A trip to Newcastle is unlikely to be the highlight of the season for many Spurs fans. The ground is a misshapen monstrosity and the view from just under the roof is one of the worst in the Premier League. I believe officially, if you’re unlucky enough to get a perch in the back row of the away section, you can be as far as 2.8 miles from the far corner flag. It’s not ideal.
Nonetheless, on the back of four wins we head to St James’s Park in good spirits if not in total good health. Four wins on the trot have launched us up the table and near the Moneybags League place we covet, a spot that our opponents currently occupy. We may well be facing them with a not quite full strength outfit though as Adebayor struggles with a hamstring, and Kranjcar and Charlie attempt to shake off knocks acquired whilst turning out against Latvia. Both of the Croatians had to be subbed well before the end of the 90 minutes.
Younes Kaboul played for France against Albania so will have had a good look at Yohan Cabaye, the man getting rave reviews so far this season in the Geordie midfield as he almost single handedly attempts to upgrade Newcastle’s image from snarling to sophisticated. Carroll, Smith, Nolan and Barton were just pub brawls waiting to happen, Cabaye & Obertan are the leaders of a more absinthe, and Gitanes cafÈ culture, a change in outlook that is certainly working so far with the home team unbeaten. The Taylors, Krul and Collocini are chucking their bodies in the way of everything at the back whilst Ba, Best and Wor Shola take turns with surprising goal bursts up front.
As well as Adebayor, Van der Vaart, Lennon and Sandro will all provide Redknapp with selection options/headaches depending on your point of view. Sandro and Parker in midfield gaining possession and feeding some combination of Modric, VdV, Lennon and Bale is a mouthwatering prospect; whether this is the time and occasion for Harry to unleash this formation on the world is a different question. The Togolese’s hamstring may help him with his striker dilemma.
Lee Probert is in charge.
Newcastle have shown that if you don’t take your chances against them they’re more than capable of taking advantage when they get down the other end so a good start to take advantage of any early possession we get is vital. We have built some momentum and with our next game being against a rather sorry looking Blackburn, we have a chance with a good result here to make real inroads at the top. COYS.
By MF
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