Tottenham Hotspur v Stoke City – Preview

  Alex Ferguson has famously complained about the fixture congestion faced by his side recently, and Spurs boss Harry Redknapp has every right to feel just as aggrieved. In the last four days, the North London side have faced away trips first to Burnleyin the Carling Cup and then to Ferguson’s Manchester United in the FA Cup. With Spurs needing extra time to come through the Burnley tie 6-4 on aggregate, and United easing past them 2-1 yesterday, it is fair to say that the Tottenham players will not be feeling all too fresh going into the Premier League clash against Stoke on Tuesday night.

  While Tottenham have been toiling away in the cup competitions, the Potters have been enjoying a training camp in a rather more temperate clime than Lancashire in January, spending four days in Dubai. While the club insists the trip was no holiday, a few days in the sun will have certainly helped to soothe the pains of the late collapse at Chelsea a week ago.

 
Turf Moor Burnley, where Tottenham spent their Wednesday night, and the Hilton Hotel Ras Al Khaimah, where the Potters spent theirs.

  Tottenham fans may well be disappointed by the start Redknapp has made as manager of the club. He took over in October, when the club sat rock bottom of the Premier League, and that’s were they found themselves again just a week ago after losses to West Brom and Wigan. A point gained last weekend against Redknapp’sformer club Portsmouth, the goal coming from returning hero Jermain Defoe, was enough to lift them out of the relegation zone and up to sixteenth.

  All season long, Spurs have played witha clear lack of confidence that has cost them points against clubs they really should be beating. On paper, they have one of the strongest squads outside of the big four teams, but things have seldom clicked for them this season. When things do work, the football played by Spurs is fast paced and pleasing on the eye, typified by Defoe’s goal against Portsmouth, a powerful finish from a beautifully weighted lay off from Luka Modric after a succession of passes in the opposition’s half. Tony Pulis will be hoping that his side is able to neutralise this attacking threat, and exploit defensive weaknesses and in doing so pick up a double over Tottenham.

  Mamady Sidiberemains sidelined for Stoke with a knee injury while Salif Diao, who has only recently regained fitness is set to miss out again with a calf injury picked up in Dubai. Danny Higginbothamis also a doubt, after picking up a knock in the defeat at Chelsea and with strong rumours that Stoke will make a loan move for Aston Villa’s Nicky Shorey, it is unclear who will occupy the left back spot for the visitors.

Diao misses out injured once again

  Ledley King, a player even more injury prone than Diao will not play for the home side, this time a hamstring injury dogging the former England centre-back. Midfielder Jermaine Jenas, who has been linked witha move away from White Hart Lane is a doubt witha calf injury. Full back Alan Hutton will also miss out for Spurs with a foot injury, something that will no doubt cheer Stoke ‘keeper Thomas Sorensen, who suffered a serious cut to the face, which almost cost him his sight in one eye, after Hutton slid in on him late during Stoke 2-1 win in the return fixture back in August, a bizarre game which saw Gareth Bale and Michael Dawson sent off for Spurs, Stoke awarded two penalties, one missed, eleven minutes of injury time, during which Stoke hit the woodwork on four occasions and Tottenham ‘keeper Heurelho Gomes knock teammate Vedran Corluka unconscious after catching him with his knee twice in a minute.

 
The serious injuries suffered by Sorensen and Corluka that day

Key Battles:

Jermain Defore vAbdoulaye Faye
Defoe has looked lively since his big money return to White Hart Lane, scoring in back to back games against former club Portsmouth and Burnley. Faye, ever the defensive rock for Stoke, but also a surprisingly skillful ball player, will do well to keep Tottenham’s main threat quiet.

 

Wilson Palacios v Amdy Faye
Another Tottenham newboy, Palacios, who recently joined from Wigan for £14 million, may well make his Spurs debut against Stoke. The talented Honduran will face up against tough tackling midfielder Amdy Faye in a battle for supremacy in the centre of the park.

 

Jonathan Woodgate v James Beattie
Beattie, who’ll make his second appearance for Stoke makes his first appearance in the key battles feature. He’ll find himself in a muscular tussle against Woodgate on Tuesday night and will hope to put in another good performance after his fine assist for Rory Delap’s goal at Chelsea.

 

Tottenham Squad:

Goalkeepers: Heurelho Gomes (28), Ben Alnwick (22), Oscar Jansson (18)

Defenders: Michael Dawson (25), Vedran Corluka (22), Ledley King (28), Benoit Assou-Ekotto (34), Jonathan Woodgate (29), Gareth Bale (19), Alan Hutton (24), Chris Gunter (19), Gilberto (32), Ricardo Rocha (30), Dorian Dervitte(20), Adam Smith (17)

Midfielders: Didier Zokora (28), David Bentley (24), Aaron Lennon (21), Tom Huddlestone (22), Jermaine Jenas (25), Luka Modric (23), Jamie O’Hara (22), Adel Taarabt (19), John Bostock (17), Dean Parrett (17), Danny Rose (18), Yaser Kasim (17), Ryan Mason (17)

Forwards: Jermain Defoe (26), Roman Pavlyuchenko (27), Darren Bent (24), Fraizer Campbell (21), Giovani Dos Santos (19), Jonathan Obika (18)

Star Man: Jermain Defoe
26 year old forward Defoe has followed current manager Harry Redknapp throughout his career. He began his professional career under Redknapp at West Ham, and during his time with the Hammers spent a hugely successful loan period at Redknapp’s old club Bournemouth, where he scored in joint club recorded ten consecutive games. A move followed to Tottenham in 2004, before after falling down the pecking order under Juande Ramos at White Hart Lane he linked up with Redknapp again witha move to Portsmouth on transfer deadline day January 2008 for a fee of around £8 million. Following Redknapp’s move to Tottenham, Defoe rejoined the London club two weeks ago for a fee of around £16 million and has made a good start, scoring twice already. He also has 32 England caps and has scored six international goals.

Comparative Club Stats:
                                                          Tottenham                       Stoke
League Position:                                                     17th                                    19th

Goals Scored:                                                           49                                       26

Goals Conceded:                                                      44                                       42

Home Record: (W,D,L)                                             8,5,4                                   6,4,4

Away Record: (W,D,L)                                              5,3,10                                 1,3,9

Clean Sheets:                                                              8                                         6

Failed To Score:                                                          9                                         10

Disciplinary: (Y,R)                                                     50,2                                     48,3

Top Scorers:                                              Pavlyuchenko, Bent (12)               Fuller (6), Sidibe (4)

Tottenham’s White Hart Lane