A blog on the great and glorious history of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club.
In the words of the great Bill Nicholson, "It's magnificent to be in Europe, and this club - a club like Tottenham Hotspur - if we're not in Europe.... we're nothing, we're nothing."
Showing posts with label Benoit Assou-Ekotto. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Benoit Assou-Ekotto. Show all posts
Benoit Assou-Ekotto has developed into one of the best left backs in the Premier League. From an uncertain start in his early days with Spurs he has become very assured defensively and is an increasing threat going forward having scored two goals in his last four games.
Benny - Mr Cool - Class
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Benoit Asou-Ekotto is a player who has over time grown on the hearts of Spurs supporters with varying hair styles, odd boots, trademark drag back and his growing list of outstanding goals. He has developed an excellent understanding with Gareth Bale doing the defensive work as Bale rampages around the pitch causing havoc.
Benny is becoming a greater threat going forward looking for the opportunity to create but also aware that he can contribute to the team with goals as well.
He has now scored three league goals, all of them memorable.
The first was against Liverpool in the opening fixture of season 2009-10. A free-kick on the edge of the area rebounded off the wall and with a wonderful strike he powered a shot into the net.
The second came against Everton in January when he made progress on the left and cut in towards goal to unleash a shot from thirty yards which the goalkeeper at full stretch could only wave at as it hit the back of the net.
The most recent was against Newcastle in the 5 - 0 success. It was the opening goal and Benoit was on hand at the edge of the six yard box to meet Emmanuel Adebayor's cross and hammer it into the roof of the net. That must have been the first time he has ever ventured into the opponents' six yard box - but he made it worthwhile.
He displayed all his composure and confidence as he defended a cross late in that game, controlling the ball with his chest, flicking it up on his knee and heading the ball back to Brad Friedel - a super moment from a game with many good things to remember.
Benoit Assou-Ekotto has become a cult figure at White Hart Lane - heady days, indeed, which see him rival former player, Cyril Knowles, of 'Nice one Cyril' fame as the outstanding left back to have played for the club.
A perfect end to the week for Harry Redknapp as Spurs, inspired by a re-energised Emmanuel Adebayor, scored five goals against Newcastle at White Hart Lane as the fans continually showed their support for the manager.
White Hart Lane was buzzing with the Spurs supporters constantly singing and chanting the name of Harry Redknapp as they showed their support for the manager. The fans were up for the game and so were the players as Newcastle discovered very early on as Tottenham scored twice in the opening six minutes with Emmanuel Adebayor the creator and inspiration for the team.
Louis Saha made his home debut in place of Jake Livermore, with Aaron Lennon and Jermain Defoe fit enough to return to the substitutes bench. With Newcastle in search of a top four finish a difficult game was expected but they were restricted due to injuries in midfield. Spurs started very brightly and Adeboyor had created the first goal within four minutes. Looking lively and more energetic than in previous matches, he took a ball from Gareth Bale and made a forceful run and cross to where Benoit Assou-Ekotto was waiting, unmarked at the the corner of the six yard box and he gleefully hammered the ball into the net. It was a perfect start for Spurs and answered the question as to whether the media speculation about Harry Redknapp and the England manager's position had been a distraction at the club. The answer was clearly in the negative and after another two minutes it became a resounding, "No!"
Adebayor, again, made another strong run on the right and crossed for Louis Saha to score on his home debut against the team with whom he started his career in English football. Two minutes later, Saha turned provider and set up Adebayor but the shot went out for a goal kick. Two minutes on and Bale turned creator and set up Adebayor but he was unable to control the through ball and it ran on to the goalkeeper.
From a Newcastle corner, Adebayor, in trying to put in a tackle, slipped and the ball ran over his arm but the referee turned down any penalty appeals. A Bale run and cross came out to Kranjcar but he blasted over on fifteen minutes. it was all Spurs and they struck again when a Modric cross was laid back by Adebayor for Saha to score through the defenders legs.
The ease with which Spurs were playing encouraged the supporters and there was a constant tide of support for Harry Redknapp. Bale continued to be dangerous and he crossed to Saha who passed to Adebayor but the shot went wide.
Brad Friedel made a finger tip save from a free-kick when Scott Parker was booked for a foul on the edge of the area.
After thirty four minutes Spurs scored their fourth as Saha broke from halfway and put in Adebayor with a lovely cross/pass - Adebayor's shot was saved but it came back to him and as he tried to regain control it fell to Kranjcar who scored - his first goal in a year.
Spurs continued to play free flowing football with Newcastle chasing shadows although Ba had a shot straight at Friedel. The visitors defenders were finding Adebayor unplayable and he put in another cross to Kranjcar who shot over. Then in the final minute of the half, Spurs were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box which Adebayor touched to Assou-Ekotto but with a clesar sight on goal, he blasted it over.
After half-time Spurs were content to maintain possession for long periods with Newcastle unable to take the ball from them and when they did get it, they just gave it straight back to Spurs. After sixty four minutes, Bale played in Adebayor but he just failed to control the ball. Spurs appeared to be satisfied with four goals but then a good ball went from Bale out to Assou-Ekotto on the left and his centre was headed back by Saha to Adebayor who hooked it into the net for a deserved goal and his tenth of the season. Adebayor and Saha were showing an excellent understanding in their first game together.
Bale shot over from twenty five yards. Lennon and Defoe replaced Bale and Saha as Spurs continued to play at will with little threat from Newcastle. Ryan Nelsen made his debut as a replacement for Ledley King. Kyle Walker had an excellent run on the right but his cross was just too high for Adebayor. Then Newcastle created their first danger of the evening when Ba got a header on target from close range but Friedel reacted instinctively to save and the rebound was hit over.
Spurs produced a quick passing movement from Defoe to Adebayor to Kranjcar and back to Adebayor but the final shot passed wide. Luka Modric had a shot saved and Adebayor again shot over after Parker and Defoe had created the chance for him.
Newcastle have now lost on their last three visits to White Hart Lane and this match was the perfect end to a hectic week for Harry Redknapp. He was cleared of all charges in his court case, he is top candidate for the England manager's post, the fans showed their desire for him to stay and the players responded by producing one of their best displays of the season. The only thing which could have improved Redknapp's week would have been Bale scoring with the late chance on Monday evening at Anfield.
Emmanuel Adebayor was revitalised throughout, involved in every goal, with four assists and a goal. He linked well with Saha who scored two goals in twenty minutes for Spurs, having only managed that number in twenty games this season with Everton.
Spurs are now ten points ahead of Arsenal and Chelsea, five behind Manchester United who beat Liverpool to go a point ahead of City who play Aston Villa later today. Spurs did all they could today to persuade Harry Redknapp to stay at White Hart Lane and bide his time before accepting his ultimate job, the England manager's role.
Just as the fans chanted, "We want you to stay Harry Redknapp, we want you to stay," so I reiterate their words of yesterday but in all likelihood such sentiments won't be enough to keep Harry at White Hart Lane.
Gareth Bale, the Tottenham Hotspur and Wales international and current PFA Footballer of the Year has received another accolade by being named in the prestigious UEFA.com's 'Team of the Year'. He described being included in the team as a 'special honour'.
Gareth Bale - Tottenham's Super Star
Gareth Bale - selected in UEFA.com 'Team of the Year' for 2011
Liverpool have Steven Gerrard, Manchester United have Wayne Rooney but it's been a long time since Spurs have had a player of such stature who is capable of turning a game with a moment of brilliance. Now, however, they have Gareth Bale's and his inclusion in the UEFA.com 'Team of the Year' is another step in the remarkable turnaround for the young player since his arrival at Tottenham. A little over two years ago there were rumours and suggestions of him leaving Spurs as he struggled to live up to the high praise which accompanied his transfer from Southampton in May, 2007.
Bale, then eighteen years of age, was another player from the successful Southampton Academy to make the step up to a Premier League club and cost Spurs £5 million with the potential to double with appearances and success. His initial appearances in Martin Jol's side were encouraging. He made his debut in August, 2007 at Manchester United in a single goal defeat and a week later scored his first Tottenham goal in a 3 - 3 draw at Fulham when he received the ball from Robbie Keane to race down the left wing and score - a sight which through time would become the norm for watching Spurs fans and opposing defenders. He scored with a free-kick in the north London derby with Arsenal and then scored in a Carling Cup tie against Middlesbrough giving him three goals in the first four matches he had started for the club.
