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This
was my first visit to Hull. I do not plan going again.
Hull
is best known, in my world at least, for the poetry of Philip Larkin,
who was, I believe, a librarian in the city.
I have a copy of his collected poems, but can find nothing to
inform or enlighten a review of a football match.
Earlier
this year on a train journey from Inverness to Peterborough, I saw that
someone had scrawled the words, ‘excluding Hull’ next to the sign
that warns toilet users not to pull the flush in stations.
This amused me at the time and stayed with me as I made the
weekend trip to Humberside. I
was not disappointed.
The
walk to the ground reminded me of some of the squalor around Park
Lane. I find it agreeable and reassuring in Tottenham, but not on
my travels. I may be on the verge of offending residents of Hull
(poor you) so I’ll say, genuinely, how impressive the KC stadium
is. Bright, attractive and modern; cleaner than White Hart Lane
and comfortable. The centenary programme, priced at £4 is indeed
a souvenir, although at that price I wasn’t tempted to buy two !
The
Spurs line up looked more convincing that at Stevenage with more first
team regulars starting. Robinson, King and Gardner all played,
with the two defenders sharing the 90 minutes.
Tottenham
looked the better side for much of the game (we are in the Premier
League after all) with a lot of possession.
We were passing well throughout the game although sometimes
wasteful at the finish. Defoe
is an absolute little gem and looked good on the ball at all
times.
The
first goal from him at 40 minutes was clean and clinical and well worked
from Keano and Jackson. (I
wonder what sort of season Johnnie Jackson will have ?
I often think about the exquisite pass he made to Postiga who
slotted away the winning goal in the home match to Liverpool last season
not to mention the goal he scored at The Valley to secure us a brilliant
away win against Charlton).
Mabizela
aided Jermain’s second goal at 78 minutes and that should have done it
despite Ledley’s uncharacteristic clumsiness in conceding a penalty on
the hour. I know that
scores don’t really matter in pre-season (within reason), but we
should have done better in preventing the late Hull equaliser in added
time. I was pleased to see
Bunjevcevic and Mabizela playing again and both seemed committed to the
game for the half that they played.
Overall
it was OK and, in the scheme of how Santini seems to be using
pre-season, acceptable.
Little
did I know what was in store at Sheffield the next day.
MEHSTG TOP MAN : - JERMAIN DEFOE
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