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      OPPOSITION VIEW - SPURS Q&A

In the build up to Saturday's game against Tottenham Hotspur, ATWD spoke to Wyart Lane (WL) of My Eyes Have Seen The Glory, and SpursWebs' Mick Faldo (MF) about their thoughts on the forthcoming game at White Hart Lane.

How long a Spurs fan

WL: Too long !!  44 years !!

MF: A very long time. Martin Peters scored twice in the first game I ever saw.

Why Spurs

WL: At the time I started supporting them they were the nearest club who I had seen on TV.

MF: I'm a local. Born a couple of hundred yards from the ground.

Favourite all-time Tottenham player

WL: Steve Perryman - dedicated servant to the club and gave everything for Spurs.

MF: Steve Perryman, though I've soft spots for Mark Falco and Chris Hughton for various reasons.

Thoughts on last season

WL: A good result to finish fourth ... a bad result for Chelsea to win the Champions League.

MF: Imagine a 3 course restaurant meal where the starter was served undercooked, the main was an extraordinary and surprising feast the like of which you didn't imagine possible and the dessert a massive disappointment. And then, just as you're leaving, you find that some git from West London has nicked your wallet.

Happy with AVB?

WL: Yes.  Like all managers they will need time, but will he get it ?  Seems to be making big changes to bring in players who can play his way and perhaps that backing was what he didn't get at Chelsea.

MF: Miles too early to say. He deserves a chance, obviously. Ask me again at Christmas.

Pre-season form

WL: Good - only lost once - away at Valencia, but this is no indicator of what might happen now the real football starts, as was proved at Newcastle.

MF: Poor to middling. Our squad was all over the place though quite literally what with the fall out from the Euros, the Olympics and Modric being sent to train in the car park.

Happy with summer transfer dealings

WL: Up to now, yes, but will need to bring in some more recruits before the end of the month.  A new striker, goalkeeper and creative midfielder would be nice, but don't all fans say that ??

MF: Delighted with Sigurdsson, happy with Adebayor and haven't seen Vertonghen yet. There's more to come though I'm sure.

Prediction and thoughts for the coming season

WL: Top six in AVB's first season, unless we can pick up a couple of top players before the window shuts.  it will be interesting to see who his new tactics work and how he merges young talent into the side, as I think that was one of the reasons he was brought in to the post.

MF: I'll be astonished if we do as well as we have done recently, there's too much that needs doing to the squad Harry left behind plus it's rare that a new manager comes in and gets everything right first time. If Villas-Boas does enough to get rid of this clenched, nervous feeling I have in my stomach before the end of September I'll be pleased.

Player to watch

WL: Without a full transfer window to comment on, at the moment, it would be Bale and Steven Caulker, who come might have seen in Team GB at the Olympic football.  We have a lot of good talented youngsters, but not sure who many would break through this season.

MF: Aside from the obvious ones, Townsend should make the breakthrough this year.

Prediction and thoughts on Albion’s forthcoming season

WL: You seem to have bought shrewdly and in the right positions.  Lukaku will give a presence up front and Foster is sound enough at the back (although he could happily recreate the goal Paul Robinson scored past him at the Lane when he was with Watford as far as I am concerned !!).

MF: Clarke was a good choice as manager I think and so I'd expect a good season for West Brom. Home form vital of course and 3-0 against the Scousers is as good as start as any.

Albion player you admire

WL: Haven't seen too much of Dorrans since his injury, but I have always like James Morrison, who looks a good little player.

MF: I've always liked the work of James Morrison, especially Light My Fire and The End.

Thoughts on WBA fans

WL: Soft spot for them, as they always make a lot of noise and appear good-natured.

MF: I've met a few, they always seem to know their onions. Went to the Hawthorns last year, good atmosphere.

Premier League Champs

WL: Manchester United.

MF: The team with the most money.

Teams for the drop

WL: West Ham United, Wigan Athletic and Norwich City.

MF: Tough one. West Ham, Wigan and Norwich.

Prediction for game

WL: Spurs to get narrow win 2-1

MF: A 1-0 home win.

 


 

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