Newcastle United will face off against Tottenham Hotspur tomorrow at the Sports Direct Arena. Both teams have gone through major changes over the summer, especially Tottenham Hotspur, who have a new manager in Andre Villas-Boas and some new players. With
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Luka-Modric-c22857’s exit imminent, Spurs have a gaping void to fill, but will be relying on new signings Gylfi Sigurdsson to deliver against the Magpies.
Villas-Boas will be looking forward to his first competitive win as Spurs manager as he looks to make his mark in the Premier League, having failed with http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chelsea-c38786 last season.
Newcastle United
Newcastle United have made a number of signings. The club got promising youngsters Curtis Good, Gael Bigirimana and Frenchman Romain Amalfitano. However, manager http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Alan-c4244 Pardew failed to land his high priority targets up until he signed Dutch ace Vurnon Anita.
He has still failed to land Lille’s http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Douglas-c11600.
Anita brings much needed depth and versatility to the Newcastle squad, which is currently threatened by injuries. Pardew could well be without the likes of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Demba-Ba-c10812 for tomorrow’s opener against Tottenham. Papiss
Demba Cisse is also a major doubt for tomorrow, pending the results of a late fitness test.
Captain and defender Fabricio Coloccini is however back in the side and this will be some sort of relief for the manager. All four of the new signings are ready to make their debut, though Newcastle will still not be able to put out their strongest team.
Tim Krul will start the game in goal while Coloccini, Mike Williamson, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Davide-Santon-c10658 and Ryan Taylor will start at the back. The midfield will probably comprise of Gael Bigirimana filling in for Tiote and Anita making his debut alongside the former Coventry
man. Amalfitano will start in the hole as the main attacking outlet and Gutierrez and Marveaux may be deployed on the wings.
Up front, Newcastle are currently without both their Senegalese strikers that would've been deployed in a 4-4-2 formation. Expect Shola Ameobi to start as sole striker tomorrow.
Tottenham Hotspur
Spurs will be without Luka Modric, who has been left out of the squad as he waits on a conclusion regarding his proposed move to Real Madrid. The North London side still have a very impressive side, especially with new signings Jan Vertonghen and Gylfi Sigurdsson.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Michael-Dawson-c25288 and Benoit Assou-Ekotto. Scott Parker will miss the game on account of surgery to his ankle, but Sandro may start in his position.
Spurs will surely miss Modric in the centre, but will have http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Tom-Huddlestone-c35227 filling in.
Icelandic international Gylfi Sigurdsson will be the man to watch out for as he makes his debut in the hole, playing right behind the wingers and the striker. On the wings, Spurs will have http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Jermain-Defoe-c18359 as striker.
Tottenham are dangerously short staffed in the striker department at the moment, with Defoe the only senior striker available. However, the England international has been in good form and just scored a screamer for http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Italy-c2926 on Wednesday night.
The game will be fiercely contested, but Newcastle may have problems due to their weak squad and their injury problems may make it a tough game to win. However, being at home, they just may be able to get a result. Tottenham have been impressive in pre-season,
and have an almost completer squad that will not be afraid of getting up in the opposition’s faces. The man to watch out for will be Gylfi Sigurdsson for Tottenham and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Vurnon-Anita-c36486 for Newcastle.
Tags: