Our pre-season preparations stuttered to a halt last night with a narrow 1-0 defeat at the hands of Mourinho’s Roma at Haifa’s Sammy Ofer Stadium.
As has been the case with all of our friendlies this summer, particularly the encounters against Rangers and Sevilla, this was a very closely-contested match, with intensity levels cranked up to near-competitive levels, albeit with a few dips in proceedings, given the Israeli heat and the fact that Roma still have a fortnight left before their season commences.
Playing a side which looks near-enough close to the XI expected to turn out against Saints next week, first starts were handed to Perisic and Bissouma, whilst Doherty started from the outset after missing out entirely against Rangers.
In a match of little chances, Roma dominated possession for the opening 20 minutes, with little danger posed to our backline. However, just as Spurs looked to grab a foothold in proceedings, Ibanez headed home unchallenged from Dybala’s corner just before the half-hour mark.
In typical Mourinho fashion, Roma were very well organised, having lined up with a three-man backline that became a back five as soon as any Spurs shirt was anywhere near the ball. The compactness of the Romans ultimately stifled Spurs, who, bar Kane seeing an effort being disallowed for offside, and a header from close range going over the bar in the closing stages, created little of note.
As the substitutions mounted in the second half, the match fizzled out to confirm our solitary defeat of pre-season.
Poor game. Dreadful referee. Lots of niggles. Several busy ups. We need creativity in midfield…oh for a Modric or Eriksen. Fell asleep to let the score unchallenged. However, Perisic, Bissouma and Lenglet are top footballers. Sorry not to see Spence….far better than the hapless Doherty and Emerson Royal.
Jod. Doherty has been awful and can’t cross or defend. Spence is the future and is a footballer who can run, dribble, cross and score. Give youth a chance and a bit of excitement.
You Jod live in the past. Such a sad bore.Get a life and look forward. My glass is half full.
wentworth – wow, Spence hasn’t played a premiership game yet for us or anybody else. Doherty meanwhile was our best wing back by a mile last season. But you already “know” Spence is a far better player than Doherty. If only Conte had your football knowledge.
Give it a rest jod, bloody hell mate!
The friendlies, or should be’s lol! they are run outs, getting the newbies fitting in, stretching the legs, meeting fitness targets, coach perusing, etc, they are probably only played at 80%, basically mean nothing.
Roma, dark arts, what else was expected, we survived no injuries, crap ref etc, 100% pen for HK getting fouled, ref fell for the play acting, say no more.
On Saturday SOTS come to town, the start to lets see how thing are going to turn out. COYS
Maybe there should have been a patriotic thread relating to England v Germany?!
I think Jod is getting confused with Tommy Docherty who was a good footballer.