Spurs try Greek. Doesn't hurt.
Friday, September 16, 2011 at 10:41AM Thanks to outside interference (baby, missus) watching our 'shadow' team play the first of our group games on an internet stream (10 seconds behind the actual live coverage) was proving to be as tricky as a eunuch auditioning for a porno. Decided it would be nigh impossible to write up a match-report myself. Considering I spent 15 minutes thinking we were 1-0 down thanks to a penalty, I thought it best to ask Twitter if anyone would be able to review. Couple of people stuck their hands up, so thanks to @DDDL_MSainsbury for this entry. I might have another match report available to share too, so in the interest of fairness will post that later if its fired across.
From a personal standpoint, the game (in the moments I caught it) hardly looked spectacular (other than Pav's shooting) but was surprised at the 0-0 scoreline. Did we get away with it or was it a shrewd selection? I can't comment. You can, so go ahead and do so.
PAOK Salonika Vs Tottenham Hotspur by @DDDL_MSainsbury
One of the more FUN things about the Europa League UEFA Cup campaign this season is going to be mid-afternoon/early-evening kick-offs. Did I say ‘Fun’? Make that annoying! After a Kamikaze blitz home from work in the Mini there is barely enough time to swap into my new (hopefully lucky) cup shirt.
The build-up to the game and pre-game coverage has mostly centred on our ‘inexperienced’ travelling squad, which makes a good story but is not entirely accurate. Our starting XI contains Cudicini, Bassong, Corluka, Gio, and Pav who are all experienced internationals, as well as Livermore and Walker; who have started 1st team games for us this season, Carroll, Kane and Townsend; who all debuted in the Hearts match. The only real newcomer to the side is Falque, but to be honest I’ve been viewing him as more of a new signing for the first team, as opposed to a ‘developmental’ player. He makes his first team debut here.
The dressing room does throw up some interesting visuals though, in shirts numbering as high as #59 and #60! Out of all of these though I’d be keeping an eye out for #54 Alex Pritchard. I was really impressed with him in the Barnet friendly at the start of this season. Tidy midfielder, comfy on the ball, though so short my mate Easty and I were convinced he was a mascot at first!
Our team prepares to walk out, as the strains of AC/DC’s ‘Hell’s Bells’ blare out of the PA. This has to be a sign surely? My favourite band? Can’t fault the Greeks for their taste in anthems anyway.
1st Half:
Team starts as a 4-4-2 with Townsend at LB (out of position technically but he’s played there in friendlies and the Hearts game). Gio starts on the left wing with Falque on the right. The first 5 minutes pass almost like a training match for us, with our second/third-string side knocking the ball around and coming under very little pressure. Thought some of our shirt numbers were high, but I see that their goalie is rocking #91!
PAOK start to get into the game, bringing down Townsend in possession in our half. A period ensues of the Greek team’s players going in with lots of niggley challenges, repeatedly fouling, breaking up the game. Possession passes back and forth but there are no real clear-cut chances on either side. Our ‘makeshift’ team is performing better than I had expected us to, tidy passing, particularly between the defence and young Carroll.
A word about the Greek fans: MENTAL! Firecrackers going off, massive flags and replica shirts are being waved around in the air instead of being worn. Need to have a bit more of that at the Lane maybe? Well the shouting anyway. Doubt we’d get the firecrackers past the turnstiles? And for that matter I’ll pass at seeing many of my fellow Block 23 occupants topless as well! Come to think of it I like the match-day atmosphere at home as it is!
Kane has the first real clear-cut chance of the half, being released into the penalty area and brought down. Referee chooses to book him for simulation however? Replay shows that contact was made. Isn’t that what the 4th and 5th official is there for in these games?
Almost immediately after this travesty PAOK are down our end and win a penalty. It’s really Cudicini’s fault for coming out and stretching for the ball when the attacker was running away from goal. When are we going to learn not to commit to challenges in the box if the player is running away from goal? Lino (their LB I believe) steps up and buries the ball in the back of the net. He sprints off to celebrate enthusiastically with his team-mates BUT THE REF CALLS THEM BACK FOR A RE-TAKE. Replay shows that Lino’s stuttering approach meant that his team-mate encroached in the box before the ball was kicked. He drags the re-take wide with Carlo covering it. It's still 0-0 and a lucky escape for him and us.
