please log in to view this image Tottenham Hotspur host West Bromwich Albion at White Hart Lane on Tuesday 3rd January 2012 in the 20th round of Premier League matches of the 2011-12 season (19th match for Spurs). Spurs come into the game in third place with 39 points, which is a club record during the Premier League Era after 18 matches, while West Brom are in 11th place on 22 points. This will be the 139th meeting between the two clubs. Albion were one of the 12 original members of the Football League in 1888 and the first meeting with Spurs, who were then in the Southern League, came in the 1900-01 FA Cup Semi-Final at Villa Park which Spurs won 4-0 on their way to becoming FA Cup Winners that season. The teams were drawn together again two seasons later in the first round (today's third round) of the FA Cup and played a 0-0 draw at White Hart Lane before Spurs won the replay at the Hawthornes 2-0. Tottenham Hotspur joined the Football League in 1908 and lost both Second Division matches to Albion that season 0-3 away and 1-3 at home. Despite those two defeats, Spurs won promotion to the First Division and Albion joined them for the 1911-12 season. Spurs won the first Top Flight match in September 1-0 at the Lane but the reverse fixture in January was abandoned due to fog. Albion won the re-arranged fixture in March 1912 2-0. Sandwiched inbetween those League meetings, Albion won a 1st Round FA Cup tie 3-0 in January 1912. Both clubs continued to meet in Division One for the next three seasons until World War One. The 1920 Charity Shield was contested between Spurs and Albion at White Hart Lane and the Baggies won 2-0. From 1921 to 1927, the clubs met regularly in the First Division . They then met for three seasons in Division Two from 1928 to 1931 before regaining their Top Flight status from 1933 to 1935. The clubs were in the Second Division for the 1938-39 season and Spurs won 4-3 at White Hart Lane in the last match before the outbreak of World War Two in September 1939. The season was abandoned with most clubs having played three matches. Spurs and Albion met twice during the War in the Football League South resulting in a win apiece. When League Football resumed after WW2, both clubs were in the Second Division and Spurs won the League in 1949-50 with Albion finishing Runners-Up. The 1950-51 season saw both clubs back in Division One and Spurs did the "double" over Albion, winning 2-1 at the Hawthorns and 5-0 at the Lane, on the way to Tottenham Hotspur's first Top Flight League Championship. Every League meeting between the two clubs since 1950-51 has taken place in the Top Flight. The first Football League Cup meeting came in October 1970 with Spurs winning 5-0 with a hat-trick from Martin Peters and a brace from Alan Gilzean. There have been four meetings in the competition to date with Spurs winning three games and one match drawn. Tottenham Hotspur were founder members of the Premier League in 1992-93 and are one of seven ever-present clubs in the competition. West Bromwich Albion were promoted to the Premier League for the 2002-03 season and this is their sixth season. Spurs won both matches in 2002-03 with goals from Christian Ziege, Robbie Keane and Gus Poyet securing a 3-1 win at the Lane while a brace from Keane and a Teddy Sheringham goal saw Spurs win 3-2 at the Hawthorns. Both matches in the 2004-05 season ended in 1-1 draws, Jermain Defoe scoring away and Keane scoring at home. The clubs also met in the FA Cup fourth round that season with a 1-1 draw at the Hawthornes followed by a 3-1 win at White Hart Lane. Honours were even in 2005-06 with Albion winning 2-0 at the Hawthorns and Spurs winning 2-1 at the Lane. The 2008-09 season saw similar results with Albion winning 2-0 at the Hawthorns and Spurs winning 1-0 at the Lane. Last season's game at the Hawthorns in September 2010 resulted in a 1-1 draw. Luka Modric scored Spurs' goal only for Chris Brunt to equalise in the 41st minute. The reverse fixture at the Lane in April 2011 resulted in a 2-2 draw. Peter Odemwingie put West Brom ahead after 5 minutes but goals from Roman Pavlyuchenko and Jermain Defoe put Spurs ahead. Simon Cox scored the late equaliser. The meeting at the Hathorns earlier this seson in November resulted in a 3-1 win for Spurs. Youssouf Mulumbu's header put the Baggies ahead after 10 minutes but Emmanuel Adebayor equalised 15 minutes later and the teams went into the halftime break level at 1-1. Second half goals from Jermain Defoe 9 minutes from time and a second Adebayor goal deep into stoppage time gave Spurs the three points, even if the score was somewhat flattering in a hard-fought match. Overall, matches played between the two clubs are slightly in Tottenham's favour with 55 wins to Albion's 54 and the remaining 29 of the 138 matches played so far ending in draws. please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Full History of Tottenham Hotspur v West Bromwich Albion Matches 1901-2012 They Played for Spurs & West Brom.... Ossie Ardiles (Spurs player, manager at both clubs) Gerry Armstrong Vic Buckingham (Spurs player, WBA