Looking Forward

Leicester City  (Away)

FA Cup Third Round

Sunday 8th January 2006

As it has been a while since we last met in competition, I am nto as familiar with the Leicester City side as I once might have been.  Some names are new to me ... Patricks Gerrbrand, Kisnorbo and McCarthy, Stephen Hughes, Alan Sheehan, Richard Stearman and Joe Hamill, so it will be a mystery as to where and how they play.

Some more familiar faces in the shape of Nils-Eric Johanssen, Danny Tiatto, Rab Douglas and Dion Douglas fall into the veteran category.  Johanssen is a lanky ex-Blackburn defender, who has done well since stepping down to the Championship, while Dion Dublin doubles in defence when not up front, but looks like he might be soon leaving the Foxes.  Douglas was brought down from Scotland with manager Craig Levein and has lots of experience, but has found it tough at City in the old First Division, while Tiatto will put in lots of Australian effort like he always did for Man City, but hopefully without going onto the wrong side of the footballing law.  Alan Maybury is a player who turned out for Leeds back in the day and was a useful over-lapping full back, but he has moved on, like many of his former team-mates and is now plying his trade at Leicester.  Spurs were once keen on Scottish midfielder Gareth Williams, when he was at Forest, but he ended up at Leicester and he has done well for them.  Enjoys running with the ball and joining up with the attack, but he has not hit the heights that some had hopes for him.

Forward Elvis Hammond has been around a fair while and his early career at Fulham was limited in terms of appearances, but has scored three in seventeen alongside strapping Mark De Vries, another Scottish import.  Well, one who came from the same home town as Edgar Davids via Holland.  His direct approach might test Gardner and Dawson, but hopefully, they will be able to cope with his style.  Also in attack, Iain Hume made his name is the League One Tranmere Rovers side.  He has a bit of pace and a fine shot on him, so he is one who will have to be shut down quickly and not allowed a sight of goal.

Momo Sylla and Joey Gudjohnsen both have Premiership experience.  Sylla with Celtic in Scotland and his long legged running can take him into useful scoring positions, while Gudjohnsen saw action with Villa and he also is another with a strong shot in his boots.  He is a box to box player and pops up in the area, so it might benefit Tottenham to push the midfield back as far as we can to take the likelihood of that happening being much reduced.  Ryan Smith is a highly regarded youngster on loan from the Gooners and his performances in the Reserves against Spurs have shown him a tricky player on the ball and one who ca use it quite well.

Levein has had his work cut out, with players having to be sold on to reduce the wage bill and not a lot of money available to bring in new blood, so he has had to make do with what he has got.  At the moment, his side sit two off the bottom of the table with 26 points from 27 games and there is a real prospect of them dropping out of that division.  The Cup will prove a little relief from the battle for league points and the opportunity to turn over a top four Premiership side will see them up for it.

However, as we saw at Manchester City, Tottenham are a much different proposition these days, so the result will be a Tottenham win and I think that the way Spurs are playing at the moment, it could well be by a large(ish) margin ...

PREDICTION : -   Leicester City  1   Tottenham Hotspur  4

For more information on the opponents and their history, including full result history of matches between the two teams, click here.

Coverage

TV :
BBC 1 (18.15 p.m.) - Live coverage
For coverage in all parts of the world, check here and here.

Radio :  
BBC LONDON Digital Radio, Sky Channel 902 (Live coverage - UK only)

If available on BBC radio, it can be heard in these countries on these stations ...
Australia (Melbourne) SEN  -  116 AM  Live Transmissions: TWI, Saturday. 12.45 & 1500 matches
Australia (Syndey)  Radio 2  -  1611AM  Live Transmission: TWI, Saturday, 12.45 Match
Singapore Media Corp Radio  -  93.8 FM  Live Transmission: TWI, Saturday, 15.00 Match
South Africa  SABC (Radio 2000)  Live Transmission: TWI, Saturday, 15.00 Match
Uganda  Radio 1 (English) 90.0 FM, Radio 2 (Lugandan) 87.9 FM  Live Transmission: TWI, Saturday, 15.00 Match
North America (USA, Canada, Mexico, Carribean)  Sirius Satellite Radio  Live transmission: Saturday - 12.45, 15.00 (TWI) & 17.15 (BBC) Sunday - 14.00 & 16.05 (BBC) Mon, Tue, Wed - Various times (BBC)

Internet :
www.spurs.co.uk   Live webcast  - subscribers only
Planet football - http://play.www.planetfootball.servecast.net/downloads/sky/spurs-pl04-kean0.ram (free - only available when match is on)
BBC Five Live http://www.bbc.co.uk/support/staticram/fivelive/live/surestream.ram (Live coverage - UK only)

