Spurs and a Half Test

Cech. Ivanovic/Azpil. Cahill/Terry. Luis. Cole. (Mikel. Ramires)(must). Mata. Oscar. Hazard/Moses.. Torres/Sturridge.

Be afraid, be very very afraid. You are correct, we are in form but so are you. By the way.....we have TEN people on International duty be it full or otherwise. I see a close game at WHL but a 2 - 1 win for us will do very nicely. I think Mr Hate will be sitting this one out due to the start of his suspension.

Desmondadonis....14 team members on International duty is a huge amount I must say. Still you can only play 11 at any one time the same as us. If we can keep Mata quite then we home and hosed, I hope. Dembele will have a field day along with Ade, who I expect to play instead of Defoe.

Chuks09, seriously mate, let's not be cocky right now, we all know spurs have almost the same talents as we do, when u look at bale,lennon, defoe,dembele,clint dempsey (who scores against us) and a couple of other players not to forget that obstinate and determined keeper friedel, it won't be a walk in the park, I'll be over joyous if we win, but I have a hunch that it might be a tie

COME ON YOU SPURS.. AVB WILL HAVE HIS REVENGE...

THE 15m PAYOFF WONT BE WORTH NOTHING AFTER WE DO U 3-1...

COYS

I think revenge will be the furthest thing in AVB's mind if I'm truthful. I think the media (all forms) have tried to discredit and unsttle him after what happened with you guys. As long as his players stick to his game plan and not get involved in anything untoward, he will be pleased. As long as the game goes without malice and everbody conducts themselves with in the laws,then we should have a good match. Although you have started the season very well, congrats on that, I think this will be your toughest game so far.

cant wait, will be a cracking game, ive really enjoyed watching chelsea so far this season which HAS NOT BEEN THE CASE for the last few seasons. some really exciting players on the ball in Hazard, Oscar and Mata. i read a stat somewhere yesterday that chelsea had created more chances than any other side from counter attacks this season in the prem and Spurs are 2nd with regards to that stat. got me thinking this will either be like a basketball game end to end or a very caget affair with no side looking to over commit bodies forward. will be very interesting. may the best team on the day win.

@Spurs fans. Don't start telling me AVB doesn't want swift revenge! In his very first interview as Spurs manager he took more snide swipes at Chelsea than I could count. That's what he wants more than anything, a win against Chelsea.

Luis, Oscar & Ramires are all on show for the brazil.

The FA has issued a statement on Ashley Cole and a misconduct charge, plus there is further news on Ryan Bertrand 's illness. The statement on Cole reads: ' Ashley Cole has admitted an FA charge in relation to a Twitter comment which was improper and/or brought the game into disrepute. 'Cole has requested a non-personal hearing, the date of which has yet to be set' Cole is currently with the England squad ahead of Friday evening's match against San Marino however Bertrand withdrew on Thursday morning and returned to Chelsea. He will be reassessed on Sunday ahead of England's World Cup qualifier against Poland on Tuesday. The news of Bertrand's condition is he has a systemic viral infection.

Oscar is flying high.

Another goal from Oscar.

