Spurs vs Inter - Match Review
On Sunday 30th June 2006, Tottenham Hotspur took to the field against the (purportedly) mighty Inter Milan. The match had long been billed to be a potential classic, and Spurs’ official website did not hesitate in proclaiming it as such.
However, with the large majority of the pre-match talk focussed on the imminent departure of Michael Carrick - perhaps Tottenham’s most influential player during the 2005-6 season - how would the (choco-golden) Lilywhites adapt to life without their midfield maestro?
“Not with a bang but with a whimper� (T.S. Eliot, The Wasteland)
In a match in which both teams fielded drastically weakened line-ups, mediocrity reigned for long periods. Spurs were without, at the very least, six first-team regulars, and Inter set foot on the famous White Hart Lane turf without any of their illustrious World Cup Stars. The Inter Milan substitutes’ bench was primarily occupied by unfamiliar youth-team members, and the ‘star-studded’ starting eleven boasted only three players of stellar importance: Javier Zanetti (whose omission from the Argentina World Cup squad was nothing short of absurd), Dejan Stankovic and Obafemi Martins (in whom Tottenham apparently hold a long-term interest – more on this later).
Spurs lined up in the 4-3-3 formation which Martin Jol has favoured during pre-season (though MJ claims that he will most probably revert back to his orthodox 4-4-2 once Jenas has been reintegrated into the set-up, following the latter’s less-than-strenuous aestival exploits), and this decision (along with the ensuing necessity to play certain individuals out of position) certainly did nothing for Spurs’ passing fluency.
Radek Cerny continued in goal in the absence of Paul Robinson; Michael Dawson and Calum Davenport formed a young and formidable defensive unit, and Benoit Assou-Ekotto continued to impress at left fullback. Wayne Routledge once more doubled up as a right-back, with varying success; Edgar Davids was again forced out wide as a left-midfielder, Teemu Tainio reinforced the opinion that he is indeed Mr Versatile (occupying the right midfield spot), and 19 year-old Tom Huddlestone set out to demonstrate that the loss of Michael Carrick will not be too harshly felt at the Lane. On Sunday’s evidence, this is an optimistic view at best.
Although the result and the performances of Messrs. Assou-Ekotto, Berbatov and Defoe give cause for optimism, we can only hope that the team to face Bolton on August 19th will be a radically different one indeed. Radek Cerny was perhaps at fault for Martins’ equaliser shortly before half-time, Calum Davenport did nothing to suggest that he will be able to fill Ledley King’s rather large boots, whilst Wayne Routledge, repeatedly caught out of position, disappointed on both the defensive and the offensive fronts, particularly as he too often balked at the opportunity to hit the by-line, instead cutting in and losing the ball. Edgar Davids remained petulant and ineffective, Teemu Tainio seemed confused as to his role in the set-up (especially with regard to his interchange with Routledge), Robbie Keane faded into anonymity and Huddlestone, invoked by many a Tottenham fan as the man to replace Carrick, did not seem comfortable in the central midfield role. At the same time as showing massive potential, Huddlestone dropped deep far too often and failed to pick out telling passes in the way that Carrick would do so effortlessly.
All in all, it was a performance that lacked cohesiveness, and one with which most fans would be disappointed, irrespective of Tainio’s 79th-minute wonder-goal.
Coming Next….Tottenham - Looking To The Future
you dont know what your on about m8. im guessing your an arsenal supporter. if not, then you just dont know about football.
Actually, the author is a Spurs fan
It never ceases to amaze me how football fans will go into a frenzy if someone says their team played below par, even if its one of their own
Alex - if I were an Arsenal fan, would I go to the Spurs match and then write 1100 words about Spurs? Now, instead of mouthing of, why don’t you challenge my views rationally? With what do you disagree?
You guys know this was a preseason fixture right? and therefore neither side is yet ready for the big kick of and played teams that will obviously be vastly different given it was a wc year? so the performance could be forgiven. For example its obvious routledge will not be our right back, but he is gaining match fitness etc etc. Furthermore although the Inter team was not at full strength they do have very good depth in their squad so the game was full of top class players and not reserve players as turned out for spurs (with i think three obvious admissions) the previous day. All in all I’d say job well done, lets not be too negative, ok spurs didnt set the world alight, but well save that for bolton yeah?
what a waste of 1100 words, clearly after watching the last 10 years of crap at whl you seem to have fallen into a very negative view of spurs. Try looking at the many positives from the performance on sunday and write about those.
I was at the game as well, and think a lot of the article coincides with many of the sentiments that i took from the game. yes it may be slightly negative, but it is realistic. it was not a good performance, but there were a few bright displays (as mentioned). and the regular inter team is almost unrecogniseable when compared to their line-up on sunday.
i salute your efforts at trying to write a balanced impartial report on the game. not a waste of 1100 by and stretch of the imagination…
Cm’on mate, I was at that game, we played very well seing as it was only a FRIENDLY and none of the players were taking it seriously. We were just using the game, 2 try out different players in various positions and I was impressed with Huddlestone, he produced some good passes which set up goal scoring opportunities. Dawson and Davenport looked lyk a solid paring, Keano and Berbatov linked up well together and were unlucky not 2 score and Benoit looked comfortable at LB and he should def start instead of Lee Po.
Tano is an underatred member of the team, yet he is so important 2 us. He has got a great work ethic, isn’t afraid 2 get stuck in, produces goal scroing opportunities and his second goal was just superb. One of my personal favourite Spurs players, when he plays well we generally win.
Overall the team played well and we were unlucky not 2 score more goals, but we still got the win. One criticism though is our RB in the first half was nowhere 2 b found, Inter kept having an easy tym down that side. Also Routledge loos poor, he has pace and can dribble past players but when it comes 2 end product, he doesn’t have it at all.
All and all an enjoyable game and as usual a great atmosphere at The Lane.