Tottenham V QPR

No one can disguise the fact that no one really knows what is going to happen in the Premier League.  Last weekend we had some very strange results and then today Arsenal scored five past Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Spurs face QPR next, a team that have mixed fortunes this season, I was lucky enough to watch them against Chelsea last weekend and if Chelsea had 11 players on the pitch, it would have never stayed that way.  In fairness it should have been at least 1-1, you have to question how Anelka could not put the ball anywhere else, except straight at the keeper from 6 yards out.

Spurs get the opportunity to welcome back Adel Taarabt back to the lane.  Not exactly sparked the Premier League to life since his entrance back, shows that honestly QPR should have cashed in on him on the summer as really he is just a Championship player.  Adel looked miffed last week at being substituted and dumb founded at why he wasn't allowed to take the penalty against Chelsea.  Not exactly a team player.

A player that looked half decent last week was Wright-Phillips, a player who I think that Spurs should have taken a punt on.  Wright-Phillips always gives 110% for any club he plays for and just wants to play football, a wise investment by QPR.  Not sure he will really trouble Ekotto and he could find himself tracking back and trying to double up on Bale tomorrow.

I no way think that tomorrow will be a walk over by any means, but if Tottenham show up like they did against Liverpool you can expect a minimum of 3 goals from Spurs.  London derby's are always a hard one to call, Spurs need to show QPR some respect and get at them early, an early goal from Spurs will dictate the direction of the game. 

Spurs have Gallas and Pienaar back in contention for the squad.  Pienaar has never really showed the form that he had for Everton and has spent more time in the treatment room than on the pitch.  Gallas was an absolute rock last season and will be a welcome addition back to the squad, I think that Kaboul has showed that he can step up but needs Gallas, King or Dawson just to give him a bit more confidence.

I expect the team to be Friedal, Walker, Kaboul, Bassong, Ekotto, Bale, Modric, Parker, Lennon, VDV & Adebayor. 

Adebayor will be looking to get back amongst the goals this weekend, Lennon will be looking to make the right hand side his own again as this is the position that is up for the most debate, can VDV play there with Defoe up front, does Modric play wide and Sandro and Parker play in the middle.  A question that can only be answered by the form of players and the Manager himself.  VDV is in fine form and will be looking to add to his tally.

My prediction for tomorrow is 3-0 to Spurs of course.

COYS

The Best League In The World

What a weekend of football.  We had the Manchester upset, Chelsea seeing red, Newcastle grinding a win out and Norwich stealing a draw at Anfield.

This is what makes the Premier League the most exciting in the world.  Starting with the games on Saturday, I would have had Bolton, Wolves, Newcastle, Aston Villa and Liverpool all to win. 

Only Newcastle delivered, Newcastle showed that they are ready to fight for a top half finish and maybe more.  Defensively they look solid, they have steal and creativity in the middle of the park and forwards that are not afraid to get in the mix.  Not a great performance at home but they picked up the 3 points and still are unbeaten in the league.

West Brom beat Aston Villa, this really should have been a Villa win.  On paper the Villa team has the attacking talent and have bolstered the defence in the transfer window.  Some will argue that the sending off changed the game but ultimately West Brom looked the better team and deserved the win.

Wolves, well what can I say about Wolves?  I expected a bit more from Mick's team, I would have had this as a home win, but Wolves have done this all season at home.  Started poorly and then get back into the game or not quite in some cases.  Swansea have showed they are ready to fight to stay in the league and not here to make up the numbers.  When they get into the lead, they now need to learn how to grind out the result.

Bolton and Sunderland, two teams not having the best of times and not a great game by all accounts but why can't Bolton win at home?  Last year Coyle had a team that looked the business and always looked a difficult team to beat and the Reebok Stadium was a fortress.  This year I thought that Coyle had bought wisely and would be pushing for more than a mid table finish.  I really can't work out what the issues are at Bolton!  Sunderland got the 3pts and fair play to Bruce, everyone knocks him down but then he gets back up again.

