*** SPURS v ROMA *** Pre-season Friendly Match Thread.

[camaj]

I went to the game. It's one that was hard to describe. We scored 5 goals but we really didn't look like we were that pushed, Roma seemed to want to defend for 90mins. A lot of the time it was pretty boring, to be frank, pretty unusual in a 5-0 thrashing.

Roma were pretty cynical and would foul any player that was about to start a break. I wasn't surprised when that guy got sent off, it was inevitable. I can't remember what the first yellow was for though.

Bentley was the stand out player for me. I loved that the fans cheered as he came over to take a Free kick at the start of the match. He turned round to thank them then went over and scored! I believe he also put the brilliant through ball to Dos Santos for Lennons goal.

Good to see the fans getting behind Zokora, I think it was one of his best games today. He's a lot faster than many people realise and he made some important challenges. Can't see why he got booked for the melee, didn't the other guy kick him or something?

The only thing I'll say is we look a bit dosy defensively. Dawson had to scramble to catch someone who had got through on goal and one of their players dribbled through, without resistence. Luckily Gomes made a stop from a soft shot.

Some people will dismiss it as "only Roma" but we can only play the teams that are put in front of us. Apparently Roma finished 2nd in Serie A last season and of course they've played, like Celtic, in the CL. This season, we'll have to beat "only boro" and "only stoke" as well as "only everton" and "only portsmouth", so as long as we're thrashing "only Roma" I'm pretty confident that we'll be in the right frame for the trip to the Riverside.

 

[soup]

I went to the game. It's one that was hard to describe. We scored 5 goals but we really didn't look like we were that pushed, Roma seemed to want to defend for 90mins. A lot of the time it was pretty boring, to be frank, pretty unusual in a 5-0 thrashing.

Roma were pretty cynical and would foul any player that was about to start a break. I wasn't surprised when that guy got sent off, it was inevitable. I can't remember what the first yellow was for though.

Bentley was the stand out player for me. I loved that the fans cheered as he came over to take a Free kick at the start of the match. He turned round to thank them then went over and scored! I believe he also put the brilliant through ball to Dos Santos for Lennons goal.

Good to see the fans getting behind Zokora, I think it was one of his best games today. He's a lot faster than many people realise and he made some important challenges. Can't see why he got booked for the melee, didn't the other guy kick him or something?

The only thing I'll say is we look a bit dosy defensively. Dawson had to scramble to catch someone who had got through on goal and one of their players dribbled through, without resistence. Luckily Gomes made a stop from a soft shot.

Some people will dismiss it as "only Roma" but we can only play the teams that are put in front of us. Apparently Roma finished 2nd in Serie A last season and of course they've played, like Celtic, in the CL. This season, we'll have to beat "only boro" and "only stoke" as well as "only everton" and "only portsmouth", so as long as we're thrashing "only Roma" I'm pretty confident that we'll be in the right frame for the trip to the Riverside.

To be fair, I still wouldn't have had us down to score 5 against a top Italian side playing a defensive game! :grin:

 

[deka-]

"only roma" ? :rofl:

whoever said that should start to watch more football outside of the UK! Last year they were brilliant in champions league, they knocked Real Madrid out of the competition playing one of the most beautiful and entertaining football in Europe, and they finally got eliminated by United, who later won the trophy...

you can't say "only roma" when you support Tottenham, that's not possible..

what you can say though is that serie A will start at the end of the month, so italian sides are not as far in their preparation than us at all, and also that they must be in the middle of their physical preparation, which can explain why they looked very tired and powerless after one hour into the game..

 

[VegasII]

To be fair when I looked at the pre season schedule of Norwich, Orient, Celtic, Dortmund & Roma I thought it would be tougher than expected. A couple draws at least and maybe a defeat, but we've flat out beaten everyone so I think we can say the team has performed better than even the club expected. Either that or the other teams just didn't show up.

I know they're only friendlies, but I think the lads have responded well to Juande's training methods and and the trip to spain. Good stuff...let's hope it continues all season.

