Spurs Diaries Update - the season so far.

The season started and I disappeared. Not, I assure you, because of disillusionment, disappointment or disaffection – or anything else beginning with dis-. Rather, a lack of time and internet resources compounded, ironically, by the fact that the author of these pages now lives a much shorter trip away from White Hart Lane (i.e. in the UK) and therefore cannot see all games televised. Of course that also means that some games will be live “actual” match reports. Anyway. Below are snippets, to remember where we have been – above, hopefully, will follow some proper texts.

So, the season started, hyped up as the season in which Spurs were at the very least going to break into the top four – and thereby prove that the young talent is coming of age and that the transfer fees of the summer were money well spent. Have they and was it? The first six games of the season followed an all too familiar pattern: injuries and insecurities in defence almost, but not quite, balanced by goal-scoring prowess; a glorious win against the team at the bottom; a humiliating home defeat against Everton; a laboured draw away against Fulham; a good, but not good enough, attempt at beating Manchester United and an inability to hold on to a lead against you-know-who. Dejá-vu.

The familiar problems, furthermore, have been joined by speculations and unrest regarding the future of the manager. How many games until he loses his job? Or is the whole situation a rumour spun out of control? Martin remains stoic; those of us who want him to actually have a chance to do something with his (for that it is) team, do the same.

Are there, then, any positives to be taken from the start of a season which has so far yielded four points from six games? Well, we do have what we always have – potential, exciting young players, entertaining football and a Europe season about to commence… And, of course, the stubborn belief that these are still the early days, only the first tentative steps, of a new era. Yup, silly optimism. As ever. Come on you Spurs!

Tottenham 1-3 Arsenal

Gareth Bale scores a new classic free kick goal and for the remainder of the first half (and a good part of the second) Spurs are in the lead. We are in denial about the rest. And we don’t like Cesc Fabregas much.

Tottenham
Robinson, Chimbonda, Dawson, Kaboul, Lee, Malbranque (Bent 82), Huddlestone, Jenas, Bale (Lennon 69), Berbatov, Keane. Subs Not Used: Cerny, Zokora, Rocha.
Booked: Jenas, Chimbonda
Goals: Bale 15.

Arsenal
Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Silva, Clichy, Hleb (Song Billong 90), Fabregas, Diaby (Rosicky 56), Flamini, Adebayor, Van Persie (Denilson 85).
Subs Not Used: Fabianski, Walcott.
Booked: Sagna, Hleb
Goals: Adebayor 65, Fabregas 80, Adebayor 90

Attendance: 36,053
Referee: Mark Clattenburg

Fulham 3-3 Tottenham

Some draws feel like draws. Others feel like victories. And some feel, and are, defeats. This game, which Spurs were dominating and winning for most of the time, falls in the latter category. Kaboul adds a goal to the team total of 8 – half of which have been scored by defenders. Dimitar Berbatov opens his competitive scoring of the season; things look bright. But Fulham claw their way back and despite another defender’s goal, from Gareth Bale, the game has not been won. No, defeat (well, a draw) is snatched from the clutches of victory as Kamara grabs a last minute equaliser.

Fulham
Niemi, Bocanegra, Konchesky, Stefanovic, Baird, Smertin (John 79), Davies, Davis, Dempsey, Bouazza (Healy 70), Kamara.
Subs Not Used: Keller, Volz, Omozusi.
Booked: Bocanegra
Goals: Dempsey 42, Smertin 77, Kamara 90

Tottenham
Robinson, Chimbonda, Rocha, Kaboul, Bale, Malbranque (Dawson 84), Huddlestone, Jenas, Lee, Keane (Defoe 68), Berbatov.
Subs Not Used: Cerny, Zokora, Taarabt
Goals: Kaboul 10, Berbatov 28, Bale 61

Attendance: 24,007
Referee: Mike Riley

Manchester United 1-0 Tottenham

Possibly still high from the fun and games had with Derby, the men in white (along with the rest of us) forgot that where they were and that they were playing under Old Trafford rules. Penalites gone missing aside, however, this was never a clear-cut defeat. Nor a draw, really. Good football by good teams – and a one-man Portuguese clown show. No, not Cristiano, but his compatriot Nani, who tackled, hustled, bustled and pinched people, dived as well as fell over and, of course, added somersault to injury by scoring a winning goal.

Manchester United
Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Nani, Hargreaves, Carrick (Eagles 57), Scholes, Giggs, Tevez (Fletcher 77).
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Dong, O'Shea.
Booked: Giggs, Brown
Goals: Nani 68

Tottenham
Robinson, Chimbonda, Rocha (Zokora 83), Gardner, Lee (Taarabt 75), Malbranque, Jenas, Huddlestone, Bale, Berbatov, Keane (Defoe 75).
Subs Not Used: Cerny, Stalteri
Booked: Huddlestone, Berbatov, Gardner

Attendance: 75,696
Referee: Howard Webb

Tottenham 4-0 Derby

Steed Malbranque is on fire and the team make cheerful use of the insecure opposition. Three goals after 15 minutes; the must-win game in the buds of a “crisis” became a show. Jermaine Jenas grabs a goal, Darren Bent scores his first competitive Spurs goal and Adel Taarabt comes on to entertain for a while. Against a team which lacked competitive edge and had effectively lost the game after 6 minutes, even a clean sheet was possible. Fun times for the people clad in white. Less fun for Stephen Bywater.

Tottenham
Robinson, Chimbonda (Zokora 81), Rocha, Gardner, Lee, Routledge (Taarabt 71), Jenas, Huddlestone, Malbranque, Bent, Keane (Defoe 76).
Subs Not Used: Cerny, Stalteri
Goals: Malbranque 2, 6, Jenas 14, Bent 80

Derby
Bywater, Mears (Griffin 33), Moore, Leacock, McEveley, Fagan, Oakley, Todd (Teale 46), Pearson, Howard, Earnshaw.
Subs Not Used: Price, Jones, Feilhaber
Booked: Griffin, Howard, Moore, Fagan

Attendance: 35,600
Referee: Chris Foy

Tottenham 1-3 Everton

Younes Kaboul, already a solid presence in defence, is taken off after 18 minutes, leaving Anthony Gardner, erratic at best, teamed up with Ricardo Rocha. A game which has started in the worst possible way is given a comic interlude when Gardner temporarily redeems himself, accidentally nods in an equaliser and, for a few days, becomes Tottenham Hotspur’s top goalscorer of the season. For Everton, Arteta decides to have the game of his life; the Spurs defence crumbles. Defeat is written in the stars and on the score sheet.

Tottenham
Robinson, Chimbonda, Kaboul (Rocha 18), Gardner, Stalteri (Routledge 67), Zokora, Jenas, Malbranque, Keane, Berbatov, Bent (Defoe 61).
Subs Not Used: Cerny, Huddlestone.
Booked: Malbranque, Jenas
Goals: Gardner 26

Everton
Howard, Hibbert, Yobo, Stubbs, Lescott, Osman, Neville, Carsley, Arteta, Johnson, Anichebe (Jagielka 80).
Subs Not Used: Ruddy, McFadden, Nuno Valente, Pienaar.
Goals: Lescott 3, Osman 37, Stubbs 45

Attendance: 35,716
Referee: Mark Halsey

Sunderland 1-0 Tottenham

With heavy spending comes heavy pressure; whereas a fifth place finish and good cup runs last season felt like some kind of achievement, this season more is expected of Tottenham Hotspur. Not only by fans, but by journalists, pundits and other managers, all of whom agree that Spurs surely are the favourites to break into the big four and upset the hierarchy a little. Pre-season friendlies against South African teams may not be much to go by, but it looked good – the new players seemed to settle into the team with great success and goals were scored left, right and centre.

Given the amount of new talent brought in during the summer, then, the line-up for the first Premiership game of the 2007-08 season was a strikingly familiar one – as recognisable as the problems. The only new features from start were Younes Kaboul and Pascal Chimbonda’s new hair cut. Injuries had ruled out King, Dawson, Lee and Bale, leaving Spurs yet again with Stalteri filling in at left-back and Gardner partnering Kaboul. The former was recognisably erratic, the latter had an impressive game; it was hard to remember that this was a 21-year old centre-half on his first game in the Premier League.

