Eric The Viking

Another uninspiring home defeat as Spurs went down to a second successive 0-1 defeat.  In a match where Chelsea looked in comfortable control, Tottenham never looked likely to score - even if they had played all night.  

An early save by Walker denied Weah and shortly after an almost action replay stopped Sutton putting the visitors ahead.  For Spurs there was little headway against the Chelsea back four, but Anderton hit the side netting and Armstrong had a flicked header go just over the bar.  Ginola was being denied space when he received the ball and suddenly four players would appear around him.  For the majority of the time, the game was played out in the middle of the pitch, with both sides grafting and wasting possession.  While Tottenham had two appeals for penalties when Lambourde grabbed Ginola and Desailly kicked Iversen in the head, Mr. Poll resolutely declined both shouts.

The second half was little better, in truth.  The one goal came from a dubious free-kick awarded to Chelsea outside Tottenham's box.  While the defence was still sorting themselves, Wise chipped through to Lamborde, who lobbed the ball over the advancing Walker.  Sol had momentarily lost his man enough to let him in.  There were few other chances for the Blues - Taricco denying Sutton and Weah stopped in full flight by Perry (and dived, but was denied again - this time by the ref).  The referee had an awful game - not helped by the new leniency that officials have been told to exhibit.  Poyet was booked for an awful tackle, Desailly got away with his hand making contact with Armstrong's face off the ball and Wise (in his usual manner) niggled and fouled under the forgiving gaze of the man in black.  The last twenty minutes saw Tottenham try to salvage something from the game, but there was no joy.  Taricco had a volley smash into a defender when it looked on its way in and Iversen had a header glance off the bar and a low shot at the near post from an Armstrong cross saved by De Goey's outstretched leg.  Armo capitalised on the Chelsea keeper's mis-kick, but his overhead went straight up in the air. The same player also had a header go over the bar from a Carr cross near the end, while Anderton had two opportunities when played in inside the box, but his feeble efforts of flicking out a foot were typical of his insipid performance.

For teams two places apart in the table, the gap in class was much wider.  The subdued atmosphere at the game was perhaps because the result was inevitable.  Will we ever beat Chelsea ??  It's been ten years now and if this type of performance continues, it could well be another ten before we do.

MEHSTG TOP MAN : - STEPHEN CLEMENCE

Pete Stachio

So, the same old story continues.  Oh, but for a player who can stick the ball in the back of the net.  But not for me those who started to boo the team during the match or barrack players.  It wasn't that bad a performance, it was just the old failing of not taking our chances.  In the end, Wednesday had about three or four and took one.  Spurs had more, but didn't convert any.  So we lost.  Tottenham Hotspur - the loser's friend - giving Sheffield their first away win of the season.

The game started reasonably brightly and Spurs took the game to the Owls, although there seemed a lack of conviction.  Almost as though the goals would come without any trouble.  However, that is rarely the case with Spurs.  And so it proved.  Iversen denied a headed goal by Srnicek and the keeper stopped Armstrong from scoring from inside the box with a push around the post.  When the Czech did slip up, he caught one cross on his knees and a clearance fell to Clem, whose shot was diverted away from goal by Armo and Anderton could not head in the rebound.  Ginola put some good crosses in, but they were often found without anyone on the end.  The Frenchman had to produce a swerving shot from outside the box to get as close to a goal as the team could muster - his 20 yard effort bouncing back off the bar and the follow up was pushed away inelegantly by Srnicek when Iversen shot in.  The goal was against the run of play, but caught Spurs all at seas in defence.  Jonk was left in the penalty area and with Edinburgh coming across to challenge, Alexandersson was left free to shoot low past Walker.  The immediate response was not to throw things forward, but to start giving the ball away.  An old trait that was to recur during the second half.

With the turn around, Spurs could not produce as many efforts to trouble Srnicek and in truth, Sheffield probably had the better of the second spell.  One Carr shot from outside the box made the Owls keeper stretch to tip wide and one Ginola run ended with a shot into the side netting, while another zipped past the post.  Apart from that there was only the six-yard box scramble when the ball ricocheted off a couple of players legs, just out of Iversen's reach and the miss by Armstrong when the ball fell to him three yards out and he managed to hit the post with only the keeper to beat.  His immediate substitution, along with Justin and Clem, did little to help the side. Korsten looked to be playing in a free role, but he didn't appear to know where that was, although he did get one low shot on target.  In the end, Wednesday finished the stronger and if they could have finished better would have won by three or four.  De Bilde had one miss that was as bad as Armo's, when he wriggled free in the area and missed from inside the six-yard box.

