EYEWITNESS: Tottenham Hotspur 3 Inter Milan 1

Tuesday November 2, 2010

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Tottenham Hotspur 3 Inter Milan 1

EYEWITNESS report by DAN CARRIER

at WHITE HART LANE

SPURS just beat the European Champions. So that's nice.

And while it is glorious to bask in the snap-shot memories of a team performance of hustle and bustle, scheming and skill, to close your eyes and recall a night at the Lane which live forever in the mind of 36,000 vocal Spurs fans fortunate enough to be there, let us hope this is not the highlight of a season that has so far promised much.

In a performance of such verve it seems harsh to criticise anyone, but football fans pay their money and believe it gives them the right to have pop. Poor old Peter Crouch often gets a pasting from the more vocal of the crowd and there has long been talk on the terraces whether we'd do better with a new centre forward.

Now we have settled into having a five man midfield, the argument goes you need a big fella - namely Crouchy - to act as a target man. However, after watching tonight's performance, it occurred to me that our five men-in-the-middle have similarities to the last truly great Spurs team of my generation - that of David Pleat's 11 in 1987. He too went for 4-5-1, which is now Harry's preferred set up, and this current crop bear comparison to those who took us took the FA Cup final and a third placed finish in the league.

Pleat's entertainers included Ardiles, Hoddle, Waddle, Paul Allen, Hodge and, of course, Hoddle. While the current crop of Modric, Van Der Vaart, Lennon, Bale and Huddlestone may have some way to go as individuals to match Pleat's team, you can't help but think when they are at their best that there is a whiff of the class of 87 about this lot.

And who did Pleat have up front? Clive Allen - a bit of a titch who happened to hit 52 goals that year. So while the crowd grumbles about Crouch, but insist we must have a target man, its worth remembering Allen was hardly a big fella. It could therefore be argued Jermain Defoe is his natural heir. The striker is just two weeks away from being fully fit. It makes the mouth water to think of what his inclusion into this barnstorming team will do.

Harry Redknapp's side have in two years earned the right to play the European Champions, and while they only turned up for the second half in the away leg of this tie two weeks ago, they had clearly learnt from their mistake. At the Lane tonight they tore into Milan from the moment the ref blew his whistle.

In an opening exchanges, Spurs showed they were not going to let Milan have the run of the place, as they had done so in such an amateur way at the San Siro. They wanted to tell the other Champions League hopefuls that they were not here to make up the numbers.

This was a high tempo performance, with the boots of Tom Huddlestone acting as the metronome. Last year, Inter Milan went to Chelsea and had basically killed the game by sideways balls going back and forth, with Chelsea also too measured and studied to interrupt the rhythm of their visitors. I suspected this would be Rafa Benitez's tactics, with his side sitting pretty at the top of the group. But Spurs started with so much intensity, throwing the kitchen sink at their guests from the word go, and and it meant the European Champions simply could not settle into their stride. Their classic Italian style of patience just was not up to dealing with the battle plan Harry Redknapp had laid out.

On 19 it all went crazy: a good run by Modric saw the Milan defence open up and it was that man Van Der Vaart who slipped between the two centre backs, latched on to a jinking little pass and finished with his customary style.

Six minutes later it should have been two: Bale galloped down the left and crossed deep for Crouch. He spun his volley wide with the goal gaping – prompting the terraces to groan. But it was a mere blip in a magnificent performance. It was all going so well, and was marked by the fact the on 34 minutes, Milan's patience was so shot that Sulley Muntari hit a no-hoper drive from 35 yards out and it flew well over. It was a sign of the frustration felt by the visitors. The closest the visitors came was from a free kick near the end fo the first period that Cudicini tipped over.

The second half things could hardly get better, but boyo, they did. Solid at the back and wonderfully adventurous going forward, chances were carved and on 61, man of the moment Gareth Bale went scampering down the left after some prompting by Modric. His dinking cross left Crouch with little to do but toe poke it home.

Samuel Eto'o pulled a goal back on 79 after the defence stood off for just too long and the crafty Cameroonian whistled a low drive past Cudicini, but it wasn't enough to knock Spurs off their stride - and there was still a cherry to come on top of this deliciously rich Champions League cake.

On 88, Bale, that man who has made all of Europe sit up and take notice in 180 minutes of Champions League football against the cup holders, knocked the ball 35 yards ahead of the Brazilian full back Macion, found a sprint that belied a whole game of intense football under his belt and spun a perfect ball across the face of the goal for Pavlyuchenko to wallop home. The Lane went balisitic, and to watch Harry engulfed by his assitants Kevin Bond and Joe Jordan while the subs all tried to grab a bit of him too was a wonderful sight. It was all Harry's boys deserved. Tonight is a fine, fine night to be a Tottenham fan.

SPURS RATINGS

Cudicini: 8, a flying save from a Sniejder free kick at the end of the first period meant we crucially went in a goal to the good.

Hutton: 8, Hustled and harried, had his work cut out whenever Eto'o drifted wide but concentrated and showed his athleticism.

Bale: 10, Another world class performance. If he keeps this type of form up, he'll be a runner for the Premiership player of the season. As Luis Figo put it afterwards: “Bale killed us twice.”

Kaboul: 8, Won his battles and wasn't shy to step forward with the ball at his feet. Has been on the sidelines but has repaid Harry's trust when asked to come in.

Huddlestone: 9, the heartbeat. His range of passing was unsurpassed by anyone on the pitch. With two wingers in the side, he sets them off like the owner of pedigree greyhounds nonchantly tossing tennis balls about over Parlie Hill Fields for them to chase.

Lennon: 7, His speed will always worry those detailed to watch him, and means opposing full backs are always wary of venturing too far forward. Did his bit.

van der Vaart: 9. Shame his hamstring only let him play a half, but what a half. Movement for the opener was exquisite. Combines skill with a ferociousness that scares those unfortunate enough to have to track him. Sub: Jenas. Worked hard and meant VDV's skill was hardly missed.

Gallas :7, occasionally made to look his age when Eto'o ran at him but his experience at this level was so vital.

Modric: 9, Another giant performance by the little Croatian. Runs with the ball at his feet showing the balance of a gymnast, and his tricky dribble to set up VDV for the first was heart stopping.

Crouch: 7, Fought hard, but missed a great chance in the first half. Sub: Pavlyuchenko. Topped off a wonderful night by getting into the six-yard box after the Welsh flyer streaked forward and laid it on a plate for the sub to smash home.

Assou-Ekotto: 8, Worked his man well and gave Bale the base on the left to go forward and cause havoc.