Our best chance of the half follows; we win a free kick roughly 20 yards out and left of the goal. Pav sizes it up and hits a strong shot, which curls up, over the bar to land in the top of the (slightly sagging) Greek net. A cheer from our fans who think it’s in! It’s our only real shot at goal though; half time and a very even match so far even for all the penalty drama.
Half time thoughts:
I’ve been quite impressed with Tom Carroll, he’s been sitting deep and linking Defence and Midfield, as well as being comfortable in possession. Easty told me after the Hearts game that he reminded him of McEachran of Cheatski, have to say he looks a similar sort of player and hopefully can grow into a first-team role.
Gio has been full-of running and working hard for the team. He’s been swapping flanks with Falque, who has looked tidy in possession himself. Indeed they seem to link up with one another well (I know that they’re on separate flanks, but they’ve conspired to link up a few times with Falque drifting inside and Carroll filling up the space left out wide). It’s refreshing to see Gio in the team, last season I felt he might have a breakout year after his impressive pre-season? Was sadly not to-be.
2nd Half:
Uneventful start to the second half, besides the commentators referring to our away-kit as ‘violet’? Very macho? We’re also treated to a close-up of the red Summer-Moon in the night sky, which cuts to the graphic of the Europa League logo…all this time the ball is in play? Let me see the match damn-it!
Our two full-backs have impressed me, Townsend and Walker are both getting forward in possession and offering lots of width, though Walker has been caught out once or twice out of position up-pitch. In defence though they are well marshalled by Corluka and Bassong, keeping a high line playing an effective offside-trap. Impressive for players who have never played in that particular combination before? Charlie has played well at CB. Early in the 2nd-half he tracks back, shields the ball from an attacker at the byline and calmly slips the ball to Bassong for the clearance. Didn’t Harry say he’d never play him there again, as he wasn’t good enough?
Kane appears to have switched out to the left-hand side. Think we’re playing a more 4-2-3-1 with Pav up top and Kane/Gio/Falque supporting him. Unfortunately this takes Gio out of the game a bit; he’s certainly not as involved as in the first half?
Our first real chance on goal from open-play comes from Pav chasing down the keeper and winning possession from him on the right-hand side of the area, going away from goal, he plays in Falque on the right, who skips inside and hits a curling left-footer in at goal. A bit more pace or curl on it could have got us off the mark, as it is the ball goes wide.
PAOK have looked more dangerous this half, more possession in our half but no final ball thankfully. When we attack they defend deep and effectively, getting bodies behind the ball.
What follows is a pretty exciting period of play however. Best described by my notes:
60: Free Kick Pav shoots low but wide. Not enough curl. Followed by the 1st real chance for PAOK; cross from right blasted over. Close.
71: Pav goes down and looks injured? Not good! Not been spectacular but led the line and he’s held-up the ball well. He’s back up and staying on for now.
75: PAOK free kick - left of area. Tense. Low cross but Contreras balloons it over with the outside of his right foot.
80: SUB – Falque off for Fredericks
Fredericks is playing well up the right-wing. Not a bad turn of pace and fairly dogmatic when it comes to chasing lost-causes. Needs to work at getting his cross away though, he’s getting in good positions but not pulling the trigger.
82: 2 good short range efforts from PAOK. 2 good saves by Cudicini. Resulting corner marshalled out of our area. We make a quick-counter but Pav puts his shot wide.
86: free kick won by Townsend – left-hand side of the PAOK area about 25 yards out. Harry Kane fires it in hard but the shot goes over, never low enough to trouble keeper.
Maybe time to make some subs to break up play Harry?
Ref is very card happy. Books Carroll for taking Free Kick too quickly. Re-take is crossed into box but doesn’t beat the first man.
90: good save from Cudicini. More pressure from PAOK, a header off the bottom of the bar! Hanging onto the point by a thread at the moment!
Finally a sub; Parrett on for Gio. This will hopefully take up some time!
90+2: Whistle blows. Points shared.
