TOTTENHAM V red scum plastic wankers

[Anthony Beale]

Reckon if he didn't make it Levy would have chucked that on Stubhub.

Definitely more chance of that, than old Dan popping in the bentley to go pick him up.

 

[Yossarian]

still is - its just not staffed entirely by Spurs die hards.........sadly

The Telegraph is fucked. They hired some psycho from the USA who has shut down the blog section, moved on the decent journalists and turned it into a bizarre hybrid of The Guardian and The Daily Mail.

Their circulation has, predictably, collapsed.

 

[KeaneBean]

Its in here
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/
10 reasons why arse should win

however
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...ier-League-10-questions-for-this-weekend.html

hope they work for you

The articles are pretty shite but by god is this a hilarious photo.

 

[Stauner]

Absolutely buzzing for this. There's between of us 30-40 travelling down from Scotland with the Glasgow Spurs for the match. Spurs TV will be following us about for the match too...I just hope there's a swear filter

Contrary to popular belief, we won't all be wearing kilts and walking our haggis' though.

 

[ArtyB]

Its in here
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/
10 reasons why arse should win

Try to read this and not smash your keyboard into your screen, fling your tablet into a wall or smash your phone...
1. Woolwich are the better team
It may sound simple, but Woolwich have the better players, the deeper squad, and go into the match with a two-point lead over their north London rivals. Hugo Lloris would of course walk into the Woolwich team, but how many other Spurs players would get in? Jan Vertonghen arguably, Harry Kane possibly, Christian Eriksen maybe (though Mesut Ozil, Santi Cazorla, Alexis Sanchez and Theo Walcott would not be easy to get past), and really that’s about it.

2. Recent history is in Woolwich’s favour
Woolwich have won five of the last seven meetings between the two sides, with Spurs winning just one in that time. In those matches Woolwich’s record is scored: 16, conceded: 7. Overall Woolwich have 64 league wins to Tottenham's 49, with 42 draws.

3. Woolwich have the squad to absorb injuries
Yes they may be without Alexis Sanchez, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Mikel Arteta, Jack Wilshere and Mathieu Debuchy, but at last Arsene Wenger has a squad to compensate for such setbacks. Theo Walcott and Mesut Ozil will start in place of Sanchez and Oxlade-Chamberlain, while Francis Coquelin’s emergence has made light of Arteta and Wilshere’s absence. Debuchy being out meanwhile has barely registered, such has been the excellent form of the exciting Spaniard Hector Bellerin. Even with all their injuries, should they need a goal on Saturday the Woolwich substitutes bench will likely include Tomas Rosicky and Danny Welbeck. While if they need to shut up shop, Arsene Wenger will be able to call on Calum Chambers, Kieran Gibbs, Gabriel and Mathieu Flamini. Not bad defensive options.


4. Wenger has players getting back to their best
Ozil and Walcott have both started the last two matches after long-term injuries, and both have scored in each of those two games. Walcott appears to have lost none of his terrifying pace, while a stronger-looking Ozil looks refreshed from his enforced break. He even broke into a few defensive sprints against Aston Villa on Sunday, as Sanchez’s infectious enthusiasm continues to spread to all areas of the squad. Bellerin is another one who is getting better each week, while Nacho Monreal is in the form of his life, and keeping the consistent Gibbs out of the team.

5. The Emirates side are in electrifying form
Woolwich have won their last five matches, scoring 15 goals and conceding just two. Encouragingly for Wenger that run has been achieved while using the full depth of his squad, and eight different players have scored in that period. Spurs themselves are in good form, but the defeat to Leicester and draw with Sheffield United will have concerned Mauricio Pochettino.


