Reserves Vs Birmingham Tonight-3-3 Full Time-Taarabt MOM apparantly!

[mrboombarrakoomba]

http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/articles/reservereport180308.html

RESERVE REPORT

Clive Allen's side took a point away from a cracking Reserve League match against their Birmingham City counterparts at Solihull Moors FC.

We found ourselves two goals down after 15 minutes but fought back to even go ahead at one stage before settling for a 3-3 draw.
Our goalkeeper David Button was first called into action after nine minutes when he did well to stop a low Daniel De Ridder effort.

But his resultant corner was met by Martin Taylor, and his looping header was bundled over the line by Jake Jervis.

Things went from bad to worse on 13 minutes when another De Ridder set-piece was turned in at close-range by Garry O’Connor to make it 2-0.

Chances for the home side were coming thick and fast as they dominated the first 20 minutes, and Button made further stops from Jordan Mutch and Jared Wilson. But then the game turned on its head.

We pulled a goal back on 33 minutes when David Hutton got in-front of his defender to slot Kyle Fraser-Allen’s cross home after good work from the winger.

It may have come against the run of play but it certainly gave us the confidence to push for an equaliser.

It should have come on 37 minutes when Adel Taarabt played a neat one-two with Mtandari but fired straight at keeper Colin Doyle from six yards out.

But two minutes later, the young Frenchman went on a solo run through the Birmingham back line and cleverly chipped over the on-rushing Doyle for Tomas Pekhart to nod home.

Birmingham did finish the half the stronger, but Button was equal to injury time efforts from Jervis and Mutch.

But we continued our momentum after the break and got our noses in front on 52 minutes. More good work from Fraser-Allen set up Taarabt and he slammed home a deserved goal.

We could have given ourselves a two-goal cushion just three minutes later, but Hutton dragged a shot wide having been but in the clear by the in-form Taarabt.

But we were left to rue that missed chance on 62 minutes when De Ridder broke down the left hand side and hung a ball up to the back post where O’Connor climbed to head home his second of the evening and level the scores up.

The home side were back in the ascendancy and had good calls for a penalty turned down when Cian Hughton appeared to upend O’Connor in the box on 70 minutes.
But no further clear-cut chances were created by either side, and the draw was a fair reflection after a thrilling night of football.


Line-ups:
Spurs: Button; Gunter, Archibald-Henville, Martin, Hughton; Fraser-Allen, Mtandari, Kasim (Hutchins, 77), D Hutton (Obika, 77); Pekhart, Taarabt
Subs not used: Jansson, Olsen, Mason

Birmingham: Doyle; Wilson, Taylor, Queudrue, Schmitz; De Ridder, Sammons (O’Brien, 56), Mutch, Aydilek (Joyce, 46); O’Connor, Jervis (Sheldon, 77)
Subs not used: Lyness, Hubbins



