Spurs under 23’s 0-1 Derby County: (match report)

Our under 23’s visit to the East Midlands on Friday evening was one of disappointment as Wayne Burnett’s side were frustrated by a very solid and well organised Derby side (one which included 34 year old centre half Jason Shackell) and in the end, the game was won by a mere one goal margin by the rams, at pride park. In all truth it was a quite frustrating game of football and even though our lads made a good impression on the game, it wasn’t enough to break down such a tenacious Derby defence, though for Loft and Sterling it would have been a great experience to come up against such an experienced centre half. After a slow opening couple of minutes the rams almost took an early lead, after Amos was robbed of possession which resulted in a Derby forward being played through on goal, but thankfully his lofted effort was met by Austin who made a fine reaction save to thwart the ball clear. Some good work from fullback Keanan Bennetts down the left forced a Spurs corner, which was cleared from danger. Spurs were pressing high (ie:Shashoua)and were trying to force a composed Derby team in to making errors, however an error was to come inside the Spurs penalty area after a mix up from an in swinging free kick ended up with Austin taking out Bennetts, but thankfully Tanganga was there to make an important block.

We were playing the passing game, playing it out from the back, a good chance for Burnett’s side came just after the 20 minute mark. When the prominent Shashoua’s tricky forward run saw him play a one two with Harrison before curling an effort inches wide of the right post. A vital block from the efficient Spurs skipper Amos stopped a good Derby chance. Though the home side were to test us again moments later after Callum Guy beat Bennetts down the flank before whipping a cross tantalisingly across the face of goal being missed by centremeters from a Derby forward. Neither side could really take a hold of the game, veteran centre half Shackell made a good challenge to deny Harrison a dangerous opening, as the game continued to lack any clear cut chances. The rams tried to carve through our alert defence, Austin was there to make a comfortable save from Babos’ effort, Tanganga showed tremendous skill moments later to get out of a tricky situation, whilst Harrison had a low effort gobbled up by Josh Barnes at the other end. A brilliant run from target man Ryan Loft saw him perform a Ricky Villaesque run into the penalty area before forcing Barnes into making a good low stop.

Then, followed a bad mistake from Amos who overplayed a situation and was hence robbed of the ball by a Derby player, luckily it was fired high over the cross bar, the home side were showing some impressive attacking play. Some really clever play from Shashoua who was under pressure, saw him get out of a tricky situation, as Spurs passed the ball around with real attacking intent. Oliver Skipp who had been impressive in the centre of the park was replaced by Pritchard at the interval, who took over the captains arm band, Pritchard quickly barking instructions to his team mates. Another vital block by Tanganga on 53 minutes prevented a good attack as the game started to become a little flat. Left back Bennetts went close shortly before the hour mark after showing some nice footwork inside the Derby box before smashing an effort against the side netting. However all of Spurs’ handwork was to be undone when winger Luke Thomas gave Derby the lead. It was a counter attacking move from Derby which resulted in Thomas’ curling an effort towards goal, which was most unfortunately turned into his own net by Maghoma leaving Austin with no chance, that goal could well go to the dubious goals committee.

Marcus Edwards had a penalty shout dismissed at the other end as Spurs looked to respond, Shashoua was brought off to replace Tracey down the right. Burnett’s side struggled to create chances against a rock solid Derby outfit who were defending brilliantly against us. Spurs were being limited to out of the box chances, Harrison hit a decent low effort just wide before claiming for the corner. The game had become quite dull up until Tanganga was forced into making an important clearance to clear Wassall’s effort at the far post. Then minutes later the Tottenham centre half got a vital head on Thomas’ curling effort. We never looked like we were going to equalise, the hosts were constantly nullifying any forward threat we posed. Spurs’ best chance of the second half came after we were awarded a free kick on the edge of the area. Marcus Edwards’ good up and down effort forcing Barnes into making an excellent save. There were no more chances of note for either side as Derby held on to win 1-0. Up next for Burnett’s side is a premier league international cup tie at home to Villarreal at the Lamex stadium, on the 14th of November.

