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| OPPONENTS | Southampton |
| COMPETITION | Premier League |
| DATE | Sunday 22nd December 2013 |
| VENUE | St. Mary's |
| PREVIEW
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With Spurs having a new man in charge and Southampton hitting a bit
of a wobble after their fine start to the season, it is not perhaps
the ingredients for the making of a great game. There is a
need for Spurs to get back on track by getting points again after a
couple of losses - one in the league and one in the League Cup,
while the home team will be trying to get back among the upper
reaches of the table with a home win. Manager Mauricio Pochettino was a virtual unknown when he arrived in the place of the popular Nigel Pearson, but it appears that the Southampton board had done their homework (please take note Mr. Levy) and he has stepped the Saints up to a new level. Utilising the squad that was there last season with the additions of striker Dani Osvaldo and Lyon defender Dejan Lovren, along with the Celtic midfielder Victor Wanyama, the team have played an open passing game, which may suit Tottenham. With the likes of Adam Lallana and Jay Rodriguez being drafted into the England squad, the youth development element of the Southampton team is as strong as ever and Luke Shaw at left back will be the next off the production line. Ricky Lambert was bought in, but his form up front for Southampton has been good enough to take him into the national team, where he has continued his scoring. In goal, they have eccentric Pole Artur Boruc side-lined with injury, as, because we saw at Highbury, can try too hard to be clever with his feet. Replacement Paulo Gazzaniga was formerly with Gillingham, with little experience in top flight football, but he has been able to show a bit of form in the games he has played since Boruc has been out. The defence includes the above-mentioned Lovren, who we had little trouble with when we played Lyon in the Europa League last season. Also, there are Jose Fonte, who was previously let go by Crystal Palace and Nathaniel Clyne, who followed the same route, but is one for the future, with youth on his side and a degree of attacking talent in his boots. Danny Fox is still there, but he has a rush of blood too often to shift Clyne from the right back position at the moment. Steven Davis is the hard worker in midfield, but Lallana tracks back and gets forward as well. Jack Cork is like Lallana light, with experience, but not as much presence in the midfield, while Morgan Schneiderlin is also mobile with an ability to pop up in scoring positions. Saints have been missing out on the Uruguayan Gaston Ramirez, who has been injured for a lot of the time since he was signed, but he is a dead ball expert and someone who can pull the strings from an attacking midfield role. James Ward-Prowse is a pacy wide midfielder, who is another youth product who is being tipped for the top. Whether that is with Southampton remains to be seen. With Lambert and Osvaldo taking the goal-scoring credits, ex-Spur Lee Barnard has had to go out on loan to get some football and Jay Rodriguez is often deployed as a winger, but with a licence to roam inside and along the line to probe ways through on goal. Osvaldo is a big strong boy, but has skill in both feet and can score from the smallest of gaps. Good in the air, we will need Michael Dawson back to provide some aerial power, but the Argentinian needs to be watched when the ball is on the floor too. Rodriguez is tricky on the bal and can take a goal well, so Spurs will need to close him down sharply when he is given the ball. Southampton have injury problems, with Boruc, Wanyama, Do Prado and Kelvin Davis out and Nathaniel Clyne facing a late fitness test, but their side is more settled than Tottenham and with home advantage and Spurs still missing some players, I think that Southampton will take the points, leaving Spurs to pick themselves up for the pre-and post-Christmas games at home against Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion, which they must get something out of. |
| PREDICTION | Southampton 1 Tottenham Hotspur 0 |
| Click here for more info on opponents - stats v thfc , an alternative history, etc. | |
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TOTTENHAM
HOTSPUR TEAM NEWS : Tottenham are still missing Jan Vertonghen (ankle), Younes Kaboul (thigh), Harry Kane (back), Sandro (knock), Andros Townsend (hamstring) and Paulinho (suspension). Danny Rose should be available with Christian Eriksen and Emmanuel Adebayor might be selected up front. |
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SOUTHAMPTON TEAM NEWS : Goalkeepers Artur Boruc and Kelvin Davis are definitely out for this match, along with Guy Do Prado (knee), Danny Fox (hamstring) and Victor Wanyama (shin). Nathaniel Clyne faces a late test on his hamstring to see if he can play at full back. |
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