manager) Keith Burkinshaw (Manager at both clubs) Jesse Carver (Spurs coach, WBA manager) Freddie Cox (also WBA assistant manager & coach) Garth Crooks Wilf Dixon (Spurs asst manager, WBA trainer) Tom Evans Ruel Fox Márton Fülöp John Gorman (Spurs player & asst manager at both clubs) Charlie Hewitt Martin Jol (WBA player, Spurs manager) Colin Lyman Tony Parks (Spurs player & goalkeeper coach with both clubs) Graham Roberts Arthur Rowe (Spurs player & manager, WBA chief scout) Danny Thomas (Spurs player, WBA physio) Steve Walford please log in to view this image Tottenham Hotspur Premier League Player's Squad Numbers 1993-94 to 2011-12 West Bromwich Albion Premier League Player's Squad Numbers 2002-03 to 2011-12 please log in to view this image please log in to view this image
Thanks as ever 6061. I'll be at this match, hoping to see us win and finally, definitively enter the title race.
From me 6061. I won't be at the match( wonder why) but I will be watching. Might be equal 1st if we win!!
Er, we're 6 points off the top, PL. If we win and both Manchester clubs lose, then we could go joint top on points if we beat Everton in our game in hand on the 11th. Can't see them both losing two games back-to-back somehow though, more's the pity.
Oops my bad got a bit excited. Of course we need some things to go our way,but can't blame a guy for dreaming.
TEAM NEWS Tottenham will be without midfielder Scott Parker, who was forced off against Swansea on New Year's Eve with a knee injury. Manager Harry Redknapp remains without Tom Huddlestone, Ledley King and Aaron Lennon. West Brom's skipper Chris Brunt limped off during the defeat to Everton and faces a spell on the sidelines. Defender Jonas Olsson will also miss out with a calf strain so Craig Dawson is expected to play in central defence. MATCH PREVIEW In October 2008, I travelled to Italy to do the commentary on Udinese v Tottenham in the UEFA Cup. The Italian team won 2-0 against a Tottenham side who, quite frankly, were a shambles. After the match Juande Ramos re-iterated his belief that he could turn Spurs around after an appalling start to the season but he was never given the chance and his services were soon dispensed with. As we enter 2012, it's worth going back to those reasonably recent dark days for Tottenham fans; just over three years ago, the club were bottom of the Premier League, with just two points from their opening eight matches when Harry Redknapp was appointed as successor to Ramos. Now look at them. Tottenham start the New Year third in the Premier League, having taken 39 points from their last 16 matches, and Sir Alex Ferguson says Spurs are playing the best football of any team at the moment (although bear in mind hell would have to freeze over before he'd say that about Manchester City!). Harry Redknapp is wanted by many as the next England manager. Among the other names mentioned in connection with the post is the West Brom boss Roy Hodgson. The two men have so much experience, knowledge and wisdom and it would be fascinating to be able to get them together and just listen to them chat about football. West Brom have the chance to get revenge for the 3-1 defeat at Tottenham's hands last month, when the visitors scored two late goals to claim the points. The Baggies have a better record away from home in terms of league wins this season, with four victories on their travels so far. The fact they have less time to prepare for this match after playing on New Year's Day against Everton may be a factor; but they'll be confident of at least getting a point, just as they did last season, when Simon Cox scored a terrific goal to earn a 2-2 draw. It remains Cox's only Premier League goal so far; I wonder what odds you'd get on him scoring again on Tuesday night? MATCH FACTS Head-to-head Both games were drawn last season - 1-1 at the Hawthorns and 2-2 at White Hart Lane. Simon Cox scored a late wonder goal to earn West Brom a point at Tottenham, and it remains his only Premier League strike. West Brom's last win at White Hart Lane was a 3-2 victory in November 1984. This is the 134rd meeting between the sides. West Brom have won 52 times, Tottenham 52 and there have been 29 draws. Tottenham Hotspur They have only conceded three goals at White Hart Lane in their last seven matches since a 5-1 hammering at the hands of Manchester City. Tottenham Hotspur have scored in 17 successive Premier League matches which equals their best streak in the Premier League era (Sep 2007-Jan 2008). Spurs have not lost a single match in the last two Premier League seasons in which they have held a half-time lead. Spurs finish the year as the highest placed London side in the Premier League for the first time since 1995 when they were fourth behind Newcastle, Manchester United and Liverpool. West Bromwich Albion The Baggies have already won four matches away from home this season, which is as many as they managed in the whole of last season. In five previous seasons in the Premier League, they won a total of just 10 away games. They have won 14 points away from home - more than they have managed at home.
