Roker Report - Sunderland Vs Tottenham Hotspur: As It HappenedSunderland AFC's foremost blog and Podcast!https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/51357/rr-fav.png2013-12-10T10:00:01+00:00http://rokerreport.sbnation.com/rss/stream/49460212013-12-10T10:00:01+00:002013-12-10T10:00:01+00:00Talking Tactics: Tottenham Hotspur (H)
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<figcaption>Jan Kruger</figcaption>
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<p>We take a look back at Saturday's home defeat to Andre Villas-Boas' men, a result which leaves Sunderland rooted firmly at the bottom of the table.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1958865/03SKk3.png"><img alt="03skk3_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1958865/03SKk3_medium.png"></a></p>
<p><b>4-4-f**kin'-2</b></p>
<p>Err, yeah. Quite why Gus Poyet opted for a 4-4-2 formation on Saturday evening is really anyone's guess. The Uruguayan has proven quite the sensible manager so far during his reign on Wearside, yet that seemed to disappear against Spurs, with the a central midfield three bizarrely ditched in favour of lining up with two strikers. Perhaps Poyet felt, with two strikers, that he could get at a visiting side that has looked rocky at the back over recent weeks, but it backfired and allowed Andre Villas-Boas' men to assume control of the central third of the field.</p>
<p>Frankly, it appeared rather as though the system was selected as a way of shoehorning Steven Fletcher into the lineup. Rightly surmising that Jozy Altidore should retain his place in the side after a swashbuckling display against Chelsea in midweek, Poyet pitched the Scottish striker up front too, in a move that backfired completely.</p>
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<p>Despite registering two efforts on goal, Fletcher was scarcely involved. Nor, it must be said, was Altidore - who showed a lot of wilful running but little in the way of a genuine threat - but it was the relative invisibility of Fletcher that was concerning. When he was involved, he was wasteful: 37% of his attempted passes failed to find a man, a worryingly high figure. He was not helped by the lack of support from behind him, particularly in the second half when, for a long spell, Spurs rolled the ball around with complete ease. Yet, this is another in a growing list of poor performances from Sunderland's top striker. In hindsight, Poyet should have stuck to three in midfield, even if it meant the £12m man sitting out a second consecutive game.</p>
<p>The inevitable consequence of this shift in system was that the away side controlled the central areas. Sunderland actually started the game relatively well, and their goal came as a result of an excellent, flowing move, but even prior to their dip in performance (after that opening goal), Spurs had looked more commanding in the middle.</p>
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<p style="text-align: left;">The chief benefactor of this was Moussa Dembélé. The Belgian was at his mazy best on Saturday, drifting rather effortlessly past Jack Colback in particular, and really driving AVB's men forward. He created four chances from open play and was heavily involved throughout. It was, of course, a good performance on his own part, but this game should have underlined to Gus Poyet what many of us have known for over two years now: this Sunderland side does not possess sufficient midfield quality to deploy two men in the centre, especially against clearly superior sides.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><b>Impressive Visiting Pressure</b></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">It must be said that, shocking though Sunderland's second half confidence drain was, the visitors deserve credit for their own application. Villas-Boas noted the Wearsiders' newfound love of possession football, but also - correctly - reasoned that it may all fall apart if they are pressured from high up the field.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Vito Mannone made just 12 short passes out from his goal, with Jermain Defoe and Lewis Holtby pressing consistently to stop the likes of Ki Sung-Yeung providing a short option. As a result, Mannone was forced into 15 long passes and, with Fletcher in particular having a miserable time in the air, only three were successfully completed.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Holtby was excellent. The German international was a persistent thorn in Sunderland's side on the ball, but even more impressive off it, relentlessly pursuing home defenders and ensuring that Poyet's men excessively resorted to the long hoofs that the new manager has tried to iron out over the past two months.</p>
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<p>Even allowing for a wise Villas-Boas game plan, though, Poyet will have been disappointed at his side's inability to play "his way" under pressure. The possession football he has employed specifically helps to build confidence in the side - and particularly the defence - as it allows the players to ease themselves into the game, getting plenty of touches on the ball and spending less time defending opposing attacks. Spurs pressed well, but more composure was needed from a Sunderland side that has proven itself more than capable of playing the game their manager wants them to. It is little surprise he was so exasperated come full-time.</p>
<p><b>Conclusion</b></p>
<p>This was a very bad day at the office for Sunderland. Bad refereeing decisions aside, Spurs could easily have hammered home four or five - the winner here was a deserved one.</p>
<p>For Poyet, too, it was a chastening experience. The Swansea debacle aside, the new man has been pretty much spot on in his reign so far, opting for pragmatism primarily before slowly but surely making his mark on the side. Four changes on Saturday after a tough midweek game three days previously pointed to pragmatism once more, but, in hindsight, it was a miserable failure.</p>
