Saturday
20th January 2001
FA CARLING PREMIERSHIP
Referee:- Mr. C. Wilkes
Attendance:- 36,095
Spurs (3-5-2):- Walker; Perry,
Doherty, Campbell; Young, Anderton, Freund (sub Leonhardsen, 76),
King, Clemence; Rebrov, Ferdinand (sub McEwen, 20)
Subs not used:- Segers; Thatcher; Davies
No bookings
Southampton (3-5-2):- Jones;
Lundekvam, Dodd, Richards; Khalej, Kachloul (sub Pahars, 82),
Draper, Oakley, Bridge; Davies, Beattie
Subs not used:- Moss; Marsden, Soltvedt,
Rosler Booked:- Richards (foul
on Rebrov)
On a bitterly cold afternoon in N17,
another poor showing from the team did little to raise the
spirits of the White Hart Lane faithful. Spurs were without the
suspended pair Sherwood and Sullivan but welcomed back Walker and
Freund to replace these two as well as the Sol man and Ferdinand
(briefly), who missed the trip to Everton through injury. Young
was also in the side ahead of the out of form Leo, and there was
no place in the 16 for the awful Korsten. At 2.45 I received a
text message on my phone from the Giveusthescore info service
informing me that the result of the match was 0-0 – I should
have taken this as an omen and headed home there and then.
Although the game did not have a goal,
this cannot be put down to any defensive tactics employed by
Southampton – who had a fluid 3-5-2 system with everyone
knowing their job and working for each other. The Saints had the
first chance of the match when El Khalej got in behind Clemence
on the Southampton right forcing Walker to make the first of a
number of good saves before Perry, who was initially at fault for
playing El Khalej on, blocked a goal bound shot from the rebound.
After the dismal display last week, it
was nice to see us register a shot near the target within the
first five minutes when a Rebrov snap shot from just outside the
area after a Ferdinand knock down which dipped and faded wide of
Jones’ left hand post as Spurs resumed their usual tactic of
attacking the Park Lane in the first half. As well as a shot near
the target, we were also treated to a corner within the first 10
minutes and Campbell got highest, but his downward header went
straight at the Saints keeper.
Freund also announced his return to the
first team with a stretching “effort” from just outside
the left-hand edge of the box, which just made it inside the
corner flag on the otherside of the pitch. Davies had the best
chance of the opening exchanges, but he headed straight at Walker
after a cross from supposed Spurs target Kachloul.
Much of the blame for today’s
disappointment must rest with the dull tactics employed by the
Goons. From my position on the halfway line in the lower
shelfside, I had the constant arm waving and shouting of Euston
in my vision for most of the match. This man is an arsehole and
the joint architect of the dumb tactics we employed for much of
this match, which I have previously described as “pass and
no move”. This involves someone receiving the ball, and
everyone else stopping and standing still while the player who
received the ball, seemingly wherever they are, turning to face
their own goal and play a square or backward ball to a teammate.
This process is repeated until usually Perry is left with no
option but to oooof the ball for Rebrov to contest in the air. At
least we were spared the constant hospital balls played by
Sherwood.
Much of the “success” of this
tactic revolves around the hold up play of Ferdinand, but he
pulled up lame after about 10 minutes to be replaced by McEwen.
As much as McEwen ran hard in a lost cause last week, he is
possibly the worst header of a ball I have ever seen in a forward
position at Tottenham – he makes Anderton look like Bobby
Smith. Unfortunately, the Goons did not possess the awareness to
realise that without Les they needed to change their tactics.
The next chance that fell to the Saints
was presented to them by a weak back header by Doherty, but
Walker, who presumably did not call to initialize the error,
redeemed himself with a good block from the inform Beattie. The
game settled into a predictable pattern after the opening
exchanges as Southampton had little trouble in breaking up the
feeble attacking ambitions of Tottenham who were sorely missing
the attacking drive of Carr (and Ginola). Before halftime,
Clemence ran on to the ball and hit a low dipping shot, which
Jones did well to turn behind for a Corner.
At halftime, Spurs were a little
fortunate to be level, but the old boy selected as the Spurs
representative in the hit the bar competition gave everyone some
much needed cheer by hitting his attempt about three yards. He
was a lifelong fan and seemed to enjoy his moment of glory in
front of the crowd who gave him a great reception.
The second half continued in much the
same fashion as McEwen and Rebrov being beaten in the air by
Richards and Lundekvam at the heart of the Southampton defence.
The best Spurs chance of the match was created by an all to rare
piece of Rebrov magic when he twisted and turned on the left hand
edge of the pitch before delivering a whipped cross which King
did well to meet with a looping header that agonizingly hit the
bar with the Southampton defenders able to clear.
Tactical genius Graham decided Leo for
Freund as the best he could offer to win the game – at least
he did n’t bring a defender on to make sure we did n’t
lose, especially as that defender would have been Fatcha.
This was not the performance of a team at
ease with tactics of a manager who has been at the Club two and a
half years. The optimists will say we’re unbeaten in 2001
while the miseries (who know better) will counter with the fact
that we have only won one of our previous nine league games.
Walker (7/10) – a good match
by the floppy haired smiler with several important saves, but
with the brilliant form shown by Sully, Walker’s chances
will be limited, although it is nice to know we have a couple of
decent players for the goalkeeping position.
Campbell (6/10) – a solid if
unspectacular match from the great man.
Doherty (6/10) – looks a
regular first teamer and apart from his bad back header had a
good match defensively
Perry (6/10) – made a very
important block in the first half when the goal beckoned after
Walker’s save fell to a Southampton player and was generally
ok.
Young (5/10) – was given the
impossible task of replacing Carr at Right half and although he
tried hard and generally played ok, did not offer enough
Freund (5/10) – a quiet
return where he did his usual closing down and tackling but
offered nothing offensively
Anderton (6/10) – always
seems slightly more motivated for matches against his home town
side who give his a little stick in their inoffensive way. ran
hard but ultimately created little and had few outlets for his
passes. Hardly justifies his star billing (and wages) these days.
King (6/10) – the mark of a
class player is to always look like they have time on the ball,
and this is Ledley personified. he plays the midfield link role
well but with Freund doing a similar job, the midfield did not
offer enough creatively. With his place in the team guaranteed,
he could express himself on the ball a bit more.
Clemence (5/10) – offered
virtually nothing wide on the left in a midfield that offered
little overall
Rebrov (6/10) – Unfortunately
does not get in the game enough as a result of the way we play,
but when he does, he looks class. Graham’s next challenge
should be to build the offensive tactics around Rebrov rather
than expecting him to be another Ferdinand.
McEwen (4/10) – I hate to be
harsh on the young lad, but he looks really out of his depth at
this level.
(Leo & Leo – not on the pitch long enough to warrant a rating)