@desmond... That's very scary... Fresh & Angry Mata

Final whistle. Brazil 6-0 Iraq. Goals from Oscar.2, Kaka, Hulk, Neymar & Lucas

Desmondadonis - Some spurs fans are intelligent, as indeed some Chelsea fans are, I would even go as far as to say some gooners are as well. I have been a spurs fan since the late 1950's, I used to go regularly to spurs matches in those days, I saw all the glory, the double winning side, the European cup matches, it was a fabulous time to be a spurs fan. When spurs were playing away on a Saturday, too far to travel, I would go to Chelsea or Arsenal, Fulhum or Charlton, whoever was playing at home with what looked like the best match. I was, and still am, not just a spurs fan, but a FOOTBALL fan. It was vastly different in those days gone by, there was no crowd segregation, fans of both teams were all mixed in together, yes of course there was banter, HARMLESS banter, like me, people had their favourite team, but they also were also FOOTBALL fans, they liked to see a good game and appreciated a good team even if it wasn't their own team. In later years, all this hate that has sprung up *****es me off. It's stupid, it's immature, it's ridiculous and it's self destructive. In the early 1960's there were many Arsenal and Chelsea fans who regularly went to WHL because they wanted to watch a good team with some great players, even coming from a spurs fan, that team was a joy to watch. How many fans theses days would go to a rival ground to watch a rival team play? Not many, they wouldn't do it on "principal". How stupid, they are depriving themselves of watching good teams and good football matches. I would always welcome good intelligent discussion with rival fans - even gooners, lol. Trouble is that not many rival fans are capable of it without resorting to insults etc, etc. As for the coming game with you guys, it's a tough call. You have some very good players, so do we. If our team clicks on the day, you will be hard pushed for sure. We haven't been playing as well as we can play in all games so far, I just hope we click on the day. May the best team win, (as long as it's spurs, lol)

Oscar Should be the Man Of The Match.

chuks09 - Oscar MOTM? Well you would say that wouldn't you, lol. MOTM was the Iraq goalkeeper, if it wasn't for him Brazil would have won by a cricket score.

@hot_spur. The made many saves but he chipped in 6goals remember??? Oscar is the MOTM

I didn't get to see the brazil game, but I read from goal that oscar and sabri or whatever they call the iraqi goal keeper and the woodwork reduced the goals

Desmondadonis - You're welcome. I don't go to matches any more, I'm 72 years old and frankly, I can't afford the prices any more. But yes I would go to rival grounds if I was still attending matches, these days I have to be content with watching live streams and MOTD. I wasn't the only football fan that went to rival teams matches back in the old days. The whole attitude was different then, as indeed the attitude and mentality to many things in life was different then, so much has changed in my lifetime, and in most cases, not for the better !! I just find this bitter hatred that exists between rival fans these days so pathetically stupid. The majority are not FOOTBALL fans any more, having a favourite team does not have to mean insulting and abusing people just because their favourite team is a different one. Many moons ago I've been to matches where, at the end of a game, a team who had played exceptionally well was clapped off the pitch by OPPOSING fans !! THAT is truly being a FOOTBALL supporter. Sadly those days are long gone and football is the worse for it.

Wow @Hit_Spur am in awe of ur comments. These are the kind of fans I wish we had on VF. @chuks09, I didn't catch the Brazil game either can u tell me how menezes integrated Oscar and kaka in one midfield. What positions and in what formation did they play?

Tottenham - Chelsea ..... 4me is the best fixture of the season, full of passion full of class and both sets of fans are top class!! (mostly;) and I F in love it!! the 3pts @ OT went a little way towards healing the wounds your lot left after ur CL victory.. somehow..But fair plays to ya you got it in the end, be it at our expense I cheered ya...weird day that was I tell ya.. emotional! However-the way I see it a narrow margin loss for yourselfs will b benificial to every1 and b a blessing in disquise 4 u , OBVIOUSLY your not gonna see it that way but trust me it does :) I hope 1day I can take my boys.. and girls.. to the lane and the bridge to witness this derby like my ol man did me, which will prob be the new lane by then ... but hey thats life!! and desmond im sure theres plenty more gems out there like our Hot_Spur.. problems being tickets I guess.. Anyways good luck nancy bois your gonna need it, 2-1 spurs hazza to score 1st COYS ;) T4E

