Spurs 1-1 Everton: (match report)
We kicked off our much anticipated league campaign yesterday at Goodison park as we played out a one all draw against Everton. However, the match couldn’t have started any worse for Mauricio Pochettino’s lads, as Everton took the lead with just five minutes on the clock following a long range free kick from Everton’s Ross Barkley. The England internationals whipped delivery deceived everyone in the box including Lloris as it nestled inside the right post to give the toffees a somewhat fortuitous lead. Ten minutes after Everton took the lead Ronald Koeman’s men almost got a second but Lloris pulled of a top class save to deny Phil Jagielka following a free kick which was sent in to the box, the tall defender sent a powerful header towards the goal in which our captain acrobatically tipped over. Shortly after the half hour mark Lloris was forced off due to a hamstring problem with Michel Vorm replacing the France international. Everton continued to attack and in stoppage time of the first half forward Gerard Deulofeu was one on one with Michel Vorm, the spaniard struck a powerful effort which was saved well from the alert Vorm.
We started the second half with much more confidence and our free flowing attacking football in which we forced on Everton’s defence, paid off just before the hour mark after Erik Lamela headed Spurs level. The goal came about after Kyle Walker delivered a wonderful and pacy cross in to the box as Lamela ran between Holgate and Jagielka before expertly guiding the ball into the back of the net. In the minutes that followed we began to stamp our authority on the game as we created a whole host of chances with our best coming on 81 minutes after a close range effort from Vincent Janssen was superbly saved by Maarten Stekelenburg as the former World Cup finalist made an incredible reflex save to deny Janssen from opening his account with Spurs. We again went close shortly afterwards through Christian Eriksen whose free kick on the edge of the box flew narrowly over the crossbar. Our man of the match, Erik Lamela almost won us the game late on after the Argentine unleashed a powerful shot from inside the box, Lamela’s deflected shot was saved brilliantly by Stekelenburg as the Dutchman pushed the ball over the bar, the final score Spurs 1-1 Everton.
I believe a draw was probably the fairest result in what was very much a game of two halves and although we drew what was most important for us as a team was not losing our opining game. I imagine Pochettino will be happy with how we played yesterday and the promise in which we showed throughout the second half. Erik Lamela was our man of the match, whilst Kyle Walker put in a very good performance at right back as well as setting up Lamela for his goal. Janssen’s introduction made a positive impact on the game and the Dutchman was desperately unlucky not to give us the lead. It may not have been our most complete or assured performance but that was to be expected with it being our first competitive game since last seasons shocker against Newcastle on the final day. I am confident and encouraged that next weeks match against Crystal Palace will end in victory and that our season will grow into something greater than the last. COYS⚽️
Spurs: Lloris (c, Vorm 35); Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose; Wanyama, Dier (Janssen 55); Lamela, Eriksen, Alli; Kane. Substitutes (not used): Carter-Vickers, Davies, Mason, Onomah, Winks.
Goals: Everton – Barkley 5; Spurs – Lamela 59.
This evening Spurs announced via Twitter the players who have have been awarded scholarships at Spurs and who will be part of our under 18’s side for the coming season. The first year scholars for next seasons campaign are as follows: Charlie Freeman, Timothy Eyoma, Jonathan Dinzeyi, Reo Griffiths, Tariq Hinds, Matthew Lock, Tashan Oakley-Boothe, Moroyin Omolabi and Jamie Reynolds. This years pool of players are an extremely talented group of players who have exciting careers ahead of them, Oakley-Boothe who has been capped at England under 16 level, is an exceptionally talented prospect, a versatile midfielder Oakley-Boothe reminds me of Dembele with his style of play. The skilful midfielder already made a couple of appearances at under 18 level last season, scoring one goal. Another highly rated player is Reo Griffiths, the striker excelled for our under 16’s last season as he netted over 30 goals, Griffiths is a hot prospect who I am looking forward to seeing for our under 18’s over the coming season. Young goalkeeper Charlie Freeman is yet another top talent within our academy, Freeman recently had a successful youth loan for Newcastle United at the super cup, Freeman is noted for being a very good shot stopper.
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