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
Albions
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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