Wigan 3-3 Tottenham

Another exhilarating game involving Tottenham Hotspur: great for the neutrals, nerve-racking for fans of both sides. Wigan struggle for Premiership survival, Spurs needed to come back from their harrowing UEFA-cup exit – and come back was what they did, three times. Martin Jol’s men showed great spirit, even if the game was also another display of the defensive frailty that is fast becoming as characteristic of the team as attacking flair. Spurs were in possession of the superior skill and style; Wigan the greater hunger. Had the Latics played like this all season they would not be having relegation worries. The point places them just above Fulham in the table, 6^th from the bottom on 35 points. Spurs slide down to 8^th, below fellow Europe candidates Bolton, Everton and Portsmouth, albeit with a game in hand.

Defending against set pieces (as well as scoring from them) has been a problem for Spurs, and this proved the case again. A free kick within the first minute of the game turned into a peculiar heading circus, the ball bounced off several heads before finally being forced into goal by Emile Heskey. Spurs may have been mentally strong, but weak headers became something of a theme in the game, for the first and second Wigan goal as well as many of their chances. The visitors were not behind for long, however, as Robbie Keane made a nice run, dribbled past his opponents and fed the ball to Dimitar Berbatov. The Bulgarian expertly controlled the ball, found his way around the defenders in the box and finished beautifully with the outside of his right foot.

Wigan had a good attempt from a corner, which was blocked by Robinson – Spurs responded with a similar attempt: Berbatov’s header, however, went out. A lovely attack by Berbatov and Keane ended in a slightly weak shot which was saved by Filan. The clever and elegant attacking moves by Spurs were matched by the direct and effective play by Wigan who, on the half hour, managed to capitalise on another weak header. Dawson’s clearance went to Baines who struck a marvellous half-volley into the far corner from 25 yards. A few minutes later Jermaine Jenas, who was having a very good game, broke free with a one-two with Lennon. After receiving a push from Baines he was brought down by the advancing Filan and awarded with a penalty, which, coolly converted by Keane, put Tottenham level again.

The final ten minutes of the half saw plenty of action, with some elaborate attacks from Spurs and more heading problems on the other side. The pattern of feeble clearances falling to the feet of expectant Wigan players emerged again and the home team looked threatening in the Spurs half throughout. A save by Robison and a misfired header by Kilbane closed the first half; the second continued in the same vein with the two sides attacking in alternation. Another set piece awarded Wigan with the lead again as Kilbane rose to meet Taylor’s corner and headed the ball past Robinson. A free kick from Jermaine Jenas moments later nearly became the equaliser, but Filan pushed it out of the top corner with his fingertips. After a few minutes the visitors did level again, as a long kick from Robinson found Keane who managed to cut through the defenders and fabulously lob the ball over Filon from 30 yards.

The score line stayed at 3-3, but not for want of trying from either team. Jermain Defoe, who had come on for an uncharacteristically anonymous Aaron Lennon, tested Filon, as did Pascal Chimbonda, who was booed ferociously at his old club. Jenas made another nice run, as did Berbatov, in a situation which looked to replicate his White Hart Lane goal against Wigan – this time, however, the defenders did a better job. Wigan also kept the pressure on, forcing Robinson into action – the most spectacular effort being a chanced 40 yard lob volley from Scharner which the England goalkeeper did well to intercept. Both managers seemed somewhat relieved that this exciting contest ended in a point each; the result reflecting a game between two sides bent on attacking and unconvincing in defence.

Wigan
Filan, Boyce, Jackson (Skoko 73), De Zeeuw, Baines, McCulloch (Taylor 40), Landzaat, Scharner, Kilbane, Heskey (Folan 66), Camara.
Subs Not Used: Pollitt, Aghahowa.
Booked: Filan, De Zeeuw, Scharner.
Goals: Heskey 2, Baines 30, Kilbane 60.

Tottenham
Robinson, Chimbonda, Dawson, Rocha, Ifil, Tainio (Malbranque 65), Jenas, Zokora, Lennon (Defoe 75), Berbatov, Keane.
Subs Not Used: Cerny, Ghaly, Charlie Lee.
Goals: Berbatov 4, Keane 35 pen, 68.

Attendance: 16,506
Referee: G Poll

Dimitar Berbatov scores Tottenham's first goal (image from www.tottenhamhotspur.com)

England, Spain and the battle for Europe

So, another Europe fortnight over. Next up are semi-finals in the Champions League and the UEFA Cup, with two countries dominating the proceedings.