Liverpool and Norwich, surely a Liverpool win is the only result, nope Norwich steal a point and then could have stolen all 3 and then could have left with none if it was not for Ruddy.  Liverpool have showed class at times this season and probably deserved more against United last weekend.    But then on the face of the millions that they have spent, they are quite ordinary and have a lot to learn still, if they are to finish teams off like Norwich. 

Bring on Super Sunday.  The Manchester derby, a London Derby, two North London clubs still wanting to show they can still mix it with the big boys and Fulham trying to show they can perform after Europe.

Wow what a day.  Manchester City blew away Manchester United, you don't score SIX at Old Trafford that's surly not allowed?  City showed they want to win the league and although they are stuttering in Europe, I think the main aim for Mancini is the league.  He wants to turn the tide in Manchester.  I don't think it would have been six if eleven United players had been on the pitch. But that's football and the United youngsters need to learn.

Arsenal and Spurs both achieved good results that keeps them in the mix.  Everton overcome a Fulham side who will be expecting more from their team.  Is Europe a drain on them, the teams that can rotate the squad seem to be managing this a lot better.

Then the last game of the day had everything that epitomises the Premier League.  It had a goal, sendings off but most of all it had PASSION.  A QPR team that was playing to get a result and not to be turned over.  They were going to get into Chelsea's face and wind them up and it worked a treat.  The goal was soft, but they will take it, Helguson you could argued fouled Luiz before Luiz fouled him in the area but I thought it was still soft.  The 1st sending off was really soft and I think both players were pulling and grappling with each other but Drogba has not got a leg to stand on.  QPR showed grit to come through and deserved the win, Chelsea need to learn not to throw the toys out the pram when someone gets in your face.  I think the new Chelsea boss will have had a wake up call as anyone can beat anyone in this league. 

This weekend was a great advert for the Premier League and showed that we love our Football more than anyone else in the world.  If only this could be transferred into the National Team.

Great result for my team this weekend, Spurs held onto 5th and have a game in hand.   Bring on QPR and another London derby.  Just bring on another Premier League weekend.

COYS

Newcastle V Tottenham Preview

Internationals are out the way and the Premier League starts back up again this weekend.  About time too, the England team do what they always do, get themselves in a good position and then throw it all a way.  Ok, ok yes we have qualified for the European Championships but at a price.  Capello got nervous took off Bent and threw Rooney up front by himself, where he was going to get no service.  Bring on the inevitable and all of a sudden we are already on the back foot next year.  Well lets worry about that at the end of the season.

Newcastle V Tottenham

Tottenham's next game of the season is Newcastle United away, a team that are 4th in the league and have shown the credentials so far of being in the mix at the end of the season.  There record this season is 4 wins and 3 draws.  Wins against Sunderland and Wolves away, Fulham and Blackburn at home.  Draws with Arsenal, QPR and Aston Villa.  I certainly would like to think that Tottenham will be providing Newcastle with a firmer test on Sunday.

Newcastle this season have showed a lot more resilience, not conceding more than 1 goal in against any opposition in the Premier League.  Only Nottingham Forest have scored more that 1 against Newcastle this season and that was in the Cup.  Demba Ba has started to show the form that was expected after his signing from West Ham United.  Ba is a player that showed promise at West Ham and then it faded and I am sure it will be the same at Newcastle.

Tottenham will be looking to build on their recent good form.  Beating Wolves, Wigan, Liverpool and Arsenal.  Only losses have come against the Manchester clubs.  Concern for the weekend is if Adebayor is going to be fit, a player that has showed why Tottenham were so adamant to get him this season.  He shows a class that was missed at Tottenham last season and makes a big difference when he is in the side.  The trouble may well be how we shape up against Newcastle of Adebayor isn't fit.  Do we go with Modric out on the right with Sandro (If fit) and Parker in the middle or Pav up front with Defoe and VDV out wide on the right.  VDV showed his biggest weakness in the last game against Arsenal and this his ability to defend.  We need to be able to ensure that we can defend and break at the weekend.  Maybe it's an option for Livermore or Townsend to play, Bale could play on the right with Townsend on the Left or Livermore in the middle with Parker and Modric on the right?  I hope that Adebayor is fit because it will make Harry's choices easy for the weekend.

