►►►►►► Match Ratings VS Chelsea ◄◄◄◄◄◄
- Thread starter OmarsComing
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Bus-Conductor
SC Supporter
- Oct 19, 2004
- 39,837
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Ageing show ponies 5 Chocolate teapots 1
I haven't heard Redknapp's post match interview yet, but I'll wager the word "open" will be in there somewhere. Do I think that will be the last time we see Bale, Lennon & Modric in a midfield together ? No fucking chance, the goldfish bowl that Redknapp swims around in is way to big for that. By this time next week he'll have convinced himself that we probably weren't "open" enough.
I just do not understand the man. The blueprint for this game was laid down at Stamford Bridge two weeks ago. Instead by playing Lennon, Bale and Modric in a 4 (even with VDV dropping in) we relinquished control of the midfield. Time and time again their players strolled nonchalantly past our midfield, with Bale, Modric and Lennon watching on as barely interested spectators. Then by the time they had come back the ball was moving in the opposite direction, leaving us short of options on the ball. The inevitable result was that at no time in this game did we ever have control of it, at no time did we build up any rhythm or momentum and whilst we created less chances than we had at SB a couple of weeks ago, we allowed Chelsea loads more.
When we play Sandro and Parker we have VDV, Bale and Modric all with less responsibility for things they aren't so good at and more freedom to do things they are. The line up today sees us relying on them all spending far to much time doing things they aren't great at and less time doing the things they are.
When will Redknapp learn, there is no point playing 5 creatives and only 1 busy **** to win the ball for them. It's like watching the engine room of the titanic as one stoker tries to keep 6 engines burning as the ship goes down.
I've said this time and time again, there is a time and a place for Modric to be in CM, and tough games or games against tough teams is not it. And especially not with lightweights like Bale and Lennon. He had little influence on this game, and spent most of it chasing his shadow, bullied by Chelsea's midfielders.
Lennon and Bale had moments but were largely peripheral figures and Walker lacks any kind of guile at all. He gets into the final third and you can see his mind fogging over. So many times I've seen him arrive and just tamely surrender the ball because his control or technique isn't good enough and his brain doesn't have the answer either.
There was a point in the second half when Ekotto dived in and missed the ball which let Chelsea in for a dangerous break, and instead of sprinting back to redeem his error he just sauntered back, which summed up his and much of the rest's attitude for much of the this game. Bale as usual was at the forefront of this lazy bollocks attitude.
The substitution was the final nail.
The saddest thing is, this isn't a great Chelsea side. The problem is we have a goldfish for a manager. bump...bubble....bump...bubble....bump.
Ratings:
Cudicini 5 - Not impressed really.
Walker 5 - Offers nothing offensively at all, defensively is the hobson's choice, but we must do better than him. His pace recovers what his brain loses sometimes, but he is a severely limited, defensively and offensively. Him and the other defenders were left horribly exposed at times, but sometimes his reading and positioning is also poor.
Gallas 6 - Bullied by the arch bully for the first goal, and he and King were horribly exposed at times by our weak as piss midfield, but was pretty good the rest of the time.
King 6 - As above really. Gave his all, fighting a losing battle.
Ekotto 4 - poor game. Caught ball watching, humping and too fucking casual. Don't think he's had a good game since his hair went big.
Lennon 5.5 - livelyish in the first half, faded to nothing second half.
Parker 8 - The only Living boy in New York.
Modric 6 - Really sad to see him reduced to being a water carrier for limp wankers.
Bale 5.5 - Managed not to miss an open goal, but apart from that was pretty ineffective.
VDV 6.5 - Worked his nuts off first half, but spent far too much time second half chasing his tail due to the tactical clusterfuck.
Adebayor 7 - worked really hard.
Defoe 2 - one for each touch.
I don't know what happens to Redknapp every year in January, but I hope it wears off fucking soon. I'm not heart broken that we won't win the cup, but I am that he is pissing away all his good work from August to December because he can't remember what is his arse and what is his fucking elbow.
I haven't heard Redknapp's post match interview yet, but I'll wager the word "open" will be in there somewhere. Do I think that will be the last time we see Bale, Lennon & Modric in a midfield together ? No fucking chance, the goldfish bowl that Redknapp swims around in is way to big for that. By this time next week he'll have convinced himself that we probably weren't "open" enough.
