Tottenham go into their double fixtures having lost just one of their last 14 league games. Confidence should be good ahead of trips to Sunderland and Blackpool then, although mounting injuries and a sudden lack of goals will be a concern for Harry Redknapp; whist Champions League distractions and a blank in Gameweek 28 will be a factor for prospective Fantasy investors.
The Prospects
Two away trips shouldn’t be daunting for Spurs – they’ve lost just one of their last 5 away games – the 2-1 defeat at Everton, which was followed that up by a draw at Newcastle and a 1-0 win at Ewood Park. As those scorelines suggest however, goals have dried up somewhat and with Luka Modric and Rafael Van der Vaart both looking doubts for the trek to Sunderland, Redknapp will need to find inspiration from new sources if they are to sufficiently trouble the Black Cats’ defence.
Redknapp will take comfort from the fact that Steve Bruce’s side have not kept a clean sheet for 4 matches and have conceded 9 goals in that run. Only recently Bruce has acknowledged that, while he’s found a solution to the loss of Darren Bent up front, his side have seemingly forgotten the art of staying miserly at the back.
Spurs will fancy themselves to notch at the Stadium of Light then, while defensively they will be tested by the threat of Asamoah Gyan and a rejuvenated Kieran Richardson. Michael Dawson and the Spurs back four have been in reasonable form however, having conceded just 4 goals in their last 7, keeping 4 clean sheets in the process. The smart money is on a low score draw with Sunderland here with a 1-1 looking the most likely outcome.
The trip to Blackpool a week later promises to be far more profitable. Both Modric and Van der Vaart could be back in Redknapp’s pack by then, and the Champions League first leg tie with Milan will no longer be a major factor. Only Wigan has conceded more goals at home (22) than Blackpool (having played 3 more games), so Spurs will be confident of nicking at least a couple here. Keeping them out at the other end against a side that has only blanked once in their last 12, longs a tougher proposition.
The Likely Lads
Van der Vaart is the obvious pick but he’s possibly been denied us by a calf injury that saw him replaced in the 2-1 win over Bolton at the weekend. The Dutchman was withdrawn from Holland’s friendly with Austria but he is still only set to return to Spurs for assessment of his injury tomorrow. From Redknapp’s comments on Monday, he hasn’t ruled him out of involvement at Sunderland but, with the Milan tie to follow on Tuesday, it does look rather unlikely. With a possible return at Bloomfield Road however, Van der Vaart’s Fantasy owners will likely hold on to their asset and gamble on his playing some part in the Gameweek.
With Modric also expected to miss out, the midfield looks devoid of real creativity for the trip to Sunderland, so Niko Kranjcar perhaps in the frame to step following his winning strike against Bolton on Saturday. Fantasy Managers seem unlikely to gamble on the Croat however, given that he is far from guaranteed starts over the two fixtures.
Aaron Lennon’s pace could well be the main threat for Spurs then and he could well be a temptation in Fantasy terms, as Spurs continue to be deprived the surges of Gareth Bale on the opposite flank. The Welshman remains sidelined with a back injury and will surely be preserved for the Milan tie.
At the back there’s little doubt that Michael Dawson offers the best route to returns. He’s begun to attract Fantasy Premier League Bonus Points and would surely benefit from more if Spurs could claim shutouts in either fixture.
Cheeky Punt
Jermain Defoe is without a league goal this season – an incredible statistic given his prolific scoring in previous seasons. Injuries have of course blighted his campaign, but Defoe has started the previous 3 matches and should be beginning to regain some sharpness that will inevitably see some reward very soon. Defoe would be a huge gamble as an 8.6 striker option, but he seems likely to figure in both matches and is likely to be on spot-kicks if Van der Vaart fails to make the Sunderland trip.
