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Barclays Premiership - Match 23 |
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Season 2006-2007 |
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TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR |
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NEWCASTLE UNITED |
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Date: |
Monday 16th January 2007 |
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Venue: |
White Hart Lane |
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Kick Off: |
3am (AEST) |
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Australian
Live TV:
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Foxsports 2 |
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Internet Live TV Coverage:
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Check
http://www.football4less.com |
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Weather Forecast: |
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10c |
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Squad: |
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Given, Harper
Solano, Edgar, Taylor, Huntington, Gate
Parker, Butt, Emre, Milner, Pattison, Dyer
Troisi, Martins, Sibierski, Luque, Carroll, LuaLua |
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Team News: |
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Brought to you in
association with |
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- Michael Owen (knee), as we know, is out till next year with the injury
he picked up at the World Cup.
- Shola Ameobi (hip), is out for the season after his hip operations.
- Craig Moore (hamstring), still has no return date.
- Olivier Bernard (hip), is out for the season.
- Stephen Carr (bruised toe), still has no return date.
- Charles N'Zogbia (knee), hopes to be back in early Febuary.
- Peter Ramage (hamstring), is out for another 4 weeks.
- Titus Bramble (calf), still is ready to return.
- Celestine Babayaro (hamstring), is still out.
- Stephen Harper (hernia), is still out.
- Damien Duff (knee), is still out.
- Antoine Sibierski (virus), should
be fine but will have a late fitness.
- Nicky Butt (virus), is less than 100% and will have a late fitness. |
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My thoughts: |
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The first match preview of the new year
seems as good time as any, to have a look back at the season so far and
to see where we are now.
The Season So Far
14th in the league with 26 points and a dozen injuries, sounds very
familiar to last season doesn't it? Well it is but there are a lot
differences from last season. Roeder hasn't hidden behind the excuse of
injuries with the press like Souness did, he is happy to give the young
kids a chance instead of rushing someone back from injury, the team
spirit has returned to the club, won the Intertoto Cup and we have the
warm fuzzy glow of being in the UEFA Cup this season.
We've used 4 goalkeepers, which is a rare event in the last 5-10 years.
Given has been Given, playing well and happy to play through the pain
barrier. Harper did a decent job as backup keeper but we were all happy
when Given was back. Young Krul had a dream debut away in Italy in the
UEFA Cup and he certainly looks one for the future. And for the
sentimentalists among you, it was great to see Pavel Srnicek make his
150th game for the Toon, you can never have too many Geordies at the
club.
The defence has been the defence, conceding more goals than we score,
poor marking, lacks of concentration and no communication. However, that
has eased somewhat since Carr, Moore, Bramble and Babayaro got injured.
The young centre half partnership of Taylor & Ramage looked decent
enough and then Taylor & Huntington also. Yes these kids have made
mistakes but they are raw and doing a great job under the circumstances.
Solano has been a revelation at right back and has added some much
needed experience, so lets hope we never see Carr at right back again.
Edgar did well against ManUre's wingers at left back, considering he's
right footed and it was only his 2nd senior game. If we sign a couple of
decent defenders to complement the kids, then things might look up next
season.
This season we've finally seen the real Nicky Butt wear a black & white
shirt. He's been fantastic and has looked good alongside either Parker
or Emre. The return of Kieron Dyer is like a new signing and he's
scoring goals this time, which has helped us upfront no end. He still
owes us another 2 seasons injury free before he's fully repays our faith
but so far so bl**dy good Kieron, keep it up son. Milner has established
himself as a good winger for the club and the early talk of him leaving
looks silly now. Scotty Parker has had another solid season. Emre has
improved after a dodgy early start and now seems to play well away from
home these days. Duff has been disappointing but hopefully he'll come
back better after his injury.
As expected after losing Alan Shearer the void upfront was massive.
Apparently we have a player called Michael Owen and we might see him
next season. Shola Ameobi tried his best early to get the goals and 5
goals looked ok but the worst kept secret in football struck and he was
out for the season after a hip operation. Early on it looked worrying
that Obafemi Martins didn't seem like a £10m player and fit to the wear
the number 9 shirt. Thankfully after he returned from injury he seemed
to have settled in and starting to score the goals we needed. What about
Antoine Sibierski? At the time thought by everyone as one of the worst
signings in recent history but he's surprised everyone and got us out of
a big hole with 6 very important goals. Yes he isn't the greatest
striker in the world and probs won't be around or play much part next
season. Albert Luque has got another few splinters in his bum, warming
the bench and his cravings for paella are growing stronger by the day.
Where We Are Now
Spurs away hasn't been a happy hunting ground recently, with 3
defeats and no goals in the last 3 years. Our Premiership record is 4
wins, 1 draw and 8 defeats. We've lost our last 3 Premiership away game
and we need to get back to form we showed at Blackburn away, if we want
to start that push for a top 10 or top 8 finish. We did it last season
and confident we can push up the league again this season.
Scott Parker is back from suspension which is good news and if Nicky
Butt recovers from a virus, you'd expect them two to start in the middle
of midfield. Martins and Dyer away from home will be very vital, as
their pace will need to be used to catch Spurs on the break. Roeder will
do a head count on the rest of the squad to see who is fit to play.
This games is live on Foxsports 2 which is great news for us boys down
under. It's a 3am kick off on Monday morning and because Monday is my
first day back at work (whatever work is!!), I think I will be taping it
on Foxtel IQ and getting up at 6am to watch it before work. So I won't
be in the chat room lads and don't bother to txt me Dave as I'll be
keeping my phone off until I've watched the match. |
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HOWAY THE LADS!!!
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Did you know?
- Tottenham Hotspur fans think that their club is big,
it's amazing what being brought up in London can do to people. |
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