haz Spurs]

and to the comment above about the line ups i think button will start in goal