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Post by Avinalaff on Nov 29, 2014 20:56:22 GMT
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Post by Everton News. on Nov 29, 2014 21:04:16 GMT
Roberto Martinez believes Tottenham will soon find their feet under Mauricio Pochettino - but aims to prevent that happening during weekend's trip to White Hart Lane. After both sides enjoyed successful outings in the Europa League on Thursday, Sunday's 4pm kick-off sees attention turn back to the Barclays Premier League. Everton sit above the Londoners in the table on goal difference ahead of the contest, with talk of Spurs' underwhelming start to the season quelled by a knack of finding a way to three points on five occasions. It's an uncanny ability that should not go unnoticed, according to Martinez, who backs new boss Pochettino to enforce the style of football that he introduced at Southampton last year. "We are facing really strong opposition," said the Blues boss. "They had a really important and intense game on Thursday night so in a way we are quite similar in the way we have been able to prepare for the game. It’s not the same to facing a side that has had seven days to prepare. "I really admire this Spurs side. I think they have a real talented squad and they are a team trying to get into the Champions League positions. I do think they are going to be a really dangerous side. "The new manager and the new players are getting used to the way they want to play and they can become a real force in the second half of the season. I’m convinced of that." Sunday's meeting will be six years to the day since the Toffees' last victory at the Lane. And while the two clubs have seen plenty of change since Vedran Corluka's own goal, Martinez believes the current Spurs squad possesses some of its finest attacking talent. "I think as a team with the way they look to play, they will always want to score goals," he added. "They use Christian Eriksen to very good effect. Harry Kane seems to be in a very good moment of form and we all know about the experience of Emanuel Adebayor and Roberto Soldado. "I think they've had a much better start to the season than people credit them with. They've already qualified in the Europa League and are still fighting for that fourth position in the league without being consistent with their results. "Their performances are showing they are getting a real understanding of the way their new manager wants to play."
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Post by Everton News. on Nov 29, 2014 21:06:53 GMT
Roberto Martinez will make late assessments on Gareth Barry (ankle), Steven Pienaar (knee), Leighton Baines, James McCarthy and Steven Naismith (all hamstring) ahead of Sunday's trip to White Hart Lane.
Arouna Kone returned to first-team contention by making the bench in Wolfsburg in midweek but Darron Gibson (knee), John Stones (ankle), Antolin Alcaraz (shoulder) and Bryan Oviedo are set to miss out.
The Everton manager's opposite number, Mauricio Pochettino also has a sizeable injury list.
Kyle Walker (groin) will sit out the contest but any number of Etienne Capoue (knock), Emanuel Adebayor (back), Nacer Chadli (knee), Andros Townsend (ankle) and Danny Rose (chest) could return.
Form
Following victories in Europe, both teams now turn their attentions to the Premier League hoping for an important three points ahead of a busy festive schedule.
Tottenham Hotspur currently sit in 10th, on level points with the Blues who are one place above, after a run of mixed results.
The London club have produced impressive performances away from home, losing just one of six games on the road but it is their form at White Hart Lane that has caused some concern.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side have played six games at home, suffering four defeats – most recently a 2-1 loss against Stoke City.
But they will have gained some confidence from their last outing in the league, after coming from behind to beat 10-man Hull City at the KC Stadium.
In-form Harry Kane cancelled out Jake Livermore’s opener before a last-gasp winner from Christian Eriksen gave Spurs all three points.
Classic Meeting
Everton 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur, Sunday 09 December, 2012
Late goals from Steven Pienaar and Nikica Jelavic saw Everton come from behind to earn a dramatic victory over Spurs.
Heading into the final minute of play it looked as though Clint Dempsey’s deflected 75th-minute effort was going to give the visitors all three points.
But Steven Pienaar stooped to meet Seamus Coleman’s centre and head a timely leveller against his former club.
Then, with a draw looking the likely outcome, Jelavic latched on to a loose ball and slotted past Hugo Lloris to give the Blues a memorable win at Goodison Park.
One to Watch: Harry Kane
An academy graduate, Harry Kane made his first-team breakthrough at the end of the 2013/14 and responded by scoring on his first Premier League start against Sunderland in April.
Kane ended the season with 19 appearances and four goals in all competitions and the striker has continued to impress this campaign.
The England Under-21 international has been in exceptional form and is currently the club’s top goal scorer with 11 goals in 16 appearances.
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3in11
Monster Midfielder
No easy games in this league.
Posts: 1,773
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Post by 3in11 on Nov 29, 2014 21:07:26 GMT
Mark Lawrenson's PredictionBoth of these sides have had Europa League ties this week, and they do not have a great record in their domestic matches to follow those fixtures this season. Everton look in better shape, however, after stringing together a five-game unbeaten run in the Premier League. Tottenham, meanwhile, still look like a team that has just got together in pre-season and there is not much of a pattern to their play. Spurs were fortunate to beat Hull last time out, in a game that turned when the Tigers went down to 10 men. They have struggled at home under Mauricio Pochettino and, although I don't think they will lose again at White Hart Lane, I cannot see them winning either. Lawro's prediction: Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Everton Lawro's 2014-15 Predictions I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that if our fullbacks are fit and play, and Naismith and Barry are available, then I see us scoring a lot of goals. 2-4 Everton Lukaku 2 Mirallas 2 Kane 2 Dunno about that, I can see this being a dull game with perhaps only one goal(hopefully for Everton)with lacklustre performances from two teams that have generally been, well, inept in the league at times. If you don't make a mistake, you won't lose but even if you do make one they'll probably miss........I'm watching paint dry tomorrow. bth_thDucksRunsYellow
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Post by Jeffers Jugs on Nov 29, 2014 22:38:39 GMT
I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that if our fullbacks are fit and play, and Naismith and Barry are available, then I see us scoring a lot of goals. 2-4 Everton Lukaku 2 Mirallas 2 Kane 2 Dunno about that, I can see this being a dull game with perhaps only one goal(hopefully for Everton)with lacklustre performances from two teams that have generally been, well, inept in the league at times. If you don't make a mistake, you won't lose but even if you do make one they'll probably miss........I'm watching paint dry tomorrow. bth_thDucksRunsYellow Do we have any of those cheekyfooker badges left lads?
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