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Just a short preview today because there’s no need to fanny about with formations and tactics. Keep it simple.

Ok, so we’re missing some very influential players for tonights game, especially Modric who we lost this morning to an appendix operation but I’m feeling positive. We’ve returned to our soft underbelly away from home recently, Blackburn look to be putting a good run together and there’s a feeling of doom and gloom among the Tottenham faithful but I haven’t felt this positive since the last time we played Blackburn.

In that game we went back to a more familiar 4-4-2 and we not only played well but we scored 4 goals. Yes, playing well AND scoring goals in a non champions league game. Hard to believe but it happened. With the injuries we’ve got we must play with two strikers. It has to happen and there’s no excuse win, lose or draw if we don’t.

van der Vaart can slot back into midfield, whether that be replacing Modric and playing his role or out on the left. He’ll obviously drift in but as long as we have someone like Pienaar who’s a lot more disciplined than vdV playing centrally he should be able to cover any spaces left and protect Ekotto. There’s no point in playing Crouch against Samba because he’s unlikely to win the ball in the air but he does have a good record against Blackburn so if he starts then so be it but my preference would be Pav and Defoe.

Defensively we’re a little light too with injuries and suspensions but again we should have enough in the squad to cover those absentees. Get Corluka back into the team whether that be at right back preferably or centre back if Gallas isn’t fit. I’d like to see Charlie given another shot and long stint in the first team behind Lennon because not only does it mean we’re better in defence but Lennon plays better with Charlie than he does with Hutton.

So, it’s simple. Like back in November, play 4-4-2 which the majority of our players are comfortable with, keep possession and play high tempo football. Whether it be Sandro, Palacios or Jenas alongside Pienaar/vdV make sure they just sit in front of the defence and allow the 5 players in front of them to play. Back to basics as it were. It’s what Redknapp’s good at after all. Pick the best players available, play them in their favourite positions where possible and tell them to go out there and enjoy it.

Blackburn’s a very tough place to go but if we get the personnel and formation right we can keep hanging onto the coattails of Chelsea in fourth. If, like we’ve done in recent games, we try to be cute with the formation we’ll cement the last few weeks as the worse in Redknapps tenure with a negative result against a fast improving team.

Lets go back into the future and put on a performance we all know we can.

Prediction: 4-4-2 and we win; anything else and we don’t. It’s that simple.

Related posts:

1. Positivity Is Our Friend – Blackburn Preview
2. Match Report: Blackburn Rovers 1-2 Spurs
3. Match Preview: Blackburn Rovers v Spurs
4. Dear Sol
5. 41 Points & We’re Safe From Relegation