Article: Swansea City vs Tottenham Hotspur Match Preview & Thread|Football, Swansea City, Tottenham Hotspur

[video=youtube;B4OwOF11NY8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4OwOF11NY8[/video]

This is what he's capable of, though.
Watch from 9.00 til 9.20.
Frustrating player.

 

Swansea will win this game.

 

"I said it before - who needs a good manager when you've got a lucky one!" - Class! Haha. That game was mad in fairness. I seem to remember Jenas scoring an outrageous chip on the burst down the right channel too...I'll see what I can find now.

I couldn't find the goal I mean, but I found this which I'm sure you guys can handle watching again...

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1069054/jermaine_jenas_carling_cup_strike/

 

TEAM NEWS

Swansea's Garry Monk will replace on-loan defender Steven Caulker, who is ineligible to face his parent club.

Angel Rangel suffered a recurrence of his ankle injury against QPR and will face a late fitness test, but Neil Taylor could return.

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp may bring Ledley King into the team after he was rested against Norwich.

Jermain Defoe is again a doubt with a hamstring problem, while Aaron Lennon is not yet fit to return.

MATCH PREVIEW

This year has been a memorable one for Swansea with promotion to the Premier League after a thrilling play-off final victory over Reading, which was then followed by an impressive first-half of the campaign in the top division. The Swans' form at the Liberty Stadium this season has been terrific with four wins, four draws and just one defeat - to Manchester United - while conceding only three goals in those nine home matches.

The next three home fixtures will be a tough test for Brendan Rodgers' team as they face Tottenham, Arsenal and Chelsea before the end of January. Those three teams are currently battling for the unofficial title of top team in London; and at the moment it's currently being won by Spurs, who come into this match in third place and looking for their seventh away victory in the league this season.

Tottenham's form has been phenomenal - they've taken 38 points from their last 15 Premier League fixtures - that's two more points than both Manchester clubs have over teh same period. Spurs have scored in each of their last 16 League games and the only team to prevent them finding the net were Manchester United in Tottenham's opening league match of the season.

There will be plenty of attention focused on Gareth Bale ahead of the match. The Welsh international's second goal at Norwich on Tuesday was magnificent - his double strike at Carrow Road meant that Tottenham have won the last 10 Premier League matches in which he has scored.

It's the first time these two sides will have met in over twenty years, and will be my first visit to the Liberty Stadium this season. With two teams who like to play attractive football, it has the potential to be an enthralling match.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

This is the first league meeting between the two sides since February 1983 and their first in any competition since a League Cup tie in October 1991.
Swansea won both their previous two top-flight home games against Spurs - Tottenham last won a league game in Swansea in September 1946.

Swansea

Swansea have the best home defensive record in the division with just three goals conceded.
There have been just 14 league goals scored at the Liberty Stadium this season - fewer than anywhere else in the division (Anfield and the Hawthorns are the next lowest with 18).
All of the Swans' four league wins this season have come at home
Brendan Rodgers' side have won just one of their last eight league games.

Tottenham

Victory for Spurs would equal their record total away wins in a Premier League season (seven, set in 1993-94, 1995-96, 2009-10 and 2010-11)
Gareth Bale has scored or assisted at least one goal in seven of his last eight Premier League appearances and has already created as many Premier League goalscoring chances in 2011-12 as he did in 2010-11 (48).
They have at least seven points more than they have had after 17 games in any previous Premier League season.

 

That is scary form, frankly!

 

Tottenham let 8 goals past their keeper against Man U & Man City , we only let 5 past our keeper . Tottenham have let 11 goals past their keeper on the road , we let 3 past ours at home . Tottenham are + 6 on the road , we are + 8 at home . To much respect being given Tottenham , not enough for the Swans ... Shock win for the Swans . I'll wish the boys well now as I'll lose my computer for a few days to my son whose having a land line party with his buddies ( whatever that is ) . Nothing to fear from this game but .....

 

Admired your faith in your team until you used the word shock, which undid all your hard work.

 

Darn !!

 

Not with the side we have now my friend, we were still in Modric turmoil, he was refusing to play, no Parker or Ade, who have transformed the team, so those two results are a false yardstick. I've spoke to a few United fans who feel the fixture list was very kind to play us then, not fancying it all now. Make of that what you will.