In midfield Steed Malbranque had a great and creative game, but essentially there was little of the pre-season firing power to be seen, despite the fact that Martin Jol deployed all four members of the glorious strike force. Partly this was Paul McShane’s doing; the Sunderland defender seemed to be everywhere at once. But something was missing from the Spurs efforts, unable to fully trouble Craig Gordon more than once.

Spurs carried most of the initiative throughout, gathering up momentum as the game progressed and the ideas clicked better and better, but Sunderland responded by chasing down every ball and managed to close down their visitors attempts quite well. Jol responded by putting more attacking players on, but the team seemed unable to adjust their tactics in order to break Sunderland down. What nice build-ups there were (and there were quite a few) lacked the final shot on target. Sunderland themselves only fully tested Robinson’s ability once before the goal – in both cases the fault lay with Gardner – and never looked the likelier winners. It was a game with plenty of action, just not in front of goal. A goalless draw seemed inevitable – but also the kind of game which can turn by a well-taken chance. And it did, in the 94^th minute, when Michael Chopra neatly finished off a cross by Ross Wallace.

Sunderland
Gordon, Whitehead, Nosworthy, McShane, Wallace, Edwards, Etuhu, Yorke (Miller 57), Richardson (Collins 72), Murphy, Stokes (Chopra 72). Subs Not Used: Ward, Connolly.
Booked: Whitehead
Goals: Chopra 90

Tottenham
Robinson, Chimbonda, Gardner, Stalteri, Kaboul, Jenas, Zokora (Huddlestone 87), Malbranque, Tainio (Bent 59), Berbatov (Defoe 77), Keane. Subs Not Used: Cerny, Rocha.
Booked: Zokora

Attendance: 43,967
Referee: Alan Wiley

Steed, working hard (Image from www.tottenhamhotspur.com)

Summer, signings and Squad numbers

Brief pre-season round-up: it all looked very good. 7 friendlies played, we won all of them and scored 17 goals in the process. The new lads all played some part of it, even if Gareth Bale was soon out injured and Younes Kaboul got kicked in the face early on. He is made of tough mettle, however, and soon recovered. Adel Taarabt, who of course played a little last season, was given the opportunity to strut his stuff in South Africa and Darren Bent has scored freely. We have yet to see the newest hot prospect from Germany, Kevin Prince Boateng, as he only arrived less than a fortnight ago.

The season is on, as is the pressure to turn potential into results. Results and consistency. The first defeat has already been suffered, a blow more keenly felt as Arsenal, the rivals we hope to depose of their top-four place, started their season by fighting back after falling behind to Fulham (who took the lead through a goal by David Healy, confirming the soft spot this author has for him) and winning 2-1. But this is a marathon, not a sprint. And it has begun.

Full squad numbers list for season 2007-08

1 Paul Robinson
2 Pascal Chimbonda
3 Lee Young-Pyo
4 Didier Zokora
5 Younes Kaboul
6 Teemu Tainio
7 Paul Stalteri
8 Jermaine Jenas
9 Dimitar Berbatov
10 Robbie Keane
11 Mido
12 Radek Cerny
13 Danny Murphy
14 Hossam Ghaly
15 Steed Malbranque
16 Gareth Bale
17 Kevin Prince Boateng
18 Jermain Defoe
19 Adel Taarabt
20 Michael Dawson
21 Wayne Routledge
22 Tom Huddlestone
23 Darren Bent
24 Jamie O'Hara
25 Aaron Lennon
26 Ledley King
27 Ben Alnwick
28 Lee Barnard
29 Phil Ifil
30 Anthony Gardner
31
32 Benoit Assou-Ekotto
33 Ricardo Rocha
34 Andy Barcham
35 Dorian Dervite
36 Simon Dawkins
37 Danny Rose

St Patrick's Athletic 0-1 Tottenham

It was all about the new boys when Spurs travelled across the pond to take on St Patrick’s Athletic in Robbie Keane’s corner of Dublin. Not only Bent, Bale and Kaboul, all of whom started, but also Taarabt, impressing on his second start for the first team. Having beaten Stevenage Borough 3-1 on the Saturday, it was time to take on the current leaders of the Irish Eircom League in a Thursday evening fixture.

A 1-0 win is hardly the comprehensive victory one might have hoped for, but this is the pre-season and an opportunity to try new things and let the team gel into a new whole. A quite sparkling first half was followed by a more subdued second, but all in all Spurs certainly dominated possession and initiative. Cerny didn’t have a save to make, while the St Pat’s keepers, first Ryan and later Clarke, were kept on their toes with several each.

It is of course important to remember that this wasn’t the Premiership opposition that the team will come up against in the coming season, and Martin Jol was only prepared to label the performance as “ok”, but given the short time the lads have been back and in training together, their team work inspires hope. Kaboul, while not exactly busy enough to be properly tested, looked quite solid – especially while playing next to Gardner. Bale impressed, especially in attacking moves forward, and it was hard to believe that this was a soon to be 18 year-old on his first start for new, bigger, club. He was taken off with a (hopefully minor) thigh injury with 10 minutes to go. Taarabt again showed off his confidence, strength and best dance moves and provided much of the attacking impetus from the midfield in the first half. Bent and Keane already look quite comfortable together up front and had a fluidity which seems promising. The finishing was not quite there yet (even if most of the efforts were on target and saved), but the team as a whole played entertaining and attacking football with good ideas.

After a host of decent chances, a neat pass from Murphy was picked up and finished off in trademark Keane fashion, ensuring that the game ended in a victory and not just a display of Irish goalkeeping skills.

St Patrick's Athletic
Ryan (Clarke, 46), Murphy, Rogers (Guy, 46), Paisley (Haverty, 83), Maguire (Frost, 46), Gibson, Brennan, Keane (M Foley, 69), M Quigley (C Foley, 46; S Quigley, 59), Barker (Murphy, 69), Kirby (Mulcahy, 46). Subs: Macek.

Tottenham
Cerny, Rocha, Bale (Ifil, 82), Kaboul, Gardner (Dawson , 46), Taarabt (Maghoma, 46), Murphy (O'Hara, 57), Zokora, Malbranque, Bent (Barnard, 69), Keane. Subs: Robinson, Ifil, Daniels.
Goals: Keane (41)

Darren Bent and Gareth Bale, together for the first time in Dublin (image from www.tottenhamhotspur.com)

Transfers

Another major signing for the team was announced some ten days ago, as Younes Kaboul signed for Spurs from Auxerre. Captain of his country on the U21-level, Younes is a highly rated central defender. He joins Gareth Bale and Darren Bent in bolstering the squad and has already played a full 90 minutes for the first team. Looks like a very good addition.

Departures so far are:

Emil Hallfredsson to FC Lyn Oslo
Reto Ziegler to Sampdoria
Mark Yeates to Colchester United

Younes Kaboul (image from www.tottenhamhotspur.com)

Bent signs

Sorry, couldn't help myself. I have another picture somewhere...

Darren Bent, formerly of Charlton Athletic, has signed a 6 year contract in a transfer deal worth £16.5m. Staggering money, at least for us, and as such occasioning worries about the future of other players. If we can afford to pay so much for Bent, is that because there are imminent transfers for Defoe or Berbatov? There has been no talk of Berbatov going for a while, and The Guardian today reports that Defoe (ever the likelier to depart) will stay. If we for a moment dare to believe that our striking line-up for next season will, in fact, be Berbatov, Keane, Defoe and Bent, then we have cause for nothing but celebrations.

Europe next season, plenty of games to be played, and with these four talents there can be some rotation and back-up. Bent is a very good and still young player who really wants to play for Spurs, and as such a most welcome addition to the team. His decision to turn down astronomic wages at West Ham and fit into the comparatively low (comparatively, remember) wage structure at Spurs does him credit. "In my heart of hearts I always wanted to come to Tottenham", says Darren. Welcome.

Ah, here it is...