Full-time thoughts:
The draw is a good point for our opening group game, particularly away from home, I can see the other teams in the group struggling here. We need to take advantage of our rested first team against Liverpool though or 'The Great Experiment’ will have been for nought! Not sure if I’d pick any of this side for the Liverpool game. Livermore, Gio and Falque would probably be good options from the bench for me? I’d be looking to bring them on if we look to be struggling creatively on Sunday.
Man of the Match is a hard one: Livermore played well, unspectacular but kept the engine-room ticking over. I’d pick Cudicini though. Without his saves this would have been a wasted trip, as it is we go back to London with a point from a tricky away game. COYS.
Reader Comments (22)
I enjoyed it. I am still not going to part with £20 quid to sit in traffic on the A10 on a Thursday night for it though. I thought that Bassong was a bit of a liablity (but again he has headly played). Kane would be useful with pace, Gio wasn't at the races, the rest did the team proud and it might have been a very different game if the dodgy ref had given the pen.
You've missed out the best chance of the first half, when JL tied up a few defenders as me marauded into the penalty area, then pulled it back for Falque to get a shot in, only to see it cleared off the line.
Also missing a mention is ESPNs blatent incompetence, when they somehow managed to start showing QPR v Newcastle from Monday night.
Carlo Cudicini has never played Full International football. Experienced, yes - international, no.
Were they giving or receiving?
good write up. in a week where i dont think one English team won in Europe...ours, easily the most inexperienced, went to possibly the most hostile of arenas and came home with a point and a clean sheet.
I dont care what anyone says...i feel pride for the performance and the result.
I had to go out so I missed the match. You have been kind to Gio, other remarks I have read have said he was rubbish.
A good result given the circumstances, I thought we'd probably lose.
Cudicini excellent. Falque looked decent. Gio is looking more and more like he will never cut it. He was wasteful and easily brushed off the ball. He is small, but so is Modric, Messi, Silva - and they handle the physical side of the Premiership. It is one thing to be full of running, but it has to achieve something. Gio got showed up by Falque. Gio needs to do better vs Shamrockers.
I hoped that Gio would show why he's won 50 caps for Mexico. Alas, he just doesn't cut it imo. In a game that he had the opportunity to shine and show H what he's been missing, for the most past he went missing!!!!
And I don't go along with the playing out of position shite either. In the first half he was a winger cutting in and out and in the second half, he played more in the middle with the chance to show what he do do with through balls to the forwards or even running between them from deep, but no.
Not good enough really.
It was a boring uninspiring match that the least we should have done is gone away with 3 points.
Nice write up. I agree with many of the posters though. Thought Gio struggled. Tried to take players on but didn't seem to have much pace, tried one too many clever things when we could have kept possession.
We seem to get worried in possession very early. If something isn't working we resort to aimless long kicks.
Also I don't think Pav did well. I saw him drop deep, but not into good areas, he'd often find himself on top of another Spurs player. When he had the ball he'd just run into traffic, closed down by often more than one PAOK player.
Overall though, happy with the performance, but thought our regulars could have offered a bit more.
Side note: Corluka...with Bassong looking to get the ball away as quick as possible and making bad passes, I'd have thought he'd try and slow play down a touch. No, he hoofed balls into the middle of the field, not even beyond their middle line. Not good with little man Carroll contesting the header.
I've just read that back. God it seems awfully negative.
Maybe it's just because I've lost two in a row on FM.
Mr Sainsbury, We could all sit outside on banana lounges discussing the best way to rebuild a dismantled team, through shared stories of conquests supporting our assertions, that there is no basis to the proposition that those least assured of their persuasions are the first to condemn others for theirs. Although the ideal would be for everyone to be capable of love without fear, restraint, or obligation, clearly this does not apply to homosexuals.
Enjoyed the post mate, keep up the good work! you have set the standard now and now the bar must be raised.
Ummm, thanks openmic...I think? Lol
Cheers for all the feedback gang.
@Zagreb bar: You spotted the 'deliberate mistake', you win...my respect? I'll fact-check a bit better next time, when I've not got Easty volunteering me to Spooks mid-game on Twitter. You got the gist of my point anyway.
