Missing the Spot

So, Spurs follow in the long line of English sides before them to fail at the 12 yard mark.

Is there shame in that ?  Well, not really, as it is all a bit of a lottery.  One scuffed shot, one piece of good fortune by the goalkeeper in deciding which way to jump.  Then you are out before you know it.

But there is much to look forward for next season’s attempt to go further.

This game showed that Tottenham are able to cope with the best that Holland can throw at them.  Maybe they are not the best in Europe, but a team with considerable experience in the top competition and some talented players.  Their trepidation in their approach to a HOME tie against Spurs, with a 1-0 lead from the away leg to boot, shows that Tottenham are a team who instil a little bit of fear in opponents.  And for that, they must realise that Ramos has the ability to out-think them and take advantage of any weakness their team may have.

In PSV’s case, it might well have been their goalkeeper, Gomes, who on the night turned out to be their hero, but so easily could have been the Dutch club’s villain.  Three times he made ill-judged rushes from goal and collided with team-mates or opponents, dropping the ball in the process and not knowing where it was.  He even rushed out of his area, with scant concern for who was around him, but got away with it.

When it came to making saves, he was OK.  Pushing aside Jenas’ penalty kept his team in it, but perhaps his flying leap to turn over Malbranque’s last minute volley in extra time was what won the tie for Eindhoven.  There would have been no coming back from that if it had gone in.

But Spurs had their chances.  Bent made Gomes tip over a header and then shot wide on the volley when well placed.  His evident lack of confidence that comes form not having an extended run in the side was demonstrated with a pass to Keane, who had a man on him, when a shot from the left side of the box might have been the better option.

Berbatov had a couple of efforts that troubled the keeper and a couple that didn’t.  Keane rarely got into positions where he was going to score, playing more as a creator on the night.

Ramos’ belief in changing systems in mid-match probably gave OSV issues to deal with, as the team started as a 4-4-2, then became a 4-3-3, before ending as a 3-5-2.   In the end the only numbers that mattered were those of successful penalty kicks and Tottenham, despite Paul Robinson’s save from Lazovic giving them an advantage, could not better PSV’s total, as Pascal Chimbonda’s spot-kick slid past the post with Gomes going the opposite way.  Perhaps the story of Tottenham’s and Gomes’ evening.

But for next season, there are plusses to be eagerly anticipated.

Alan Hutton will be available from the start of the UEFA Cup next time out and all the players will be more experienced, but in terms of playing in Europe and for the issue of penalty shoot outs.  They are a necessary evil and now that some of the players have stepped up to take them they will be better prepared next time.

A few months under Juande Ramos’ tuition will be nine by the time the First Round of the UEFA Cup arrives next season.  The more time spent understanding his systems of play and how he can bring the best out of players means that they will perform with greater application in the seasons ahead.

There will be a transfer window between now and then, so Ramos can start to shape his own team.  He has done remarkably well with the group of players he has at his disposal, but I am sure he will bring in new recruits to fill positions he thinks needs strengthening.

With the League Cup won, UEFA Cup qualification was secured, which was just as well, because the chase for a place in the competition through the league position was beyond us.  Therefore, the application for the InterToto Cup is now not required and the team can have a rest during the summer, with most of them not involved in Euro 2008, to start next season fresh and raring to go.

While the side may not be ready yet to neither qualify for the Champions League, nor vie with the top teams who are in it, there is a growing feeling that Ramos will build to that and the UEFA Cup is about the right stage for Spurs in Europe at the moment.  It appears reaching the last 16 is not a problem, but like winning the League Cup, there is a next step we have to take to develop as a team who can consistently do well.  Ramos will meticulously plot that next step.

And perhaps the biggest plus on the night was that Zokora scored !!

Wyart Lane
My Eyes Have Seen The Glory
www.mehstg.com