Spurs versus West Ham United: (match preview)

Us Spurs fans may have only just gotten our breath back from Sunday’s thrilling north London Derby, but our players have no time to rest, Pochettino’s side are in action on Friday night as they visit West Ham United. The match which is the first West Ham, Spurs match at the London stadium, is yet another crucial London Derby. Win it, and Spurs go within a point of league leaders Chelsea who play on Monday, anything other than a win and the title race is all but over. However, Pochettino’s inform side won’t be focusing on that, there aim is purely to win every game and their doing a brilliant job of that at the minute. Meanwhile the hammers have a very different end of season objective, Slaven Bilic’s side who currently occupy 15th place will be wanting to end the season strongly, and they’ll need no incentive when they face us on Friday night. West Ham have struggled in their inaugural season at the London stadium, their form has been erratic, but it’s worth noting that they lost their best player Dmitri Payet during the recent transfer window. On paper we should win but we all know what can happen in derby matches, if we can replicate that intensity and attacking brilliance that we have shown over the past 10 matches, then I can see no other winner. Pochettino’s side must stay focused, the hammers can cause us problems just like they done in the reverse fixture at the Lane, which we won in dramatic circumstances. If target man Andy Carroll is fit to face us, Alderweireld and Vertonghen will have their work cut out if they are to stop one of the leagues best headers of a ball. Danger will also come through the already highlighted Manuel Lanzini, as well as through Ghanaian forward Andre Ayew.

You can’t help but feel confident going into tonight’s game, we just need to keep on going, there’s just four games remaining. COYS!

Team news: Harry Winks, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Erik Lamela remain sidelined through injury, whilst Danny Rose is still recovering from his injury. The big team news will be surrounding Kyle Walker starting, Walker has been dropped for our last two matches and has been heavily linked with a move away from Spurs during the week.

My predicted lineup: (3-4-2-1) Lloris, Alderweireld, Vertonghen,Dier, Walker, Dembele, Wanyama, Davies, Eriksen, Alli, Kane.

My predicted score: 4-1 to Spurs courtesy of goals from Kane x2, Eriksen and Son.

One to watch: The highly creative Argentine, Manuel Lanzini. The attacking midfielder has seven league goals and two assists this season.

Spurs v Arsenal: (match preview)

Today is the day most Spurs fans have been waiting for since the fixture list was drawn up back in June. Today is the day we face our bitter rivals Arsenal in the north London Derby, in what will be our last ever north London Derby at our cherished white hart lane. With the title race hotting up between ourselves and Chelsea, the excitement and anticipation ahead of today’s game is at fever pitch. Regardless of what the score is between table toppers Chelsea and Everton earlier on, the focus of Pochettino’s side, as well as the many Spurs supporters will be solely on defeating the Gunners. I could write a long preview, waxing lyrical about our outstanding achievements this season, our 15 game winning streak at the Lane, our 14 point lead over Arsenal. The achievements go on and on as the season draws to a dramatic close, but I don’t need to go on about Spurs’ exceptional season, for it boils down to games like this. Season defining games which get no bigger than those against your biggest and most historic rivals, the legend that have braced the turf of the Lane have all done battle with the gunners, the Danny Blanchflower’s, the Gascoigne’s and the Bale’s have created memories that will span a life time, now its Pochettino’s sides chance to give our fans that special, special memory a victory over Arsenal in our penultimate game at the Lane, COYS!

Team news: Harry Winks and Erik Lamela remain sidelined through injury, whilst Danny Rose who continues to recover from his injury and Mousa Dembele who picked up an ankle injury in midweek are injury doubts ahead of today’s game. Arsene Wenger’s side are expected to lineup in the 3-4-2-1 formation, and I reckon their biggest danger will come from Sanchez and the creativity of Ozil, whilst the pace of Bellerin could prove to be a problem down the right.

My predicted lineup: (3-4-2-1) Lloris, Dier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Walker, Eriksen, Wanyama, Davies, Son, Alli, Kane.

My score prediction: 3-1 to Spurs courtesy of goals from Alli, Kane and Dier!

One to watch: The danger man Alexis Sanchez, with 19 league goals and 9 assists the world class Chile international is capable of producing the spectacular, we’ll have to be at our best today to ensure he doesn’t!

