- Jul 27, 2004
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As we head into our first home game of the season there are still many unanswered questions regarding the team and not only the personnel that will be in the team come midnight on the 1st Sept I also think our favoured starting formation has been settled upon. However I honestly believe that despite that we have the quality to match any team in the league and that although the game today will not be made easier by the fact that their will be three returning ex-spurs playing in a Sunderland side that will be looking to build on an impressive display against Liverpool we should be looking to collect all 3 points at the end of the match and I for one will be disappointed with anything less.
The Official Site Team News:
Tom Huddlestone and Jamie O'Hara are both expected to be fit for Saturday's Barclays Premier League clash with Sunderland despite picking up knocks during the week.
Jamie pulled out of the England Under-21 squad for Tuesday's friendly with Slovenia due to a neck injury, but has since returned to full training.
Tom suffered a knock to his ankle during that match but has trained on his arrival back at Spurs Lodge.
The only likely absentee for Sunderland is Alan Hutton, who remains unavailable with a foot injury.
Skysports.com Preview:
Tottenham and Sunderland will both be hoping to bounce back from opening-day defeats when they lock horns at White Hart Lane.
Juande Ramos' side began the season with high hopes but turned in a disappointing performance as they lost 2-1 at Middlesbrough.
Heurelho Gomes, David Bentley, Luka Modric and Giovani Dos Santos all made their debuts but Spurs looked anything but top-four challengers.
Berbatov dilemma
Ramos may now decide to make changes and he has insisted that Dimitar Berbatov remains in contention for selection.
The Bulgarian striker started on the substitutes' bench against Boro and his future remains unclear after he confirmed this week that joining Manchester United would be a 'dream' move for him.
Ramos' dilemma is that Berbatov was one of the few players to impress last week when he came on for a late appearance, and player and manager are set to meet on Friday to see whether he will come in to partner Darren Bent up front.
Alan Hutton will not be rushed back into action as he recovers from a foot problem, so Didier Zokora may start at right-back once again.
Ledley King's fitness will be assessed before Ramos decides on his central defensive pairing, while Benoit Assou-Ekotto could make way for Gareth Bale on the left.
Duo set for debuts
Sunderland boss Roy Keane has been busy strengthening his squad since the 1-0 defeat to Liverpool last Saturday.
The Black Cats battled hard before Fernando Torres' late strike clinched all three points for The Reds.
Former Liverpool forward Djibril Cisse is hoping to make his debut for Sunderland after completing a loan move from Marseille.
David Healy may also feature after arriving from Fulham, so Daryl Murphy could lose his place in attack.
Pascal Chimbonda, Teemu Tainio and Steed Malbranque are all in contention to face their former club after leaving Tottenham over the summer.
Keane has also hinted that midfielder Dean Whitehead could return to the side after being left out of the starting line-up against Liverpool.
Sky's Possible starting XIs
Tottenham: Gomes, Zokora, Woodgate, King, Assou-Ekotto, Bentley, Modric, Jenas, Bale, Berbatov, Bent
Sunderland: Gordon, Nosworthy, Collins, Bardsley, Chimbonda, Whitehead, Reid, Richardson, Malbranque, Cisse, Diouf
BBC Match Squads (take with a pinch of salt):
Tottenham Squad (from): Gomes, Cesar, Zokora, Gunter, Bale, Assou-Ekotto, Gilberto, King, Woodgate, Dawson, Modric, Bentley, Jenas, Huddlestone, Taarabt, O'Hara, Lennon, Boateng, Dos Santos, Berbatov, Bent.
Sunderland Squad (from): Gordon, Ward, Chimbonda, Nosworthy, Collins, Higginbotham, Bardsley, Edwards, Whitehead, Miller, Malbranque, Reid, Leadbitter, Richardson, Diouf, Murphy, Cisse, Stokes, Chopra, Healy.
Interesting Stats:
Us
Only managed 15 clean sheets in two Premier League seasons.
Striving for a first win in five home league matches; drawn two and lost two at the Lane since beating Portsmouth 2-0 on 22 March.
This match is being staged on the eve of Juande Ramos' 300th day in charge.
Them
One of three clubs still seeking a first top-flight goal; the others are West Brom and Portsmouth.
Only lost their first two matches of a Premier League season once before; that being 2005-06, which started with five successive defeats and ended in relegation with just 15 points.
On the longest current run in the Premier League without a score draw of 22 matches; the most recent being 1-1, home to Aston Villa on 15 December 2007.
3
Right, that's enough fuel for this fixture, kick off is at 15:00 - check [thread=35013]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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[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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