I just do not understand the man. The blueprint for this game was laid down at Stamford Bridge two weeks ago. Instead by playing Lennon, Bale and Modric in a 4 (even with VDV dropping in) we relinquished control of the midfield. Time and time again their players strolled nonchalantly past our midfield, with Bale, Modric and Lennon watching on as barely interested spectators. Then by the time they had come back the ball was moving in the opposite direction, leaving us short of options on the ball. The inevitable result was that at no time in this game did we ever have control of it, at no time did we build up any rhythm or momentum and whilst we created less chances than we had at SB a couple of weeks ago, we allowed Chelsea loads more.
When we play Sandro and Parker we have VDV, Bale and Modric all with less responsibility for things they aren't so good at and more freedom to do things they are. The line up today sees us relying on them all spending far to much time doing things they aren't great at and less time doing the things they are.
When will Redknapp learn, there is no point playing 5 creatives and only 1 busy **** to win the ball for them. It's like watching the engine room of the titanic as one stoker tries to keep 6 engines burning as the ship goes down.
I've said this time and time again, there is a time and a place for Modric to be in CM, and tough games or games against tough teams is not it. And especially not with lightweights like Bale and Lennon. He had little influence on this game, and spent most of it chasing his shadow, bullied by Chelsea's midfielders.
Lennon and Bale had moments but were largely peripheral figures and Walker lacks any kind of guile at all. He gets into the final third and you can see his mind fogging over. So many times I've seen him arrive and just tamely surrender the ball because his control or technique isn't good enough and his brain doesn't have the answer either.
There was a point in the second half when Ekotto dived in and missed the ball which let Chelsea in for a dangerous break, and instead of sprinting back to redeem his error he just sauntered back, which summed up his and much of the rest's attitude for much of the this game. Bale as usual was at the forefront of this lazy bollocks attitude.
The substitution was the final nail.
The saddest thing is, this isn't a great Chelsea side. The problem is we have a goldfish for a manager. bump...bubble....bump...bubble....bump.
Ratings:
Cudicini 5 - Not impressed really.
Walker 5 - Offers nothing offensively at all, defensively is the hobson's choice, but we must do better than him. His pace recovers what his brain loses sometimes, but he is a severely limited, defensively and offensively. Him and the other defenders were left horribly exposed at times, but sometimes his reading and positioning is also poor.
Gallas 6 - Bullied by the arch bully for the first goal, and he and King were horribly exposed at times by our weak as piss midfield, but was pretty good the rest of the time.
King 6 - As above really. Gave his all, fighting a losing battle.
Ekotto 4 - poor game. Caught ball watching, humping and too fucking casual. Don't think he's had a good game since his hair went big.
Lennon 5.5 - livelyish in the first half, faded to nothing second half.
Parker 8 - The only Living boy in New York.
Modric 6 - Really sad to see him reduced to being a water carrier for limp wankers.
Bale 5.5 - Managed not to miss an open goal, but apart from that was pretty ineffective.
VDV 6.5 - Worked his nuts off first half, but spent far too much time second half chasing his tail due to the tactical clusterfuck.
Adebayor 7 - worked really hard.
Defoe 2 - one for each touch.
I don't know what happens to Redknapp every year in January, but I hope it wears off fucking soon. I'm not heart broken that we won't win the cup, but I am that he is pissing away all his good work from August to December because he can't remember what is his arse and what is his fucking elbow.
fortworthspur
Well-Known Member
- Nov 12, 2007
- 11,248
- 17,550
I thought Walker was pretty good, and Im not a fan. Ive accepted that he's our worst passer.
Bus-Conductor
SC Supporter
- Oct 19, 2004
- 39,837
- 50,713
You are welcome to that thought. It must be lonely.
Thus spake the prophet Bus-Conductor.
Ere's 'Arry;
The second goal was a disaster,' said a disconsolate Redknapp.
'It was nowhere near a goal. It was a huge mistake.
'We looked too open after that and they picked us off. It was key.
Yes.
But I think Abramovich must be bribing officials.
