The Away Form Continues

Fulham are one of those teams that you can never be too sure what the result will be. Some years they are tough and difficult to play. especially at home, and we have been lucky to come away with a draw. Mostly though we go to The Cottage with high hopes of an expected win, only to have those hopes dashed by resilient Fulham and a late goal.

Even without Harry on the sidelines, Spurs got off to our usual high-impact start with Adebayor & Kyle Walker once again carving an opportunity out of nothing down the right hand side. Walkers pace destroyed the Fulham defence, allowing him to get to the by-line and making a smart cutback to Lennon, who's well placed shot was parried by Schwarzer into the path of an on-rushing Bale. The Welsh Monkey God need no second invitation to unleashed a fierce shot that cannoned off of Baird and into the back of the net. Ten minutes played and 1-nil up...

Fulham had their chances during the first half, with Granddad Friedel making some great saves from the likes of Dempsey and the like-wise aging defender, John Arne Riise, (I thought he had retired...?), but Tottenham were strong through the midfield, and ended the half strongly. So strongly indeed, that in injury time Lennon popped up on the left after a neat interchange with Bale, and weaved his way past a defender before shooting across Schwarzer and into the net on the far-side. CRACKER... and into the changing rooms at half time 2-nil up....

The second half followed the now usual script, with Fulham coming out strongly and immediately putting the Spurs back 4 under pressure, which eventually led to a goal. Much like the goal conceded the week before against QPR it came from a corner that was not effectively cleared, and Kings wayward header clipped Kaboul on the back and deflected past a stranded Friedel.

From then on it was all Fulham, and at no point for the remainder of the half was I confident that Spurs would come out on top. There was one almighty classic goal-mouth scramble, where at one point, Walker was on the ground at the feet of the players holding the ball to his chest...? How we got away with that one I don't know. Luka Modric, who had done almost nothing all game, managed to save a nailed-on goal from Dempsey whilst guarding the post at a corner, when he somehow scooped the ball off the line and put it round the post... Amazing....

Even with a minute to go in injury time I was still not convinced we were going to hang on for the win, when Defoe, who had come on for VdV, was presented with the slightest of chances from a deflected Adebayor cutback, that he wasted no time in dispatching into the back of the net for a very unlikely 3-1 score line.....

Although I have complained over the past few weeks about Tottenham' inability to put a game away when we go ahead, we have at least done enough to seal the win eventually on each occasion, whereas in previous season we would have collapsed under the pressure. It appears that this season, Spurs are a different proposition away from home, and I think the addition of Parker in midfield has given us a resilience that he have not seen at Spurs for a good couple of decades. Even though I do not really enjoy the closeness of some of these games, and I would prefer to see my beloved Tottenham win in style every week, I'll take a win every day of the year....

Come On You Spurs....

My player ratings are: -

   

• Friedel - 8.0 - Another great performance that kept us in the game
• Bale - 7.5 - Starting to cause some real threat and score on a regular basis
• Kaboul - 7.0 - Couldn't do much about the goal, but a generally good game
• King - 7.0 - Probably could have done better with the goal, but I can overlook that...
• Walker - 8.0 - Great build up play for the first goal. A career in Rugby may await...
• BAE - 7.0 - Quiet but solid game, just how a left back should be
• Lennon - 8.0 - Working well with Bale and popping up in new positions. Great goal
• Sandro - 6.5 - Bit-part performance, which strengthened the midfield toward the end
• Parker - 8.0 - Another gritty game from our midfield lynch pin
• Van der Vaart - 7.5 - Lots of industry this week, just not the end product
• Defoe - 7.5 - Did nothing but score... I'll take that...
• Modric - 7.5 - Seems a little out-of-place in the midfield. Great goal saving stop though
• Adebayor - 7.5 - Still no goal but some great touches. Strong in defence as well

To Russia with Love...??

The return match between Tottenham and Rubin Kazan was played live on ESPN at 6:00am on Friday morning here in New Zealand, which gave just about enough time for me get up, watch the first half, shower at half-time, watch the second half, and head off to work before 9:00am. In reflection, I am not sure why I bothered...?  I knew that this would the Spurs Europa League 'B' team playing away from home in the far distant Russian hinterland, in a game in which the result was less important than previous games, as long as we didn't get spanked... But for some reason, I put some money of a Tottenham win, (because of the good odds), and watched anyway.

The first 20 minutes was an object lesson in keeping the ball from Spurs, the Ruskies hardly got a look-in, but even with all that possession we did nothing with it, just endlessly recycled the ball around the midfield & defence. Suddenly and with little warning, the game sort of opened up and the Russians started to apply some serious pressure on our decidedly second string defence. In particular, the playmaker Kasaev look very very dangerous, along with Natcho and Ryazantsev, and if it was not for a fine series of excellent saves from the age-defying Cudicini in the Spurs goal, we could have been 3 or 4 down by half time.

My season long disappointment with Roman 'the Pavlova' Pavlyuchenko contiued, as he spent the first 45 minutes running around aimlessly, only to make a half-hearted effort to poke a foot out at a great cut back from Defoe, the solitary opportunity Totteham had in front of goal. I know he scored a corker in the home leg, but he needs to at least look like he is trying, he can't keep drifting through these games.... He made Obafemi Martins look industrious....!

The irony of the whole game was that this time it was Rubin Kazan that scored from an excellently taken free-kick, from an almost identical position from where Pav scored in the home leg. This time it was Natcho who stepped up and neatly curled the ball over the wall and into the corner of the net, past a stranded Cudicini.