6. Woolwich are less tactically naïve than in previous years
Last month’s 2-0 win away at Manchester City appeared to be something of a light bulb moment for Wenger. ‘Hold on, maybe there is a merit to playing a specialist holding midfielder and not telling your full-backs to bomb forward at every opportunity,’ Wenger seemed to finally be realising. Woolwich’s recent defeats to Tottenham were largely self-inflicted by suicidally high defensive lines – see Gareth Bale racing unopposed through the Emirates pitch with Woolwich leading 2-0 in 2010, or the same player sauntering through a woeful offside trap in 2013 – but they appear to have finally learned from such mistakes.

7. Tottenham have struggled at White Hart Lane this season
Home league defeats to West Brom and Stoke are indicative of the difficulties Spurs have experienced at home this season when trying to break teams down. Admittedly Woolwich will not be set up purely to defend, but they go into the match two points ahead of Tottenham, so the onus will be on Saturday’s hosts to win the game. Pochettino’s side are yet to convince this season that they are not primarily a counter-attacking team who labour when the emphasis is on them to attack.

8. Santi Cazorla is unstoppable right now
The little Spaniard has been in sensational form since the start of December – his last ten games have yielded six goals and five assists. With Coquelin marshalling the midfield behind him, Cazorla has had the license to more or less do as he pleases, and he has relished his newfound freedom. Such has been Cazorla’s influence in recent weeks that Paulinho or Ryan Mason may be tasked specifically with stopping the 30-year-old, but even that could benefit Woolwich by opening up space for the likes of Ozil, Walcott and Ramsey.

9. David Ospina has not conceded since replacing Wojciech Szczesny
Ospina has kept four clean sheets in four matches since coming in for the smoking Pole, and is more authoritative than the erratic Szczesny. Despite resembling a slightly overweight businessman, Ospina has a knack for being in the right place at the right time, and his ability to deal with crosses and organise his defence could be crucial on Saturday.

10. Spurs haven’t cut out the defensive lapses in concentration
In two out of Spurs’ last three matches, they have conceded a pair of quick-fire goals when looking completely comfortable. First, they contrived to lose at home to Leiecster with two goals in the final seven minutes, before repeating the trick four days later against Sheffield United when they shipped two in two minutes. Any similar lapses in concentration will be punished by an Woolwich team who have averaged three goals per game in their last five matches.

 

[Mr S Pippo]

The walker @penketh_craig will proberbly over sleep and miss the game?

 

[Mr S Pippo]

Try to read this and not smash your keyboard into your screen, fling your tablet into a wall or smash your phone...
1. Woolwich are the better team
It may sound simple, but Woolwich have the better players, the deeper squad, and go into the match with a two-point lead over their north London rivals. Hugo Lloris would of course walk into the Woolwich team, but how many other Spurs players would get in? Jan Vertonghen arguably, Harry Kane possibly, Christian Eriksen maybe (though Mesut Ozil, Santi Cazorla, Alexis Sanchez and Theo Walcott would not be easy to get past), and really that’s about it.

2. Recent history is in Woolwich’s favour
Woolwich have won five of the last seven meetings between the two sides, with Spurs winning just one in that time. In those matches Woolwich’s record is scored: 16, conceded: 7. Overall Woolwich have 64 league wins to Tottenham's 49, with 42 draws.

3. Woolwich have the squad to absorb injuries
Yes they may be without Alexis Sanchez, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Mikel Arteta, Jack Wilshere and Mathieu Debuchy, but at last Arsene Wenger has a squad to compensate for such setbacks. Theo Walcott and Mesut Ozil will start in place of Sanchez and Oxlade-Chamberlain, while Francis Coquelin’s emergence has made light of Arteta and Wilshere’s absence. Debuchy being out meanwhile has barely registered, such has been the excellent form of the exciting Spaniard Hector Bellerin. Even with all their injuries, should they need a goal on Saturday the Woolwich substitutes bench will likely include Tomas Rosicky and Danny Welbeck. While if they need to shut up shop, Arsene Wenger will be able to call on Calum Chambers, Kieran Gibbs, Gabriel and Mathieu Flamini. Not bad defensive options.


