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Clint Dempsey and Moussa Dembele, say hello to Fulham. Dimitar Berbatov and Martin Jol, give Tottenham Hotspur a wave.
Saturday's clash between Spurs and Fulham will be a reunion for both teams as they get a look at former club members, now playing for the other side. For Dempsey and Demebele, it will be their first trip back to Craven Cottage since being moving to White Hart Lane in August. That isn't true of Berbatov and Jol, who have been away from Spurs for years and have faced the team before, but the manager and striker have too much history at the club -- both good and bad -- to be forgotten anytime soon.
Despite all of the mushy reunion talk, or unpleasant talk, there is still a match to be played and a rather important one at that. Spurs have not been especially good this season and have been hurt, but after wins over West Ham and Liverpool they are up to fifth in the table and are expected to get Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Scott Parker back in training next week. Things aren't so cheery at Craven Cottage, where they aren't necessarily underachieving in 11th place, but they are winless since October 20 and any chances of a dream season are slipping away.
This one figures to be a goal fest, with both teams having conceded 23 times this year, which is tied for fourth worst in the Premier League. Tottenham can chalk theirs up to the absences of Assou-Ekotto and Younes Kaboul, but are a bit better off this weekend as Steven Caulker returns from illness. Fulham hasn't been especially healthy either and will be without Brede Hangeland on Saturday, who is serving the last match of his suspension.
Fulham has other injury problems with Simon Davies and Bryan Ruiz out this weekend. They do get one boost with the return of Kieren Richardson, although he is more likely to come off the bench than start.
Their long-term injuries aside, Spurs are relatively healthy and playing well. Their six points from the last two matches show that, but even in those wins, they did not play 90 good minutes. They let up late, which they can't afford at Craven Cottage. Berbatov and Jol will only be too awesome to jump on it.