Douglas

Stearman
McCarthy (c)
Johansson
Maybury

Smith (Kisnorbo 90)
Gudjonsson
Williams
Hughes

Hamill (Hammond 35)
De Vries

Unused subs: 
Henderson
Dublin

Robinson

Stalteri
Gardner
Dawson
Kelly

Lennon (Tainio 88)
Brown (Defoe 70)
Carrick
Jenas

Keane (c)
Rasiak

Unused subs: 
Cerny
Pamarot
Routledge

Hammond 44
Hughes 50
De Vries 90

Tottenham Hotspur

Jenas 21
Stalteri 43

   
Maybury (foul) 19    

   
Rasiak (foul) 54    

Although the Foxes came out to have a go early on, Spurs weathered the physical storm that Mark De Vries tried to stir up.  Right at the start, the initiative was with Tottenham, as Aaron Lennon ripped up the right wing and left Alan Maybury in his slipstream.  The service he was providing to Rasiak, after getting to the by-line, was inviting for the big striker, but he failed to get on the end of many of them, thus making it harder for Spurs to establish a dominance in the match.  The ball was played up to him, but he looked out of touch and the ball rarely stuck forward for long, as he was dispossessed or his pass was misplaced.  Stephen Kelly, getting a rare outing, but at left back, almost gifted De Vries a goal, when his short headed back-pass was short and although the City striker got around Robinson, the keeper had forced him wide enough to make his finish a tough one, ending off target.

As Lennon skipped past Maybury once more, he was unceremoniously dragged down to earn the Irishman a yellow card and Spurs a free-kick.  Carrick struck it in with pace and Robbie Keane was unmarked to get a header on it, which took it beyond Douglas.  The ball did not beat the post though and as it bounced down near the line, Jermaine Jenas pounced to knock it into the net from close range to give Spurs a 20th minute lead.

Spurs were dominating at this stage and Michael Brown struck a low shot to Douglas' near post and the Scottish keeper dived low to push it around the post, while at the other end, De Vries cried for a penalty as he barged past Gardner and then was eased out by Dawson.  The ref was not interested.  Then came the change that altered the game for Spurs.  Elvis Hammond was brought on to partner De Vries up front, replacing Hamill on the left and loan Gooner Ryan Smith was deployed on the left of midfield.  This cut the effectiveness of Aaron Lennon as he had two players detailed to preventing him getting the ball now. 

Even though this avenue was closed, Spurs found chances being created.  Dawson's long pass through the heart of the Leicester defence put Keane in on goal, but Douglas did well to get a hand to the ball as Keane tried to go around him.  As the ball dropped again, Robbie hit it, but put his shot well wide ... possibly off a defender, but not according to the ref.  Two minutes later, Keane tried a delicate chip over Douglas, but the ball cleared the bar as well as the goalie.  De Vries was still trying to rip a hole in the net ... this time with a ferocious volley that dipped but was well over and Kelly and Brown linked on our left to provide Brown with another shooting chance that brought a save from Douglas.

Three minutes before the break Paul Stalteri got his first goal for Tottenham.  Keane spotted his run on the right, after De Vries had presented the ball to Jenas to start the move.  The Canadian strode forward and with nobody shutting him down found himself just inside the right corner of the box and unleashed a drive that finished in the top right hand corner of the net, with Douglas helpless.  It would have been a good half for Tottenham had they not conceded almost straight away.  A long cross from the left was headed back across goal by Stearman and the substitute Hammond was unmarked in the six yard box to steer the ball home to make it 2-1.

As you might expect, Leicester's tails were up and they came out fired up for the second half.  Robbo had to beat a shot from Hughes away in the first minute, then De Vries wasted a shooting opportunity by blazing over the bar.  Spurs best chance to wrap up the game came when a through pass saw Robbie Keane in an offside position, but Stephen Kelly wasn't.  He ran onto the ball on the right and put his hesitant shot well wide, when usually he is a competent finisher.

The pay-off for the miss came just four minutes later, when a 57th minute corner flashed low across the area and Stephen Hughes shot flicked off Michael Dawson and past Robinson.  It was just like the goal we conceded late at Grimsby and I started to get a bad feeling about this match.  Even though Tottenham kept pushing on the home goal, the threat seemed less potent than in the first half.  When Defoe came on for Brown, my worries heightened, as the three forward system never seems to work for us. 

Defoe's only chance saw him running at the right side of their defence and he dragged the ball across the goal, as he often does.  He also lifted a lob over the bar and then Rasiak headed over, but never really looked like scoring.  Maybe Martin will realise that he needs a bit more in attack than the Polish striker.  De Vries kept going with another drive where he went for power rather than accuracy.

That wasn't the case when the ball got to him in injury time.  Tussling with Gardner through the middle of our defence, he looked noticeably offside, but the assistant kept his flag down and De Vries kept his shot down, picking out a side-foot past Robinson to net the winner that Tottenham would not come back from.

