FRIENDLY FIXTURE
SATURDAY 31ST JULY, 2004
NOTTINGHAM FOREST 0 (0) TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 2 (1)
Scorers:-
Kanoute, 38
Defoe (pen), 59
Attendance:- 18,845
Referee:- Mr. A. Hall
Teams:- Forest (4-4-2):- Gerrard; Impey, Rogers, Morgan (Fanni, 45), Louis-Jean, Hjelde (Doig, 61), James (Westcarr, 45), Jess (Cash, 72), Reid, Johnson (Beaumont, 72), King (Taylor, 61).
Subs not used:- Ward, Perch, Robertson, Bopp, Roche, Sarr
Spurs (4-4-2) :- Keller; Carr, Doherty, King, Taricco; Davis (sub Marney, 60), Redknapp (Capt.) (sub Hughes, 72), Mendes, Jackson (sub Yeates, 83); Kanoute (sub Bakari, 46), Defoe (sub Silva, 77)
Subs not used:- Robinson; Bunjevcevic, Ifil; Ricketts.
(As always at Friendlies it is always difficult to hear the announcer and rely upon the information in the programme. Hence I have had to rely on official reports for the Forest team, which I do not think played as per the suggested formation above. My timings in the first half also differ, but who am I to argue!)
After surviving more than a little in the way of scares and pressure from Forest in the first half, when Kasey Keller made a save as spectacular as that seen on Wednesday night by Robinson, Spurs did at last assert themselves to the point when they were in control in the latter part of the first half and for the second half, gaining only their second, and their best pre-season victory.
Mysteriously Forest's Andy Reid played the full 90 minutes, whilst most of his team-mates were relieved and rested in preparation for Forest's start to their league campaign next week. Reid certainly impressed the Spurs contingent who greeted him with their "Yiddo" chant whenever he touched the ball, and also sang "You're Spurs and you know you are". Well, if Spurs do not match Forest's asking price, then I suspect he will not be one of us, but surely Forest will struggle to hold onto this player who showed every bit of why he is such an attraction. Reid, playing on the left, does not have the greatest pace, but he is a very tricky and clever player with a fine deceptive turn of foot, and a great range of passing and ball skills. Reid ran the show for the first 20 minutes or so, tricking the likes of Carr and Sean Davis, chipping the defence or threading balls for his front line, also crossing to great effect. Maybe he played the full 90 minutes to remind Spurs that he really is worth the asking price. Jamie Redknapp had a word for him, when the Spurs Captain was replaced by Mark Hughes with 18 minutes of the game remaining.
Fredi Kanoute made a welcome start, and looked pretty sharp, renewing his partnership with Jermain Defoe to good effect, marked by the first half goal. The other great point of interest was the appearance of two trialist strikers for Spurs. The first of these Dagui Bakari, replaced Kanoute at the break. Bakari is a big man in the mould of Kanu, who has just joined West Brom from down the road. Bakari had a useful half, not least because it was he who was fouled for the penalty, when he turned and homed in on goal. Bakari won plenty of ball in the air, including several of Keller's kick's, and showed some useful touches. He was not carrying weight, but he looked as if he was blowing a bit more than usual, and maybe has not had an intensive pre-season to date. If he were available for one million or less, then I would say "Take him". Perhaps Jacques Santini (very pro-active on the touchline) played Bakari for the 45 minutes to get more of a look at him, as he may be more satisfied with the other trialist, Brazilian Silva Sousa (announced today as Silva), who only got on for the last quarter of an hour. Silva also has height, but is more lightweight and nimble, displaying enough touch to justify at least a further look, if not immediate signing. If I was choosing between the two, I would go for Silva, on the little evidence I have seen.
Forest's David Johnson gave Kasey Keller the first of many tests with a shot towards Keller's right post which was easy for the keeper. At the other end, Redknapp drew applause with a volleyed shot that fell just outside the top corner of Paul Gerrard's goal. Gerrard has made the move from Goodison, made a few decent saves and was applauded by the Spurs fans when he came on for the second half. (Mind you, we are a club that recognises most opposition keepers in this way)
A Spurs corner after 5 minutes, fell for Sean Davis, whose shot went over the target. The entire Spurs defence looked quite sluggish in those early stages, and a half-clearance by Gary Doherty was picked up by Johnson whose shot was parried by Keller. Marlon King wasted the rebound, firing over the goal. Doherty went up for the next Spurs corner and headed down for Kanoute, whose on-target header was cleared in front of the line. That man Reid left Carr behind, as he chipped a ball down the inside left channel. Ledley was slow off the mark, and the ball was crossed for what looked like a certain close range goal by Johnson, only about 6-8 yards out. Kasey Keller made a great reaction save, and Spurs cleared the danger.
Five minutes later, Spurs were under more pressure and this time Taricco let a cross from the right pass through his feet, before that man Reid hit a dipping shot just over the bar. Both Carr and Doherty were then slow to Reid's movement, and he beat Keller with a cross, but young James managed to miss from two yards out at the back post, with the goal beckoning. Spurs were just not getting a grip at this stage, and both Johnson and King tested Keller with futher shots.
After half an hour, Spurs at last played some fine passing football, and a great move sweeping down the right led to a Carr cross, and a ball from Johnnie Jackson for Defoe, who hit a fine shot which Gerrard held at the second try. Santini could then be heard calling for width, and he got what he wanted, with Carr getting further forward and being involved in the cross that led to a quick exchange between Kanoute and Defoe, before Fredi hit a nonchalant finish to the left of Gerrard who seemed to get a touch, but failed to prevent the ball hitting the net.
John Jackson had the next attempt for Spurs after Carr cleared his lines, found Defoe who fed Jackson, this time working his way down the right, before curling a shot just wide of the far corner of goal. Kanoute received a good ball from Davis, before shooting just over, just as the break loomed. Davis and Mendes sprayed the ball about more after the break, and the Lilywhites were truly gaining the upper hand. A Jackson cross reached Bakari, with the help of Defoe, and the Lens man's shot was blocked, falling to Davis who hit a fine shot over Gerrard, bouncing back into play off the bar, before Defoe shot across the keeper and wide.
Keller had to be alert to plenty of high crosses throughout the second half, but the most danger Spurs had was when King headed down a Rogers cross and Ledley King cleared the ball inside the 6 yard box. Spurs defended crisply in this period of the game. The penalty came when Bakari was well and truly tripped over as he turned and headed for goal, being converted powerfully by Defoe. Bakari combined well with Defoe later, heading on a Keller goal clearance, before Defoe's effort was saved. Defoe nearly returned the compliment for his temporary partner, but just as Bakari was about to pounce, the ball bounced kindly towards Gerrard.
Mendes played the 90 minutes, and took more and more control in the middle. He sent Jackson away, and Bakari glanced a header to Gerrard at the near post. Silva had one opportunity to get in on the act, when Carr's chip was helped on by Bakari, but Silva's low left foot shot had been spotted by Gerrard.
The trip to Nottingham was more than worthwhile, for an entertaining game, the display by Reid, a sighting of our trial strike force, and a more encouraging display by Spurs. I shall not be travelling to Spain for this week's Kappa Cup, but would welcome reports from anyone making the trip.
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