4. Wenger has players getting back to their best
Ozil and Walcott have both started the last two matches after long-term injuries, and both have scored in each of those two games. Walcott appears to have lost none of his terrifying pace, while a stronger-looking Ozil looks refreshed from his enforced break. He even broke into a few defensive sprints against Aston Villa on Sunday, as Sanchez’s infectious enthusiasm continues to spread to all areas of the squad. Bellerin is another one who is getting better each week, while Nacho Monreal is in the form of his life, and keeping the consistent Gibbs out of the team.

5. The Emirates side are in electrifying form
Woolwich have won their last five matches, scoring 15 goals and conceding just two. Encouragingly for Wenger that run has been achieved while using the full depth of his squad, and eight different players have scored in that period. Spurs themselves are in good form, but the defeat to Leicester and draw with Sheffield United will have concerned Mauricio Pochettino.


6. Woolwich are less tactically naïve than in previous years
Last month’s 2-0 win away at Manchester City appeared to be something of a light bulb moment for Wenger. ‘Hold on, maybe there is a merit to playing a specialist holding midfielder and not telling your full-backs to bomb forward at every opportunity,’ Wenger seemed to finally be realising. Woolwich’s recent defeats to Tottenham were largely self-inflicted by suicidally high defensive lines – see Gareth Bale racing unopposed through the Emirates pitch with Woolwich leading 2-0 in 2010, or the same player sauntering through a woeful offside trap in 2013 – but they appear to have finally learned from such mistakes.

7. Tottenham have struggled at White Hart Lane this season
Home league defeats to West Brom and Stoke are indicative of the difficulties Spurs have experienced at home this season when trying to break teams down. Admittedly Woolwich will not be set up purely to defend, but they go into the match two points ahead of Tottenham, so the onus will be on Saturday’s hosts to win the game. Pochettino’s side are yet to convince this season that they are not primarily a counter-attacking team who labour when the emphasis is on them to attack.

8. Santi Cazorla is unstoppable right now
The little Spaniard has been in sensational form since the start of December – his last ten games have yielded six goals and five assists. With Coquelin marshalling the midfield behind him, Cazorla has had the license to more or less do as he pleases, and he has relished his newfound freedom. Such has been Cazorla’s influence in recent weeks that Paulinho or Ryan Mason may be tasked specifically with stopping the 30-year-old, but even that could benefit Woolwich by opening up space for the likes of Ozil, Walcott and Ramsey.

9. David Ospina has not conceded since replacing Wojciech Szczesny
Ospina has kept four clean sheets in four matches since coming in for the smoking Pole, and is more authoritative than the erratic Szczesny. Despite resembling a slightly overweight businessman, Ospina has a knack for being in the right place at the right time, and his ability to deal with crosses and organise his defence could be crucial on Saturday.

10. Spurs haven’t cut out the defensive lapses in concentration
In two out of Spurs’ last three matches, they have conceded a pair of quick-fire goals when looking completely comfortable. First, they contrived to lose at home to Leiecster with two goals in the final seven minutes, before repeating the trick four days later against Sheffield United when they shipped two in two minutes. Any similar lapses in concentration will be punished by an Woolwich team who have averaged three goals per game in their last five matches.

Lets read it again tomorrow after the game and see if it make sence then?
COYS

 

[Guido 🇺🇦]

Try to read this and not smash your keyboard into your screen, fling your tablet into a wall or smash your phone...
1. Woolwich are the better team.

The writer is a gooner.
Here is a list of fleet streets finest and their allegiances and no fucking surprise it is absolutely dominated by scum.
The Telegraph
Chris Bascombe: Liverpool
Luke Edwards: Newcastle
Roddy Forsyth: Rangers
Thom Gibbs: QPR
Alan Hansen: Liverpool
John Ley: Woolwich
Jonathan Liew : Spurs
Mark Ogden: Manchester United
Matt Scott: Woolwich
Alan Smith: Woolwich
Alan Tyers: Hibernian
Jeremy Wilson: Woolwich
Henry Winter: Chelsea & John Terry
Charlie Eccleshire: Woolwich

