Player Ratings vs Spurs

By Martyn Osmond
August 23 2004

Preparation for the match was less than ideal,and the performance was similarly frustrating. Here's my opinion on how the team played.

Given - 7: Did everything he could. Not all that much to do in fairness, solid as always.

Carr - 6: Looked pretty steady apart from the goal, where he backed off Atouba and pushed him onto his right foot, obviously not knowing that Atouba was capable of striking the ball like that with hiw weaker foot. Can't be blamed too much for that.

Hughes - 6: Again, no real problems and not much to shout about. Reliable as always.

O'Brien - 6: Ditto.

Bernard - 7: Decent game for Olly, tried to get forward and help out. Couple of misplaced passes.

Milner - 6: Not really in the game much apart from one excellent left-footed volley which Robinson had to tip over acrobatically.

Jenas - 7: Very mixed. Some great bursts forward, getting into wide positions and pushing forward a lot more than we saw him do last season, given extra freedom by the holding presence of Butt. Some very basic errors in giving away posession mind.

Butt - 7: A few good tackles, a few misplaced passes, overall pretty good. Continues to show his increasing importance to the team despite having only played two competitive games.

Robert - 5: Ineffective, especially considering he was facing a 17 year old rookie full back playing only his second game for Spurs. Dead ball delivery was poor, worked reasonably hard though so no real complaints against him.

Bellamy - 7.5: for the first half I'd give him 8.5/9 and for the second 6 or so. Don't know whether it was a tactical change by Spurs or he just tired in the second 45 but was far less effective after the break. Looked very dangerous in the first half, particularly in the opening 20 minutes or so breaking down the left.

Shearer - 5: Wouldn't have known he was playing had it not been for a few headers won and his name being announced pre-match. Form is temporary class is permanent and Al will snap out of it on Wednesday.

Subs:

Dyer - 5: All he managed to do was fluff a cross and hit it out for a goal kick. Was only on for limited time, to be fair.

Ameobi - 6: Tried to take the game by the scruff of the neck but wasn't at his best. Screwed a good chance wide with his left foot. Credit to him for trying to make a difference.

Kluivert - 6: No real chances to show us what he could do.