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Coming hot on
the heels of a game against Arsenal, who needed points to
stay in the title chase, we now face West Bromwich Albion
who are mid-table on 39 points, but are looking for another
three of four to make their position in the Premier League
safe for next season.
Spurs are at
least scoring goals again, after a barren spell. Three
in each of our last league games have been a marked
improvement and while we are still leaking them at the back,
it is the lack of goals for that have been costing us
points. Hopefully, the scoring can continue, with Pav
and Crouch looking a decent pairing up top, with van der
Vaart given a place nominally on the right, but
realistically, it is more of a floating role.
Against West
Bromwich Albion, I will expect another tough battle, as they
have been transformed from a side capable of winning on
their day, even against top sides to one who can be
organised and difficult to beat on a run of games under new
manager Roy Hodgson. They have drawn a few, including
a 2-2 with Arsenal, but then have beaten Sunderland and
Liverpool, but last time out lost 1-3 to Chelsea.
One weak link
in the Albion team is goalkeeper Scott Carson, who has been
around for a number of years, but has always been weak on
his positioning. In games against him in the past for
Charlton, Liverpool and Leeds, he has proved to be suspect,
especially on his near post. He is a good shot
stopper, but not so confident on crosses, so the playing of
Crouch might test him in coming for high balls.
The Albion
defence has tightened up under Hodgson, whereas, when
Roberto Di Matteo was manager they were put under pressure
more, with the team playing a more attacking game.
Now, the likes of Olsson, Cech, Shorey, Zuiverloon, Meite
and Tamas give Albion a defence that has some experience and
who are responding well to Hodgson's coaching. Tamas
is a Romanian, who has played infrequently for Albion this
season, but is a dogged full back, who can do a useful job
for the team. Shorey has played in the top flight with
Reading and Aston Villa and his move to the Hawthorns has
given him a new lease of life. Once looked at by
Spurs, he has found it tough battling away in a relegation
battle, but he has been there before and has a good turn of
pace, enjoying lining up with the attacks on the flank.
Jonas Olsson is a strong central defender, who takes a lot
of the ball in the air and takes no prisoners with his
tackling. Marek Cech is similar, but the Slovakian
sometimes is rash in his timing and can lead to him picking
up cards from fouls. Abdoulaye Meite is another big
centre-half who wins a lot in the air and can be dangerous
at set-pieces at the other end for WBA. Spurs might
have some joy, as Crouch will be more of a handful than most
forwards for the central defenders, while Pav will pull them
about. Zuiverloon has been an infrequent inclusion in
the side this season, with only 10 appearances, but he is
another strong full back, but again, like Cech, he can be
impetuous. Gonzalo Jara is another option and this
tough tackling Chilean is a fearsome opponent.
Paul Scharner
has also featured in defence, but also in midfield for the
Baggies. The former Wigan player has Premier League
experience and was sought after when he decided to move on
form the JJB stadium, but he has found it difficult to
settle in one position and he might be most useful to Albion
in defence, where his aerial ability would be put to it's
best effect. Alongside him in midfield, Albion have
seen the development of a rising star in Graham Dorrans, who
is a quick footed cot, who has the passing ability to spread
play and can hit a sweet dead ball. Much coveted by
other clubs, he is a key to their goal-scoring success, with
an number of assists, but it appears his season may be
finished with an ankle injury. As has Jerome Thomas, a
former Gooner youth teamer, who has been playing well on the
wing and has chipped in with goals to this season.
Nippy and has a trick or two, he will be looking to attack
Corluka whenever he gets the ball. Steven Reid looked
like he might have to retire with a succession of injuries,
but he helped Albion reach the Premier League and is
enjoying his renaissance, with some effective performances,
while Chris Brunt has also put in a lot of work, but he is
more noted for his passing and long-range shooting. An
all-action midfielder, the Northern Ireland international
has made a name for himself and is one of the players Spurs
will need to watch, with his late runs into the box from
deep positions. Former Middlesbrough winger James
Morrison has had a frustrating time at West Brom ,with a
heel injury making him miss the bulk of last season, but he
has shown that he works the line well and can score
spectacular goals, bringing him Scotland caps after
representing England at all levels except playing for the
senior side.
Cameroonian
Somen Tchhoyi has often featured coming on as a substitute
to give some solidity in midfield, while Youssef Mulumbu is
a Congolese international midfielder of the sort that
Hodgson likes, providing a strong, physical presence in the
middle of the pitch and former Derby midfielder Giles Barnes
gives Hodgson attacking possibilities from the bench.
Up front,
Peter Odemwingie has proven a success on his move from
Lokomotiv Moscow. A fast, mobile striker, he can score
all types of goals and is best in and around the box.
Can be difficult to pick up, making good runs off the ball,
so Dawson and Gallas will need to be aware of where he is.
Alongside him up front has been former Swindon Town striker
Simon Cox or Marc-Antoine Fortune. Little and large,
Cox and Fortune have different abilities, with the former a
live-wire, who scores the mot outrageous goals and is a
nuisance, while Fortune is more of a target man; tall and
good in the air. Either can link effectively with
Odemwingie and while it may be that Hodgson sets up with
only one up front to start with, the introduction of either
from the bench will pose different problems for our
defenders. One other striker available to the manager
is on loan Carlos Vela from Arsenal, who has been on the
score-sheet for the Baggies, but is not a regular starter.
The Mexican makes good runs and is a decent finisher, but
sometimes fails to get involved once the going gets a bit
physical.
Albion are a
different proposition under Hodgson and can cause problems
on the break, with some pacy players, but if Tottenham are
in the mood to play the way they did against Stoke (minus
the goals we let in), then there is no reason why they can't
gather another three points ...
PREDICTION
: - Tottenham Hotspur 2
West Bromwich Albion 1
For more information on
the opponents and their history, including full result history of
matches between the two teams, click
here.
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