Club Announcement, 11/30/2008

Courtesy of Official Site-

We are delighted to announce the appointment to the coaching staff of Tony Parks as Goalkeeping Coach.

Tony was a Spurs player between 1982-88, with the highlight being his two penalty saves against Anderlecht that clinched the UEFA Cup in 1984.

He went on to play for several clubs including a spell as player-coach at Halifax and, after originally working part-time at The Football Association, he joined the organisation in October 2002 as Assistant National Goalkeeping Coach.

Linked here.

League Report: Everton 1 Spurs 1

Courtesy of Official Site-

Harry Redknapp was disappointed with the manner of our defeat - not least the goal - as we lost 1-0 to Everton on Sunday.

Steven Pienaar punished a lack of concentration to maximum effect in the 51st minute to score the only goal of the game, picking up a quick free-kick from Mikel Arteta before firing home via a slight, but telling deflection off Vedran Corluka.

We pushed the Toffees back as we searched for an equaliser but despite constant pressure, we struggled to create clear-cut chances.

The closest we came was when David Bentley crossed from the right, Roman Pavkyuchenko slid in to meet it six yards out only for Everton keeper Tim Howard to flick the ball up and over the crossbar.

It was our first defeat at home in the Premier League under Harry's management.

"Everton are a difficult team to play against," said Harry. "We gave a terrible goal away, we switched off at the free-kick, they played a short one and it's in the back of the net with half of us not looking at the ball.

"They are very difficult to beat when they have their noses in front.

"We had no space to pass the ball and Everton shut the space down with five men in midfield. It was difficult to play through them so we then resorted to high balls and we can't play that way, it's not us.

"We didn't get Aaron Lennon into the game but if he's being marked tightly, there has to be space elsewhere.

"We didn't work hard enough as runners to create space for the pass so our possession wasn't good enough and if you don't pass it well you don't give yourselves a chance."

Linked here.

UEFA Cup: Spurs 1 Nijmegen 0

Courtesy of Official Site-

Qualification from UEFA Cup Group D now looks probable after a further three points were added to our account courtesy of Jamie O'Hara's winner against Nijmegen on Thursday evening.

The midfielder planted his head on the ball in the 14th minute in what turned out to be the decisive moment.

It was an opening without incident for the first 13 minutes until the deadlock was broken in explosive fashion. Gareth Bale cut back and Fraizer Campbell rattled the ball off the underside of the bar before an alert O'Hara was on hand to nod beyond Gabor Babos to give us a deserved lead.

Not that too much had happened before this, but the pressing was coming from the team in blue and Gomes was left inactive in front of the Spurs travelling support.

There were six changes to the starting XI that defeated Blackburn at the weekend, with four Academy youngsters drafted onto the substitutes bench, including John Bostock and Adam Smith, who have previously enjoyed first team experience since the beginning of pre-season.

Nijmegen did present a goal threat on 22 minutes when Moestrafa El-Kabir drilled in a shot that Gomes did well to foil and, when the loose ball was about to be seized upon by a home body, Chris Gunter launched himself into a brave and effective block - effectively a goal-saving challenge from the young Welshman.

The home side attempted to forge a way back into the game as half-time approached but were met with strong resistance from the likes of Gunter, Dawson and Woodgate, while Bale was effective both defensively and offensively on the left flank.

The home support, packed inside the compact Goffertstadion, were not losing heart and there was a good atmosphere on a chilly night in eastern Holland.

They could have been left a bit deflated when O'Hara thumped in a shot from just outside the area, which Babos needed his reflexes to be at their sharpest to repel, while the rebound did not fall kindly for Campbell, but David Bentley managed to steer back into the danger area, with this particular alert averted.

Bentley attempted to arrow towards the top corner in the opening exchanges of the second half before his cross was nodded with some conviction goalwards by Darren Bent, requiring a fine save from Babos to tip over the bar.

Nijmegen inched their way back into the contest as the game reached the hour mark with some useful possession, while all the time Gomes remained confident in his work and cross gathering, very much in tune with his central defenders.