The Times
Patrick Barclay: Dundee
Oliver Kay: Liverpool
Gabriele Marcotti: Chelsea (season ticket holder anyway)
George Caulkin: Newcastle
Tony Evans: Liverpool
Matt Hughes: Woolwich
Peter Lansley: Wolves
Rory Smith: Liverpool

The Independent
James Lawton: Woolwich
Sam Wallace: Woolwich
Ian Herbert: Wrexham
Simon Rice: Woolwich

The Guardian
Paul Doyle: Woolwich?
Dominic Fifield: Crystal Palace
David Lacey: Woolwich
Amy Lawrence: Woolwich
Kevin McCarra: Celtic
Jacob Steinberg: West Ham
Daniel Taylor: Nottingham Forest
Louise Taylor: Sunderland
Brian Glanville: Woolwich
John Ashdown: Sheffield United

The Sun
Shaun Custis: Newcastle
Simon Barnes: Woolwich


The Daily Mail
Martin Samuel: West Ham
Matt Lawton: Woolwich
Matt Fortune: Woolwich
Neil Moxley: Everton

The Mirror
Oliver Holt: Stockport County
Martin Lipton: Spurs
Darren Lewis: Liverpool
Simon Bird: Newcastle
James Nursey: Norwich
John Cross: Woolwich
Matt Law: Aston Villa

 

[Mick Cooper]

I grant you its fucking annoying to read - but there are a lot of truths in there - in amongst the rabid goon bias. Mind you - its much better than it was when they employed Sue Mott as a football journo. One blind goon I would have happily taken a bat to.

 

[RocketRonny]

I think the only paper I ever saw a spurs supporting sport journalist was the new statesman

 

[Mick Cooper]

The Telegraph is fucked. They hired some psycho from the USA who has shut down the blog section, moved on the decent journalists and turned it into a bizarre hybrid of The Guardian and The Daily Mail.

Their circulation has, predictably, collapsed.

WALOB
all newspapers circulation have collapsed, its hardly something unique to the Telegraph.

 

[Tomo]

The writer is a gooner.
Here is a list of fleet streets finest and their allegiances and no fucking surprise it is absolutely dominated by scum.
The Telegraph
Chris Bascombe: Liverpool
Luke Edwards: Newcastle
Roddy Forsyth: Rangers
Thom Gibbs: QPR
Alan Hansen: Liverpool
John Ley: Woolwich
Jonathan Liew : Spurs
Mark Ogden: Manchester United
Matt Scott: Woolwich
Alan Smith: Woolwich
Alan Tyers: Hibernian
Jeremy Wilson: Woolwich
Henry Winter: Chelsea & John Terry
Charlie Eccleshire: Woolwich

The Times
Patrick Barclay: Dundee
Oliver Kay: Liverpool
Gabriele Marcotti: Chelsea (season ticket holder anyway)
George Caulkin: Newcastle
Tony Evans: Liverpool
Matt Hughes: Woolwich
Peter Lansley: Wolves
Rory Smith: Liverpool

The Independent
James Lawton: Woolwich
Sam Wallace: Woolwich
Ian Herbert: Wrexham
Simon Rice: Woolwich

The Guardian
Paul Doyle: Woolwich?
Dominic Fifield: Crystal Palace
David Lacey: Woolwich
Amy Lawrence: Woolwich
Kevin McCarra: Celtic
Jacob Steinberg: West Ham
Daniel Taylor: Nottingham Forest
Louise Taylor: Sunderland
Brian Glanville: Woolwich
John Ashdown: Sheffield United

The Sun
Shaun Custis: Newcastle
Simon Barnes: Woolwich


The Daily Mail
Martin Samuel: West Ham
Matt Lawton: Woolwich
Matt Fortune: Woolwich
Neil Moxley: Everton

The Mirror
Oliver Holt: Stockport County
Martin Lipton: Spurs
Darren Lewis: Liverpool
Simon Bird: Newcastle
James Nursey: Norwich
John Cross: Woolwich
Matt Law: Aston Villa

If ever there was proof of Woolwich being the metropolitan Middle class Wine drinking club, fucking hell.