Manchester United’s historical annihilation of AS Roma paired them with Milan, who managed to beat Bayern Munich in Germany, and Chelsea’s Spain victory over Valencia will be rewarded with a semi-final against Liverpool. At least one English team in the finals, then, and my money is on two. In fact, we have been presented with a situation which could quite conceivably see Manchester United and Chelsea battling for the FA-cup and the Champions League as well as the Premiership title. Greek authorities are already in panic about the prospects of an all-English final, especially one between Liverpool and Manchester United which could see crowd trouble erupting as early as the flights from the north-west of England. But despite Liverpool’s form and ability I just do not see Chelsea losing at the moment – and in a different style the same goes for Man U. The only game between them so far this season was a 1-1 draw; what will happen in the subsequent game(s) is anybody’s guess. I’m not even going to venture one. For that reason, and that reason only, I am reluctantly interested; essentially, however, it would be an awful bore to think that this is indeed as good as it gets and these two teams are to dominate everything.

Of course, Blackburn could win the FA-cup and Milan the Champions League. It’s not even strictly speaking a mathematical impossibility that Liverpool could win the Premier League. It’s just highly unlikely on more levels than seem pertinent to dwell on. Needless to say, a Champions League final between Liverpool and Milan, which, unlike Liverpool winning the League, is far from impossible, has been quite entertaining before…

In the UEFA cup, Sevilla knocked out Tottenham, as we all know, and now take on fellow La Liga team Osasuna in the semi, while Espanyol, who beat Benfica, are to play Werder Bremen, the only non-Spanish side left in the competition. Osasuna ended up beating Bayer Leverkusen 4-0 on aggregate, Espanyol overcame Benfica 3-2 and Bremen ended up overwhelming AZ Alkmaar 4-1, after their first meeting had ended in a 0-0 draw. My money, had I been of a betting persuasion, is on a final between Bremen and Sevilla – and do forgive me for preferring Bremen at this stage.

A Fairly Honourable Defeat

"What though the field be lost? All is not lost…"

Well, most of it is, really. This was “our” cup, unlike the domestic ones – the one we actually did stand a chance at winning after a valiant unbeaten run. Small consolation that it was the cup holders who knocked us out. Were Sevilla the better side? Yes. Could we have beaten them? Yes, actually, we could have.

Honourable defeat is fast becoming the catchphrase of the season, much to the chagrin of anyone able to identify the potential in the team. More potential than result, basically. Potential is a bit of a catchphrase as well. Now, I am a patient fan of long-term development in general and like what Martin Jol is doing, hence I can take some comfort in the idea that things have improved and will continue to do so if he is allowed to keep at it. Conducting three quite successful cup runs and suddenly playing a very large amount of games took its toll on this young team; in the greater perspective it is all part of the learning curve. By that logic, next season, or perhaps more realistically the one after that, will see Spurs (as in the current squad) starting to beat the bigger teams and challenge their places. Or it will fall to pieces. Time will tell. We are getting closer. A little more confidence and consistency in the big games and who knows what could happen.

Two things stand out about this game for me. The first is the availability of defenders. It is easy to moan about injuries and make excuses but I cannot help pondering the implications. A right-back on the left, a midfielder on the right, one central defender rushed back from long term injury, the other having played all games of the season… This particular injury crisis struck at the worst possible time. There were mistakes, we conceded a silly own goal and the proper goal by Kanouté was great. But that was it. For a while it looked like we were going to be on the receiving end of a 7-1 beating rather than, as we had hoped, administering one. After the initial chaos and shock, however, the makeshift defence looked better and better and there were no more goals in it for Sevilla, who may of course be forgiven for thinking, quite correctly, that it was in the bag and putting on less pressure. By that time, of course, the damage was done. The return of Ledley King did not become the spectacular raising of a defensive wall we had hoped for, for above mentioned reasons, but what a pleasure to see him play again.

The second, which made this defeat another “honourable” one, was the way the team came back. It truly was a game of two halves, as we have had a few earlier in the season, with the novelty that the second one was the great one. During the famous “slump”, and in certain games earlier in the season (Arsenal away, anyone?), loss of confidence in the face of adversity was at the heart of the malaise. Bright start, concede a goal, then decline and comprehensive, horrible (and possibly muddy) defeat. Today, however, the team came back from the interval, regrouped, swapped positions, scored two goals and could have scored more. In fact, there were enough good chances in the second half to win the game – something which of course mainly adds to the frustration of not winning the game, but also shows development. This wasn’t West Ham, it was Sevilla. The lads, who looked absolutely gutted after conceding two early goals, did not lose it completely and rather than allowing it to become a massacre came back and turned it into an honourable defeat with victory potential.