What normally would have been a hilarious interlude when the linesman had to remove his shirt, because of the failure of his microphone link with the ref, became an annoying interruption in a frustrating 90 minutes.  Too many players having an off day (again)??  Iversen will do well to have a worse game for the club, while Korsten and Anderton failed to impress.  Unfortunately, it was just like earlier in the season, when we presented the opposition with the ball and made things hard for ourselves.  When Spurs beat Sheffield Wednesday to go top, things didn't seem so bad.  But that was a rare away success and like this was a rare home failure, Sheffield Wednesday were celebrating getting off the bottom of the league. Knowing Spurs, they will go and beat Chelsea in the next game ... but then again ...

MEHSTG TOP MAN : - STEPHEN CARR

Pete Stachio

A win against another of the teams above us at home only went to re-emphasise the need to pick up points away in striving to enter the elite of the Premier League.  This match also served to prove that a top class goal-poacher should be a priority in the coming months, as with that sort of striker in the side, Spurs could have won this by a hatful.  Indeed, although he played with great energy and enthusiasm, Armo could have had five goals on his own - the one he did get being perhaps one of the least likely to go in.  Westerveld was in splendid form and denied Iversen on three occasions - one stretching save from Ivo's header was only possible because of his great reach.  He also stopped Ginola from opening his account for 2000 with a tip around the post to a low, skidding shot.

But it was the way Tottenham started out that did the trick.  They seemed  much more willing to take the game to Liverpool and although Camara got three of our players booked through his mix of trickery and acrobatics, Liverpool rarely extended Walker.  When he was called upon in the second half, he shot off his line to block Smicer's shot and hack the loose ball away.  The Czech also curled an effort just wide of Walker's right hand post.  The only other moment of concern came when Camara wriggled free and Walker pushed his shot aside, but straight to Gerrard.  Luckily he was put off by Taricco and put his shot wide of a semi-open goal. But the majority of the action centred around the Liverpool goal.  Ginola obviously wanted  a result desperately today.  His denouncement by Houllier, when national manager, fired him up to produce a performance that had "revenge" written all over it.  Not a day for personal glory, but one for the team to get what they should and a show of how he can play within the team structure for the benefit of the team.  His crossing was sublime, his effort obvious and his shooting accurate.  If he played like this every week, he would prove indispensable - even to GG.  Armstrong desperately needed a goal and his headers which were off target exasperated the crowd, but just when you thought he would never score ... he takes a bouncing ball and lashes it past the Reds keeper from 20 odd yards and bulges the net.  Inspired by this he was getting onto the end of crosses, but could not find the net with them.  Even when Westerveld came rushing out of his box in the second half, Armstrong rounded him, but could not slip the ball into the net ... it went agonisingly across the six yard box and was only just diverted wide of the post by Hyypia.  It was heartening to see him still chasing down the visiting defenders towards the end too.  Four minutes after, it appeared that Spurs had gone 2-0 up, when Sol headed in a  cross from Ginola's free-kick, but the ref disallowed the goal because of offside.

Just a quick word to say how much the referee spoiled this game.  He fell for every fall that Camara made; he let the same player get away with kicking Perry while on the floor; he let Thompson get away with an assault on Taricco seconds after he had entered the game; he stopped play for attention to Gerrard, just as Spurs had broken away - some 20 seconds after the injury had taken place; he couldn't tell a corner from a goal-kick and really, Mr. Wilkie should be called to task over his handling of this game.  When he was booking people for trivial matters, serious fouls were going unpunished. 

The starting line up featured Clemence and Young in midfield, which was unusual, but both played admirably and Clem showed that he could have a place in the squad, while Young demonstrated his versatility.  Carr was his regular self again and enhances the team greatly with his runs up the right.  Sol and Perry were both troubled by the player who we rejected last season - Camara - but that was only because he seemed to be trying to exact some retribution for his failure to become a Spur.  I know he has done well for Liverpool already, but I do think it is  a flash in the pan.  A very pleasing performance, but the lack of the killer instinct makes games like this too nail-biting with only one goal to the good and time ticking away.

