*** MAN CITY v SPURS *** Carling Cup Match Thread

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A shortened version of the Match thread due to Skysports.com and Setanta not having a preview for the match. If one does appear I will add it later. So on to the match, our record against Man City is very respectable so hopefully this trend will continue as we progress to the next round in a competition that give us the best chance of some silverware.


The Official Site Team News:

Darren Bent is the only fresh doubt for Juande Ramos going into tonight's (Tuesday December 18) Carling Cup quarter-final at Manchester City.

First team coach Gus Poyet reported that the striker picked up a slight hip problem at Portsmouth but refused to rule him out on Monday.

Robbie Keane serves the last of his three-match suspension while five defenders - Michael Dawson, Ledley King, Ricardo Rocha, Gareth Bale and Benoit Assou-Ekotto - remain out.

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

Tottenham Squad (from): Robinson, Chimbonda, Zokora, Kaboul, Lee, Lennon, Jenas, Tainio, Boateng, Malbranque, Berbatov, Bent, Defoe, Stalteri, O'Hara, Taarabt, Dawson, Cerny.

Squad (from): Hart, Corluka, Dunne, Richards, Garrido, Ball, Etuhu, Hamann, Fernandes, Johnson, Petrov, Elano, Vassell, Bianchi, Samaras, Geovanni, Isaksson, Onuoha, Sun.

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Right, that's enough fuel for this fixture, don't forget to check [thread=24242]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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[Michey]

I'd like to see and it's quite obvious that the lineup will be;

Robinson

Chimbonda - Kaboul - Zokora - Lee

Lennon - Jenas - Boateng - Malbranque

Defoe - Berbatov

 

[DC_Boy]

An absolute perfect example of why we need 4 strikers - if Bent is a doubt JD starts -

it was alwys likely there would come a time when 2 of our strikers were unavailable- i hope today isn't that day - but if it is we're covered (to start with anyway - and much better than if we were down to 1 striker to begin with)

 

[joevictory]

I'd like to see and it's quite obvious that the lineup will be;

Robinson

Chimbonda - Kaboul - Zokora - Lee

Lennon - Jenas - Boateng - Malbranque

Defoe - Berbatov

like the look of this team alot!!

i think in KPB, Jenas might have a midfield partner who he can perform well alongside, what do you reckon?

 

[AlexSkree]

Apparently Elano is back and will start(not good for us) and Joe Hart will start in goal instead of Isaksson(dont matter much). Bianchi is also in frame for another start after goals in the two last games. Can make problems if we dont have Kaboul marking him at all times, as he would muscle out Zokora with ease..

 

[van_Pommel]

I'd love to see O'Hara start on the left ahead of either Lennon or Malwank. I know you'll all dissagree but I'm a risk taker. He who dares wins Rodney!

 

[Bill_Oddie]

O'Hara to start is quite possible, but if (and it's a fairly big if) we do that, I would expect Steve Mallbrank to play centrally with JJ.

With so many players out, the bench will be interesting viewing. Especially as it is a match that may well be settled by the quality of what we can bring on. I would expect at least one or two 'wild cards' to be sitting alongside Cerny.

 

[talkshowhost86]

I'd love to see O'Hara start on the left ahead of either Lennon or Malwank. I know you'll all dissagree but I'm a risk taker. He who dares wins Rodney!

I certainly do disagree considering Malbranque has probably been our best player this season other than Keano.

O'Hara will hopefully be on the bench and will hopefully get another chance to show what he can do, but Lennon and Steed should definitely start.

 

[Stoof]

I certainly do disagree considering Malbranque has probably been our best player this season other than Keano.

O'Hara will hopefully be on the bench and will hopefully get another chance to show what he can do, but Lennon and Steed should definitely start.

Agreed ****face.

 

[Dibby]

I certainly do disagree considering Malbranque has probably been our best player this season other than Keano.

O'Hara will hopefully be on the bench and will hopefully get another chance to show what he can do, but Lennon and Steed should definitely start.

Exactly. Although, I would like to see Taarabt on the bench.

 

[OllieD]

City's 100% home record is much overrated. Take a look at the fixtures they've played. Only Man Utd was a tough one and, I think everyone will agree, Man Utd had enough chances to win 3 matches.

Obviously it is still impressive they haven't slipped up, but I reckon we have a better chance than people think.

