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Newcastle perspective: Marc Jensen, The Mag.

Newcastle vs Spurs is rarely anything other than a decent match, especially at St.James’ Park, where there has never been a goalless game between these two in the Premier League era.

Newcastle have only lost once in the last eight encounters on Tyneside and I’m confident that run will continue, though whether it’s to be one point or three could rest on how many of our walking wounded are available.

Fabricio Coloccini and Papiss Cisse are expected to play but question marks hang over Cheik Tiote, Demba Ba, Yohan Cabaye and Hatem Ben Arfa. I expect our new signing, Vurnon Anita, to start from the bench unless both Tiote and Cabaye don’t make it.

I’ve never had any time for ‘Arry Redknapp, but he did well to keep Luka Modric at White Hart Lane for so long. With the midfielder looking set to depart and no big name striker arriving since Adebayor’s departure, we fancy our chances.

Whenever Newcastle start a Premier League season on the front foot we tend to have a cracking season. I hope I’m drinking to that once again on Saturday night.

Predicted team (4-4-2): Krul; Simpson, S. Taylor, Coloccini, Santon; Obertan, Cabaye, Tiote, Gutierrez; Ba, Cisse.

Prediction: Newcastle 2-1 Tottenham.

Newcastle 2-1 at 10.00, over 2.5 goals at 1.88, Newcastle win at 2.50.

Tottenham perspective: Matthew Harris, TottenhamBlog.

It has been a very positive summer for Spurs but us fans are a little nervous at the start of this new era. Eyebrows were raised when Harry Redknapp left and those same eyebrows were extended further than they would be in a Roger Moore acting masterclass when Andre Villas-Boas came in.

The move made sense, though: Harry had really taken us as far as he could and some of his later signings seemed bizarre. Change was needed and AVB has been generally welcomed.

Ahead of this Newcastle game however, the squad is in worse shape than it was at the end of last season. Jan Vertonghen and Gylfi Sigurdsson were great acquisitions but unless something drastic happens between now and Saturday evening, we have only one senior striker.

Throughout pre-season, all the talk was of one problem; we create many chances but they aren’t being put away. Jermain Defoe scored a cracker for England in midweek after coming on as a sub but when he starts a game he can quickly disappear.

AVB could start with the promising Harry Kane alongside Defoe but I feel that the coach will opt for a 4-4-1-1 which was seen regularly under Redknapp.

As for the result, last year finished as a 2-2 thriller and I see this game being similarly close.

Predicted team (4-4-1-1): Friedel; Walker, Kaboul, Verthongen, Assou-Ekotto; Lennon, Livermore, Sigurdsson, Bale; Van Der Vaart; Defoe.

Prediction: Newcastle 1-1 Tottenham.

Draw at 3.35, under 2.5 goals at 1.86, both teams to score at 1.67.