<p>The manager may well have found out more about the current squad through defeat than he did in any victory. He will have noted - as we all have - the side's horribly brittle confidence. Tactical nous is worth little if the players lack the mental fortitude to put plans into action. The main upside of the scenario is that few sides will be able to press quite as effectively and relentlessly as Spurs did; but Poyet must now return to a three man central midfield, and hope his team can bounce back in a crucial trip to West Ham this coming weekend.</p>
https://rokerreport.sbnation.com/2013/12/10/5189140/talking-tactics-tottenham-hotspur-hChrisWeatherspoon2013-12-09T10:00:02+00:002013-12-09T10:00:02+00:00Quick Kicks: Gutless Wonders Strike Again
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<figcaption>Chris Brunskill</figcaption>
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<p>This is the feature in which we usually sift through a defeat, mix metaphors, and scratch around for some positives. This week, however, there is just one real familiar talking point. </p> <h4>What The Gaffer Said</h4>
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<p>On that performance we would not get enough points to stay up. On a normal day Spurs could have won 5-1. Then it would be even worse. The problem is that we are making too many mistakes. There needs to be a moment when we say: 'That is it,' and there are no more excuses or bad luck. That's where we are hurting at the moment.<br><br>It is not about individuals not getting the message, it is the group. If it was one player it would be easy for me, because you drop him. It is the group that need to get it, the players altogether because they have to learn if one person makes a mistake their team-mates need to react.<br><br>Now, I think a line has been drawn. Does the season start here? If it doesn't start today we have got a massive problem. Playing that way doesn't save you, I promise you. All the teams who have played like that in the last 10 years have gone down.<br><br>I pick the team but I always say that we need to do it altogether. I have responsibility which is why I am here, but the players have responsibilities too.</p>
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<p>And, as if by magic... there we have it. Gus Poyet has arrived at the same old conclusions that his predecessors did.</p>
<p>It's becoming a crushingly familiar cycle. A new manager realises that he has a bunch of institutionalised losers to work with and in the end they get him the sack.</p>
<p>A new manager comes in, takes a look at the names on paper and thinks to himself 'yeah, plenty to work with here', and they man up to impress for a couple of games. In the fullness of time, however, they revert to type, produce performances like this one, and the new manager cracks before publicly questioning their quality.</p>
<p>Martin O'Neill did it, Paolo Di Canio did it, and now Gus Poyet has done it. It's not a coincidence.</p>
<p>There is just no nastiness with this squad. No killer instinct or desire to assert themselves. They seem happy to go through the motions. With the amount of shirt-swapping going on these days they seem just happy to be here.</p>
<p>It's true that we are on a quite staggering run of incredible refereeing decisions going against us and Saturday was no different. But shouldn't that sense of injustice rouse them into action just a little? Shouldn't it make them angry and nourish their determination to claw back the points? It certainly should.</p>
<p>The most irritating thing about it is how predictable the whole thing is. Repetition does that, I guess.</p>
<p>Us fans have known for months. You can say what you want about Paolo Di Canio, and especially question the wisdom of going quite so public with his views on the current squad as he did, but he had them well figured-out. There were very few not nodding along with just about every word of his now notorious rants.</p>
<p>The players moaned, of course, either privately or in public, such as the interview Titus Bramble gave to the Telegraph in which he tried to paint the players as oppressed warriors, prevented from winning the battle because the poor little lambs didn't like their nasty General.</p>
<p>We still get that interview shoved in our faces from time-to-time. After every win, really, so not often enough. I say 'every' win, but I probably mean 'both'. Bit different. Those that do it are strangely quiet after any of the defeats though. Apparently, their unwavering expertise in our club, which stretches to the point of lecturing its own supporters at times, doesn't stretch that far.</p>
<p>Let's just hope that, having seen for himself the crippling mental fragility of this squad, Gus Poyet is the man with the answer.</p>
<p>Right now, there is a general feeling abound that the end of the road is here for the majority of these players. A bit like when all parties have accepted a marriage is over and are just waiting for the legalities of the divorce to be done.</p>
<p>In the meantime, I suppose the best we can hope for is they don't pull the whole family home down around us.</p>
https://rokerreport.sbnation.com/2013/12/9/5189866/quick-ish-kick-reaction-from-sunderland-1-2-tottenham-hotspurmichaelgraham2013-12-07T21:27:02+00:002013-12-07T21:27:02+00:00Sunderland Vs Tottenham Hotspur: Player Ratings
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<figcaption>Jan Kruger</figcaption>
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<p>Each we use our best internet crayons to write something about individual performance. You hate it and leave angry comments. That's how this works, right?</p> <h4>Vito Mannone - 5</h4>
<p>Both goals seemed to go through him a little for me. You can't be too critical as both were from close range, but both perfectly savable.</p>
<h4>Ondrej Celustka - 5</h4>
<p>Mixed bag. Involved in the Sunderland goal and then fell asleep to allow Spurs to equalise almost immediately.</p>
<h4>John O'Shea - 5</h4>
<p>Own goal, and one of a number who really struggled to cope with Spurs' pace and power.</p>
<h4>Wes Brown - 6</h4>
<p>Best of a poor backline, but not by all that much.</p>
<h4>Phil Bardsley - 5</h4>
<p>Another slow reactor for the Spurs equaliser. A little wasteful in attack, a little pedestrian in defence.</p>
