It was dull, it was tedious and at times you were tempted to flick over and have a look at what was on Animal Planet instead, but in the end Harry got what he wanted, a point on the board and no injuries. With Liverpool looming and a group where home wins against Shamrock Rovers and PAOK should send us through, it was never going to require blood and guts effort. The postponed Everton game allowed for a full-strength team at Hearts which was, with hindsight, massive overkill. Since then, it's been 2 games contested by kids and disaffected reserves, no goals scored, no goals conceded. European glory nights indeed.
Credit must go to the PAOK fans for what seemed like a fantastic atmosphere. The shirtless, bouncing Greek masses were a great advertisement for the Europa League, even if the football wasn't. In terms of entertainment, second place must go to the referee, who approached the game with the usual zealous authority of continental referees. Strange free kicks for both sides, a re-taken penalty, a harsh yellow for diving for Kane and an even harsher yellow for trying to take a quick free kick for Carroll. If Europa League refs keep handing out yellows like last night, our under-11s may be getting a look in before too long.
Not much to write home about in terms of incident and chances, a few near misses for Yago Falque and a late flurry from PAOK denied by Cudicini and the bar was about it. So how did the kids and the adults looking after them fare? Onwards:
Cudicini: 6 Fairly competent display from our professional back-up keeper. Terrific save late on kept us in the game but was slow and sluggish coming off his line when giving away the penalty.
Walker: 6 Good and bad sides of Walker as usual. Lightning quick, strong and confident going forward. Defensively improving but again, lapses in concentration saw him out of position too often and Corluka took a booking covering for him in the second half.
Corluka: 6 One of our most senior players and wasn't too troubled by anything over the course of the night. Probably a bit too lumbering to play centre half against better teams but looked in control, certainly in comparison to Bassong.
Bassong: 5 Worrying decline since his promising first season with us, now looks panicked, awkward and painfully one-footed. Letting a cross go by him because he assumed Corluka was covering, allowing a PAOK player to miss from 6 yards was a cardinal defensive sin. Get well soon, Dawson and Gallas.
Townsend: 6 Unfortunate that injury to Danny Rose forces Townsend's inclusion at full back. Inventive, quick and skilful, young Andros could be a handful on the wing but he is clearly not a full back. Also needs to learn to release the ball sooner. Watch his teammates get frustrated the next time he runs up a dead end.
Falque: 6 Technically very good and found himself in good positions but didn't stand out unfortunately. Had our best two chances when having a shot cleared off the line in the first half and curling just wide in the second. Bit more game time and he could be an asset.
Carroll: 7 Pre-pubescent in stature but was excellent with the ball at his feet, recycling possession and keeping the game ticking over. Intelligent and with a good eye for a pass, like a (very) mini-Tom Huddlestone. If Tom gets on the creatine and gets down the gym he could have a future.
Livermore: 8 I thought he was great last night. Big, strong and deceptively quick, he already looks like a more senior member of the squad. Super run forward and calmness under pressure nearly led to a goal and he patrolled the midfield well. I thought he would be a bit out of his depth in the first team but he's proving me wrong. Long may it continue.
Dos Santos 5 Missed opportunity for Gio and reminded us perhaps why he hasn't had much of a look in at Spurs. Wasteful when in good positions and had an annoying Walcott-esque tendency to run straight into people instead of going round them. Attitude was poor, anymore shrugging and not tracking back when he loses the ball could lead to a Glasgow kiss from Joe Jordan.
Kane: 6 Should have had a penalty and very unfortunate to be booked for diving when clearly tripped. Looked more comfortable when he dropped deeper in the second half and was able to run from deep. Certainly worth more game time.
Pav: 4 What can you say? A man with 43 caps for Russia and in a team of teenagers he was the worst player on the pitch. Touch of a rapist, zero vision and please: Stop Fucking Shooting From 35 yards. I've been a supporter of Pav when others have dismissed him but now, as long as Adebayor and Defoe remain fit, I don't want to see him again.
Fredericks: N/A Can't really give him a rating as he was only on for 10 minutes and touched the ball no more than 3 times. Pace to burn and eager to show it off. Did well to beat a man on the outside (Lennon take note) but was bizarrely penalised for doing so.
Well, an awful game but one that the kids would've enjoyed and we've come out of an away game with a point which is not to be sniffed at. I don't think a DVD of that one is imminent. Let's forget all about it. Liverpool next. Now you're talking. Preview coming soon.
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