I'll have a go at a brief report, with observations.

Left work at 5, parked up at Stanmore at 6, fortunately missing the M1 carnage southbound. Obviously not the same atmosphere around Wembley as a big final, but both sets of fans getting along nicely. Picked tickets up as planned (Kudos to box office and nice to see our own staff on duty), then tried to find the Green Man (it was further than I remembered). Took a couple of work colleagues - a Villa fan and a Cambridge fan (bless) and we barely had time for a quick beer, unfortunately not the food that we were promised. Sadly saw the worst of Barnsley fans on leaving the pub, where a couple relieved themselves in someones garden, then decided to kick all the wheelie bins over to the cheers of their mates. One of my colleagues said a little sheepishly "don't worry mate, we all have our share of knobheads" but somehow I couldn't help feeling I'm a bit sick of seeing this from our own "fans".
Entry into ground took a while, as expected, but stewards were as courteous as last couple of visits. Our fans were in good voice, but yeah, the ground looked very empty. I thought maybe the Spurs fans would come running to their seats at kick off, but no, they were all there and ready. #TeamsLikeBarnsley , eh?
So as for the match ...... was a bit surprised by our line-up, especially given Spurs had named a surprisingly strong one. Initial observations was that it may be a bit of a step up for Bird and a bit too fast for a returning Fryers. Also hoped Barnes would step up after Saturdays non-appearance. See ratings further down. Spurs started very strong and walked through us a couple of times. After 2 mins I honestly thought it was only a matter of time til they scored and we were going to get a spanking. But we grew into it ...... slowly but surely we got a little composure and whether it was us stepping up or Spurs feeling the pressure, I don't know, but we got to half time looking in a much better position. Spurs can't have been affected by their own fans, as there weren't enough of them. They did however still get far too much time and space and their wide men had all the time in the world with Fryers side looking especially vulnerable. We were limited to a couple of breakaways where we looked good. Ugbo was holding it up well and putting himself about; the midfield were picking up a lot of ball but aye, half time came and I was happy and a little relieved at 0-0.
No changes at HT, we came out flying. For 20 mins I thought we really put a shift in and caused them no end of trouble. Ugbo had a great chance, which he created himself by chasing a long ball, gambling on their man missing it and showing sublime skill before firing point blank at Vorm (credit to him for spreading himself). He had a couple of other decent runs and we created a lot from midfield. Potts had a decent chance and there was a half shout for a pen. Spurs started to look a bit rattled, with some nervy defending and some woefully high and wide long range shots. But we faded a bit and Trippier got the better of a knackered Fryers and put a decent ball in and an England international wasn't going to miss from inside the 6 yard box. Gutting thing was we had multiple attempts to clear it before Trippier picked it up but as I say, we had started to tire.
Couple of subs to freshen things up, and a switch to 4-4-2. A bit of anticipation as Hammill came on that he might 'do his thing' but in truth he didn't get much of the ball. One peach of a cross from the corner when it seemed he was crowded out led to their defender slicing it towards his own goal.
When the board went up for three mins added, I had the feeling we weren't going to see the ball, and that is pretty much how it was. Bit of an anti-climax final whistle but yes, I couldn't complain at 1-0 given the way Spurs started. The had enough class there to give any Prem side a good run, so credit to our lads for seeing it out.
More crap Barnsley 'parenting' to watch on the tube as a doting father helped his teen kids graffiti the carriage (minor) whilst embarrassing two teen girl Spurs fans by telling his lads which of the two he thought would be the dirtiest of the two bitches.
A thankfully quick getaway from Stanmore and a relatively decent trip to my hotel in MK. Kudos to the Reds fans who had to travel up the lovely M1 with all it has to offer; you have my respect and my empathy.

Davies - Couple of decent blocks where he stood up well. No real threats to save. Kicking not so good
Macca - Best of the defenders for me tonight
Fryers - Not sure this was the right game to come back in. Run ragged in the first half. Never got close to his man, knackered in 2nd half. Goal came from his tiredness (IMHO)
Lindsay - Solid. Should have scored. Rarely troubled for pace or in the air. Can pick a pass
McD - Solid enough in the air. Worked well with Lindsay. Nothing spectacular.
Williams - Did well. Ran around, showed for it, played the simple ball. Also got in Delle Alli's ear early on and rattled him. A good ploy given Alli's record
Bird - I was worried about him, but gave a good account. One to watch, maybe the next big academy find?
Potts - Looks bone idle but I have been on his side. Saw a lot of the ball 2nd half but could have used it better.
Barnes - Got decent marks from some rags but for me was fairly anonymous. Where is the pace he had first couple of games and why aren't we using it more
Hedges - As per Barnes really. Didn't do much wrong.
Ugbo - Best I've seen him for us, and if 1-up-top is our strategy he played it better than Bradders. Strong, quick, skillfull. Deserved a goal. One outrageous turn on the far byline made their lad look daft. Well played lad.

Hammill - Not his night - would have maybe given him full second half in place of Barnes.
Bradshaw - Ran and ran but didn't see it much. Couple of nice bits of hold up and attempts at breaking forward.
Moncur - As per Hammill, maybe he would have seen a bit more of the ball given a full second half.