 

[Anthony Beale]

They have some good points in that list. They're right about MP worrying about the leicester and SheffU games, tbh i think Michel Vorm might actually get dropped for tomorrow. Wouldn't be surprised if Lloris starts. Same for Dier tbh.

 

[Yorkshire_Spurs]

Absolutely buzzing for this. There's between of us 30-40 travelling down from Scotland with the Glasgow Spurs for the match. Spurs TV will be following us about for the match too...I just hope there's a swear filter

Contrary to popular belief, we won't all be wearing kilts and walking our haggis' though.

Had a scotch pie the other day in glasgow. Enjoyed it.

Feel like you need to know this.

 

[Stauner]

Had a scotch pie the other day in glasgow. Enjoyed it.

Feel like you need to know this.

It's an important fact bud If you're ever in Glasgow for one of the televised matches then pop into the Rhoderick Dhu for the match, as we normally get tons of them free

 

[sammyspurs]

Try to read this and not smash your keyboard into your screen, fling your tablet into a wall or smash your phone...
1. Woolwich are the better team
It may sound simple, but Woolwich have the better players, the deeper squad, and go into the match with a two-point lead over their north London rivals. Hugo Lloris would of course walk into the Woolwich team, but how many other Spurs players would get in? Jan Vertonghen arguably, Harry Kane possibly, Christian Eriksen maybe (though Mesut Ozil, Santi Cazorla, Alexis Sanchez and Theo Walcott would not be easy to get past), and really that’s about it.

2. Recent history is in Woolwich’s favour
Woolwich have won five of the last seven meetings between the two sides, with Spurs winning just one in that time. In those matches Woolwich’s record is scored: 16, conceded: 7. Overall Woolwich have 64 league wins to Tottenham's 49, with 42 draws.

3. Woolwich have the squad to absorb injuries
Yes they may be without Alexis Sanchez, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Mikel Arteta, Jack Wilshere and Mathieu Debuchy, but at last Arsene Wenger has a squad to compensate for such setbacks. Theo Walcott and Mesut Ozil will start in place of Sanchez and Oxlade-Chamberlain, while Francis Coquelin’s emergence has made light of Arteta and Wilshere’s absence. Debuchy being out meanwhile has barely registered, such has been the excellent form of the exciting Spaniard Hector Bellerin. Even with all their injuries, should they need a goal on Saturday the Woolwich substitutes bench will likely include Tomas Rosicky and Danny Welbeck. While if they need to shut up shop, Arsene Wenger will be able to call on Calum Chambers, Kieran Gibbs, Gabriel and Mathieu Flamini. Not bad defensive options.


4. Wenger has players getting back to their best
Ozil and Walcott have both started the last two matches after long-term injuries, and both have scored in each of those two games. Walcott appears to have lost none of his terrifying pace, while a stronger-looking Ozil looks refreshed from his enforced break. He even broke into a few defensive sprints against Aston Villa on Sunday, as Sanchez’s infectious enthusiasm continues to spread to all areas of the squad. Bellerin is another one who is getting better each week, while Nacho Monreal is in the form of his life, and keeping the consistent Gibbs out of the team.

5. The Emirates side are in electrifying form
Woolwich have won their last five matches, scoring 15 goals and conceding just two. Encouragingly for Wenger that run has been achieved while using the full depth of his squad, and eight different players have scored in that period. Spurs themselves are in good form, but the defeat to Leicester and draw with Sheffield United will have concerned Mauricio Pochettino.


