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Spurs Odyssey Preview - Watford v Spurs, 28.12.15

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The following is a tabulation of all our League results against Watford.


Previous Results
       Div Home Away
1982-83 1  0-1  1-0
1983-84 1  2-3  3-2
1984-85 1  1-5  2-1
1985-86 1  4-0  0-1
1986-87 1  2-1  0-1
1987-88 1  2-1  1-1
1999-00 P  4-0  1-1
2006-07 P  3-1  0-0

Prem         Pl W  D  L  F-A  Pts
Home         2  2  0  0  7-1   6
Away         2  0  2  0  1-1   2
================================
Total(Prem)  4  2  2  0  8-2   8
================================
Lge Div 1 
Home         6  3  0  3 11-11  9
Away         6  3  1  2  7-6  10
================================
Total(Div 1)12  6  1  5 18-17 19
================================
Total(Prem)  4  2  2  0  8-2   8
Total(Div 1)12  6  1  5 17-10 19
================================
Grand Total 16  8  3  5 25-12 27
================================

Last Six Premier League results:-

Watford    -    LWWWWD

Watford    1-2   Man Utd
A. Villa   2-3   Watford
Watford    2-0   Norwich
S'derland  0-1   Watford
Watford    3-0   Liverpool
Chelsea    2-2   Watford

Spurs      -    WDDLWW

Spurs      4-1   West Ham
Spurs      0-0   Chelsea
West Brom  1-1   Spurs
Spurs      1-2   Newcastle
S'hampton  0-2   Spurs
Spurs      3-0   Norwich

Pos           P  W  D  L   F-A   GD  Pts
4. Spurs     18  8  8  2  31-14  17   32
7. Watford   18  8  5  5  23-18   5   29

Into the "Hornets"' nest

Spurs will hear the "Z cars" theme in two successive games this week. Later today, we visit Vicarage Road, where the Watford "Hornets" are greeted with the theme representing the buzz of hornets. On Sunday at Goodison park,we will hear it again, as the TV series, which started in the sixties was set in the Southport area, just north of Everton territory. I personally used to like the programme, and I like the theme.

Certainly Watford and their fans have every reason to be buzzing at the moment, as they sit three places and three points behind us. After their recent win over Liverpool, and the Boxing Day draw at Stamford Bridge, Watford have every reason to be confident about their chances against any team. Spurs feel the same way, of course, and a good game is in prospect.

Watford's previous two seasons in the Premier League have both been one season flirtations, but this season looks like being different, especially after a quite sensational run of scoring form by captain Troy Deeney, and strike partner Odion Ighalo. The team recently won four matches on the trot, including the much-deserved 3-0 win over Liverpool just last week.

Deeney has a recent chequered past, but he is doing his talking on the pitch with not only his scoring, but his qualities of leadership, and physical power - being used for positive reasons. Deeney's six goals (four penalties) have all come in the last 9 games, whilst Ighalo (who scored 20 Championship goals last season) has already clocked up 13 Premier League goals with six in the last five games. Defenders now know only too well about the "Iggy Chop" trick, but whether they can prevent him succeeding is another question. Both players scored in yesterday's 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge.

Of course, a lot of the credit for Watford's rise is due to head coach Quique Sanchez Flores, whose managerial CV includes winning the 2009/10 Europa League with Atletico Madrid. Flores had a lengthy International career with Spain at right back, where he also played for 10 years between 1984 and 1984 with Valencia.

Flores succeeded Slavisa Jokanovic, who was the last of four coaches in charge during Watford's promotion season last year. Jokanovic couldn't agree terms with the club, and went on to manage Maccabi Tel Aviv, who have lost 4-0 twice to Chelsea in this season's Champions League Group G. Maccabi Tel Aviv didn't manage one point, so we won't be seeing them in the New Year! (Stop press:- Jokanovic has just been appointed as the new Fulham manager)

The last time we met Watford in a Premier League match was St. Patrick's Day, 2007. We won 3-1, and witnessed the historic goal by goalkeeper Paul Robinson, direct from a free kick taken deep in his own half. The Watford keeper was Ben Foster, on loan with The "Hornets" from Man Utd at the time, and now at West Brom.

Back in March 2007, Watford had reached the FA Cup semi-final, whilst Spurs had to face Chelsea in a quarter-final just two days after this league fixture. We lost 2-1, and Watford lost 4-1 to Man Utd in their semi-final.

We have played Watford twice (away) since 2007. In December 2008, we beat them 2-1 in the League Cup Fifth round, with goals by Pavlyuchenko and Darren Bent. Heurelho Gomes was in the Spurs goal that night. We made it all the way to the League Cup Final that season, when Foster redeemed himself in the Manchester united goal, and won the man of the match award for keeping a clean sheet in the 120 minutes, and saving from Jamie O'Hara in the penalty shoot-out, in which Spurs managed only one converted shot at goal.

The other Cup win was in the Fourth Round of the FA Cup in January 2012, when Rafa Van der Vaart scored the only goal of the game. Watford Captain Troy Deeney was in the losing team that day.

Heurelho Gomes has been a great success at Vicarage Road, where he has made 62 league appearances, only 33 behind the number he made for Tottenham. It will be interesting to see if "The Gomes song" makes an appearance from the Spurs section tomorrow! I personally wish him well, but not a ninth clean sheet of this season.

Gomes isn't the only former Spur in the Watford squad, as they also feature Etienne Capoue. Gomes and Capoue are two of several ever-presents for "The Hornets" in the Premier League so far. The others are Craig Cathcart, Deeney, and right back Allan-Romeo Nyom. Ighalo and midfielder Ikechi Anya have also featured in every game, but sometimes as substitute. Former Wigan midfielder Ben Watson has also been prominent, and was impactive in that 3-0 win over Liverpool. Capoue enjoys a freer midfield role with Watford, but in truth, with injuries he didn't get too much of a chance at Spurs.

Also amongst the many new personnel this season are veteran Swiss midfielder Valon Behrami, who we saw play for West Ham a few years ago, and 20 year old Nathan Ake, who is on loan from Chelsea. Ake scored (from close range) one of only three goals scored this season for Watford by players other than Deeney and Ighalo.

Watford's main stand (now named after Sir Elton John) was finally opened last year, and the stadium capacity now approaches 21,000.

It is debatable whether the Watford fixture qualifies as a London Derby as the town is situated in Hertfordshire (my home county) and not within the Greater London area. I did include them in my Derby list when they were last in the Premier League, so I will continue the trend.

I have not heard any team news, except to say that Mousa Dembele will be assessed today, following the knock he suffered to his ankle against Norwich. Ryan Mason may be needed in the 18-man squad.

Today's match referee is Anthony Taylor, who was in charge when we beat West Ham 4-1 on 22nd November. a similar result today would be wonderful, but my prediction is for Spurs to sneak this one by the odd goal in three.

· Spurs' record in recent London Derby matches

· Premier League results 10 years ago this week

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