- Jul 27, 2004
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- #1
First off I would like to give my thanks to Chuba for all the hard work he has put into the banners that has become an integral part of the Match Thread. Now onto the match, after the performance at the weekend I think we might see a rather different Spurs side against PSV and even though it will be a tough test I think we will be able to get a good result to take to Holland.
The Official Site Team News:
Juande Ramos has a triple boost on the injury front ahead of Thursday's UEFA Cup first leg against PSV.
Gilberto, Michael Dawson and Jonathan Woodgate are all back in full training and in the frame for the Round of 16 tie at the Lane. The second leg follows in Eindhoven on Wednesday week, March 12.
Brazilian international Gilberto has yet to feature after picking up a calf injury in training soon after his arrival at the club from Hertha Berlin in January.
'Daws' suffered the heartbreak of missing out on the Carling Cup Final at Wembley after picking up a hamstring injury at Derby County on February 9.
Meanwhile, final hero 'Woody' actually picked up an ankle sprain in the first half at Wembley, saw the game through and went on to score the winner but missed Saturday's loss at Birmingham City.
Alan Hutton is ineligible as his former club Rangers have dropped into the UEFA Cup as a third-placed finisher in the Champions League.
Benoit Assou-Ekotto (knee) and Gareth Bale (foot) remain injured.
Setanta Sports Preview:
PSV Eindhoven begin the unenviable task of plotting their way past a Juande Ramos side in a cup competition when they travel to White Hart Lane on Thursday.
Ramos earned himself a reputation as somewhat of a cup maestro during his tenure in Sevilla, leading them to Uefa Cup glory twice as well as as the Uefa Super Cup and Copa del Rey.
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The Spaniard now has a third successive Uefa Cup triumph in his sights following last month's Carling Cup win, but must first negotiate the challenge that PSV are likely to present if he is to guide Spurs through to the last eight.
Spurs have emerged as winners on five of the previous ten occasions they have encountered Dutch opposition in Europe, but come face-to-face with a PSV side six points clear at the top of the Eredivisie table.
If Spurs do succeed in finding a way past PSV, they will do so where Arsenal failed – their fierce North London rivals were knocked out of last season’s Champions League in the first knockout phase by the Eindhoven club.
Ramos has undoubtedly injected a degree of impetus into his newly adopted Spurs side since succeeding Martin Jol, but has encountered familiar problems in defence.
A 4-1 defeat at Birmingham on Saturday demonstrated Spurs’ frailty without Jonathan Woodgate and Ledley King, so Ramos will be buoyed by the news that Woodgate and Michael Dawson could be fit for Thursday, whilst January signing Gilberto is ready for his debut.
Brazilian striker Jonathan has been added to PSV’s squad as cover for Danny Koevermans and Danko Lazovic, who are both suffering minor problems but are likely to be passed fit.
Two of Tottenham’s brightest sparks in recent weeks, Jermaine Jenas and Jamie O'Hara, will be walking a fine line as they seek to avoid a booking that would incur them a one-match suspension, while Dirk Marcellis and Danko Lazovic will be treading equally carefully for the visitors.
Prediction: 1-1
BBC Match Squads (take with a pinch of salt):
Tottenham Squad (from): Robinson, Cerny, Chimbonda, Lee, Tainio, Gilberto, Dawson, King, Woodgate, Kaboul, Rocha, Huddlestone, O'Hara, Jenas, Malbranque, Lennon, Zokora, Boateng, Taarabt, Keane, Bent, Berbatov.
3
Right, that's enough fuel for this fixture, kick off is at 20:05 GMT - check [thread=28287]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 Setanta Sports[/SIZE]
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