vs South China Match Thread

[camaj]

I knew it was an early game! Why did I listen to people who said 3pm, which is probably 11pm HK time.

 

[cktung]

Field report from Hong Kong

As a fellow yid in Hong Kong I would like to share with you a few thoughts about the friendly game against South China today. Atmosphere was great as an attendance at a football match of > 20000 is a rare sight here.

It's true that the weather was very unfavourable for us as a typhoon was approaching, making it very damp and hot. As Modric mentioned in a post-match interview after the Hull game, physical demand in this type of weather is way way above a normal game in UK.

I guess there are both the weather and wear-and-tear after 2 quick succession of games in Beijing to blame for our under-par performance today. Tempo was slow and players were not moving adequately to create space. We had plenty of possession but creating little, on the other hand the home side was quicker and more dangerous in counter-attacks.

Harry fielded a rather odd side today, probably after consideration about our lack of back-up in defence and accumulated fatigue in certain players. Formation was a 4-4-2 in 1st half featuring as followed:

Cudicini
Hutton Livermore Chimbo Rose
Naughton Jenas O'Hara Bostock
Pav Obika

In defence Spurs did okay. Livermore played as a stand-in CB but did fine. Basically dealt with the physical challenge and intercepted a few through balls in the middle. Cudicini did not have much to do. On the other hand, a lack of creativity and movement up front meant South China had plenty of time to build up the defence and stopped Spurs going forward. Fine long ranged strikes, one each from Pav and Bostock were all we could manage.

For 2nd half we played with the following formation:

Gomes
Hutton (Lennon) Livermore Chimbo Rose
Naughton O'Hara Keane Bostock
Pav (Modric) Defoe

We lost 2 early goals then. One was a wonder-goal, a first time volley just outside the box which Gomes could do little to stop. 2nd one was a dubious penalty (which was scored in style, a light chip to the central after Gomes dived to the right) Afterwards it was all Spurs as South China sat back with occasional threatening counter-attacks. (which Rose and Livermore were quick enough in pace to defend) But there was little time for the subs Lennon and Modric to perform.

Defoe blasted over from 10 yards out and Keane's flick hit the post. Pav stood out for Spurs attacking force, could held up the ball well and created chances to shoot, but South China's keeper did well to parry, including a close-ranged effort in the box.

As a Spurs fan I'm not too worried after seeing today's performance, given the harsh weather, tiredness from the previous 2 games and the factor about avoiding injury as the new season is just 2 weeks away. Performance of the young duo Livermore and Bostock were promising. But we definitely have to sort out the CB shortage problem before league starts, as partnership of either Corluka + Hudds or Corluka + Chimbo is not assuring at all.

N.B.
1. ITK about Keane could only stand 15 mins of running is kind of very doubtful as he could manage 45 min without any apparent ill effect.
2. I'm impressed by O'Hara, not his playing performance but his ability to keep his cool despite being booed for the entire 2nd half whenever he touched a ball. Fair play to the lad.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

O'Hara was being booed? Why? Not by Spurs fans I hope.

Good round up.

 

[roslau]

O'hara had a harsh tackle to a south china player. happened a lot in the premiership but rarely seen in Hong Kong..thats why he got booed..

 

[gibbs131]

As a fellow yid in Hong Kong I would like to share with you a few thoughts about the friendly game against South China today. Atmosphere was great as an attendance at a football match of > 20000 is a rare sight here.

It's true that the weather was very unfavourable for us as a typhoon was approaching, making it very damp and hot. As Modric mentioned in a post-match interview after the Hull game, physical demand in this type of weather is way way above a normal game in UK.

I guess there are both the weather and wear-and-tear after 2 quick succession of games in Beijing to blame for our under-par performance today. Tempo was slow and players were not moving adequately to create space. We had plenty of possession but creating little, on the other hand the home side was quicker and more dangerous in counter-attacks.

Harry fielded a rather odd side today, probably after consideration about our lack of back-up in defence and accumulated fatigue in certain players. Formation was a 4-4-2 in 1st half featuring as followed:

Cudicini
Hutton Livermore Chimbo Rose
Naughton Jenas O'Hara Bostock
Pav Obika

In defence Spurs did okay. Livermore played as a stand-in CB but did fine. Basically dealt with the physical challenge and intercepted a few through balls in the middle. Cudicini did not have much to do. On the other hand, a lack of creativity and movement up front meant South China had plenty of time to build up the defence and stopped Spurs going forward. Fine long ranged strikes, one each from Pav and Bostock were all we could manage.

For 2nd half we played with the following formation:

Gomes
Hutton (Lennon) Livermore Chimbo Rose
Naughton O'Hara Keane Bostock
Pav (Modric) Defoe

We lost 2 early goals then. One was a wonder-goal, a first time volley just outside the box which Gomes could do little to stop. 2nd one was a dubious penalty (which was scored in style, a light chip to the central after Gomes dived to the right) Afterwards it was all Spurs as South China sat back with occasional threatening counter-attacks. (which Rose and Livermore were quick enough in pace to defend) But there was little time for the subs Lennon and Modric to perform.

Defoe blasted over from 10 yards out and Keane's flick hit the post. Pav stood out for Spurs attacking force, could held up the ball well and created chances to shoot, but South China's keeper did well to parry, including a close-ranged effort in the box.

As a Spurs fan I'm not too worried after seeing today's performance, given the harsh weather, tiredness from the previous 2 games and the factor about avoiding injury as the new season is just 2 weeks away. Performance of the young duo Livermore and Bostock were promising. But we definitely have to sort out the CB shortage problem before league starts, as partnership of either Corluka + Hudds or Corluka + Chimbo is not assuring at all.

N.B.
1. ITK about Keane could only stand 15 mins of running is kind of very doubtful as he could manage 45 min without any apparent ill effect.
2. I'm impressed by O'Hara, not his playing performance but his ability to keep his cool despite being booed for the entire 2nd half whenever he touched a ball. Fair play to the lad.

Thanks

Good stuff.

 

[nipponyid]

Some great pics of the day in here;
http://www.spurscommunity.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=1481199&postcount=127