Also - only one of those games was at home!

 

[TheVoiceofReason]

I dont want to be cynical after such an emphatic win, but it has to be said, Dawson was our least good player on the pitch, and he remains our primary weakness, which is why i hope we pull through with Corluka.
But all in all, a good performance. Gio looks an absolute bargain. Modric is JUST what we have been missing.

 

[camaj]

I think we can say the team has performed better than even the club expected. Either that or the other teams just didn't show up.

If it's one team that might be possible, but it'd be pretty unlikely to find 5 teams on their off days.

SSN showed a stat that we'd won so many games, and drew 1, although that must have been a Spurs XI team. They also had us down for 33 goals scored, and 5 conceded.

One thing I think might be good, is that Gomes has only let in one goal in all those games and there wasn't much he could do about it (1-on-1 at norwich).

 

[craig4589]

Pretty sure the Corluka deal is off

 

[MrShibby]

just a quick post to say i was there east lower block 29 shouted meself hoarse .. really good to see lots of parents and kids there! i was surrounded by em! had to curb the language but they all looked like they loved it. on a slightly miserable note ive gotta say im getting a little hacked off with the same old "stand up if you hate" chant.. loads of us didnt even bother...anyone agree here? anyways 5-0 ! get in!!

I agree too, we spend way too much time chanting about other teams, they don't care....

Like the guy said "Stand Up If You Love Tottenham", then I'd get up....

 

[Bill_Oddie]

Not sure if anyone else noticed but Spurs played Roma today and beat them 5-0.

I think most of you were watching a different opposition or a training game or something as the excitement levels in here are about the level of a comatose badger set during a 'My Family' marathon on BBC(lackof)Entertainment.


The thing that I loved the most was Gus's comments prior to the game that Roma had been specifically chosen as opponents as just about the most defensively sound side we could test ourselves against. A side who would sit very, very deep and be difficult to break down. :grin:

They were reduced to trying to kick us for the whole of the second half. It was pitiful on their behalf and I can understand why their coach was slouched with his head in his hands all game (apart from when he wandered onto the pitch, clearly thinking "well, I can't do any fucking worse..."). However, despite them trying to kick us they never got near enough to do any real damage.

At least 4 of their players would have been off for the same challenges in a competitive fixture, not to mention kicking the ball away, holding, and pouting like brats denied the chance to play.

In fact, if it had been a kick around in the park, I would have expected one of the Spurs players dads (Gio's probably) to come over, pick the ball up and place it in front of the Roma players and say 'here, lads. You have a turn now.' and ask our boys to just stand still while Roma completed a few passes.

It was practically exhibition football as demonstrated by at least half a dozen completed 20-yard volleyed passes made with the heel or outstep. Technically it was breathtaking and made the Italian side look like mugs.

Which brings me to the point: They ain't mugs. If you ask 99% of people who know footy to list the top 10 teams in Europe, they'll put Roma in there. They may not be at the same level of preparation as us but it's one thing to be caught on the hop, it' totally another to get your arses handed to you.

They were destroyed, battered, mutilated and humiliated. It wasn't just the scoreline it was the fact they ran around chasing the ball for 90 minutes and couldn't get near us. They must have been knackered while - again, this pre-season - we all jogged off. Our fitness levels are incredible and hugely evident.

The best example was with about 10-15 minutes to go and the move of the match. At least 10 passes were made starting (I think) with Woody near the subs bench on the half-way line. A one-two with Daws and another with Gomes turned into a slick pass down the line and Hudd and Lennon inter-changed for the little man to be presented with the ball at his feet 10-yards out and the goal gaping. But for an incredible last-ditch challenge it would have been 'goal of the (pre)season'. In all this, Roma had about 8 different players chasing the Spurs boys and - until that challenge - no-one got within 2 metres of players or ball.


I know why everyone's saying 'don't get carried away' but let's call a spade a spade. Or in this case, let's call a fucking good performance against quality opposition a fucking good performance against quality opposition.

