Just wanted to submit some thoughts after another (in my opinion) successful weekend for Spurs.
We clearly set up in a very negative way to play for a point at Stamford Bridge, a stadium in which we have an atrocious record. With the result earlier in the day with Liverpool dropping *easy* points, a draw was fine before the game (for us and Chelsea) as it meant we didn’t concede any ground on the teams around us – which we further benefited from after Leicester’s poor result.
In a similar vein, before the season you’d have said that Chelsea away is the third hardest fixture of the season for us – and a draw would have been a good result, similarly given the context of the season 3 points were more important for Chelsea than us given where we both were in the league.
Now onto the game, while it is no secret that we set up to stink the place out and nick it on a defensive mistake (thanks for the help Zouma, sorry we couldn’t convert!). I also thought Chelsea set up particularly negatively – with Kante sat on Kane and Kovacic (probably the MotM) protecting the channel were our LW would exploit, similarly their traditionally flying fullbacks only really pushed forward when the ball was in the final third on their side of the pitch. Meaning that typically we had Kane/Son (and sometimes Bergwijn) against 5 Chelsea shirts. Both teams played especially risk adverse, where the main instruction was not to lose first – and win second.
I thought in the first half we controlled the game especially well, epitomised frequently by the brilliance of Ndombele – but second half we ended up pushing back too deep in our half and could have been punished by a team with the quality Chelsea have.
I also thought the narrative after the game that Giroud would have finished Abraham’s chance were completely false and somewhat ridiculous. Firstly, Giroud is far from a quality finisher himself, it was one of the reasons Arsenal fans were so happy to see the back of him and epitomised by his feeble attempt from the Rodon mistake. Secondly, Abraham is unique in his ability that due to his quality movement, pace, height, strength and jumping ability he is able to get onto the end of crosses most other players wouldn’t get near – James’s crosses would have whistled over Giroud’s head/Giroud wouldn’t have been close to connecting to.
Onto the NLD – this game really is a must win for us. Arsenal are about as fragile as they have been over any point this season and one of their best players in Partey is looking highly likely to miss the game. If we have any real title aspirations we have to come away with the three points.
COYS
Chelsea vs Spurs Synopsis
posted on 1/12/20
comment by Anne Ziety (U22412)
posted 27 minutes ago
comment by SWTN - Judas is number 1 (U7916)
posted 8 seconds ago
comment by Edinspur (U1109)
posted 6 minutes ago
I’m happy to dismiss it as a primary argument despite the fact that it may support an argument. Shearer, for example, seems unable to judge strikers on a level different from his own (his own being the greatest finisher the PL has ever seen). I think the Abraham narrative is lazy - the truth is that Frank set you up very conservatively and didn’t produce any real clear-cut chances until Rodon’s screw up at the end
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But my narrative is not that we would have won with Giroud instead of Tammy. It is that we would have had a better chance to do so. And that is not just on the James crosses, it's onGurouds back to goal link up skills for ayers like Werner and Ziyech.
But anyway, it's just opinions about players at the end of the day.
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I think there's a reason Chelsea fans love Giroud while Arsenal fans use to be frustrated as f by him.
His managers at Chelsea only seem to use him when his form merits it meaning Chelsea fans see a lot more of his good than bad compared to Wenger who had him as number 1 for years so Arsenal fans had to bear the full fallout of his streaky form and destructive goal droughts (which in my opinion cost Arsenal two title's).
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Short version.. Giroud has never had to live up to the expectations of being first choice striker at Chelsea. Which is a good point.
posted on 1/12/20
comment by Edinspur (U1109)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by SWTN - Judas is number 1 (U7916)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Edinspur (U1109)
posted 23 minutes ago
comment by SWTN - Judas is number 1 (U7916)
posted 58 seconds ago
comment by Edinspur (U1109)
posted 6 minutes ago
I’m happy to dismiss it as a primary argument despite the fact that it may support an argument. Shearer, for example, seems unable to judge strikers on a level different from his own (his own being the greatest finisher the PL has ever seen). I think the Abraham narrative is lazy - the truth is that Frank set you up very conservatively and didn’t produce any real clear-cut chances until Rodon’s screw up at the end
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But my narrative is not that we would have won with Giroud instead of Tammy. It is that we would have had a better chance to do so. And that is not just on the James crosses, it's onGurouds back to goal link up skills for ayers like Werner and Ziyech.
But anyway, it's just opinions about players at the end of the day.
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the OP wasn’t necessarily addressed to you anyway. I think Abraham is a really quality player and gets unfair criticism/blamed for a result which he wasn’t at fault for. In general players who aren’t the best finishers but are exceptional at creating the opportunities for themselves to get good chances get unfairly criticised.
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I don't know. The consensus on the Haven wasn't that Tammy deserves to be dropped for the Spurs game, more that Giroud was the horses for courses selection for this game in particular. In general I think most Chelsea fans ha e been happy with Tammy this season, but want to see him improve.
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more a case you don’t trust him for the bigger games?
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No, thats not the case. Lampard turned to Giroud post lockdown to secure us 4th place and the season before that Sarri uaws him all the way to the EL final.
posted on 1/12/20
In a similar vein, before the season you’d have said that Chelsea away is the third hardest fixture of the season for us
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i would have it as the hardest game, or possibly narrowly second to Liverpool away. our record there is just an absolute disgrace
posted on 1/12/20
True
posted on 1/12/20
when i look at the fixture list at the start of the season i usually write off Liverpool away and Chelsea away.
city away I'm normally confident of taking a point if not 3. same at OT and Emirates, even though we still rarely win on those grounds
posted on 1/12/20
comment by Edinspur (U1109)
posted 1 hour, 28 minutes ago
comment by Sheriff JW Pepper (U1007)
posted 7 minutes ago
comment by Edinspur (U1109)
posted 23 minutes ago
comment by SWTN - Judas is number 1 (U7916)
posted 2 minutes ago
Is Tammy faster than Giroud? Yes
Does that mean Giroud won't make better movement and timed runs in the box in comparison to Tammy? No
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I think Tammy’s main strength is his movement, in which he is one of the best in the league at. I would say his finishing and that he struggles to play his way out of form are his biggest weaknesses.
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Bottom line is Giroud (in position) would have buried both of those headed chances
Question is would he have been in position...we'll never know because Frank lacked the bottle to swap them at HT when he should have
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That’s an outrageous statement
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Edin
2 things...
1) did you see his finish to get us a win in the CL last week...?
2) Go look up Outrageous & see if this still works as a statement
i'll wait
posted on 1/12/20
buried both
Abraham couldnt even get his head to them, not like he got on the end of them and missed a chance
posted on 1/12/20
comment by Phenom - least knowledgeable spurs ... (U20037)
posted 16 minutes ago
buried both
Abraham couldnt even get his head to them, not like he got on the end of them and missed a chance
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What does Abraham's lack of finishing have to do with Giroud's....
posted on 1/12/20
Do you think Abraham would score as many playing for France as Giroud
He probably wouldn't
posted on 2/12/20
Giroud proving a point tonight.