Spurs versus Watford: (match preview)

Fresh from their dramatic 3-1 victory over Swansea in midweek Spurs return to action tomorrow afternoon as they host Watford at the Lane. Mauricio Pochettino’s side could go within four points of leaders Chelsea with a win in Saturday lunchtimes game, the blues face Bourenmouth on Saturday evening. Our side is flying at the moment in spite of a string of injuries, but with Harry Kane poised to return tomorrow and with Watford currently enduring a defensive headache there could be no better time to face the hornets then on Saturday. Walter Mazarri’s Watford side currently sit in 10th position, and the Hertfordshire based club have been an inconsistent but well structured side throughout the season, their defensive style of play helping them to record notable victories over both Arsenal and Man United. Whilst Watford are a good side who have cemented their place in the premier league for a second consecutive season, I feel that their numerous defensive injuries. Which includes key players Younes Kaboul, Sebastian Prodl as well as the suspended Miguel Britos. With their tenacious defence left vulnerable through injury, I’m anticipating our side to be ruthless in tomorrows match and I’m confident our attacking prowess will overwhelm the Hornets and I’m predicting a big win, similar to the reverse fixture back in December, where we ran out 4-1 winners. Watford are a solid outfit and are capable of providing a shock with attacking players such as Troy Deeney and M’Baye Niang at their disposal. However, if our side plays with the same intensity as they did on Wednesday night then I’m confident that we’ll ease past Watford if we can get an early goal. After all the Lane is our fortress. COYS

Team news: In what comes as a welcome surprise, striker Harry Kane will likely be involved tomorrow following his swift recovery from injury, though I still think he’ll start from the bench. Meanwhile, Spurs have a bit of a goalkeeping headache, with Lloris a doubt through illness and deputy Michel Vorm ruled out through a knee injury picked up in midweek, there could be a first start for talented on loan goalkeeper Pau
Lopez, the talented Spanish keeper who is on loan from Espanyol, has made a couple of appearances for our under 23’s. I have been very impressed with what I’ve seen from him at youth level, and manager Mauricio Pochettino’s is in no doubt as to his capabilities: “Pau is ready to play if Hugo is not ready. Why would it be a gamble to play him?” However, Danny Rose, Erik Lamela and Harry Winks remain out through injury, whilst midfielder Victor Wanyama will be assessed ahead of Saturday’s game.

My predicted lineup: (4-2-3-1) Lopez, Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies, Dembele, Wanyama, Son, Alli, Eriksen, Janssen.

My predicted score: 4-0 to Spurs courtesy of goals from Dele Alli x2, Son and Janssen.

One to watch: M’Baye Niang, Watfords on loan French winger who has electric pace and great skill as well as an eye for goal.

Spurs versus Swansea: (match preview)

“Belief and faith and fight. In football nothing is impossible and that is our philosophy.” (Mauricio Pochettino)

Following Chelsea’s 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace at the weekend, our 2-0 victory over Burnley at turf moor last Saturday has resulted in Chelsea’s lead at the top beeing cut to seven points. With many Spurs fans daring to dream of their team pulling off the impossible, Mauricio Pochettino’s side take on Swansea this evening knowing that they could end the night just four points behind the league leaders, if other results were to go their way. The determination and sheer might that Spurs showed on Saturday was highly commendable, despite suffering injuries to midfielders Victor Wanyama and Harry Winks, Spurs outclassed a Burnley side with one of the premier leagues best home records. With the help of a tactical master class from manager, Mauricio Pochettino and goals from Eric Dier and and Son. Tonight’s game presents a similar challenge as we visit South Wales to face a Swansea side currently embroiled in a relegation battle. However, since taking over at Swansea manager Paul Clement’s side are yet to taste defeat at the liberty stadium under Clement, and their rapid improvement under Clement is a completely different side to the one we thrashed 5-0 at the Lane back in December.

The creativity will come through former Spurs man Gylfi Sigurðsson, whilst target man Fernando Llorente will be a handful if fit. Whilst it’s imperative that we win tonight, the difficulty of this game will provide a tough test for our side with stakes so high for both teams.

