Barclays Premier League: Swansea City vs Tottenham, Match Previews, Men to Watch, Top Fact

Gameweek 31

Liberty Stadium

30 March, 2013

Swansea City face Tottenham Hotspurs in a clash of "beautiful football contest". Both teams are renowned to keep possession and work at pace. Swansea has a chance to close up to the teams above them in the table while for Spurs this is a must-win game if they are to keep their ambition of qualifying for Champions League alive. 

      

Swansea City

Probable Line up

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Vorm, Davies, Rangel, Chico, Williams, Ki, Guzman, Britton, Hernandez, Routledge, Michu

Verdict:

Swansea have been a revelation this season. Yes they enjoyed a successful last season in the premiership but the second season after promotion provides the sternest of tests. Swansea have passed all with winning a trophy this tem as well. Micheal Laudrup has earned unparallel praise during his tenure so far and he will continue to work his magic on the side. With no real injury worries, the only worry for Swansea is to get an actual forward who scores goals. 

Men to Watch

Michu

Enigma

What a signing! Potential signing of the season this lanky Spanish attacker. His enigma and force has been the driving ingredient for Swansea all season long and his enthusiasm and work rate has no parallels. His goals may have dried up a bit over a few games but he has already done enough to be given the Swansea player of the season award. All eyes will be upon him as he takes a leaky Spurs defense which must have been jolted by their trip to the San Siro. Swansea fans will anticipate a welcome return of goal for their star-player.

Form

Swansea's form has dipped in the last games having to endure 4 defeats out of their last 6 games, that include   a 5-0 hammering at the hands of Liverpool, albeit it was the weekend before the cup final. But now the cup-final done and dusted, they must be looking to get back to winning ways infront of their home fans.

TOP FACT: SWANSEA CITY ENJOY MORE THAN 50% POSSESSION IN MOST OF THEIR GAMES

Tottenham Hotspurs

Probable Line up

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Lloris, Ekotto, Vetronghen, Dawson, Walker, Parker, Dembele, Bale, Lennon, Sigurdsson, Defoe

Verdict:

Andre Villas Boas has enjoyed a dream campaign so far and if he does end up qualifying for the Champions League, it will be the perfect debut season for him in lillywhite colors. Aided by the magician Bale, efficient Defoe, pacy Lennon, and a solid Vetronghen, AVB has the platform to push his spurs side to top 4 positions. Apart from Sandro and Kaboul all are fit to play for Spurs so expect a strong response from Spurs after back to back defeats. 

Men to Watch

Gareth Bale

Mercurial 

How can it be any one else from the Spurs setup. He has virtually carried this team this far and now he will be looking to finish on a high note as well. His future is still uncertain but while he is at the club, he is their heart and soul. This game provides him with a chance to exploit the attacking intent of Swansea and produce a better attacking game than the one we witnessed at White Hart Lane.

Form:

Back to back defeats and a demoralizing game at Inter Milan must have had its effect, but they have shown character to bounce back from such predicaments. A win here will propel them even further from Arsenal, anything less than a point will see that gap slashed to just a solitary point. Surely the fans would want a repeat of last season where a end of season blip saw them finish behind their North London Rivals and miss out on the UCL.

TOP FACT: SPURS HAVE A CONVERSION RATE OF 17%, ONLY EVERTON HAS LESS OUT OF THE TOP 10 CLUBS.

Prediction:

Swansea City 2 - 2 Tottenham Hotspurs

I anticipate and hope for an attacking encounter with both teams looking for victories. If that is the case we are surely to be seeing a thriller, which probably end up in a draw. Spurs does not have enough bench power to influence games, and Swansea are decent at hope and a draw would be a fair result if we compare the two, including home advantage as well, especially considering that only three teams have taken the maximum points out of the Liberty