|
|
Tottenham
Tottenham's first exploration in the Champions League will see them pit their wits against Rafael Benitez's Inter, the 2009-10 winners...
STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES
Harry Redknapp’s side are renowned for playing swift attacking football, utilising their full expanse of width with Aaron Lennon and Gareth Bale racing down both flanks. Their midfield core is comprised of creative talents such as Luka Modric, and the recently acquired Rafael van der Vaart, while Tom Huddlestone performs an almost quarterback like role, with the ability to find his team-mates with a variety of passing.
Their Achilles heel is their defending, not specifically the defence itself, although Cameroonian left-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto is arguably the weakest link in the side. Sometimes their mentality is questionable, most common when club captain Ledley King is absent, as was shown in the first half display against Young Boys, when Spurs went three goals behind with half an hour of the first leg.
STARS & KEY PLAYER
Could yet prove to be Van der Vaart, but on current form and his displays last season, Gareth Bale is very much Tottenham’s key man at present. The left-sided Welshman offers an unmatchable attacking threat down the flank, and his versatility enables Redknapp to deploy him as the clubs left winger, in addition to his full-back role.
Although he has yet to show it consistently since moving from Southampton in 2007, Bale is a serious threat from set pieces, both in terms of assists and direct shooting – something which many expect will improve this season.
COACH & TACTICAL
Redknapp prefers to mould his team around a traditional 4-4-2 formation, although the former Portsmouth and West Ham coach has admitted that his side may require to operate in a 4-5-1, or 4-2-3-1 formation in Europe this season.
This notion is commonly recognised by the supporters, having seen a below-par England destroyed during the World Cup finals in South Africa, and with the abundance of midfield talent at Redknapp’s disposal, the Spurs tactician should be able to construct a strong midfield. The one flaw to the system is the lack of the strong, world class striker to lead the line on their own, with the club’s most instinctive forward, Jermain Defoe seemingly too lightweight for the role.
SUCCESSES
Largely renowned as a cup side in the UK, Spurs have won the FA Cup eight times, the League Cup four times, and the league title on two occasions – most recently in the 1961.
Tottenham have enjoyed European success on three occasions, and were the first British club to win a major European trophy, when they secured the now defunct Cup Winners’ Cup in 1963.
STADIUM
White Hart Lane has been Spurs stadium since 1899, and now holds a capacity in access of 36,000. The ground is situated amidst the shops and houses of Tottenham, and beholds a golden cockerel above the West Stand.
The club has submitted plans for redevelopment, which will see the current stadium demolished to make for a state-of-the-art 56,000 all-seater ground.
HERO OF THE FANS
Despite his notorious long-term knee injury, which restricts him from training with the rest of the team, club captain Ledley King is the player which Tottenham fans hold closest to their hearts.
For a defender, this is somewhat surprising because of the clubs’ tradition of attacking football, but club captain King is the longest serving player at the club, having joined as trainee in 1997, and one which the fans feel fully deserves to be playing at Champions League level.
GOAL.COM PREDICTION
Competing in Group A with Inter, Werder Bremen and FC Twente, Tottenham find themselves in one of the strongest of the Champions League groups. Their target will be to finish as runners up, a position which will weigh heavily on their home form, and will face stiff competiiton from their Bundesliga and Eredivisie opponents.
STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES
Harry Redknapp’s side are renowned for playing swift attacking football, utilising their full expanse of width with Aaron Lennon and Gareth Bale racing down both flanks. Their midfield core is comprised of creative talents such as Luka Modric, and the recently acquired Rafael van der Vaart, while Tom Huddlestone performs an almost quarterback like role, with the ability to find his team-mates with a variety of passing.
Their Achilles heel is their defending, not specifically the defence itself, although Cameroonian left-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto is arguably the weakest link in the side. Sometimes their mentality is questionable, most common when club captain Ledley King is absent, as was shown in the first half display against Young Boys, when Spurs went three goals behind with half an hour of the first leg.
STARS & KEY PLAYER
Could yet prove to be Van der Vaart, but on current form and his displays last season, Gareth Bale is very much Tottenham’s key man at present. The left-sided Welshman offers an unmatchable attacking threat down the flank, and his versatility enables Redknapp to deploy him as the clubs left winger, in addition to his full-back role.
Although he has yet to show it consistently since moving from Southampton in 2007, Bale is a serious threat from set pieces, both in terms of assists and direct shooting – something which many expect will improve this season.
COACH & TACTICAL
Redknapp prefers to mould his team around a traditional 4-4-2 formation, although the former Portsmouth and West Ham coach has admitted that his side may require to operate in a 4-5-1, or 4-2-3-1 formation in Europe this season.
This notion is commonly recognised by the supporters, having seen a below-par England destroyed during the World Cup finals in South Africa, and with the abundance of midfield talent at Redknapp’s disposal, the Spurs tactician should be able to construct a strong midfield. The one flaw to the system is the lack of the strong, world class striker to lead the line on their own, with the club’s most instinctive forward, Jermain Defoe seemingly too lightweight for the role.
SUCCESSES
Largely renowned as a cup side in the UK, Spurs have won the FA Cup eight times, the League Cup four times, and the league title on two occasions – most recently in the 1961.
Tottenham have enjoyed European success on three occasions, and were the first British club to win a major European trophy, when they secured the now defunct Cup Winners’ Cup in 1963.
STADIUM
White Hart Lane has been Spurs stadium since 1899, and now holds a capacity in access of 36,000. The ground is situated amidst the shops and houses of Tottenham, and beholds a golden cockerel above the West Stand.
The club has submitted plans for redevelopment, which will see the current stadium demolished to make for a state-of-the-art 56,000 all-seater ground.
HERO OF THE FANS
Despite his notorious long-term knee injury, which restricts him from training with the rest of the team, club captain Ledley King is the player which Tottenham fans hold closest to their hearts.For a defender, this is somewhat surprising because of the clubs’ tradition of attacking football, but club captain King is the longest serving player at the club, having joined as trainee in 1997, and one which the fans feel fully deserves to be playing at Champions League level.
GOAL.COM PREDICTION
Competing in Group A with Inter, Werder Bremen and FC Twente, Tottenham find themselves in one of the strongest of the Champions League groups. Their target will be to finish as runners up, a position which will weigh heavily on their home form, and will face stiff competiiton from their Bundesliga and Eredivisie opponents.
| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
| Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets |
|
| Sign up today with Coral and get a £50 FREE bet - no strings attached! |
|
| Sign up today with BetVictor and get a £25 FREE BET! |
|
Matches
- Prev.
- Next
| No matches scheduled. |
Active Tournaments
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Gareth Bale
Midfielder Tottenham |
26 | 0 |
|
Jermain Defoe
Striker Tottenham |
15 | 0 |
|
Clint Dempsey
Midfielder Tottenham |
12 | 0 |
|
Emmanuel Adebayor
Striker Tottenham |
8 | 0 |
|
Gylfi Sigurdsson
Midfielder Tottenham |
7 | 0 |