<h4>Adam Johnson - 6</h4>
<p>Typically inconsistent. Scored a lovely goal but was culpable for the Tottenham winner.</p>
<h4>Ki Sung-Yeung - 6</h4>
<p>Only midfield player with any real quality, but not one of his more influential games.</p>
<h4>Jack Colback - 4</h4>
<p>Very poor again from Colback. Got caught on the ball a little too much and offered little in terms of invention.</p>
<h4>Seb Larsson - 4</h4>
<p>See Jack Colback really. The midfield was very much where this one was lost.</p>
<h4>Steven Fletcher - 4</h4>
<p>Looking badly out of sorts and struggling for... well something.</p>
<h4>Jozy Altidore - 5</h4>
<p>Always looked like he might do something, without actually doing anything.</p>
<h4>Lee Cattermole - 6</h4>
<p>Added the required second half bite to the powder-puff midfield. Poyet needs to get him back into the starting line-up really.</p>
<h4>Fabio Borini - 6</h4>
<p>Offered a lot of movement and a semblance of threat from the bench. Missed the big chance to equalise, though.</p>
<h4>Emanuele Giaccherini - 6</h4>
<p>Nice little cameo with some flashes of quality. Always feel there is more to come from the Italian.</p>
<h4>Man Of The Match: Take Your Pick, Really<br>
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<p>No one really stood out at all for me. I won't waste anyone's time shoehorning someone in here just for the sake of it. Knock yourselves out!</p>
<p><i>We'll have more match reaction later in our Stream. Check it out <a href="http://rokerreport.sbnation.com/2013/12/6/5181980/sunderland-vs-tottenham-hotspur-live-coverage-match-report" target="_blank">HERE!</a></i></p>
https://rokerreport.sbnation.com/2013/12/7/5182052/sunderland-vs-tottenham-hotspur-player-ratingsmichaelgraham2013-12-07T19:49:16+00:002013-12-07T19:49:16+00:00Match Report: Sunderland 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur
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<figcaption>Chris Brunskill</figcaption>
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<p>Sunderland slumped to their second defeat in a week after an own goal from John O'Shea and another from Paulinho were enough to overcome an early striker from Adam Johnson.</p> <p>The opening ten minutes or so failed to deliver any real action of note, despite high-energy levels from both sides. In fact there was an absence of any stats in the 'shots' column throughout this period.</p>
<p>The visitors didn't come anywhere near to looking like breaking through, while the best Sunderland could offer in return was a strong run from Jozy Altidore which had fans on their feet, but a Spurs defender able to get a block in before it became a real danger.</p>
<p>Paulinho became the first person on the pitch to have a crack when he was teed up around 25-yards from goal, and while Vito Mannone flung himself into action the Brazilian's effort was always rising and sailed into the North Stand.</p>
<p>With fifteen minutes on the clock everyone eventual woke up, although they'd be forgiven if they actually needed the time to merely defrost, as both sides had good chances.</p>
<p>Firstly Phil Bardsley lofted a long ball between Kyle Walker and Michael Dawson for Steven Fletcher to run onto. A man not blessed with pace somehow came off the better but dragged a first time effort wide of goal with Hugo Lloris untroubled.</p>
<p>A couple of minutes later Fletcher showed some superb skill and awareness to get away from three Spurs players and lay the ball into Jozy Alitodre. The American in turn teed up Jack Colback for a strike at goal but the local lad fired high, wide and handsome.</p>
<p>In between these Lewis Holtby fired from outside the area, forcing Vito Mannone to be at full stretch to palm away for a corner.</p>
<p>Without especially dominating, Spurs managed to carve out several half chances for themselves. Aaron Lennon's clever dink over the top to Paulinho, which was well blocked by Wes Brown inside the six-yard box, the better of the chances.</p>
<p>Jermain Defoe tried his luck from distance on several occasions with mixed results. One well blocked by Bardsley and another trickling wide of Mannone's goal.</p>
<p>In reply Sunderland hadn't looked any great shakes. Each time they moved the ball forward it seemed someone, normally Steven Fletcher, would lose possession cheaply and squander a chance.</p>
<p>However on Sunderland's next attack things worked out much better, with Adam Johnson rocketing the home side into the lead.</p>
<p>Jozy Altidore, who was enjoying an encouraging performance from deep behind Fletcher, fed the ball out wide to Ondrej Celustka to fire in a fairly average, non-descript cross which was flapped at in horrendous fashion by Hugo Lloris, right into the path of Johnson rifled the ball into the top right corner.</p>
<p>The lead however lasted barely six minutes as the visitors drew level.</p>
<p>A freekick awarded against Colback allowed the ball to be crossed to the back post where Nacer Chadli headed it back into the danger area. A lurking Paulinho reacted first to tap the ball in from all of four yards out and tie things up.</p>
<p>Celustka tested Lloris from distance and Chadli nodded a corner over the top before Lee Mason blew for half time with the score 1-1.</p>
<p>Unfortunately the second half started with Sunderland scoring their customary own goal and handed the visitors the lead.</p>
<p>Moussa Dembele simply powered past Jack Colback like he didn't even exist and on into the area, playing across goal with hope. He got it when the ball ricochet off John O'Shea's ankles and past Mannone without a Spurs player even present.</p>
<p>The lead could well have been extended moments later.</p>
<p>Following a poor set-piece routine from Sunderland, Spurs broke at speed with Chadli and Defoe both involved before the Belgian had the simple task of teeing up an on-rushing Holtby. Thankfully, Adam Johnson had bust a gut to get back with Holtby and toe-end away vitally.</p>
<p>Indeed Spurs were imperious for the opening fifteen minutes of the second half and really should have been further ahead.</p>
