HT: Tottenham 0-2 Villarreal - Spurs trail after failing to take their chances
Published 21:00 29/07/10 By Darren Lewis
Despite the fact that this was a balmy, pre-season night in north London, the calm before the storm, the way in which Tottenham were punished for not taking their chances served as a warning for the tougher tests that lie ahead.
Aaron Lennon bottled out of sticking away a volley when he should have got his body behind it. Too few players piled into the box when the lively Robbie Keane made it to the byline. And young Danny Rose had a rush of blood, shooting from too far out when he could have tested the keeper if he had moved closer in.
If only they had had the composure of Rossi, whose assured left-foot finish from Cani's through ball left keeper Heurelho Gomes with no chance on 21 minutes.
Ten minutes later there was more of the same. This time is was captain and accomplished midfielder Marcos Senna whose through ball was missed by Michael Dawson. Rossi had all the time in the world to pick his spot and he did.
Not good enough from Spurs against a team that finished seventh in La Liga while Redknapp's men came fourth in supposedly the most competitive League in the world.
Not good enough against a team whose season in Spain starts later than our Premier League campaign.
Not good enough from a Tottenham team that contained seven senior stars with only Ledley King, Luka Modric, Roman Pavlyuchenko, Wilson Palacios and David Bentley not in the squad.
New signing Sandro is still in Brazil competing in the Copa Libertedores while Jamie O'Hara claimed on his Twitter page last night that he was not involved because he has a back injury. Midfielder Jermaine Jenas started the match but was near to tears after what appeared to be a recurrence of the groin injury that has kept him out since February.
Its doubtful anyway whether any of the players not involved would have made an impact against a Villareal team boasting nine Spanish players. The country can do no wrong at present and Villareal will be tough oppponents in the coming season's Europa League.
They will play in the competition after being the beneficiaries of Real Mallorca's expulsion due to financial irregularities.
