Wednesday’s Scout Notes

Wednesday night saw the heavens open to spawn the breakout of brollies and makeshift macs around the grounds; luckily when it came to goals, the floodgates also remained open to offer cheer to those singing in the rain.

Tottenham’s stuttering show in Switzerland was a distant memory as they spanked Young Boys 4-0 and seal qualification to the Champions League group stages. On the domestic front meanwhile, Everton and Fulham destroyed lower league opposition to progress in the Carling Cup. Only a Newcastle second-string lineup offered the neutral any suggestion of a shock but they too ran out eventual Carling winners at Accrington Stanley…

Tottenham’s victory featured a Peter Crouch hat-trick to well and truly promote him in the White Hart Lane pecking order ahead of their forthcoming run of obliging fixtures. With Defoe now sidelined for his groin op, Crouch must have played his way into the starting lineup for the Wigan game this weekend, with Roman Pavlyuchenko possibly drafted in as his partner. The Russian replaced Defoe last night as Harry Redknapp stayed true to his word and gave the impish striker just over an hour of action being hauling him off.

Defoe had already done the damage. His second goal, controversially allowed to stand despite a handball in the build-up, helped Spurs on their way after Crouch had already calmed the nerves of the soggy Lane faithful with the opener.

While the goalscorers will fetch the plaudits, it should be noted that Gareth Bale was again outstanding. He assisted all four goals to once more hammer home the vital role he now plays in the Tottenham set-up. Surely he’s a fixture in every Fantasy lineup by now?

In terms of team selection Redknapp made just two changes on the night with Ledley King and Defoe making returns. King’s inclusion will presumably see him miss the Wigan game with William Gallas set to be thrown in for his league debut against the Latics perhaps.

There was one sour note amongst the delirium of Champions League qualification. Goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes suffered a leg injury in the first-half and was duly replaced by Carlo Cudicini at half-time. We await confirmation on his condition as we approach the weekend although we know from the past that Gomes can be prone to such setbacks. The Brazilian suffered a thigh injury almost a year ago to the day.

Switching to the considerably more humble surroundings of the Carling Cup, Everton demonstrated their strength in depth by demolishing their Carling Cup opponents Huddersfield by a 5-1 margin. Despite six changes from the side that started against Wolves, Moyes’ side had far too much for their League One opponents.

Standout performers included Magaye Gueye on the left-wing, working well in tandem with Leighton Baines, while Seamus Coleman built on strong pre-season form to provide a suitable threat on the opposite wing. Marouane Fellaini, Leon Osman and Jack Rodwell also earned starts in midfield and took their opportunity by each notching a goal as Everton controlled the game to sweep aside Huddersfield.

Fellaini opened the scoring heading home Gueye’s centre. Rodwell drilled home the second and then played his part in the third, winning the spot-kick that was to give Jermain Beckford his first senior goal for the Toffees. Everton could then afford to miss a second penalty, awarded when Coleman was dragged back, Heitinga seeing his 12-yard effort saved. Louis Saha came off the bench to score the fourth from a Beckford pass before Osman ended the scoring, heading home from an assist from the impressive Coleman.

Down at the Cottage Mark Hughes made just three changes from the side that dramatically pegged back United on Sunday for the tie with Port Vale. Significantly perhaps, with the speculation surrounding Paul Konchesky, Hughes handed a start to young left-back Matthew Briggs, whilst Moussa Dembele also made his full debut and Zoltan Gera returned coming in for Simon Davies on the right flank.

Gera, along with Bobby Zamora, was impressive throughout. The Hungarian opened the scoring from a Briggs cross before Dembele added a second with a drilled finish from the edge of the box. Zamora got his first from a Gera assist before returning the favour for Gera to net the fourth. A Zamora free-kick made it five before Dempsey completed the scoring – Gera again the provider.

Mark Hughes now has a selection poser ahead of the trip to Blackpool but it would seem likely that we will see Gera up in support of Zamora in that game, with Davies restored to the right-wing and Clint Dempsey and Dembele kept on the bench.

Zamora’s form is now well and truly out of the bag, and as we recently stressed in our recent “Numbers Game” members article – he looks a very strong option for the coming month given Fulham’s fixtures.

Finally Chris Hughton made no less than eleven changes to the side that routed Villa on Sunday. Goals from Ryan Taylor, Peter Lovenkrands and Shola Ameobi was enough to see off Accrington Stanley but not before the home side had given them a wake-up call by closing the deficit late on.

There was little to take from that game, although a win is a win and Hughton’s side will be much-changed and full of confidence going into their trip to Wolves this weekend.