Wolverhampton - Tottenham

Wolves hold 19th place with a point less than first above the line, Bolton. They’re without a win in four league games (2 draws and 2 defeats). In previous round, lost in a derby game against Birmingham, conceding two goals in five minutes. They’re physically strong team, but obviously have lots of problems when they play against technically superior opponents, usually focusing on keeping the own net. They also failed to score in last 3 home games. Boss Mick McCarthy doesn’t have any injury worries, only new signing Adiene Guedioura is pushing for a first start after three consecutive appearances as substitute. It is expected to McCarthy set his favorite 4-5-1 formation with Doyle alone in front. 

Considering last few Spurs’ games, it seems their performance is over the results. They look well balanced, with Defoe and Crouch in front, Bentley and Modric behind and tough defense line. They definitely have enough quality for a serious challenge for a spot for CL. They overplayed Villa, but couldn’t score. Although they scored just 3 goals in Premier in 2010., they have scored the most goals after title challengers and will face one of the worst defenses in the league. Ledley King with a knee problem will be sidelined, Sebastien Bassong and new signing Younes Kaboul will fight it out to play alongside Michael Dawson. Gudjohnsen is expected to take some part in the game after being on the bench against Villa. As a big missing, remains Aaron Lennon.

Wolves suffered two hard defeats, first in Cup shocking 1-3 against Palace, then in last round vs. Birmingham. Both games were a big blow to their self confidence and in combination with the obvious lack of quality and a pressure to make a result I can’t see any positive outcome for them. Spurs have finally exclude the ups and downs in their displays and their shape look more than decent. Away win with a clean sheet. I'll try with a handicap as a gamble, predict 0-2.

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Tuesday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has pledged his future to the club after being linked to Barcelona and Real Madrid in recent weeks. (The Sun)
But Rooney's team-mate, midfielder Anderson, looks to be heading out of Old Trafford after recent poor performances for United.(The Sun) 
United have joined the race for Fulham's £7m-rated defender Chris Smalling, who is also attracting the interest of Arsenal. (The Independent) 
Manchester City forward Robinho will have to take a pay cut amounting to £80,000 a week if he wants to join Brazilian club Santos. (Daily Mail) 
City, meanwhile, have had a £12m bid for Real Madrid midfielder Fernando Gago turned down, with the Spanish club after at least £17.5m for the Argentine. (The Sun) 
Arsenal are set to revive their interest in AC Milan's Dutch striker Klass Jan-Huntelaar and may seek to bring him in on loan until the end of the season.(Daily Star) 
But Everton are also showing an interest in Huntelaar, who has also played for Real Madrid. (The Times) 
Birmingham are set to step up their pursuit of Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko.(Daily Mirror) 
Sunderland are preparing a £10m move for Portsmouth centre-back Younes Kaboul. (Daily Mirror) 
Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce is setting up a loan move for Monaco forward Eidur Gudjohnsen. (Daily Mirror) 
Hull want to sign Egyptian striker Mido, who is still registered with Middlesbrough, so he can team up with countryman Amr Zaki.(Daily Mail) 
Stoke goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen looks set to leave the club, with manager Tony Pulis closing in on Portsmouth's David James.(Daily Express) 
Middlesbrough manager Gordon Strachan is weighing up QPR's £1.75m-rated winger Wayne Routledge. (The Sun) 
Strachan is also set to sign Celtic's central defender Stephen McManus. (The Guardian) 
Stuttgart's Turkey midfielder Yildiray Basturk is flying in for talks with Blackburn over a potential loan deal. (Daily Mail) 
Burnley boss Brian Laws is interested in Celtic left-back Danny Fox. (Daily Mail) 
Everton are ready to offer Leeds the chance to cash in on striker Jermaine Beckford and are preparing a £2m bid.(Daily Mirror) 
Argentine striker Marco Ruben has agreed to join Wigan, according to his Spanish club Villarreal. (Press Association) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Under-fire Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is a target for Italian club Juventus. (The Times) 
The son of Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi, Saadi Gaddafi (on photo), is in talks to become Portsmouth's new owner. (Daily Mirror) 
Sven-Goran Eriksson will walk away from his role as Notts County director of football if the Magpies fail to secure funding to stave off their huge tax bill. (Daily Mirror) 
Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor looks set to return to action in Wednesday's Carling Cup derby with Manchester United - 19 days after the Togo team bus in Angola was ambushed by gunmen. (Daily Mail) 
Former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler is to remain at Australian side North Queensland Fury, despite falling out with manager Ian Ferguson. (Daily Mirror) 

