EYEWITNESS: Tottenham Hotspur 1 Everton 1, FA Premier League

 

FA PREMIER LEAGUE: TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1 EVERTON 1

EYEWITNESS report from WHITE HART LANE

by DAN CARRIER

SPURS legend Eddie Bailey, who passed away last week, was of that generation whose formative experiences as a young man took place during World War Two. Born in Clapton in 1925, he played alongside Bill Nicholson and Alf Ramsay in the team that won the league in 1951, and then became Bill’s number two during the Double season and was associated with Spurs for 29 years.

He was the vital right hand man to Bill, passing on to his charges the discipline instilled into him through the rigours of National Service. He served in the Royal Scots battalion in the immediate post war period, posted in Belgium, Holland and Germany. He saw first hand the deprivation caused by the conflict. As a minutes applause in his honour was observed before the start of the game, the thought of what he would have made of Wayne Rooney’s behaviour this week and the six-figure wages the forward had chiselled out of Manchester United couldn’t help but spring to mind.

Bailey’s youth was spent in a country in the midst of a Depression, where football was a game that provided a cheap escape for working class people from the poverty that afflicted them. With tickets at United now beyond the pockets of so many, and no doubt going to remain so for the foreseeable future, it’s hard not to feel we have lost something from our national sport that Eddie Bailey’s loyalty, hard work and affinity to the local club he spent his life toiling for epitomised.

Rooney’s home town team that the forward deserted for the Old Trafford shilling are always lively opponents and from the off this was an open and well balanced game.
While a noisy Lane showed the fans who made the trip to Milan on Wednesday night had shaken off the effects of too many Peroni’s soaked up by fat slices of pizza, Harry’s team couldn’t afford a hang over.

On 18, a clumsy challenge by Wilson Palacios gave away a free kick on the edge of the D and Leighton Baines finished brilliantly. Two minutes later it was even when Rafael Van der Vaart finished from a yard out after Peter Crouch won his usual back post knock down.

Spurs had the better of it with Howard forced into saves from Modric and Crouch, and the pattern remained the same during the second period - Spurs pressing and Everton looking lively on the break.
Spurs can’t be faulted for effort, but were perhaps a little too hurried in their final ball to deserve a win.
Eddie Bailey’s hard work and love for the club will never be forgotten by my father’s generation, who were fortunate to have footballing heroes they could relate to. While it is still a game of 11 against 11, it is hard to not to be slightly dispirited by the continual, money driven hoo-ha off the pitch that is this capricious monster called the Premiership.

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TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR PLAYER RATINGS

Gomes, 6: No heroics required.

Hutton, 7: Born again after his loan at Sunderland. Over lapped brilliantly and but occasionally relies too much on pace to make up for a lack of positional know how when on the back foot.

Bale, 8: After the heroics of Wednesday, he took a little while to get into his stride. On 46, he twisted through five Everton defenders. The boyos a marvel. Poor Phil Neville must have ached afterwards.

Kaboul, 8: Big physical challenge with Yakubu and Cahill to manage, but showed his increasing maturity and strength. Never looked flustered.

Lennon, 6: Slow start but on 51 suddenly burst into life with a one two off Sandro and then a muscle twanging run that suggests he may have got his rhythm back after the groin injury of late last term. Sub: Pavlyuchenko

Van der Vaart, 6: One first half jink and twist to play in Modric was worth the entrance fee.

Palacios, 6: Patrolled, growled, huffed, puffed. While he has a certain reputation for being as likely to find a ball boy as a team mate, there was one reverse pass he did to Hutton on 30 that must have made his mum, who had travelled over from Honduras for the game, swell up with pride. Subbed for Sandro at half time after being yellow carded.

Gallas, 7: No ill effects for three games in a week - and has even changed his controversial red boots for canary yellow. Great fun to see the old war horse steam forward to join the attack and then scoot back to make an important challenge on Cahill at the other end.

Modric, 8: Switched to the centre and revelled in it. With Palacios and then Sandro sitting deep, the Croatian was the heart beat.

Crouch, 7: Led the line well - showed good work on the ground as well as winning headers. Was fouled untold times by the Everton defenders and should have been given a penalty on 33 when he got the Everton back line in a pickle and became the filling in a Crouchy sandwich between Neville and Jagielka.

Assou-Ekotto, 7: One tackle and turn on 65 shows his calm headedness. Another great show.

Man of the match: LUKA MODRIC

Subs
Cudicini, Jenas, Pavlyuchenko, Keane, Bassong, Kranjcar, Sandro