SATURDAY 5TH AUGUST, 2000

FRIENDLY FIXTURE (DANNY MADDIX TESTIMONIAL)

QUEENS PARK RANGERS     0     (0)     TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR     2     (1)

Spurs scorers:-

Ferdinand, 23
Sherwood, 59

Referee:- W. Jordan

Attendance:- 12,042

Teams:-

QPR  (4-4-2):- Harper; Heinola, Morrow (sub Baraclough, 46), Ready (sub
Connolly, 46), Darlington;  Carlisle, Wardley (sub Grieves, 77), Rowland,
Langley (sub Kulcsar, 77); Crouch (sub Jeanne, 65), Kiwomya (sub Dowie, 65)

Spurs (4-4-2):- Sullivan; Carr, Vega (sub Perry, 46), Campbell, Taricco (sub
Thatcher, 46); Anderton, Sherwood (sub Young, 76), Clemence, Leonhardsen
(sub Davies, 46); Ferdinand (sub Rebrov, 46), Iversen (sub Armstrong, 76)

Sub not used:- Walker

No bookings

    Once again, Spurs were invited to a testimonial, and one again the star
was unable to play through injury. Ex-Spur Danny Maddix was on crutches. The
visiting support boosted the crowd significantly. This was a much better and
dominating performance by Spurs, as they, to a man, stroked the ball around
the park, without testing the goalkeeper to the degree that their possession
warranted. Anderton covered almost every blade of grass, and he, Sherwood,
and Clemence sprayed some decent long passes around. Both Vega and Campbell
were given licence to carry the ball forward, and to good effect. Vega
played like a winger once or twice, and I thought had a solid game all
round. Was it a co-incidence, I wonder, that Spurs were tested more in his
absence, when he was replaced by Perry at half time?

    Sullivan was reliable in goal, and from my close to goal position, I
could hear too easily how much he harries his men. Maybe Walker does this
too, but I haven't had the chance to hear him in action. It was difficult to
keep track of proceedings, as the QPR PA system is awful, and their team did
not play in their squad numbers (neither did Spurs), and their names were
not on their shirts. Jermaine Darlington, who impressed me in last year's
friendly, won the home "Man of the Match" award, and I wouldn't argue with
that, as he won applause from Ferdinand when defeating him in a competitive
tussle in the first half, and then pestered Thatcher down the QPR right
flank in the second half. Thatcher just about held his own in this contest,
and once again was seen to very good effect as an attacking force.

    This time, Spurs used all their outfield substitutes, but they did not
lose their style, rhythm, or domination. Armstrong's pace was incisive when
he got on, as he had three half chances, and I have to say that although he
scored a cracking half volley, Ferdinand looked the least impressive striker
to me.

    There were early half chances for Anderton and Iversen, and then even
Vega was getting in on the shooting party after a patient build up through
the middle of the park. Just before taking the lead, Spurs had a classy move
from the back, as Sol Campbell found Les Ferdinand with a lovely ball, and
then Taricco and Leonhardsen combined well on the left. Leo's cross just
brushed Iversen's head, and passed safely out of danger.

    Next came the goal for Ferdinand. Anderton's long ball found Iversen on
the right, and then both Anderton and Carr were involved as the ball fell to
Sherwood just outside the box. Tim managed to reach Les poised on the left
side of goal, and he cracked a left foot shot home.

    Peter Crouch was allowed a start by Gerry Francis, and headed just wide,
after the ball was crossed from the right, after Leonhardsen's mistake. With
5 minutes to go before the interval, Leonhardsen made a Carr long ball his
own, but failed in the one on one with Harper in goal. The ball reached Tim
Sherwood, whose shot went wide to the left. Leo then returned the compliment
to Carr with a cross field pass, and the space just seemed to open up for
Carr, who, instead of striking with power, opted for a chip that went over
the net.

    Personally, I was disappointed to see Vega go at half time, and it was
ironic to see Perry marking the tallest man on the field - Crouch - who did
have a first time shot to the corner of goal saved by Sullivan, and who won
applause from the home fans for some good footwork on the flank. Rebrov
looked sharp, and had several chances, the best of which was a 20 yard right
foot drive that probably looked closer to goal from my position.

    The Spurs control continued, and from a corner taken by Clemence, Tim
Sherwood made the game safe with a shot that took a massive deflection to
leave Harper stranded. QPR then made determined effort to get back into the
game, but they never really looked like scoring, and I think this week we
have played sides that will finish at opposite ends of the Nationwide First
Division. The best chance of the remainder of the game came from an Anderton
long shot outside the right side of the area, that the goalkeeper had to
push over the bar.

    There was no sign of Freund today, and we must assume that he was
injured in the warm-up at Craven Cottage. Walker looked pretty cheesed-off,
and I suspect that Mr Graham will have his hands full keeping him happy, as
I feel that Sullivan will be first choice on August 19th. Both Sullivan and
Rebrov were very obliging with the autograph hunters.

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