Capitulation Stations - Man U v Spurs Player Ratings & Match Review

United were just out of reach...

A valiant attempt that fell apart after 60 minutes. Goal one, Wellbeck found space between the floundering Dawson & Kaboul. Goal two, the back heel assist was just class. Goal three, Dawson out smarted by Rooney. Still, you go to Old Trafford expecting the worst, hoping for the best and being content with not getting battered too much. If anything, the match showed that without those key signings, we aren't quite on the level required to compete with United. As soon as they stepped it up a gear and got their first goal, the entire Spurs team capitulated, got frustrated and just gave up.

We shouldn't be worried though, it's only the first game of the season and it was United away. Most teams can chalk that one up as a loss as soon as the fixture list is released. We looked promising enough to cause waves in the league this season, Redknapp and Levy realise we need signings, and we're one point behind Arsenal with a game in hand...

Player Ratings

Friedel 8 - Could have been a lot more without Brad pulling off some top quality saves. I'll admit, when I saw that 'Arry had signed Friedel, albeit on a free transfer, I laughed, then got frustrated and questioned when the decent signings were going to come. How Mr Friedel has made me eat my words. If this performance is a taste of what a real goalkeeper is like, I like it, I want more. As my tweet said after the game, "Brad Friedel, Tottenham number one. Some great saves and alot less flappy than Gomes." (Follow @tottenblog by clicking here)

Walker 6 - Failed to get forwards and produce meaningful output enough times and was stitched up like the proverbial kipper as United regularly got joy and crosses from our right flank. However, the half he played did end 0-0.

Dawson 6 - Failed to pick up Rooney for the third goal, missed headers and dodgy tackles, booked for one of them. He'll be thankful we don't play Man U every week.

This comment is between Dawson and Kaboul as it is 50/50 who is to blame: Not marking Wellbeck for the first goal

Kaboul 7 - A few key tackles here and there. Also a few defensive cockups here and there.

BAE 7 - He seems to have developed a new skill this season, previously when the opposition got close to him when in possession, he'd out-jink them and hoof it up field. Now when the opposition get close, he out-jinks them and then sends a direct fizzing pass across the floor that finds its way through the mass of opposition players that have sensed blood and finds a Tottenham player. I noticed that he did that quite a few times, and it's pleasing to see that at least one of our defenders doesn't work on the rule that, if they are in possession of the ball they should immediately hoof it up field.

Lennon 5 - Frustrating at best. Kept very quiet and once again, failed to provide that killer ball. That one moment, should have cut it back to VDV instead of blasting it at the defenders chest and then catching the rebound. Had he done that, we quite possibly would have scored and it would have prevented Rafa from going mental in the last 30 minutes.

Livermore 6 - Better than Huddlestone was, but still not of the level he was against Hearts.

Krancjar 6 - Whilst he is a decent player, should we sell Modric, he's obviously no direct replacement. Again, better than his substitute (Pav) but not of the level he was against Hearts.

Bale 6 - Was he even there? To be fair, he did get a couple of shots off, but it appeared that he was just marked out of the game. When he eventually did get the ball, there were two United players blocking any forward or sideways advance, forcing him to pass it back.

VDV 6 - Dear Rafa, Yeah, you're good, and Lennon wound you up a bit, but it doesn't give you the right to start having mental 40 yard shots every time the ball comes to your feet, Regards... I Ooh-ed and aah-ed at some of his shots and got frustrated with his lazy passing in the first half. Called him a twat on a regular basis in the second.

Defoe 6 - Always looking to get the shot off but never quite finding it and just twisting his way into getting dispossessed.

Subs
Corluka 5 - Cut out more attacks than Walker, but misplaced passes and getting caught in possession does not a good player make.
Huddlestone 5 - Fat and slowness exposed the defence on a regular basis.
Pav 5 - Probably doesn't need to wash his shirt for the next game.

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