NORWICH CITY (Away)

Friendly

Tuesday 22nd July 2003

Tottenham : -  Hirschfeld (Burch 58), Carr (Marney 58), Taricco (c) (Perry 58), Toda, Bunjevcevic (Kelly 84), Gardner, Anderton (Ricketts 84), Postiga (Zamora 46), Davies (Poyet 58), Keane (Acimovic 58), Galbraith (Etherington 46)

Tottenham -  Anderton 31, Davies 56, Zamora 78

Tottenham -  None 

Even then, Spurs could have been two goals up before Norwich produced an effort on goal.  Galbraith was keen to get forward at every opportunity and produced an early cross that Postiga nodded too high, then Toda had a wicked attempt at volleying Anderton's corner, Teddy-like, which looked like it was going a mile wide, but the late curl took it just outside the post.  Surprisingly, the Japanese midfielder had an impressive game, doing little wrong while prompting and pushing in the best defensive midfielder tradition.  Perhaps he might get closer to his World Cup form than we saw last season.

When Norwich did have a chance, it came when Phil Mulryne teed up Malky Mackay, who hit a long range shot narrowly over.  Anderton was back doing some defensive work when the next City attack came n and just as well he was.  Hirschfeld came for a cross, but only managed to get it to new signing Jim Brennan, who had a go, but Hoddle managed to get a block in front of him.  A couple of other chances flew over and Spurs neutralised the home side's energy, gradually beginning to knock the ball about comfortably.  Keane knocked the ball across to the right wing, where it was laid back to Dazza by Carr and he moved forward a few yards towards the area and then let fly.  His 30 yard shot curved away from Green into the inside of the side netting, leaving the keeper grasping at fresh air.  It was a well placed shot with just the right amount of pace on it to beat the keeper all ends up.

A Davies header and another just before the break from Keane forced saves; the latter a fingertip one to see the ball out for a corner.  In between, Keano took a flick on from Helder Postiga and slid the ball home, only to be disappointed by a linesman's flag for offside.

Half time saw wholesale changes, but for Tottenham they seemed to emphasise the difference in class.  Etherington came on and had an effective half, while Zamora replaced Postiga.  However, the first effort of the half for us came from the boot of Stephen Carr, driving his shot just over the frame of the goal, after some neat passing from the back to front.  The next attempt resulted in a goal.  Another example of good passing opened up Norwich and Zamora played a neat ball back to allow Simon Davies to chip the keeper as he came out.

A minute later, we were all wondering how it wasn't three-nil, as Matty's low ball in was missed by both Simon and Robbie with the goal in front of them !!  Other efforts in goal failed to make Green work to hard, but then City started to push forward a bit more.  Jarvis' drive went wide of the mark and Burch, who had come on for Lars, produced a fine reflex save in tipping over a volley from close in by Zema Abbey.

Although Teddy might be gone, his corners are not forgotten, as Spurs seemed determined to score from one and this time it was Milo who set up Darren on the edge of the box, but the shot ended up well over the bar.  Zamora had frightened the hell out of the Norwich defence, when he outpaced them down the middle, but shot wide at the end of it, but his next chance produced his third goal in two half matches.  Mackay tried to head Acimovic's long through ball back to sub keeper Crichton, but Zamora had anticipated what was going to happen, taking the ball around the goalie and slipping it home for Tottenham's third of the night.

In the closing stages, Acimovic was only denied by a flying save from Crichton, but the score could easily have been doubled, such was the Spurs superiority.

Anderton and Gardner were the outstanding figures for Tottenham in the match and the forwards were all involved in making it a tricky experience for Norwich.  But the passing was good again and there were a few training ground moves, which were phased in to set-pieces throughout the game.  When they come off, it is very pleasing for a coach.  Even the movement and covering for colleagues was evident, something that is not always the case, but it bodes well for next season if everyone knows what they have to do within the team set-up.

They now go off to South Africa, where they might find the going a bit tougher ... in a physical sense.  Let's hope they come back without many injuries as they prepare for the first day of the season.

MEHSTG TOP MAN : - DARREN ANDERTON

Kirk Hammerton