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Joyeux Noël! Tottenham Hotspur enter Boxing Day on a positive note, coming from behind to grab a crucial 3-2 victory in Tim Sherwood's first league match in charge of Spurs. The new manager was made permanent after the match, given an 18 month extension that sees him appointed through the end of the 2014-15 season. Sherwood made his mark with a new tactical approach, using a 4-4-2 formation that gave many Spurs supporters flashbacks to the Harry Redknapp era. A new attacking impetus was certainly seen, but the Spurs defense looked vulnerable in this new system.
Today sees Spurs host West Bromwich Albion in a Boxing Day Special. The Baggies sit 16th in the table, just three points ahead of the relegation places. The team is manager-less, sacking Steve Clark despite finishing 8th last season, West Brom's best ever Premier League finish. The team boasts a dynamic attacking duo, as Shane Long and Stephane Sessegnon are scoring threats. However, the service may be an issue, as West Brom's weaknesses have come in a midfield that has been overrun at points this season. It may come to keeper Ben Foster to be up to the challenge as he faces a rejuvenated Spurs' offense.
As for the Prediction League, Mechanick and Uncle Menno are at the top of the table after foreseeing Spurs' weekend victory. The rules remain the same in the Prediction League--one point for a correct prediction and a bonus point for getting the score correct. Here are the current standings:
| Name | Score |
| Mechanick | 15 |
| Uncle Menno | 13 |
| MCofA | 12 |
| The Sleeper's Sleep | 12 |
| Ed | 12 |
| Ryan | 11 |
| Skipjack | 11 |
| Petrilli | 11 |
| Ashlock | 10 |
| Kevin | 10 |
| Lennon's Eyebrow | 9 |
| The Roosevelts |
8 |
This week's predictions:
Ed: West Brom isn't even the best Brom. 3-1 Spurs.
Kevin: Merry Christmas. 1-0 Spurs.
Mechanick: The defense improves, while Erik Lamela stars in a breakout game. 2-0 Spurs
Ryan: I have a nephew named Anfernee, and I know how mad he gets when I call him Anthony. Almost as mad as I get when I think about the fact that my sister named him Anfernee. 2-1 Spurs.
The Roosevelts: As I sit her at 1240 am on Christmas watching my step mom drunkenly sing an duet of "I love this bar" with my shirtless autistic brother let me say this. There is nowhere to go but up. 2-1 Spurs
Ashlock: Sherwood's continued refusal to make late game defensive substitutions bites Spurs in the ass as West Brom equalize late. 2-2 Draw
Lennon's Eyebrow: West Bromwion is a stupid name. 2-1 Spurs.
Petrilli: Spurs 2-1.
Uncle Menno: Whatever, West Brom sucks. 3-1 Spurs.
MCofA: What should I do when Spurs totally change their tactical alignment? My numbers say 1-0 is the most likely outcome, but that's based on our defensive solidity early in the season under a different manager who reportedly gave multiple fucks. Now we have crazy Tim Sherwood who still hasn't earned the coaching badge for selecting three defensive midfielders in home matches against mid-table opponents. Guessing a win is the obvious choice, picking the score has me stumped. So I will say 2-1 Spurs as default.
The Sleeper's Sleep: 3-1 Spurs.
Skipjack: More like Worst Brom. Spurs to win 4-2 while Sherwood performs wrecking ball on the sidelines cause he DGAF