(Image from www.tottenhamhotspur.com)

Fixtures

Yes, the fixture list. Provisional and all, but still worth a post.

Sunderland away on the first day is tough, but interesting – and should be televised. As should Liverpool at home on the last day, a fixture which I have to admit made me swear a little at my innocent copy of The Evening Standard. The rest of the run-in is impossible to assess now; Reading might be suffering from second season syndrome – or have overtaken us completely, just as Bolton may be a just as strong an opponent as they were this season – or have fallen to pieces due to the departure of Big Sam. On that topic I would think that Newcastle (who despite a crappy season did do a double over Spurs…) are destined for a big revival. I can’t get the image of Sam Allardyce, donning an apron and a broomstick, cleaning up the mess that is Newcastle United like a latter-day, overweight Mary Poppins out of my head. “Just a spoonful of sugar”… Absolutely irresistible.

Playing Arsenal at home reasonably early on looks great, methinks, due to the disarray they seem to find themselves in. Henry’s departure could have strong unsettling effects and even if they sign some big names, Wenger might not have turned it all into a team by mid-September. Oh, allow me my optimism.

The 07-08 Season

Sat Aug 11 Sunderland A
Tue Aug 14 Everton H
Wed Aug 15 Carling Cup 1
Sat Aug 18 Derby County H
Sat Aug 25 Manchester United A
Wed Aug 29 Carling Cup 2
Sat Sep 1 Fulham A
Sat Sep 15 Arsenal H
Sat Sep 22 Bolton Wanderers A
Wed Sep 26 Carling Cup 3
Sat Sep 29 Aston Villa H
Sat Oct 6 Liverpool A
Sat Oct 20 Newcastle United A
Sat Oct 27 Blackburn Rovers H
Wed Oct 31 Carling Cup 4
Sat Nov 3 Middlesbrough A
Sat Nov 10 Wigan Athletic H F.A. Cup 1
Sat Nov 24 West Ham United A
Sat Dec 1 Birmingham City H F.A. Cup 2
Sat Dec 8 Manchester City H
Sat Dec 15 Portsmouth A
Wed Dec 19 Carling Cup 5
Sat Dec 22 Arsenal A
Wed Dec 26 Fulham H
Sat Dec 29 Reading H
Tue Jan 1 Aston Villa A
Sat Jan 5 F.A. Cup 3
Wed Jan 9 Carling Cup Semi-Final (1)
Sat Jan 12 Chelsea A
Sat Jan 19 Sunderland H
Wed Jan 23 Carling Cup Semi-Final (2)
Sat Jan 26 F.A. Cup 4
Wed Jan 30 Everton A
Sat Feb 2 Manchester United H
Sat Feb 9 Derby County A
Sat Feb 16 F.A. Cup 5
Sat Feb 23 Chelsea H
Sun Feb 24 Carling Cup Final
Sat Mar 1 Birmingham City A
Sat Mar 8 West Ham United H F.A. Cup 6
Sat Mar 15 Manchester City A
Sat Mar 22 Portsmouth H
Sat Mar 29 Newcastle United H
Sat Apr 5 Blackburn Rovers A F.A. Cup Semi-Final
Sat Apr 12 Middlesbrough H
Sat Apr 19 Wigan Athletic A
Sat Apr 26 Bolton Wanderers H
Sat May 3 Reading A
Sun May 11 Liverpool H
Sat May 17 F.A. Cup Final

The Under21 Championships

A competition which has largely gone by unwatched by me; the only game I saw was the only one not featuring any of my Spurs lads. England did reasonably well, however, and it is striking to see such a comparatively strong side of players on this level – most of them with plenty of Premiership experience. The game against Italy, which I watched, was very entertaining and contained some nice football. Perhaps the future of English football is not so dark after all?

Tom Huddlestone reaped praise for his efforts early on, but his absence in the Italy game was said to be a contributing factor to the increased pace of England’s game. Hmm. His sending off in the unpleasant game against Serbia (which has prompted new moves against racism) still baffles me; judging by the composed look of bewilderment on his face upon receiving the card, Tom was similarly affected. Anyone who knows what actually happened, feel free to comment.

After drawing 0-0 with the Czech Republic and 2-2 with Italy, England beat Serbia 2-0 and came up against Holland in the semi-finals. The team came very close to a 1-0 win, but the game ended a draw and had to be decided by a marathon of a penalty shootout. England at any level tend to find penalties problematic, but at 13-12 you’ve done pretty well despite losing. Special mention to Stephen Taylor of Newcastle who played on despite injury and then took, and scored, one of the penalties.

Elsewhere, Paul Stalteri and Canada did not make it past the semi-final stage of the CONCACAF cup, as they were beaten by the USA 2-1.

Sweden 5-0 Iceland

National Day in Sweden was celebrated with an amusing Euro 2008 qualifier win over Iceland, certainly not a classic game for the brilliance of the football, but entertaining enough for Swedes.

Even if the game could hardly be expected to be played at the soaring pace of Saturday’s, the lads (in a similar line-up, but with Rosenberg replacing the suspended Elmander) started brightly enough and after having controlled most of the play took the lead after 9 minutes. An ambitious shot from midfield by Linderoth, who advanced unchallenged with an ocean of space around him, was blocked by Arason only to be picked up again by Sweden. Wilhelmsson fed the ball to Allbäck, who chipped it into goal. Iceland responded by putting ten men behind the ball and while Sweden retained much of the possession, they increasingly found it difficult to get anywhere. On 37 minutes Iceland decided to open up and push forward after all; mainly inspired by Spurs reserve Emil Hallfredson, who was one of Iceland’s better players until substituted. His great strike was cleared by Nilsson – Gunnarsson then tested Isaksson. Minutes later Sweden increased the lead, Svensson took a shot from a corner kick.

Iceland, unsettled, soon lapsed in concentration and let the Swedes grab a third before half-time. Lovely work from Wilhelmsson and Alexandersson (a great right wing partnership throughout) allowed the latter to lift a ball over the Iceland defence; it found Mellberg who coolly finished with a right-foot volley. It became the decisive goal, which set the Swedish mood to triumphant and daring and the Icelandic to tired and dejected. Sweden after the break were displaying a lot more creativity, taking chances and, it seemed, having fun. A few minutes into the second half, Rosenberg, just onside, got the ball and made a solo run followed by a nice but narrow finish: the ball hit the post and went into goal.

The final nail in the Icelandic coffin came on 50 minutes, when the Swedish players appealed for a handball penalty, were not given one and everybody seemed unsure what was going on. The referee, Alain Hamer, our old favourite from the first Sevilla game, added to his reputation in my book as strange by confusing absolutely everyone. An Icelandic player seemed to pass the ball back to the goalkeeper (in the belief that it had been deemed a goal kick?), it was intercepted by Rosenberg who played around with it and passed it to Allbäck. Allbäck in turn shot it into goal, the goalkeeper watching him do it as the ball was thought to be out of play. Or something. Everybody was flabbergasted to find that the goal counted. The ball had never been out of play at all.

And that was it, Iceland gave up and the rest of the game saw a lot of substitutions which reflected that the game, essentially, was over. Zlatan Ibrahimovic came on for the final 20 minutes or so, but despite the apparent delight of the crowd and the odd little move he failed to add any more gloss on the evening. The best creative moves still came from Alexandersson and Wilhelmsson and crowd and country at that point were just quite happy with anything that happened on the field. The three points had been in the bag for a while. On Friday UEFA awarded the win over Denmark as 3-0 and Sweden now sit happily at the top of group F, three points clear of Spain.

