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mawspurs
28-11-2006, 04:08 PM
Tottenham manager Martin Jol admits "it is not easy" away from home in the Premiership but he has called on his players to break their duck at Arsenal on Saturday.

Source: Sporting Life

Spurs have turned their season around with a run of 14 games with just one defeat but they are yet to win on their travels in the league, while Arsenal have not lost at their new Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners were unbeaten at home against their north London rivals for their final 13 years at Highbury and despite struggling for wins at their new ground, their unbeaten record at the Emirates makes Spurs' task even tougher.

"Overall in all competitions we have done very well but we need wins away from home and that is a fact," said Jol, whose side defeated Wigan at White Hart Lane on Sunday.

"We haven't yet and we need to start winning on our travels but it is not easy.

"We are not playing the way we would really like to yet."

With more than a third of the campaign gone, no club outside the top two have recorded more than three away wins, meaning there are plenty of opportunities to climb into European contention with a run of away wins.

Spurs' worst performance of the season came at Reading, where a win would have put them in the shake-up to push for the Champions League qualification they just missed out on last May.

By reaching the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup and the knock-out stages of the UEFA Cup, Jol has had to utilise his squad, which the Dutchman believes has affected his side.

"You can't expect us to play immaculate football if we have to make changes in a particular area," Jol said on official website spurs.co.uk.

"We have to work on our midfield play, we have to work on our passing to the forward players, which sometimes is good and sometimes a little sloppy."

Jol has had to cope with injuries to striker Mido and midfielder Jermaine Jenas but Spurs still remain handily placed after breaking into the top half of the table.

Jol added: "Results-wise we must be happy.

"If you play 14 games and win 10 with three draws you should be pleased, but it was that particular match against Reading which did us no favours.

"If we had won that we would have been in a terrific situation."

doom
28-11-2006, 05:10 PM
we have not lost at the Emirates either and hopefully it will stay that way

Davesko
28-11-2006, 05:36 PM
I'm praying for a whole lot of rain this week so I don't have to play footy on Saturday and miss the big game - am so excited about it already.

Ohhhhhh when the Spuuuuuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrsssssssssssssss sss............

longdistancespursfan
28-11-2006, 05:49 PM
The arse arent firing on all cylinders there so this is a great oppertunity to take the points. some average teams have gone there and taken at least a point and thats the minimum we should take.

shelfsideyido
28-11-2006, 08:23 PM
This is the perfect oppertunity for the boys 2 get one over the scum and yeah your right were unbeaten at the new libary so bring on saturday lunchtime!!!! :beer:

ravo
28-11-2006, 10:09 PM
Can't wait for this. The boys have proven that they can be up for the big games.

COYS

TajSpur
29-11-2006, 09:43 AM
I fancy us to win. For the first time in ages the lads would have had a whole week off, while the scum travel to Fulham tonight. Hopefully Michael Brown can launch into a few gut-wrenching challenges and take out a few of their players, erm like Henry, Rosicky, Fabregas...

SouthLondonSpur
29-11-2006, 10:12 AM
Cant wait. Been invited by my old boss to his scummy box. I am now his client, and he wants my buisness. Better put a word in to the Arse defence then so they dont show up again!

I am so up for this, shame i have to behave.....

SouthLondonSpur
29-11-2006, 10:14 AM
PS - Come on Routledge and Fulham!

Cruyff
29-11-2006, 10:51 AM
Who thinks we look more balanced now with Malbranque on the left? Or is it because Zok & Hudd are doing better than Jenas? Will Jenas really walk straight back into the team?

danielneeds
29-11-2006, 12:13 PM
I've just go a feeling we will be the first team to win a league match at the Emirates, and break our away day hoodo at the same time.

It just seems kind of fated. Hope I'm right!

gloryglory
29-11-2006, 01:13 PM
Who thinks we look more balanced now with Malbranque on the left? Or is it because Zok & Hudd are doing better than Jenas? Will Jenas really walk straight back into the team?

I'm not sure we do look more balanced with Malbranque on the left. I like to think that in time we will, but actually Steed's only started about 4 games, and half of those were pretty poor performances by the team. We looked most balanced against Chelsea, with three in the middle and Keane on the left.

We certainly look more balanced with Lennon on the right rather than the left. I don't think that individually Malbranque has contributed as much as Ghaly, the player whose place he's taken, but the team has benefitted from moving Lennon back to the right. Also, Malbranque will get better as he gets fitter and more used to his teammates.

And lastly, I think the central midfield has got worse not better since Jenas got injured. Huddlestone has massive potential but was poor at Reading and Blackburn - Tainio looked a better option to me based on the Leverkusen game. But Jenas was on fire when he got injured and certainly ought to come back in when fit.

For me, Lennon should be first choice on the right, Zokora and Jenas in the centre, and the choice should be between Tainio and Malbranque on the left. Maybe TT in away games and Malbranque at home?

PS I also like the 4-5-1 with Keane and Lennon wide: in that situation, Huddlestone would be one of my three central midfielders, along with Zokora and Jenas or Malbranque.