MEHSTG TOP MAN : - CHRIS ARMSTRONG

Pete Stachio

Tottenham were supposedly trying to take their good home form on the road today and although they were under pressure for long periods, they could easily have taken all three points from this visit to the Midlands.  The early efforts came from the home side,  the Spurs keeper had already pushed a header from Joachim over the bar before he denied the same player with his arse and the incident was cleaned up by Carr's clearance from Taylor's follow-up in front of the goal .  For all their pressure, Villa created few direct chances and those they did were foiled by an on song Ian Walker.  His save from Southgate in the second half probably earned Spurs a point as did his catch at the end of the match, when Vassell burst into the Spurs box.  The former Leicester City forward, Joachim, was causing Spurs most problems and his header just before Spurs scored was well pushed aside by Walks.  It was in the final minute of the first half that David Ginola played a simple square ball inside to Tim Sherwood.  The midfielder was 32 yards out and let fly with a shot that ripped past James in the home goal.  It was a cracking goal and although really against the run of play, Tim was allowed so much room that he had an open invitation to score.

The second half saw Spurs up the pace of the game and Iversen had two chances, one with his feet and one with his head, but both found James equal to the efforts. Merson was having a good match and although he engineered a good position for himself, his shooting did not match the build-up play. He did create the equaliser though, with a low ball into the six yard box that Taylor got in front of Sherwood to poke high past Walker.  It was all that Villa had deserved as they were more attacking throughout and Walker still had to be on his toes to thwart Joachim's shot towards the end.

An uninspiring performance by Spurs, but a battling one, which earned a point against a Villa side on the roll after two wins.  The need to start at a high pace is exacting, but one which has earned points already this season.  To do it away and put the home side on the back foot early on could make sense, but it could leave us open at the back.  Would GG be brave enough to try such an option ??  If only against some of the lesser lights in the League, it could be a tactic that works.  Anyway, the end of the century and we're in sixth - not great, but hey, better than the position we have found ourselves in at the end of other years recently past.

MEHSTG TOP MAN : - CHRIS PERRY

East Stan

It was the first end of the Millennium game I had been to at the Lane and I must say it is to be heartily recommended.  Not only did you get to see four goals, but also 20 white doves released by the two mascots (Spurs' one a youngster in kit; Watford's a full grown man in a suit) to symbolise peace and goodwill to all, except crap teams who are in the Premier League.  Coming after the mauling Spurs got at Newcastle, Watford were truly lambs to the slaughter.  Within four minutes, they could have been three goals down.  Clear headers were put wide by Nielsen and Campbell, while Iversen slotted the ball past the post instead of inside it.  Sad to say, but when Watford came to the Lane for a FA cup tie as the first visitors in 1999, they seemed a better side than they do now.  Hard to say how they have gone backwards, but the batterings they are getting in this League might be doing them untold harm.  Graham Taylor said that the promotion through the divisions had come quicker than he envisaged.  

It took until the 27th minute for the deadlock to be broken.  Ginola had cut inside earlier to unleash a shot straight at Chamberlain, but this time, after exchanging passes with Ivo, took on four defenders on a run across the face of the box and buried a low right footer into the bottom of the net.  Armstrong was full of running and slipping away from his marker, he put in a cross from the right wing, which Iversen converted with his head by getting in front of his man to the ball.  Armo also put a shot over, Ginola bent one inches wide of the right hand upright and Sherwood skied one well over.  At the Spurs end, Walker watched on, only having to deal with a couple of long range efforts and seeing most of them fly past the goal.  The only down point of the first period was when Iversen and Sherwood had a bust-up in mid-pitch about a move which broke down before Spurs had scored.  Tim went in for some finger-pointing, while Steff satisfied himself by giving Sherwood the finger.  Such peace and harmony !!

