*** PSV v SPURS *** Official Match Thread

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After last weeks match which was not an easy as some predicted we will needed to be at our best to get a positive result tonight. Thankfully the result at the weekend was just the kind of performance to build on going into this game with every chance of progressing to the next round. As PSV manager said this tie is worthy of the champions league and hopefully in a couple of seasons time it will be.


The Official Site Team News:

Jonathan Woodgate and Jermaine Jenas have made the trip to Eindhoven and trained at the Philips Stadium on Tuesday evening.

Woody was substituted late on against West Ham having suffered a foot injury, while JJ missed out on Sunday with an ankle injury sustained in the first leg against PSV at White Hart Lane. Skipper Ledley King is also in contention after sitting out the victory over the Hammers.

Younes Kaboul (knee) and Ricardo Rocha (groin) have not travelled, while Alan Hutton is ineligible. Gareth Bale (foot) and Benoit Assou-Ekotto (knee) remain long-term absentees.

Setanta Sports Preview:

Juande Ramos will look to keep his Uefa Cup Midas Touch intact when he takes his Tottenham side to Eindhoven on Thursday, needing to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit.

Ramos has won the competition for the past two years with Sevilla and has already enhanced his reputation as a knockout specialist by guiding Spurs to Carling Cup glory last month.
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Ironically, Ramos could have been up against his White Hart Lane predecessor if Martin Jol had not decided that succeeding Ronald Koeman at PSV was too soon after he had been manoeuvred out of North London.

Instead, Ramos will be forced to pit himself against Sef Vergoossen, who has picked up where Koeman left off by putting PSV in pole position to claim their second successive Eredivisie title.

Vergoossen is likely to have Ibrahim Afellay available from the start, despite the key midfielder struggling to train this week, as he looks to preserve a 1-0 lead and ensure a smooth progression to the last eight.

Ramos meanwhile will be without January signing Alan Hutton who is cup-tied, but has received a major defensive boost.

Ledley King was forced to settle for a place on the bench against West Ham on Sunday, while Jonathan Woodgate limped off with a foot injury, but both have boarded the flight to Holland.

The game has been given the go-ahead despite fears that a recent police strike would force its postponement.

Prediction: 1-1

BBC Match Squads (take with a pinch of salt):

Tottenham Squad (from): Robinson, Cerny, Chimbonda, Lee, Tainio, Woodgate, King, Dawson, O'Hara, Zokora, Jenas, Huddlestone, Taarabt, Lennon, Malbranque, Boateng, Berbatov, Keane, Bent.

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Right, that's enough fuel for this fixture, kick off is at 15:00 GMT - check [thread=28583]Geez's Media Coverage Thread[/thread] for watching and listening options.

COME ON YOU SPURS!

[SIZE=-4]Lots of information courtesy of the BBC and SkySports[/SIZE]


[SIZE=-4]Don't forget to head over to SC's live chat during the game. For more info click the banner below.[/SIZE]

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[milkman]

This is a massive game!! I think we can win it, but it will take a lot of effort and some great performances from the team.

COYS

 

[SpurSince57]

51 Years Ago Today

Spurs 4 Bolton Wanderers 1

Spurs had started the season poorly, losing heavily in many of the early games. However, from late October their form had improved and inspired by Bobby Smith’s goal scoring they were making progress in the league. This game showed Smith’s importance to the team as he completed his third hat-trick of the season, giving him seven goals in his last three League games. The other Spurs goal came from Johnny Brooks. Spurs would eventually finish 3rd in the League, something that would have seemed impossible given the early season results.

(Thanks to Topspurs)

Let's hope Berba or Keano can replicate Smithy's exploit tonight.

 

[Kendall]

No Gilberto in that match squad and another site are claiming Ramos has left him at home. However, Poyet said everybody travelled.

 

[Legend10]

I fancy us to score tonight.

For me its going to be about what we do defensively and I think for us to go through Robbo is going to need a massive game.

 

[Kendall]

I too fancy us to score. I think PSV won't really know what to do (sit on it, or attack) a bit like our Sevilla game last year, we didn't know wether to just go all out or be a bit cautious due to letting in an away goal (untill Sevilla decided that one for us).

However we know we have to attack from the off, we NEED an early goal, that will set their nerves going. It's up to Lennon & Berba in particular to have a frightening opening 20 minutes.

 

[PT]

I think that our bench will play a huge part in this game later on. If it's not going our way or if it's at stalemate it'll want someone like Bent coming on and offering a different approach to maybe be the eky to winning this match.

 

[Legend10]

It won't happen but I would be very tempted to play Bent tonight.

they have 2 pretty small central defenders and I think that Berba & Bent would give them nightmares in the air. The problem with this is who is going to supply the quality of ball in there for them.

 

[Kendall]

Benty will be a hero tonight.

 

[degoose]

its an interesting one because we know we can score a lot and they are only up by 1 goal, if we score 1 then its 1-1 and onto extra time. If it goes 2-1 to us so 2-2 all in total do we win on away goals

 

[Stoof]

Benty will be a hero tonight.

I would love that to happen. Really would. Comes on at 1-1 and scores a last minute wondergoal to send us through. Schoolboy's own stuff!

 

[recklessyido]

This where you will all see Ramos's magic touch tonight. 2 - 1

 

[nicdic]

Yeah I would love nothing more than Darren Bent to score the goal that puts us through, get some of the fans off his back, and let him get on with his game.

 

[deselina]

psv will attack all out (since they play at home) in the first half and then rely on their defence once they have scored.

it will be either 2 - 1 spurs or 1 - 0 psv imho.

 

[DC_Boy]

most of the papers seem to think TT will play RB (perhaps LB) - I wonder if he'll push on quite a bit to make it a kinda 5 in the mid to help combat their 4-5-1?

 

[tRiKS]

The bent stuff is romantic but not realistic... if we win it will becasue Berbatov turns up. Or to put it another way if Berb plays his best spurs will win.

I think Berbatov is gonna be amazing tonight

 

[Legend10]

most of the papers seem to think TT will play RB (perhaps LB) - I wonder if he'll push on quite a bit to make it a kinda 5 in the mid to help combat their 4-5-1?

Hi DC, I'm going to go for him playing O'Hara at LB.

I think he knows that they have a problem defending high balls into the box and O'Hara can offer us good delivery from that side.

 

[recklessyido]

I think this is a game for TT to play.. loves the hard tackling and he does a better job for me where ever he plays. Under rated player imo..

Robinson

Zokora King Woodgate Chimbonda

Lennon Tianio Hudd Steeeeeeeeeeeeeed

Keane Berbatov

Id love for tianio or someone like bent or taraabt to get us the winning goal.. but id play Hudd forward and let TT stay back.. i think with Toms balls (if he can provide them) keane and berb would have a field day

Thats what spurs is all about living the dream

 

[Daredevil]

Also read that Gilberto has remained in London to train. Hope that doesn't knock his confidence too much.

If that means Lee could get a game, hope he's been training hard during his absence from the first team as we could just be swapping like for like!

I think either O'Hara or Tainio will play at full back.

 

[wildheart]

zokora :bang: