We're favorites in a match against Chelsea. Yes, Tottenham Hotspur, the most gutless and spineless team in the Premier League era of English football is entering a match as the favorite against the team that was the most gutless and spineless in English football before some Russian guy bought them, spent an insane amount of money, and hired the best manager of the modern era.
The biggest shock in either lineup is the central defense pairing of Michael Dawson and Sebastien Bassong. You may remember that those two were the central defense pairing for a certain game in Bern, Switzerland. They were also the central defense pairing the last time we faced Chelsea at White Hart Lane. So, they'll either be other worldly or abysmal. Flip a coin.
Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba start on the bench for a Chelsea side playing 4-3-3 with Florent Malouda and Solomon Kalou flanking Nicolas Anelka. In theory, they should have an advantage in the center of midfield, but that theory hasn't worked out so well for the Blues in recent matches.
Oh, also, Bale vs. Ferreira. Giddy. Here are your complete lineups.
Tottenham Hotspur lineup (4-4-2): Gomes / Assou-Ekotto, Bassong, Dawson, Hutton / Bale, Palacios, Modric, Lennon / Pavlyuchenko, Defoe
Chelsea lineup (4-3-3): Cech / Cole, Ivanovic, Terry, Ferreira / Mikel, Essien, Ramires / Malouda, Kalou, Anelka
Kickoff is at 11 am ET on Fox Soccer Channel in the United States. I'm so nervous I want to throw up. Usually in games against Chelsea, I'm resigned to a bad result going into the game. Today, with us as the favorites, I'm losing my ish. Live updates here throughout the match.