Call me naïve, I know you will and I often do it myself, but I believe in their ability to start turning the honourable defeats with victory potential into actual victories against the big teams. Until then, this is quite painful. And for all my “looking on the bright side” reasoning, the almost realised potential of everything, the shots that so narrowly became the needed goals, the fact that we could, perhaps even should, really be there now, almost hurts more than having to bow to a far superior team. Were Sevilla the better side? Yes. And despite the injury crisis, despite the dismally chaotic opening, we still could have beaten them.

UEFA cup: Tottenham 2-2 Sevilla (Agg: 3-4)

In terms of openings the tables were turned: this time Sevilla had the bright start and, just like Spurs did in the first leg, scored before the defenders knew where they were. Steed Malbranque tried to clear Poulsen’s header from a corner but only managed to slice it into the net, putting Sevilla in the lead after only two minutes. The visitors kept piling pressure on and soon added injury to insult when Kanoute and Kerzhakov outplayed the Spurs defence and the former Spurs striker expertly tricked and put the ball past Paul Robinson on seven minutes.

The bewilderment of being 2 goals down, and therefore 4 goals away from victory, was visible in the home team, who spent the rest of the first half looking shell-shocked. The makeshift defence, with a strangely ineffectual Pascal Chimbonda at left-back and a comparatively effective but out of place Teemu Tainio at right-back, did better throughout and denied Sevilla more goals, even as they kept piling on the pressure in the first half. Offensively the team was in utter disarray and a few near chances was as close as it got for Spurs.

Whatever Martin Jol said to his team in the interval had the desired effect: the team were back on track and recognisable as the attacking side which had reached this stage of the competition unbeaten. Spurs piled the pressure on with some nice moves and the substitution of Didier Zokora, who had had a pretty good game, only looked strange for a few seconds. His replacement, Jermain Defoe, scored with what was practically his first touch of the ball, diverting a Keane volley into the net from close range. A few moments later hope really started spreading in White Hart Lane, as Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane set up Aaron Lennon who pushed the ball past Cobeno.

Sevilla responded and Robinson twice denied Puerta, but the second half saw Spurs with the greater amount of chances. As the ball went narrowly out, into post or even into the arms of Cobeno there were no more goals to be found. The display of the second half turned the game into a less one-sided affair than the first half seemed to suggest and it became a more honourable defeat – even near victory – for Spurs than deemed possible. Even under pressure, however, Sevilla prevailed and showed their quality as one of the best in Europe. The Spaniards have a semi-final to work for, Spurs now simply have to work hard for a new chance in the competition next season.

Tottenham
Robinson, Tainio, Dawson, King, Chimbonda, Lennon, Zokora (Defoe 65), Jenas, Malbranque, Keane, Berbatov.
Subs Not Used: Cerny, Murphy, Ghaly, Taarabt, Barnard, Ifil.
Sent Off: Tainio (90).
Booked: Dawson, Malbranque, Defoe.
Goals: Defoe 65, Lennon 67.

Sevilla
Cobeno, Hinkel, Javi Navarro, Escude, Puerta, Daniel (Renato 55), Poulsen, Marti, Adriano Correia (Aitor Ocio 69), Kerzhakov (Maresca 82), Kanoute.
Subs Not Used: Javi Varas, David, Luis Fabiano, Jesus Navas.
Goals: Malbranque 3 og, Kanoute 8.

Attendance: 35,284
Referee: Konrad Plautz (Austria)

The Decline and Fall of the Roma empire

I just love football. No surprises there, I know. But the fact that there are surprises, always, on all levels makes it such an amazing sport. That and a million other things.

7-1 in a Champions League quarter final? When the winning team had actually lost the first leg? Not only that, but three days earlier looked comparatively feeble? Surely not. I wasn’t going to write about this game, I just watched it because it was on the telly and snuggled up in my sofa, eating grapes and fully expecting to be only moderately entertained. The press had expressed scepticism about United’s chances against an elegant Roma side who had defended well throughout the competition; especially a United depleted by injuries and suspensions. Man U may have had the best league season of any team since the 19^th century, but their cup runs have been less spectacular. I fell asleep during their drab first game against Lille. I was getting used to the idea of having Liverpool as the only remaining English side left, and with a shot at winning the whole thing as well. So how the same group of players, albeit deployed differently in terms of starts and substitutions, that were unable to overcome Portsmouth on Saturday did what they did today is anybody’s guess.