@Walkerboy, good point about Livermore's run. See above point about being volunteered mid-game :) Didn't think the transmission problems were worth mentioning (as opposed to the 'Directoral Masturbation'...'ooooo lets look at the Moon...pretty'). ESPN do try my patience sometime though, I remember an FA Cup game last season where the commentators were talking about one of the players boffing a minor local celeb? There's a game on! TALK ABOUT THE GAME!
As for Gio I think we shouldn't lose sight that it's effectivly his first game of the season? And his first game in a Spurs shirt (barring the minute cameo against Wolves) in nearly a year? I think he covered a lot of ground and was effective cutting in from the wing, but faded when he was moved up front to play off Pav. I think we will be able to judge him more effectively if he gets a few more games with the first team. I'll cut him slack till then.
@Spooks; cheers for putting this up
Incidentally this must mean Carlo is Eligible to play for England? Surely if Almunia was? I'd take him to the Euros over Robert Green, or Stackdale (has he played a game for Fulham this season?)
He can speak Italian as well. Just a suggestion?
:)
Wasn't the greatest of games, but great experience for the younger players and a good result in difficult conditions (hostile fans, hot/humid weather and poor referee).
Good to see the youngsters get a chance at this level though. Thought Carroll, Townsend, Falque and Livermore all looked very good. GDS was poor, especially in second half.
Worth noting that the pitch wasn't great, which made it difficult to play our style of football. Definitely think it affected the way we played.
But for me, the most disappointing aspect of the game was definitely Pav. Would have hoped/expected him to lead by example, especially when playing alongside Kane up front.Instead, I saw no running, no pressuring defenders, no tracking back and very poor & unconvincing shooting. Wish we'd replaced him with Damiao in the transfer window.
But overall, encouraging performance and good result. Now bring on Liverpool!
Livermore bottled it after coming inside on his left, the goal was at his mercy but he wasn't confident using his weaker foot, poor form.
Cudicini made some ridiculous saves, his cheeky grin at the end was priceless.
It was great seeing Spurs play the way they did: truly expected the worse:
Brief analysis:
Great: Carlo, Livermore, Carroll, Falque
OK: Gio (1st 90min forever), Kane, Corluka (just....)
Oh no: Walker (kept losing the ball - ok in retrieving but why lose it in the first place ?)
Bassong - BIG time dodgy too much to write;
Townsend (eyes down dead alleys ???!!!)
Pav: Did nothing to be the role model he needed to be for the younsters to follow....
Well done Spurs and Harry - did well with all the doubts around him.... COYMS on Sunday!!!
Yet again Pav is ranting about lack of first team opportunities..... Well, when he plays so consistently bad when given opportunities, does he really think he deserves to start in the PL?!??!
CUDICINI- 6
gave away penalty, made few important late saves
TOWNSEND- 5.5
not a left back and it showed, positive going foward but kept on running down dead ends
BASSONG- 5
hesitant, shakey, not at all the same Bassong from 09/10
CORLUKA- 5.5
typical charlie..
WALKER- 5.5
still needs work in defending, pacy going foward but needlessly lost the ball to much
FALQUE- 6
looks promising, didn’t stand out but did good, better than Gio imo..
CARROLL- 6
quick on the ball, looks a promising playmaker
LIVERMORE- 6.5
played like a young Jenas
GIOVANI- 5.5
as much as i wanted him to, he just did stand out.. he really needs a couple goasl to boost his confidence because we could really use the competition for Lennon
KANE- 5.5
did good in first half but then was moved to left midfield in second half which baffled me..
PAMELA CHENKO- 4
Very annoying to watch, lazy, wasteful, has to go in January, should be giving Coulibaly a chance.
PARRETT and FREDERICKS came on late and didnt have much time to show their worth.
Excluding Pav and Cudicini the average age of our squad played was 20.81 years old, with them it was 22.76.
@Boobs - Coubilaly isn't eligible for the Europa (neither is Ceballos). Actually, that's not true, neither are eligible for the "B List" of U21s.
Saino, great write up considering, as you mentioned, being volunteered mid-game by myself. I hear Gio has had a bust-up with HR after the game? All is not well with that relationship which is a shame as the boy has talent but application seems to be the issue.
#coys @e4sty
Gio had a bust-up with Harry? No surprise. Harry doesn't rate him so he's hardly ever going to play well for us.