6. Woolwich are less tactically naïve than in previous years
Last month’s 2-0 win away at Manchester City appeared to be something of a light bulb moment for Wenger. ‘Hold on, maybe there is a merit to playing a specialist holding midfielder and not telling your full-backs to bomb forward at every opportunity,’ Wenger seemed to finally be realising. Woolwich’s recent defeats to Tottenham were largely self-inflicted by suicidally high defensive lines – see Gareth Bale racing unopposed through the Emirates pitch with Woolwich leading 2-0 in 2010, or the same player sauntering through a woeful offside trap in 2013 – but they appear to have finally learned from such mistakes.

7. Tottenham have struggled at White Hart Lane this season
Home league defeats to West Brom and Stoke are indicative of the difficulties Spurs have experienced at home this season when trying to break teams down. Admittedly Woolwich will not be set up purely to defend, but they go into the match two points ahead of Tottenham, so the onus will be on Saturday’s hosts to win the game. Pochettino’s side are yet to convince this season that they are not primarily a counter-attacking team who labour when the emphasis is on them to attack.

8. Santi Cazorla is unstoppable right now
The little Spaniard has been in sensational form since the start of December – his last ten games have yielded six goals and five assists. With Coquelin marshalling the midfield behind him, Cazorla has had the license to more or less do as he pleases, and he has relished his newfound freedom. Such has been Cazorla’s influence in recent weeks that Paulinho or Ryan Mason may be tasked specifically with stopping the 30-year-old, but even that could benefit Woolwich by opening up space for the likes of Ozil, Walcott and Ramsey.

9. David Ospina has not conceded since replacing Wojciech Szczesny
Ospina has kept four clean sheets in four matches since coming in for the smoking Pole, and is more authoritative than the erratic Szczesny. Despite resembling a slightly overweight businessman, Ospina has a knack for being in the right place at the right time, and his ability to deal with crosses and organise his defence could be crucial on Saturday.

10. Spurs haven’t cut out the defensive lapses in concentration
In two out of Spurs’ last three matches, they have conceded a pair of quick-fire goals when looking completely comfortable. First, they contrived to lose at home to Leiecster with two goals in the final seven minutes, before repeating the trick four days later against Sheffield United when they shipped two in two minutes. Any similar lapses in concentration will be punished by an Woolwich team who have averaged three goals per game in their last five matches.

Didnt piss me off...all I read was:

Please let Woolwich win
Please let Woolwich win
Please let Woolwich win
Please let Woolwich win
Please let Woolwich win
Please let Woolwich win
Please let Woolwich win
Please let Woolwich win
Please let Woolwich win
Please let Woolwich win
Please let Woolwich win
Please let Woolwich win
Please let Woolwich win
Please let Woolwich win
Please let Woolwich win
Please let Woolwich win
Please let Woolwich win
Please let Woolwich win
Please let Woolwich win
Please let Woolwich win
Please let Woolwich win
Please let Woolwich win
Please let Woolwich win

 

[truetomyself]

We'll win this one.

#2bottlesofChianti

 

[Yossarian]

WALOB
all newspapers circulation have collapsed, its hardly something unique to the Telegraph.

Google Jason Seikin then read my post (again).

 

[Don Giovanni]

Try to read this and not smash your keyboard into your screen, fling your tablet into a wall or smash your phone...
1. Woolwich are the better team
It may sound simple, but Woolwich have the better players, the deeper squad, and go into the match with a two-point lead over their north London rivals. Hugo Lloris would of course walk into the Woolwich team, but how many other Spurs players would get in? Jan Vertonghen arguably, Harry Kane possibly, Christian Eriksen maybe (though Mesut Ozil, Santi Cazorla, Alexis Sanchez and Theo Walcott would not be easy to get past), and really that’s about it.

2. Recent history is in Woolwich’s favour
Woolwich have won five of the last seven meetings between the two sides, with Spurs winning just one in that time. In those matches Woolwich’s record is scored: 16, conceded: 7. Overall Woolwich have 64 league wins to Tottenham's 49, with 42 draws.