But this was just football at its most bizarrely entertaining, not in the sense that there was any suspense left after 20 minutes, but the fact that this is top level European football, that this is supposed to be a battle of equals and that it just wasn’t. Manchester United ruled the field. Roma had a bright few minutes in the beginning and then went into a steady decline. The famous defence was nowhere to be seen and United repeatedly cut through it like a warm knife through butter on a sunny day. Roma’s elegant build-up attempts looked like slow motion compared to United’s quick responses. Darren Fletcher and Michael Carrick worked like terriers, collecting the ball and setting it in motion in the opposite direction where Giggs, Ronaldo, Rooney and Smith picked it up and charged, uncannily aware of each other’s movements, towards goal. The perfect mix of aggression, fluency and creativity left Roma utterly without answers and towards the end the tormented Roma players looked like they just wanted to disappear. Who can blame them.

12: Ronaldo, lovely work on the right, perfect pass to Carrick – in position, unmarked and ready to place the slightly curved ball over Doni and into the goal.

17: Rooney passes to Fletcher in the middle, Chivu fails miserably in clearing it and Smith cuts right through the defence and fires it in.

19: Fletcher sends a great ball to Giggs on the right side, Giggs expertly crosses into the middle of the box where Rooney is able to run between Chivu and Mexes and tap the ball past Doni.

44: Giggs sends a lovely pass from the centre of the field to Ronaldo who times a great run on the right flank, does a bit of magic to rid himself of defenders and sends a great shot straight past Chivu and Doni.

49: Great effort from Rooney, wins ball and sends it to Giggs, who crosses in towards the goalmouth from the left wing; Smith blocks Chivu while Ronaldo taps it into goal.

60: Ronaldo works magic on the right hand side, crosses over to Heinze who picks out Carrick in the middle, allowing for another powerful shot from far out for the midfielder.

69: Lovely cross from Totti on the right is followed by a sumptuous volley from de Rossi, Roma get a consolation goal.

81: Solskjaer passes to Evra from the right flank, the defender takes a slightly speculative shot which, because that was the kind of night this was, takes a bounce on the post and into goal.

So, basically, after 20 minutes this was already less of a competition than an circus performance. But United kept pushing on, making all kinds of efforts and winning everything – I felt as though I was watching a metaphor for their entire season, something along the lines of having won so much that you just keep on doing it. Psychological momentum and all that. I know I sound like I’m about to pull on a red shirt, but honestly, only the staunchest of Manchester United haters could have helped applauding this performance. Actually, the staunchest of Manchester United haters would have turned off the telly. For those of us who enjoy the game being played with this assertive magical touch it was practically pornography, even when the losing team started giving up.

Oh, and honourable mention to the referee, who had a great game. How nice it is to see an astute referee who actually knows what he is doing and… Sorry, back on that again. Elsewhere, Chelsea did what they do and got a win in Spain. I didn’t see the game but am told that they were good – and that Mourinho did that thing he does and responded with impressive cunning to the situation, again winning a game by tactical adjustments. It’s getting a bit annoying that. And can someone send Steve “I’ll stick to 4-4-2 and the same tactics against any team in any situation” McClaren on an internship with him?

If today was anything to go by, the "goal scoring curse" that has plagued English football over Easter is over. But it wouldn’t surprise me if Manchester United lose to Watford in the FA-cup. Actually it would. But surprises will come. And how wonderful that is.

Easter curses

I hope we will soon be able to stop talking about curses, but I’ll have one more go. Easter being over my own curse has ended too – a host of nice men with scary machines dug up my sidewalk, found the faulty cables and restored my digital relationship with the world. Well done them. Of course they left without filling up the holes, so the front of the house now looks like a WWI trench…

The misfiring curse of Easter, turning everything upside down, seemed to continue on Monday with Pompey, coming from their convincing win over Manchester United, stumbling to defeat against Watford who managed to score more goals in a game than ever before. Manchester City, picking up their form after a long period of goal scoring difficulty, beat Fulham by 3 to 1 in a similarly bizarre result. Charlton and Reading ended 0-0 as did Newcastle versus Arsenal, who, still cursed, barely got close. The injured Shay Given might as well have stayed in his goal and had a cup of tea. (The Championship, incidentally, does not seem to be cursed – the game between Southampton and Sunderland was an entertaining affair with three lovely goals.) Bolton and Everton did us the favour of drawing, meaning that neither have dashed too far ahead and we are now three points behind Everton with a game in hand.