Bent made way for Aaron Lennon with 20 minutes left on the clock, with the little winger stocking up the midfield and bursting forward at his considerable pace.

Woodgate executed a superb tackle on El-Kabir on 77 minutes to deny perhaps Nijmegen's most effective player a clear route on goal.

Academy striker Jon Obika was granted a first team debut with seven minutes remaining, before Ryan Mason was bought on for stoppage time, which passed without significant threat to our advantage.

Linked here.

League Report: Spurs 1 Blackburn 0

Courtesy of Official Site-

Aaron Lennon was in unstoppable form on his first league start under Harry Redknapp in our 1-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers at The Lane.

The flying winger set up Roman Pavlyuchenko for the winning goal and continued to be a threat throughout our fourth league victory in six games.

There were three changes to the team which lost 2-1 at Fulham the previous weekend as Redknapp reverted to a 4-4-2 formation.

Pavlyuchenko joined Darren Bent in attack and Benoit Assou-Ekotto returned to fill the left back role. But arguably the most key introduction to the side was Lennon on the right wing.

The tricky winger has shown Redknapp glimpses of what he can do during the appearances he has made, but this game was settled by his domination over his left back.

Martin Olsson had only made four first team appearances for Rovers before this season, only one of them as a starter, so it is fair to say the Swede may never have come up against the lightning pace of someone like Lennon before in his career.

It was this factor that led to the only goal of the game after exactly nine minutes.

Lennon dispossessed Olsson on the halfway line before sprinting away, holding the defender off all the way to the by-line before pulling back to the waiting Pavlyuchenko who swept home.

The Russian wasted no time in celebrating his sixth Spurs goal by running straight to his team-mate and congratulating him on a fantastic contribution.

Five minutes later, Pavlyuchenko could have had his second as he climbed highest to meet David Bentley's in-swinging free-kick, which he glanced against Paul Robinson's post.

It is worth mentioning here the fantastic reception our fans gave ‘Robbo' on his return to White Hart Lane throughout the game.

Robinson spent four seasons here before his summer switch to Ewood Park, making 175 appearances and scoring one memorable goal! His service to the Club has clearly not been forgotten.

But there was little he could do as former team-mate Lennon continued to run rampant during the first half, and he eventually got the better of Olsson once and for all.

The left-back had previously been booked for a trip on the winger before once again over-committing himself against the England Under-21 star five minutes from the break. Olsson's dismissal was no doubt a bitter blow for the visitors going into half-time.

And Lennon came close to deservedly getting his name on the scoresheet from the resultant free-kick, that was cleared to him on the edge of the box.

His left foot shot was fierce and deflected off Ryan Nelsen, only to hit the legs of Robinson. It's fair to say the England stopper knew little about it!

Rovers boss Paul Ince brought on defender Danny Simpson to fill the left-back void at the break with striker Benni McCarthy making way, suggesting a damage-limitation policy from the visitors.

Therefore, chances were a little more infrequent in the second half as we looked to close the game.

We had our moments. Tom Huddlestone hit a fierce curling shot inches over the bar from 30 yards on 54 minutes, while Jonathan Woodgate should have done better with his close range header from Bentley's free-kick on 70 minutes.

Fraizer Campbell was introduced 15 minutes from time in a bid to continue his good run of recent form, and his 81st minute ball across the face of goal was just out of Bent's reach.

And Campbell should have had a goal for himself four minutes later, putting his free header wide from Bentley's cross.

But at the other end, Blackburn could create nothing clear cut, and it was a comfortable afternoon overall for Heurelho Gomes as we regained our league momentum and climbed out of the bottom three.

Spurs (4-4-2): Gomes; Corluka, Woodgate, King, Assou-Ekotto; Bentley (O'Hara, 86), Huddlestone, Jenas, Lennon; Pavlyuchenko (Campbell, 74), Bent
Subs not used: Cesar, Bale, Zokora, Gunter, Dawson

Liverpool (4-4-2): Robinson; Ooijer, Samba, Nelsen, Olsson; Emerton (Derbyshire, 71), Mokoena, Andrews, Pedersen (Treacy, 81); Santa Cruz, McCarthy (Simpson, 46)
Subs: Brown, Tugay, Fowler, Roberts

Linked here.

