CONTRA-ATAQUE: Braga vs Spurs - II

SPURS

So our dear Spurs are on a run: 14 goals in 4 games, Berbatov looking like the best player Spurs have seen since Ginola and Keane on blistering form. Defoe was also pretty sharp in the last game and you cannot help but feel he is a hair's breadth away from form. Tanio is already back to form... and scoring. Lennon is looking world-class. Lee brings intense motivation and Dawson is learning to command the defence. Robinson is more confident and looks more like his old self again. Rocha is settling in and Chimbonda looking like the best right back in the Premiership bar none. The demons of the missing Carrick have been exorcised and the fans are happy once again.
Our coach has learned to attack instead of defend since we are great going forward but still disorganised in defence. Not to forget quality like Mido, Malbranque and Tarawhatsisface waiting in the wings. We are playing exciting attacking football and regardless of results, European places or the like I will remain happy as long as we do.
Our team has learned how to hold a lead with confidence and to fight like tigers all the way to the whistle when in deficit. We still run into problems under pressure but there isn't a team in the Premiership that doesn't at the moment.
It's enough to make you forget that we are missing Zokora and King through injury, that Jenas is carrying a knock or that Ghaly can't seem to find his passing boots right now.
Although a lot of fans would like to see new kid Taraabt start I would not. It's a lot easier coming on as a sub against tired players and he should be blooded in. Too much too soon and he could suffer in form like Huddlestone did. I would ike to see 15-20 minutes of him, though, especially in a less physical European game. I would like to see Rocha start as he knows the ley of the land out there.
Bring on Braga, which I know nothing about. Fortunately I know someone who does, his name is Pedro and here is his Braga preview...

BRAGA

Next Thursday, Braga's magnificent stadium receives the most awaited game of the season. Against Tottenham, SC Braga wants the confirmation of his European status and the reaffirmation as the 4 th most important Portuguese team.
In the Portuguese League, SC Braga is playing worse than expected. The team is suffering from the departure of the most important coach of its history, Jesualdo Ferreira. Since his leaving, Braga has had three different coaches. Despite all the instability, the team has been doing surprisingly well throughout the European Competitions.
The Portuguese Arsenalists ( Braga's supporters) still haven't forgotten the tremendous defeats against Tottenham 23 years ago and so they want to rewrite history this time. In this European campaign, SC Braga has won all home games with an impenetrable defence.
Paulo Santos, the goalkeeper, remains confident. Rodriguez has made it into the team after some good exhibitions as central defence together with the captain Paulo Jorge. Luís Filipe and Carlos Fernandes complete the defence, playing right and left, respectively.
In the Middlefield lay the biggest doubts. Andres Madrid, the most valuable player of the team, returns from a lesion that kept him apart for 2 months. Either Vandinho or Ricardo Chaves will occupy the remaining position in the Defensive Middlefield. João Vieira Pinto will be the playmaker of the team. His European experience has been very important to Braga during the current season. Wender and Cesinha, alternating left and right, carry the ball to Zé Carlos, the striker that will be the cherry on top of the cake. Probably, Braga will play in counter attack, so it is possible that Jorge Costa goes for a centre Middlefield instead of João Vieira Pinto.
Braga is looking for the first participation at the Final Quarters of UEFA Cup. For that purpose, they count with the support of their fans. Unfortunately, there will be less attendants than expected. Braga's board has set the ticket prices too high for a country in economic recession. But the show will go on and the 15.000 expected supporters will shout "Magician Braga Allez!" for 90 minutes.

jester: spurs.wordpress.com
Pedro: avenidacentral.blogspot.com

Também aqui: spurs.wordpress.com, attackingfootball.com, sportingo.com e pushandrun.com.