Two offside goals last week, and now this complete impossibility of a decision. From where Atkinson was standing, there was no way he could honestly think the ball was over the line.
gp13tot
Well-Known Member
- Aug 25, 2011
- 1,759
- 1,278
Cudicini 5
Walker 5.5
BAE 4 - we need a new left back with some consistency and desire, not one who only plays well at WHL when we generally have control of the ball and the game. D-I-S gusting performances since February
King 5.5
Gallas 3 - Turgid. Absolutely terrible. Touch of fred west throughout. This is our big game player? The one with 'the right (winning) mentality'. Bollocks. This was like Birmingham 2008 for the scum, except in front of 90,000 fans and a national tv audience. Had given up long before the final whistle. If this was the national, he never was in with a shout and pulled up before Bechers on the 2nd circuit.
Modric 7
Parker 7
Lennon 5
Bale 6
VDV 6
Ade 6
Defoe 5.5
Didn't think we were as bad as recent weeks from an attacking/passing standpoint. Defensively again however we were horse shit. Tactically again we were found wanting. Gutted
Walker 5.5
BAE 4 - we need a new left back with some consistency and desire, not one who only plays well at WHL when we generally have control of the ball and the game. D-I-S gusting performances since February
King 5.5
Gallas 3 - Turgid. Absolutely terrible. Touch of fred west throughout. This is our big game player? The one with 'the right (winning) mentality'. Bollocks. This was like Birmingham 2008 for the scum, except in front of 90,000 fans and a national tv audience. Had given up long before the final whistle. If this was the national, he never was in with a shout and pulled up before Bechers on the 2nd circuit.
Modric 7
Parker 7
Lennon 5
Bale 6
VDV 6
Ade 6
Defoe 5.5
Didn't think we were as bad as recent weeks from an attacking/passing standpoint. Defensively again however we were horse shit. Tactically again we were found wanting. Gutted
stemark44
Well-Known Member
- Mar 17, 2005
- 6,598
- 1,829
I have never witnessed such a shambles.
That was a team that had absolutely no idea what they were doing or what they were supposed to do.
Totally amateurish,it was like a pub team playing a team of professionals.
He needs to go and he needs to take his cronies with him.
That was a team that had absolutely no idea what they were doing or what they were supposed to do.
Totally amateurish,it was like a pub team playing a team of professionals.
He needs to go and he needs to take his cronies with him.
thinktank
Hmmm...
- Sep 28, 2004
- 45,893
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Spurs_Q8
Well-Known Member
- May 21, 2005
- 3,161
- 139
Next season we must make £40m to invest for the back-line .. then considering investment in other positions like Hazard, Remy etc.. i just lost every faith and patiene for our defenders.
Kaboul looked very good, but still need to push Walker for RB for some games. Walker doing well but a bit weak defensivly and poor crosses !
so in that case
defenders ( below than 3 ) ..
Parker - Modric 5.5
Bale - Lennon - VDV 7
Adebayor 7
Kaboul looked very good, but still need to push Walker for RB for some games. Walker doing well but a bit weak defensivly and poor crosses !
so in that case
defenders ( below than 3 ) ..
Parker - Modric 5.5
Bale - Lennon - VDV 7
Adebayor 7
EastLondonYid
Well-Known Member
- Jan 26, 2010
- 7,837
- 16,145
Must disagree with some comments on how we performed, i suppose we all see things differently.
Yes we played better than 1-5, yes we were robbed, yes with abit of luck we could and should have gone 1-0 ahead and maybe we might have won, but the way we crumbled was a direct image of our 'manager' no tactics and certainly no plan b.
Carlo...can't see why he is getting so much shit, apart from the freekick he was not really to blame and i felt for him, lets be honest, we are talking a big game and our keepers are not really good enough are they?
Walker..promises to be world class and i am a big fan of his, but wtf did he contibute? looks injured or knackered.
Gallas..wasn't great,but i felt sorry for him, he was running all over the shop trying to plug the positional errors being made by his fellow defenders.Yes he looked at fault, but the bigger picture was he was doing too much and is no spring chicken.
King..we all know ledley is struggling, yesterday i saw a man more worried in not having another mare himself rather than controlling the defence which he was so good at. Makes the signing of Nelson even more obsurd when you have to play ledley in his condition.
Benny...similar to kyle, looked like he was in the mood to do something stupid.He reminds me of David James and made me nervous everytime he got the ball.
Azza...can't really blame him, our main threat i suppose, i hope Harry doesn't make him the scapegoat.
