Limited options limit style

If arriving at White Hart Lane evoked happy memories for Glenn Hoddle on Saturday his departure would have been amid deep contemplation.

There was little to entertain him during Tottenham's goalless draw with Everton but much to ponder. Chief among the England coach's concerns as he drove away would have been the thought: "If that is how two of the country's better teams play how am I going to build a national team?"

It would be unfair to suggest Spurs and Everton are long-ball teams, but it would be equally inaccurate to pretend they play the type of measured, passing football needed to succeed at international level. Both teams' main attacking options were limited: the ball into the channel for the speedy right-winger, the long punt from the goalkeeper, or the deep angled cross from full-back to centre-forward.

These approaches often work among the flat defences and pin-ball penalty areas of the Premiership, but international football requires a greater inventiveness. Tottenham were particularly poor. With Darren Anderton absent their most creative player was Teddy Sheringham, but when he dropped back to create there was no one in attack to reap the benefits. How those spectators seated around Hoddle must have wished he had brought his boots.

In mitigation, m'lud, Tottenham were severely weakened. Having lost Gary Mabbutt last Saturday and Anderton on Friday they suffered further dislocation when Chris Armstrong twisted his ankle after 29 minutes. With his departure went any semblance of attacking threat.

In the old days defeat would have followed. Spurs may not be exhilarating under Gerry Francis but they are defensively organised. Wide midfielders support their full-backs and central midfielders track opponents' runs - a video, please, to St James' Park.

This means defenders are able to concentrate on their own jobs and the consequence was a silver lining for Hoddle. With Mabbutt injured and Stuart Nethercott's fitness uncertain Sol Campbell was handed football's currently most unwelcome task - marking Duncan Ferguson.

The versatile 21-year-old did it well matching Ferguson for power and technique. "Ferguson is a handful," Francis said, "and Sol played him superbly. He has a fantastic future. He's got pace and he's got strength which he uses very well. He timed his jumps well and I have never seen a player so tall as he is with such good balance.

"If Glenn wants to play him against Moldova next weekend I would have no qualms about it. It would be a big game for him but he has played in the Premiership for some years and you have to start somewhere."

Before we get carried away, there is a common flaw. Like most English defenders Campbell looks uncertain on the ball.

There was one moment, 22 minutes into the first half, which typified the problem. Campbell strode out of defence and steamed into Everton's half, but he overplayed the ball and David Unsworth stepped in to neatly dispossess him.

Now Unsworth, who was similarly excellent in defence, advanced into the gap, drew players towards him... and slipped a sideways pass to a Tottenham shirt. Contrast this with Slaven Bilic's display for West Ham, as highlighted by Match of the Day. This is why Hoddle originally recruited Ruud Gullit at Chelsea, and why Gullit then signed Frank Leboeuf.

"I want Sol to bring the ball out," Francis said, "but what happens is that the crowd react to it and he then goes quicker and quicker. Before he knows where he is he is straight into the next tackle. What he needs to do is come out, then ease down. It will come."

In the meantime, if Hoddle is going to use a genuine sweeper, rather than a third centre-back, Gareth Southgate may be a better option. Dean Richards, of Wolves, is another long-term possibility but there remains a dearth of such (English-qualified) players.

Back on the credit side, Ian Walker's assured display will have pleased Hoddle and he will also have noted Tony Grant.

Grant's ability to spot and play a pass was evident when he first appeared for Everton 18 months ago. However, his slender frame meant he struggled to find a place in a midfield which emphasised combativeness. Though only two months younger he has played 20 Premiership matches to Campbell's 99.

During the summer, however, he looks to have followed Unsworth's famed weight-training regime and Royle now hopes he can include Grant's skills without sacrificing Everton's midfield strength.

Everton's second-half dominance owed much to Grant rising above the sloppy standards of a dreadful first-half. With Spurs intent on matching Everton's midfield power that half was not so much push-and-run as push-and-shove. The second period saw slicker Everton passing and, but for a glaring miss by Craig Short, and a fine save from Graham Stuart by Walker, they would have won.

Tottenham Hotspur (4-4-2): Walker; Edinburgh, Campbell, Calderwood, Wilson; Fox, Dozzell, Howells, Sinton; Armstrong (Rosenthal, 29), Sheringham. Substitutes not used: Baardsen (gk), Nethercott, McMahon, Kerslake.

Everton (4-5-1): Southall; Barrett, Short, Unsworth, Hinchcliffe; Kanchelskis, Stuart (Rideout, 75), Parkinson, Grant, Speed; Ferguson. Substitutes not used: Gerrard (gk), Ebbrell, Hottiger, Branch.

Referee: L R Dilkes (Mossley).

Bookings: Tottenham: Calderwood. Everton: Speed, Short.

Man of the match: Grant. Attendance: 29,696.