Spurs vs Manchester United - Match Preview-1st December

".....It's Six in the City!". Everything left disjointed,disordered and chaotic after that embarrassing defeat at the Etihad. So much rambling that Andre Villas Boas is now suddenly leading the 'sack race'.SO MUCH for one big defeat? Or is the frustration growing in the fans for the lack of goals? Whatever it is, if AVB can prove his critics wrong ,THIS IS THE TIME!

Having suffered a horrendous defeat at the hands of the blue half of Manchester, Spurs will be definitely looking to bounce back against Manchester United. After some poor show in the start of the season 2012-13, it was this fixture result that really made AVB the fan favourite! That's when he earned his Spurs. Now it's time for Spurs to get back to winning ways against United who are on the back of a disappointing 2-2 draw at Cardiff themselves.

Both team have had mid week engagements in European competitions. United played their best football under David Moyes as they brushed aside a strong  Leverkusen side 5-0. Spurs got their job done in Norway with a 2-0 win over Tromso.

BIG GAME FOR THE SCOT AND THE PORTUGESE

Now,as it turns out, this fixture is a great opportunity to get some confidence and restore some belief. Be it for the low scoring Spurs side, under-fire Villas-Boas or the disheartened spurs faithful. This is a must win game to get our season kick started !

TEAM NEWS:
Andre has all players at his disposal except for  3 players. Adebayor remains doubtful due to a groin injury , while Harry Kane, Danny Rose and Christian Eriksen remain out on the sidelines

Last year's result: 1-1

Referee : Mike Dean

KO time : 5.30 pm IST


Line up prediction :

Lloris
-Walker Kaboul Dawson Vertonghen -
Paulinho sandro-
Townsend sigurdsson lamela 
soldado

Score line prediction : 3-1 to spurs! Sigurdsson,Townsend and Soldado!
For Indian Spurs,we have exciting screenings in some cities this Sunday. Contact IndiaSpurs for details.
https://www.facebook.com/IndiaSpurs
https://twitter.com/IndiaSpurs
 Get in there!

COYS!

https://twitter.com/aman_thfc

In My White Heart Lane.

"Dude, why Tottenham?",asked a friend of mine with an astonished look.And I was compelled to think-Hmmm, why Tottenham?

Okay, it goes something like this. It was the summer of 2006, the World Cup year. I was only 11 and being an Indian child, I grew up watching and playing cricket. Then the World Cup came around and took me completely by storm. Having enjoyed the FIFA World Cup ever so much, I was looking forward to the Barclays Premier League. That's when I really wanted to find out what football is and why is it so popular,  particularly, the English Premier League.

Being an impressionable boy, and owing to some so-called fans(not referring to those who actually support United in the true sense), I would be influenced to watch Manchester United play. After a few weeks, I asked myslef, "What's so great about football?What am I really doing?". I couldn't answer myself then, just when Tottenham came along. That easy on the eye football, those lovely fans, those committed players, those lilywhite shirts, those loud chants(my favourite being-Oh When The Spurs) and that grand stadium,  WHITE HART LANE. I did not find the need to answer my questions. They were already taken care of.

It's a shame I never got to watch Berba and Keane play together, but who really stole my heart was Luka Modric. Seeing him was always a delight as he flawlessly glided through players. Soon I found myself playing football for my school, and later for my junior college. I realised my passion for football was growing exponentially. It was Spurs who showed me another dimension of PASSION and HAPPINESS. It has been a treat to watch some of the players grace the pitch at The Lane with their mind blowing footballing skills. Apart from Modric, Rafael Van Der Vaart, Gareth Bale, Jan Vertonghen and Aaron Lennon have been players who certainly caught my eye, to name a few.

At home, I instantly turn up the volume when I  hear 'Oh When The Spurs' and sing along. The mere thought of it gives me goosebumps. My dream is to go to The Lane, with the India Spurs flag wrapped around my back, with my hands thrown up in the air, and sing this sensational chant. I know for a fact that'll send chills to my spine even in my coffin!