Luka..absolutely shocking and the one that should have been substituted, he should donate his wages to a local charity, Harry showed he is clueless by leaving him on, time to drop him and send a clear message to the rest of the squad.
Parker..i was proud of Scott, busted a gut and looked to be really hurting at the defeat. easily our best player.
Vdv..played too deep again, but once he went off we were finished, was i alone in thinking thats it when he went off? i don't really think he and Ade are suited though,no chemistry, no link up...just relying on individual moments of brilliance.
Bale..Considering his talent didn't really hurt them, abit head down .petty maybe but when your losing in a cup semi and you pull a goal back i would have prefered his goal celebration to have been a clenched fist and some obseneties of anger rather than a love heart, that sums as up though.
Ade..like scott i thought he came out of this game with his pride in tact, worked tirelessly and played well when he got support , his miss was shocking though.
Harry....what can be said that hasn't been said, can't really be bothered to pick the bones on him, i think he is great at putting teams together, but then doesn't know what to do with them, i suppose the team have heard ' get amongst em' and 'your fucking brilliant ' one time too many .
Yes we played better than 1-5, yes we were robbed, yes with abit of luck we could and should have gone 1-0 ahead and maybe we might have won, but the way we crumbled was a direct image of our 'manager' no tactics and certainly no plan b.
Carlo...can't see why he is getting so much shit, apart from the freekick he was not really to blame and i felt for him, lets be honest, we are talking a big game and our keepers are not really good enough are they?
Walker..promises to be world class and i am a big fan of his, but wtf did he contibute? looks injured or knackered.
Gallas..wasn't great,but i felt sorry for him, he was running all over the shop trying to plug the positional errors being made by his fellow defenders.Yes he looked at fault, but the bigger picture was he was doing too much and is no spring chicken.
King..we all know ledley is struggling, yesterday i saw a man more worried in not having another mare himself rather than controlling the defence which he was so good at. Makes the signing of Nelson even more obsurd when you have to play ledley in his condition.
Benny...similar to kyle, looked like he was in the mood to do something stupid.He reminds me of David James and made me nervous everytime he got the ball.
Azza...can't really blame him, our main threat i suppose, i hope Harry doesn't make him the scapegoat.
Luka..absolutely shocking and the one that should have been substituted, he should donate his wages to a local charity, Harry showed he is clueless by leaving him on, time to drop him and send a clear message to the rest of the squad.
Parker..i was proud of Scott, busted a gut and looked to be really hurting at the defeat. easily our best player.
Vdv..played too deep again, but once he went off we were finished, was i alone in thinking thats it when he went off? i don't really think he and Ade are suited though,no chemistry, no link up...just relying on individual moments of brilliance.
Bale..Considering his talent didn't really hurt them, abit head down .petty maybe but when your losing in a cup semi and you pull a goal back i would have prefered his goal celebration to have been a clenched fist and some obseneties of anger rather than a love heart, that sums as up though.
Ade..like scott i thought he came out of this game with his pride in tact, worked tirelessly and played well when he got support , his miss was shocking though.
Harry....what can be said that hasn't been said, can't really be bothered to pick the bones on him, i think he is great at putting teams together, but then doesn't know what to do with them, i suppose the team have heard ' get amongst em' and 'your fucking brilliant ' one time too many .
Spurs_Bear
Well-Known Member
- Jan 7, 2009
- 17,094
- 22,286
Where to fucking start?
Cudicini - Difficult to rate, beaten 4 times, although the scoreline says 5, made a couple of good saves. Always question a keeper when he is beaten from that far out but it was a storming free kick from Lampard.
Walker - 6 Was 'ok' defensively, got into some decent positions, final ball let him down. One of the few that looked like he actually cared.
King - 6.5 Actually thought he was ok considering he had such a shocker against Norwich. Made some decent blocks on Drogba, even looked half dangerous when attacking corners.
Gallas - 4 Got made to look amateurish by Drogba, but other than that just generally had a poor all round game, which was disappointing, usually one of our players who turns up in the big games.
BAE - 5 Poor on the ball, and not great off it, wasn't the best game for Disco.
Lennon - 6
Parker - 8 Good game in a performance of nobodies. How I wish others showed the same heart and desire to want to win. If I were our lads, I would have let him kick the fuck out of Mikel, who cares if he gets banned eh? We've got Livermore and Sandro who are already better players......or something.