 

You had those players for your 2 -1 loss to Stoke , whom we beat 2 - 0 . Tottenham have scored 5 goals in there last 4 League games , not exactly setting the league on fire of late is all I'm saying Cheers & good luck getting into Champions League .

 

win or lose is what matters, how many goals each team has scored against the same teams is irrelevant and dont mean one iota. the facts are what matters and spurs are a top 3 team and we are hovering above relegation. If we win then it will be the biggest shock of the season and the only way is if they get a couple of key players sent off. you never say never but its highly unlikely against a top team on form.....it will be a low score game with maybe 2-0 spurs win....

 

I wouldn't pay too much attention to the Stoke result, as only an absolutely shocking display by Chris Foy stopped us from winning that game.
To quote on of the Tweets (sorry) from the BBC live thread:
"Arsenal fan here and even I felt aggrieved for Spurs on that atrocious ref performance. Worst I've seen in some time."

 

Spurs have to be overwhelming favourites to win this comfortably. We are nowhere near their class either individually or as a team. They will be fitter, faster, stronger and more skilful than us. That said, this is football and strange things happen in football. Realistically this is all we have to cling to, particularly as we can't play Caulker and have some injury issues as well. Still, you never can tell; if we rediscover our form against Liverpool...

 

We beat Liverpool 4-0.
Sorry, I just like writing that!

No game is ever a given for Spurs and Swansea have an excellent home record, especially for a newly promoted side.
Couple that with an admirable dedication to playing attractive football and the way that you've been able to keep possession and dictate the pace of games and I'm not sure why you're all being so negative.
Newcastle drew with us at St James', Fulham were worth at least a point, so why not Swansea?

Obviously I hope that Spurs will win, but I'm far from writing you off.

 

Gower will look to impress against the Spurs ... Agustien will look to impress anywhere after just coming back into Bucks team from injury on the the heels of a MOTM performance ... I got a feeling Jazz will be looking to to put up a career outing against Bale ..... I'm not saying Tottenham aren't favorites here , but overwhelming favorites , I think not . I'll cling to playing 9 home games & allowing only 3 goals .. one an own goal & the other 2 by brain fart mistakes in defense .

 

Don't get me wrong .. I like the Spurs , great team , manager & fans . But were a team not to be taken lightly at home , do so at your own peril Cheers !

 

Unless we can rediscover the kind of form we had at Wembley, and Rodgers can stop messing about with crap subs and let the boys play like the way we know they can, then I'm afraid we'll get our first whipping at the fortress liberty tomorrow, I think it's about time that Dobbie got selected in front of Moore, and time to bring Besson to the bench, frightening to think that Rodgers is going with Monk for this one, he'll be murdered, maybe after this game, Monk will seriously think about retiring to a coaching roll! I predict Spurs putting at least 3 past us.................

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Good try, you played Stoke directly after a Thursday Europa Lg game...they've lost all of them!

Going through the season unbeaten was never an issue, so if you're looking for a blip...we've had it!

 

compare the two sides and anyone would say a definite spurs win, but football do throw up shocks from time to time..I think we will play better than normal as we will be going into the game as firm underdogs and whenever we do that I.E chelsea,liverpool,Manchester city/utd we do tend to give a good account of ourselves. I still think spurs will have to much for us but i cant see many goals being scored. I will be placing a Tenner on us having a bit of luck but i dont know yet whether i will name the score to maximise my winnings or just go for the win ......

 

SPURS TEAM NEWS:

Harry Redknapp is still without the services of Aaron Lennon and Ledley King for tomorrow's clash at Swansea - but hasn't ruled out Jermain Defoe.

The striker has been sidelined with a hamstring problem since scoring his ninth goal of the season at Shamrock Rovers on December 15.

"He's trained with us today and we'll have to wait and see how he is," said Harry after training on Friday morning.

Aaron Lennon is also on his way back from his hamstring injury. "He's coming on well, working on his rehab, but he's not ready for Swansea," added the manager.

Ledley (knee) missed Tuesday's win at Norwich after playing against Chelsea on December 22.

Sebastien Bassong (back) and Roman Pavlyuchenko (ankle) are also doubtful for our first trip to the Liberty Stadium.

Meanwhile, Michael Dawson completed his second full day's training after four months out with an Achilles injury and Harry is delighted to see the central defender back.

"It's great to see him back," said Harry. "He's a fantastic player and a great guy."