So, once more, Spurs lose out to lower league competition in a cup tie.  Is this the price we pay for consistency and success in the league ?  Come the middle of May, let us hope so !!

MEHSTG TOP MAN : -  MICHAEL CARRICK

I apologize for my late response to the extraordinary events of last Sunday.  I've had all sorts of trouble with my digital box and the internet helpline were anything but helpful, so that's what held me up. 

Anyway, I wasn't surprised at all by our sudden collapse, as it wasn't even our second best side out there against Leicester.  Brown played against Grimsby and look what happened.  He and Jenas are incompatible, but did Jol notice ?  No, and because of it, you, me and every other Spurs fan had to go to work Monday morning  in the comforting knowledge that everyone was ready to rip the shit out of us.  Not just the Gooners but the Scousers, Mancs, Jocks, Brummies and Geordies had a little something lined up for me.  Since I ain't in the habit of hiding from anyone, that was a lot of s**t taken indeed.  

I didn't care that Tottenham Hotspur had just crashed out of the FA Cup, that's nothing shocking to me as I didn't think we could win it this season anyway, huge squad or not.  I was sure that Jol had drilled the squad into doing well in the league and inevitably we'd exit around the quarter-final stage again, not the bloody Third Round and at the hands of sodding Leicester City and especially not after being 2-0 up. 

That is unforgivable. 

Do those players not give at toss about us at all ?  Do they not care about the tremendous support that they receive at every away match from the travelling faithful ?  I guess not.  

What I'm rambling about is that I'm sick of the ritual humiliations that come with being a Spurs man.  There was some honour in losing 1-0 to Newcastle last season because we battered them, outplayed them on their own park and made their own fans applaud us.  The only thing we didn't do was score, but at least we went out with some pride.  Not this time though and Jol has to take some of the blame for it.  I know that all he can do is train them and pick the bloody team and hope that they perform on the day but he should also recognise who is class and who is not.  Rasiak, Brown and Gardner are not, while Kelly had a shocker at left-back.

Jenas was quite hopeless in the middle and Carrick must be getting fed up having to carry his arse game after game.  I truly believe that the boy only moved down here to pull glamour models and spend his days at Spearmint Rhino.  in my opinion, Jenas is talented, but hopelessly inconsistent and frustrating.

As for our favourite Quebecker, Stalteri, he finally scored for us, but also had his worst game since moving from Leverkusen.  If it were possible, I'd sign Glen Johnson and Wayne Bridge, from Chelski, to give us the England back-five of the future.

I think that the full-back position is a huge problem for us and the only thing that will stop us from challenging for the title next season.  It would also help if we could sign Theo Walcott, a 16-year old who could well be twice as talented as young Shrek up North.  That would be a hell of a coup.  I don't know if any of that is gonna happen but I do know that the cups are not important anymore and all the money is in the top four.  That's what I say to those that are happy about our cup exits and the only thing worth getting upset about is the manner of our performances in those defeats.  If we fight and still lose, I accept.  If we give up and lose, like on Sunday, that's when we've got a problem.  Bring on Liverpool and 3 points away from home.  It won't be easy, but with our man Davids back to chop down Stevie G, it can be done.

Sean Jackson

Oh Dear,

What is it about us and televised cup games this season ?
Are we really everybody's 'favourites' to get beaten by a 'lower division' team ?
Not only do we let Grimsby have their moment of the season, but now Leicester, who we were reminded before the game hadn't scored more than two goals in 11 matches and suddenly the alarm bells started going off !

Well, with Ledley, Edgar & Mido missing, we put on a display that can best be described by that old Spurs legend Greavesie as a 'game of two halves' !  Cruising in the first and sinking in the second, not that we didn't have the chances to 'finish them off', but with some erratic shooting and dreadful defending (I'll leave you to guess of whom I'm talking about), we again fall at the first hurdle of both cup competitions (what do we do with our 'bonus' cup vouchers now?).

The enigma that is Gardner baffles me.  I mean how can a guy who is over 6ft not know how to jump and continually puts his team-mates in trouble with some dodgy passes and Rasiak who was never in the game, but was always in view due to some dodgy Lotto boots with green flashing !

We need to get Ledley and Edgar back and hope that Egypt get knocked out of the African Nations Cup early, so that Mido teams up with the rest of the lads, otherwise our excellent start will all be for nothing.

Taxi for Gardener & Rasiak !