Tottenham have not had the best of time at St James Park, we were lucky to get a draw at St James Park last season with Lennon scoring at the death.  Before that we lost 4 in a row at their place. 

I think this will be an interesting game and much will depend on the Tottenham team that plays.  History sees this as a win for Newcastle or a draw.  I on the other hand think that Spurs will win by the odd goal.

Team Prediction:

Friedal, Ekotto, Kaboul, King, Walker, Bale, Parker, Sandro, Modric, VDV, Adebayor

Score Prediction: Newcastle 2-3 Tottenham

COYS

The Spurs go marching on!

Here we go into October, Harry Redknapp Barclays Manager of the month for September, Tottenham now sitting in 6th Place and the Gooners are15th in the league.   That's enough to keep a smile on a true Spurs fan for the next 2 weeks.

Let's rewind a back to the beginning of the season.  Spurs where deemed not good enough by the pundits to make the Champions League and Arsenal were still considered to be potential title contenders?  I am not sitting here now after 7 games and thinking that's it job done, bring on Barcelona next season.  I am just taking the opportunity to say, don't doubt what Harry can achieve.  Harry Redknapp as used his knowledge and common sense to get the club back from the brink, when Harry took over the team we were actually worse off than Arsenal are now, he was shrewd in the transfer market and just kept things simple.

At the beginning of the season it was true to say, there was a lot of uncertainty on certain players and we had an injury list that just seemed to go on.  Harry and Levy stuck to there guns on Modric and Harry persuaded Levy to take on Parker, probably the best signing so far of the current season along with Aguero.  Parker is a no nonsense player who can break up the play in the middle of the park and plays the easy ball.  His work rate is phenomenal.  At the end of the Arsenal game, it's my belief that he only came off the field as he just could not move any more, he had worked so hard on and off the ball that his body could take no more.

The game against Arsenal was a clear indication that Tottenham have turned the corner against our biggest rivals.  I don't think we played as well as we did against Liverpool or the 1st half against Wolves, but we showed grit and determination to get the result.  Arsenal had a good amount of possession as they always do, but with exception of the goal and the 1st half opportunity for Gervinho, they never really looked as potent as last year.  Van Persie could not really get involved in the game, Walcott went walkies again as he does on the big stage and although they packed the middle of the park and should of over run Tottenham, they never did.

Tottenham created more of the clear cut chances and 2-1 probably flattered Arsenal, on a better day and the Arsenal keeper not being at the top of his game that day, it could have been 4 or 5 goals.  I thought there was some chances that if we hadn't tried to place the ball in the net and just take swing at it,  the Arsenal keeper probably would not have stood a chance.  Spurs at the back were organised and played really well, we were not looking to play offside trap as Spurs are well aware that it only takes one time to get the line wrong and Arsenal would probably have finished that opportunity.  Modric and Parker were consistent in the middle and Bale caused problems as he has done this season, I am sure that there are cars that would love to have a gear like Bales, he makes it look as if players are not even trying to run as he paces past them.  VDV showed his creativity and his goal scoring ability and that he can't really track back after 60 minutes.  But he was bought in to create and score and is already proving to be a legend.  Then the front two in Adebayor and Defoe showed why they have to be paired together, Defoe has shown this season that he is willing to work off the ball and Adebayor created the goal for VDV and had his chances to finish the Gunners.  My prediction is that will come at the Emirates now.

A special mention has to go to Kyle Walker, what is it with young Spurs players scoring at the lane against Arsenal?  It's becoming a habit.  Kyle worked his socks off and had only one thing in his mind when he took the shot on, hit it as hard as I can and get on target.  A lot more footballers should take a leaf out of his book.  A young player with a bright future as with a lot of other players at the lane, Rose, Livermore, Townsend and the list goes on.  If you look at the photo with Walker celebrating with Modric it looks as though the Lino might have had a different bet or was a Gooner?

The big test comes after the internationals, Parker and Walker to get us over the line for England and then comes Newcastle away from home.  If anyone had said at the beginning of the season that Newcastle would be fourth in the league and unbeaten I would have probably laughed.

Bring on Newcastle and lets carry the Spurs marching on.

COYS