Tottenham 0-0 Fulham

----------------------Robinson----------------------
-Chimbonda---Dawson---King---A.Ekotto-
---Jenas-----Murphy----Zokora-----Tainio---
-----------------Keane--------Mido----------------

Tottenham: Robinson, Chimbonda, Dawson, King, Assou-Ekotto, Jenas, Zokora, Murphy (Davids 80), Tainio (Defoe 70), Keane, Mido.
Subs Not Used: Cerny, Lee, Huddlestone.

Booked: Chimbonda, Mido.

Fulham: Niemi, Rosenior, Pearce, Knight, Queudrue, Volz, Brown, Bocanegra, Boa Morte (Radzinski 77), McBride (Helguson 66), John (Runstrom 82).
Subs Not Used: Lastuvka, Claus Jensen.

Booked: Boa Morte, Bocanegra.

Att: 36,131

Injury ravaged Fulham came to White Hart Lane with a patched up team looking for a point and left with exactly that from a London derby that lacked any real entertainment value. Following the midweek UEFA Cup tie, Jol made two changes, replacing Huddlestone with Murphy and Defoe with Keane. For the third time in a week Spurs began with a different midfield and it showed, with a lack of coherence and poor individual performances from Tainio and Murphy, who has surely confirmed that he is totally unsuited to playing centrally in a midifeld four.

For all their possession, Spurs didn't create the chances that Fulham's unadventurous approach should have yielded. For all their harrying in midfield, Fulham didn't look particularly secure in defence, and the fact that it was Spurs' fullbacks that posed the greatest attacking threat for the home team probably tells you all you need to know about how well the midfield and attacking units are functioning at present. Following the encouraging signs of higher tempo passing and movement against Slavia, this was very much back to the norm, with slow build up through the centre, direct balls to Mido's head and little width offered by either Tainio or Jenas in midfield.

On occasions like this last season, a player would manage to take one of the few genuine chances and mask the performance by securing the three points. So far this season, that is not looking like being repeated, and it is imperative that Jol brings some kind of effective attacking structure to his side as quickly as possible if the league campaign is not to fade to insignificance before it has begun. His insistence on instructing Mido to pull wide left and send over crosses for his diminutive strike partner, who is inevitably being marked by at least two defenders, continues to bewilder, as does his failure to get his midfield to offer width and move the ball quickly when faced with an oppposition compressing play centrally. Another particular annoyance is the fact that Spurs under Jol rarely get numbers in the box from attacks in open play. On the rare occasions where this did happen on Sunday, both Tainio and Assou-Ekotto went close to scoring.

With the defensive unit looking solid, there is a real opportunity for Jol to take Spurs forward this season if he can just get over effect the loss of Carrick has had to his midfield plans. Sadly, Carrick's departure, aswell as the failure to prise Downing away from Middlesborough, is increasingly being used as an excuse by Jol in the media for the team's stuttering form. It's a little surprising that a coach with Jol's background at smaller selling clubs should, at least publicly, present this as a hindrance. With or without those two players, and even taking into account the injuries to key players, this Spurs squad should be both playing better and earning better results than they are at present.

Spurs' man of the match: Pascal Chimbonda - another solid defensive display aswell as providing one of the few consistent attacking threats, both in open play and aerially from set pieces, where he nearly scored with a header from a Keane corner. The Frenchman is starting to look like a bargain much to the surprise of those such as myself who were sceptical of the club's pursuit of him.

Slavia Praha 0-1 Tottenham

---------------Robinson--------------
Chimbonda--Dawson--King--A.Ekotto
Jenas--Zokora--Huddlestone--Tainio
-----------Defoe-----Mido-----------

Slavia Prague: Michal Vorel (Kozacik 28), Svec, Latka, Suchy, Hubacek, Janda (Necas 72), Jarolim, Hrdlicka, Svento, Vlcek, Gaucho (Fort 62).
Subs Not Used: Dosoudil, Gecov, Necid, Aracic.

Booked: Gaucho.

Tottenham: Robinson, Chimbonda, Dawson, King, Assou-Ekotto, Jenas, Huddlestone (Davids 71), Zokora, Tainio, Defoe (Keane 78), Mido.
Subs Not Used: Cerny, Lee, Stalteri, Ziegler, Davenport.

Booked: Assou-Ekotto.

Goals: Jenas (37).

