FRIENDLY FIXTURE
SUNDAY 25TH JULY, 2004
SHEFFIELD UNITED 2 (1) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1 (1)

Sheffield Utd scorers:-
Harley, 20
Forte, 68

Spurs scorer:-
Keane, 19

Attendance:- 8.788

Referee:- Mr. P. Prosser

Teams:-
Sheffield Utd (4-4-2):- Kenny; Francis, Morgan (Capt.), Jagielka, Wright (sub Quinn, 45); Liddell (sub Forte, 61), Thirlwell (sub Sharp, 80), Tonge (sub Ross, 80), Harley; Hayles (sub Ward, 61), Gray (sub Montgomery, 61),
Subs not used:- Barnes, Bromby, Ndlovu.

Spurs (4-5-1):- Keller, Kelly (sub Carr, 80), Richards, King (sub Gardner, 45), Bunjevcevic (sub McKie, 45); Yeates, Redknapp (sub Capt.) (sub Hughes, 57), Mabizela, Davis, Jackson (sub Ricketts, 67); Keane (sub Malcolm, 45).
Subs not used:- Fulop; Doherty; Mendes; Defoe.

From the point of view of a Spurs fan, this match might just as well have been played behind closed doors for all the entertainment and value for money the travelling fans got for making the journey up the M1. We have still to see anything like a first choice team in action, and whilst one has to accept that the pre-season programme is not for the benefit of the fans, those who have invested in tickets and travel to Glasgow and Seville are entitled to see more competitive performances than this. I cannot be certain, but it is possible that Mark Yeates' corner kick taken just as injury time loomed was Spurs one and only kick of the game. Certainly, apart from a decent effort from Yeates, the home keeper was not bothered in the second half, when the Lilywhites were playing towards a generous number of Spurs fans.

This match was of course arranged as a chance for Michael Brown to appear at his old hunting ground, but although he was present to make the half-time draw (and have a few balls kicked at him by colleagues warming up), Brown was one of a few notable absentees. To the best of my knowledge there has still been no sign of Kanoute, who may be travelling to Greece to play for Mali in the Olympics, and Simon Davies has yet to appear in England. As there was a game at Hull yesterday, inevitably several players such as Jermain Defoe, Mendes, and Robinson sat this one out.

No doubt due to the shortage of strikers (at least Santini did not resort to using Doherty up front!), and no doubt a desire to experiment, Spurs started in a 4-5-1 formation, with Robbie Keane the lone front man. Bearing in mind Robbie's tendency to often come deep to collect the ball, that left a void in the area too often, and United's central pairing of Morgan and Jagielka were somewhat under-employed. Yeates played wide on the right, and John Jackson was on the other wing. These were two of our more impressive players. Jamie Redknapp made his first appearance, with Mabizela to his left, and Sean Davis also in a central/attacking midfield role.

Sheffield United start their league programme in two weeks' time, and are of course that week ahead of Spurs in their preparation. The Blades showed more energy, desire and physical attributes than the visitors, who failed to control and pass the ball for much of the game. In the second half, when the Spurs youngsters once again dominated the make-up of the side, it was men against boys. The boys were easily shaken off the ball. There was an element of shyness by a few of the Spurs side to challenge fully, but that has not prevented the injuries amounting so far this pre-season - admittedly to reserve players such as Barnard, Slabber and Kelly.

United made the first threat after 9 minutes when Bunjee bottled out of stretching for Jackson's knock back down the line, and United crossed from right then left, before the ball was eventually cleared. Five minutes later, Richards sent a long ball to Jackson, who did well, fed Bunjevcevic, who passed to Robbie Keane, getting his shot on target by straight to Kenny. After another five minutes, Davis provided perhaps his only piece of creativity of the day from our recent signing, when he cleverly chipped over the defence, where Robbie Keane raced onto the ball and from an angle on the left finished convincingly across the keeper.

The joy was short-lived though, as United equalised within a minute. Hayles got the better of Ledley King in the box, and sent a low pass across the 18 yard line to Harley who smashed the ball into the roof of the net. Kasey Keller got a touch, but it was not enough to prevent a good goal. Barry Hayles might have given United the lead as he then flung himself at a Harley cross, but failed to connect with his header. Hayles was in the thick of it, as he teed up Tonge, who fired over. A flying double-footed challenge by Redknapp might have been punished on 35 minutes, when Wright floated in a free kick from the left, but Gray headed over with Keller not looking confident to say the least!

Both sides rang the changes after the break, and when Redknapp was replaced by Mark Hughes, Spurs reverted to a 4-4-2, with Yeates playing beside Michael Malcolm. The winning goal came in the 68th minute, when Richards was slow, and Keller was stranded and Jonathan Forte made a fine finish by chipping over the advancing Keller for a great goal for the home fans. Forte impressed soon after that with a great run down the left wing beating three players on the way. More injury woe came for Spurs when Stephen Kelly injured himself with a lunging tackle.

It was the worst performance that I can think of in any Spurs friendly I have seen in recent years, and it has made me question my sanity in planning to travel to Glasgow for both the matches up there. I hope my commitment (and of course that of many other fans) is rewarded with better showings.

Sheffield United look very much like an outfit who will be in the mix for the Promotion race from the new Coca-Cola Championship.

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