Sweden
Andreas Isaksson, Niclas Alexandersson, Olof Mellberg, Petter Hansson, Mikael Nilsson, Christian Wilhelmsson, Tobias Linderoth, Anders Svensson, Fredrik Ljungberg, Markus Rosenberg, Marcus Allbäck
Substitutes: Rami Shaaban, Max von Schlebrügge, Daniel Majstorovic, Daniel Andersson, Kennedy Bakircioglü, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Rade Prica
Goals: Allbäck (11), Svensson (42), Mellberg (45), Rosenberg (50), Allbäck (51)

Iceland
Árni Arason, Grétar Steinsson, Gunnar Thor Gunnarsson, Ólafur Örn Bjarnason, Ivar Ingimarsson, Theodor Bjarnason, Arnar Vidarsson, Emil Hallfredsson, Brynjar Gunnarsson, Hannes Sigurdsson, Birkir Saevarsson
Substitutes: Dadi Lárusson, Kristján Sigurdsson, Stefán Gíslason, Hjalmar Jonsson, Ragnar Sigurdsson, Matthias Gudmundsson, Veigar Páll Gunnarsson

Attendance: 33358
Referee: Alain Hamer (Luxemburg)

International round-up

…and a short international round-up of our Spurs players.

Teemu played for Finland, who lost to Serbia 0-2 at home; Paul Stalteri’s Canada drew 2-2 with Venezuela in a friendly; Didier played with the other, slightly more famous, Didier for the Ivory Coast in a 5-0 thrashing of Madagascar.

Our English lads are in the England squad to face Estonia on Wednesday after the friendly against Brazil.

And Dimitar put in a stunning performance and two goals for his country, who beat Belarus 2-0 away. I highly recommend watching the highlights of the game – absolutely marvellous stuff.

The Scandinavian derby drama

What a spectacular drama! And no, I’m not talking about the mess at the end – I’m talking about the game which preceded it…

For 88 minutes this was some of the most energetically entertaining and interesting football these two countries have managed for a long while, played at a pace which made even me, an observer fully aware how it would end, breathless. On the night I had made a guest appearance in my former job, standing behind the bar in a busy pub and thus reduced to watching the reaction of the Swedes around me rather than getting a chance to see anything on the screen. Sweden, it had been thought ahead of the game, was the underdog and the crowd went from happy to happier to euphoric – and then to subdued to nervous and finally erupted in excited disbelief. Throughout the remainder of the evening I was puzzled by small little acts of solidarity with our neighbours, like the man who came up with a sad face and said “I want a Danish beer”. He was given a Carlsberg and drank a toast. Yes, we really want to beat the Danes – but we want to do it by playing the better football.

The game kicked off and saw Denmark with a few near chances inside the first minutes as a pattern emerged – full pace football from end to end, Denmark with the quicker breaks and more elegant passing, Sweden with the harder pressure and sharper chance taking. As well as defensive slip-ups and heroics on both sides. Gravgaard’s feeble attempt at a defensive header fell to the feet of Johan Elmander who saw his chance, controlled the ball and took a clean and confident finish past Sörensen on six minutes. Dream start for Elmander, undoubtedly the best Swede on the field, who continued to pose a threat. By the time Sweden got a free kick, 21 minutes into the game, both goalkeepers had been forced into plenty of action and play had been distributed evenly on the entire pitch – still with the Swedes looking that bit sharper. Centre-half Petter Hansson took the free kick, from 34 metres, and cannoned a shot (which took a small deflection off Jacobsen) into goal. Manager Lagerbäck sported a priceless smile as he saw the defender score his first Sweden goal. There was nothing of the underdog left when, a few minutes later, Christian Wilhelmsson (also in truly impressive form) ran around Kristiansen and passed a ball to Elmander which the striker back-heeled past Sorensen. 3-0 and cruising, Wilhelmsson and Elmander looking like they could pull anything off.

Denmark continuously tried to explore Sweden’s weaker left side and were eventually rewarded – a Gravgaard pass landed in the middle and Daniel Agger took a shot straight through the legs of a host of Swedes. His shot took a deflection off the post and found the back of the net; Isaksson was chanceless. Denmark manager Olsen saw a chance to turn the game around and made the first of three key substitutions, which eventually turned the game somewhat – Kristiansen, unable to deal with Wilhelmsson, made way for Andreasen and Jacobsen moved to left-back. The game continued at full speed, even when Allbäck fell down injured; the Danes proceeded with their attack and aggression mounted as Elmander decided to break their stride with a tough tackle. His booking means he will be suspended for the next game. A few more chances for either side, most notably a shot from Ljungberg into the arms of Sörensen, concluded the final minutes of the first half.

The second half started exactly where the first had left off, and saw the introduction of rising star Nicklas Bendtner. Despite a bright opening and a good chance early on for the youngster, the next goal fell to skipper Tomasson, who took full advantage of the hole left in the Sweden defence when Mellberg slipped. The introduction of Gronkjaer allowed the Danes to push further up and put more strain on the already hard working Swedish midfielders, who needed, and received, defensive help from the strikers. Elmander continued to be everywhere at one until he was replaced by Rosenberg with 15 minutes to go. Finally, the Danes equalised, with a shot from Andreasen after a corner, and the final 10 minutes were all about Denmark – Isaksson had 5 saves to make. How anyone was still standing, let alone still running at full speed, at this stage is a mystery.

And so we reach the end, Rosenberg falls and remains down in the penalty area. The referees conferred and replays confirmed that he had been heavily punched in the stomach by Poulsen. Herbert Fandel had time to show a red card and point to the spot before receiving a blow himself – from a man who had run onto the pitch and was wrestled away by Gravgaard. The German referee immediately stopped the game, the players left, two more “supporters” came on – security was confirmed to be substandard and the game was abandoned. The Danish supporters stared in disbelief at the screen which read “Sweden win 0-3”.

A result which reflected the game as a whole would have been the 3-3 it looked to end with. A dramatic Swedish win could have been effected by the awarded penalty (Poulsen really should be thoroughly ashamed of himself) and put the game in the history books. But nobody wanted this great game to be abandoned because of bad security and bad breaches of said bad security. Just bad. UEFA have yet to confirm the outcome, of course, but it looks set to be awarding the win to Sweden. And I will just remember this game for the 88 minutes of marvellously entertaining football – skill, speed, tactical manoeuvring, passion and glorious mistakes.

Denmark
Sörensen, Jacobsen, Gravgaard, Agger, Kristiansen (Andreasen 35), Rommedahl, Jensen (Grönkjaer 62), Kahlenberg (Bendtner 46), Poulsen, Jörgensen, Tomasson.
Goals: Agger, 33; Tomasson 61; Andreasen 75

Sweden
Isaksson, Alexandersson, Mellberg, Hansson, Nilsson, Wilhelmsson, Linderoth, Svensson, Ljungberg, Allbäck (Bakircioglü 80), Elmander (Rosenberg 74).
Goals: Elmander, 6, Hansson 21, Elmander 26.

Attendance: 42083
Referee: Herbert Fandel

England efforts

Whenever I watch an England game these days, especially if I haven’t written anything before reading the paper, I feel more like analysing what other people are writing, and how, rather than the game itself. When it comes to Premiership games I usually feel as though I have watched the same game as the reporters (not always, but usually), when it comes to England – not so much. Firstly it seems as though everyone had their eyes on Beckham, intent on scrutinising his contribution and hail it either as the knight (yes, it may happen, headlines already going mad) in shining armour, saving his country – or an utter failure to add to the manager’s many shortcomings. As good old David played well it seems we are going with the former option.

I, of course, was mainly interested in seeing how Ledley got on, and hence had a completely different focus. What I saw of the game was a pretty decent but rather uninspired and somewhat defensive performance which left the strikers a bit alone – and the goal coming from a Beckham set piece. Have we seen this before somewhere? Joe Cole for all his stylish moves didn’t contribute much substance and could have come off sooner – Downing brought more action in. I would have preferred Crouch to Smith, probably for the full 90. Steven Gerrard was a one-man midfield, it has to be said, but I would still like to see him play with a strong holding midfielder (not Frank Lampard) – as it was he had too much defending to do. Jamie Carragher is a waste a right-back, through no fault of his own. He just isn’t one. Shorey did well on his England debut. And Beckham did play very competent football, not just with the set pieces. John Terry was great as, I think, was Ledley. I felt that the two of them played well with each other, covering the ground well and cleaning up nicely. Ledley made the odd (three?) mistake, but was a joy to watch. It can only get better against Estonia, a game which he should certainly (?) be selected to start in. Jermaine Jenas came on for Beckham for the final minutes and had little opportunity to make an impact, but Robbo was on fine form and made some nice saves when he wasn’t reduced to just watching the game – which was most of the time. I look forward to new matches and developments - and for the first time in a few months, so it would seem, do fans and manager...

