Stoke City vs Tottenham Hotspur: Premier League Prediction Panel 2008/9 - preview and predictions
In the absence of a top of the table clash this weekend, this meeting between the bottom two in the division could well be the big game. Stoke are now clear favourites for relegation after seven games but they have had a tough fixture list having played high flying teams like Aston Villa, Chelsea, Liverpool and Portsmouth already. Tony Pulis will be looking at this somewhat easier game to kickstart Stoke's season and put them level with another of other struggling teams.
If Tottenham lose this one then the idle chatter about relegation will take on a darker hue, Spurs are not too good to go down and the sooner that they start scrapping for results the better. The worst league start since the titanic sailed suggests an obvious metaphor for Juande Ramos's team but there is quality there, somewhere. Ramos needs a couple of wins quickly if the Spurs board aren't to launch an unexpected and unwanted search for a saviour. Is Kevin Keegan still available?
With the money that will back Spurs they are certain to be favourites at the bookies, but Stoke make every match a battle and there is a suspicion that Spurs may wilt in the heat.
Stoke City vs Tottenham Hotspur; Kick Off 04:00pm 19 Oct 2008
Prediction Panel
Our panel contains both Squarefootball writers and readers, the writers are marked: (sqf).
Tony Bellew : 0 - 1
Dave Blackburn : TBC - TBC
Sue Gardener : 1 - 1
Chris Goodwin : 1 - 0
Paul Grech (sqf) : 1 - 1
Colin Illingworth (sqf) : 2 - 1
Hugh Larkin (sqf) : 1 - 1
Peter Lee : 1 - 1
Don McMahon : 1 - 2
Antony Melvin (sqf) : 0 - 1
Stephen Orford (sqf) : 1 - 2
Tony Ratton : 1 - 1
Peter Rendle : 1 - 3
Dan Taylor : 1 - 0
Bill Urban (sqf) : 1 - 0
Andy Wakeman : 1 - 1
Isaac Williams : 1 - 1
Mark Williams : 1 - 1
Panel Verdict
The panel is very divided here with the largest minority going for a draw.
Home: 4; Draw: 8; Away: 5; TBC: 1;
* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!