Full-time: Birmingham City 3, Spurs 3
86.12: CHANCE-SPURS. Good work from Taarabt and Pekhart sets up Mtandari on edge of box, fierce shot blocked by defender.
75mins: Quiet spell at the moment.
61.43: GOAL-BIRMINGHAM. De Ridder break down left, cross to back post where O'Connor looped a header into far corner.
Birmingham City 3, Spurs 3
54.24: CHANCE-SPURS. Taarabt releases Hutton for a one-on-one chance, rolled wide with left foot.
51.25: GOAL-SPURS. Fraser-Allen slips in Taarabt, right side of box,cool into the corner.
Birmingham City 2, Spurs 3
Half-time: Birmingham City 2, Spurs 2
Added time: SAVE - BUTTON. Mutch let fly from 30 yards, Button tipped around for corner.
44.42: Sharp turn from Jervis but tame shot straight at Button from edge of box.
38.51: GOAL - SPURS. Superb goal inspired by Taarabt. He turned between Wilson and Mutch, left Taylor for dead in the box and dinked the ball over the advancing Doyle for Pekhart to nod home from six yards. Move even drew applause from the home fans!
Birmingham City 2, Spurs 2
36.08: SAVE - DOYLE. Big chance as well as Taarabt worked one-two with Mtandari and was through on goal, went to side-foot into corner, Doyle out quickly to block with legs.
32.40: GOAL - SPURS. Good work from Fraser-Allen down the right, wrapped his foot around the ball on the byline and Huttom ghosted in at the far post to volley home.
Birmingham City 2, Spurs 1
30.43: Taarabt progress centrally before blasting ball out of the ground from 30 yards.
24.33: CHANCE - SPURS. Hutton's corner fell at Mtandari's feet, 10 yards out, got his shot off but blocked by crowd of players in front of goal.
18.55: Wilson cashed in as Martin slipped over on the right touchline, burst into the box, shot straight at Button.
15.34: Aydilek managed to cross from the left, ball cleared out to Mutch, decent hit straight at Button.
12.26: GOAL - BIRMINGHAM. De Ridder whipped in free-kick from the left, O'Connor lost his marker and guided the ball into the corner from eight yards.
Birmingham City 2, Spurs 0
10.42: Taarabt nutmegged Wilson before slicing shot wide from 20 yards.
9.30: GOAL - BIRMINGHAM. De Ridder swung in corner from the right, Taylor climbed highest to nod into the danger zone and Jervis beat Button to the ball to head home from six yards.

Birmingham City 1, Spurs 0
8.49: SAVE - BUTTON. First opening to the home side as Aydilek found De Ridder, firm shot from the right angle turned aside by Button.

_______________________



:clap::clap:


Great to see Taarabt doing so well. Sounds like an inspired performance. If you look at the commentary you can see that he's looking to play through balls and his distribution is improving as well. I wonder if anyone from here actually went to the game like BOF. It would be interesting to get another viewpoint.


I hope he gets more of a run out in the next fews games.

 

[SpurSince57]

I don't think anyone's so dementedly fanatical about the ressies as to follow them up to Solihull, but you never know.

Yes, sounds as if Taarabt's got the message and is developing into a genuine team player. I see he did put one shot clean out of the ground (watch out, Zoko!), but it seems he more than made up for it.

Can't see him getting a start this season, but he looks as if he's earned himself a few appearances off the bench.

 

[mrboombarrakoomba]

I agree with you there SS57. Maybe he's not mature enough to warrant a start yet but I certainly see him as an impact sub in the short-term.

 

[Marty]

That's not a bad Birmingham team. At least four first team squad men in O'Connor, De Ridder, Taylor, Queudrue.

Considering Gunter and Taarabt are the only two in our team to even play for the first team this season the boys did well.

 

[spurs4europe]

regardless, with 7 subs on the bench from next season, taarabt should be involved a lot more in the match day squad next season which can only be a good thing for him and us

 

[nightgoat]

Let's drop Lennon and start him against Chelsea...

 

[jondesouza]

That's not a bad Birmingham team. At least four first team squad men in O'Connor, De Ridder, Taylor, Queudrue.

I make it six (Doyle and Schmitz as well). It's something I've noticed a lot this season - we certainly tend to include a larger number of Academy players in our reserve team than a lot of other clubs.

 

[paul_1979yid]

I keep hearing these good reports of Taarabt having a good game for the reserves but iam yet to see anything 'Great' about him in the few times he has made an apperance for the 1st team. I know he has nt had much of a chance.

It is one thing to do it for the reserves but a diff matter to step up to the 1st team. He does look like a tricky kind of player and maybe a run in the team between now and the end of the season will do him good?:shrug:

 

[DogsOfWar]

Whilst there is a big gap between ressies and first team when a player starts to really stand out in the reserves then they are usually good enough to feature in some capacity and Taraabt seems to be doing this.

His last substitute appearance coming on against PSV actually impressed me. He was keeping the ball well, beating men, and showed more intelligence in his passing (when he finally got the ball).

I would like to see him feature in the tail end of the season but there's no point sticking him in for Malbranque or Lennon as he needs to play centrally near the last third.
This means either playing as a striker with Berbs or Bent and the usual midfield suspects, or part of a five man midfield with a defensive central pairing, a sort of 4-2-3-1.

