Premiership: Newcastle United V Tottenham Hotspur – Saturday, 22nd January

Newcastle United V Tottenham Hotspur

Saturday, 22nd January – 15:00 (GMT)
Venue: St James’ Park

 

Newcastle United

There’s a touch of irony in Andy Carroll’s current predicament. The 22-year old has become a sought-after commodity after popping up with 11 goals in the Premier League this season, some of the more notable include strikes against Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool, yet his new boss, Alan Pardew, has barely had the pleasure of utilising his services since resuming managerial responsibilities following Chris Hughton’s shock departure even though the former West Ham boss has expressed his desire to keep hold of the club’s hottest prospect at all costs. So news that the lanky forward is set to spend a further two to three weeks on the sidelines won’t go down too well in the managerial quarters, Pardew now forced to stick with Leon Best and Shola Ameobi in the meantime.

If Pardew feels he’s a little out of luck, because he’s spent much of his Newcastle tenure without the club’s most prolific outlet, then he can at least count himself more than a touch fortunate that Carroll’s deputies have performed admirably in his absence. Leon Best has spent much on his career on Tyneside on the sidelines, ironically, though he’s seized on this recent bout of misfortune commendably. A well-taken hat-trick in Newcastle’s 5-0 rout of West Ham at St James’ a fortnight ago meant he was rewarded with another start next time out away at arch-rivals Sunderland. Meanwhile Shola Ameobi scored Newcastle’s winner at the DW Stadium in their New Year fixture with Wigan Athletic.

Only a late Asamoah Gyan strike right at the death stopped Pardew from celebrating his fourth victory as Newcastle manager, what would have been the Magpies’ third on the trot. Kevin Nolan stepped up to the plate to score his team’s opener at the Stadium of Light last weekend, his fourth of the season against the club’s bitter locals Sunderland, though victory wasn’t to be theirs and it now isn’t beyond the realms of possibility to presume that despite Nolan and Co going their last three top-flight games without defeat, some of that momentum has been lost simply because of the way they allowed two points and a third win on the spin to slip through their grasp.

Nevertheless, despite the disappointment of drawing with Sunderland a week ago, there remains plenty to be optimistic about if you’re a Newcastle fan. For starters, your team are now just five points shy of the European berths. Second, you’re unbeaten in your last three league matches, and third, you’ve seen the Magpies suffer just one defeat in their last four at St James’. The setback, though, is that Alan Pardew is still missing top-scorer Andy Carroll through a thigh injury, Steven Taylor with a hamstring complaint, Alan Smith ruled out for the remainder of the season with an ankle injury while combative midfielder Cheik Tiote is still suspended. 

Newcastle Fact: A 4-0 whitewash back in 2003 at St James’ in the Premier League remains Newcastle’s last clean sheet against Spurs, the Magpies failing to record a clean sheet against their London rivals in their previous twelve matches (All competitions).

 

Tottenham Hotspur

If you were to ask any top manager what they think of the January transfer window they’ll tell you it’s a sheer waste of time, the worst period possible to bolster your ranks, as it only causes distress and uproots all that positive aurora in the dressing room. Both Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger have both lamented the disruption signings make at the mid-season point by confirming they do not plan on delving into the transfer market in January, with Wenger so reluctant to splash the cash this month that he’s willing to ride through a centre-back injury crisis. So why hasn’t Harry Redknapp followed suit?

At 63-years old and having transformed the fortunes of Tottenham Hotspur dramatically over the last two years, you probably think we’re mad to claim Harry Redknapp has shown he has a distinct lack of experience when it comes to competing for the ultimate prize in English football, the Barclay’s Premier League. When those around them, those with a proven track record when it comes to the Premiership crown, Arsene Wenger and Alex Ferguson, have patently made it clear that making January purchases tends to cause more harm than good, why on earth does Harry do the exact opposite?

Bringing David Beckham to the club has already brought no-end of distress and chaos to a club which before Christmas didn’t have to contend with the paparazzi going to such lengths as climbing into the training ground just to take a photo of arguably the sports’ biggest celebrity. Spurs were quietly going about their business in a professional, dignified manner. Now they have the biggest distraction possible.

Quite frankly, we aren’t at all surprised Tottenham have struggled to get going in 2011, the arrival of Beckham is the root of their problems in my humble opinion. They took an age to find their rhythm before finally dispatching of League Two Charlton in the FA Cup a fortnight ago, but in the league their hopes of springing a surprise have faded in double-quick time thanks to two disappointing results. The first coming away at Everton, where Spurs suffered their first defeat in nearly two months, and that includes all competitions, while they failed to raise their game in a must-win encounter with Manchester United last Sunday, drawing 0-0 with the current league leaders at White Hart Lane, the Red Devils now boasting an eight-point cushion over Spurs with a game in hand.

