Spurs build up thread

[lfc1394]

Does anybody know how Rafa has done away against Redknapps teams?

Dunno but he hasn't lost at whl.

[dww]

If we setup like we did against Chelsea we should win this one, but I'm worried that players might think so as well. If Mascher hunts down Modric and our winger(s) keeps theirs occupied, I can't see where the danger should come from. Maybe Hyypia will be brought in for Pavluychenko?

I agree with the first part of what you say but I really thin this year our mentality is better - at least within the 13 or so players who figure regularly in the first XI. However Agger has to play to allow the midfield to push forward more for me. I didn't like the idea of playing Hyypia specifically to take care of Crouch last night for that reason although it was a good game to give him a run out I suppose, he has had that now and we need to get back to a first choice team designed to dominate teams without concentrating too much on their strengths.

Tottenham still have a weak spine and we should be able to take advantage of that.

[Gaz]

I have a hunch Hyppia may start.

I disagree, back to our first choice pairing of Agger and Carragher

[Neil Young]

Bottom v top - what could go wrong?

[Chrono]

Never been more confident of a result. I can see nothing but 3 points from this one (famous last words).

[yukpo]

double edged sword this, spurs could be there for the taking but as we know ourselves, the belief it inspires in you to come back from 2 goals down and get something out of a game so it could be a spirited spurs we see on saturday. they've only had 2 points until last weekend and they doubled that in 2 games, and will surely look to shoot up the table now with a home game against us, who may be top but we do not look unbeatable.

is torres back?

[EwarWoo]

Never been more confident of a result. I can see nothing but 3 points from this one (famous last words).

Strangely I was more confident going into teh Chelsea match.

Still cautiously optomistic, but definately cautiously.

[Pablo]

Im staying in the Lake District this weekend. he last time I stayed there we spanked Derby 6-0. Get your bets on now lads!

[Shaggy]

Yep I have an irrational fear. Top v bottom. Unbeaten top team to lose for the first time at a rejuvenated bottom team.

If we win I will go ballistic.

[JohnDoe]

I'm a bit torn about the way we should play. Spurs' weakness is clearly in the middle, so Alonso/Masch behind Gerrard could destroy them and seems like the most sensible choice.

Any news on Torres' condition? He'd be ideal for this game, though Keane is bound to score his first league goal at the lane.

[JohnDoe]

Yep I have an irrational fear. Top v bottom. Unbeaten top team to lose for the first time at a rejuvenated bottom team.

If we win I will go ballistic.

I'm definitely not considering this an easy game, and I do see where you're coming from, though we're just the type of team Spurs should suffer against. I would have been more worried had Spurs lost to Arsenal. At least now, they're in a false state of security and actually fancy us.

If we tactically outclass them and not make silly mistakes at the back, we should win comfortably.

[Craig_H]

Still no news on torres?

[Kenneth]

I'm definitely not considering this an easy game, and I do see where you're coming from, though we're just the type of team Spurs should suffer against. I would have been more worried had Spurs lost to Arsenal. At least now, they're in a false state of security and actually fancy us.

If we tactically outclass them and not make silly mistakes at the back, we should win comfortably.

Makes it more likely that they'll go at us, opening the game up a bit. That should help us.

[livvy145]

Still no news on torres?

From Balague's website

iverpool: Torres Injury Latest


The news coming out of Melwood is that Fernando Torres is nearing full fitness and has been training with the rest of the first team squad. The Liverpool striker had been sidelined for the last couple weeks after suffering a hamstring injury he picked up playing for Spain against Belgium. For the last week he had been working separately, on a personal recovery programme, away from the rest of the group.

Depending on how Torres reacts to training over the next two days, he may be included in the squad that travels to face Spurs at the weekend. However, he will not start the match and may only get a few minutes playing time towards the end of the game.

As Rafa Benitez said last week, he will not rush Torres in to a premature return and he will not risk him unless he is confident that he is 100% fit.

That also means that he will not be rushed back for the Atletico Madrid Champions League clash next Wednesday either. It will, of course, be a huge disappointment for Fernando to miss out on the game against his old club, but the technical staff at Liverpool are quite relaxed and not desperate for him to feature. If he is in the squad to face Atleti, the plan will be to give him some playing time in order to ease him back to full fitness – with the aim of using the next two games to have him in peak condition for the visit of West Brom on November 8th.

[Craig_H]

Cheers for that livvy. Let's hope they make sure he's totally 100% and he only plays again when there's no risk.