<p>Lewis Holtby was causing all sorts of problems floating about between defence and midfield, trying his luck from distance on numerous occasions, all close enough to have Vito Mannone worried.</p>
<p>They came even closer to a third goal when Jermain Defoe hit the post with a header following Aaron Lennon's cut back from the by line. At this point the game was being played almost exclusively in the Sunderland half, and the home side really struggling to get a foothold in the game.</p>
<p>That chance was a close one, as was another which Defoe should have put away having beaten the offside trap and faced one-on-one with Mannone dragged it narrowly wide.</p>
<p>With Spurs simply toying with Sunderland at this point, enjoying all the possession and chances Gus Poyet rang the changes, bringing off an okay Adam Johnson and a pretty poor Jack Colback for Lee Cattermole and Fabio Borini.</p>
<p>It seemed to spark some life into Sunderland. By which I mean they began to get themselves into the Spurs half on several occasions, although failed to really create much as the game entered the final fifteen minutes.</p>
<p>Seb Larsson whipped in a cross which a stretching Fletcher got on the end of but couldn't direct into anything which troubled Lloris, however the Swede can rightly sit at home tonight aggrieved at not getting a penalty.</p>
<p>It was Larsson's corner which came in and was cleared by Sandro. Cleared however with his arm despite motioning that it was a header. It was nowhere near his head, and with his arm in an unnatural position it was a penalty all day long. Unless you're Lee Mason.</p>
<p>Poyet made a final throw of the dice bringing on Emanuele Giaccherini for defensively suspect Ondrej Celustka, moving Larsson to right back for the final ten minutes.</p>
<p>Larsson was tested immediately, and failed, when Chadli got past him to pop a cross in to Defoe who once again struck the woodwork with a deft flick around eight-yards from goal.</p>
<p>From there things seemed to peter out without incident and worryingly without Sunderland creating much for themselves.</p>
<p>In a bit of a scramble Fabio Borini weakly shot at Lloris while Fletcher and Bardsley both contributed poor headers, neither of which tested the Frenchman, and both of which the players really ought to have done better with before Lee Mason put the home side out of their misery following five minutes of added time.</p>
<p>Gus Poyet can bemoan the lack of a penalty for Sandro's handball, but the truth is Sunderland simply weren't good enough, clever enough, or even strong enough to physically compete with Spurs. At times the visitors didn't seem to even get out of second gear and managed to keep Sunderland at arms length, despite a pretty even first half.</p>
<p>The defeat leaves Sunderland rooted to the bottom of the table, and the future looking incredibly bleak.</p>
<p><i>We'll have more match reaction in our Stream, <a href="http://rokerreport.sbnation.com/2013/12/6/5181980/sunderland-vs-tottenham-hotspur-live-coverage-match-report" target="_blank">HERE</a>!</i></p>
https://rokerreport.sbnation.com/2013/12/7/5182028/match-report-sunderland-tottenham-hotspur-epl-2013SimonWalsh2013-12-07T16:52:08+00:002013-12-07T16:52:08+00:00Sunderland Vs Tottenham Hotspur: Confirmed Lineups
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<figcaption>Nigel Roddis</figcaption>
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<p>Sunderland have a crunch clash with Tottenham Hotspur tonight, and the team sheets for this epic battle are in...</p> <p>Gus Poyet had made four changes to the side that lost 3-4 to Chelsea in midweek. Steven Fletcher comes in to partner Jozy Altidore, with Fabio Borini dropping to the bench, while Adam Johnson returns to the team, replacing Emanuele Giaccherini. Elsewhere Seb Larsson replaces Craig Gardner, and Ondrej Celustka comes in for Andrea Dossena, with Phil Bardsley presumably switching to left back.</p>
<p><b>Sunderland (4-3-3):</b> Vito Mannone, Ondrej Celustka, John O'Shea, Wes Brown, Phil Bardsley; Ki Sung-Yeung, Jack Colback, Seb Larsson; Adam Johnson, Jozy Altidore, Steven Fletcher</p>
<p><b>Substitutes:</b> Jordan Pickford, Modibo Diakite, Andrea Dossena, Craig Gardner, Lee Cattermole, Emanuele Giaccherini, Fabio Borini.</p>
<p>Meanwhile under-fire boss Andre-Villas Boas has also made four changes from the side that came from behind to beat Fulham, with goal hero Lewis Holtby in the team, replacing Erik Lamela. Elsewhere Kyle Naughton, Moussa Dembele and Nacer Chadli start in place of Jan Vertonghen, Chiriches and Sandro.</p>
<p><b>Tottenham Hotspur (4-2-3-1):</b> Hugo Lloris, Kyle Walker, Michael Dawson, Etienne Capoue, Kyle Naughton; Moussa Dembele, Paulinho; Aaron Lennon, Lewis Holtby, Nacer Chadli; Jermaine Defoe</p>
<p><b>Substitutes:</b> Brad Friedel, Zeki Fryers, Erik Lamela, Sandro, Andros Townsend, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Roberto Soldado</p>
<p><i>Follow all the action with us as it happens live on Twitter <a href="http://www.twitter.com/rokerreport/" target="_blank">@RokerReport</a> and check back into our Match Stream <a href="http://rokerreport.sbnation.com/2013/12/6/5181980/sunderland-vs-tottenham-hotspur-live-coverage-match-report" target="_blank">HERE</a> for reports and analysis.</i></p>
https://rokerreport.sbnation.com/2013/12/7/5182010/sunderland-vs-tottenham-hotspur-confirmed-lineupsLuke Bowley2013-12-06T15:00:01+00:002013-12-06T15:00:01+00:00Preview: Tottenham Test Next Up For Poyet
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<figcaption>Wes Brown celebrates scoring against Spurs in pre-season</figcaption>
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<p>After an enthralling game against Mourinho's Chelsea, Sunderland next welcome Villas-Boas' Tottenham to the Stadium of Light.</p> <h3>Sunderland Team News</h3>
<p>No new injury worries for Sunderland, with only Carlos Cuellar out injured, which means the team will be at full strength. Kieren Westwood may return but will likely have to settle for a place on the bench.</p>
<p>Gus Poyet has again spoke of his desire to pair Jozy Altidore with Steven Fletcher but we don't expect that to happen just yet, so expect a similar set-up to the Chelsea game. Altidore should keep his place but Adam Johnson and Seb Larsson may come in at the expense of Craig Gardner and Emanuele Giaccherini.</p>