Hot_Spur.Thank you for your sensible and objective post.I agree with you.As for the game,I think AVB has been preparing for this game for a long time.However,Di Matteo will be aware of his methods.It will be interesting to see how they both plan out their respective tactics.Very very interesting,if I may say so.But I give Spurs the edge as the game is at White Hart Lane.Going for a 2-1 win for Spurs.Defoe will get a brace and in my opinion,he is the most underrated striker the world has ever seen.I don't understand why Spurs fans want Adebayor to start ahead of him.Defoe,even at the age of 29,is a beast.I may get abused by people,but I rate him above Van Persie.Agree or disagree,thats my opinion.He's a goal-scoring machine.He delivers in the big games.I hope Chelsea get him as a second-choice.And AVB has done the right thing by starting him in all the games.Hope he does not start against us and Adebayor starts,but unfortunately that won't be the case.If we can keep him quiet,then we have a very very good chance of winning.

chucks09.Thats my opinion.Maybe,you disagree.I suggested this because he's world's one of the best.His wage demands won't be high and he won't mind deputising Falcao.We can't get a better second-choice than him.Raul is 35.Saha is 34.Defoe is 29.Big big difference.And please don't turn this into another striker debate.When another article will come up regarding,we will have a proper discussion.I apologise for shifting away from the theme of the article.

@cfc250 I share ur sentiments at branding defoe as a dangerous striker, he is a shoot first striker and they are the most dangerous, why spurs fan don't see what we are seeing in him, guess they know him better than us.

good game indeed DESMOND and I hasten to add that we'll need to be at our very best, ManUre was damaged in the 1st half by playing half-hearted so we will definitely need to be pinpoint for the gunshot :)

i'm full of confidence that we will win.remember arsenal?everyone says that they're title contender when hold city at etihad stadium but look after that.they lost against us at their own turf..

I fell in love with Spurs team about 3 seasons ago, i really liked Harry and was sad he was sacked.

As for the game, Spurs destroyed a slow ManU side that were not interested in the game, Evans, Rio, Evra were crap in that game, they were too slow, they played with no passion and hunger, they ran like pregnant women, Bale,Lennon and Defoe took advantage of them with their pace. United's midfield was dead, Carrick - Scholes dissapered in the first half and gave Sandro-Dembele an easy day, Kagawa was too weak for the physical Sandro and was having a really bad day.

2 counter attacks were enough to destroy ManU and Lingardeerd did not help matters, he was really poor between the sticks, United came back to life in the second half and Spurs were crap especially in midfield, they could not keep the ball, they misplaced several passes, Dembele's defensive deficiency was exposed and Sandro was left to do all the work, their defence was as porous as seive, they could not deal with RVP,Rooney and Kagawa's movements. AvB withdrew Dembele for Huddlestone but to no avail. United dominated the game from 2nd half but they lost due to their poor defence that were crap for Spurs 3rd goal on the counter.

LoL @CHUKS are you intimating we drop Hazard & Oscar for that game?? I'll know for sure that we have the wrong manager....

our RB (Iva) for Bale will be our archilles heel SAMEX because I'm sure AVB will want to exploit that. Add Lennon for a fast but not as good Cole and they have the wings covered...we'll most likely be hit on the counter especially if Lamps plays on the pivot with Mikel

Let them worry about us & our threats not the opposite. Cech. Iva/Azpi. Terry/Cahill. Luis. Mikel. Rami. Oscar(2goals hero). Mata(fresh and ready). Hazard & Torres. 'Ll do a perfect job.

we need to outscore the opposition to win...

I don't mean arsenal don't play fluidly, its just that the way spurs is different from them, and I didn't mean the spurs game alone will determine who RDM is, but the games we have this month which are all tough, our depth will be needed badly now, I am happy that marin and sturridge will be available and our players all injury free, most especially luis, who always get a knock in his games for the selecao

@mq..spot-on.. Just outscore them. I remember the hypes made before our juventus game.

I mentioned azpil because of his pace.but it's worth mentioning @least he's our player

I think marin is fit but he's been monitored to avoid a long time injury..his time 'll soon come

Bale has been playing a free role in most of their matches. Tym 'll tell where avb'll deploy him that day.

LoLZZZ@samex... I hope so. But i believe Torres'll make us Proud come 20th.