Wednesday waffle

There is something rotten in the England national team. And I’m not just talking of the manager’s tactics. It seems as though players get injured to a sinister degree as soon as they come to play in camp England… Conspiracy theory, anyone?

Aaron’s knee isn’t new, of course, and if Ledley’s foot starts being an issue again nobody will be hugely surprised. But they’ve actually managed to injure our normally indestructible Michael Dawson! 58 games in the season, only came off once when he was hit on the head, and has taken more knocks than most – all without injury or complaint. Yet one miserable training session with England and he’s out. Dear, oh, dear.

Alnwick, Huddlestone and Routledge are in the U-21 side, should we worry? Perhaps “Psycho”, ironically, is more careful with his players.

Kevin McCarra, my favourite football journalist, seems to share my feeling about Ledley being an option in a holding role; I will take that as a sign that I am neither utterly delusional nor simply biased.

The Championship play-off final I saw a little of, but not, alas, enough to actually comment. As we all know Derby got the final spot and it will be interesting to see how they do next season. Or perhaps how they do in the transfer market before next season… Sunderland and Birmingham I would back to do quite well.

The “we don’t have enough actual news so we will just fill the papers with transfer talk”-situation is already starting to do my head in (even if the daily, mandatory, Mourinho and Beckham stories remain firmly in place and serve to retain a feeling of comfort and normality) but amidst silly speculation it seems as though Martin is trying to send signals of stability. We have signed a young, talented left-back, like we said we would. And new contracts have been offered to key players, Keane, Dawson, Lennon… as well as assurances that new recruits like Berbatov and Zokora have signed long contracts. More will happen, but not a tremendous amount. Our Egyptian contingent looks set to be reduced severely. I hope we can keep Defoe. And I do hope we don’t sign Nigel Reo-Coker.

Welcoming Wales

It is an inevitable side effect of the media frenzy surrounding football transfers that by the time one is actually confirmed by club and player it is already old news. But now young Welsh superstar Gareth Bale has actually signed for Spurs. I had some reservations about this, of a rather general nature, regarding players becoming huge stars and being transferred for astronomical fees at too young an age. Moving to a new city, dealing with a tougher division – and doing it with the pressure of such a price tag hanging over your head... Then again, some people mature earlier than others and Gareth, soon 18, may well be ready for the move, one which all involved parties assure us he has thought through. When it comes to his ability consensus appears to be that he is absolutely brilliant and already fairly consistent in said brilliance. My first hand experience of his talent is limited to having watched one Southampton game and one Wales game all season, both of which his team lost – but he was very good in both. And his free kick goal against Derby, available on YouTube, was remarkable. So, I will keep my reservations for now - I’m sure he will be a wonderful addition to our young and developing side and can only wish him the best of luck with the challenges that lie ahead.

Gareth Bale (Image from www.tottenhamhotspur.com)

The King Rules

Yes, the England B-team managed to beat Albania with a margin and the press has decided to be favourable about the effort. Or maybe they just didn’t watch it. All eyes on Beckham, it would seem. (And the games that matter.) B-team or not, they played pretty well and some players took the opportunity to shine in their England shirt. Some, unfortunately, not for very long – Aaron had to come off injured after a mere nine minutes and his injury, ironically, is suggested to have been a factor in David Beckham’s recall. He provided Michael Owen with at least one lovely cross before coming off, but Owen missed finishing it off. Even if Owen didn’t score any of England’s three goals, he played well and inspired a nation by his mere presence. Stewart Downing (who scored two goals) and David Bentley (who ran the show on his flank) were both very good and have, alongside the Spurs players, been included in the England squad. Jermaine Jenas elegantly patrolled the field and filled in for the at times erratic Phil Neville, while it was a pleasure to see Ledley and Michael in the middle of defence. Jermain Defoe did well with his minutes, coming on in his far too familiar role as a late-ish substitute.

With Aaron injured and competition for the other spots heavy, I don’t think we will see any of the lads (apart from Robbo, of course) start the next couple of games – unless, that is, McClaren decides to revamp his midfield and solve the eternal Lampard-Gerrard issue. Because, and I don’t think this is just my Spurs bias, Ledley was brilliant when he was pushed forward to a holding midfielder role. Steven Taylor came on for Gareth Barry to partner Michael in defence (an interesting England pair for the future), but barely had a thing to do. Ledley just ruled, gathered up balls everywhere and cleverly directed them to where they should be. It was stunning, especially for those of us who know and love him as player, of course, but perhaps even good old Steve has been given food for thought. Who needs Hargreaves (who is injured anyway) and Carrick, basically? I, for one, would love to see it at least tried out against tougher opposition (Brazil): Ledley and an attacking Gerrard in the middle with, say Beckham and Joe Cole on right and left respectively. Crouch and Owen (or Defoe?) up front. Flawless plan, surely?

Full England squad: Goalkeepers: Paul Robinson (Tottenham), Scott Carson (Liverpool), Robert Green (West Ham). Defenders: Phil Neville (Everton), Rio Ferdinand (Man United), John Terry (Chelsea), Wayne Bridge (Chelsea), Wes Brown (Man United), Jamie Carragher (Liverpool), Michael Dawson (Tottenham), Ledley King (Tottenham), Nicky Shorey (Reading). Midfielders: David Beckham (Real Madrid), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Jermaine Jenas (Tottenham), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham), David Bentley (Blackburn), Michael Carrick (Man United), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough), Kieron Dyer (Newcastle). Forwards: Peter Crouch (Liverpool), Michael Owen (Newcastle), Alan Smith (Man United), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham)

And finally, special mention also to Besart Berisha, of my German club Hamburg, who was brilliant for his country and scored their goal - fully capitalising on the one time Ledley missed a trsdemark tackle...

England B
Carson, Neville (Jagielka 46), Dawson, King, Shorey (Lescott 73), Bentley (Defoe 72), Jenas, Barry
(Taylor 64), Lennon (Downing 10), Owen, Smith (Dyer 64).
Subs Not Used: Green, Nugent.
Goals: Smith 34, Downing 37, 58.

Albania
Beqaj (Hidi 78), Vangeli, Dede, Rrustemi, Haxhi (Ahmataj 79), Bulku, Skela (Hyka 75), Duro (Vrapi 65), Berisha, Muka (Murati 46), Bushi (Sinani 72).
Subs Not Used: Xhafa.
Goals: Berisha 44.

Attendance: 22,500
Referee: Andrea De Marco (Italy)

The B-Team

The team for England's friendly with Albania tomorrow was confirmed today and comprises four of our lads, notably King and Dawson as the central defensive partnership. It's only a friendly, it's only against Albania and it is, just as friendlies probably should be, only a big training session - but it is still a bit interesting. I may have mentioned it before, but it seems that in a time when the general consensus is that the England team never manages to perform anywhere near the perceived glory of the potential sum of its parts, that superstars like Lampard and Gerrard cancel each other out and that the problem lies embedded somewhere in a complex pattern of managerial feebleness and unrealistic expectations coupled with underachievement, it is interesting to see a different England side. Perhaps all the biggest stars at the same time don't make the best team...?

Full team: Carson, P Neville, Shorey, King, Dawson, Lennon, Jenas, Bentley, Barry, Owen, Smith.

