EPL: Spurs v Everton (14.08) - TalkSoccer

**bandini** · 14-08-2007, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Tottenham boss Martin Jol believes youth is the key to avoiding last season's dismal start to their Premier League campaign.

Jol's insistence that Spurs can crack the top four this season already looks uncertain given the manner of their opening-day defeat at Sunderland.

But as they kick off their White Hart Lane campaign against Everton, Jol is sure his side will not repeat their run of one win in six at the start of the last campaign.

Jol said: "I feel we have invested wisely in good young players for the future. Gareth Bale is very young and Younes Kaboul (pictured) is playing like a 25-year-old but he is only 21."

Bale is still out nursing a thigh injury but Jol has clearly put a lot of faith in Kaboul, who became the Premier League's third most expensive uncapped player when he signed for £8million in the summer.

Jol will give a late fitness test to Michael Dawson who was ruled out of the trip to the north-east with a sprained ankle. He is also set to hand £16.5million striker Darren Bent his first start.

Everton are expected to field an unchanged side at White Hart Lane, where they won impressively last season after 21 years without a victory there.

Everton boss David Moyes believes he will have £6million new-boy Leighton Baines ready for action in a week.

The former Wigan full-back returned to training for the first time on Monday, after sitting out Saturday's Barclays Premier League opener against his former club with a hamstring injury.

But Moyes has James McFadden back in his squad after a knee injury.

"We seem to be okay in terms of injuries after the weekend win over Wigan," said the Toffees boss.

"James McFadden has done some training, and I will add him to the squad.

"He has missed a lot of pre-season work - but because of the shortage up front, I will be bringing him into the squad."

Moyes is fully aware Spurs will be determined to put Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Sunderland behind them, and is not getting carried away by the fact Everton could find themselves six points ahead of their hosts after tonight.

He said: "In the Premier League, I don't think there is ever a good time to catch anybody.

"This is their first home game of the season, and that in itself will give them a lift. We know we have got to go there and be hard to beat and put on a good show.

"We had good games last year. We played well at Tottenham, and they played well at Goodison - the games have been tight between good sides.

"Tottenham have invested heavily in the market to improve again, so we know it is going to be a really difficult game."

source: Premier League - Tottenham v Everton: Team News - Yahoo! Eurosport UK

I'm gonna predict 2-1 even though we typically have a terrible start to the season.

**unitedfan** · 14-08-2007, 07:00 PM

Everton team news
Following victory over Wigan David Moyes has named an unchanged XI for The Toffees. Team in full: Howard, Hibbert, Yobo, Stubbs, Lescott, Osman, Neville, Carsley, Arteta, Johnson, Anichebe. Subs: Ruddy, McFadden, Jagielka, Nuno Valente, Pienaar.

Spurs team news
Martin Jol has handed Darren Bent a full debut in place of the injured Teemu Tainio meaning Robbie Keane is likely to feature in midfield. Team in full: Robinson, Chimbonda, Kaboul, Gardner, Stalteri, Zokora, Jenas, Malbranque, Keane, Berbatov, Bent. Subs: Cerny, Defoe, Routledge, Huddlestone, Rocha.

**unitedfan** · 14-08-2007, 07:06 PM

Lescott scores a header 3 minutes in

**bandini** · 14-08-2007, 07:18 PM

Time to start scoring some goals and stop letting them in the wrong end.

**russe||** · 14-08-2007, 07:19 PM

bandini >>> Jol

**bandini** · 14-08-2007, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by russe||

bandini >>> Jol

Rocha comes on for Kaboul. DAMN we must be bad

**bandini** · 14-08-2007, 07:25 PM

Even Berbs can't hit the target from close range.

**unitedfan** · 14-08-2007, 07:27 PM

Goal and it's Gardner.

**bandini** · 14-08-2007, 07:28 PM

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES.

**bandini** · 14-08-2007, 07:29 PM

was a nice little header there.

**bandini** · 14-08-2007, 07:35 PM

I think the key at the moment is that Spurs seem to be winning the midfield battles. Not getting the finishes we need and looking shaky at the back as usual, but the midfield battles I think are going to win this one for us.

**bandini** · 14-08-2007, 07:37 PM

Beautiful play by Malbranque on the wing to pull that down and send a cross through which was just inches away from perfect. Very nicely done.

**unitedfan** · 14-08-2007, 07:38 PM

Osman scored 2-1

**unitedfan** · 14-08-2007, 07:43 PM

Malbranque has played well on the ball, but his crossing has been poor - you couldn't expect too much else, really, since he's having to cross on his inside.

**unitedfan** · 14-08-2007, 07:44 PM

Free kick in a very dangerous position.

Arteta overall has been fantastic, given defense problems.

Free kick is over