Spurs' overall results, however, were poor and Juande Ramos replaced Jol in October but in only his second game for the new manager Bale was injured in a Premier League game against Birmingham in December and was to miss the rest of the season.
At the start of the next season Bale alternated between left back and the left side of midfield but the team was struggling and Bale's performance at Stoke in October, 2008 summed up perfectly his own time with Spurs and the club's situation at the time. The club were bottom of the Premier League with two points and the 1 - 2 defeat in their eighth League match was to be Ramos' last game in charge in a Premier League match. In the seventeenth minute, playing at left back, Bale gave the ball away with a poor pass out of defence and as he tried to retrieve the situation he committed a foul to concede a penalty and was dismissed as Stoke scored their opening goal from the penalty spot.
As Bale started his three match suspension, a new manager came in and Bale found it difficult to reclaim his place as Harry Redknapp's team battled to avoid relegation with Benoit Assou-Ekotto playing regularly at left back for the rest of the season.
As season 2009-10 commenced Bale was recovering from surgery during the summer and had an unenviable record weighing heavily on his young shoulders - he had never played on a winning Spurs' team in his two years at the club. That burden was eventually lifted at the end of September, 2009 when he appeared as a late substitute in Spurs' 5 - 0 win over Burnley - after a record twenty four Premier League matches without a win.
Assou-Ekotto continued to hold the left back position and there was talk that Bale might go out on loan while some clubs were considering putting in a bid for the young player during the January transfer window. However, an injury to Assou-Ekotto was to give Bale his opportunity for an extended run in the team. When Assou-Ekotto returned to fitness after a two month absence, Bale moved to left midfield with Luka Modric playing a more central and as the end of the season approached with Spurs looking to grab a Champions League place, Bale scored in consecutive wins at home over Arsenal and Chelsea.
Gareth Bale was now an established member of the Spurs team which played in last season's Champions League and he had established a good understanding with Assou-Ekotto on the left wing. In the first Premier League away game at the Brittania Stadium Bale had a point to prove and did so in style with the two goals which earned Spurs the three points. He set aside the ghost of his previous problems at Stoke and provided the winning goal with a wonderful left foot volley.
It was at the San Siro Stadium against Inter Milan that Bale announced himself on the world stage. With Spurs Champions League campaign looking doomed as they faced a four goal deficit with only ten men after thirty five minutes it was Bale who restored some pride for the team with a second half hat-trick with goals of unbelievable quality. He ran at the Inter defenders with pace and left them floundering on three different occasions as Spurs staged a remarkable comeback to lose by only one goal to the reigning Champions. By the end it was the Inter fans who were baying for the final whistle.
In the return game a fortnight later as Spurs won 3 - 1, the lasting memory is of Bale once again racing from his own half, down the left wing as chants of "Taxi for Maicon" rang from the White Hart Lane stands with the Inter defender lying prostrate on the ground. The Inter defender and his colleagues failed to prevent Bale putting in a perfect cross for Roman Pavlyuchenko to score Spurs' third goal of the evening in the final minute. Then, he had just repeated what he had done less than thirty minutes earlier when Peter Crouch had scored the second goal.
There was now no way that Bale would be leaving White Hart Lane - he was a vital part of the team that Harry Redknapp was developing to challenge the top four teams in the country. It wasn't easy for Bale as defenders looked for ways to prevent him having an influence on the game and at times he was subject to heavy tackles and finding two or three defenders waiting in his way.
As last season drew to a close the high expectations and number of matches took their toll on all the players and Bale was finding it more difficult to be as effective as he struggled with niggling injuries. His season finished early following a heavy challenge against Blackpool but refreshed at the start of this season he has shown added qualities in his game by playing from the right as well as the left and by having more freedom to play across midfield. This was best illustrated against Norwich City over the Christmas period when he scored the two goals which kept up Tottenham's title challenge. The first came as he supported Emmanuel Adebayor almost as a second striker in the penalty area and the second was the result of a powerful run from the halfway line to out pace the defenders and lift the ball over the advancing goalkeeper.