<h3>Tottenham Hotspur Team News</h3>
<p>This game will come too soon for Sunderland fan favourite Danny Rose and Spurs were dealt a blow near the end of their win against Fulham when Jan Vertonghen went over on his ankle. With Rose still recovering and Vertonghen a huge doubt, Kyle Naughton should come into the side at left back.</p>
<p>Elsewhere, Moussa Dembele is suffering from a hip problem and Emmanuel Adebayor should be out with a groin injury. We may see Villas-Boas shuffle his line-up once again, with Roberto Soldado, Andros Townsend and Nacir Chadli returning.</p>
<h3>Predicted Line-ups</h3>
<p><a title="Click to view tactic" href="http://sharemytactics.com/3687/"><img alt="Sunderland vs Tottenham - Premier League - 7th December 2013 - Football tactics and formations" src="http://sharemytactics.com/3687/Sunderland-Tottenham-formation-tactics.png"></a> <br id="1386269277006"></p>
<p><b>Sunderland: </b>Mannone; Bardsley, O'Shea, Brown, Dossena; Ki; Johnson, Larsson, Colback, Borini; Altidore</p>
<p><b>Tottenham: </b>Lloris; Walker, Dawson, Chiriches, Naughton; Sandro, Capoue; Townsend, Paulinho, Chadli; Soldado</p>
<h3>Key Match-up: Ki Sung-Yueng vs. Paulinho</h3>
<p>Ki has become a vital part of our team very quickly, with him looking irreplaceable in the line-up and teams just starting to stick a man on him to try and prevent him from dictating the game.</p>
<p>He will come up against a class act in Paulinho though and will have to be alert to stop the Brazilian arriving late in the box and picking up loose balls. Ki shouldn't be too closely marked however with Paulinho a move more offensive threat.</p>
<h3>Recent Form: WLLWDW</h3>
<p>Won: Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Sheriff Tiraspol (Lamela 60, Defoe 67 (pen); Mustafa 72)</p>
<p>Lost: Tottenham Hotspur 0-1 Newcastle United (Remy 13)</p>
<p>Lost: Manchester City 6-0 Tottenham Hotspur (Navas 1, 90, OG 34, Aguero 41, 50, Negredo 55)</p>
<p>Won: Tromso 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur (OG 63, Dembele 75)</p>
<p>Draw: Tottenham Hotspur 2-2 Manchester United (Walker 18, Sandro 54; Rooney 32, 57 (pen))</p>
<p>Won: Fulham 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur (Dejagah 56; Chiriches 73, Holtby 82)</p>
<h3>Last Time Around: Sunderland 1 Tottenham 2, 29/12/2012</h3>
<p>A few days after another routine 1-0 home win against Manchester City, Sunderland took a first half lead against Spurs before Carlos Cuellar scored an own goal to equalise straight after half-time and within 6 minutes of the break we were behind as Aaron Lennon finished smartly past Simon Mignolet. After that we never looked like getting back into the game and were thankful to the big Belgian 'keeper for keeping the score respectful.</p>
<h3>The Ref: Lee Mason</h3>
<p>Lee Mason has officiated us twice already this season, in both the Premier League and Capital One Cup, with both games being against Southampton.</p>
<p>So far this season he has only sent off one player (and that was for two bookable offences), West Ham's Mark Noble in the Londoners game against Everton.</p>
<p>We actually have a good record in game refereed by Mason, winning 9, drawing 5 and losing 6 and although he has sent off 3 Sunderland players in his career (one straight red and two who received two bookings) and not sent off a member of the opposition, he has actually awarded us 7 penalties compared to only 3 for the opposing team.</p>
<h3>What The Managers Said</h3>
<p><b>Gus Poyet</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p><b></b>We need to recover well.</p>
<p>I think we started very, very well and credit to the players who took their chance and jumped into the team.</p>
<p>If we can do something similar without conceding too many that would be fantastic because we need the three points.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><b></b></p>
<p><b>Andre Villas-Boas</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p>At the moment it's going well for us, I think we managed to get two good wins and a good draw against Man United.</p>
<p>So to complete the bounce-back, if we can say that, it would be great to win at Sunderland.</p>
<p>To do that after a midweek Premier League fixture and after a good draw against Man United, that would show we really are alive.</p>
<p>They're not afraid to play big teams. Gus Poyet is a manager who likes his teams to play football, so hopefully it'll be an entertaining game.</p>
</blockquote>
<p style="font-weight: bold;"><b> </b></p>
<h3 style="font-weight: bold;"><b>Roker Report Predicts</b></h3>
<p style="font-weight: bold;"><b> </b></p>
<p>After the high-scoring affair against Chelsea, expect Gus Poyet to try and tighten things up at the back and with Tottenham also having trouble finding the net, this should be a tight game, with little separating the two sides.</p>
<p>With that said, after their win at Craven Cottage in midweek, Spurs may see 4 points from two away games at Fulham and Sunderland as a good haul and that may be to our advantage. We predict that Poyet's men will want the win a little bit more than the away side and will come away with a nervy 1-0 win.</p>
https://rokerreport.sbnation.com/2013/12/6/5178514/preview-tottenham-test-next-up-for-poyetAndy Tomlinson2013-12-06T10:00:02+00:002013-12-06T10:00:02+00:00Fan Focus: No Physio Required With CFC
<figure>
<img alt="we miss you Danny, please call... *sobs*" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/bccgyxWgbp69K0JtXSsAzfgx4F0=/0x71:4000x2738/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/24575175/180528495.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>we miss you Danny, please call... *sobs* | Jamie McDonald</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>We caught up with top SBN Spurs blog Cartilage Free Captain to talk all things Spurs, AVB, Soldado and Wearside's missing son, Danny Rose</p> <p><b>Spurs ended their four game winless streak with a comeback victory over <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://cottagersconfidential.sbnation.com/">Fulham</a> on Wednesday night, happy with the performance?</b></p>
