Is A New Era Dawning At Spurs?

What: Carling Cup, Final
Who: Tottenham Hotspur (11th EPL) v. Chelsea (3rd EPL)
When: Sunday, 24th February, 15:00 (GMT)
Where: Wembley Stadium, London

It’s an all-London encounter at the new Wembley’s first ever Carling Cup final. Chelsea are firm favourites, but what chance of a cup upset? Is A New Era Dawning At Spurs?

Some pundits are tipping Spurs to defy the odds and lift the Carling Cup on Sunday, believing that Juande Ramos’ side will want it more than Chelsea. Whether that’s true or false, we’ll find out on Sunday.

But one thing is for sure: Tottenham have more than the odd score to settle with their West London rivals. The White Hart Lane outfit have notched only one win over the Blues in sixteen attempts, making them the butt of many a joke around Stamford Bridge.

The league meeting between the two sides this season saw Chelsea round out resounding 2-0 winners, but Tottenham will care little for records or history in the build-up to this match. Firstly, this is a new regime: much has changed at the club in the four months since Martin Jol’s departure, let alone since the first of those sixteen games. New players, new ideas and a new belief.

The squad are unquestionably fitter; the confidence obliterated in Jol’s final weeks has returned. Reinforcements have been brought in where necessary, while the likes of Jermaine Jenas and Aaron Lennon are delivering on the potential they’ve promised for so long. There are very few teams in the Premier League who wouldn’t swap their front two for Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane, given the chance.

Secondly, this is cup football: if there’s one coach who’s proved his ability in knock-out competition, it is Juande Ramos. Manchester United’s defeat of Tottenham in the FA Cup represents the Spaniards only cup elimination in over 50 knock-out games. In that time he’s delivered the Uefa Cup (twice) and the Copa del Rey to Sevilla.

Now in London, he’s taken Spurs to their first final in six years and given them a chance to lift their first silverware since 1999’s League Cup triumph over Leicester City. The thrashing of Arsenal in the semi-final second leg made people sit up and take note of this new Tottenham side. True, it was only against the young Gunners, but these are nevertheless top players – to smash them 5-1 sent out a statement of intent.

Given the tendency of the Big Four to dominate domestic football in recent times, Spurs will have the majority of non-Chelsea support on their side come Sunday. But the Lilywhites don’t want this win for the good of English football, they want it for themselves. They want to prove they can deliver when it matters against the big sides. They want to get the better over their London neighbours. And, most of all, they want to get Ramos’ regime off to a flying start.

Grant Seeks To Emulate Mourinho

Chelsea are going strong on all fronts, being as they are the only English club still fighting for all four major trophies. In all competitions it’s now sixteen game without defeat. The Premiership and Champions League may be the Blues’ top priorities, but make no mistake: Chelsea do care about the Carling Cup.

Those who suggest Avram Grant’s side may be less hungry for silverware on Sunday than Tottenham Hotspur would do well to remember that the Blues have lifted this cup in two of the last three seasons. Now they are aiming to become to first side to retain the trophy since Nottingham Forest in 1990.

Last year’s final against Arsenal in Cardiff will be remembered for the ugly brawl that rather marred the spectacle. But as unsightly as these scenes were they illustrated one thing: both sides’ passion and desire to win. Just like last year, we have an all-London final. Emotions will run high.

For all Chelsea’s recent success against the Lilywhites, that one recent defeat still smarts: a goal to the good at White Hart Lane in last season’s Premiership game, the Blues controversially had skipper John Terry dismissed and conceded a last-minute goal to lose 2-1. Looking back on events at the season’s end, that defeat proved a pivotal moment in the title race. Thus Chelsea, too, have a score to settle – they have no intention of gifting this trophy to Spurs.

Of all the big sides, Chelsea are undoubtedly the one who take the Carling Cup most seriously. Avram Grant could have followed Ferguson or Wenger’s path by fielding youngsters if he wished. Instead, the Israeli always puts out a strong side, particularly when things get serious. Despite the injuries and African Nations Cup, Chelsea professionally wore down an in-form Everton over two legs. The Blues had to work hard for this final place, and have earned it on merit.

As much as Grant may play it cool at his press conferences, he will be determined to get his hands on this first piece of silverware since taking over a boss at the end of September. The Israeli was ridiculed by many upon his appointment, called a lame duck or Abramovich’s puppet. Thus far, he has proved his critics wrong and showed that there is life at Stamford Bridge after José Mourinho. But one thing Mourinho never did at Chelsea was lose a cup final.

