| S |
|
64.43% |
| P |
|
65.86% |
| U |
|
59.43% |
| R |
|
65% |
| S |
|
55.28% |
| = |
|
62% |
Form Guide February 2010
P W D L F-A GD Pts
7 4 2 1 13-4 9 7
Pos:- 4th
3 Cup Matches
· January 2010 figures
· Last year's figures
February 2009
03.02.10 - Leeds 1 Spurs 3
Overall Team performance - 68.8%
Spurs man of the match - David Bentley - 8.3
Our Jermain the hat-trick hero!
Spurs conquered the intimidating atmosphere of a packed Elland Road, the weather and ground conditions and not least a battling and competitive Leeds side who showed they had no intention whatsoever of rolling over to make way for these Premier League giants.
There was plenty of snow in the hours before the game, but the pitch was playable, as the snow had stopped. The ground did however look quite heavy and sodden, but ultimately I think this tested the fitness of the League One players far more than it did the Spurs thoroughbreds. The stadium certainly cranked up the volume levels in the build-up to the game, and ignited the atmosphere with some ancient video on the big screen of goals scored when Leeds were a team to be reckoned with. The home crowd were convinced they’d be “Marching on Together”, but eventually Spurs were the team “marching in” and “on their way to Wembley”
06.02.10 - Spurs 0 Aston Villa 0
Overall Team performance - 64.2%
Spurs man of the match - Gareth Bale - 7.9
Spurs failed to break down the Villa defence at White Hart Lane in this televised evening game. I can’t say that Spurs huffed and puffed because there was far more quality in our play than that. Brad Friedel was the busier of the two keepers and two or three of his saves were not clean and convincing. What with a decent penalty appeal turned down for a foul on Defoe, there was only one team that deserved to win this game. The fans often chanted “Boring, boring Villa”, and they were rarely interesting to watch, but they did their job in frustrating Spurs who slipped to fifth place due to Liverpool’s win over Everton.
10.02.10 - Wolves 1 Spurs 0
Overall Team performance - 36.2%
Spurs man of the match - Gareth Bale - 6.7
Harry messed up big time
Those who saw me before the game will vouch for the fact that I questioned Harry Redknapp’s team selection when it was announced. Knowing that we had already lost to Wolves at White Hart Lane, and knowing that a win was vital to any remaining hopes of Champions League football, Harry fielded a weakened side with five changes from Saturday’s game. It’s as if he had decided that his priority was the FA Cup, and that he was saving Corluka, Palacios, Modric and Crouch for Sunday’s game at The Reebock. In what was a very poor game of football, Wolves scored once again in the first half, and adopted their game plan of getting men behind the ball to frustrate Spurs efforts to get back on terms. Wolves have gained six invaluable points from us, and completed their first league “double” over us since the 1953-54 season.
14.02.10 - Bolton 1 Spurs 1
Overall Team performance - 56%
Spurs man of the match - Gareth Bale - 8.1
It was, as they say, a game of two halves. I was certainly not over the moon with Spurs first half performance in which they succumbed against the physical strength and efforts of a Bolton side, whose public could hardly be bothered to turn out, even for no more than £15. Spurs fans must have numbered some 4,500, which amounted to more than 50% of the numbers in the home section, where one complete upper tier was unoccupied, and another very nearly empty. Had Spurs been beaten, it would have irked me more than anything that a public that just does not deserve a Premier League football team could be represented in the FA Cup quarter-final.
21.02.10 - Wigan 0 Spurs 3
Overall Team performance - 71.6%
Spurs man of the match - Roman Pavlyuchenko - 8.5
Through no fault of his own that has been perceivable to the Spurs fans, Roman Pavlyuchenko has been something of an outcast at Tottenham, particularly since the arrival of Harry Redknapp. “Super Pav’s” name has been chanted consistently by Spurs fans recently, who clearly have wanted to see him in place of Peter Crouch, who has not scored in his last six games for the club. The fans got what they wanted with the entrance of Pavlyuchenko after 73 minutes, but not for Crouch. Instead, Spurs scorer Jermain Defoe was taken off, to boos from the travelling fans, who clearly unlike Harry Redknapp, were not thinking of next Wednesday night’s FA Cup replay, for which Defoe will be needed. Pavlyuchenko was the hero of the hour as he made not one, but two points in scoring Spurs second and third goals, one of which was superbly made by another substitute – Luka Modric.
24.02.10 - Spurs 4 Bolton 0
Overall Team performance - 69%
Spurs man of the match - Roman Pavlyuchenko - 8.3
Roman Pavlyuchenko stole the headlines again, with another fine brace to see Spurs through to the FA Cup quarter-finals for the first time in three years. Whilst Spurs did not fill their ground, the attendance was respectable, although not bolstered by anything other than a token presence of Bolton fans. The travelling fans saw their team create quite a few chances, but on the whole Spurs defended well, although they also had Bolton’s inaccuracy to thank. Spurs’ second goal was initially credited to Jermain Defoe, but it turned out to a Jaaskelainen own goal. Andy O’Brien scored an even better own goal after just two minutes of the second half to ensure Spurs’ passage.
28.02.10 - Spurs 2 Everton 1
Overall Team performance - 68.2%
Spurs man of the match - Luka Modric - 8.5
In the end it was Luka Modric’s marvellous 28th minute goal that sealed the win and three vital points for Spurs, who held onto fourth place for another week. It was a case of hanging on too, as David Moyes’ made excellent tactical changes at half-time and beyond to take the game to Spurs and test their defence to the full. They were penetrated once, when Yakubu fired home from close range, and it could have been twice as substitute Landon Donovan hit the side netting, when the goal beckoned, but on the whole, Spurs were good for their win.
In form striker Roman Pavlyuchenko gave Spurs an early lead with his fifth goal in three games in the last week of the month.
The Spurs Odyssey player of the month for the second successive month was Gareth Bale Gareth has also now taken the lead in the player ratings for the season so far. Aaron Lennon is second, and Heurelho Gomes third.
Don't forget to check out the cumulative appearances and grades for the players as the season progresses - below. The grades are based upon a mark out of ten.
...if you want to remind yourself of the matches played during this month, then See the Fixtures page here. By working your way back through the previous month's figures, you can review the performances over the last 9 years!
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