Champions League Final - A question of belonging

It was a good game, in the end: neither the thrilling repeat of the stunning action from two years ago, nor the dull cancelling each other out that some feared. Just a good game of football and a fairly worthy final. Except, it has to be said, the winners were lucky to be in the competition at all and even slightly lucky to win it. Rafa Benitez, by common consent in charge of a stronger team this time than in 2005, was, ironically, slower in responding as the need for change became apparent. While Milan played well and sparkled in moments of brilliance, Liverpool actually ran most of the show – and perhaps that served to obscure the fact that they were unable to conjure up that final cutting edge and score when in the box. The idea to play wide, and thus bypass Milan’s strong but narrow midfield, was good: Pennant won the battle on his side and severely reduced Seedorf’s contribution by running the ball at goal, Zenden (and later Kewell) less effective on the opposite side. However, neither player managed to get their crosses quite right and gave Kuyt and Gerrard little to work with. On the opposite side Mascherano was giving Kaka problems, but a surge from the Brazilian, stopped by a foul by Alonso, at least yielded the decisive free kick. Pirlo’s kick would have been saved by Reina had it not been for a deflection off Inzaghi’s elbow. Hardly a classic goal, potentially even handball, but Inzaghi celebrated as if the world had just witnessed the second coming of Maradona. By the time Benitez made a decisive change, letting Mascherano give way for Peter Crouch and allowing Gerrard to step back towards the middle, it mainly played into the hands of Milan. Crouch had had little time to make an impact before Kaka utilised the opening left by Mascherano and fed a nice ball to Inzaghi, who showed that he may have been born offside, but when he does manage to stay onside he can score nice goals. A few minutes later Liverpool got a goal back: a Pennant corner flicked on by Agger to Kuyt, who headed it in. The last minutes saw a frantic team struggling to turn the evening into a repeat of Istanbul after all, but the goal remained of the consolatory variety. At least Dirk’s father, ill with cancer, got to see his son score in a Champions League final – my thoughts to them both.

Now there really is only one question left to be solved. Of course, rules in Italy may be different, and Berlusconi tends to view rules as optional guidelines anyway. But, having learnt from the West Ham situation that ownership of players is a problematic issue, in terms of conflicts of interest and third-party agreements - what are we to make of Kaka’s statement, made on a shirt worn under his team shirt, that he ‘belongs to Jesus’…?

AC Milan
Dida, Oddo, Nesta, Maldini, Jankulovski (Kaladze 79), Gattuso, Pirlo, Ambrosini, Seedorf (Favalli 90), Kaka, Inzaghi (Gilardino 88).
Subs Not Used: Kalac, Cafu, Serginho, Brocchi.
Booked: Gattuso, Jankulovski.
Goals: Inzaghi 45, 82.

Liverpool
Reina, Finnan (Arbeloa 88), Carragher, Agger, Riise, Pennant, Alonso, Mascherano (Crouch 78), Zenden (Kewell 59), Gerrard, Kuyt.
Subs Not Used: Dudek, Hyypia, Gonzalez, Bellamy.
Booked: Mascherano, Carragher.
Goals: Kuyt 89.

Attendance: 74,000
Referee: Herbert Fandel (Germany)

In the Dog House

No, I’m not referring to the stadium. Big day, big game. The first FA-cup final in the beautiful new Wembley. The Dream Final, starring the winner and the runner-up of the league title. Stadium packed to impressive full capacity with fans; hundreds of thousands (millions?) of people eagerly watching on television all over the world. All set for a classic game, a game to remember, full of football of the highest quality from the best league in the world…

I managed to stay awake during the first half because I was standing up, during the second, when a kind man had offered me a seat in a freakishly comfortable sofa, it was increasingly difficult to do so. Looking at the bizarrely congested midfield scenes during the first half I sometimes forgot which team was attacking where; balls were always played backwards – attacks seemed to happen accidentally. 7 minutes for the first half-hearted attempt; another 7 before I realised that Ronaldo was actually playing. The only goal, which, to be fair to Drogba and Lampard, was a lovely one, came minutes before the goalless drudgery had to be ended in penalties. Now, I decided to watch the game partly because, well, you kind of have to, and partly because I hoped to be surprised. But deep down I was so sure that this was exactly what was going to happen that, in planning the rest of my evening, I had allowed extra time. The 90 minutes were up at 5.45 – so I told my friend I would meet her at 7…

Maybe I’m just being mean and bitter – I’m sure that the fans at the stadium had a splendid time – but I haven’t heard the phrase ‘dream final’ in conjunction with this game now that we have seen how it turned out. Whose dream was that again? In fact, so dull was the game that it was immediately forgotten in the media – unlike the unlikely story about José and the dog, which is still running. Mr Mourinho may be the best manager in the world, but what he undoubtedly excels at, on a scale utterly unattainable for his fellow mortals, is making headlines with absolutely nothing. And I’m sure that that is part of his greatness: few people remember to discuss the football played at Chelsea when they can discuss the latest sentence uttered by its manager – the drama and innuendo is better than a reality show. The dog added whole new a dimension and scope to this: The News Quiz on BBC Radio4, a football free zone even during international competitions, couldn’t refrain from mentioning José and his dog. Chelsea Football Club – Big Brother with balls. Boularouz will be voted out of the house next.

No, my dream final, so cruelly denied us, was Spurs beating Watford 5-2 in a thrilling display of attacking football. Even better, thus beating Manchester United! Actually, even being beaten by Man U would have been preferable – and certainly more entertaining for everyone else… Oh well, next season. Next up, the Champions League final, and dear, oh, dear, am I happy that it didn’t end up being between Chelsea and Manchester United.

Some season statistics

Fifth in the league or ‘best of the rest’, as our dear manager would have it. 59 games. 104 goals by 16 different scorers; the bulk, 63, distributed between our three main strikers, who are all in the top 20 list of the season’s goal scorers. One FA-cup semi-final. One Carling-cup semi-final and one UEFA-cup quarter-final. Unbeaten in Europe until beaten by the cup winners. And top of the Premiership’s Fair Play League.

According to the 06/07 ACTIM stats of the Premiership, and to no surprise for those of us who watch his every move week in and week out, Dimitar Berbatov is our best player; the third best player in the Premiership and part of the ‘team of the season’. Not sure if a person or a computer has counted all this but apparently our wonder has contributed 12 goals, 76 shots, 43 tackles, 31 clearances, seven interceptions, 30 dribbles, 388 passes, 21 crosses and 11 assists in 2,893 minutes of football. The other Spurs players who made it into the top 100 are Pascal Chimbonda (35^th; 8^th among defenders), Paul Robinson (38^th; 8^th among goalkeepers), Michael Dawson (39^th; 10^th among defenders), Aaron Lennon (68^th; 22^nd among midfielders) and Jermaine Jenas (99^th).

Some goal statistics

In all competitions:
30 games in 2006, 45 goals; 29 games in 2007, 59 goals
Scored 104, Conceded 76 = Difference +28
Scored 81% from open play, 7 % from penalties, 1 % from corners and 11 % from free kicks
Conceded 57% from open play, 13% from penalties, 13% from corners and 17% from free kicks

In the league only:
21 games in 2006, 25 goals; 17 games in 2007, 32 goals
Scored 57, Conceded 54 = Difference +3
Scored 75% from open play, 11% from penalties, 3% from corners and 11% from free kicks
Conceded 57% from open play, 11% from penalties, 13% from corners and 19% from free kicks

Simple summary: our goal scoring improved as the season progressed and we are better at open play than set pieces – both scoring from and defending against. One goal from a corner kick all season (unless, as I have done in the stats, we count Angel’s own goal at Villa Park, then it’s two) is just not good enough. Our free kick heroes, apart from Dimitar Berbatov (with his stunning kick against West Ham) and Paul Robinson (with the only slightly accidental goal against Watford) are Jermaine Jenas and Tom Huddlestone, who have taken all the remaining free kicks that have hit the target – directly on or with the ball being played in.
Our goal scorers: Berbatov (23), Keane (22), Defoe (18), Jenas (8), Lennon (5), Malbranque (5), Mido (5), Ghaly (3), Huddlestone (3), Murphy (2), Tainio (2), Dawson (1), Davenport (1), Chimbonda (1), Stalteri (1), Robinson (1).

A season of good and bad spells, an overall shaky defensive record balanced by a good scoring record; thankfully we did end the season with a positive goal difference. We didn’t win anything, but the season as a whole was an improvement on last and it can only be hoped that next season will be even better – we certainly seem to be the pundits’ favourites to break into the top four! Work on defending and set pieces, combined with a few relevant signings, should add consistency to our game and allow the development to continue. Attacking flair we already have... Right now the future looks bright.