Act Two started with the same theme as the first half.  Almost unrelenting pressure in the direction of poor Chamberlain.  But Spurs decided that they were trying to score Goal of the Month every time they went into the Watford half.  Sherwood and Armstrong were guilty of attempting to walk the ball in, while Armo also had a shot and a header go close.  The Icelander, Gudmunson struck a shot wide of Walks and the goal, but apart from that, even the three subs brought on at half-time failed to make much of a dent in the Spurs rearguard.  The third goal came when Ginola engineered a space and sent in such a good cross that almost all Sherwood had to do was to let it hit his head for his seventh of the season.  Ginola's cross was from a similar place and in a similar style to that against Newcastle United in the FA Cup at the Lane.  Shortly after, GG took Ginola off again.  Boos rang around the ground as Dominguez replaced him.  The upcoming game at Aston Villa was no doubt in Graham's mind, but with Gower and the long suffering Korsten on the bench, why not give them a run out for the last fifteen minutes ?  We all know what Jose is capable of and when will we find out what others can do ?  Anyway, he played a vital part in the third goal, by standing next to Clemence as he took the corner kick that lead to Sherwood's second goal of the game against his former club - again unmarked in the six yard box.  All that was left was for Taricco to chip one that the keeper put over and then it was the end.  The end of the match, the end of a decade, the end of a century and the end of the Millennium at White Hart Lane.  Will it signal a new era ?  Don't hold your breath.

MEHSTG TOP MAN : - DAVID GINOLA

Pete Stachio

Starting the game with three centre-halves to counter the aerial attack of the home side seemed a good idea, but in a first half dominated by Newcastle, Tottenham were overwhelmed.  With only five minutes gone a high ball to the far post saw Perry against Ferguson and a header down onto the edge of the six-yard box was stuck away by Speed.  A quarter of an hour after and Dabizas rose above Vega, who didn't get off the floor to make it two.  Spurs looked dead and buried as they had shown nothing up until this point.  Young's substitution by Fox made things seem even worse, but then Ginola unleashed Tottenham's first shot on target after 31 minutes and it deflected up and over the keeper to put Spurs back in it.  The Magpies wavered and Spurs did put some balls into the box, but no clear chances came their way.  A foul on Ginola was let go by the ref, who then refused him treatment, but the game swung towards the Spurs goal and a low ball across the box was fumbled by Walker straight to Ferguson, who crashed it in off the bar.  Just when Spurs seemed to be getting at United, an error let them have the advantage straight back.  Walker had just before made a sharp save at his near post from a Shearer header, but this was a routine ball that he should have gathered without any trouble.  In truth, the height in attack was causing Spurs all sorts of problems and Newcastle carved Tottenham's defence apart in the opening 20 minutes, but as the season slipped away, the goal came just before the break. 

The second half was even worse.  When Spurs beat Newcastle 3-1 at the start of the season, you would never have imagined that they would end up losing in such a disgraceful style as they did tonight.  Further goals from Dyer, and two from Shearer (one from a penalty) sealed a win that echoed the defeat by 7 goals to 1 in Francis' time.  Having said that this game was not important, but progress was, the question will be asked of GG, where is the progress ??  The only good thing to come out of it is that Sugar might finally see how much needs investing in the side to make them half decent.  The league position is flattering as we have got away with it too often and although recent form has been poor, they have stayed static in the table.  But tonight you could point out many defects : -

	Poor passing and inability to retain possession of the ball
	Lack of awareness of who to mark at the back
	Playing with one forward as an outlet doesn't work, as Iversen is unable to hold the ball up
	Inability to do the simple thing like clear the ball when under pressure or track back an opponent or close players down as they advance on goal
	Lightweight players who do not add anything to our play (Clemence, Dominguez, Taricco, Fox, Vega)
	Lack of depth in the squad when we have a few players out injured
	Players playing on with injuries (Sherwood)
	A keeper who does not dominate his box
	Too many players unaware of what to do when they do not have the ball (i.e. move into space and give the player in possession an option to pass to)

Basic things that really ought to come naturally, but obviously don't.  The lack of effort and lack of ideas, especially (as usual) when Ginola was substituted, leaves Spurs fans with little hope for the rest of the season, little hope of getting a European place and little hope of attracting top players.  Now that the team has been on a run of no wins in six games and the cracks covered up by the Worthington Cup win have exposed, what will those in charge do to put it right ??  While Tottenham's season ended tonight going out of the FA Cup, the tie was lost at WHL when we were 1-0 up and Newcastle were there for the taking.  The lack of the killer instinct has cost the club dear.

MEHSTG TOP MAN : - DAVID GINOLA (for wanting the ball)

Pete Stachio

A strange feeling swept over me when I walked into the ground and was told that Dominguez and Fox were both starting the match.  How were we going to win this then?  The team had to be changed because of suspensions and Leo's injury, but even with our limited squad surely this was too much to bear.