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ieu8_jGf410

Spurs' first European game for seven years ended with a victory, the first win result of the season, and further signs of improvement in the team's play. Jol made a bold move in handing Tom Huddlestone his full debut ahead of Davids in order to improve the distribution from midfield to the forward players. Huddlestone, whilst still lacking a little form and sharpness this season, demonstrated that he can make a contribution to the first team this season with a decent defensive display and some imaginative offensive passing. His partnership with the excellent Zokora showed signs of promise with the two showing a good understanding both defensively and offfensively.

The team benefited from having two central players that look to move the ball forward quickly when possible, rather than the more ponderous passing of Jenas and the wildly inaccurate Davids, and as a result there was a greater tendency to play higher tempo pass-and-move football than has been seen previously this season. The two fullbacks certainly helped in this respect, with Assou-Ekotto looking to provide an attacking outlet on the left more frequently than he has done since joining the club. On the other flank, some of the interplay between Jenas, Zokora and Chimbonda was impressive and all of a sudden there seems to be a lot of pace in the Spurs side, not to mention strength and physical presence from the likes of Mido, Huddlestone, Jenas and the whole of the back four.

With Slavia looking tentative, the onus was on Spurs to dictate and they were able to do so thanks to the efforts of Zokora who siezed the initaitive with several speedy bursts forward creating an easy headed chance for Defoe, from which the striker should have scored, and laying on the goal for Jenas, who capped a good performance with an excellent strike. Zokora had seemingly been the fall guy following Spurs' bad start when subbed against Bolton and dropped to the bench for the Sheffield United game but, after a solid performance against Manchester United, the Ivorian demonstrated why it was such a coup for Spurs to beat the big guns of Europe to his signature. He harried and hustled defensively, looked to push the possession higher up the pitch and carried the ball forward at great pace when the opportunities arose. It would be fair to say that Spurs have lacked a player to dictate and control the tempo in the way Zokora showed last night since Mendes departed for Portsmouth. Carrick, for all his strengths, played the game at his own pace and only very rarely looked to vary that.

For Jol it was very much a case of job done. A clean sheet and an away goal is not to be sniffed at, wherever one happens to be playing in Europe, and whilst it was probably a missed opportunity to put the tie beyond doubt given Slavia's muted display, the result leaves Spurs very much in control ahead of the return leg.

Spurs' man of the match: Didier Zokora - Dawson ran him close with a flawless defensive performance, but Zokora's all action display was worthy of his nickname, the Maestro, and also worthy of the man of the match award.

Manchester Utd 1-0 Tottenham

---------------------Robinson---------------------
--Chimbonda--Dawson--King--A.Ekotto--
--Ghaly--Jenas--Zokora--Davids--Mido--
-----------------------Keane-----------------------

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Neville, Ferdinand, Brown, Evra, Ronaldo (Silvestre 90), Carrick (Fletcher 79), O'Shea, Richardson (Park 70), Giggs, Saha.
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Solskjaer.

Booked: Richardson, Evra.

Goals: Giggs (9).

Tottenham: Robinson, Chimbonda, Dawson, King (Murphy 81), Assou-Ekotto, Jenas, Zokora, Davids (Ziegler 57), Ghaly, Keane (Defoe 57), Mido.
Subs Not Used: Cerny, Huddlestone.

Booked: Ghaly, Mido.

Att: 75,453.

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctULhE51SRs


A defeat at Old Trafford consigned Spurs to their worst ever Premiership start, but there were plenty of positives in what was arguably the best performance of the season so far, particularly given the relative standard of the opposition in the only other passable performance against Sheffield United. Eager to avoid being ripped apart by an on form United, as Fulham had been on the opening weekend, Jol went with five across midfield with the returning Mido playing from the left and compatriot Hossam Ghaly making his debut on the right. Keane was given the hopeless task of winning the aerial balls from defence and certainly looked unhappy and off the pace for the majority of his hour on the pitch.

In general though, Jol's containing tactics worked as United were unable to establish any attacking rhythm. Their breakthrough came from another Robinson error, this time patting Ronaldo's free kick straight into the danger area where Giggs duly finished. Robinson would probably attribute his action to the swerve and pace of the ball and the glare of the late afternoon sun, but the truth is he should have punched the ball rather than palmed it and increased the likelihood of the ball clearing the danger area. Whilst he made two good, if fairly routine, saves later in the game, there are growing concerns about Robinson's form. Though he has always looked vulnerable coming off his line, shot stopping is regarded as one of the England number one's strengths, yet he has been embarrassed twice already this term from range.

