Our visitors this Sunday are Queens Park Rangers or Q-P-aha ha ha ha ha ha ha as they used to be more affectionately known when we played them regularly in the dark (or so they’d have us believe) days before Sky. The Rangers of those days rarely rolled over easily and with Neil Warnock in charge we shouldn’t expect the current version to either; mind you, it’s only a few weeks since Andy Johnson and chums managed to convince Barton, Taarabt et al to lie looking skywards whilst they tickled their tums.
For once the news from the physio room seems to have a positive slant with both Gallas and Pienaar upright and running. It’s very unlikely that either will feature from the off, next Thursday’s trip to Russia is more likely. By leaving him out of the side last Sunday Sandro was given another week to recover from his latest knock before his league season is properly launched; Redknapp might see this game as an opportunity to give Parker a rest and reunite the Brazilian with Modric given that they did so well towards the very end of last season.
At the back the centre backs were given a torrid time by Samba at Ewood and the useful looking Hoilett also showed Walker a clean pair of heels several times. QPR probably can’t match the aerial threat but they have some quick feet in SWP though Assou-Ekotto on the left is the man most likely to be slightly bent at the knees as he tries to look wee Sean in the eye whilst the home fans question his mother’s dress size.
QPR have struggled for goals so far with last season’s leading scorer Adel Taarabt yet to notch on the bigger stage. Lately in fact Taarabt has had trouble finishing games – he’ll know from his time with us though that a 149 from outside the ground will take him all the way to Liverpool Street where he can catch the Central Line back to Shepherd’s Bush.
There’s been copious debate about our best attacking formation and at the moment it’s a battle between several recently successful options, which makes a change if nothing else. Van der Vaart has been answering any pejorative accusations with goals as he generally has in his brief Spurs career, so it’ll be a surprise if we start with anything but him behind Adebayor. Or Defoe.
We’ll start, quite rightly as favourites, but we all know well enough that if we do win it’ll have to be earnt, especially given that Howard Webb is in charge. A comfortable victory would be nice given the nailbiters of the last few weekends. COYS.
By MF
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