Part 3: Experts Predictions for the weekend
Most teams that have a bad run in during the mid week Champions League clashes tend to take that bad form into the following matches in their domestic leagues. The players also tend to be much more tired, physically drained and their mental condition usually leads to upsets in the coming few games that those teams play in.
For years now, the top teams in the English flight have been suffering from this Champion League hangover and now Tottenham for the first time in the teams’ career will have to go through this phase. Tottenham face Stoke last season and their away game at Britannia Stadium was one of the toughest games that the team played.
However, even after coming home after losing to the Young Boys, Tottenham are highly unlikely to falter at the Britannia Stadium this season. The fatigue level of the players might be the only real thing concerning the manager. It does not however mean that Tottenham will be flat on their back in the English Premier League during August. Experts state that Tottenham will be able to put away Stoke with ease. Stoke were beaten by Wolves on the opening day of fixtures and they haven’t made any significant changes to suggest that the team might produce a different result against Tottenham.
Tottenham in fact will be looking to channel all their redemption towards the first team they face. Unfortunately for Stoke, they just happen to be that team.
Stoke however might just happen to pull off a major upset and cause Tottenham to grow even more frustrated. Stoke’s multi-million pound signing. Moreover, new boy Kenwyne Jones didn’t have the dream start to his Stoke career that he was hoping for and would be looking to prove a point against Tottenham.
However Tottenham have a few players on their side that will be looking to prove their worth. Gareth Bale had a fantastic opening game but was constantly denied by Joe Hart followed by the wood work. Jermaine Defoe had a similar opening day as the striker had a decent game but just couldn’t get a goal past the inform Joe Hart. Both those players along with the rest of Tottenham will be looking to prove just why they grabbed the final Champions League spot.
Experts are predicting that the score line at the end of the day will read two goals to nil in Tottenham’s favour. However they also claim that there is an outside chance of Stoke managing to frustrate the team and hold on to a nil all draw.
One thing that everyone will easily acknowledge is the fact that Manchester City posses a great attacking line-up. However, it’s looking more than likely that the team would be shut out when they face Liverpool. Manchester City failed to really threaten Tottenham on the attack and with Liverpool boasting a much stronger back four it looks highly unlikely that the team would manage to break through the resilient team, unless major changes were brought to the side.
Shaun Wright-Phillips seemed to be out of position and didn’t seem like he belonged on the pitch with the rest of the squad. Experts believe that Roberto Mancini would have easily noted this fact and will be looking to field Adam Johnson instead.
On the other hand, the opening weekend proved to be a positive one for the Reds. They held onto the tie with Arsenal even though they were fielding only ten men for the second half.
It is a more than obvious fact that both teams will be playing some great football, however experts strongly feel that neither team will be able to produce the finishing product and both the teams will be held on to record their second draw in two weeks.
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