On face value, a draw with United is a half-decent result. In reality, it’s dreadful. If Harry wishes to continually hype up his side’s chances of pipping the likes of United to this season’s Premier League crown than it’s those type of fixtures Spurs simply have to be winning. Yet Spurs barely got out of the starting blocks. The hosts created very little and despite boasting so many creative superstars, the likes of Gareth Bale, LIndiaa Modric and Rafael Ven Der Vaart weren’t just kept quiet but put in their place by the Premiership kings. It’s all good and well the aforementioned players turning up against the mid-table sides, it’s performing against your closest rivals which has a large baring on where you currently stand in the Premier League pecking order, which in Tottenham’s case is still a top-four competitor.

Their lacklustre start to 2011 now means Spurs simply have to win Saturday’s away encounter with Newcastle at St James’ Park. Victory at a venue where they haven’t won any of their previous four league meetings has now become imperative. However, Harry’s men haven’t enjoyed trips up north this season, Spurs tasting defeat in two visits to Manchester, losing to Man Utd (2-0) and Bolton (4-2), as well as a recent 2-1 defeat at Everton. So a trek up to Tyneside spells trouble based on Spurs’ miserable record of having registered just one win from their four visits up north this season, coupled with the fact they have terrible recent history with Newcastl on Tyneside.

Tottenham Fact: Tottenham have only failed to score in two of their ten away league encounters this season, however they were beaten on both occasions (West Ham 1-0 & Man Utd 2-0).

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Last 5 Results

Newcastle United

Premiership: Sunderland 1-1 Newcastle United
FA Cup: Stevenage 3-1 Newcastle United
Premiership: Newcastle United 5-0 West Ham
Premiership: Wigan Athletic 0-1 Newcastle United
Premiership: Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Newcastle United

Tottenham Hotspur

Premiership: Tottenham Hotspur 0-0 Manchester United
FA Cup: Tottenham Hotspur 3-0 Charlton Athletic
Premiership: Everton 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Premiership: Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Fulham
Premiership: Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Newcastle United

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Head-to-Head (Last 5 Seasons)

2010/2011: Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Newcastle United

2008/2009: Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Newcastle United
2008/2009: Newcastle United 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur

2007/2008: Tottenham Hotspur 1-4 Newcastle United
2007/2008: Newcastle United 3-1 Tottenham Hotspur

2006/2007: Tottenham Hotspur 2-3 Newcastle United
2006/2007: Newcastle United 3-1 Tottenham Hotspur

2005/2006: Newcastle United 3-1 Tottenham Hotspur
2005/2006: Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Newcastle United

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2010/2011 Premiership Statistics

Newcastle United

League Position: 9th
Win-Draw-Lose: 8-5-9 (Home: 4-3-4)
Goal Difference: 35-32 (Home: 25-14)
Form: LLWWD (Home: DDWLW)
Top Scorer: Andy Carroll (11)

Tottenham Hotspur

League Position: 5th
Win-Draw-Lose: 10-7-5 (Away: 4-2-4)
Goal Difference: 31-25 (Away: 14-16)
Form: WWWLD (Away: LWDWL)
Top Scorer: Rafael Van Der Vaart (9)

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Betting Odds & Tips

Match Prediction: Draw – 3.40 Bet365

The magpies put up stern resistance when the two sides clashed at White Hart Lane post-Christmas, although still went down 2-0. They’re in impressive enough nick to suggest they’re capable of reversing the loss, though their ranks are depleted, the absence of Cheik Tiote arguably the most costly in my opinion, the combative midfielder bringing some steel and workmanlike qualities to each and every game he’s fortunate enough to participate in, as that’s the vibe we get from him, that he’s blessed to be playing for such a prestigious club in such a high-profile league.

I’ve not been at all impressed with the Beckham debacle which has unfolded in front of our very highs, the LA Galaxy superstar causing so much disruption since joining the club on what would appear a train-only deal. A pointless deal if you ask me. Nevertheless, Spurs have so much to their armoury that I can foresee the likes of Gareth Bale, LIndiaa Modric and Rafael Ven Daart, Aaron Lennon is he starts, causing Newcastle all sorts of problems.

If Newcastle are to register anything from this fixture than those in midfield really do need to stand up and be counted. You can rely on Kevin Nolan and Joey Barton to give their all, while Jonas Gutierrez has his moments of brilliance. There are a few ifs and buts but nevertheless I wouldn’t write off the Magpies.

I genuinely cannot pick a confident enough winner so I’ve decided to take the cowards route, hoping the two cancel each other out and play out an entertaining draw.

Value Bet: Gareth Bale to Score – 4.33 William Hill

If this bet does turn out to be a winner than you can kindly thank the folk at Yahoo Sport, who, aided by Opta, claim that no team has scored more goals with the left-foot than Spurs (52%) this season, while no side has conceded more goals to left-footed players than Newcastle (41%). It almost seems a formality that Bale should score then, what would be his second strike of the season against Newcastle United.

 

Match Odds:

Newcastle United – 3.40 Victor Chandler
Draw – 3.40 Bet365
Tottenham Hotspur – 2.30 Stan James