Looking Forward

FULHAM (Away)

Premier League

Wednesday 11th September 2002

There are players with experience through the side, whether at home or from abroad.  Van der Sar, Finnan, Melville, Inamoto, Ouaddou, Marlet and Boa Morte all have international form and the French connection is strong with Goma, Malbranque, Legwinski and Saha all at the club. 

Newcomer Sava from Argentina is an unknown quantity, but did grab one of two last minute goals (the other by Davis) that earned a draw against Middlesbrough, who were coasting.  Obviously their InterToto experience has helped with fitness through to the end of the match. 

Domestic experience comes in the form of Collins, Brevett, Davis, Hayles and Taylor.  It is only Zat Knight who is a new name, but he is being touted as the next great England central defender (whoa boy ... get behind Anthony Gardner in the queue). 

The Fulham squad is, therefore, quite accomplished and the way they play their football might suit Spurs.  Two sides knocking the ball about means that one will have to work hard to shut down the other and take the upper hand.  Spurs have shown that they can do this, but following a heavy weekend of international commitments, will they still have the legs for it ?  Robbie Keane should be yearning to do well on his debut and might cause the old legs of Melville to work overtime, while Goma is often rash enough to dive in and that might suit Robbie's game, as he can leave him for pace.  This is an aspect of the West London side that also has to be considered, as both Saha and Marlet are quick too, so we will have to hope for the return of Gardner to counter this threat.

It should be a good game, although not that high scoring, as the teams might cancel each other out in important areas.  Thus, our run might continue in this form ...

PREDICTION : -  Fulham  0  Tottenham 1

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

Tottenham : - Keller; Perry (Doherty 78), Richards, Gardner, Thatcher; Etherington (Iversen 83), Acimovic (Ziege 73), Bunjevcevic, Davies; Sheringham, Ferdinand
Unused Subs : - Hirschfeld, Keane

Tottenham -  Navy blue and black shirts, White shorts, Navy socks with a black turnover

Tottenham -  Richards 36, Sheringham 44

Tottenham -  Thatcher (time-wasting) 75 

The last half-hour went pear-shaped.  Fulham streamed forward as Spurs simply lost control.  Balls were won in defence and then gifted back to Fulham.  Keller made two good saves before Inamoto shot home.  Finnan then hit the bar before, on 83 minutes, the linesman awarded a penalty for a Gardner foul on Hayles.  Malbranque tucked away the equaliser. Keller made two further class saves before Legwinski rammed home the inevitable winner. 

Sheringham in particular looked totally naffed-off at the final whistle but no more so than the thousands of Spurs fans in the School End including one Warren Mitchell.  What were the thoughts of Chairman Alf? Probably unprintable. 

MEHSTG TOP MAN : - KASEY KELLER

Olive Branch

Just like last season, losing the lead and not even hanging on for a draw is a failing that shows our vulnerability and the lack of consistency that Hoddle seeks.  Up until the first Spurs goal, it was one of the most awful games you could wish to have the (dis)pleasure of attending.  No shape, no quality and little excitement.  

With the half time introduction of Steed Malbranque, the game changed pattern and swung Fulham's way, big style.  We could not cope with the running and passing he brought to their side.  Their midfield suddenly stopped the supply to Etherington, who was causing them all sorts of problems, which, added to losing the ball at every occasion and not clearing trouble, meant that the team were under almost constant pressure from the time Acimovic's header was ruled out.

The changes made by Hoddle were odd in the extreme,  Ziege for Acimovic and asked to play on the right of our midfield ... when he only ever plays on the left.  Iversen's introduction for Etherington was perhaps more understandable, but would Keane not have tied one of their players up more effectively than Steffen ?  Just when Keane was to be introduced, Perry got a boot in the jaw from Wome, who knew he had to be injured and left courtesy of a stretcher rather than a red card for a wild challenge.  Perry walked off, how I don't know, but then Keane sat down and Doherty came on.

Unfortunately, Gardner was having a "Weston" in the second half and we never really got to grips with what was a standard ploy of throwing men forward.  Bunjy was caught in the headlights and Acimovic will not be a tiger in the tackle, so who did we have in midfield to stop the marauding Fulham players ?  We couldn't clear the ball, nor hold it in advanced positions, so it was one way traffic.  Keller did wonderfully well to keep the ball out, but even he couldn't stop the tide as it came towards him.  He nearly got the penalty and stopped a couple of one-on-ones before Legwinski got the ball past in with the last kick.

A kick in the teeth in more ways than one.

The Polyphant

Arsenal  2    Manchester City  1
Aston Villa  2    Charlton Athletic  0  
Blackburn Rovers  2   Chelsea  3
Liverpool  2    Birmingham City  1
Manchester United  0    Bolton Wanderers  1
Middlesbrough  3    Sunderland  0   
Newcastle United  0    Leeds United  2
SCBC  1     Everton  0
West Ham United   0   WBA  1