Player reviews:
– Brandon Austin: Didn’t have an awful amount of saves to make, but he made a top class one in the beginning of the first half.
– George Marsh: Played well seems to be adapting well to the role of right back. Defended well and didn’t overplay situations, also put in some good crosses.
– Christian Maghoma: Had a good game, defended well and looked solid and composed when called into action.
– Japhet Tanganga: My man of the match, I thought Tanganga put in a really good defensive performance against Derby, made more crucial interventions/blocks than any one else, and played the ball out from the back by example, rock solid performance by the 18 year old.
– Keanan Bennetts: Had a really good game looked solid down the left, and also went on some really promising runs whipping a number of good crosses into the area.
– Oliver Skipp: Put in a fine shift in the first half before being brought of at half time, imposed himself well on the game and was there at important moments.
– Luke Amos: Thought the 20 year old had a really good game, he was efficient and broke up play really well.
– Samuel Shashoua: I thought the creative Shashoua was our best player until being brought off early on in the second half, in a substitution which I personally found odd. He created openings for Spurs, showed really good close ball control especially in tight situations, and tracked back well.
– Marcus Edwards: Potent on occasions, like Shashoua Edwards showed great ball control in tight situations, he was good going forward and was unlucky not have scored his late free kick.
– Shayon Harrison: A little quieter than usual, due mainly to the fact he was playing as a second striker and that he was up against a top defence. Still he managed to hit some good efforts on goal.
– Ryan Loft: Was a great experience for the target man who held his own against Shackell, constantly tussling with the veteran centre half, put in a good shift up top.
– Joe Pritchard: Came on at the interval and put in a tireless and battling display in the middle of the park, thought the skipper done really well.
– Shilow Tracey: The substitute didn’t see much of the ball.
– Kazaiah Sterling: Positive and lively cameo up top.

My man of the match: Japhet Tanganga. My man of the match, I thought Tanganga put in a really good defensive performance against Derby, made more crucial interventions/blocks than any one else, and played the ball out from the back by example, rock solid performance by the 18 year old.

Spurs under 16’s 3-1 Cambridge United: (match report)

On Tuesday night I went to the Cambs glass stadium to watch our under 15/16’s take on Cambridge United at the U’s Abbey stadium. It was a bright and dominant performance from Spurs as they dominated the opposition in front of a crowd of over 600, the Pochettino philosophy clearly implanted in their style of play as they out done the U’s in every aspect of the game limiting them only to set piece chances. With no team sheets being given out on the night, frustratingly a lot of my report consists of players numbers, as I was only able to positively identify the following players with the rest, being unsure of: Kacper Kurylowicz, Luis Binks, Malachi Walcott, Enoch Asante, Noni Madeuke (10)?, Josh Gray?, Harvey White?, Dennis Cirkin? Unused subs: Kane Patterson and Rafferty Pedder. It was a very young Spurs side which was without highly rated Irish forward Troy Parrott who is away at the victory shield with his country. Their seemed to be a couple of under 14’s involved in the game, and their was one player who came on as a CAM (looked very intelligent) that could have been no more than 13. It was a very lively start by Spurs who were on the front foot from the minute go, playing some nice attacking football. Our number 11 put an effort just wide of goal after receiving a cross. The pacy wide man was causing a lot of trouble for the Cambridge players early on. A great chance followed Spurs’ 11 powered past a couple of Cambridge defenders down the left before crossing for 10 (Madueke I think) whose powerful effort was spectacularly thwarted by the goalkeeper. Spurs continued to pressurise a nervy Cambridge side, 11 curling an effort narrowly wide moments later.