Modric - 4 Don't agree with anyone making any excuses for him yesterday, doesn't matter how many busy ****s you have next to, if you turn in a performance of such gash, it's like playing with 10 men. If he is still looking to engineer a move away, he hasn't done himself any favours at all this last couple of months. Mata showed him how it should be done yesterday.
Bale - 6 Looked like he had the ability yesterday to really make a massive affect on the game, but didn't look like he actually wanted to do it. Tore Bosingwa a new arsehole in the first 20 minutes, then stayed very much on the outskirts.
VdV - 6 Shouldn't have been taken off, think he looked our biggest threat.
Adebayor - 6 For periods looked like he was really up for it, then for other periods looked like he couldn't be less interested if he tried.
Didn't have a problem with the starting line up yesterday, didn't think we were too open until the disgusting substitution of VdV.
The club needs to show some bollocks now, from management to players.
Cudicini - Difficult to rate, beaten 4 times, although the scoreline says 5, made a couple of good saves. Always question a keeper when he is beaten from that far out but it was a storming free kick from Lampard.
Walker - 6 Was 'ok' defensively, got into some decent positions, final ball let him down. One of the few that looked like he actually cared.
King - 6.5 Actually thought he was ok considering he had such a shocker against Norwich. Made some decent blocks on Drogba, even looked half dangerous when attacking corners.
Gallas - 4 Got made to look amateurish by Drogba, but other than that just generally had a poor all round game, which was disappointing, usually one of our players who turns up in the big games.
BAE - 5 Poor on the ball, and not great off it, wasn't the best game for Disco.
Lennon - 6
Parker - 8 Good game in a performance of nobodies. How I wish others showed the same heart and desire to want to win. If I were our lads, I would have let him kick the fuck out of Mikel, who cares if he gets banned eh? We've got Livermore and Sandro who are already better players......or something.
Modric - 4 Don't agree with anyone making any excuses for him yesterday, doesn't matter how many busy ****s you have next to, if you turn in a performance of such gash, it's like playing with 10 men. If he is still looking to engineer a move away, he hasn't done himself any favours at all this last couple of months. Mata showed him how it should be done yesterday.
Bale - 6 Looked like he had the ability yesterday to really make a massive affect on the game, but didn't look like he actually wanted to do it. Tore Bosingwa a new arsehole in the first 20 minutes, then stayed very much on the outskirts.
VdV - 6 Shouldn't have been taken off, think he looked our biggest threat.
Adebayor - 6 For periods looked like he was really up for it, then for other periods looked like he couldn't be less interested if he tried.
Didn't have a problem with the starting line up yesterday, didn't think we were too open until the disgusting substitution of VdV.
The club needs to show some bollocks now, from management to players.
Supersi32
Well-Known Member
- Jul 23, 2008
- 2,525
- 2,754
This hits the nail firmly on the head....
adiepf
Well-Known Member
- May 13, 2007
- 2,444
- 255
cudicini (5) made a few decent saves but in truth should not have played, brad may have stopped lamps free kick
walker (5) inefective going forward & his delivery is really poor but i think he has real ability & promise plus a huge heart
gallas (2) inept, no heart in last 15, a disgrace as roy keane said
king (6) put his body on line time & time again, superb block in first half on drogba, even in this coondition 5 times as good as gallas
benny (5) bad game
lennon (6) was busy but little else, should have gone down under luiz challenge in first half!
parker (7) limited player but has a heart the size of london itself, being asked to do to much by redknapp!!..warrior!!!
modric (5) inefective but being asked to play too deep, too often....he should be free to roam with parker & sandro holding...not rocket science!!!
bale (6) is he as good as we think?
VDV (7) class, on the pitch & off it, a credit to this club & a fall guy for a manager that has no clue
ade (7) works his ass off every week but couldnt hit a barn door with a barn door unfortunately
walker (5) inefective going forward & his delivery is really poor but i think he has real ability & promise plus a huge heart
gallas (2) inept, no heart in last 15, a disgrace as roy keane said
king (6) put his body on line time & time again, superb block in first half on drogba, even in this coondition 5 times as good as gallas
benny (5) bad game
lennon (6) was busy but little else, should have gone down under luiz challenge in first half!
parker (7) limited player but has a heart the size of london itself, being asked to do to much by redknapp!!..warrior!!!
modric (5) inefective but being asked to play too deep, too often....he should be free to roam with parker & sandro holding...not rocket science!!!
bale (6) is he as good as we think?
