English Premier League – Match Preview: Tottenham versus Wolverhampton Wanderers
After beginning their European Cup journey in mid-week, Tottenham are all set to take on Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday in what will be the fifth league match of the season for both the English sides. The start of the English Premier League season has
brought forward different dilemmas for both the managers; different in nature but similar in context.
Tottenham’s manager Harry Redknapp will be looking to rest some of his keys stars at the weekend after his team drew in mid-week against Werder Bremen in Germany in one of the UEFA Champions’ League opening group stage matches. Against Werder, Tottenham
were solid in attack but liquid at the back. After getting a two goal lead in the first half of the match, Hotspurs capitulated and allowed the German team back into the match as Bremen scored two goals to get a draw at the end.
Earlier on in the season, Tottenham faced problems when they deployed their conventional 4-4-2 formation in Europe. Since then, their manager has changed his side’s shape to a conservative 4-5-1, which works well in Europe but sometimes can be too pragmatic
in domestic league games where teams defend deep.
Harry and Tottenham have had mixed results in the English Premier League so far. Against Manchester City in their first match of the season, Tottenham dominated but failed to take their chances as the match ended in a goalless draw. The most surprising result
of Tottenham’s season so far as been against Wigan. The whipping boys of the English Premier League, Roberto Martinez’s side grabbed an unlikely win at White Hart Lane against the Hotspurs.
From four matches so far, Tottenham have only gathered a mere five points and in the current English Premier League, they have only managed to score three goals; something that Harry will be looking to rectify sooner rather than later. A rough and tough
start to the season compelled Redknapp to dip into the transfer window at the deadline day and sign Rafael Van Der Vaart from Real Madrid for 8 million pounds. Rafael is likely to feature for Tottenham at the weekend as his new club side look to get another
3 points on the board.
Tottenham will be without their prolific goal scorer Jermaine Defoe while Luka Modric is also a doubt for the game due to the leg injury he sustained in Hotspur’s previous league game against West Bromwich Albion. Against West Bromwich, a team that should
have been beaten by Tottenham, Harry’s men only succeeded in achieving a draw at the Hawthorns stadium. Conversely, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Tottenham’s opponents on Saturday have come in for severe criticism this season due to their over aggressive approach.
In their last match against Fulham and despite suffering a last minute loss, Wolves left a bad mark on the game as their captain injured Bobby Zamora with a horrific challenge.
Since then, Mick McCarthy has come out in the media and defended his teams approach to the game which has been physical to say the least. Wolves were relegation contenders last season but this season they have been touted as a mid table side. McCarthy has
turned the club around and turned them into an organized defensive outfit which is adept to winning forceful midfield battles.
This corresponding fixture finished in a win for Wolves last season - a result that they will welcome with open arms once again. The Wanderers do not have many injury troubles but they will be without their defender Christophe Berra who will miss the match
due to his suspension which comes courtesy of the red card awarded to him against Fulham.
Michael Dawson, Jonathan Woodgate and Jamie O’Hara are confirmed absentees for Tottenham as the English trio has been sidelined due to different injuries. If common sense prevails then Tottenham will end up as winners but it seldom does at the White Hart
Lane. Wolves can be a good bet to get a draw against a tired Tottenham side that travelled all the way to Germany and back in mid-week.
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