Let's not forget too, Spurs are a top, top team with some great players and a fantastic manager.

Saw Lucy with the flag afterwards but didn't realise she had not managed to get it in.

Onwards and upwards.
COYR

 

Good report and write up

 

In regards to our 'fans' they once again excelled themselves in the toilets at half time trying to smoke has many cigs as they could in a 15 minute period and giving absolute dogs abuse to the stewards trying to stop them.

As for the game, defended ok in the main, but then let themselves down by just lumping it once we got the ball. Passing at times was once again woeful, especially in the first half. Better in the 2nd.
Fryers caught ball watching for their goal, allowing Alli to just step past him for a free shot.
Lyndsey and Ugbo both should have done better with chances, other than that easy night for the spurs goalie
Biggest worry is potts and more importantly the fact he seems to be one of the first on the team sheet. Absolutely knackered after 50 minutes but hecky left him on for another 20. Sods law is the ball kept dropping to him. Hecky must see something on the training ground that we are yet to see. Hopefully we see it soon.

 

Personally thought Fryers did well in first half but did tire. He wasn't the only player at fault for the goal though. For me Lindsay was the best of the defenders; he never missed anything. I think a reason the wingers may have struggled to use pace was simply due the quality of the defending; Hedges put in some great corners too

Good report overall

 

Cheers, you are maybe correct that Lindsay shaded it. Looks class. I don't really have an issue with Fryers; just that he was up against some real quality and I think that it was possibly not the best game to bring him back in.

it will however have stood him in good stead for the coming weeks and will have done him more good than another run out in the U23's.

 

What is it with football and smoking?
You can happily smoke at the cricket and rugby if you stand outside the confines of the stands or terracing without complaint from the public, police or stewards (it doesn't have to be concealed in the toilets).

 

Good report but thought Williams was outstanding....as good as anyone on the pitch IMO....getting better every game in terms of decision making and moving the ball quickly - his energy was unbelievable and played at Wembley as though he was in a local park....no fear whatsoever and didn't pay too much respect to the opposition. Made that Winks fella look ordinary.

 

Agree he's going to be a top player

 

It was Bird that got beat too easily by Trippier and allowed the cross to Alli. That said, Fryers was ball watching allowing Alli to be unmarked in middle.

 

Highlights of last nights game are on Channel 5 tonight from 10.35 pm along with other games from the 3rd Round.
Good reports in the daily papers I've seen. Most complimentary as to how well we played.
In one paper , regarding the players scores , they score Vorm, Trippier, Foyth, Vertonghen,
Walker-Peters, Dembele, Winks and Son as a 6, Sissoko and Llorente a 5 and Alli 6.5 for a total
of 64.5 whereas Davies, McCarthy, MacDonald, Lindsay, Fryers, Williams, Barnes, Potts, Bird,
Hedges and Ugbo were all rated a 6, which marginally had us as the better side.!
Mauricio Pochettino was also very complimentary as to how we frustrated his team and his performance
was rated the same as Hecky's as a 6.

 

Report from one paper this morning by Matt Barlow. Makes a change from his usual
gushingly effusive praise of Spurs.


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/ar...-0-Barnsley-Alli-nets-winner-Carabao-Cup.html

 

The thing that makes me laugh about the half time smoking crowd in the stadium toilets is how pathetic it all is. It's akin to a scene from the Inbetweeners that Beesley and Morris forgot to write.

 

I think you've just answered your own question about Potts here. I've probably not seen as much of him as most people here, but it seems to me that he puts in a tremendous amount of work off the ball. He looked as if he was covering a huge amount of ground against Forest and Sunderland, and even against Villa, where I thought he didn't have the greatest of games but still put in a proper shift. This would explain why Hecky seems to rate him so highly, why he's often knackered relatively early in a match, and why it appears that the ball "keeps" dropping to him. He makes sure he is in the same place as the ball.

 

Your observations of the w*nkers that follow our club serve as a useful reminder as to why I am no longer bothered about travelling away (that and the prices). I would cross the road to avoid these lowlifes on any other day of the week so why do I want to be in their vicinity on a match day. Well, I have realised that I don't.

It is easier to avoid them when we are at home. The day that changes will be the day I pack it in altogether.

 

Seconded. My closest away game, now that Huddersfield have gone, is Leeds. Am I going? Not likely.

Trouble is that when you complain about the pond life too many get on your back and say "What duz tha expect - it's fooitball" or something like that. No it's not - it's drunken, boorish, ignorant behaviour and I'd rather not be within ten miles of it. Never mind the extortionate prices and the hostility of Elland Road. I don't want a repeat of last season where we were crammed under the roof, in that corner area and a few neanderthals in front of me decided to do what THEY wanted to do and damn everybody else behind them. Forget it......

 

You think our fans are knob heads read this thread, give the Pikey's a cup final for the first time in years and look what happens. Probably the Donny White daytrippers or the fact that half the crowd didn't know each other was the cause of it.

https://www.drfc-vsc.co.uk/index.php?topic=263674.0