Tottenham vs Chelsea: Match Thread

[Nebby]

Dier and Wanyama were a bit sloppy in possession, but other than that I thought we looked pretty decent.

An attacking wide player (or two) would be nice, so we could swap out Davies and Trippier if we needed more attacking instincts on the pitch. Would always be a risk against better teams, but handy none-the-less.

 

[Spurzinho]

I think this is a good analysis of the Chelski game. I think it highlights the lack of genuine openings and chances, the stodginess in midfield and the sheer bad luck we suffered to lose the game.

Our undoing was partially tactical, in removing Dier for Son, partially fitness to do with Wanyama coming back from injury and partially goalkeeping error from Hugo. Its harsh on Hugo and in no way reflects his value to the side but I suspect Toni Jimenez would have wanted him to save that. Chelski would have been more than happy with a draw. They came to deny us. If they scored, great, but it was not their primary concern. The winner at the end was just a bit of cruel luck for us and far richer reward than Chelski deserved. Poch will hopefully have learned a few things as well. He's a brilliant coach and a masterful team builder but he is not tactically unbeatable. He still has his blind spots and areas in which he allows his own stubbornness and naivety to get the better of him.

Ultimately we were tired and were pushing for the winner and we turned a draw into a loss. Many fans were appalled at coaches like George Graham, Jacques Santini & AVB who would have shut up shop and taken the draw. Some fans deplored Redknapp, and will Pochettino, for always trying to go for the win. You pays your money, you makes your choice. Personally, I'd have taken the draw against Chelski where as in others games I wouldn't, so I'm somewhere in the middle. But I suppose it does say something on our badge that seems quite apropos.

 

[Khilari]

We were unlucky and some of our players didn't play as well as they have previously.

There's lots of debates about what we could/should have done, but ultimately it's all speculation. There's no guarantee or really any evidence (aside from opinion) to support that different substitutions would have altered the result.

I thought Son played well. I thought Wanyama, Dier, Trippier, Lloris (and Sissoko) all played poorly for their usual standards. Dembele and Kane were head and shoulders the best of our lot whilst Eriksen and Dele were quiet.

We came very close to scoring several times but it just wouldn't happen. They came close to scoring too. On this occasion their tactics of counter-attack worked a treat (like the semi-final last year) and our attacking play just wasn't enough.

We need to strengthen to give us a better plan B.

My thoughts.

 

[Ossie'sAardvark]

We were unlucky and some of our players didn't play as well as they have previously.

There's lots of debates about what we could/should have done, but ultimately it's all speculation. There's no guarantee or really any evidence (aside from opinion) to support that different substitutions would have altered the result.

I thought Son played well. I thought Wanyama, Dier, Trippier, Lloris (and Sissoko) all played poorly for their usual standards. Dembele and Kane were head and shoulders the best of our lot whilst Eriksen and Dele were quiet.

We came very close to scoring several times but it just wouldn't happen. They came close to scoring too. On this occasion their tactics of counter-attack worked a treat (like the semi-final last year) and our attacking play just wasn't enough.

We need to strengthen to give us a better plan B.

My thoughts.

TBH I thought we lost that game in the first 30 mins. Yeah a bit stupid at the end, but the performance for 60 mins was fine.
On a side note Lloris really needs to work on his kicking...starting to needle me a bit now.

 

[RichieS]

I think this is a good analysis of the Chelski game. I think it highlights the lack of genuine openings and chances, the stodginess in midfield and the sheer bad luck we suffered to lose the game.

Our undoing was partially tactical, in removing Dier for Son, partially fitness to do with Wanyama coming back from injury and partially goalkeeping error from Hugo. Its harsh on Hugo and in no way reflects his value to the side but I suspect Toni Jimenez would have wanted him to save that. Chelski would have been more than happy with a draw. They came to deny us. If they scored, great, but it was not their primary concern. The winner at the end was just a bit of cruel luck for us and far richer reward than Chelski deserved. Poch will hopefully have learned a few things as well. He's a brilliant coach and a masterful team builder but he is not tactically unbeatable. He still has his blind spots and areas in which he allows his own stubbornness and naivety to get the better of him.

Ultimately we were tired and were pushing for the winner and we turned a draw into a loss. Many fans were appalled at coaches like George Graham, Jacques Santini & AVB who would have shut up shop and taken the draw. Some fans deplored Redknapp, and will Pochettino, for always trying to go for the win. You pays your money, you makes your choice. Personally, I'd have taken the draw against Chelski where as in others games I wouldn't, so I'm somewhere in the middle. But I suppose it does say something on our badge that seems quite apropos.

That's the first time I've seen their second goal since the match. Really poor. Wanyama and/or Eriksen could have gone with Alonso but didn't and what Hugo was up to I have no idea.

 

[slartibartfast]

It's yet another pl goal direct from the goal keeper throwing out to someone who is facing the wrong way with an opp player up his arse (fact he'd lost ball almost every time he received it for the entire game didn't help matters). Happens at least twice a week in epl alone yet they all keep doing it. Brain dead imo. Does my head in. Time and a place to play out from the back and time and a place to clear your lines. Virtually every pl defence seems to have trouble distinguishing when to stick or twist. I blame the obsession with possession (like an exorcist) but thats a story for another time lol.