Steve Coppell has confirmed he will send a weakened side to White Hart Lane on Saturday, even though his first team conceded six there just last week.
Dimitar Berbatov scored four in a freak 6-4 win for Spurs last Saturday, as Reading ended 2007 in dismal, if not slightly bizarre fashion.
The Royals boos is expecting Spurs manager Juande Ramos to play a similar side to team that beat Reading on Saturday, but has admitted that the Reading side will be very different.
He said: ‘The 6-4 game won’t have any bearing – it will be a totally different team so it can’t. I have an XI who will start where a significant number will be thinking they should be playing and now they will get that opportunity.’
Even in the Championship, Coppell used cup games to play his fringe players and this game will be no different.
He said: ‘I go back to what I say every year at this time – as far as I am concerned I have got 17 FA Cup finals still to play.
‘I have got to do what I feel is right for this football club. I have been consistent every year and I will continue to be consistent. But we are going there to win – we are not going there to keep the score down.’
Coppell again reiterated his desire to bring in fresh blood during the transfer window.
He said: ‘We have a couple of in-coming transfers that might be happening but nothing imminent.
‘I would hope that whatever signings we make are long-term signings, not four-month ones. I can’t see us making a panic signing.
‘Given our position in the table we need to strengthen defensively and in terms of numbers in midfield as well, on the right side.
‘We have had our specific targets and with a couple of those we have had knock-backs, a couple of them look promising but everyone is just waiting to see and the fact that there are still three league games this month could still make a significant impact on the team’s need to bring players in.
‘If we had had something lined up we would have done it even by now. But are we desperate? No. If we get nobody would I be losing any sleep? No. If we can sign players who can be of long-term advantage to this club then we will.’
One player who has been linked with a move away from the club is out of favour striker Leroy Lita. The England Under-21 international has slipped down the pecking order at Reading as of late, but will start at White Hart Lane and will be looking to show he still has a future at the club.
Despite the rumours regarding Lita’s future, Coppell remains adamant that he is not looking to sell during Januray; ‘I have four strikers and I echo what Steve Bruce has said – it is hard for smaller clubs to keep them happy but you need four strikers. Are we looking to sell anybody? No.’
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