Injuries to our defenders seems to be the biggest problem (Easter curse as well?) at the moment, which is why a goal scoring spree on Thursday would be even more welcome than usual. Apart from Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Anthony Gardner, who have been joining Ledley King in the physio room for a while, and the fact that Ricardo Rocha is ineligible against Sevilla, we now seem to have lost Young-Pyo Lee, possibly for the season. His consistency and work rate on the left will be sorely missed. So rather than being “merely” a brilliant boost, Ledley King’s anticipated return on Thursday starts looking like a must. Having King back in the middle would enable us to put Stalteri and Chimbonda at right and left respectively and that would calm at least my nerves. Without King, and without even Tom Huddlestone, who would have been a defensive option, we may have to start getting really creative with team selection…

And, once more, we will have a different referee for the next game, right? One that is less dizzy? One that is aware of which sport he is refereeing? Honestly, I would rather have a Spanish referee than that bloke. Ok, rant over. And until Thursday, some potentially enjoyable Champions League to glance at… apart from the nervous worry about the injured lads. It is a blessing indeed (and I am touching all available wood here) that our dear heroic Michael Dawson appears to be virtually indestructible.

Image from www.tottenhamhotspur.com

Chelsea 1-0 Tottenham

For Tottenham Hotspur, it was 39 hours after the game in Sevilla and time for another one; the team had stayed and trained in Spain during the Friday before going home. Fatigue understandably being an issue, Martin Jol made relevant changes to his starting XI, with Mido and Jermain Defoe starting up front and Aaron Lennon resting as well. Pascal Chimbonda, versatile as ever, was employed at left-back in place of the injured Young-Pyo Lee. Ricardo Rocha, ineligible against Sevilla, was back to partner Michael Dawson in central defence. José Mourinho, whose team had played in the Champions League, albeit at home, had also made some changes to his midweek team, with Shevchenko and Ballack both on the bench, Claude Makelele back in position and Shaun Wright-Phillips starting on the right.

The latter had a bright start, made a nice run and crossed the ball to Didier Drogba, who just missed it. Chelsea kept the pressure on and forced Spurs keeper Paul Robinson into several saves during the first half, even if this game, in comparison with the previous three encounters between the sides this season, was a subdued affair. A nice run by Hossam Ghaly enabled him to find Teemu Tainio, but the Finn was well blocked by the Chelsea defence. An effort by Frank Lampard was cleared by Michael Dawson and Ricardo Carvalho’s effort on goal was blocked by Robinson. The first half ended goalless and despite Chelsea’s comparative domination it all looked quite open. Neither team was at full speed; the Spurs defence, the busier of the two in the first half, looked solid.

Spurs opened the second half with a nice opportunity for Mido, when Chimbonda’s cross and Ghaly’s head found the Egyptian. His powerful header was, however, saved expertly by Petr Cech. A few minutes later Carvalho managed to find an opening and fired a hopeful but forceful shot at goal from 40 yards, which went past Ricardo Rocha and Robinson to make it 1-0. Chelsea had awoken and Robinson had to save from Mikel soon after; Rocha, again employed to make life difficult for Drogba did a good job with just that as the Ivorian charged towards goal.

Spurs started replying more and more, as the second half became much more energetic than the first. On 65 minutes Jol substituted Tainio with Adel Taarabt, Spurs 17 year old loan signing from Lens, who immediately made his presence known. Mido passed to the Frenchman and his shot was on target but saved by Cech. Dimitar Berbatov, replacing Mido soon after, combined with Defoe to free Steed Malbranque, whose effort was cleared. A free kick afforded the Bulgarian with an opportunity to head nicely towards goal, but again, Cech managed to save, pushing the ball over the bar. Spurs continued to go for an equaliser, with efforts from Taarabt and Berbatov, but to no avail. At 1-0 it was to stay.

Two defeats in 48 hours cannot be said to reflect the performance of Spurs; rather than being a cause for despair and a worry that the team has ended up in another “slump” their play and composure inspire hope for the remainder of the season.

Chelsea
Cech, Ferreira, Carvalho, Terry, Bridge, Makelele, Lampard, Mikel (Joe Cole 83), Drogba, Wright-Phillips (Ballack 71), Kalou (Shevchenko 74).
Subs Not Used: Hilario, Diarra.
Booked: Drogba, Joe Cole.
Goals: Carvalho 52.

Tottenham
Robinson, Stalteri, Dawson, Rocha, Chimbonda, Jenas (Zokora 81), Tainio (Taarabt 64), Ghaly, Malbranque, Mido (Berbatov 69), Defoe.
Subs Not Used: Cerny, Ifil.
Booked: Ghaly.

Attendance: 41,864
Referee: R Styles