Pondering Jol
Tottenham Hotspur v Derby County match preview
Pondering Jol
By The Councillor August 17 2007
So, the next instalment of the greatest drama in English football is almost upon us. After almost a week of rumours, despair, depression and ridicule, Spurs once again take to the field and try and get their season going. Following quickly on from Tuesday night's defeat at the hands of Everton is the visit of newly promoted Derby to White Hart Lane.
Pondering Jol
So, the next instalment of the greatest drama in English football is almost upon us. After almost a week of rumours, despair, depression and ridicule, Spurs once again take to the field and try and get their season going. Following quickly on from Tuesday night's defeat at the hands of Everton is the visit of newly promoted Derby to White Hart Lane.
Tottenham Hotspur vs Derby County
FA Premier League
Saturday 18th August 3 pm
White Hart Lane
So, the next instalment of the greatest drama in English football is almost upon us. After almost a week of rumours, despair, depression and ridicule, Spurs once again take to the field and try and get their season going. Following quickly on from Tuesday night's defeat at the hands of Everton is the visit of newly promoted Derby to White Hart Lane. Surely this must be the game where, what was billed as a great season in the making by many Spurs fans this time last week, can kick off and get started for real. Although a lot of the Spurs faithful are calling for not only a win but a performance to befit a team of Spurs ability and culture, I think most would be happy with three points on the board and off the foot of the table. Bearing in mind the defensive injury crisis that has hit the club this month (Younes Kaboul the latest casualty), three points and the relief that will come with it will be enough for most. Spurs have never lost the opening three games of the Premier League season and lets hope this run continues on Saturday. Couple this with the fact that Derby have never won at White Hart Lane and the pointers are that Spurs should emerge with three points.
Despite Spurs being favourite, Derby County will be no pushovers. A respectable draw with UEFA Cup hopefuls Portsmouth on the opening day followed by a narrow defeat against in form Manchester City midweek means they are currently above Spurs in the table. Young but talented Scotsman Billy Davies manages the Midlands side and it can be taken as read that he will have his team under strict instructions on how to contain Spurs front men and to go out and ensure the White Hart Lane crowd becomes restless and reacts in the way they did on Tuesday night.
EARLY TEAM NEWS:
Spurs are definately without first choice centre backs Younes Kaboul, Ledley King and Michael Dawson as well as other defenders Benoit Assou Ekotto and Gareth Bale. Lee Young Pyo should be available for the first time since April. Dimitar Berbatov also misses out with a groin injury sustained against Everton.
Tottenham (from): Robinson, Chimbonda, Stalteri, Rocha, Gardner, Jenas, Zokora, Malbranque, Routledge, Keane, Bent, Defoe, Huddlestone, Cerny, Murphy, Tainio, Lee, Ghaly, Taarabt, Boateng, Ifil, O'Hara.
Derby are only missing two of their first team squad, Claude Davis at centre half and midfielder Giles Barnes.
Derby (from): Bywater, Todd, Moore, Davis, Mears, Fagan, Oakley, Jones, Pearson, Griffin, Howard, Price, Edworthy, Leacock, McEveley, Camara, Earnshaw, Macken.
STATS:
Tottenham Hotspur:
Need to score three times to total 4,000 post war league goals.
The midweek loss to Everton ended a six-game unbeaten home league run.
Derby County:
Not won a Premier League match since defeating Bolton 1-3 at the Reebok on 16 March 2002. Drawn two and lost eight of the 10 subsequent matches at this level.
Their best points tally from the first three matches of a Premier League season is four, accrued in 2001-02, the season they went down.
After all the talk of "crisis club" Spurs this week (we've even managed to claim this title off Leeds United, such is the media hysteria!) it is up to every single one of the fans, manager, coaches, the board and most importantly the players selected tomorrow to go out there and restore some pride and pomp to our great club. Regardless of the formation, regardless of the opening exchanges, regardless of a misplaced pass or two lets all get behind our team, manager and club and roar them on to a victory. Three points is a must, a good performance would be nice.
Come on You Spurs
FA Premier League
Saturday 18th August 3 pm
White Hart Lane
So, the next instalment of the greatest drama in English football is almost upon us. After almost a week of rumours, despair, depression and ridicule, Spurs once again take to the field and try and get their season going. Following quickly on from Tuesday night's defeat at the hands of Everton is the visit of newly promoted Derby to White Hart Lane. Surely this must be the game where, what was billed as a great season in the making by many Spurs fans this time last week, can kick off and get started for real. Although a lot of the Spurs faithful are calling for not only a win but a performance to befit a team of Spurs ability and culture, I think most would be happy with three points on the board and off the foot of the table. Bearing in mind the defensive injury crisis that has hit the club this month (Younes Kaboul the latest casualty), three points and the relief that will come with it will be enough for most. Spurs have never lost the opening three games of the Premier League season and lets hope this run continues on Saturday. Couple this with the fact that Derby have never won at White Hart Lane and the pointers are that Spurs should emerge with three points.
Despite Spurs being favourite, Derby County will be no pushovers. A respectable draw with UEFA Cup hopefuls Portsmouth on the opening day followed by a narrow defeat against in form Manchester City midweek means they are currently above Spurs in the table. Young but talented Scotsman Billy Davies manages the Midlands side and it can be taken as read that he will have his team under strict instructions on how to contain Spurs front men and to go out and ensure the White Hart Lane crowd becomes restless and reacts in the way they did on Tuesday night.
EARLY TEAM NEWS:
Spurs are definately without first choice centre backs Younes Kaboul, Ledley King and Michael Dawson as well as other defenders Benoit Assou Ekotto and Gareth Bale. Lee Young Pyo should be available for the first time since April. Dimitar Berbatov also misses out with a groin injury sustained against Everton.
Tottenham (from): Robinson, Chimbonda, Stalteri, Rocha, Gardner, Jenas, Zokora, Malbranque, Routledge, Keane, Bent, Defoe, Huddlestone, Cerny, Murphy, Tainio, Lee, Ghaly, Taarabt, Boateng, Ifil, O'Hara.
Derby are only missing two of their first team squad, Claude Davis at centre half and midfielder Giles Barnes.
Derby (from): Bywater, Todd, Moore, Davis, Mears, Fagan, Oakley, Jones, Pearson, Griffin, Howard, Price, Edworthy, Leacock, McEveley, Camara, Earnshaw, Macken.
STATS:
Tottenham Hotspur:
Need to score three times to total 4,000 post war league goals.
The midweek loss to Everton ended a six-game unbeaten home league run.
Derby County:
Not won a Premier League match since defeating Bolton 1-3 at the Reebok on 16 March 2002. Drawn two and lost eight of the 10 subsequent matches at this level.
Their best points tally from the first three matches of a Premier League season is four, accrued in 2001-02, the season they went down.
After all the talk of "crisis club" Spurs this week (we've even managed to claim this title off Leeds United, such is the media hysteria!) it is up to every single one of the fans, manager, coaches, the board and most importantly the players selected tomorrow to go out there and restore some pride and pomp to our great club. Regardless of the formation, regardless of the opening exchanges, regardless of a misplaced pass or two lets all get behind our team, manager and club and roar them on to a victory. Three points is a must, a good performance would be nice.
Come on You Spurs
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