They have their own worries too. How to stop Hazard, Mata, Oscar, Torres & Co's

@samex, I really doubt that, we are playing at their ground bro, its their fcking ground where we havnt won in almost four years or more,@mq, be patient with marin, he's a chelsea buy and they believe he can be our new robben

@desmond.. Their ground or not. I hope RDM'll not try what he did against QPR.. Nowadays there's nothing like home or away.. Or have you 4gotten The Champions League Final???

@samex.. There're a big difference between confidence & over-confidence. One After the Other Man. Slow and Steady.

@Chucks okay sir, slow and steady

Cfc250, you know I never underated shaktar or spurs.I am worried so worried about this teams

Shakthar have won 30 games of their last 32, including 25 in a row. Very tough game.

It is imperative that we take this game seriously, as we should all EPL games, this is not LaLiga, there are no gimmes. Respecting our opponents will bode well for us in the long run...but we should fear no-one. something special is happening at the bridge, we are becoming a force to be reckoned with in all apsecs of the game where before we were just direc, now we can be direct and intricate while remaining defensively astute as well. So in short, we respect all opponents, but fear no one.

Off topic, since no one is giving us a progress report anymore, but this will do a bit for one of our prospective stars www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/watfordfc/watfordfcnews/9980843._/

OK you guys, you've all had your say, here it is from spurs perspective. Firstly, somebody mentioned the difference between confidence and over confidence. I see much of the latter on this forum. It's all very well to talk about "our defence can do this" and "our midfield can do that" and "our attack can do something else" and at the same time totally ignoring the fact that spurs also have a defence, midfield and attack. I've seen a couple of comments that spurs defence is weak. That is not true. Walker, Caulker, Vertnghen, Eskotto is a very good back four, all are Internationals and Vertonghen is world class. With Sandro and Dembele in midfield, Sandro is a monster, there is very little that gets past him and Dembele can dribble past players as if they were not there. We have the two fastest wingers in the PL in Bale and Lennon and you guys who think they can be stopped so easily, maybe you should stop and take a reality check. :-) In the debate over the difference between Defoe and Ade, the reason most spurs fans prefer Ade is because he brings so much more to the team as a whole. Defoe is selfish, he's a "shoot on sight" merchant who only plays for himself, not the team. Ade is very UNselfish, he plays for the team and because of this he makes the attack so much more fluid and dangerous than Defoe does. Ade scored 18 goals with 12 assists last season in 35 games, Defoe scored 17 goals with zero assists. That's the difference. Ade not only scores himself but he creates goals for others as well and the team plays so much better overall with Ade. He is a much more complete player than Defoe. I sincerely hope Ade starts against you guys, if Defoe starts I fear the worst. As for the comments about RDM knowing AVB's methods, what seems to have been conveniently forgotten is that it works both ways !! AVB also knows RDM's methods. A word about AVB, I know most Chelsea fans regard him as a useless manager because of what happened at Chelsea but my personal opinion is that he is a very astute and clever guy. I think he was let down by the boss at Chelsea. He was hired to do a job and when he started to implement the changes he was hired to do, some of the old players rebelled. Instead of the boss backing his manager, he sacked him. Now having said that, I do accept (and I think AVB accepts and has admitted) that he made the mistake of trying to change the set-up too quickly and that was the reason for the run of bad results. Even so, the boss should have backed his manager rather than the players. I personally think that eventually Chelsea fans (and Roman) will regret having sacked AVB. Changes, especially big changes take time, he wasn't given time at Chelsea. He will be given time at spurs. The signs at spurs are good, that is already becoming clear, AVB will over the next year or two, strengthen the squad bit by bit into what will be a PL title winning team. I think we are already capable of top four in spite of losing Modric and VdV, in another couple of years we'll be challenging for the PL title. As for the coming game, lets hope it's exciting and may the best team win. (Which isn't always the case).