The second half saw Mido pushed up front and, on the hour, Defoe and Ziegler joining the action to replace the poor Davids and Keane. Defoe made an instant impact, but failed to live up to that initial promise and his threat disappeared as the game progressed. His best chance came from an excellent move and cross from the left by Assou-Ekotto, but he somehow manager to send his header over the bar from six yards despite being unmarked. Mido too managed to miss two chances that a player of his heading ability should have put away. The first was created by Ghaly, who having waited so long to make his debut seemed determined to make an impression. The Egyptian midfielder played with drive both offensively and defensively, and displayed a willingness to look forward and be positive in his passing which has been lacking in Spurs' midfield, particularly in the absence of Tainio who was rested for this game along with Lee Young Pyo.

Ultimately, this was another game against the 'big' sides where Spurs played well but came away with less than their performance deserved. It is becoming a habit under Jol, and if he really is to live up to the hype he will have to find a way of solving the conundrum. Generally, this was a better performance by the Dutchman. His tactics would probably have been enough to earn a point but for a goalkeeping error, and his substitutions (an area where he has earned due criticism) were well judged here. He has some way to go if last season's 'successes' are to be replicated, but certainly there were enough signs of improvement from him and his team at Old Trafford to suggest progress is underway.

Spurs' man of the match: Pascal Chimbonda - a faultess display from the debutant. If he can continue to play to this level, particularly defensively, I will have been happily proved wrong in my doubts about his transfer. Put the memories of bad performances against United for Wigan behind him and began to justify Spurs' long pursuit of him.

Team news

Team news is in for the United game, both official and unofficial. Spurs site confirms that Berbatov is out of the game, and Lee Young Pyo and Tainio are rested having played two full international games earlier in the week. Club captain Ledley King is fit to make his first start of the season.

Unofficially, the line up in Friday's training at Spurs Lodge found Zokora replacing Tainio and Mido and Chimbonda given the nod to make their debuts. Mido was asked to drop deeper, presumably to provide the width on the left which is typically lacking with Davids drifting in to the centre.

-------------------Robinson--------------------
Chimbonda--Dawson--King--A.Ekotto
-------Jenas------Zokora------Davids-----
Lennon------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------Mido------
-------------------Keane------------------------

[Unofficial line up courtesy of GLP on COYS]

Man Utd preview

This weekend's fixture finds two teams enjoying contrasting starts to the season, aswell as in their summer transfer activity. Whilst Spurs have made no less than six first team signings, Manchester United's major signings have been limited to the drawn out pusuit of Michael Carrick, who will face his old club for the first time at Old Trafford on Saturday. The hole left by Carrick's departure goes someway to explaining Spurs' travails in the opening three games. United on the other hand have made an impressive start which has to some extent placated their fans, who would be otherwise enraged by a lack of ambition in the transfer market.

Spurs will hope to be bolstered by the return of Ledley King following a knee injury, but are likely to be missing Berbatov who picked up a ligament strain whilst on duty with Bulgaria. That should mean an immediate return to the starting line up for Mido, who has revealed in the Egyptian press that Spurs' large €12million bid forced Roma's hand regarding his sale. The obvious strike partner for the target man is Keane, who should be asked by Jol to drop deep and limit Carrick's influence on the game.

Another new signing, Pascal Chimbonda, should take his place at rightback assuming he shakes off a slight knock on his calf. Spurs fans will be hoping for a better performance from the Frenchman than he managed on his last visit to Old Trafford, or indeed in the Carling Cup final against United, where he was poor defensively.

The midfield is likely to be unchanged, despite their performance against Everton, which means more bench time for Zokora. There is not a chance in hell of Jol dropping Davids for a game as big as this one, and Jenas hasn't been left out of the team when fit since he joined the club. Tainio and Lennon remain the only viable options on the flanks at present with new recruit Steed Malbranque having undergone a hernia operation this week that will sideline him for two months.

Expected team:

-------------------Robinson--------------------
Chimbonda--Dawson--King--A.Ekotto
Lennon----Jenas------Davids-----Tainio
--------------Keane--------Mido--------------