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Match preview
Tottenham face Swansea City at the Liberty stadium on Sunday, as they look to extend the honeymoon period experienced under Tim Sherwood in Wales, where Swansea as far this season, are failing to hit the level of which has become expected of them in the previous two seasons.
Boasting a squad which could well be mistaken for Spain’s C team, a prestigious and tactical Danish and Barcelona legend, Michael Laudrup as manager and possibly the most impressive possession football in the premier league, It all looks quite good for a small team from South Wales! Well it was last season anyway! Despite making it hard for both Manchester United and Manchester City in recent weeks, poor results most significantly against Cardiff, West Ham and Hull City have left Laudrups men 13th place in the table, some way off the European aspirations made clear by the club, following their League Cup victory and 9th place finish of last season and heavy spending in the summer. Swansea are now looking more behind them than in front, as they lie a mere three points away from Cardiff in 18th.
Tottenham meanwhile have flourished since the sacking of Andre Villas Boas back in December, with new boss, Tim Sherwood installing a heavy attacking philosophy to the side, resulting in Spurs picking up thirteen points from a possible fifteen since the new boss took over, including an impressive 2-1 win at Old Trafford. Arguably more significant is the quantity of goals scored under Sherwood, with eleven goals scored in the Premier league in just five games, when in sixteen games under AVB, they’d scored a measly fifteen goals.
In the reverse fixture back in August, Robbie Soldado struck a penalty, as Tottenham won 1-0 at the Lane, the Spaniard was expected to go on to be one of the league’s top scorers, Paulinho dominated in the midfield and Andros Townsend came off the bench as something of an unknown quantity.
Team News:
Swansea will definitely be without Spaniards Jose Canas, Pablo Hernandez and talisman Michu, joined by Roland Lamah, Nathan Dyer and Gary Monk, however Dutch trio, Michel Vorm, Dwight Tiendalli and Jonathon De Guzman will all face late fitness tests to see whether they will be involved or not.
Tottenham make the trip to the Liberty Stadium without first choice right back, Kyle Walker, after he picked up an injury in last weekend’s victory over Crystal Palace. Paulinho remains on the side-lines, however Erik Lamela, Sandro, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Andros Townsend are all back in contention, whilst Jan Vertonghen has a chance of being involved after returning to training.
Key Man – Michel Vorm
Swansea will undoubtedly be expecting to face both Emmanuel Adebayor and Robert Soldado, and will be hoping to be able to recall Dutch goalkeeper, Michel Vorm. Despite not featuring for the Welsh side since their draw at Carrow Road in December, Vorm is expected to return in time to face Tottenham on Sunday, and the ‘keeper renowned as the ‘Penalty Killer’, will be a big boost for the Welsh side to have back amongst their ranks.
Key Man – Emmanuel Adebayor:
Since the Sherwood revolution at the Lane, the Togolese frontman has featured heavily for the North London side, scoring four goals in the process, and forming an impress partnership with misfiring Robbie Soldado. The large centre forward’s work rate in matches has been impressive, dropping back to add numbers to midfield, as well as providing him with the change to create.
Possible sstarting 11
Subs from Tremmel, Cornell, Amat, Donnelly, Taylor, Vázquez, Zabret, Lucas, Situ, Tiendalli, Lamah
Doubtful Vorm (knee), Tiendalli (hamstring), Lamah (abductor)
Injured De Guzmán (calf), Hernández (hamstring, 28 Jan), Dyer (ankle, Feb), Michu (ankle, Feb), Monk (knee, unknown
Suspended None
Form LLDLLD
Discipline Y38 R1
Leading scorer Bony 6
Subs from Friedel, Gomes, Naughton, Fryers, Capoue, Sandro, Lamela, Sigurdsson, Holtby, Chadli, Townsend, Kane, Defoe
Doubtful Sandro (calf), Lamela (thigh), Sigurdsson (calf)
Injured Vertonghen (ankle, 29 Jan), Kaboul (thigh, 29 Jan), Paulinho (ankle, Feb)
Suspended None
Form WWWDWL
Discipline Y38 R1
Leading scorer Soldado 5