Number 11 (who was excellent all game) continued to trouble Cambridge after he robbed them of possession inside the area before jinking his way past a couple of players, only to slip at a vital time. Spurs were absolutely dominating, they looked the more fitter and livelier side inside the first quarter of an hour, as they played the ball out from the back, with the composed duo of Binks and Walcott influential in this side of their game. A good low effort from Madeuke on the edge of the area had the keeper scrambling, he spilt the effort at the first attempt but then managed to clear the loose ball. Spurs came their closest to the breaking the deadlock after 4’s (White) long ball into the area was dropped by the Cambridge keeper. The alert Asante pounced, smashing the ball against the crossbar, before testing the keeper again seconds later with a powerful header. Binks also went close with a header minutes later, as the home side struggled to get the ball outside of their half. A great challenge from Spurs’ number 2 occurred at the other end as he snuffed out danger, he was brilliant all game both going forward and at defending. Another brilliant attacking move from Spurs ended in the keeper being forced into making a comfortable save as Cambridge continued to survive. Cambridge came close with a free kick, but Spurs were to shatter any confidence they had built up going forward, when they opened the scoring on 37 minutes courtesy of a stunning long range strike from White.

His free kick was initially blocked but the midfielder hammered home the rebound into the bottom right corner of the net, brilliant technique! Spurs continued their hold on the game, Noni Madueke almost doubling their lead when his free kick flew narrowly wide of goal, as Spurs’ fluent attacking football continued to outwit the home side. We should have doubled our advantage shortly after the restart, but 7 who was leaning back, could only manage to fire over the crossbar from close range. Cambridge then threatened at the other end when their winger curled narrowly wide following a counter attacking move which had exploited our defence. However, any fears of a comeback were put aside when Spurs doubled their advantage when 7 prodded home from the resulting corner kick to expose a tired looking Cambridge defence. Luis Binks got a vital head on the ball to clear a dangerous free kick at the other end, as the home side continued to lack that cutting edge. Spurs on the other case were looking for their third playing some nice football in the process, the newly introduced number 12 at the heart of things with his intricate play and quick feet. Cambridge began to grow more into the game and created some good chances, Walcott producing a good block to deny a Cambridge player. Everyone inside the Abbey stadium thought Spurs had got their third of the game when the potent Madeuke unleashed a thunderbolt of an effort on the edge of the area, which ended up coming off the underside of the bar and bouncing clear. There were numerous good counter attacking moves produced by Spurs as the game progressed. But the game was to be thrown on its head when the home side pulled back an unexpected goal. After converting a cross at Kurylowicz’s far post, but any chance of a comeback was swiftly ended by Spurs minutes later when Madeuke regained our two goal cushion.

Capping off a lovely attacking move with a precise finish to tuck the ball inside the bottom corner of the net. A trio of Spurs players including Madeuke lined up to create an orchestrated pose in front of the home fans as the young lads soaked up the atmosphere. Centre forward Enoch Asante almost put the icing on the cake minutes later when he weaved his way past a couple of Cambridge defenders before eventually forcing a top save from the keeper. Spurs saw out the remaining minutes with real ease and were much deserving of their 3-1 victory in what was a brilliant team performance from a talented young side. The whole Spurs team looked very promising. COYS

Player reviews: (Some players I’m not sure of*)
Luis Binks: So composed in his play but very decisive in his defending alongside fellow centre half Walcott, his long range passing ability was also very good.
Malachi Walcott: Similarly as composed, Walcott is a really talented centre half who has represented his country at youth level. On my second time seeing him play, I was really impressed with his reading of the game, focus and overall defending. Also liked to play the ball out from the back.
Kacper Kurylowicz: Made one good save, but other than that he wasn’t called into action much.
Harvey White*: Very tidy midfielder (a little like Skipp in style of play) took his goal brilliantly.
Noni Madeuke*: Excellent performance from the number 10, brilliant with the ball at his feet. The skilful Madeuke who has already featured for our under 18’s, possess brilliant close ball control and a low centre of gravity, he really ran the show against Cambridge. He was also very creative going forward and showed good strength, managing to shrug off players on numerous occasions.
Enoch Asante: Really like the look of the young centre forward, he lead the line well and was unlucky not to score.