The same goes for possibly Rose and any other youngsters who are deemed borderline. Rarely does a first team get a nine-game run to look at squad/reserve players so we should take this opportunity as it could help shape our transfer activity in the summer.

 

[yanno]

It's interesting that the likes of Gunter & Taarabt played for the reserves last night, whilst Rose didn't. Perhaps Rose is being considered for a sub's role tonight?

Ramos seems increasingly concerned by our lack of penetration down the flanks: Steed and Lennon are probably in their worst form since Ramos arrived, and Rose is a genuine leftie (although he has been playing in CM). In fact, from the clips I've seen and reserve & youth team reports, Rose is far of a Ramos wide player than Taarabt. Imo young Adel looks as if he's an ACM/deep lying striker type being forced to play out wide as he can't play CM in a 4-4-2.

 

[paul_1979yid]

It's interesting that the likes of Gunter & Taarabt played for the reserves last night, whilst Rose didn't. Perhaps Rose is being considered for a sub's role tonight?

Ramos seems increasingly concerned by our lack of penetration down the flanks: Steed and Lennon are probably in their worst form since Ramos arrived, and Rose is a genuine leftie (although he has been playing in CM). In fact, from the clips I've seen and reserve & youth team reports, Rose is far of a Ramos wide player than Taarabt. Imo young Adel looks as if he's an ACM/deep lying striker type being forced to play out wide as he can't play CM in a 4-4-2.

I would like to see Rose get a chance before the end of the season. But against Chelsea?? Not sure....

 

[al_pacino]

It would be interesting if Rose does make the bench against Chelsea considering he turned them down.

 

[Legend10]

I would like to see Taarabt given his chance at home against the oh so mighty Toon army.

If there is 1 defence that would have real trouble with him it's theirs.

 

[jonnie83]

I was at the match last night, and Taarabt played well but still aint ready for the first team. He was a playing an advanced role just behind Pekhart. I think thats the only position he could play because he offers nothing defensively for a centre midfielder in a flat 4 midfield.

People calling for Pekhart to be a fourth striker clearly have not seem him play. Taylor & Queudrue are hardly the best CB's in the league but had him in their back pocket.

Interesting to see Rose at the game as he was meant to start, but was a late change. Not sure Ramos would be pleased as he was eating a packet of crisps!

Gunter looked a cut above defensivley, but Archibald-Henville played well. He was calm and brought the ball out of defense a lot. Looked very comfortable with the ball at his feet.

 

[yanno]

Jonnie83 - thanks for that report.

So, Rose must either have been worried about an injury warming up, or been pulled out of the reserve team by management very late - perhaps with bigger things in mind.

Good to hear Archibald-Henville is playing well. He was one of the first youngsters Ramos selected for the first team bench, and then he was unlucky enough to get injured.

 

[jonnie83]

Jonnie83 - thanks for that report.

So, Rose must either have been worried about an injury warming up, or been pulled out of the reserve team by management very late - perhaps with bigger things in mind.

Good to hear Archibald-Henville is playing well. He was one of the first youngsters Ramos selected for the first team bench, and then he was unlucky enough to get injured.

Well i think that Rose' dad and little brother came down to watch him so it must have been last minute that he pulled out

 

[Black]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnsj3MHa5xE&feature=user

Wow makes Lennon look like anything

 

[chileanspursfan]

Taraabt is going to be the next Zidane, just give him time.

 

[Kyras]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnsj3MHa5xE&feature=user

Wow makes Lennon look like anything

He looks amazing at reserve level, playing with confidence against a good Birmingham side with a couple of first teamers.

I feel that he is our best young prospect, along with huddlestone, and if those two could form some sort of partnership, that could become a big 4 midfield in a few years time.

I think a well done Mr Comolli is in order for the signing of Taarabt, I know Comolli's not the most popular on here, but Taarabt must have been his signing, and he looks the business.

 

[double0]

I'll confidently predict Taarbart will become a first team regular, I believe the boy has great talent.