Tottenham v Newcastle – Match preview.
Posted on December 28th, 2010 | 34 Comments |
Of course, it is the same for most clubs at this time of the year as the demanding festive fixture list kicks in, so in that regard we are all in the same boat.
Newcastle have had a habit of being Tottenham’s bogey team over the past few years, so that should give us hope as we head to White Hart Lane this afternoon. Another beacon of hope should our record in London this season. Usually we don’t get much joy from visits to the capital, but this season we are currently unbeaten after victories at West Ham and Arsenal in the league aswell as a victory against Chelsea in the Carling Cup.
Newcastle will be without Kevin Nolan this afternoon as he sits out the game after picking up his fifth booking of the season during the defeat to Manchester City. Andy Carroll is a slight doubt for the match but is expected to play despite picking up a slight ankle knock towards the end of that match against City.
Tim Krul, according to Alan Pardew, looks set to keep his place between the sticks despite the error he made that allowed Gareth Barry to score the opening goal on Sunday, Shola Ameobi is touch and go whilst Hatem Ben Arfa, Dan Gosling and Ryan Taylor all still battle their long-term injuries.
Using all of that information, I would like us to line up with a team today consisting of:
Newcastle: Tim Krul, Danny Simpson, Steven Taylor, Fabricio Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Wayne Routledge, Cheik Tiote, Joey Barton, Jonas Gutierrez, Nile Ranger, Andy Carroll.
Jermaine Defoe will be missing for Tottenham today after being sent off in their last match against Aston Villa. Roman Pavlyuchenko or Peter Crouch are expected to deputise. Meanwhile, Luka Modric is expected to play despite showing signs of fatigue against Villa.
Tottenham won their last match against Aston Villa 2-1 where they played with a team of:
Tottenham: Huerelho Gomes, Alan Hutton, Younes Kaboul, Michael Dawson, Benoit Assou-Ekotto, Aaron Lennon, Wilson Palacios, Luka Modric, Gareth Bale, Rafael Van der Vaart, Defoe.
Tottenham have only lost once at White Hart Lane all season, but they have conceded goals in all but one game so far this season – both of those events came way back in August.
Tottenham’s 1-0 win against Newcastle at White Hart Lane back in April 2009 ended a run of six consecutive league victories for Newcastle in this fixture. Newcastle scored a total of 18 goals in that six-game run.
It’s been five games since Tottenham managed to beat a newly promoted side. The last time they managed that feat was back in September 2009 when they beat Burnley 5-0.
Andy Carroll is the top English goalscorer in the Premier League with 11 goals so far this season. Of those 11, five of them have been headers, and all of those headers have come from Joey Barton crosses.
This is a tough fixture and Tottenham are now a very different proposition to what they once were. It will be a tough game and it will be vitally important that we cut out the defensive mistakes, the kind that cost us so dearly against Manchester City a couple of days ago.
I think we will suffer a defeat this afternoon against a Tottenham side that is full of pace and inventiveness. As much as it pains me to say it, but Tottenham are a very good side and play some cracking football at the minute.
My prediction: Tottenham 3-0 Newcastle.
Howay the lads!
Date: Tuesday, 28th December, 2010.
Time: 3:00pm.
Venue: White Hart Lane, North London.
thats a terrible prediction!