 

[SpursManChris]

It will definitely be a tough one, especially with Elano back, who could very easily cause instant worries for a shaky defence but hopefully ours will remain in improved form. We all know what we're like with conceding long range shots and well, many of you should know what Elano is like at taking them. Elano should be ours not Shitty's. Ideal player. Thanks Comolli for the quality scouting.

 

[MrSparky]

elano's just come back from a lengthy layoff - hopefully he'll be a little out of sorts tonight. hopefully.
I dont think ohara should start but would like to see him given the last 20 mins.

 

[SpursManChris]

I'd love to know why Taarabt hasn't at least been brought on as a sub once under Ramos. He gambled with O'hara, so why not Taarabt? He has undeniable flair and the sort of player I would have thought Ramos would want to give a go with the hard attacking work ethic he has shown. Yes, he lacks a little maturity with passing etc., but what's the harm of putting him on in a bad situation? I'd like to see him brought on as a sub if things go badly tonight. I feel I'm the only one who still remembers that this boy exists.

 

[jizmaster_zero]

I'd love to know why Taarabt hasn't at least been brought on as a sub once under Ramos. He gambled with O'hara, so why not Taarabt? He has undeniable flair and the sort of player I would have thought Ramos would want to give a go with the hard attacking work ethic he has shown. Yes, he lacks a little maturity with passing etc., but what's the harm of putting him on in a bad situation? I'd like to see him brought on as a sub if things go badly tonight. I feel I'm the only one who still remembers that this boy exists.

He isnt ready yet. Patience...

KPB is going to be some player. You heard it here a long time after everyone in germany knew.

 

[SpursManChris]

He isnt ready yet. Patience...

KPB is going to be some player. You heard it here a long time after everyone in germany knew.

He might not be ready, but that's why I said "what's the harm in a bad situation" to let him on and just run at them with his trickery, try and get the ball past them, work some space and make something happen. He is probably the best midfielder we have at getting around a defender who is pressuring for the ball, i.e trickery, something we don't have all too much of.

 

[worcestersauce]

It's gradually dawning on me how important this game is tonight, this surely must be our best hope of European football next year, won't happen in the league and the FA Cup is always tougher.
We must win this tie, and funnily enough I honestly believe we will

 

[BoringOldFan]

I'd love to know why Taarabt hasn't at least been brought on as a sub once under Ramos. He gambled with O'hara, so why not Taarabt? He has undeniable flair and the sort of player I would have thought Ramos would want to give a go with the hard attacking work ethic he has shown. Yes, he lacks a little maturity with passing etc., but what's the harm of putting him on in a bad situation? I'd like to see him brought on as a sub if things go badly tonight. I feel I'm the only one who still remembers that this boy exists.

I'm going to go with "because he's a one-trick show pony with no end product". Yup, works for me.

Until Trabant learns that there is no "moi" in "equipe" then I don't think he'll fit in with Wendy's plans. Running fast with the ball is no good if you lose it.

Here's the Sky Sports preview of the game. They say for City, Joe Hart will be in goal, Elano will return and Bianchi will start. Ireland is suspended. For us, Dawson may still be out and Deofe "has yet to convince".

 

[chinaman]

I'd like to see and it's quite obvious that the lineup will be;

Robinson

Chimbonda - Kaboul - Zokora - Lee

Lennon - Jenas - Boateng - Malbranque

Defoe - Berbatov

That's the only viable line-up with what we have available.

 

[KeaneIsKeane]

O'hara isn't pacey enough to play on the wing and I don't want to ruin the lads confidence by playing him out of position. Two, this game is going to be tough, can we win? Sure. But realistically we won't. We're still injury ridden, we're missing two strikers, one our top scorer, and we're playing a side that always wins at home who is getting their best player back. Also, I think Man City outplayed us at our place, or maybe they just deserved a draw and were on par with us, but I don't think we deserved that win. Regardless I'm sure it helped our confidence. The Pompey game was extremely encouraging though and if Zokora and Kaboul can continue their form from that game or improve on it, we'll have a good shot and stealing this one. I still feel like this is going to be 3-2 or 2-1 Man City, but its time for the boys to prove me wrong. This game is going to come down to Jenas an Boateng out playing their midfield. Its going to be hard to dominate possession when playing away, but we can't let them pressure and attack us consistently or I fear if they do enough we'll see a defensive error like always. Elano and Petrov are their match winners. They are who we need to slow and take out of the match as much as possible.