New Spurs prove their worth

Tuesday, 14/02/2012

by James Willis, Shoot's Tottenham blogger

Not too long ago I was sat in this very same seat I'm in now, writing a blog for this very same site, defending Tottenham's signings of Louis Saha and Ryan Nelsen.

I didn't believe they were bad signings and I did my utmost to explain why. Needless to say that whether you did or didn't read that blog, the explaining was done for everyone on the pitch on Saturday.

I'm not one to sit here and say "I told you so", in fact, it's simply enough to be able to relax in the knowledge that Tottenham strolled through what was meant to be a tough game, as though it was a walk in the park.

Hosting the still high-flying Newcastle at White Hart Lane, Spurs were preparing themselves for what would likely be a hard fought encounter, but that seemed far from the case from almost the very first whistle.

Newcastle struggled to get going and despite one early attack, it was all Spurs.

Emmanuel Adebayor proved that his worth to Tottenham goes beyond goals, with a wonderful pass across the box to the waiting Benoit Assou-Ekotto, who had the simple job of hitting the ball into the gaping net that was wide open in front of him.

It wasn't long before Adebayor was at it again, setting up Louis Saha to score his first in Spurs' colours and on his home debut. Barely six mintues had gone and Spurs were looking comfortable at 2-0 up.

Although Newcastle managed to slightly calm down the play for a short while, Adebayor was evidently enjoying himself and he wasn't planning on letting anyone slow him down.

On the 20 minute mark, Adebayor once again linked up smartly with Louis Saha, who hit home his second, and Spurs' third, of the evening.

Another 14 minutes passed by after the goal, with Spurs' attacking play still giving Newcastle no chance in the match. It was on that 34th minute that Tottenham struck again. Saha and Adebayor both linking play again, with the ball this time bouncing out to Niko Kranjcar.

Newcastle looked down and out at 4-0 down and half time only just on the horizon. Despite Spurs' first half display, there were understandably a few worried murmurs based on the last time Newcastle were 4-0 down at half time to a North London club. That fateful Arsenal match finishing 4-4 almost exactly a year ago.

Tottenham had learned their lesson though and the result looked definite when Adebayor added a goal to his four assists, to leave Tottenham sitting pretty at 5-0 up.

Newcastle managed to hold out for the rest of the game and avoid an even more embarrassing defeat, but the result capped off a wonderful week for Harry Redknapp.

Ryan Nelsen appeared in the 75th minute as a replacement for Ledley King, giving him his debut in Spurs' colours as well.

It could hardly have been a better game to kick start a career at a new club, and all of Spurs' fans will no doubt be hoping that Saha and Nelsen continue with this fine run of form.

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