<p><b></b><i>Cartilage Free Captain:</i> In a word, no. I'm happy that we won, and the fact that we managed to score more than one goal from open play, but that was a poor, poor performance from Spurs. It probably resulted in 75% of supporters taking mood stabilizing drugs at some point in the match, too. We are by nature a bipolar fan base, and that match didn't help matters one bit.</p>
<p>Three points are three points and I'm certainly not taking those for granted at all. And we also were playing a slightly rotated side designed to give a few players a break, since we're playing three matches in eight days. But Fulham are not a good team, and we made them look like Barcelona for large stretches of that match. We were very fortunate to escape Craven Cottage with a win, and we must step up our game significantly if we're going to make a play for fourth place. If we play the way we did vs. Fulham this weekend, then there's a distinct possibility that we could lose to Sunderland. Yes, it was THAT bad.</p>
<p><b><span>Andre Villas-Boas</span> has been under a lot of scrutiny recently, is it warranted?</b></p>
<p><i>CFC: </i>Well, yes and no. Tactically, AVB seems off the boil this season - his team selections, though hampered by injuries, just haven't seemed to work with the way AVB wants them to play. Some of his selections, like his initial dogged insistence in trying to shoehorn a Moussa Dembele - Paulinho double-pivot, just haven't worked. But I'm not sure you can place all the blame on AVB. Any club that sells its best player for £100m and brings in seven new faces in the offseason is going to need time to gel and adjust. Have Spurs been given enough time? Well, that's the million-dollar question. AVB has certainly made his fair share of mistakes this season, but the players are the ones who are on the pitch and doing things like putting the ball in the net (or not). There's no doubt that we are not a very good team right now, despite being where we are in the table relative to Sunderland.</p>
<p>The flip side of that coin is the scrutiny that AVB has been receiving from the media. The recent David Hytner article suggests that he's on the verge of being sacked (with Glenn Hoddle as a suggested replacement, lol), and it's clear that there are British journalists that have had their knives out for him since his days at <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/">Chelsea</a>. I don't think it's entirely fair that he's getting the lion's share of the negative attention when there are other managers (<span>David Moyes</span> and Manuel Pelligrini come to mind) that are similarly underachieving and seem to be getting a relative pass.</p>
<p><b>Tottenham re-invested the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/112120/gareth-bale">Gareth Bale</a> money heavily in the summer with s number of big money, high profile transfers, who has impressed you the most?</b></p>
<p><i>CFC: </i>The short answer is nobody... yet. Spurs broke their transfer record three times this offseason with the Bale money, and consequently big things were expected from this group of incoming players. But thus far nobody has made the huge impact that has been expected of them. Of all of the incoming players, the two that have impressed me the most have been <span>Vlad Chiriches</span> and <span>Etienne Capoue</span>, with caveats. Chiriches is a capable (though not outstanding yet) young defender from Romania who has, due to injury, established himself as a first choice central defender. He scored a pretty incredible goal yesterday from outside the box, and he's put in a number of tidy defensive shifts thus far.</p>
<p>Capoue was signed ostensibly as a rotation/backup option to Sandro, but he showed early in the season that he's a solid option as a defensive midfielder, though his campaign has been shortened by injury and he's only now getting back up to form.</p>
<p>Honorable mention goes to <span>Christian Eriksen</span>, who I still think is going to be fantastic, though he's injured probably until January.</p>
<p><b>Conversely, who has failed to live up to expectations?</b></p>
<p><i>CFC:</i> No surprise, Robert Soldado is the top name on this list, but it's not entirely his fault. He's not getting the same level of good service as he did at Valencia, and as a consequence he's been isolated and extremely frustrated up top. Soldado is a goal poacher -- he's not generally going to make his own shot or take people on the dribble. He needs the midfielders to put the ball at his feet in scoring positions within the box, and as of yet our midfield has utterly failed to do that. Okay, he's missed a couple of sitters, but he hasn't gotten very many chances. I still think he'll turn it around.</p>
<p>Paulinho has been terribad lately, and I'm profoundly disappointed in his performances. You see him play with Brazil and you think he's a dynamic, <span>Yaya Toure</span> type of player who loves to bomb forward and throw back lines into chaos. In reality, he's given the ball away a lot, has a terrible first touch, and hasn't shown a proclivity to pick out a nice pass at all. It could be down to the way that AVB has played him -- often in a head scratching double pivot combo with Moussa Dembele -- that has left him not knowing whether to attack or defend, so he consequently does neither. He either needs to turn it around ASAP, or he needs to sit, because Sandro is a lock in the midfield and Dembele is playing much better than he is at present.</p>
<p>I'm putting <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/143177/erik-lamela">Erik Lamela</a> on this list as well, but only because I think given time he's going to make people realize just how dumb they were to try and trash him early on this season. This is a very good young player adapting to a new team and a new manager in a new country with a new style of play. Yes, Spurs haven't gotten their money's worth out of their £30m signing yet, but I'm dead certain he will come good and be a very, very good player for <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com/">Tottenham Hotspur</a>. Patience, grasshopper. He'll get there.</p>