AND FINALLY

Former Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo, who was sent off for violent conduct in Real Madrid's 2-0 win over Malaga at the weekend, says he was educated not to dive and cheat in England. (The Sun) 
And ex-Manchester United forward Carlos Tevez, now at neighbours Manchester City, has again hit out at his former employers by saying that he is at "the right club, with the right players and the right boss".(Daily Mirror)

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Monday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Portsmouth have told Manchester City and Sunderland they want £14m for defender Younes Kaboul.(Daily Mail) 
Stoke City have made an approach to sign striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, who has played only 13 minutes in the league for Real Madrid this season. (Times) 
Birmingham have told Sunderland to drop their £14m valuation of Kenwyne Jones if they want to offload the striker. City have made it clear they will pay £10m for Jones.(Daily Mirror) 
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is trying to take defender Nedum Onuoha, 23, on loan from Manchester City. (The Sun) 
Manchester City striker Felipe Caicedo has rejected Hull City to join Spanish club Malaga on loan.(Daily Mail) 
Nottingham Forest have made a £3m bid for Crystal Palace striker Victor Moses.(Daily Mail) 
But, according to some, Moses is close to agreeing a £3.5m move to Manchester City after the Eastlands club spent the weekend talking terms with Palace for the 19-year-old.(Daily Star) 
West Ham are in talks about signing Portugal striker Nuno Gomes, who has scored four goals for Benfica this season. (The Times) 
However, Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola will apparently redouble his efforts to bring either Monaco striker Eidur Gudjohnsen or Zenit St Petersburg forward Sergei Kornilenko to Upton Park. (Daily Express)
Spanish holding midfielder Michel, 24, will join Birmingham City from Sporting Gijon for £2.5m, subject to a medical. (The Independent) 
Schalke striker Kevin Kuranyi has turned down a £3.5m move to Sunderland after holding talks with club officials and his agents in Bavaria.(The Independent) 
The Black Cats are apparently ready to swoop for Paraguay striker Salvador Cabanas. The deal would result in the 29-year-old Club America player joining Sunderland on loan for the rest of the season before making a permanent switch if he settles in England. (Daily Mirror) 
Stoke manager Tony Pulis is in a £10m battle with Birmingham to sign Wigan striker Hugo Rodallega. (Daily Mirror) 
Wolves manager Mick McCarthy wants to sign Jamie O'Hara from Tottenham but the midfielder, whose loan spell at Portsmouth ended recently, will have to have special permission as the Premier League does not allow players to have three clubs in one season.(Daily Mirror) 
Wigan manager Roberto Martinez is ready to make a £4m bid for Brazilian centre-half Joao Carlos after failing to sign the 28-year-old from Belgian side Genk last summer.(The Sun) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, whose current contract runs out at the end of next season, has told his players they have 18 months to convince him to stay on as boss for the rest of his life.(The Sun) 
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed striker Dimitar Berbatov has been suffering with a knee injury that may need surgery.(The Guardian) 
New Manchester City midfielder Patrick Vieira will have to wait to make his debut for Roberto Mancini's outfit because of a calf injury.(The Guardian) 
Burnley have made MK Dons manager Paul Ince a shock candidate to become their new boss. (The Sun) 
Manchester City 'super spy' Jim Cassell, whose role at Eastlands has been reduced, is wanted by Tottenham.(Daily Mirror) 
Liverpool fans group The Spirit of Shankly are demanding Tom Hicks Jnr quits over his alleged foul-mouthed email rant to a supporter who had written to express his fears for the Reds' future. (The Sun) 

AND FINALLY

England midfielder David Beckham wowed Turin with a sexy display - and also starred on the pitch following his loan move from LA Galaxy to AC Milan. Beckham helped set up Milan's third goal in the 3-0 win at third-placed Juventus but also impressed the home side's female fans with a pitchside change of shorts.(The Sun)

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