VDV (7) class, on the pitch & off it, a credit to this club & a fall guy for a manager that has no clue
ade (7) works his ass off every week but couldnt hit a barn door with a barn door unfortunately
TEESSIDE1
Married, new job and Spurs on the up!
- Jul 3, 2006
- 15,170
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This is one seriously depressing but very honest thread .... until I saw the girl you have as your profile picture
adiepf
Well-Known Member
- May 13, 2007
- 2,444
- 255
This is one seriously depressing but very honest thread .... until I saw the girl you have as your profile picture
megan fox
mpickard2087
Patient Zero
- Jun 13, 2008
- 21,889
- 32,560
Cudicini 5 - Apart from the freekick I cant really fault him, but conceding 5 (No, make that 4) goals doesnt look good. A couple of good saves and coolness under pressure on occasions when BAE gave him a couple of shocking backpasses. I think him and Friedel are roughly of similar ability, and cant see what Brad would have done yesterday to improve things.
Walker 5 - Seems to have lost his attacking threat. Ok in defence. At least he looks like he cares.
Gallas 3 - Poor performance, then decided to give up completely in the last 15 mins which was disgraceful.
King 6 - Clearly on the decline and fighting a losing battle with his own body, but didnt give up (well compared to his CB partner) and at least got in a few decent blocks that were reminiscent of King in his prime.
BAE 5 - Looked shaky. Not at his best at all. Poor distribution which included a couple of times putting Cudicini under real pressure.
Lennon 6 - Lively to start with and then faded.
Parker 8 - Magnificent compared to the rest. Only one showing any heart or desire and drove the team forward numerous times.
Modric 4 - Becoming a real problem. A woeful performance.
Bale 5 - Dangerous at times but didnt see enough of it, nor did he work hard enough.
VDV 5.5 - At times dangerous but wasnt as involved as he could be. Should never have been taken off though, especially when the replacement is Defoe.
Adebayor 6 - Lively enough but drifted in and out of the game.
Walker 5 - Seems to have lost his attacking threat. Ok in defence. At least he looks like he cares.
Gallas 3 - Poor performance, then decided to give up completely in the last 15 mins which was disgraceful.
King 6 - Clearly on the decline and fighting a losing battle with his own body, but didnt give up (well compared to his CB partner) and at least got in a few decent blocks that were reminiscent of King in his prime.
BAE 5 - Looked shaky. Not at his best at all. Poor distribution which included a couple of times putting Cudicini under real pressure.
Lennon 6 - Lively to start with and then faded.
Parker 8 - Magnificent compared to the rest. Only one showing any heart or desire and drove the team forward numerous times.
Modric 4 - Becoming a real problem. A woeful performance.
Bale 5 - Dangerous at times but didnt see enough of it, nor did he work hard enough.
VDV 5.5 - At times dangerous but wasnt as involved as he could be. Should never have been taken off though, especially when the replacement is Defoe.
Adebayor 6 - Lively enough but drifted in and out of the game.
sloth
Well-Known Member
- Mar 7, 2005
- 9,018
- 6,900
That was Harry's absolute best team last night. Perhaps he'd have preferred Kaboul in there, but apart from that he had the choice of everyone that matters and he put them out to play against an ageing, stuttering Chelsea, in the Semi-Final of an FA Cup, and that's what we got.
And yet when we went to their place, we set up differently and visibly dominated the game. Here are the stats which confirm it:
___________Spurs at: Wembley / Stamford Bridge
Goals For_____________ 1 / 0
Goals Against__________ 5 / 0
Total Shots____________ 12 / 20
S on Target____________ 2 / 4
S Off T_______________ 4 / 11
S on T conceded_______ 7 / 2
Possession_____________ 47.2% / 54.6%
Possession 1st half_______ 47.5% / 54.5%
Possession 2nd half_______ 45.5% / 58.4%
Pass completion__________ 78.3% / 84.7%
Total Passes_____________ 397 / 491
The difference was a single player and a different shape. By playing an extra ball-winning centre midfielder at Stamford Bridge, Redknapp gave us the platform to dominate that game. We controlled it, would have won it 9 times out of 10, and by the end Chelsea were desperate for the final whistle to save them. That's all. It's not rocket science. It's not voodoo, or magic, or clever, or innovative, it's very basic stuff. Harry gets it intellectually, because he's played it before, however for some reason, when push comes to shove, he can't bring himself to do it. To me it's totally inexplicable. Surely it's obvious that if you make it harder for your opponents to hold onto the ball they'll have it less and you'll have it more? Surely you want Modric, Bale and VdV to have the ball more often, not less often, in more advanced positions? Surely you want VdV, Bale and Modric to spend less time without the ball, less time running around ineffectually trying to win it back? I honestly, really, really don't get it...