(Image from www.tottenhamhotspur.com)

Tottenham 2-1 Manchester City

According to Bill Edgar of The Times, always a source of useful (or just silly) statistics, Manchester City’s 10 home goals of the season mean that they have broken the previous record for smallest amount of home goals in a campaign in the league. In any division. Ever. That's out of 8174 league campaigns since 1888. Despite all their problems in finding the net at all they have actually scored nearly twice as many away from home. So you could really bank on the fact that they would get one in here… All part of the entertainment. As are the sumptuous goals by Keane and Berbatov that we are so blessed with. The build-up to the first goal was a thing of beauty: King passed the ball to Gardner and made a run through the middle while Gardner found Berbatov, who flicked the ball with trademark elegance and uncanny precision back to King. King found Jenas, Jenas lifted the ball over the defenders, Keane swivelled and volleyed in.

Next up came a pass from Gardner, finding Berbatov via a Lennon dummy which sent Richard Dunne sprawling on the ground. It was a wonderful trick, and Berbatov continued the tricks as he tried to send the ball back to Lennon without taking his eyes off the defender in front of him. When the ball was, after all, intercepted, he got it back and smacked it past two defenders and goalkeeper into the corner. The direct route does work…

City came back with some pressure and a goal, the build-up of which had begun with an unfortunate Gardner back-pass. Hamann crossed for M’Penza, who headed in. Michael Johnson headed over an empty goal after Robinson had saved a shot from M’penza and our England goalkeeper had to make another cracking save from a powerful header by Beasley. Defoe, on as a substitute again, could also have added a goal to his name when he stepped up to take the penalty awarded for Dunne’s pushing of Zokora, but not only shot it within Isaksson’s reach – he then fired the rebound over the bar.

Tottenham
Robinson, Chimbonda, Dawson, King, Gardner, Lennon (Malbranque 75), Jenas, Zokora, Tainio, Keane (Defoe 81), Berbatov.
Subs Not Used: Cerny, Huddlestone, Assou-Ekotto.
Booked: Gardner.
Goals: Keane 10, Berbatov 32

Manchester City
Isaksson, Onuoha, Dunne, Distin (Hamann 28), Jordan, Vassell, Jihai, Johnson, Ireland, Beasley (Samaras 81), Mpenza.
Subs Not Used: Weaver, Dickov, Laird.
Booked: Vassell.
Goals: Mpenza 40

Attendance: 35,426
Referee: S Bennet

Celebratory hug between Keane and Berbatov, a regular feature these days (Image from www.tottenhamhotspur.com)

Tottenham 1-1 Blackburn

Three games in one week (again) was probably one of the reasons for Martin Jol to give Robbie Keane a rest and Jermain Defoe a long coveted start. Anthony Gardner made another emergency appearance at left-back and Hossam Ghaly made a much talked-about appearance as a substitute. Neither team controlled the game in the first half, a sparring-match more than anything else. There were some nice moves between Berbatov, Lennon and Defoe, of course, but headed efforts from Gardner and Chimbonda were about as close as we got to trouble Blackburn’s well organised defence. When Malbranque had to be substituted, injured by a tackle, after half an hour there was a further loss in fluency. Blackburn had similar problems, but found the target when a lovely cross from Pedersen was headed into goal by McCarthy on 30 minutes.

As the second half threatened to be a repeat of the first, Jol decided that the game needed Robbie Keane after all; the choice between Ghaly, who wasn’t having a great game and Lennon, who was a little, but not much, better, fell on Ghaly, who tore off his shirt, threw it to the ground and stormed off. This added a little drama to the evening, but not of the pleasant kind. The fans were disgusted. (Ghaly has since apologised and been forgiven, but speculations about his future are, predictably, rife.) Again Jol’s attacking substitution paid off and Keane made an instant impact on the game by energising his team mates; Spurs now were truly the stronger side. Some minutes later Keane sent a clever pass to Berbatov, who brilliantly worked the ball around the box and sent a low shot at goal which Friedel only managed to parry. Defoe, the third man in the attack, was in perfect position to tap in the rebound. After that we controlled the game, had several chances and should really have had a winner in injury time when Keane hit the post and Berbatov hit a free kick just over. Oh, well, point taken.

Tottenham
Robinson, Chimbonda, Dawson, King, Gardner, Lennon, Zokora, Tainio, Malbranque (Ghaly 29), Berbatov, Defoe, Ghaly (Keane 60).
Subs Not Used: Cerny, Huddlestone, Ifil.
Goals: Defoe 67

Blackburn
Friedel, Emerton, Samba, Nelsen, Warnock, Bentley, Kerimoglu (Gallagher 90), Mokoena (Derbyshire 76), Pedersen, McCarthy, Roberts.
Subs Not Used: Brown, Henchoz, Berner.
Sent Off: Roberts (90).
Booked: Mokoena, Pedersen, Roberts.
Goals: McCarthy 32

Attendance: 35,974
Referee: R Styles

Charlton 0-2 Tottenham

You have to feel sorry for Charlton, who, due to this result, have now been relegated and who fought for their lives throughout the game. They displayed passion and commitment and had spells of threatening possession as well as a fair amount of chances, but in the end lacked both cutting edge up front and solidity at the back.

Starting the game with some minutes of near complete possession, Spurs were put ahead by an astounding solo goal by Dimitar Berbatov in the seventh minute: gets the ball at the halfway line, flicks it past El Karkouri, who is unable to get past or stop him and takes his shot at the perfect moment. Unbelievable. See video below.

Charlton, fired up by this, came into the game after about 20 minutes, but were unable to cut through the Spurs defence completely. They tried to expose the soft spot that was left-back (Rocha filling in for Lee), and were nearly rewarded when Darren Bent’s cross found Alexandre Song’s head. The midfielder, however, headed out and Bent had a shot which also just failed to hit target. At half time, Ricardo Rocha, who had picked up an injury, had to be replaced by centre-half Anthony Gardner, recently back from injury. Alan Pardew replaced Song and Marcus Bent with Lloyd Sam and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, the latter forcing Robinson to diving save with a few minutes to go.

Spurs continued to pose a threat with elegant play, and Charlton continued to respond in what was an entertaining and clean game – no bookings and few free kicks. Berbatov had ample opportunity to showcase his skill with clever little balls and mazy runs – and also provided the best comedy moment of the game. Apparently forgetting who was playing left back, he sent a ball up the side which would have been excellent for Lennon or Lee, but which was impossible for Gardner to get near. The look of exasperation on the face of the big defender was priceless. A perfect ball to Jermain Defoe, who had replaced Keane with 6 minutes to go, became the final say in the game. The England striker timed his run, got past the defenders and sent the ball in a perfect arch over Carson and into the net. The UEFA cup beckons for Spurs, while Charlton are headed for a season in the Championship

Charlton
Carson, Young, El Karkouri, Diawara, Hreidarsson, Zheng (Hughes 84), Holland, Song Billong (Sam 71), Ambrose, Marcus Bent (Hasselbaink 71), Darren Bent.
Subs Not Used: Randolph, Bougherra.

Tottenham
Robinson, Chimbonda, Dawson, King, Rocha (Gardner 46), Lennon (Malbranque 60), Zokora, Jenas, Tainio, Keane (Defoe 84), Berbatov.
Subs Not Used: Cerny, Huddlestone.
Goals: Berbatov 7, Defoe 90.

Attendance: 26,339.
Referee: M Halsey

Striking Awards

Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov have been named joint player of the month for April. They have scored 9 of Spurs’ 12 goals in the month, 8 of which in the five league games, and have done it in such a combined fashion that the award had to be shared. Our strike force is inseparable – quite sweet really. In addition to those two, and Jermain Defoe who has 17 goals in all competitions to his name, Spurs boast 16 different goal scorers for the remainder. We have finally managed to secure a positive goal difference (+2) and have more than 100 goals in all competitions, 54 of which in the league.

