FRIENDLY FIXTURE
SATURDAY 7TH AUGUST, 2004
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1 (0) CAGLIARI 2 (0)

Spurs scorer:-
Kanoute, 56

Cagliari scorers:-
Conti, 59
Albino, 61

Referee:- Dermot Gallagher

Attendance:- 21,441

Teams:-
Spurs (4-4-2):- Robinson; Taricco (sub Ifil, 50), Doherty, King (sub Bunjevcevic, 62), Edman; Davis (sub Brown, 80), Redknapp (Capt..)(sub Ricketts, 76), Mendes, Jackson; Defoe, Kanoute (sub Bakari, 62)
Subs not used:- Keller; Silva

Cagliari(4-3-2-1):- Katergiannakis; Lopez, Agostini (Sabato, 64), Maltagiati (Pisano, 83), Esposito (Alvarez, 80), Suazo, Brambilla (Delnevo, 68), Loria, Gobbis, Abeijon (Conti, 45), Langella (Albino, 60).
Subs not used:- Lezzo, Demartis.

In a game played in stifling heat and sunshine in front of a crowd of over 21,000 that was enthusiastic, but eventually cynical, Spurs lost their sixth of 11 pre-season friendlies that can be regarded as first team matches. (One of those was on a penalty shoot-out). Whilst I personally have no time for those who actually booed Gary Doherty on occasions in the second half, and booed their team off the park for losing a PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY, it is a worry that perhaps Jacques Santini's men (of whatever combination) are getting into a nasty losing habit. This needs to be shaken off immediately!

Whatever you say about Doherty, it is a fact that before Spurs conceded two goals in quick time, after taking a deserved lead through Kanoute, Gary was responsible for saving two almost certain goals. His first such move was to prevent Langella getting a shot in from the edge of the area, having tracked him and harassed him across the space. Doherty's second block was to bravely charge down a power drive from Suazo. Sadly the ball ran to a Cagliari player and their equaliser resulted.

According to Santini's pre-match quotes, Spurs started with almost their strongest eleven. There was no Carr, even on the bench. Maybe he has a knock, but I begin to wonder if Frank Arnesen isn't starting to turn the screw on Carr to sign a new contract or else. After all, Taricco does a decent enough job on the right, and Ifil is rapidly progressing. Erik Edman displayed plenty of competence and combating down the left. Spurs have also announced the signing (subject to medical and terms, of left back/left midfielder Thimothee Atouba), and I suspect that John Jackson will be making way for the Cameroon International, signed from Christian Gross's FC Basel.

The Doherty/ King defensive pairing was another variation on the theme, with Ledley playing left side, whereas he prefers the right. Sean Davis (making his White Hart Lane debut of course, as were Robinson, Edman, Mendes and trialist Bakari) played right side midfield, with Redknapp and Mendes inside and Jackson on the left. Kanoute and Defoe looked sharp up front. Due to poor announcing, it is difficult to assess the visitors whose team sheet is here reproduced from official records, but I couldn't tell you who was who. What I do know is that there was no sign anywhere of Zola, who is the best known member of the Cagliari side who have just been promoted back to Serie A.

In the first half, Spurs did look significantly sharper than the visitors, who may well be in the early stages of their pre-season preparation, as the Italian season starts later than ours. It is interesting to note that Cagliari matched a system seen at the Lane last year, when we played PSV, and favoured by a few sides on the continent, with a lone front man supported by two attacking wing men. A three-man midfield in front of the defence completed the shape for the visiting team.

Spurs had the first sharp move after 5 minutes, when Davies, Redknapp and Defoe were involved in a short passing movement down the right. Redknapp fed Mendes, who might have had a shot, but passed instead to Jackson, whose low cross was tipped out for the first corner of the game. Jackson then put Defoe through, but Defoe's effort was blocked as he tried to get the ball onto his right foot. On the quarter-hour mark, Kanoute sent Jackson away down the left wing with a lovely flick from the half-way line. Jackson crossed, but the keeper was just first to the ball before that man Defoe.

A great long ball from Redknapp that reached Jackson resulted in a throw, from which Kanoute tricked his way into the box, was blocked leaving Taricco a chance as he advanced upon the area. "Tano"'s shot was well outside the post. Cagliari's first chance came after half an hour, when Robinson parried a free kick from 30 yards by Langella. Spurs recovered to clear their lines.

Defoe carried the ball inside from the right, and fed Kanoute who was brought down about 22 yards out. Redknapp touched the ball for Jackson who hit a good low shot, pushed out by the keeper for another corner. On the stroke of half-time, Jamie Redknapp hit a good low free kick across the goal and just outside the left post.

Taricco went off with a possible hamstring injury after 50 minutes, to be replaced by Philip Ifil, who received great applause, after his TV exposure in Seville this week. Ifil looked great going forward, but perhaps lost his way at times defending, leaving too much space at the time of the equaliser, and getting a bit of sideline coaching from Santini. Spurs took the lead in the 56th minute, when Sean Davis just failed to reach Jackson's cross, and the ball reached Fredi, lurking at the back post about 10 yards out, prodding home a low shot to score in front of the Paxton Road crowd. Kanoute nearly had a second within minutes, when Davis threaded him a ball, which the striker stabbed outside the post.

The equaliser came from a short cross from the left (space left by Ifil), and Doherty had two men to deal with, charging down the first shot, but unable to prevent Conti beating Robinson with a low shot from 12 yards. Two minutes later and Spurs were behind. This time the ball came from the right side and Robinson made a great reaction save from Gobbis, but the ball fell for Albino all too readily firing home.

The substitutions started to come thick and fast, including that of Bakari, criticised by some present as he entered the pitch, judging him after watching the Eurosport coverage from Spain this week. Bakari did quickly lay a decent ball off for Defoe, whose shot needed a save, and then Bakari was heading down an Edman ball for Redknapp, whose shot was well over the left stanchion.

Whilst I will be travelling to Glasgow again this week, I expect a fairly low-key game, with Celtic starting the SPL programme tomorrow, and Spurs starting the season proper next Saturday. Despite the poor results, judgement upon Santini's men should be reserved for a considerable time yet!

Follow @spursodyssey