Paxton Mark

I'd like to make a few points.  First, isn't it funny how a terrible performance can highlight just how fragile our squad actually is.  Players like Mido, Stalteri and Lee have taken certain stick for parts of there game not being up to standard.  Some fair but most extremely harsh.  Now, take Mido and Lee out of the team and their replacements Rasiak and Kelly just highlight their actual worth in our team and how poor our backup is !                                                       
                                                                                                    
The jury on Anthony Gardner is not out any more, they have been back a long time and the verdict was
quite loud and very clear "NOT GOOD ENOUGH".  This isn't a knee jerk reaction after a poor defeat, it's as clear as mud.  I watch the boys from my seat in the North Stand and I know he's not good enough ... the guy next to me knows he's not good enough.  But what about Martin Jol ?  If we are to get to the next level then our replacements have to be the real deal or we will fail. The simple fact of Gardner is he is "An accident waiting to happen" just ask Michael Owen !! 

Matt Browning

I have watched Tottenham Hotspur for more years than I like to admit, my first match was against Newcastle in September 1947. During these 50 odd years there have been some great times and some not so great times. I have been a season ticket holder these last five years during which I have endured some really bad times. I really thought with the coming of Martin Jol and an enlightened recruitment program we were in for a return of some more glory. Whilst I have to admit that much has changed for the better, many results this season have been a great improvement and some of the football played has been great to watch, (the object of the exercise after all) there still seems to be fundamental and niggling weakness. This does not only apply to Tottenham Hotspur, but seems to afflict most of the better teams in the Premiership. It seems to me that those English teams, with possible exception of Chelsea and Arsenal (although the latter seem to now be affected) who contain a number of top players and attempt to “play football” are stifled by lesser talented teams who come to a game with the object of stopping the opposition from playing. The one doctrine of managers of lesser teams seems be to harass, chase, play at a high tempo and generally deprive their superior opponents time and space to play their brand of football. This has happened, this season, to Tottenham at Grimsby, Bolton, West Brom and now at Leicester. Whilst this ploy deprives spectators the spectacle of cultured football, as long as the physical side is within the law it remains a legitimate strategy.

The good teams have to find a way to combat this and so far Tottenham don’t appear to be able to. It has struck me that the top teams of Spain, Italy, Brazil or Argentina would not be muscled out of their stride in this way by the likes of Leicester or Grimsby, they would simply pass their way out of the difficulty. The big difference between the methods of the top foreign teams and Tottenham at the present is the movement of the players without the ball. Quick passing to defeat this “closing down the space” strategy requires the player with the ball having as many options for a pass as possible. Having watched all of Tottenham’s defeats this season it is obvious that very often midfield players, Carrick, Jenas and Davids are closed down and have only one outlet which is back to the back four or goal keeper followed by a big hoof up field straight down the throats of the opposing defence who have no difficulty in clearing their lines. I know that a number of goals have been scored this year from a flick-on from Mido following a big punt from Robinson, but in Mido’s, absence as on Sunday, this ploy just resulted in the ball being given away. Changing the way the team plays will obviously take time (although Glenn Hoddle’s first full team managed it for a short time) and there may be some bad results along the way, but it seems to me it offers the best way of beating Bolton, Birmingham etc. Not only that but it would be possible to play both Keane and Defoe together as long as the big hoof is abandoned and the ball is played first time at speed along the ground.

Brian Knight

After last night, quiet reflection is needed.

All I will say is, whether De Vries was offside or not, I was closer to him than Anthony Gardner and that is what cost us.

Gareth Johnson

Rasiak, Gardner, Stalteri are two bob.  Jenas is here for the nightlife.  Kelly at right back, Pamarot at left bring Huddlestone back and give anyone apart from Rasiak a shot upfront

Sean Kelly

I have just read that Martin was angered by the teams defeat at Leicester and so he should be.  He should also question his team selection and more importantly his use of substitutes.  How many more times is he going to turn to Defoe for salvation ?   It doesn’t work – nothing changes.  

Boy, did we miss Mido ?   The value of muscle and application creating a threatening presence in the minds of defenders was aptly demonstrated last night.  Rasiak was about as threatening as melting snow on a hot stove whereas DeVries was a real pain in proverbial rear end.  

I felt sorry for Kelly who, in deputising for Lee, was played on his less favoured side.  Mind you Lee is not naturally left footed so perhaps Martin prefers experimentation or is it the case that Lee is “marketing” and not production.  Shirt sales in Korea too important for Martin to ignore ?  

Stalteri scored a cracker, but then allowed himself to be skinned in the lead up to the Leicester first goal.  The jury is still out on the Canadian in my mind.  

Out of the Carling Cup at the first attempt, now out of the FA Cup, but hey we are still in fourth place in the Premier League with 40 points.  The concern is that on last nights showing and without Mido, King and Davids we are on borrowed time.  

Martin we desperately need a replacement for Mido – do what you can and quick.

Tony Pawson

Gardner and Rasiak have to go. What do I do with my cup vouchers now?

Dangerous Dave

Arsenal