Post by dahokolomoki on Jan 26, 2009 2:45:13 GMT 1
I was surprised that Redknapp would bow to pressure and field his strongest side against United on Saturday! After all he is playing Stoke on Tuesday in a game that is crucial to their Premiership survival.
In terms of fitness, there can be no doubt that this being their 4th game in about 10 days, there will definitely be some signs of fatigue in this side that is already struggling to impose themselves physically in games. Add low confidence and an injury depleted squad, this game looks ripe for a whipping.
A pity that the team playing them is Stoke, who themselves have been stumbling of late. However, they seemed to have gained some steely resolve in their last two games against Liverpool and Chelsea, drawing with the former and loosing to the latter in the last few minutes. Granted, they only created one chance against Chelsea, but it was a spirited team that played.
Add the fact that they’ve had more than a week’s rest since then and went to Dubai to train, you get the feeling that they will have honed their tactics for this match as well as come back energized and with confidence. In addition, Beattie and Etherington would have had more time to gel with the squad. Fuller is also back from his suspension, and judging from media reports has apologized and been forgiven, so looking forward to him putting in the effort to be a goal threat.
The expected rain on Tuesday will only serve to fatigue the Spurs players quicker and dampen their spirits.
In terms of fitness, there can be no doubt that this being their 4th game in about 10 days, there will definitely be some signs of fatigue in this side that is already struggling to impose themselves physically in games. Add low confidence and an injury depleted squad, this game looks ripe for a whipping.
A pity that the team playing them is Stoke, who themselves have been stumbling of late. However, they seemed to have gained some steely resolve in their last two games against Liverpool and Chelsea, drawing with the former and loosing to the latter in the last few minutes. Granted, they only created one chance against Chelsea, but it was a spirited team that played.
Add the fact that they’ve had more than a week’s rest since then and went to Dubai to train, you get the feeling that they will have honed their tactics for this match as well as come back energized and with confidence. In addition, Beattie and Etherington would have had more time to gel with the squad. Fuller is also back from his suspension, and judging from media reports has apologized and been forgiven, so looking forward to him putting in the effort to be a goal threat.
The expected rain on Tuesday will only serve to fatigue the Spurs players quicker and dampen their spirits.