Spurs vs Manchester City: Match Preview
Tottenham will play their final home game of the season tomorrow against Mark Hughes’ Manchester City. The penultimate game of the season will see Manchester City arrive in London with both sides still in the hunt for Europa League football next season- with the winners of the game likely to contest Fulham for a place in the European competition. Manchester City currently lie a point below Tottenham, meaning a Spurs win would ensure that City could finish no higher than eight, one place below a Europa League spot.
Team News
TOTTENHAM:
Fitness tests:Zokora (groin), Assou-Ekotto (ankle/foot)
Missing: Dawson (ankle), Bent (knee), Palacios (compassionate leave), O’Hara (knee), Lennon (groin).
Aaron Lennon once again fails to make the Spurs squad after not recovering from his groin problem. The injury comes as a great blow for both Spurs and Lennon as the young winger was playing incredibly well before his injury, and the player was greatly missed during the 0-0 stalemate with Everton last week.
Jamie O’Hara is out for the rest of the season after having a knee operation, and both Michael Dawson and leading scorer Darren Bent are set to miss yet another premier league fixture. Wilson Palicios completes the list of definite absentees- he’s still in Honduras recovering after the death of his younger brother.
Both Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Didier Zokora are expected to complete late fitness tests after suffering ankle and groin injuries respectively. Ledley King is set to start after he apologised to Harry Redknapp following his nightclub shenanigans (http://spurs.footballblog.co.uk/spurs-skipper-bailed.html). Tom Huddlestone looks set to start in midfield whilst Heurelho Gomes seems to have kept his place in goal despite some poor ‘keeping last week against Everton.
EXPECTED TEAM LINE-UP: (5-3-2)
Gomes
Corluka King Woodgate
Hutton Bale
Huddlestone Jenas
Modric
Keane(C) Defoe
MANCHESTER CITY:
Tests: Sturridge (hip/thigh), Wright-Phillips (ankle/foot).
Missing: Benjani (thigh), Bellamy (knee), Hamann (ankle/foot), Robinho (groin)
Robinhois out- meaning both sides leading goalscorers are absent from tomorrow’s clash. Benjani and Bellamy are also confirmed casualties, leaving Mark Hughes with a headache over who to play up-front. Martin Petrov and young Felipe Caicedo are set to start.
Experienced centre midfielder Didier Hamann has damaged his foot and Sturridge is unlikely to feature- though the youngster will undergo a fitness test. Shaun Wright-Phillips will also be tested, and could settle for a place on the bench.
EXPECTED TEAM LINE-UP: (4-5-1)
Given
Richards Onuoha Dunne(C) Bridge
Elano Ireland Kompany De Jong
Petrov
Caicedo
Head to Heads:
LUKA MODRIC VS. ELANO
The battle of the playmakers. With Elano standing at 5ft 9in and Luka Modricjust half an inch smaller neither of the players are seen are seen as gritty ball winning midfielders but both have amazing vision and fantastic dribbling skills. Elano has also shown his skill at hitting long range shots this season, so Heurelho Gomes will need to be on his guard. Modric will probably be deployed on the left hand side of midfield or as a shadow striker behind Defoe and Keane. Elano will most likely start on the right- so expect a direct clash. Both sides are also missing their defensive midfielders (Hamann and Palicios) so there should be a multitude of opportunities for both of the playmakers.
KING V CAICIDO
Recent Form
| Sat Apr 11 2009 | West Ham United |  |
(H) | 1 – 0 |
| Sun Apr 19 2009 | Newcastle United | |
(H) | 1 – 0 |
| Sat Apr 25 2009 | Manchester United | |
(A) | 2 – 5 |
| Sat May 02 2009 | West Bromwich Albion | |
(H) | 1 – 0 |
| Sun Apr 19 2009 | West Bromwich Albion | |
(H) | 4 – 2 |
| Sat Apr 25 2009 | Everton | |
(A) | 2 – 1 |
| Sat May 02 2009 | Blackburn Rovers | |
(H) | 3 – 1 |
| Sun May 10 2009 | Manchester United | |
(A) | 0 – 2 |
PREDICTION:
Most predictions across the internet have Spurs down as getting the three points tomorrow, but I expect a tight clash. We will miss Palicios desperately, and I don’t think a 5-3-2 formation is attacking enough. Elano’s long shots could trouble Gomes and Aaron Lennon’s absence will be felt. I’ve got the game down as a 2-1 City win with Huddlestone opening the scoring before Petrov and Elano secure the win for City.
And finally…The race for 7th place.
FULHAM travel to St. James’ Park in the hope of securing a Europa League spot. Newcastle are celebrating their first win under Alan Shearer, after beating rivals Middlesbrough 3-1 this week. One more win would all but complete Newcastle’s escape from relegation, and the Magpies will probably fancy their chances against a team notoriously bad on the road. I’m hoping Newcastle do us a favour, 2-1 to the Magpies. Meanwhile, WEST HAM are away to Everton, the team that held us last week. Everton have one eye on the F.A Cup final against Chelsea and are expected to rest a number of players, giving West Ham the chance to regain the 7th place spot. I think West Ham will triumph 3-1.
Very good preview, even though it could do with going over with spellcheck.
I am a little concerned over the lack of goals we have been scoring in recent weeks, and have not been impressed with the way Keane has played since his return. It will also be interesting to see if we go with the formation you have posted, or a 4-4-2 with Modric and Hutton on the wings.
A really great preview and very well set out. It’s interesting to compare your thoughts for the game to those of Steven on the Manchester City blog. He went for a 2-2 draw.
How did you get the lines to separate the different sections to work? I’m off to try and figure it out now.
Very good preview. Although I am a little concerned about our lack of goals, and have not been impressed with Keane sinc3e his return. I would go for a 1-0 or a 0-0.
It will also be interesting to see how we line up, whether it is your formation, or a 4-4-2 with Hutton and Modric on the wings.
Thanks for the kind words I*T*P*L. It’s nice to know that someone likes your work- especially someone like yourself, who runs a very good, popular blog. As for the line spacing, when you are writing just highlight the line you want to stand out and select “heading” from the toolbar, rather than the format option. It should be the bottom left icon on your writing options. I have just read Stevens preview and all the comments beneath, and really am surprised by how many people who think Spurs will win. I really think City stand a chance- though I am always incredibly pessimistic when it comes to Spurs!
Thanks Luka. I would agree that Keane has been a little dissapointing since his return, hopefully he’ll get off the mark today. As for the formation, I sincerely hope we go for a 4-4-2, though most websites have us down as going 5-3-2.
Very good preview (coming from a City fan) you should have put 6 or 7 past us today…Pav played awful for you and I noticed he ran/sprinted straight down the tunnel. I think he is on his way out without a doubt!
Thanks, if you don’t mind I might try that out some time.
It seems you were too pessimistic, but it was only a dodgy penalty that could win it for you!
Cheers Matt. I agree, we should have scored more- City didn’t really seem up for it. As for Pav, I wouldn’t be too unhappy if he left and we replaced him with Santa Cruz, though I think City are favourites to sign him.
Yeah i think so, very injury prone though, dont you think?