Players of the month for April, Keane and Berbatov (image from www.tottenhamhotspur.com)

The Nightmare Final and The Revenge Thriller

As soon as it became clear that Liverpool was one of the teams in the Athens final we knew that there were only two possible scenarios left – on one hand an all-English, indeed all-North-of-England, final which has had the authorities in Greece and England in nervous trepidation since it became apparent that it was at all possible; on the other hand the biggest revenge drama in European football of the century. Yes, it’s a young century. We now know that we are to be served with the latter, as AC Milan have an opportunity to get back at Liverpool and claim the trophy. Looking at the form of the teams we can expect a cracking game.

Liverpool versus Chelsea was a long, harrowing battle which seemed like it would go on forever until the world stopped. Had the rules been different, say, you have to play until either team scores a golden goal, however long it may take, we might still be watching them now. I had backed Chelsea, simply because of their unnerving ability to close a game down and snatch a goal from nowhere in the last minute. Liverpool, while much more aggressive and creative than in the first leg, also closed down well on their side, however. Terry and Carragher, two draconian defenders placed at opposite poles, fiercely guarding their treasure. Rob Smyth wrote in the Guardian that this was a display of English football at its most… well, English. Basically. Lowest-common-denominator football, reckons Rob, risk-free and defensive. I concur. Even the tough battles for the ball were not very interesting. And since this was in fact a European game it was “like showing an episode of EastEnders at the Cannes film festival”. Quite. Of course, if I had assumed that Chelsea would grind a victory out of this, a re-evaluation of the situation became necessary when the war turned into firing squad execution. Anfield, despite 120 minutes of admirable noise, had been unable to guide their team to scoring another goal, but would surely be instrumental in unsettling even the sturdiest of Chelsea veterans. Especially since Liverpool boast a penalty king in goal. And thus it was that Pepe Reina put an end to a long evening by saving two penalties.

The all-English semi-final was certainly less compelling than the mixed one; Manchester United against Italian teams have been great fun lately. This time, however, they did not so much inflict a sound thrashing than receive one. San Siro, noisy, at times shaking, and the heavens obliging with enough water to fill an Olympic size swimming pool set a perfect stage for entertainment. Players falling over, unable to see the ball… funnily enough Manchester United, who, one might suppose, would be better used to harsh weather conditions, seemed the only ones disturbed. Milan were mighty and did exactly what Man U did to Roma, even if this did not turn into a goal scoring circus: omnipresent aggression and creative cooperation. They seemed to be everywhere at once, never let their opponents pass a ball in peace and were confident in their attacking moves. Even United’s star players were unable to get into the game; Paul Scholes, in an attempt to play clean, was nowhere near it. The role of midfield terrier, so convincingly played by Darren Fletcher lately, was entirely taken up by energy bundle Gennaro Gattuso, who also found time to fire up the audience. So, again I was wrong – I had expected Man U to come through, even if we knew the San Siro game would be tough, perhaps because the images of the previous games were in my head. But things can turn around, this was Milan’s night and Liverpool are up for a hard time. What fun it will be.

Weekend round-up

Apart from Spurs beating Middlesbrough 2-3 there was also:

Everton 2-4 Manchester United; Chelsea 2-2 Bolton
And for a while United’s title looked misplaced: 2 goals behind at Goodison Park, while Chelsea were 2-1 up at Stamford Bridge. Michael Carrick had inadvertently helped Alan Stubb’s free kick into goal and Manuel Fernandes had tricked Wes Brown and scored a lovely goal despite United dominating possession and play. But individual errors from Everton players soon put United level: goalkeeper Turner caught and released a corner kick, allowing John O’Shea to tap it in, and Phil Neville’s attempt at clearing a ball ended up in his own net. The tables had turned and there was time for Wayne Rooney, ferociously booed throughout, to score after a great effort and for substitute Eagles to cement the win with a neat shot. Meanwhile, at Stamford Bridge, Bolton had taken the lead with goal from Michalik only to see the lead become levelled and disappear as Salomon Kalou twice headed past Jaaskeleinen. But Bolton equalised, as Kevin Davies headed in a Gary Speed free kick, and Chelsea looked for, but were unable to find, a winner. The race is on, but advantage United.

Manchester City 0-2 Aston Villa
If most teams consider playing at home an advantage, Manchester City must at this point feel the opposite. Having failed to score, let alone win, at home since the 1^st of January, they have won 3, drawn 1 and only lost 1 of their last away fixtures. Despite playing with energy and matching Villa’s attempts, nothing found the goal and Sorenssen was never unduly troubled. Whether because he was getting bored or just because he was looking at the ball and nothing else, the Villa goalkeeper attacked and flattened Darius Vassell from behind, thus awarding City with a penalty. Joey Barton stepped up but fired it over the bar: Sorenssen remained untroubled and Barton must be regretting his harsh open criticism of his team. Surely that wasn’t worth paying for either…? Villa’s goals came from a powerful header by John Carew and a very well taken free kick by substitute Shaun Maloney.

Reading 1-0 Newcastle
The eagerly awaited return of Michael Owen, which lasted 90 minutes but only looked hopefully brilliant for the first part, ended up yielding an offside goal and some nice chances but no more. As Sibierski and Emre both had to be taken off for serious injury, Ameobi also made his return as a substitute. Newcastle looked bright in the early stages of the game, and in the first half Titus Bramble seemed to post the greatest threat to goalkeeper Harper with some deplorable back-passes. But Reading came back and Newcastle looked increasingly disorganised and seemed to have misplaced their central midfield entirely. Beautiful crosses from Solano and Milner found the middle but the Reading defence expertly trapped Owen, Ameobi and Martins offside. A well taken volley by Kitson put Reading deservedly ahead and they continued to press for more goals. If they keep this form up, the UEFA cup spot will come whether Steve Coppell wants it or not.

…and the rest:
Rafael Benitez, with one eye - or possibly both – firmly on next week’s Champions League fixture with Chelsea, had rested several of his key players and Portsmouth saw their opportunity and took it. Benjani Mwaruwari chipped a long goal kick past an advancing Jerzy Dudek and proceeded to head the ball in for their first; Niko Kranjcar, alone on the left hand side, controlled another long ball and nicely tucked it in for the second. Liverpool eventually responded with a corner kick header by Sami Hyypia; Portsmouth 2-1 Liverpool. Wigan were tortured by a rampant West Ham; the win for the Londoners put the teams on level points. Luis Boa Morte caught on to a long goal kick and his touch sent the ball bouncing over John Filan, who had misjudged the ball, and into the net. Yossi Benayoun found the goal mouth wide open as he finished off a wonderful attacking team effort and Boa Morte and Harewood combined to score a third; Wigan 0-3 West Ham. Charlton’s woes deepened after their trip to Blackburn: Scott Carson dropped the ball from Jason Robert’s strike and even if a header by Darren Bent put the visitors level, this was not Charlton’s finest hour. Ben Thatcher was sent off, Hermann Hreidarsson scored a clumsy own goal and a few minutes later it was Robert’s turn to shoot straight through all defensive attempts. A lovely Matt Derbyshire strike from the right in the 83^rd minute sealed the victory; Blackburn 4-1 Charlton. Sheffield United moved a step away from the immediate relegation bottom as a powerful strike by Michael Tonge secured a win over already relegated Watford; Sheffield United 1-0 Watford. Arsenal, ever wasteful with brilliant chances, but creating enough of them to get a few in by sheer statistical necessity, overcame Fulham by scoring two winning goals in the last six minutes. Having gone ahead with a header and seemingly cruising, their game regained urgency as Fulham equalised in the 78^th minute. But an Adebayor strike and a penalty allowed Arsenal to claim all the points and send Fulham deeper into relegation issues; Arsenal 3-1 Fulham.

…elsewhere:
I should add to the Scottish and Italian league title winners of last week that Lyon actually have secured the French Ligue 1 as well. Again. I forgot. Or perhaps don’t care enough? PSV Eindhoven won the Dutch league in style with a 5-1 win. And my UEFA-cup predictions have so far been completely off, as Espanyol beat Bremen 3-0 and Osasuna beat Sevilla 1-0. Of course return legs can change things for the losers who are at home next. Oh, who cares. In Sweden, Malmö FF completely destroyed AIK with a 4-0 home win. Delightful.