Missing Tiote at ACN, Marveaux, The Taylor's and Best. Cabaye Suspended.

I'd play

Krul
Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon
Ben Arfa, Guthrie, Perch, Gutierrez
Ba, Cisse

Subs: Elliot, Ferguson, Abeid, Gosling, Vuckic, Obertan, Ameobi

I think Obertan will start, but either way, we are fucked on the wings with Bale and Lennon, but I think Lennon is injured? Cant see us keeping a clean sheet, and think we will need to score a few to get even a point, which we can if we play HBA because he can create and score and help Ba and Cisse more than the others.

Optimistic result - 2-2 or 3-3 draw.

Likely a 3-1 or 4-1 hiding, just think Tottenham are a side who will have our number.

We're gonna get spanked. Royally spanked. 5-1 Spurs.

Bit fast for dismissing our chances here, a hard earned 1-1 draw but wouldn't argue with your formation there.

I think the same team that ended yesterday will start and aside from Obertan i think thats the best team we have at the minute.

It really is a shame that Pardew can't see past the odd sloppy pass with Ben Arfa vs the running into defenders Obertan gives us. One has scored and assisted more in a few appearances than the other has managed in an entire season.

Hopefully we can keep it tight at the back as we now genuinely have 2 strikers capable of punishing the slightest error and we should nick a goal or 2.

I think we'll go down 4-2 (and give away at least 1 penalty).

Obertan will start on the right as we'll be too light defensively with HBA there up against Bale and Assou-Ekotto. The real problem for me is our CM up against Modric and Parker. Modric could have a field day unless we are careful. I think we can cope with the rest of them and with Ba and Cisse we should have a good chance of scoring. Trouble with playing at White Hart Lane, though, is, much like SJP, if the crowd get going you can be swept away. I'd like us to park the bus, defend fairly deep and hit them on the break with Ba, Cisse and Obertan's pace.

1-0 win for us.

This is one thing I just don't get about Pardew's persistence in preferring Obertan to Ben Arfa - is he really any better defensively? I think on the whole Ben Arfa going forward offers a lot more than Obertan, whereas Obertan can't offer a lot more defensively.

Whilst I think Obertan would be a good shout on Saturday as I think his best games have actually come away from home when we play more on the counter I have to say im getting sick of reading about this myth that Ben Arfa does no defending or tracking back whatsoever.

Like you say I dont think he does any less than the likes of Obertan or any other winger/attack minded midfielder really.

If we are comparing him to Jonas then yeah maybe Ben Arfa looks lazy but most people do compared to Jonas.

Seem to be a few people that have it in for Ben Arfa for some reason - my only gripe is that he does sometimes try and do too much but he at least balances that out with actually having some kind of end product a lot of the time.

I don't think it's that he doesn't try to track back, but he can't tackle or harry people as well as Obertan can. There was one incident against QPR where some fairly ordinary player ghosted by him far too easily.

You dont get many wingers that are great defenders though Hotts, think we are spoilt a bit with Jonas in that there are very few that work that hard.

Ben Arfa is in the same ilk as Ginola or Robert, he does his business down the other end and as long as he does that then I think you can forgive him for not being particularly great at defending.

Would also help more if we had a capable right back behind him.

Id much rather have a winger playing that actually looks like he is gonna score or set up a goal even if he maybe doesnt get back as much.

Just think Ben Arfa is starting to become quite an easy target for criticism as people are expecting him to do stuff that just isnt part of his game. Every game I have watched him in he has tracked back and worked fairly hard but is never gonna stick tackles in etc.

Obertan is far better defensively than HBA. He puts in loads of tackles, tracks back to double team with Simpson and wins the ball back more than your average winger would. As much as I've criticised Obertan for not giving enough going forward, I've actually been quite impressed with the defensive side of his game this season and have often wondered if he would be better as a RB.

I certainly don't have it in for HBA but like BBT says he is far more about producing at the other end of the pitch and Robert is a good comparison. He has bought in to the team ethic and does far more defensively than he used to, but he isn't as good at it as Obertan defensively for me.

