Crystal Palace vs. Tottenham: Issues and Decisions That Will Shape EPL Game
Tottenham's first Premier League away game of 2015 promises to be a tricky affair.
A trip across London to face Crystal Palace is never likely to be an easy fixture but, with the Eagles having changed manager after a wretched run, this match takes on greater significance.
Indeed, with the match scheduled for late Saturday evening, the eyes of the whole country will be on Spurs.
Given their stunning result against Chelsea on New Year's Day, Spurs are heavily favoured to handle Alan Pardew's Palace, and a defeat would be something of an embarrassment.
While Spurs have every reason to be confident, they must also be wary of the threat that Palace posed when the two sides played out a goalless draw just a month ago.
Mauricio Pochettino cannot afford to take his eyes off this match, even as the fixtures pile up. A frustrating draw against Burnley in the FA Cup Third Round means Spurs now face six more matches in the last three weeks of January.
With Manchester United facing Southampton this weekend, one of Spurs' rivals for fourth place is certain to drop points. Spurs must take full advantage at Selhurst Park but it won't be easy.
Palace's Home Record
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For the neutral, there are few better stadia in the Premier League than Selhurst Park. Deafeningly loud and seemingly a magnet for surprise results (just ask Liverpool), Palace's home ground has produced more than its fair share of upsets.
For away teams, this spells trouble.
While Palace have lost four home matches since October, they have often been unlucky and always troubled their opponents. They almost stunned Chelsea earlier in the season and, while they slipped to a 2-1 defeat, the Blues knew that they had been in a game.
Then-manager Neil Warnock complained in December that the pitch at Selhurst Park is a disgrace. He described it as "running on sand," and admitted that Palace had been "reported by every team in the League" over the state of the pitch.
This creates a problem for teams like Spurs that rely on their superior fitness as well as their technical ability to overcome opponents like Palace. Those advantages are dampened on a loose, slow pitch.
It was due to be replaced before this weekend's fixture but it remains to be seen whether Spurs will have an appropriate surface to play their aggressive, high-tempo style.
The atmosphere, the pitch and the opposition combine to make Selhurst Park an imposing away ground. Spurs have been excellent on their travels (third best in the league, according to Eurosport.com) and Palace's home record hasn't been great (they are 19th on home form), this will be a real test for Pochettino and his flying Lilywhites.
New-Manager Bounce for Pardew?
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The new-manager bounce is a happy old footballing cliche.
The catharsis of managerial change can prompt real improvement.
Whether the team reacts happily that the manager has been replaced or instead they are fighting for their own reputations, often new managers do find themselves enjoying a charmed beginning.
Alan Pardew, Palace's recently installed new manager, could find himself enjoying his own honeymoon period when Spurs come calling.
Palace's results have been wretched but many of their performances have not.
If Pardew is simply more fortunate than his predecessor, he will surely enjoy improved results.
Spurs could be facing off against fortune on Saturday evening as the Eagles enjoy the luck of the new manager.
Can Kane Continue His Mercurial Form?
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Harry Kane is in sensational form.
His brace against Chelsea was only the latest in a string of man-of-the-match performances that have propelled Spurs up the Premier League table.
Favourable comparisons with Gareth Bale have been Kane's reward while a senior England call-up is certainly on the horizon.
Kane's brilliant recent run (with six goals in his last seven appearances in all competitions) is far above his career average.
Though it can partially be explained by his age and rapid development, Kane has never before been so prolific.
It is likely that he will be unable to continue troubling the scorers with such regularity.
If his goals do dry up, Spurs will become a less dynamic threat.
With Palace's defensive solidity (three clean sheets in their last three matches) being their major asset, Spurs will hope that Kane's run doesn't end just yet.
A Debut for DeAndre Yedlin?
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Tottenham's expedited signing of DeAndre Yedlin means that Mauricio Pochettino was plainly impressed with his performances for Seattle in the MLS this season.
It is possible that Pochettino was so impressed with Yedlin that he hands him his Spurs debut against Palace.
His attacking assets are well-known and, with Kyle Walker still getting back to full fitness, Yedlin could find himself a role as an attacking substitution late on.
His pace makes him a potential game-breaker for Spurs while his defensive limitations could allow Palace to snatch a victory.
If Yedlin does make his Tottenham bow at Selhurst Park, he could have a real influence on the result, for better or worse.
Can Palace Cause Spurs Problems Without Bolasie?
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When Spurs faced Palace at White Hart Lane in December, Yannick Bolasie threatened to win the match single-handedly.
Several breathtaking pieces of skill lit up an otherwise dreary match and if Bolasie's teammates had been at his level, Palace would surely have won the match.
Unfortunately for Alan Pardew, Bolasie has been called up to African Cup of Nations duty with Congo so he will be unavailable for club football.
While Bolasie is enigmatic, sometime brilliant but too often quiet, he is Palace's most potent attacking threat.
Perhaps Wilfried Zaha, who showed brief flashes of his own considerable talent at White Hart Lane, can be the man to step into the breach.
Pardew will need to find somebody to lift Palace in the absence of Bolasie's pace and trickery.
Palace captain Mile Jedinak's absence will also be keenly felt. He has left the club temporarily to lead Australia at the Asian Cup and Pardew will be ruing the timing of these two international tournaments.
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