Club Announcement: Goalkeeper Coach

Courtesy of Official Site-

The Club can report that Hans Leitert, First Team Goalkeeping Coach, has left the coaching staff.

Hans joined us during the close season and we should like to thank him for his contribution and wish him well.

An announcement regarding a new appointment will be made in due course.

Linked here.

League Report: Fulham 2 spurs 1

Courtesy of Official Site-

Our six-match unbeaten run came to an end at Craven Cottage where a late Fraizer Campbell goal did not lead to a two-goal deficit being overturned.

A goal in each half from the home side proved enough and, if truth be told, they were value for their win as Roy Hodgson's side dictated the tempo for the majority of the match.

It was a frantic beginning down by the Thames without either goalkeeper being caused undue alarm until, on 12 minutes, Andy Johnson got the run on Jonathan Woodgate and his cut back was directed back on goal by Danny Murphy and looked promising for the home side until Vedran Corluka produced a timely block.

Moments later Gareth Bale let Clint Dempsey cut inside of him and the American elected to let fly with an effort that was arrowing towards the top corner until the outstretched hand of Heurelho Gomes was able to tip over. The Brazilian looking a bit battered after his appointments with the dentist this week.

Fulham were edging the contest, Johnson had an appeal for a penalty instantly waved away before Bobby Zamora got himself booked for attempted to beat Gomes with a deliberate handball.

The boys began to assert some control with patient passing before Luka Modric stepped it up a bit with a darting run and shot on goal that flashed just wide on 27 minutes. Two minutes later David Bentley fired inches wide following a deflected centre from Modric before the midfielder set Darren Bent on the run with a high ball into the area, but Mark Schwarzer was alert to the situation.

Fulham took a fortunate lead with 33 minutes on the clock when Simon Davies fizzed a ball into the area that clipped the head of Woodgate before flying into the chest of Gomes and agonisingly rolled over the line.

Harry Redknapp made two changes at the break, bringing on Aaron Lennon and Roman Pavlyuchenko for Luka Modric - who appeared to be struggling with injury in the first half - and Tom Huddlestone.

Jimmy Bullard smashed in a free-kick that Gomes parried to relative safety as Fulham pretty much picked up where they left off in the opening ten minutes of the second half. The team in blue were finding fluency hard to come by as darkness closed in around Craven Cottage.

Davies tried his luck with a low drive from distance that Gomes foiled to his right before a speedy dash from Lennon required a last-gasp lunge from Brede Hangeland to stop in its tracks.

The momentum was switching to Spurs with Ledley King doing brilliantly to take down a Bale cross, only to flash his shot narrowly over.

However, it was only a temporary shift of power, as with 20 minutes to go, Davies jumped higher than Bale from a Paul Konchesky corner, his header was blocked but Johnson was sharp on the turn in the area and drilled into the net from close range.

Gomes then produced a fine save to thwart a Bullard free-kick that was zipping towards the corner.

The deficit was reduced against the run of play with ten minutes remaining. A surge forward by Jenas led to Bentley feeding the ball left and into the path of substitute Fraizer Campbell, who rolled a cool finish beyond Schwarzer.

It should probably have been 3-1 but for a absolutely stunning save by Gomes from a Bullard free-kick, but this action and the subsequent substitution of Bullard ate into injury time and Fulham held on.

Linked here.

Carling Cup Quater-final draw

Courtesy of Official Site-

We have been drawn away against Watford in the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup.

The date for the tie has yet to be confirmed but we will travel to Vicarage Road on the week commencing December 1.

The full draw is as follows...

Stoke v Derby

Manchester United v Blackburn

Burnley v Arsenal

Watford v Tottenham

Linked here.