| Crystal Palace v TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR Match Thread |
| Venue | Selhurst Park |
| Date | 18/08/2013 KO 13:30 |
| Competition | Premier League |
| Live Article | http://www.ja606.co.uk/articles/viewLiveArticle/224228 |
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| READ ME : WUM's will betreated in the same way they treat this article...This is the SPURSMatch Thread, feel free to make one on your own board....If you annoymy fellow Spurs fans, you annoy me...You's getz me?#layingdownthelaw |
| Match Preview |
| In many respects it's been a good summer for Tottenham, with Andre Villas-Boas turning down the chance to head for Paris Saint-Germain and the signing of some real quality in the transfer market as they look to break into the top four, but it's all overshadowed at the moment by someone who won't even be at Selhurst Park for this one: Gareth Bale. The saga of whether or not he'll go to Real Madrid has towered over everything else for Spurs and it's no surprise they are reluctant to sell. He's a difference maker even in a good team, as we all know. As a neutral observer, it'll be a shame not to see him out there against newly-promoted Crystal Palace, but I'm sure he won't be missed too much by the home crowd as they hope for a positive start to the new season. Spurs have spent some big money this summer with the probability of further activity before the window closes. Chairman Daniel Levy has broken the club's transfer record twice, with midfielder Paulinho coming in from Corinthians for £17m and then striker Roberto Soldado arriving from Valencia for £26m. It's Crystal Palace's lot to be mentioned by all and sundry as relegation candidates following their latest elevation to the big time via the play-off final at Wembley. It's true that each of their four previous campaigns in the Premier League have ended with a fall through the trap door, but it's also true that Ian Holloway's team will relish the chance to have a go against the best at Selhurst Park and maybe cause an upset or two on the road. They'll miss the talent of Wilfried Zaha, now with Manchester United, and the goals of Glenn Murray, who is recovering from a cruciate knee ligament injury, but Holloway has strengthened where he can and will continue in that vein right up until the window closes. Striker Dwight Gayle is the club's record signing from Peterborough for an initial £4.5m and was at Bishops Stortford just over a year ago. He scored 13 goals in 29 appearances for Peterborough last season and could prove to be an astute signing. Marouane Chamakh will be glad to emerge from the wilderness at Arsenal and another player to keep an eye on is Jose Campana, the captain of Spain's Under-20 side. The deep-lying midfielder has twice won the European title at Under-19 level with his country. |
| TOTTENHAM Team News |
| Tottenham have confirmed Real Madrid transfer target Gareth Bale will not play due to a foot injury. Jan Vertonghen is doubtful, Lewis Holtby is out injured and Emmanuel Adebayor will not feature as he has been away on compassionate leave. |
| CRYSTAL PALACE Team News |
| Crystal Palace's Jerome Thomas will have to wait for his debut as he has not yet recovered from an ankle injury. Paddy McCarthy is back in training but is not yet fit, while Glenn Murray and Yannick Bolasie are also out. |
| Line Ups |
| THFC team: Lloris; Walker, Dawson, Vertonghen, Rose; Lennon, Dembele, Chadli, Sigurdsson, Paulinho; Soldado |
| THFC subs: Kaboul, Capoue, Townsend, Naughton, Defoe, Friedel, Carrol |
| CPFC team: Speroni, Ward, Gabbidon, Delaney, Moxey, Garvan, Dikagcoi, Jedinak, Dobbie, Wilbraham, Gayle |
| CPC subs: Alexander, Marange, O'Keefe, Campana, Williams, Phillips, Chamakh |
| HENGYS Predicted Score |
| 4-0 |
| SKY | BET |
| Home | Win | Draw | Win | Away |
| Tottenham | 8/11 | 14/5 | 4/1 | Crystal Palace |
COYS