The only reason I can think for trying what we did yesterday is if we believe we haven't the players to dominate possession, if we think the team we're playing against will clearly win the possession battle whatever, then you might choose the 4-4-1-1/4-4-2 rope-a-dope, whereby you simply defend the final third of the pitch, try to absorb the pressure, and then hit them on the break.
The other time you might like to risk it is if you think your opponents are similarly 4-4-1-1/4-4-2 merchants, or you've spotted some weakness down their flanks, and you're confident you're much, much stronger than them. Personally I still wouldn't do it, but I can understand the reasoning in those circumstances.
In the match at WHL in December Redknapp said in his post-match interview, "Yeah, it was difficult 2nd half, they had the extra man in midfield..." That was due to an enforced change where he had to bring on Pav and go 4-4-2, the first half possession stats for us that day were 59.6%, in the second half they were 48.1%. He also said that horrible word "balance" in the same interview, seeming to mistake symmetry for balance by claiming we would have done better if Lennon had been on the right. This is a fundamental misunderstanding of what's important, time and again you hear pundits and fans going on about it, but you'd expect managers to have a less simplistic view. There's nothing particularly potent about having a symmetrical attack. In the First World, at the Somme they were big on symmetry, in history though the best generals, the likes of Hannibal, Scipio Africanus, Subatai, Marlborough, Napoleon, and Rommel, positively mocked their opponents focus on neat symmetrical battle plans because they're fucking easy to defend against, and even easier to attack, the absolutely basic tactic of concentrating your attacks against an enemy which is spread out is exactly how these guys won time and again against superior forces. Indeed their whole objective was to get the enemy to spread out, so they could concentrate and punch through. Now, in that light, consider what we did yesterday, we spread ourselves thin, Chelsea had an extra man in the middle, and time and again they punched straight through the heart of our midfield. Basic stuff.
Redknapp does get it because after every performance like yesterday's he makes precisely this point, it's just in getting it he still fucks it up the same way over and over...
And yet when we went to their place, we set up differently and visibly dominated the game. Here are the stats which confirm it:
___________Spurs at: Wembley / Stamford Bridge
Goals For_____________ 1 / 0
Goals Against__________ 5 / 0
Total Shots____________ 12 / 20
S on Target____________ 2 / 4
S Off T_______________ 4 / 11
S on T conceded_______ 7 / 2
Possession_____________ 47.2% / 54.6%
Possession 1st half_______ 47.5% / 54.5%
Possession 2nd half_______ 45.5% / 58.4%
Pass completion__________ 78.3% / 84.7%
Total Passes_____________ 397 / 491
The difference was a single player and a different shape. By playing an extra ball-winning centre midfielder at Stamford Bridge, Redknapp gave us the platform to dominate that game. We controlled it, would have won it 9 times out of 10, and by the end Chelsea were desperate for the final whistle to save them. That's all. It's not rocket science. It's not voodoo, or magic, or clever, or innovative, it's very basic stuff. Harry gets it intellectually, because he's played it before, however for some reason, when push comes to shove, he can't bring himself to do it. To me it's totally inexplicable. Surely it's obvious that if you make it harder for your opponents to hold onto the ball they'll have it less and you'll have it more? Surely you want Modric, Bale and VdV to have the ball more often, not less often, in more advanced positions? Surely you want VdV, Bale and Modric to spend less time without the ball, less time running around ineffectually trying to win it back? I honestly, really, really don't get it...
