New season, new
players, same rivalry
Spurs’ success last season, and perhaps more importantly their 4-0
aggregate victory over City, will have embarrassed the hierarchy at
Eastlands, and after yet another summer of heavy squad pampering,
the boys of the blue half on Manchester would love nothing more
than to a fire to a warning shot to the rest of the Premier League,
at Tottenham’s expense.
As yet, Redknapp has yet to flood the Premier League fax machine
with transfer documents, with only Internacional’s Sandro, who
won’t join until August 18 (following the end of the Brazilian
season). All in all, it will be the same players that finished the
campaign last season, with the addition of Robbie Keane, who has
returned to the club after his loan spell with Celtic.
TEAM
NEWS
Tottenham Hotspur
Having featured in a
Spurs XI outing at Ipswich, club captain Ledley King looks certain
to start alongside Michael Dawson in the heart of the Spurs defense
on Saturday, in what will be a massive boost for Harry
Redknapp.
Meanwhile, flying full-back Gareth Bale sat out Wales’ 5-1 victory
over Luxembourg, but the former Southampton man should be fine to
face City at the weekend.
Possible Starting XI: Gomes; Corluka, King, Dawson, Bale;
Lennon, Huddlestone; Palacios, Modric; Keane, Crouch
Manchester City
Mancini is set to
hand Premier League debuts to David Silva, Yaya Toure, and
Aleksandar Kolarov in north London, and the Italian looks to
fast-track the club’s latest star signings into England’s
top-flight.
The most interesting tussle will be between Shay Given and Joe
Hart, with both goalkeepers admitting that they’ll consider their
long-term future’s with the club, should they find themselves on
the bench at White Hart Lane.
Possible Starting XI: Given; Kolarov, Kolo Toure, Lescott,
Bridge; Johnson, Yaya Toure; Barry, Silva; Tevez;
Adebayor.
PLAYERS TO
WATCH
Tottenham Hotspur
Gareth Bale
enjoyed an impressive pre-season, as his careering runs down the
left flank continued to trouble defenses, and goalkeepers, in the
manner which he finished last season.
Likely to face Kolarov on City’s right-hand side, the flying
Welshman will look to give the Serbian a torrid introduction into
the pace of English football, following his move from Serie
A.
Manchester City
Adam
Johnson has been a sensation since his move to City from
Middlesbrough in January, proving that it is not just international
talent welcome at Eastlands nowadays.
Like to face former City full-back Vedran Corluka on Saturday, the
up-and-coming England winger will look to get off a rampaging start
against a defender not renowned for his blistering pace.
PREDICTION
A truly fantastic spectacle to kick-off the new Premier League
season. Should Mancini’s new look side click on Saturday, then they
could well leave the Lane with maximum points.
However, with so many new signings, from a variety of leagues, it
is likely to take time for City to gel, and I can see Redknapp’s
well-oiled unit sneaking the victory.
Tottenham Hotspur 2-1
Manchester City