Against weaker sides I'd not mind HBA starting on the wing, especially at home, but against one the top teams and away from home I think we need as much protection for Simpson as possible. The pace of Obertan is also a bonus for counter attacking away from home too. If we cast our minds back to the home game I remember how quiet we kept kept Bale and I don't see why we should change what we did that day. The other thing to note is that Pardew hasn't played HBA on the wing in a 4-4-2 formation yet to the best of my memory; it's always been a 4-5-1/4-3-3. So if HBA is out wide you are probably talking about Ba being on the left and Jonas playing more centrally which is unbalancing the team for me and we should be keeping Ba and Cisse up front in a 4-4-2.

Yeah I can accept Obertan is better defensively, but I just think it's a shame how reluctant Pardew is to pick Ben Arfa ahead of him (and Raylor), when clearly he is incredibly talented and adds that extra spark that the others don't have. Unless the defensive side of his game is clearly absent (which isn't the case), or he is lazy (which isn't the case either), then it's just a bit silly leaving a player of his calibre on the bench for players who are clearly far inferior.

Wasn't he out wide in a 4-4-2 against Blackburn for a short while? I could be wrong about that, but that was definitely his best performance for us this season. I'm not convinced he is a 4-4-2 wide man though, but neither is Obertan in my view.

I think you may be right, he came on in the Blackburn cup game at home on the right when he scored THAT goal. I think we were still lining up 4-4-2. Blackburn were tepid that day though so you knew it wasn't really a risk. Spurs away are a different kettle of fish though.

Pardew's quotes today sound like we are going to have a go at them so you never know, HBA may start.

Whatever the case I'd like to see both involved. I'm glad Pardew wants to be positive - hope that doesn't mean we get destroyed on the counter-attack then though, as it's a possibility...

My ex-coursemate (for 3 weeks) currently refereeing Spurs' current match. Makes me feel famous.

I read Pards quote about enjoying themselves and if we lose we lose. I think that could be mind games.

I agree with Pardew that we have nothing to lose at the weekend, I'd like to see us have a real go at Spurs. We've built up enough points to be able to take a few risks in this game and if we do we may just pull off a surprise win. As long as we don't get hammered I won't be too upset if we lose this.

I have a strange feeling about this one. I think the 0-0 at Liverpool put a little dampener on Spurs and I think they'll feel they're out of the title race now. Wasn't just that, though, it was the manner of the draw I think that will have hurt the most. Their best players were Parker, Dawson & King - the defensive triumvirate that we play(ed) so well with Tiote, Saylor and Colo. They had to be pretty solid and were banging the ball away quite a lot, against a team with less attacking capability than Barnsley. They've put a lot into this season and are the one team who haven't had a blip, but have now got a real run of games that could see them lose some points. Following us, they go to the Emirates, host Man U and visit Goodison. With one eye on that tricky spell, and in amongst it the trip to Stevenage offering as easy a match as you like in the cup, I have the sneakiest feeling that this one could favour us.

We don't like to defend high up. Perch has now come in to provide the Tiote stand-in, meaning the defence are no longer as isolated as they were with Cabaye/Guthrie marauding as per the Fulham debacle. Spurs like to counter, they're good at it. They have good pace on either wing and use it; but guess what? Pace in defence we have. Obertan & Gutierrez will put in a shift against their counterparts, Colo will be aiming to stifle VdV, Perch will be on Modric, Willo will be tasked against Adebayor, and it'll be interesting to see Guthrie then up in midfield. He works hard and can find a pass, and from there you're looking at Ba, who drops short, to get the better of Parker/Dawson, with King trying to stop Cisse.

Spurs do like this continental style of patience, drawing the opposition out, then hitting hard and fast. We play very similar - we were very patient against Villa at times, and have that quality to unlock doors on either wing and, just as importantly, up front now. Like I said, I have a sneaky on this one and am well prepared for being wrong, but I reckon we're going to take it by the odd goal in 5. 3-2 Toon win.

I know we've been a bit unpredicable this season but we are in 5th position after 24 games. When was the last time we could say that? Probably under Sir Bobby.