This Weeks Photo Summary In the main photo, it looks like Livermore maybe, and Crouch are warming up properly, but who's decided to play head, knees n toes sitting down? Ossie still has the hanger in his shirt I think. Garth Crooks throws some shapes to the HT music. Jol looks delighted...must be playing for a draw. Tony Galvin does his impression of Del Boy in the Wine Bar.
With Parker out I think we'll play 4 4 2 with Ade and JD up front. Luka and Sandro in the centre with Baleon the left and VDV drifting around from the right, although I would prefer if Pienaar or Kranjcar or even Rose played on the right and VDV was behind Ade, so we can go back to a pacy team with lots of width, which is where we play best. Great article again 6061
I watched most of the West Brom match yesterday and they weren't great. Naturally this means they'll be amazing tomorrow... We've had a day extra to rest and prepare so that will help - the injury to Parker is annoying without a doubt but at least JD is fit again. Formation wise it could be something more like a 4-1-3-2 with Sandro as CDM. With us at home, I'm gonna say a 2-1 to us.
If Harry wants the same formation, Livermore's a straight swap for Parker, and Ledley out isn't a problem either, he does have another 24hrs though. Its a good weeks rest then before the game in hand v Everton, with the FA cup this weekend.
We also have the option of Dawson and Gallas in central defence with Kaboul playing in Parker's role.
I've read on another site that King and Parker are possibles to start. Friedel; Walker King Gallas/Kaboul BAE; Sandro Parker; VDV Modric Bale; Adebayor JD to come in, if one of the front 6 don't make it.
Daws may get some minutes later on, but I think he's pencilled in for a start in the FA cup, so can't see any reason to start him in this one, barring a warm-up catastrophy. If Parkers out, straight swap for Livermore, leave the rest of the side alone, why complicate everything.
Which system works better though, Notso? I'd prefer to see Modric and Sandro in the middle with one of our squad players replacing Lennon's role in the side.
That one is tough PNP, if Brunt is out I'm not sure how they'll line up. I would like to see this VdV/ Bale free role some more, in particular at home, W. Brom seem as good as any to try it. Squad player for lennon???...fukin ell PNP, c'mon, if we had someone do you not think he would have been out there by now! We've tried everyone there in the past already, they're ****e and not in anyway as effective, so may aswell not bother imo, waste of time sending the ball out there.
We don't line up in the same way now though, Notso. I think that Kranjcar could do a job on that side, with Walker providing the pace and width, whereas it flopped when he was paired with Corluka. He played there in a 4-4-2 against Liverpool when we beat them 4-0.
They don't... We've got players ahead of him in the pecking order that can't get a game, though I'd have liked to see him getting some game time, in all honesty. Kranjcar, Pienaar, Rose and even Dos Santos would probably get on before he would, at the moment, plus we've got Falque on loan, too. We've been linked with Hoilett, so maybe that's a goer?
I for one am honestly not that bothered if Parker's out. Playing him and Sandro in the same team naturally limits our creativity and potency. I've said for a long time that it is an approach which need only be employed in 'tricky' games- i.e, against top-drawer opposition at home, and many away games. A classic example of this was actually last year: Very tricky away match against potentially lethal opposition, AC Milan. Palacios and Sandro combined to suffocate their supply lines, and we hit them on the break. In fact, Sandro was immense that night. With all due respect to West Brom (and Everton, to be brutally honest) at home, we can- and therefore should-overwhelm them, not simply contain them. As such, to my mind ANY player whose natural tendency is to attack rather than 'hold' or 'contain' should be played in BOTH the WBA and Everton matches instead of Parker/Sandro, as I simply think both sides lack the attacking quality to truly trouble us- especially at the Lane, whereas we (theoretically) have FAR too much attacking quality for them to cope with.