Team news: Following a scan, Spurs announced in midweek that young midfielder Harry Winks will remain out for the rest of the season, Winks joins Harry Kane, Danny Rose and Erik Lamela in tonight’s absentees. Meanwhile, midfielder Victor Wanyama is an injury doubt following a back injury he sustained in Saturday’s victory.

My predicted lineup: (3-4-2-1) Lloris, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Dier, Davies, Wanyama, Dembele, Walker, Eriksen, Alli, Son.

My score prediction: 3-1 to Spurs courtesy of goals from Toby Alderweireld, Christian Eriksen and Son.

One to watch: Former Spurs man Gylfi Sigurðsson will provide the swans biggest goal threat, the Iceland international has got eight league goals and 11 assists this season.

Spurs v Burnley: (match preview)

Spur return to action on Saturday afternoon when they face Burnley, in an important league fixture at Turf Moor. After a two week international break Mauricio Pochettino’s’ Lillywhites continue their quest for a top four finish, and with our team sitting in second place and playing some brilliant football, Pochettino is on course to overachieve with Spurs for a second consecutive season. However, this afternoons opposition will provide one of the toughest away games of the season, the clarets have only lost three games at home in the league this season, and despite their struggles away from home their still in a very good position to secure their premier league status for another season. Highly structured and hard to break down, Sean Dyche has Burnley very well set up. I’m expecting a tight game and one in which the home side will do all they can to look for a draw, frustrating our attacking side throughout. Whilst Andre Gray is the clarets main goal threat, danger will also come from out wide through Robbie Brady and George Boyd.

Team news: Today’s match comes too soon for the injured trio of Harry Kane, Danny Rose and Erik Lamela. Whilst striker Vincent Janssen is an injury doubt with a chest infection.

My predicted lineup: Lloris (C),Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Dier, Davies, Wanyama, Dembele, Walker, Dele, Eriksen, Son.

My score prediction: 1-0 to Spurs courtesy of a goal from Jan Vertonghen.

An interesting pre match read: https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2017/mar/31/mauricio-pochettino-spurs-fight-against-burnley

One to watch: Burnley’s pacy forward Andre Gray who has been linked with Spurs. Gray has eight league goals this season.

Spurs v Southampton: (match preview)

Spurs return to league action on Sunday when they host Southampton at the Lane, the Lillywhites will have to overcome the Saints without star man Harry Kane who is out injured. The visit of Mauricio Pochettino’s old club comes just before a two week international break, and Pochettino’s side will be wanting to go into that break on the back of an important victory that consolidates their place in the top 4. The big dilemma surrounds our centre forward Harry Kane. Who replaces Spurs’ talisman upfront? Where will the goals come from? The answer isn’t as complex as it sounds, Kane has been in sensational goalscoring form prior to picking up his injury last Sunday against Millwall. Son Heung-Min’s hat trick against Millwall will give him great confidence going into Sunday’s match, he may be inconsistent at times but the South Korean forward is on his day a brilliant player and along with Dele Alli behind him, both can chip in with the goals to defeat the saints. We can really exploit the defensive vulnerabilities of the visitors when we face them at the Lane, their without the excellent Virgil Van Dijk, and the centre back pairing of Maya Yoshida and Jack Stephens have shipped in 11 goals in their last five matches. Manolo Gabbiadini will be the saints biggest goal threat, but the creativity and pace of Nathan Redmond and Jay Rodriguez will also be a danger. Following Chelsea’s victory over Stoke on Saturday, the title race seems to be all but over, but the fight for the top 4 is very much alive, and a win today would be another step closer to securing champions league football for a second consecutive season. I’m predicting another big performance from Son, when we face Southampton and I feel as if he’ll be the difference between a point and three points, I’m anticipating a close game against Claude Puel’s side, but I am very confident nonetheless. COYS

My predicted lineup: Lloris, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies, Dier, Winks, Walker, Dembele, Eriksen, Alli, Son.

My predicted score: 3-1 to Spurs courtesy of goals from Son x2 and Dele Alli.
One to watch: Italian forward Manolo Gabbiadini, since joining the Saints in January, Gabbiadini has gone on to score six goals in four matches for the south coast club.