At present, much of what is good about Spurs often centres around Gareth Bale. He has scored seven goals this season and has numerous assists as the team have risen to third position in the Premier League with 46 points from their last 19 matches.
Bale appears to be a very settled young man and he is always the last Tottenham player to leave the pitch at White Hart lane as he acknowledges the supporters on all sides of the ground before leaving the field.
Gareth Bale has played a leading role in the revival of the Wales international team and it is widely expected that he will appear in the Great Britain football team in the London Olympics later in the year.
UEFA.com 'Team of the Year'
It is the first time a Spurs player has made it into the Team of the Year since its inception in 2001 and Bale is the only Premier
League player in the 2011 team and becomes the first
Welshman to named.
He was up agains the likes of Lille's Edin Hazard, Manchester United's Ashley Young and Chelsea'a Juan Mata for the left midfield position.
Gareth Bale was quick to praise his team mates at Tottenham for the part they played in him receiving this accolade. Luka Modric was also on the shortlist in central midfield and Gareth
is one of only three players not based in Spain's La Liga to make the
cut.
Spurs managed to maintain their good home form with a comfortable win over Everton who showed greater attacking intent than some previous visitors. A goal in each half secured the three points with the goals being scored by Aaron Lennon and a wonder strike from Benoit Assou-Ekotto.
Tottenham Hotspur 2 Everton 0
Scorers: Lennon, Assou-Ekotto
Team: Friedel; Walker, Dawson, Kaboul, Assou-Ekotto; Lennon (Pienaar), Livermore, Modric, Bale; Van der Vaart, Adebayor (Pavlyuchenko). Subs (unused): Cudicini, Bassong, Rose, Kranjcar, Defoe
Spurs won comfortably against Everton to move level on points with Manchester United and three points behind City. Apart from an early strike in the opening minute by Luis Saha which went wide Spurs were relatively untroubled by the visitors apart from a couple of headers from corners.
Everton competed well in the opening minutes with Saha and Victor Anichebe dropping back to support in midfield but as the half progressed Spurs started to create some scoring opportunities. Rafael Van der Vaart curled a shot just over the bar and Emmanuel Adebayor had two opportunities to put Spurs ahead but lack of control was his downfall. As the half hour approached Spurs looked to be gaining the ascendency and so it proved as Leighton Baines misjudged a long cross-field pass from Benoit Assou-Ekotto. This gave Aaron Lennon the opportunity to get behind him and run into the area. Going across the area he shot to the near post with his left foot to wrong foot Tim Howard as the goalkeeper expected a shot across goal.
In the second half play continued with Everton looking to contain. Luka Modric was the subject of some tough tackling which the referee chose to ignore, especially on an occasion as Everton attacked, Modric was left lying on the ground but Spurs broke at pace and Howard saved the visitors with a good save from a powerful shot by Gareth Bale who had sprinted from box to box. As Modric recovered he drew the referee's attention to the damage that had been done to his shin but again the referee was not interested.
It's not often that Benoit Assou-Ekotto scores a goal but when he does they are goals to remember. With just over an hour gone the full back advanced up the left to be an attacking option as he does so often, he received the ball and cut in towards the middle and as Everton's defence opened up in front of him he shot from over thirty yards and while the ball took a slight deflection, the goalkeeper didn't get near it. Ekotto scored an equally memorable goal against Liverpool at the start of the 2009 - 2010 season.
Two nil and Spurs were comfortable with few anxieties got through to the finish and the visitors relieved to accept that scoreline.
Spurs played some lovely football with Bale showing Phil Neville that he wasn't going to be intimidated as happened last season. The only disappointment would be that Spurs in a season when they have played their best football for many years, haven't managed to run up a big score against any team. They have lacked the goalscoring instinct to accept enough of the numerous opportunities that they've created in so many matches.
After two games of this season, Spurs were in despair but now at just past the halfway point they are three points behind the League leaders and have opened a gap of eight points on Chelsea and nine ahead of Arsenal. Next Saturday's game with Wolves is vital to maintain this strong position and the challenge at the top of the table.
The opening match of the season may have come five months late but on this occasion, it was well worth waiting for!