Desmond - Vertonghen has been playing out of his best position recently because of injury to Eskotto. I agree he is not a world class left back, he was exposed against Nani in the ManU game. However, he IS world class at centre back which is his favourite position. Eskotto is now back from injury so Vertonghen can play centre back against you guys - fortunately.

Gian-Franco - You are right up to a point, it was really about the run of bad results and Roman being impatient for success. Had the results been better I guess AVB would not have been sacked. I'm sure the results would have come, had AVB been given more time but Roman was too impatient. However, I'm happy with what AVB has done at spurs so far, considering the massive changes in players in and out it is starting to gel. I'm suspect it will get better as the season goes on. The aim this season is a top 4 place, I think we have a good chance of that. With some strengthening in January and again next summer we may possibly be challenging for PL title next year, if not the following year. As you rightly say, a CFC loss will bite. I'm sure deep down AVB feels resentment and believes he was treated unfairly. A win next week would give him great satisfaction and help to give him closure on the Chelsea affair. Anyway, good discussion, nice to discuss with some sensible rival fans for a change instead of the usual morons who are not real football fans at all.

Cfc250, would argue about spurs players with a spurs fan? Its like a spurs fan arguing that hazard is better than mata in midfield no.10 role

Desmond - Spot on mate, nobody watches a team and it's players more critically than it's own supporters

Hot_Spur.You fans must be knowing better.But Adebayor played at Arsenal with Fabregas and co which made his job easier.Defoe played at Portsmouth.However,I respect your opinion as you watch the two week in week out.

i wonder why some people keep promoting romeu.everyone already knew that romeu is better than lampard at pivot.i believe there is already a discussion between the manager and the board regarding romeu's buyback clause so that he won't play many games until his clause expire next summer.it's because romeu will definitely make it in the 1st team if being given chances and move to barca after that.then we can call it our loss barca gain if that scenario happen..

@cfc... What is with you and defoe???

Chuks09,obimikelisthebest, give the guys a break now, if mikel gets injured against liberia today I doubt if RDM will even field romeu, if I was RDM I'll be alternating both players depending on the games, there are some games that mikel will suit and there are some that romeu will be perfect,what I will pray for is that, the coach u choose intelligently...bale scored a cracker yesterday and he is always capable of that as its no a fluke, I hope to God he doesn't crack that against us and I'll like sturridge to feature at some point against spurs, maybe for 20 mins

Desmond - Yes bale scored a cracker but not only that he ran Scotland ragged for the whole 90 minutes, providing crosses and chances galore for his team mates which were all wasted. I hope he's on that form against you guys. Who was it in an earlier post that dismissed Bale as being easy to deal with? I guess whoever it was has never seen Bale in full flow, he's unstoppable. My big fear is that at some point Real Madrid or Barca will come knocking for him, knowing Levy he won't be able to resist making a huge profit on him. Looking forward to the game, I hope none of your players get injured as well as ours. I want to see both teams at full strength.

oscar is an attacking midfielder and we should be use him to his potential and not waste his talent by giving him job to defend players or else he would turn into be a defending midfielder....let he mata and hazard play freely we have mikel ramiers and defenders to do that job...rather than thinking about their strenght and how to stop them we should think how to use our strength to the maximum...

Nigeria 6-1 Liberia. Moses scored 2goals, while Mikel scored 1 from the Penalty spot.

chucs09 - It seems you scoff at any player that isn't wearing a Chelsea shirt. Ferdinand and Maicon are far from "retired" and still very highly rated. Maicon especially is still one of the very best defenders in the world, he was rated No.1 fullback in the world until very recently. Chelsea are not the only club in the world with good players.

Oscar will never be placed to mark bale. Its a waste of his talent. Like @sholk said we have defenders for that. We just have to try to impose our own game on them. It wnt be easy.

One of the best 3 games we are braced to watch in the coming 2 weeks. We win them, am convinced that we will be making it to the top of the league and the qualification to the next round of champions league guaranteed.