Tottenham v Villarreal

[Magical Trevor]

Corluka clearly isn't a centre back. He was turned too often, too easily. Bassong limping towards the end was a concern too.

We played a lot of youth who performed pretty well, and before the third Villarreal goal went in we were firmly on top, but they were well ahead of us today.

Walker did well at RB, I'd be happy for him to be 2nd choice in that position should Hutton leave.

[Grey Fox]

Thought Walker played well, one to keep me thinks.

Was Harry putting some in the shop window?

Button, JJ, Keane, Tarabt, etc

[Juande the Spurrier]

Harry Redknapp's rusty Spurs given a rude awakening by Villarreal

• Worries for Tottenham as they crash 4-1 at home
• Strong Spurs team prove no match for Spaniards

John Ashdown
The Guardian,
Friday 30 July 2010

Though these fixtures are all about sharpness not scorelines, with Champions League fixtures arriving soon Tottenham must hit the ground running this season and Harry Redknapp's team did not fare well by either measure at White Hart Lane last night, succumbing 4-1 to Villarreal.

Redknapp named a strong line-up for the visit of the Spaniards, the first of a hat-trick of friendlies against European opposition designed to ready the club for their Champions League play-off next month. Fiorentina and Benfica follow before Spurs begin their Premier League campaign away at Manchester City on 14 August. This result, though, did not bode well.

"They're a great side, I was very impressed with them," said the Spurs manager. "We had a good squad out, but they were sharp. They were different class."

Jermain Defoe started up front, with Michael Dawson and Aaron Lennon the others of England's World Cup squad involved, while Heurelho Gomes played in goal having missed the club's pre-season tour of the United States. Jermaine Jenas, his influence at White Hart Lane surely threatened by Redknapp's interest in Scott Parker, started alongside Tom Huddlestone in midfield, while Robbie Keane, similarly under pressure given his manager's interest in Craig Bellamy, took the captain's armband. Jenas, though, hobbled off with a leg injury inside the first 20 minutes.

With Dawson and co needing to shake off the disappointment of England's time in South Africa as well as their summer rust, Spurs could hardly have got off to a worse start. David Fuster and Santi Cazorla had already gone close by the time the visitors opened the scoring after 21 minutes. The impressive Cazorla found space 20 yards out and shaped to shoot, only to play a wonderfully disguised dinked pass through to Giuseppe Rossi. The former Manchester United striker, himself needing a confidence boost after Italy's dismal World Cup campaign, made no mistake.

Though Spurs were undone by a moment of individual excellence for the first, a portion of blame could be attributed to the rusty Dawson for the second. The central defender failed to cut out Marcos Senna's through-ball and Rossi, clean through, again slotted calmly past Gomes.

Redknapp's seven half-time substitutions, rather than disrupt Spurs' rhythm – there was little to speak of anyway – in fact offered the home side greater fluidity and control. Gareth Bale has begun pre-season in the same impressive manner in which he finished the last campaign and on 55 minutes Spurs pulled one back. Peter Crouch took advantage of defensive hesitancy to slip in Giovani dos Santos, and the Mexican chipped the ball confidently past Diego López in the Villarreal goal.

Rossi, though, completed his hat-trick with 20 minutes to go, his long-range drive deflecting off Vedran Corluka to make it 3-1, and Marco Ruben added a fourth with four minutes to play. The Yellow Submarines, despite finishing seventh in La Liga last season, will play in the Europa League this year, following Mallorca's expulsion after going into administration. If they do not hit their straps when things really kick-off, Tottenham could still join them.

Not a promising start. Although there are a number of mitigating factors: lack of senior centre backs; lack of senior centre midfielders (once Jenas went off, did Rose or Kranjcar play centre?); lack of match fitness (world cup players only just returned; monday?).

Hopefully this will give the players the needed sense of urgency. They are nowhere near ready for a CL qualifier which is likely to be aganst a side with a longer preseason. Perhaps this will make Levy nervous and loosen the purse strings.

[King The Hero]

At least Jenas got injured

[Grey Fox]

Originally Posted by King The Hero

At least Jenas got injured

but is that a good thing? How the hell are we going to sell him on if he is crocked?

[Martin Mentality Jol]

A few things....

It was the first outing for a lot of players, so I guess some were understandably rusty. It's all about building fitness right now and the game would have been good for them in that respect. Not sure why it gets such a large match report in the Guardian. The report also talks about Rossi needing a confidence boost after Italy's world cup disappointment. I thought it was quite well reported and known that he wasn't picked for the squad! Hmmm... maybe we should put in a cheeky offer for him?!

On Bentley and Pav - I think it probably was injuries. Bentley got that injury against Bournemouth and Pav was not fit for the games in the USA.

[King The Hero]

Originally Posted by Grey Fox

but is that a good thing? How the hell are we going to sell him on if he is crocked?

Take the good with the bad. I did think that actually. At least he won't play...hopefully.

[Juande the Spurrier]

But our problems started when he went off. Jenas might not be anyone's first choice, but he is still better than the alternatives available last night. As neither of Palacios and Modric (why?) were avialable he was our best option and the opposition put four past us after he left the field.

Personally I prefer to see Jenas play than see a team score four against us. I know, I'm fickle.

[King The Hero]

I reckon that Scott Parker fella could have done alright, maybe we should make a bid?

I think Modric picked up a knock on the USA tour so didnt play against Sporting or last night, hopefully it's nothing major. I never used to think Jenas was that bad until last season when he tipped me over the edge with too many crap performances. That and we were so much better when he was out injured.

[Magical Trevor]

I don't know if we should look too much into the scoreline last night, or even the performance, to be honest. For many, it was the first game back from holiday, and a lot of the rest are very young and inexperienced. For example, when the fourth went in, our midfield was Rose, Taarabt, Gio and Parrett.

I certainly am worried about the defence though. Woodgate's as good as gone, Ledley can't be expected to be available and Corluka clearly isn't up to the task. Kaboul I have doubts over too. So if (when) one of or both Dawson and Bassong are unavailable, we'll be scraping the barrel.

I think we'll know a lot more through the Benfica and Fiorentina games. By the time the latter comes around, I'd expect us to be a lot better, but I still think we need to buy a centreback and a striker.