Spurs Confident Ahead Of Derby

[mawspurs]

SPURS NEWS

Tottenham manager Martin Jol believes his in-form team are good enough to end 13 years without an away win over north London rivals Arsenal.

source - xtramsn

The two clubs line up on Saturday for their first Premier League clash at the new Emirates Stadium with Spurs seeking a first win over Arsene Wenger's team in 14 meetings, home and away.

"I don't want to overestimate them, or to underestimate them but, yes, you can say I am pretty confident," Dutchman Jol told a news conference on Thursday.

Spurs have not beaten Arsenal anywhere in league action since a 2-1 victory at White Hart Lane on November 13, 1999. They have not won at Arsenal since a 3-1 league win at Highbury in May 1993.

Jol said he had not spoken to his Arsenal counterpart Arsene Wenger since a bad-tempered touchline spat during last season's 1-1 draw at Highbury, a result that led to Arsenal taking the fourth and final Champions League qualifying spot at Tottenham's expense.

"I have not spoken to him since that incident," said Jol, who added that he did not classify Wenger as a friend but would shake hands and chat to him on Saturday.

"I don't have mates," he said, in answer to a question about his friends in English football. "Well, I suppose Chris (Hughton, his assistant) is a mate and I talk a lot to (Jose) Mourinho."

Jol added that his antipathy towards Wenger did not prevent him from respecting the quality of football that the Frenchman's Arsenal teams have produced in the last decade.

Although Arsenal have lost their last two matches, Jol said: "I feel they still have a great team and this season, too, I still feel they play the best football in England.

"But results-wise if you don't score - and Arsenal do struggle sometimes to score - then it is difficult to win the games you play."

Arsenal are sixth in the table with 22 points from 14 matches, 16 behind leaders Manchester United, who have played a game more. Tottenham are 11th in 19 points.

Jol said he though Spurs and Arsenal were at a similar level, but that his team lacked a player of special quality to make the difference in tight and close games.

"It would be different if we had Thierry Henry or a player like (Wayne) Rooney," he said. "Maybe (Aaron) Lennon or (Dimitar) Berbatov will make a difference for us in the future."

Spurs captain Ledley King has been suffering from a virus but should be fit to play.

[Tricky]

Got to agree with that last sentiment - If we had a player of magic quality that could turn tight games we would REALLY challenge the top instead of flirting with it. And the two players he named (Lennon and Berbatov) could become these impact players.

God im nervous about tomorrow.........

[SouthLondonSpur]

I dont believe this Henry sciatic nerve injury. Sounds like smoke and mirrors to me, in order to put us at ease going into the fixture.

He'll be leading them out tomorrow, and i for one hope we do beat them with him playing. It makes for a more balanced scalp.

But to be honest, I'll be happy with any type of win over the Arse.

[beuller]

Yeah, the injury claim is pretty dubioous. Every year he says it.

Now the big suspense will be who willl Jol choose to partner Berbatov.

[davidmatzdorf]

So what's the difference between Henry's "sciatic nerve injury" and King's "virus". No difference at all. Henry has a sore back. King has a bellyache. Sounds better if they call it something more creative.

Every manager gets interviewed before important games about which of their key players is marginally fit and every manager tries to disarm the opposition by sowing doubt about whom they will be facing.

It's just normal service. People only get all frothed up about it when it's Arsenal or Chelsea doing it. We do the same.

[walworthyid]

Interesting that he "talks to mourinho alot"?

For the third derby in a row we go into the game on a level footing with them and only home advantage gives them the edge. If we were playing at whl we would be strong favourites.

We can win this game no question, as the great andre agassi used to say we need to execute, if we do, we win.

Something that has changed since last season is our ability to play on the break, we have lennon, malbranque and defoe who combined with berbo's vision and skill can turn defence into attack in a flash. Also, chimbo and ekotto can both support at pace, this will be important tomorrow because we will need to face sustained periods of pressure. If we offer that threat on the break they may be less inclined to pour forward.

I hope it is a good game and that we win fair and square but as long as we give it our all and play well I will be content.

COYS

[gloryglory]

"I don't have mates." I love it. He makes a brilliant hard man. The only trouble is that everybody can see that he's big and cuddly really.

I don't think I've ever had this amount of affection for, or pride in, a Spurs manager. Even the Arsenal fans I know respect him.

Although I hope the players are smart enough to know that his quotes are taken out of context - such as the one about not having a "special player". By only naming Lennon and Berbatov, he could easily offend Keane (who has been our "special player" in recent seasons) and Defoe (who should have been).

Anyone else remember Santini saying Defoe could be our Henry?

[Azrael]

Can't see Henry not playing and after the scum have been subjected to two straight defeats I think we'll have a real struggle to pull one over them at Arsebandit Grove considering its a derby.

[spurs4europe]

"I don't have mates." I love it. He makes a brilliant hard man. The only trouble is that everybody can see that he's big and cuddly really.

I don't think I've ever had this amount of affection for, or pride in, a Spurs manager. Even the Arsenal fans I know respect him.

Although I hope the players are smart enough to know that his quotes are taken out of context - such as the one about not having a "special player". By only naming Lennon and Berbatov, he could easily offend Keane (who has been our "special player" in recent seasons) and Defoe (who should have been).

Anyone else remember Santini saying Defoe could be our Henry?

i'm pretty sure that was jol at the beginning of last season. and perhaps that was his clue by only naming berbs and lennon thats a clue that keane won't be playing on saturday.(tenuous link, i know).

[avonspurs]

Just appeared on BBC News - Henry out of derby game!!! :rofl:

[littlemandefoe]

Yep...Henry out of the game :)

[Kurtzen]

"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."(BMJ yesterday)

Jol said he though Spurs and Arsenal were at a similar level, but that his team lacked a player of special quality to make the difference in tight and close games.

"It would be different if we had Thierry Henry or a player like (Wayne) Rooney," he said. "Maybe (Aaron) Lennon or (Dimitar) Berbatov will make a difference for us in the future."


Why did i waste all that waffle yesterday. It was all here in the first place. Not so alone.:hello: