Squad rotation? Who needs squad rotation? Apparently, Alan Pardew does and Harry Redknapp doesn't. Both Rafael van der Vaart and Gareth Bale start today for Spurs while Kevin Nolan sits for Newcastle in favor of Alan Smith, who I assume is a zombie at this point in his career. The teams will be lining up in essentially like for like formations, so this could end up being a game won on talent, not tactics. I think that Spurs have a little more of that, especially with Nolan out.

Tottenham Hotspur lineup (4-4-1-1): Gomes / Assou-Ekotto, Dawson, Kaboul, Hutton / Bale, Modric, Palacios, Lennon / van der Vaart / Pavlyuchenko

Newcastle United lineup (4-4-1-1): Krul / Perch, Taylor, Coloccini, Simpson / Gutierrez, Barton, Tiote, Routledge / Smith / Carroll

Kickoff is at 10 am ET on Fox Soccer Plus and FoxSoccer.tv. A win takes us to fourth place, relegating Chelsea to fifth. Yes, we will be passing Chelsea. Halfway into the season. Seriously.