<p><b>With January approaching do you feel Spurs will need to delve into the market once more, possibly for another forward?</b></p>
<p><i>CFC: </i>Another forward? I suppose. There's rumors that <span>Jermain Defoe</span> could be off to Toronto in MLS in an attempt to get more playing time ahead of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/world-cup-2014">World Cup</a> (though MLS is on hiatus for the next few months so this seems like a dumb reason to want to transfer). But barring that, we have Soldado, Defoe, and Adebayor, and that's a pretty decent striker corps, especially since AVB almost never plays with more than one forward.</p>
<p>A more pressing need is a left back. Since <span>Danny Rose</span> went out with an amputated foot turf toe early on this season, we've had <span>Jan Vertonghen</span> deputizing at LB, a role he can play, but it takes out our best CB. <span>Kyle Naughton</span> just isn't good enough, and we shockingly loaned out <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110129/benoit-assou-ekotto">Benoit Assou-Ekotto</a> to QPR. We need to address this soon by purchasing another LB to compete with Rose whenever the hell he gets healthy, or at minimum purchase a few extra doctors to get him back on the pitch and healthy. Putting Vertonghen back in the center of defense may be one of the best things we can do to improve our game. That, and y'know, score goals.</p>
<p><b>Can we have Danny Rose back, please?</b></p>
<p><i>CFC:</i> No. He's ours. G'way. (But please send back his missing left foot. I know you guys have it hostage.)</p>
<p><br><b>As something of a Chelsea legend and with a stint with Spurs also under his belt what do you make of the Gus Poyet that has moved into management?</b></p>
<p><i>CFC: </i>See, it's funny, but Spurs fans like Gus Poyet, too. He played for us after his Chelsea days, was assistant manager for a while, and he's always been friendly to the club. His star has been on the rise for a while now, and he did some wonderful things with Brighton & Hove Albion. I've heard a few grumblings from Spurs circles about his defense of fellow Uruguayan Luis Suarez, but I hope he does well with Sunderland</p>
<p><b>Where will the game on Saturday evening be won, any key Spurs players you expect to do the damage?</b></p>
<p><i>CFC:</i> As usual, I think the game will be won or lost in the center of midfield, but it also depends on what Sunderland chooses to do. Other EPL teams have had great success vs. Spurs by parking the bus (including <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://bitterandblue.sbnation.com/">Manchester City</a>!) and I see no reason why Poyet shoudn't put ten behind the ball, play for the draw, and hope for a counter. It's what I'd do, especially at White Hart Lane. Spurs have shown a decided lack of incisiveness and creativity when faced with a bunkering defense -- they're much better on the counter when they can run at opposing defenses then when they have to pick a lock.</p>
<p>AVB's lineup and formation usually sinks or swims in the double-pivot. If we send out a Sandro-Dembele duo, as I think we should, I think we stand a pretty good chance of bossing the center of the pitch. From there, it becomes more a question of movement and finishing.</p>
<p><b>Alternatively is there anyone within <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://rokerreport.sbnation.com/">Sunderland's</a> ranks that gives you cause for concern?</b></p>
<p><i>CFC:</i> I'm a Yank, so of course I'm 100% sure that <span>Jozy Altidore</span> is going to put three past us because we can't have nice things and because 'Merica. I can't honestly say that I've watched a whole lot of Sunderland this season (bad blogger!!), but asking around the Cartilage Free Captain writers room, we identified <span>Seb Larsson</span>, <span>Adam Johnson</span>, and Emmanuel Giaccherini as dangers. <span>Steven Fletcher</span> can really finish as well, and we do tend to let a lot of stupid balls bounce around in the box.</p>
<p><b>Prediction?</b></p>
<p><i>CFC:</i> We must win this match. And I think we will. My guess is that it'll be tied until the 80th minute, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/111410/michael-dawson">Michael Dawson</a> will have one go in off his ass, and I'll be dipping into the single-malt again during the match. 2-1 Spurs, and one empty bottle of Bruichladdich.</p>
<p><b>BONUS QUESTION! Will Sunderland beat the drop?</b></p>
<p><i>CFC: </i>It'll be difficult. Sunderland have dug themselves a real hole and it's going to take a lot to dig themselves out of it. I think it's possible that Poyet can make a few key signings, turn some things around, and manage to scrape it, but it will be a very tall order. I hope they do, though. The EPL isn't the EPL without a Tyne-Wear derby.</p>
<p><i>Many thanks to Dustin of Cartilage Free Captain for taking the time to talk to us. be sure to follow their antics on </i><a href="https://twitter.com/cartilagefree" target="_blank">Twitter</a> <i>and check out their </i><a href="http://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com/" target="_blank">blog</a></p>
https://rokerreport.sbnation.com/2013/12/6/5179784/fan-focus-no-physio-required-with-cartilage-free-captainDavid Boyle2013-12-05T19:00:01+00:002013-12-05T19:00:01+00:00Roker Riches: Putting Our Money Where Out Mouth Is
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/WTo_wPoHy8tr0O_0JY1TDPMsbzI=/55x0:3035x1987/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/24536093/169058729.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jan Kruger</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Sunderland are pulling a Craig Clark and lie some way behind at the foot of the table, and now face a difficult, but very winnable, home game against Tottenham. Here's where our writing team think the money can be found.</p> <table border="0" align="center" style="text-align: center;"></table>