It's just bloody nice to be up there and in contention for Europe. We've come a hell of a long way since relegation

Shame it clashes with Italy -v- England egg-chasing, means the pub will be over-run by rugger buggers till half time

I think they will play:

Friedel

Walker King Dawson Assou-Ekotto

Lennon Parker Modric Bale

Adebayor Defoe

That's a very strong team. Still think we can win 1-0.

With all this Redknapp shite that's gone on over the last week I think it's going to take a monumental effort to get anything out of this game. Bad time to be playing them imo.

I think we can cope with their wingers but Modric vs Perch could be the big problem.

I'm going for the toon to win 2-1.

Bale to score for them and Ba and Cisse to score for us.

I think we'll take the game to them and have a right good go at them.

I've been off the drink since the 8th of Jan, but I'm oot th'morra for a mates birthday and we're heading out extra early to watch this.

I'll probably be mortal after like 2 pints, but I divvint give a fook....I'll be twisting like a fireball and dancing like a ghost come full time.

TOON TOON.

Demba 1, Demba 2, We've got more Demba's than you with a nick nack paddywhack both can score a goal, Geordie boys from Senegal !!

God bless you COYS.

Im not hopeful at all, think missing the likes of Tiote and Cabaye could catch up with us in this one.

Saying that with all the Harry for England talk, you never know that could be a slightly unsettling distraction if im clutching at straws!

Chance for Guthrie, Williamson and Simpson to impress England's next manager (and Perchenbauer I suppose), I would think those 3 might be on the 100 man shortlist or whatever it may be, having good seasons/runs of form.

There's not many sources of comfort for us in terms of getting a win. I'd rather look for things that will be useful in defeat than hope for a win or draw, would be an even greater surprise if we do get something.

Think this is a great baptism for Ba and Cisse (for two muslims that might not be the best idiom) to get themselves a partnership going ahead of the always winnable game against Wolves and the huge derby against the mackems. Ledley King keeps so many clean sheets when he plays that causing him problems would be a good sign for the coming games.

Also, we might get to see how he plans on playing away from home in the big games for next season. I can't see him ever having Ben Arfa, Ba and Cisse all on the pitch at any point barring us being 2-0 down, will be interesting to see what substitutions he makes.

I never really look at the big games for the result, they're a good time to reflect on all the good work we've done and see how good we are in comparison to better teams. I wouldn't say a point or more is totally out of reach, but if this game is played 100 times, Spurs and winning 65-70 and us maybe 5-10.

If this game was last weekend, with all their injuries and Harry still on his way to prison, I would say we could definitely do them. But I've seen this a hundred times before. It's on the telly, ESPN's pundits will be wanking over Harry, their fans will be chuffed to fuck he's not banged up right now and they'll be begging him to stay all match long and the atmosphere will be raucous. This will be the Harry Fucking Redknapp Show folks and we'll get beat.

Oh, and I can't see Simpson, Williamson and Guthrie ever getting in to the England squad.

Krul; Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini ©, Santon; Obertan, Guthrie, Perch, Gutierrez; Ba, Cisse.

Exactly as expected then.

Was never likely to be much else with who is available really.

Yeah, just a few people who expected Ben Arfa to start, including today's Chronicle by the look of it. I agree with a few other posters on here that Ben Arfa will probably not start a game when Ba 1 and 2 are playing.

Id have probably started with him but seems Pardew is going for it with 2 up top - can see the result going spectacularly one way or the other, either a great win or an absolute bumming.

Henry with the winner at the SoL in his last minute of premier league football

Good stuff, I know it buts Arsenal above us but I just cant not want those tossers to lose

Good to see Chelsea continuing their form too

Obertan ball watching for Assou-Ekotto's goal

What a start.... Got to blame Obertan and Simpson for that

Dear me, completely unmarked, so much for Obertan tracking back

Oh fuckin Dear

For fuck sake!

What the fuck?

Danny fucking Simpson

FUCK ME!!!!!!!

If they get another I'm off to find some more entertaining streams!

Great start by Danny "I should play for England" Simpson.

There's only one Danny Simpson, says enough when the Spuds are singing that!

I take back anything I've ever said about Obertan tracking back. He's nowhere to be seen

Tell you what Cisse looks like a bloody good player

There's one penalty we should have had

Adebayor handball, no penalty given