Hercules CF 1-1 Spurs

In this, the last friendly of the squad’s pre-season tour of Spain, Gus Poyet said he beleived that “this is were the real business starts”. Hercules CF currently play in the Segunda, which is the second teir of Spanish football. Juande Ramos gave Dimitar Berbatov his first start of pre-season, whilst trying out some of the most promising young talent in the squad. As a result of the Robbie Keane saga; there was no place for the Irishman in the squad for last night’s match.

With Jermaine Jenas sporting the captain’s armband; the teams kicked off in the heat, and, after four minutes, Spurs were one nil down. Twelve minutes later; Lennon got an oppertunity to show the gaffer his worth to the club, with a bursting run down the wing and then delivering a good cross. Dos Santos rose at the far post, and met the ball cleanly, but the Hercules defence managed to scramble the ball off the line.

34 minutes into the match, Aaron Lennon stepped forward to take the corner. He curled it to the far post, where it fell to the awaiting Woodgate and Bent. They both rose, and they both met the ball which looped past the keeper, and into the back of the net. The goal was given to Darren Bent. 1-1, and Ramos could be thinking that Bent might be our saviour next season.

Just three minutes into the second half; Gomes showed why Ramos signed “the Octopus”, with a great reaction save to tip the ball round the post from a free-kick. After 60 minutes, Jamie O’Hara and Didier Zokora were introduced, replacing Assou-Ekotto and Woodgate. O’Hara would go straight to left-back, with Tom Huddlestone being deployed at centre-half, and Zokora starting in centre-midfield.

A few minutes later, Dos Santos came in from the right, onto his prefered left-foot and got a shot away. It curled just past the post. Teenagers, Andros Townsend and John Bostock were given a run-out for the last ten minutes of the match which only produced 2 goals. It finished 1-1.

The squad will now travel back to England, and Juande Ramos beleives there are a lot of positives to take back with them.

“I think it was a typical game that you would see during this time of pre season,” observed Juande. “The score was not the most important thing to take away from this game – it was to ensure the players are working hard and understanding the methods we have tried to implement on the training pitch.

“I was happy with the performance the players gave. After 14 days working very hard in Spain I think the players at this moment are at a level that we are happy with but this is normal and we were also satisfied with the desire they are showing during the games to win and demonstrate their best form

“The players have put in some important work during this period in Spain and that has pleased me greatly.” They won’t have too much of a rest, though, as on Monday they travel to Norfolk to take on Norwich.