<table border="0" align="center" style="text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Pundit</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Last Week's Profit/Loss</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Current Balance</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">Simon Walsh</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">-£7.00</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">£117.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">Stephen Goldsmith</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">N/A</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">£89.80</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">Luke Bowley</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">-£10.00</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">£61.10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">Nick Holden</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">-£4.50</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">£28.12</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">Dave Boyle</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">£16.88</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">£27.54</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">Karl Jones</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">N/A</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">£0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;">Craig Clark</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">-£6.00</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">-£24.80</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<p> </p>
<p>Dave Boyle was the only of our team to make a profit during the week, making a tidy £16.88 from his bets. Dave correctly went for Chelsea to beat Sunderland with over 2.5 goals in the game, while also plumping for both Leeds and Derby to pick up wins on Wednesday night.</p>
<p>Despite his win, the standings remain unchanged. Simon Walsh has been hemorrhaging money lately, but Stephen Goldsmith is still missing, while I failed to close the gap after predicting Blackpool would beat Yeovil, forgetting that Gary Johnson is the greatest football manager there's ever been. Simon therefore remains comfortably on top of the table. Now onto this weekend's betting:</p>
<h4>Nick Holden</h4>
<p>So even when I bet against us I can't catch a break! Right, it's back to sheer blind optimism in that case. Been looking at half-time/full-times and over/unders etc., but frankly I think we stand a good chance against a Spurs side that laboured against Fulham and who've struggled to score all season. So I'm just going to plonk for a home win.</p>
<p>Elsewhere, Athletic Bilbao became the first side to beat Barcelona this season in La Liga at the weekend. Whilst they aren't quite as impressive away from the San Mames as they are at home, I'm still going for them to beat an inconsistent Sevilla side.</p>
<ul>
<li><span>Sunderland to beat Spurs - 7/2 - £2.50</span></li>
<li><span>Athletic Bilbao to beat Sevilla - 11/5 - £2.50</span></li>
</ul>
<h4>Luke Bowley</h4>
<p>Like Nick I have a really good feeling about this weekend's game. Spurs don't look good enough this season, and if Sunderland can match the intensity of the Chelsea game, then the North London side are there for the taking.</p>
<p>Elsewhere, in Germany Hertha Berlin are at good odds to beat bottom of the table Braunschweig, so I'll plump for them.</p>
<ul>
<li><span>Sunderland to beat Spurs - 15/4 - £3 stake</span></li>
<li><span>Hertha Berlin to beat Braunschweig - 6/5 - £10 stake</span></li>
</ul>
<h4>Stephen Goldsmith</h4>
<p>Alright, alright, the hiatus is over and only Simon has capitalised on my absence. Rubbish, the lot of you! Like all of the above I really fancy us to beat Spurs now, you do realise we're probably losing our minds, right? I suppose having something to believe in, and thus making us think positively is a far stretch from where we were by the time of Di Canio's departure - and that can only be a good thing.</p>
<p>Elsewhere (my favourite bulletin buzzword) I sense that Man Utd will give them lot eleven miles up the road a good spanking in Salford this weekend. This is not a prediction of some sort of wishful thinking either; I guess I just can't envisage Man Yoo losing and sending the whole world into further meltdown. I can't bear the though of Tabloid Tommy going into overdrive about it, I really can't.</p>
<ul>
<li>Sunderland to beat Spurs - 15/4 - £5 stake</li>
<li>Man Utd to beat Nucarstle 3-0 - 57/5 - £3 stake </li>
</ul>
<h4>David Boyle</h4>
<p>Following Wednesday night's open contest I'm predicting a similar style of game come Saturday evening with both sides eager to get forward whenever possible. With this in mind one bet caught my eye which see's 4/1 for both teams to score in the first half and looks to be worth a punt.</p>
<p>Away from the Stadium of Light I believe that the odds for Southampton to overcome Manchester City at 4/1 are a little too big. City's away form this season has been well documented and they survived a bit of a scare midweek at The Hawthornes. Southampton will also be eager to set the record straight following a surprise defeat at the hands of Aston Villa. At 4/1 The Saints have to be worth a quid or two.</p>
<ul>
<li><span>Both Sunderland and Spurs to score in the first half - 4/1 - £2.50 Stake</span></li>
<li><span>Southampton to beat Manchester City - 4/1 - £2.50 Stake</span></li>
</ul>
<h4>Simon Walsh</h4>
<p>Not seeing a whole load of value in our game in all honesty, but I am confident that we can pick something up. It's a good time to play Spurs with AVB on the rocks and Poyet having us playing good football. I think we'll win. Honestly couldn't say what I think the score will be, as us to win at 7/2 is handy.</p>
<p>Elsewhere I'm sticking with the Premier League and think despite midweek defeats, West Brom and Fulham did enough to look like winners this weekend. Like Dave, I fancy Southampton against Manchester City too. That returns one hell of a tasty treble.</p>
<ul>
<li><span>Sunderland to beat Spurs - 7/2 - £5 Stake</span></li>
<li><span>Fulham, West Brom & Southampton all to win - 23/1 - £5 Stake</span></li>
</ul>
https://rokerreport.sbnation.com/2013/12/5/5177732/roker-riches-putting-our-money-where-out-mouth-is-for-spurs-visitLuke Bowley