 

[guy]

wow i really cant wait to watch the replay now tonight!!! (in sydney btw)

5-0 against a top CL team is a great result. Chealsea beat Milan 5-0 also i believe, and milan arent as good as roma at the moment.

Sets us up for a great opeening day of the season. Wouldnt it be great to get a first away win out of the way on the first day.

 

[Michey]

Pretty sure the Corluka deal is off

Pretty sure it's....not

 

[Class1987]

Tell you summin we look unreal I HAVE WATCHED chelsea,scum man u liverpool this preseason and we look better than all of them!!!

We're going to win the league then. :wink:

 

[buttons]

Went to the game and have to say that whilst i was dissapointed with Roma we were f*ckin unbelievable!! Our energy levels were incrdible, Modric and Jenas constantly hassled and outplayed De Rossi (one of the best around) and the other lad in their midfied.

Thought Bentley had a good hour and i think he wil be a favourite before too long! Had never realised how hard he works before today and he plays with a smile on his face.....anyone else see him c0cking around with the ref on that free kick, about 3 times he rolled the ball forward and had it moved back.

Thought Gio was quiet first half but a few touches were sublime and the assist for Lennon's goal was out of this world. I was surprised how strong he seemed as well, held tackles off well.

Lennon looked better than ever, Bent was brillaint first half, made some awesome runs and i thought even the defence looked fairly comfortable, special mention for Zokora who did very well.

Seems Gomes is gonna be very popular, his celebrations for the goal were quite funny! Did he celebrate first half as well?

All in all a good show and am feeling positive, can't help but think JR and GP woul have liked a harder work out but the boys looked fit, creative and ready for Boro next week! COYS

 

[Daredevil]

I was at the game today and very impressed with the team. Roma were very poor, so it would have been nicer to have beaten them when they were providing a tougher test but it was good to see a more ruthless Spurs capitalise on that and win convincingly.

Zokora could be a useful right-back cover given time, but his positioning still needs a lot of work as when he is caught out he tends to foul to make up for it and giving free kicks away on the edge of the box is never a good thing. Taking into account this is not his position though, I think he did well.

Dawson is looking better to me. He seems a lot calmer on the ball and happy to knock it around with the defenders around him. He was caught a few times and should almost certainly have conceded a penalty but he's looking better than last year.

Bentley. Class.

Gomes was good, made a great stop to deny Roma their best chance of the game. It was good to see Jansson confidently come and collect a corner after he came on too.

I wish more had come from down the left from us in the second half. I lost count of how many times Bale was in ACRES of space just crying out for the ball but the rest of the team were only going back, right or down the middle.

All in all though, a great match to watch before the big KO and well done to all the boys.

COYS!

 

[Destroyer]

What was all that with the steward & the rattle in the Park Lane ?? Anyone would of thought he was the latest signing ?? ++ does anyone know him ??

 

[DC_Boy]

yep went to game - v.enjoyable - no idea TBH what it means for Boro - but it was very good to be at the Lane - didn't hear any stupid comments - tho I caught a sniff of an anti-JJ er - near me - which prompted massive praise for JJ from me and withering looks if he thought he was going to let his crass ignorance get an easy ride - but thankfully didn't hear anymore

on the whole very good afternnon - spoilt only by the irritating 'stand up if you hate arsenal' repetition - does my head in - but you have to stand in the end or you don't see - thankfully by the end some others were refusing to stand too

I still don't really know if Bale and King are ready to start (finally saw Bale for the first time live BTW) -

still couldn't tell you Saturdays line up

oh and Gomes as I predicted a step up from Robbo, probably a massive step - and my OTT prediction that he will be our signing of the summer looked not so OTT -

what I can say is all the Bentley doubters - all those who've written off Bent - he can't play for Ramos blah blah - not good enough blah blah -and of course as usual all the JJ bashers - you're looking well wrong

all three impressed - and injuries permitting I expect all 3 to start v Boro