Football News: Premier League Match Preview Monday 30th April 2018

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Monday 30th April 2018

Tottenham Hotspur v Watford 8pm kick off

Rose (calf strain) slight doubt
Winks (ankle injury) out

Spurs now have Chelsea breathing down their necks, so they will have to raise their game for the run-in if they want to hold on to a top 4 place. They have looked a bit off the pace in the last few matches, going out of the FA Cup and in the draw against Brighton. They do look in need of a lift, with Mauricio Pochettino making statements that threw his future into doubt and it being clear that some of the players are being frozen out by him. A team that seemed so tightknit and together is looking a little fractured and unsure of each other. This does all seem to stem from the sale of Kyle Walker, who has managed to triple his wages with Man City and the remaining players are eyeing that money with jealousy. Daniel Levy has worked wonders so far to keep it altogether on such a small wage budget, but it is now causing divisions that need to be solved quickly.
Most important player: Harry Kane. Watford have little to play for in real terms, this could be a day for Kane to put a marker down in his bid for the Golden Boot.

Okaka (thigh injury) doubt
Pereyra (groin strain) doubt
Deeney (foot injury) major doubt
Prodl (illness) slight doubt
Carillo (knock) slight doubt
Deulofeu (fractured foot expected return 5th May) doubt
Cleverley (hamstring injury expected return 1st June) out
Kaboul (fractured metatarsal expected return 1st June) out
Chalobah (knee injury expected return 13th May) out
Hoban (ACL injury) out

The Hornets do seem to have a lot of issues around their team. Firstly the results, no wins in 6, losing 4 of those games, is poor form, though they already have enough points to survive, it does not augur well for next season. Secondly the managerial instability as they continually chop and change, no matter what the manager achieves. The big issue for me, one that I believe is a major factor in their inconsistency and injury problems, both of which plague the club, is a lack of general fitness of the players. You only have to take a look around their team on a matchday, most of them are carrying a bit of excess timber, though in Troy Deeney's case it is an entire Scandinavian forest around his waist. It is little wonder they fade late on in games and towards the end of each season. The players simply, overall, are not fit enough for the high pace of the Premier League.
Most important player: Will Hughes. Hughes provides an attacking thrust from midfield.

Defining Battle: with Watford's injury problems once more requiring a mainly makeshift team and Spurs being in need of the points, you would expect this to become a 'backs to the wall' defensive job for the Hornets. Have Watford got the defensive organisation and discipline to keep their shape together and resist the attacking players Tottenham have, who will be trying to move them around. The key for Watford is to ensure Christian Eriksen does not get too much time and space to pick out passes.

Editors' Predictions:
Ed002 - 2-1
Ed003 - 2-0
Ed004 - 3-1
Ed007 - 3-1
Ed018 - 2-0
Ed025 - 3-0
Ed033 - 2-0

Editor's Predictions Table
1. Ed002 - 234 points
2. Ed018 - 226 points
3. Ed033 - 223 points
4. Ed007 - 220 points
5. Ed004 - 215 points
6. Ed025 - 213 points
7. Ed003 - 200 points

*1 point is awarded for the correct result, 3 points for the correct score.
**updated 26th April 2018 (not including results for that day)

Written by Tris Burke April 30 2018 08:03:00