I believe horror movies, adventure sports and supporting Spurs should not be meant for faint hearted people. Supporting Spurs, obviously has never been easy. But it's this one thing I'll always have my entire life to hold on to. It's this one thing my heart would always beat for.

Now, here I am, a part of India Spurs, an official supporters club of Tottenham Hotspur, living my dream and writing for them. I can't thank these two people enough : Suraj Sharma, the chairman and founder of India Spurs to have given so many of us a chance to  be a part of the supporters club and my friend, Mahika,  who constantly pushes me and motivates me to do things she knows I'm capable of.

And now whenever someone asks me, "Dude,why Tottenham?", I don't find the need to answer him. I just shrug my shoulders and secretly pity him knowing he would never know what this really is. In my heart, I know, it's not just football, it's not just Tottenham Hotspur, it's my LOVE, PASSION and RELIGION.
The future is bright,
The future is Lilywhite.
COYS!

SPURS VS. NORWICH PREVIEW-Team News.

After a long international break,we are finally set for some Barclays Premier League action this weekend.

Ex-Tottenham boss,Chris Hughton is up against Andre Villas Boas this Saturday!

Good news is that almost everyone has returned without an injury except for Gylfi Sigurdsson who returned with a dead leg,but still took part in the initial training. Kyle Walker certainly didn't have his best game against Ukraine after his recent media problems. Hugo Lloris did have a bad time in his last game for France ,but the French shot-stopper will be hoping to keep a clean sheet this Saturday.

Spurs have had a good start to the season, taking 6 points from the first 3 games. Spurs would definitely want to bounce back after that 1-0 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates. On the other hand,Norwich City have had a mixed start, winning 1, losing 1 and drawing 1.

Both the fixtures last year ended in a 1-1 draw,and the match is expected to be as tight this Saturday too.

Tottenham and Nowich ,both have strengthened their squads heavily. The Canaries have signed Gary Hooper,Leroy Fer, Nathon Redmond and club record signing Ricky Van Wolfswinkel.

Expected Line Up:

Prediction: I'm going for a 2-0 win to us. Soldado and Townsend with the goals. What are YOUR thoughts?

 

AVB has the entire squad to choose from, except Aaron Lennon, Adebayor and Capoue, while  Gylfi Sigurdsson is a doubt.

K.O. time: 3:00pm GMT 

Venue: White Hart Lane.

COYS!!!

International Round-up

International break folks. Here's how our players did for their respective nations in the first game of the International break.

Qualifiers: 

New signing, Christian Eriksen scored the winner as Denmark edged past Malta 2-1 in Ta'Qali.

Nacer Chadli and Jan Vertonghen both played out 90 minutes for Belgium in their 2-0 victory against Scotland. Mousa Dembele got a few minutes under his belt as he was brought in late in the game.

Full back,Kyle Walker played 90 minutes for England in their 4-0 win against Moldova. Andros Townsend and Jermain Defoe were unused substitutes.

Hugo Lloris captained France in their 0-0 stalemate with Georgia.

Vlad Chiriches captained Romania in their 3-0 win against Hungary.

Roberto Soldado was an unused substitute as Spain came out victorious against Finland, beating them 2-0.

Gylfi Sigurdsson played 90 minutes for Iceland in their breath-taking match against Switzerland ending 4-4.

U-21:

Tom Carroll played 90 minutes for the England U-21 side and Harry Kane was brought on as a substitute for Zaha as England drew 1-1 with Finland.

Friendlies: 

Paulinho was instrumental in helping Brazil ease past Australia,6-0. The midfielder played the first  60 minutes for his nation,later being substituted for the  Lazio ace,Hernanes.

All the best to our players for the second game!
Fixtures:
ROMANIA vs  Turkey
Ukraine vs ENGLAND
BRAZIL vs Portugal
Belarus vs FRANCE
Armenia vs DENMARK
SPAIN vs Chile

COYS!!

SUPER SCOTT SUPER SCOTTY PARKER!

If Scott Parker had featured in 300,it would have been called 1.

