By Dave P
September 26 2004

So Chelsea couldn't score and we hit six against Oldham so we are going to beat United this time. They haven't had the best of starts and Rooney is not playing. Ferdinand may be back but he surely won't have the match sharpness required at this level yet. Maybe this time we could get one over them. Tv and Radio pundits harked back to previous matches referring to exciting games in the past and mentioning Glamour Clubs and Tottenham in the same sentence so even the press are starting to take notice of Tottenham Hotspur again.

This was the general air of optimism that I sensed as I arrived at the ground, One or two doubters around but lets face it, this wouldn't be Tottenham if there weren't doubters. So three easy points then.

Now lets get realistic, We've had a good start to the season, only conceded two goals, finished Oldham off in a professional manner and now face a resurgent Manchester United side. I'll be happy with a point I (quietly) think to myself.

Team news and a slightly surprising selection. No Atouba we knew about so how would Santini adjsut for that change especially as certain players were not available or fully fit yet. The inclusion of Mabizela as a Defensive Midfielder was in my opinion a brave decision considering he spent the Oldham game playing as a Right Back. All three strikers playing albeit using Keane as a Left sided Midfielder was also possibly expected but still brave. We were not going to put 11 behind the ball then.

The game started and for a long period there was mothing to choose between the two sides. Midfields dominated and defences did their job. A cross from Nistelrooy took two deflections that maybe could have caused Robinson a problem and Mendes had a couple of long range pokes, one of which proved a bit awkward for Carrol. Giggs had a couple of half chances but no real threat at either end. We looked balanced. Keane deep, Kanoute and Defoe up front working hard with little to show for it but always keeping the United defence in a state of nervousness.

Then Davies wa seen stripping off on the touchline - why? I couldn't see an obvious change but then Kanoute went off (suspected hamstring apparently) and we lost that threat up front. Keane stayed back and Defoe was left on his own and no matter how hard you try to pump aerial balls up to Defoe, If he is on his own you are never going to get anywhere. Then disaster, Edman and O'Shea tangle (fairly innocuously) and the linesmans flag goes up and the Ref points at the spot. Now I wasn't sure at the time, I've seen it replayed a number of times now and I'm still not sure. Yes Edman did hold his shirt but I reckon he was fouled first (Lineker hinted that he did too on MOTD). Watch it again from another angle and O'Shea is already falling when any (possible) foul is committed. I've seen far worse decisions not given and I think we were maybe a tad unlucky there. But its halftime and we're losing 1-0 and until that point under no real threat that we weren't capable of dealing with.

2nd Half and Redknapp switches to the right, Keane goes forward, Davies switches to the left and we looked a diffent side for ten minutes or so and during this period (and not picked up by MOTD) the officials missed three or four incidents that lend support to the theory that United get different treatment to anyone else. Keane took an arm in the face, Pamarot got hauled back while pushing forward (right under the Lino's nose) but nothing given our way and a couple of other dubius decisions went in Uniteds favour. Mendes got booked for winning the ball and United got back into the match again. A Disallowed Goal, A good save from Robbo and a claim for a penalty ignored depite Ronaldos attempts at fooling everyone. The Ref got this one right in that it was an excellet Paramot tackle and later replays proved the point. A different ref may have booked Ronaldo for simulation though.

Jackson had come on for Mabizela who was tiring and Davies switched back over to the right. A few snatched long distance shots that if players were fully fit may have had more venom in them, notably from Keane and Davies. A goalmouth scramble that may have got an equaliser and at our end, a superb block from Keane and a fortunate Robinson block from Bellion that I do not for one minute beieve Robbo knew anything about and the game ended. No goals from open play and to be honest, nothing between the two sides as evidenced by the official stats. eg shots on target 5 each, shots of target 6-2 in Tottenhams favour, corners 3 each etc.


Overall I feel we did not deserve to lose it and United did not really deserve to win it.

Player ratings

Robinson -- Englands No 1 and performed as such 7/10
King ------ England best central defender 7/10
Naybet ---- Quality 7/10
Edman ----- Not his best game today but still a quality signing 6/10
Mabizela--- Brave inclusion in my opinion, played as a defensive Midfielder and performed solidly. 6/10
Pamarot --- Had an excellent game - my MoM today 8/10 Every time united pushed forward in the first half we forced them wide and Edman and Paramot did a fine job, Paramot especially.
Mendes ---- Solid but I would still like to see him carry the ball himself from time to time instead of passing.
Redknapp -- Worked hard but Brown & Carrick must see their chances of rising up the pecking order increase 5/10
Keane ----- Out of position and not in the position I would prefer he was used (Just behind the front two.) Would have liked him to push up more when Kanoute went off as we were short up front for a while. Still not fit but improving. His best game for us so far this season but still only a 6/10 I'm afraid.
Defoe ----- Defoe is Defoe but for a long period today was isolated. The sight of him trying to win headers against Ferdinand woried me because he was never going to win one 6/10
Kanoute --- Having a good game til he went off injured - 7/10

Subs
Davies ---- Not fit yet and it showed to be honest 5/10
Jackson --- No added value 5/10


overall -- we showed that we can defend, probe and attack but lacked a creative element that tried something different. Davies when fit may provide this but it is an area that need solving in January. Also If Keane is to play as a midfielder we need to support Defoe more as (esp in the first half) he looked isolated and lonely.

We've played United with a patched up team that missed Davis. Carrick is yet to feature and Davies is not yet fully fit and would not have featured for so long today but for a knock that Kanoute took. We matched them for shots on target (MOTD stats - not mine) and only conceded a 'soft' penalty.

A touch of creativity and it could so easily have been different so lets not get too disheartened by this result. We are on the right track