3. Woolwich have the squad to absorb injuries
Yes they may be without Alexis Sanchez, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Mikel Arteta, Jack Wilshere and Mathieu Debuchy, but at last Arsene Wenger has a squad to compensate for such setbacks. Theo Walcott and Mesut Ozil will start in place of Sanchez and Oxlade-Chamberlain, while Francis Coquelin’s emergence has made light of Arteta and Wilshere’s absence. Debuchy being out meanwhile has barely registered, such has been the excellent form of the exciting Spaniard Hector Bellerin. Even with all their injuries, should they need a goal on Saturday the Woolwich substitutes bench will likely include Tomas Rosicky and Danny Welbeck. While if they need to shut up shop, Arsene Wenger will be able to call on Calum Chambers, Kieran Gibbs, Gabriel and Mathieu Flamini. Not bad defensive options.


4. Wenger has players getting back to their best
Ozil and Walcott have both started the last two matches after long-term injuries, and both have scored in each of those two games. Walcott appears to have lost none of his terrifying pace, while a stronger-looking Ozil looks refreshed from his enforced break. He even broke into a few defensive sprints against Aston Villa on Sunday, as Sanchez’s infectious enthusiasm continues to spread to all areas of the squad. Bellerin is another one who is getting better each week, while Nacho Monreal is in the form of his life, and keeping the consistent Gibbs out of the team.

5. The Emirates side are in electrifying form
Woolwich have won their last five matches, scoring 15 goals and conceding just two. Encouragingly for Wenger that run has been achieved while using the full depth of his squad, and eight different players have scored in that period. Spurs themselves are in good form, but the defeat to Leicester and draw with Sheffield United will have concerned Mauricio Pochettino.


6. Woolwich are less tactically naïve than in previous years
Last month’s 2-0 win away at Manchester City appeared to be something of a light bulb moment for Wenger. ‘Hold on, maybe there is a merit to playing a specialist holding midfielder and not telling your full-backs to bomb forward at every opportunity,’ Wenger seemed to finally be realising. Woolwich’s recent defeats to Tottenham were largely self-inflicted by suicidally high defensive lines – see Gareth Bale racing unopposed through the Emirates pitch with Woolwich leading 2-0 in 2010, or the same player sauntering through a woeful offside trap in 2013 – but they appear to have finally learned from such mistakes.

7. Tottenham have struggled at White Hart Lane this season
Home league defeats to West Brom and Stoke are indicative of the difficulties Spurs have experienced at home this season when trying to break teams down. Admittedly Woolwich will not be set up purely to defend, but they go into the match two points ahead of Tottenham, so the onus will be on Saturday’s hosts to win the game. Pochettino’s side are yet to convince this season that they are not primarily a counter-attacking team who labour when the emphasis is on them to attack.

8. Santi Cazorla is unstoppable right now
The little Spaniard has been in sensational form since the start of December – his last ten games have yielded six goals and five assists. With Coquelin marshalling the midfield behind him, Cazorla has had the license to more or less do as he pleases, and he has relished his newfound freedom. Such has been Cazorla’s influence in recent weeks that Paulinho or Ryan Mason may be tasked specifically with stopping the 30-year-old, but even that could benefit Woolwich by opening up space for the likes of Ozil, Walcott and Ramsey.

9. David Ospina has not conceded since replacing Wojciech Szczesny
Ospina has kept four clean sheets in four matches since coming in for the smoking Pole, and is more authoritative than the erratic Szczesny. Despite resembling a slightly overweight businessman, Ospina has a knack for being in the right place at the right time, and his ability to deal with crosses and organise his defence could be crucial on Saturday.

10. Spurs haven’t cut out the defensive lapses in concentration
In two out of Spurs’ last three matches, they have conceded a pair of quick-fire goals when looking completely comfortable. First, they contrived to lose at home to Leiecster with two goals in the final seven minutes, before repeating the trick four days later against Sheffield United when they shipped two in two minutes. Any similar lapses in concentration will be punished by an Woolwich team who have averaged three goals per game in their last five matches.

 

[SouthStand Billy]

Check out the new picture on ian Wrights Twitter page..