The only reason I can think for trying what we did yesterday is if we believe we haven't the players to dominate possession, if we think the team we're playing against will clearly win the possession battle whatever, then you might choose the 4-4-1-1/4-4-2 rope-a-dope, whereby you simply defend the final third of the pitch, try to absorb the pressure, and then hit them on the break.
The other time you might like to risk it is if you think your opponents are similarly 4-4-1-1/4-4-2 merchants, or you've spotted some weakness down their flanks, and you're confident you're much, much stronger than them. Personally I still wouldn't do it, but I can understand the reasoning in those circumstances.
In the match at WHL in December Redknapp said in his post-match interview, "Yeah, it was difficult 2nd half, they had the extra man in midfield..." That was due to an enforced change where he had to bring on Pav and go 4-4-2, the first half possession stats for us that day were 59.6%, in the second half they were 48.1%. He also said that horrible word "balance" in the same interview, seeming to mistake symmetry for balance by claiming we would have done better if Lennon had been on the right. This is a fundamental misunderstanding of what's important, time and again you hear pundits and fans going on about it, but you'd expect managers to have a less simplistic view. There's nothing particularly potent about having a symmetrical attack. In the First World, at the Somme they were big on symmetry, in history though the best generals, the likes of Hannibal, Scipio Africanus, Subatai, Marlborough, Napoleon, and Rommel, positively mocked their opponents focus on neat symmetrical battle plans because they're fucking easy to defend against, and even easier to attack, the absolutely basic tactic of concentrating your attacks against an enemy which is spread out is exactly how these guys won time and again against superior forces. Indeed their whole objective was to get the enemy to spread out, so they could concentrate and punch through. Now, in that light, consider what we did yesterday, we spread ourselves thin, Chelsea had an extra man in the middle, and time and again they punched straight through the heart of our midfield. Basic stuff.
Redknapp does get it because after every performance like yesterday's he makes precisely this point, it's just in getting it he still fucks it up the same way over and over...
Cudicini 4. Maybe Brad wouldn't have made any difference to the result but i don't feel confident with Carlo in goals. Gomes comes before him imo.
Walker 4. Couldn't delivery a fucking letter that boy. Creates nothing from an attacking point of view and if didnt have any pace, i have a feeling he would be stacking shelves in morrisons.
King. 5. The guys finished, sadly.
Gallas 3. Stood over near the corner flag because he felt the ball had gone out, or he was fouled, was totally disgraceful and really Chelsea should have done better from that position.
BAE. 2 He was at fault for the third with his general ball watching and had Mata done better with his touch in the first half BAE would have had us 1-0 down. Just watch how easy Mata runs in off the back off Benny.
Lennon. 5 One brilliant bit of skill inside their penalty area in the second half but his attempt to find somebody was truly pathetic.
Bale 5. When he can be bothered(and thats not often) he is the best there is when we/he has/have possession but fuck me without it, you may aswell forget him.
Modric. 5. Not sure he's that interested anymore.
Parker 8. I don't know why he bothers when the rest of them clearly aren't interested in trying to win the ball back. Without him in the middle i dread to think what would have happened.
VDV. 7. Our only real hope of getting anything out of the game, possibly should have made sure with his header.
Adebayor 7. Played fairly well just never suggests he's going to find the net.
Walker 4. Couldn't delivery a fucking letter that boy. Creates nothing from an attacking point of view and if didnt have any pace, i have a feeling he would be stacking shelves in morrisons.
King. 5. The guys finished, sadly.
Gallas 3. Stood over near the corner flag because he felt the ball had gone out, or he was fouled, was totally disgraceful and really Chelsea should have done better from that position.
BAE. 2 He was at fault for the third with his general ball watching and had Mata done better with his touch in the first half BAE would have had us 1-0 down. Just watch how easy Mata runs in off the back off Benny.
Lennon. 5 One brilliant bit of skill inside their penalty area in the second half but his attempt to find somebody was truly pathetic.
Bale 5. When he can be bothered(and thats not often) he is the best there is when we/he has/have possession but fuck me without it, you may aswell forget him.
Modric. 5. Not sure he's that interested anymore.
Parker 8. I don't know why he bothers when the rest of them clearly aren't interested in trying to win the ball back. Without him in the middle i dread to think what would have happened.
VDV. 7. Our only real hope of getting anything out of the game, possibly should have made sure with his header.
Adebayor 7. Played fairly well just never suggests he's going to find the net.
