English Premier League: Tottenham vs Reading

Tottenham will host Reading in their first game in the New Year. Andre Villas-Boas, who now now has the best win record (62.5 percent) of any Tottenham manager since 1908, will still be confident his side can get all three points against lowly Reading despite the loss of Gareth Bale due to suspension.
I can personally see a comfortable Tottenham victory with Reading's leaky defense.

Match Details

Competition: Premier League
Date: 2 January 2013
Game week: 21
Kick-off: 02:00
Venue: White Hart Lane (London)

----------------Lloris------------------
Walker--Dawson--Vertoghen--Naughton
-----------Sandro---Brave Scotty Parker------------
---Lennon-----Sigurdsson---Dempsey--
----------------Adebayor-------------

I can see AVB changing the lineup a bit. Feel free of correcting the line up!

I agree, I see us with this lineup:

--------------------Lloris--------------------

Walker--Dawson--Caulker--Naughton

Lennon----Sandro----Dembele----Bale

--------------Defoe--Adebayor------------



However, I hope that I see:

--------------------Lloris--------------------

Walker--Dawson--Caulker--Naughton

------Sandro----Dembele---Bale---------

------Lennon--------------Dempsey-------

------------------Defoe-----------------------

God I wish we could play a 3-4-3, I think I'm spoiled by all these FIFA games. I would just love to see Dempsey in the center left with Sigi on the wing as an overlap for Bale.

Dreams.

Can we get it clear that Bale is suspended due to picking up his 5th yellow card

Yes he is.

Is Dembele injured? I didn't see the last game but I don't think he is.

I like your lineup, but I would switch Ade and Defoe, and Brave Scotty Brave Scotty Parker with Dembele if he is fit.

We could also go for the 4-4-2.

------------------Lloris----------------------
--Walker--Caulker--Vertonghen--Naughton----
---Lennon--Sandro--Dembele---Dempsey----
-------------Ade----------Defoe---------

In that lineup Vertonghen may go left and Dawson fill in or something.

Should be a comfortable 3 points.

Dembele picked up a knock but was able to play last game though he has started two games in a row and I was thinking maybe a change. Brave Scotty Parker seems fit to play. Doesn't need to play the full game but maybe 60 minutes and bring on Dembele.
I thought Adebayor because Defoe has again started a lot of games in a short number of days and well Adebayor probably deserves the minutes to start the game. Bring on Defoe and switch to a 4-2-2?
I'm worried about Walker though. Hasn't performed well in the past few games...

I don't think Defoe has played much more than Ade. Against Reading I can see AVB opting to put both Defoe and Ade up front and look to be very positive against a leaky Reading defense.

It MAY be possible BAE will be back for the Reading game- as AVB said recently. I don't see him starting though. It would be nice to see him come on as sub.

If fit, he will come on for the last 10-15 minutes.

I'm not sure how accurate any of these predictions are though tbh, take them with a pinch of salt.

I'm still feeling out AVB's rotation system. Until now, it seems like he hasn't had one lol

What I can predict is an easy Tottenham win. Defoe and Ade to score (both after missing several 1v1's), and Dempsey will score if he plays.

Just tuned in to the game and its 1-1 at Half Time.

Pogrebnyak and Dawson the goalscorers coming in the 4th and 10th minute respectively.

FT 3 - 1

I'm happy both for Villas-Boas and Spurs for their top-4 challenge. There's life after Chelsea / Redknapp.

CBarca wrote:I'm not sure how accurate any of these predictions are though tbh, take them with a pinch of salt.

I'm still feeling out AVB's rotation system. Until now, it seems like he hasn't had one lol

What I can predict is an easy Tottenham win. Defoe and Ade to score (both after missing several 1v1's), and Dempsey will score if he plays.

Ended up being pretty close to the perfect prediction. Still waiting for the replay, but sounds like from the reports the game was never in doubt even when it was 1 - 1 at the half.

Replace Defoe with Dawson and I was right lol

Missed the game however. This screwed me over

Date: 2 January 2013

I didn't bother checking to see if that was correct or not. Reading some articles it looks like we dominated. Good- I can't wait to see the next game. Good to see Ade get on the scoresheet especially.

Arsenal tied Southampton 1-1

Sometimes I watch Arsenal and I'm like

Assuming Arsenal win their game in hand- which is nothing you should never assume, especially against Man City- we still have a 2 point cushion.

Tottenham's next 5 fixtures, Arsenal's next 5 fixtures:

Tottenham l Arsenal
QPR - Away l Man City - Home
Man U - Home l Chelsea - Away
Norwich - Away l Liverpool - Home
West Brom - Away l Stoke - Home
Newcastle - Home l Sunderland - Away

I think we'll get more points than them over the next 5 fixtures. You guys want to predict?
I'm guessing for us: W,D,W,W,W
Arsenal: L,L,W,D,W

Of course, I'm being very optimistic as well, but I think even without optimism, we're picking up more points in the coming weeks.

Our game in hand is against West ham

Again, not exactly an easy fixture for Arsenal. One I see them drawing to be honest.

I know, was just saying.

Sorry CBarca, I'll get English times next time/dates.

Saw some of the highlights and well Spurs could have been in trouble with a clearance off the line that could have brought it to 2-2 but then it was safe after Dempsey's goal. Its kinda wierd to see Dempsey wear the number 2 jersey when he is a winger... Usually you see that kind of player wearing the No. 7 or higher number jerseys.
Defoe again had a great game as did Lennon and Dawson.

The Sanchez wrote:Sorry CBarca, I'll get English times next time/dates.

Lol it's fine, it's my fault for being lazy and not checking that, which I should have done anyway, but should have especially done knowing you're from Australia

RealGunner wrote:I know, was just saying.

Yep, thanks. I couldn't find it on your fixture list :/

CBarca wrote:

The Sanchez wrote:Sorry CBarca, I'll get English times next time/dates.

Lol it's fine, it's my fault for being lazy and not checking that, which I should have done anyway, but should have especially done knowing you're from Australia

RealGunner wrote:I know, was just saying.

Yep, thanks. I couldn't find it on your fixture list :/

Stupid damn Aussies...

The Sanchez wrote:Saw some of the highlights and well Spurs could have been in trouble with a clearance off the line that could have brought it to 2-2 but then it was safe after Dempsey's goal. Its kinda wierd to see Dempsey wear the number 2 jersey when he is a winger... Usually you see that kind of player wearing the No. 7 or higher number jerseys.
Defoe again had a great game as did Lennon and Dawson.

Didn't watch the game but ive read differently about Defoe, hes been in good form start of the season but now hes only scored 1 in 5... and i think we will end up as a better team if we start playing with Ade leading the line and Clint/Siggy behind him

nh01 wrote:

The Sanchez wrote:Saw some of the highlights and well Spurs could have been in trouble with a clearance off the line that could have brought it to 2-2 but then it was safe after Dempsey's goal. Its kinda wierd to see Dempsey wear the number 2 jersey when he is a winger... Usually you see that kind of player wearing the No. 7 or higher number jerseys.
Defoe again had a great game as did Lennon and Dawson.

Didn't watch the game but ive read differently about Defoe, hes been in good form start of the season but now hes only scored 1 in 5... and i think we will end up as a better team if we start playing with Ade leading the line and Clint/Siggy behind him

Tbh, when I mean again I mean good form from last game. I can agree with your tactics though.

It's not like Ade has been lighting the world on fire either. I think both have 1 in 6 right now.

I think Ade's overall play is superior, but his finishing is just as erratic if not worse than Defoe's.

The amount of chances we are creating and not finishing is so annoying. If we had a true goal poacher we would be winning alot more games with a higher GD