"I'm gonna knock him down and wrestle him to the ground. I don't care,I'm getting the ball back!" This is what Scotty would probably tell himself while getting the possession back and getting the ball moving again for the Lilywhites. Not once,not twice. A hundred times over and over again.

I would like to express my views as we see our workhorse join Fulham after serving two sensational years at Tottenham.
 Signing him for 5 million pounds from the then relegated club,West Ham,certainly raised a few eyebrows.So many questions were raised. Was he the right man Spurs are looking for? Are we taking a step forward? No,no. Super Scotty just didn't clear our doubts,he SMASHED them.
 Often we saw Parker hassling and battling and tackling to get the ball back. His discipline and commitment spoke volumes of this midfield powerhouse. Scotty had established a great partnership with  our midfield maestro,Luka Modric. Tirelessly chasing or rather hunting down the opponent,Scotty would give in a 110% for us. Undoubtedly,his energy and dedication was second to none. So good that he always remained no.1,keeping out the beast we now know as 'Sandro'. Old Harry would have no option but to deploy Parker in the central midfield.

Parker carried on in the match even after this nasty injury agaisnt the club he just signed for,Fulham,in our 3-1 away win at  Craven Cottage. Some fella.

Unfortunately,Parker leaves Tottenham without a single goal scored. He came closest to score against FC Basel in the Europa League quarter final,where his attempt to pass the ball in an empty net took an unlucky deflection of Lewis Holtby,lying helplessly on the ground. Not the best dribbler or attacker around,but Scotty sure had other attributes of his that made sure he was always loved at The Lane. So much that he was voted the best player of the season 2011-2012.


Performing with pride,winning the ball back and allowing the creative craft of the team to embrace its expressive freedom, Super Scotty would always pick himself up,in his typically dirty shirt,waiting for another battle.
Here's a video you can watch.


GOOD LUCK SCOTTY!



-Aman Tukrel
Twitter: aman_thfc

CRYSTAL PALACE Vs. TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR-Team News and Quotes.

Ahead of Tottenham's first game of the Barclays Premier League 2013-2014,we look at the team news and quotes.

AVB looks ready for the kick-off.

Gareth Bale, an obvious summer target for Real Madrid, will be out injured with a foot injury and definitely wont feature in the clash at Selhurst Park.

The Welsh Wizard is ruled out until September

Lewis Holtby remains side-lined due to a knee injury and is also unavailable for selection. The versatile German midfielder is expected to be fit before the North London Derby at The Emirates.

Lewis is expected to be back by the 25th of August.

Good news for Spurs fans is that Jan Vertonghen could feature in the squad. The Belgian defender faces a late fitness test before the Sunday encounter against the newly-promoted club.
  "Let’s wait and see on Jan," said Andre Villas Boas after training on Friday. "He’s made good  progress so there is a small chance he could make the squad."

Jan Vertonghen was injured in our clash against Sunderland in Hong Kong

 When asked about Younes Kaboul,AVB said,
   "He’s looking extremely good. He only played 20 minutes for France so he was able to train fully today and he did very well. There have been some good signs from him." 
   With Kaboul returning to fitness,AVB could give him a few minutes. New signing Etienne Capoue is likely to slot in directly in defence with club captain Dawson,who had a few things to say before their match on sunday.

Kaboul might feature on Sunday

'We didn't get off to a flyer last season like we wanted to,' the Tottenham captain told Spurs TV Online.

'We showed strength, commitment and spirit to fight back, but if we had started better then who knows where it would have taken us? Hopefully this year we can get off to a flyer.

'Hopefully it will be the start of a great year that has more ups than downs.'

   Dawson has underlined the importance of a quick start,which we certainly didn't display last season which saw us only take 2 points from our first 3 games.

Dawson spoke about Younes,and the new signings,while particularly praising Roberto Soldado.

The travelling fans would be hoping to see their big money signing,Soldado step up in the absence of Gareth.

All the four signings spurs made this summer-Paulinho,Chadli,Capoue and Soldado are available for selection and most of them are likely to feature this weekend and make their debuts.

COYS!