From that point on, it was all Rubin Kazan, and if it had not been for the single-handed heroic's of Cudicini in goal, the Ruskies may garbed a handful of goals to help with their goal difference. He pushed away Ryazantsev's shot and kept out a Karadeniz header before instinctively stopping Nelson Valdez's rasping effort. To add insult to injury, (or in this case, injury to insult), Gallas went off injured half way through the second half, replaced by Parrett, who had 20 minutes he would most likely like to forget.

At the final whistle I was glad that Tottenham had only lost by a single goal as it could have been so much worse. The result was bad enough, but when the stats showed that Spurs never had a shot on goal, it felt very disappointing. Looking on the bright side, we have POAK at home next, and I bet we will have a far stronger team on display for that match. This will be followed by an away game with Shamrock Rovers, which may end up being a dead rubber, but if not, expect to see a full strength team making their way to Ireland.

On a night where the keeper was our best player, it was a game that only die-hard fans will remember, and one we should really try and forget.

My player ratings are:-

• Cudicini - 8.5 - World-class goalkeeping display. Saved us from embarrassment
• Gallas - 7.0 - Our strongest defender who played well enough before going off injured
• Parrett - 4.0 - Useless, like a dog chasing a paper bag....
• Bassong - 6.0 - Mediocre performance with far too many mistakes
• Livermore - 6.0 - His best move was tackling the pitch invader, not direct enough
• Townsend - 6.0 - Never really got going, no penetration on the wing
• Pienaar  - 7.5 - Our best out-field player, that has to say something....?
• Fredericks - 5.5 - Some promise, but needs more time before his next start
• Carroll - 6.0 - Good individual skills but always looks a little out-of-his-depth
• The Pudding - 2.5 - Lazy, Lazy Lazy. Needs a good kick in the arse or a transfer
• Kane - 5.0 - Not enough of a run out, but did at least put some effort in
• Defoe - 5.5 - Lonely and lost up front, and forced to come too deep
• Falque - 6.5 - Lively and at least wanted to take the ball forward

Double Bubble

Spurs made a welcome return to White Hart Lane, and a welcome return to the style of football I love, with a 3-1 win over fellow Londoners QPR. After the nervy and discordant display at Blackburn Rovers the week before, it was markedly better game that had Bale finally on the score sheet this season, and our seventh undefeated game in a row.

As per usual, Spurs started very strongly, and but for the fine goalkeeping display from QPR's Paddy Kenny, we could have been at least 2-nil up within the first 10 minutes, with both VdV & Adebayor going close. It was clear that the result was never going to be in any doubt, and Tottenham didn't have too long to wait before we went ahead. Adebayor linked nicely with Van der Vaart on the right, who fed a clever ball in-field to Lennon, who easily picked out the unmarked Bale coming in from the left, who lashed the ball into the back of the net.

Bale very nearly scored a second a minute later from a well executed run & cut-back from BAE, but ended up putting it over the bar. Our second goal had a certain element of luck associated with it as Leadley Kings wild off-target shot landed right at the feet of an onside Van der Vaart, who easily slotted past the helpless keeper, for his fifth goal in as many games.

As is the Tottenham way, instead of nailing our advantage and scoring a hatful of goals, the Spurs team gave out a collective sigh, as if to say, "well that's it, we have done enough", and proceeded to take their foot off the gas. This was not helped by QPR's manager Warnock shuffling his pack at half time and adding a bit more steel to his attack by adding the extra man up front, and consequently applying more pressure on the Spurs Defence. This paid dividends 15 minutes into the second half when new boy Bothroyd easily nodded-in a corner in front of a static defence and a Goalkeeper that didn't do more than flap at the ball. Disappointing.

If we had continued to play the way we did after Blackburn scored last week, I could see QPR getting back in to this game. I think the the difference this weekend was that Spurs were playing in front of a home crowd, and instead of letting our heads-drop, the team upped their tempo and started playing with some intensity again. VdV had a couple more chances before an excellent move, again involing VdV, Lennon & Bale culminated in an excellently dispatched side foot into the top corner. The relief was palpable, and at 3-1 I could now start to enjoy the game again, which was made more enjoyable as I had a bet on a Spurs win and more than 4 goals... Double bubble...

Even though QPR are firmly rooted in the lower half of the league, this was a good game for Spurs that helped to highlight some of the progress we have made since the poor start against the Manc's. It was good to see Bale starting to recapture some of his mojo, and Lennon being involved in most of what was good about the game. Even though he didn't score, Adebayor also played well enough for a mention as did Parker & Walker. What was most pleasing to see was the all-round teamwork exhibited by all the Spurs players, that bodes well for the rest of the season.

My Player Ratings are: -

• Friedel - 7.0 - Maybe could have done more to stop the goal, but not bad overall.
• Bale - 8.5 - The Welsh Monkey God's best performance this season. More Please...
• Kaboul - 7.5 - Good performance, works well with Leadley
• King - 7.5 - Accomplished performance from our irregular hero
• Walker - 7.0 - Not as much influence on this game as previous games, but still strong
• Assou-Ekotto - 6.5 - Bit of a mismatch marking Bothroyd at the corner, but solid otherwise
• Lennon - 8.0 - Looked good coming in off the wing for both of Bales goals. Sweet....
• Parker - 8.0 - Central pivot around which a strong team performance was delivered
• Sandro - 6.0 - Always good to see our Brazilian 'Destroyer', even if it was for only a few minutes
• Van der Vaart - 8.0 - Great Goal and a full 90 minutes, who would have guessed...?
• Modric - 7.5 - Nothing too flashy this week just a solid game for the team
• Adebayor -7.5 - Should have scored, but on balance contributed more than he missed