The game started with Spurs going forward and Harper tipping a great drive over the bar.  Then Allan Nielsen headed a Fox cross downwards and Harper again saved at the post, while moments later, Iversen got past Charvet and could not get round the keeper.  Nielsen was again denied when a great run along the right wing (about half the length of the pitch) by Young, saw his cross missed at the near post by Iversen and then grabbed before it could reach the Dane.  Walker was untroubled in the first half as Tottenham had supremacy in terms of possession, but could not make the breakthrough.

They had to wait until the second half for that to happen.  Only after Ferguson had contrived to head down and over the bar from five yards out, did Spurs get their goal.  A throw resulted from Young's interception and break, which he took quickly to Ginola.  He made half a yard for himself and crossed to the edge of the six yard box, where Iversen came flying in to head home in front of Dabizas.  At this stage, Tottenham should have been looking to press home their advantage, but they seemed to withdraw and let Newcastle into the match.  A tactical change by Robson saw them move to a back three and push another man into midfield with an option to go forward.  It was here that Spurs should have brought on Armo for Jose, who by now was losing his effectiveness.  Some last gasp defending denied Dyer and Glass, before a corner was swung over and Speed rose to head the equaliser.  It was coming as the Barcodes applied more pressure and as the game wore on, they looked the more likely to win it.  Gallagher and Shearer both had chances towards the final whistle.

The England captain got the stick he deserved for persistent whingeing and diving, but for most of the match Sol had him in his pocket.  This was a match that Spurs should really have sewn up, but a draw leaves us still in the competition, although a replay at St. James Park will be a very tough one.

In the end, the changes didn't work out too bad.  Fox worked hard and Jose; well, he was just Jose.  As for the rest, Nielsen got up and back and Luke Young did well at the back. Perry was sound and Sol was excellent.  David flitted around, usually pursued by a couple of Magpies and Steffen should have wrapped it up in the first half.  For the replay, Taricco and Sherwood will both be available and hopefully, Leo will have recovered from his injury.  Let's hope that it is an occasion the team decides to play.

MEHSTG TOP MAN : - STEFFEN FREUND (despite his shooting)

With 18 attempts on goal, this would sound like Tottenham had a good performance, but statistics are like match reports ... you can read into them what you want.
In truth, this was a pretty untypical London derby.  Yes, Lomas was dismissed just before the break for a second yellow card, shortly after having a kick at Dominguez off the ball. Yes, Redknapp insinuated that Dominguez dived to get Lomas sent off (oh, how two faced of him) and said that if the linesman could make out what Lomas had said in a thick Irish brogue to Dominguez from 50 yards away he was a better man than him (Yeah, ... and). Yes, The Irons players all queued up to have a go at little Joe and Ruddock did his moronic best to wind up the Spurs contingent.  Yes, Perry came perilously close to joining Lomas after a second tackle from behind could have earned him a second yellow.  Yes, the referee sussed West ham's diving tactics early on and wasn't taken in.  Yes, there were moments of high drama - mainly involving the Hammers' keeper, but in the end, what will the match be remembered for ??  A sending off and the fact that the referee ended it a minute and two minutes of added time before the end.

Chances were mainly in Spurs' favour as the visitors only managed six efforts, but did force Walker to a sprawling save from Lampard and most crucially, a point blank stop when a corner fell to Foe about two yards out.  At the other end, Hislop made reflex stops from Perry's header and a diving Armstrong header, which he pushed up onto the bar and then Iversen's follow-up glanced the woodwork too.  Other shots fizzed around the goal and it was the blocking of the claret and blues in the first half that stopped many direct efforts, only Perry's header from a corner going slightly the wrong side of the post.  A fate which befell Steffen Iversen, when he chested down Ginola's cross and volleyed a yard wide.  Ginola enjoyed the freedom in the second half, but often chose the wrong option and lost the ball or the opportunity to punish West Ham.  The midfield looked tired and what was once a source of our goals, now they labour with tired legs.  Against ten men, Spurs failed to score in approximately 45 minutes.  In the end, it was all a bit desperate as Spurs pushed forward, but the lack of a goal poacher who can win the game out of a half-chance, showed that Spurs will continue to fail to collect the points they should.  The chances which were being stuck away in home games early in the season are now wasted.  Unless a striker is added to the squad, so will the opportunities open to this side.

MEHSTG TOP MAN : - Luke Young
Pete Stachio