ROAD TO WEMBLEY

Tottenham

Tottenham - Middlesbrough 2 - 0 26/09/2007 3rd Round
Tottenham - Blackpool 2 - 0 31/10/2007 4th Round
Man City - Tottenham 0 - 2 18/12/2007 Quarter Final
Arsenal - Tottenham 1 - 1 09/01/2008 Semi Final 1st
Tottenham - Arsenal 5 - 1 22/01/2008 Semi Final 2nd

Chelsea

Hull - Chelsea 0 - 4 26/09/2007 3rd Round
Chelsea - Leicester 4 - 3 31/10/2007 4th Round
Chelsea - Liverpool 2 - 0 19/12/2007 Quarter Final
Chelsea - Everton 2 - 1 08/01/2008 Semi Final 1st
Everton - Chelsea 0 - 1 23/01/2008 Semi Final 2nd

FORM GUIDE

Tottenham

Tottenham - Slavia Praha 1 - 1 21/02/2008 UEFA CUP
Slavia Praha - Tottenham 1 - 2 14/02/2008 UEFA CUP
Derby - Tottenham 0 - 3 09/02/2008 PREMIER LEAGUE
Tottenham - Man Utd. 1 - 1 02/02/2008 PREMIER LEAGUE
Everton - Tottenham 0 - 0 30/01/2008 PREMIER LEAGUE
Man Utd. - Tottenham 3 - 1 27/01/2008 FA CUP

Chelsea

Olympiakos - Chelsea 0 - 0 19/02/2008 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Chelsea - Huddersfield Town 3 - 1 16/02/2008 FA CUP
Chelsea - Liverpool 0 - 0 10/02/2008 PREMIER LEAGUE
Portsmouth - Chelsea 1 - 1 02/02/2008 PREMIER LEAGUE
Chelsea - Reading 1 - 0 30/01/2008 PREMIER LEAGUE
Wigan Athletic - Chelsea 1 - 2 26/01/2008 FA CUP

TEAM NEWS

Tottenham

Michael Dawson and Kevin Prince-Boateng are struggling with hamstring injuries and probably won’t start, but Pascal Chimbonda should be fine and Ledley King should skipper the side after a month out with knee troubles. Alan Hutton was ineligible against Slavia Prague in midweek but should start at right-back on Sunday.Ramos, meanwhile, has remained tight-lipped about the goalkeeping situation.

Paul Robinson returned in goal against Slavia and pulled off a string of fine saves. Judging by previous games, Ramos hasn’t tended to rotate his goalkeeper which could signal the England man’s return at the expense of Radek Cerny. Zokora and Huddlestone are vying for the remaining midfield spot with Lennon, Malbranque and Jenas all certainties.

Full Squad: Robinson, Cerny, Hutton, Chimbonda, Lee, Gunter, Dawson, King, Woodgate, Rocha, Kaboul, Tainio, O'Hara, Huddlestone, Zokora, Jenas, Malbranque, Lennon, Boateng, Taarabt, Bent, Keane, Berbatov

Likely XI (4-4-2): Robinson – Hutton, King, Woodgate, Chimbonda – Lennon, Zokora, Jenas, Malbranque – Keane, Berbatov

Chelsea

Reports on Friday suggested John Terry and Frank Lampard – rested in midweek against Olympiacos – may again be benched for this game. Avram Grant kept his cards close to his chest at the press conference, however. All in all the Israeli made eleven changes for the trip to Greece, likely with this Sunday’s big final in mind, and has no new injury concerns.

A fully fit Chelsea squad probably has fiercer competition for a spot in the starting XI than that of any other side in the country, but Grant must decide whether to switch formation to accommodate more of his star names. Drogba and Anelka have never played together and the signs are that unless the Frenchman is given a spot on the wing one of them will start on the bench. Grant gets paid a lot of money to pick his XI… we don’t so we’ll just have a quick guess.

Full Squad: Cech, Cudicini, Hilario, Ferreira, Belletti, Terry, Alex, Ben-Haim, Carvalho, A Cole, Bridge, Obi, Makelele, Sidwell, Essien, Lampard, Ballack, Malouda, Wright-Phillips, J Cole, Drogba, Anelka, Pizarro, Shevchenko, Kalou

Possible XI (4-3-2-1): Cech – Ferreira, Carvalho, Terry, A Cole – Essien, Ballack, Lampard – Wright-Phillips, J Cole – Drogba

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Tottenham – Dimitar Berbatov (pictured)

Dimitar Berbatov is often hailed as Tottenham’s best player, with a long list of suitors queuing up for a summer transfer swoop. No one can doubt the Bulgarian’s class, but some criticise his occasional disinterest in play. This is Berbatov’s biggest game since joining Tottenham from Bayer Leverkusen in 2006, and it’s his club’s first final for six years. Can the striker prove himself on the big stage and go down in Spurs folklore by shooting the Lilywhites to victory? His goalscoring ability could be key, but equally his ability to lay on a world-class assist from absolutely nothing.

Chelsea – Michael Ballack

Michael Ballack has put in some excellent displays for Chelsea since making his return from a long injury lay-off. The German has finally showed the form in a blue shirt that earned him those big money wages and a move from Bayern Munich. The quality of talent around him always allows Ballack to perform at a high level, but then again the quality of competition for his starting spot will keep him on his toes. A man who poses a threat in the air, from free-kicks and from the penalty spot, the German international could be a key man for Chelsea on Sunday.

PREDICTION

Finals are so hard to predict. Last season's FA Cup final and the dire draw with Liverpool the other week demonstrate that Chelsea can be rather cagey in important games. The only thing I’m sure of is there will be more cards than goals. On paper this is Chelsea’s trophy to lose, but, as they say, football isn’t a game played on paper.

Tottenham 0-1 Chelsea

(Source: Chris Williams, Goal)