What's new

►►►►►► Match Ratings VS Chelsea FC ◄◄◄◄◄◄

MOTM?


  • Total voters
    124

PrettyColors

Rosie47 Fan
Aug 13, 2011
3,866
10,074
Umm, Walker was by far our best player.

Friedel 6 - Wish he'd come off his line more. A bit rooted to the spot on the Mata free kick. But not a bad game.

Walker 8.5 - Kept Sturridge quiet and didn't put a foot wrong. Won so many cross and set piece headers as well.

Gallas 7- Don't see the fuss tbh. Yes he was good but not great, he made a couple mistakes (the Mata thing, and outmuscled by Drogba a lot.) But good leadership and an overall solid performance.

Kaboul 7 - Very beastly in the air, made some mistakes but he and Gallas were good.

Ekotto 7 - Happy birthday you legend!!!

Sandro 6.5 - looked a tad rusty to be honest. Still was pretty effective though.

Parker 7.5 - Solid performance, ran all day as always. Made a couple vital tackles.

Modric 7.5 - 9 in the second half, 6 in the first.

VDV 7 - Worked hard. Good effort. should have scored though and I feel like he needs to play quicker.

Bale 7 - So greedy. Stop shooting from outside the box and get your head up son. Most dangerous player though.

Adebayor 7.5 - Ran his ass off, made intelligent runs, held the ball up well, but bottled his chance. Sigh.

Saha 6.5 better than defoe would have done, he worked hard and made some passes.

Livermore 6.5 well he's just a solid player.

No bad performances today really.
 

lukespurs7

Well-Known Member
Feb 21, 2006
4,833
4,259
Friedel 6-Pretty solid throughout, not much to do.

Walker 7-Such a good full-back, kept Sturridge quiet, got forward well,excellent.
Gallas 8-Not a foot wrong, lead from the back, such an under-rated player.
Kaboul 7-Dealt quite well with Drogba.
BAE 6-Decent game, good passing as usual, nothing good or bad.

Sandro 6-Worked hard, used the ball well, solid
Parker 7-Good controlled game from him, suits that formation.
Modric 7-Better from him, created a few good chances, lovely step-overs making Luiz etc look like mugs.

Bale 7-Lively, a few good attempts, deserved to score with the free-kick.
VDV 7-Linked play well, popped up in good spaces, tidy performance, should have scored though.
Ade-8.5-MOTM for me, deserved a goal if he'd just hit it cleaner, great block though from Cahill. But generally worked very hard, held ball up well, ran at defenders, had everything except a goal today.

Harry-8 Good line-up. Tactically spot on, got the lads up for this and slowly hopefully we are getting out of this slump.

COYS. Good point, deserved 3 though.
 

lillywhites61

SC Supporter
Aug 11, 2009
3,538
2,270
Ade was MoM for me today. Held the ball up well, picked out good passes, good movement and made a few excellent runs, the only thing missing was a goal but to be fair the whole team are to blame for that, far too many squandered chances.

Also the whole back for we're up there as well. Little shaky every now and then but on the whole good performance.
 

theShiznit

Well-Known Member
Jul 26, 2004
17,799
23,813
love bc's now standard "modric not closing" speil

Sure Dawson would've got the same kind comments from allowing 3 50 yard balls to drop over his head although it was "clever movement" and "poor closing" from of course Modric. :roll:
_______________________


Sandro needs game time, is well off the pace, nice to have Ade back, thought Benny was good again, starting many moves, one slack period in the corner where Kaboul delayed a pass to him too long then passed it when not really on.
everyone else was fair to good...
 

Riandor

COB Founder
May 26, 2004
9,413
11,620
If you were judging it from the match thread you would have though Bale and Adebayor would get 3s. Bale didnt have the best game but i thought he was busy and created for himself and the team. Ade struggled with his finishing but he was strong,powerful and pacey today and seemed a real handful. He was full of running but started alot of our attacks. I enjoyed watching him today just a shame he didnt score once he rounded cech.

Ade grew into the game well, but I thought bale and modric were ineffectual until late in the game.

Galas was excellent, commited and fought from the back.

Some very poor passing though, we gave the ball away too cheaply too often and the pressing to get it back was dire at times.

Good to see VdV back in the team and he was good too.

Sandro was ok, but parkers defensive qualities showed why he is still the better pick, though sandro will be good.

R.
 

southlondonyiddo

My eyes have seen some of the glory..
Nov 8, 2004
12,599
15,011
First 30mins Ade was his normal self of late but the last hour he was fantastic and we bossed them as soon as our Centre Forward started playing

Had Chelski not had Cahill today we'd have done them

A word for VDV too. He's come back from injury and is working his socks off which has started to rub off on some others
 

phil

Well-Known Member
Oct 25, 2004
2,038
1,239
I chose Kaboul as my MoM but in truth it could have been him, Parker, Gallas, Walker or Ade. They all excelled in a very disciplined Spurs performance. I hope that we don't live to regret the missed chances.

Friedel 6 - Quiet game

Walker 8 - Excellent especially in defence. Should have done better with his chance early in the second half.

Kaboul 8 - Won most of the balls in the air.

Gallas 8 - Welcome back. Great to see him organising the defence (and attacking free kicks). Let's hope he stays fit until the end of the season.

BAE 5 - Gave the ball away too often and could easily have been sent off for his challenge in the second half.

Parker 8 - Return to form.

Sandro 6 - A bit rusty but improved as the game went on.

VdV 7 - Worked hard

Modric 7 - Better as the game went on.

Bale 7 - Awful first half but a lot better in the second.

Ade 8 - Worked his socks off but really should have scored when he rounded Cech. Just wish that just once in a while he would hit the bloody ball instead of trying to stroke it into the net.

Saha 6 - O.k.

Livermore 6 - O.k.
 

Blake Griffin

Well-Known Member
Oct 3, 2011
14,133
38,225
friedel 6

walker 7
gallas 7.5
kaboul 6
ekotto 7

sandro 6.5
parker 7
modric 7

vdv 7
bale 7
ade 8

saha 6
livermore 6

harry - picked the right team
 

sloth

Well-Known Member
Mar 7, 2005
9,018
6,900
In a weird sort of way that was one of our best performances of the season - particularly in the context of our recent form - though perhaps 'balanced' performance is a better description.

I agree with BBLG (I think?) who said Sandro was a bit rusty. To that I'd add that everyone seemed slightly rusty in the set-up and how to play it.

Which makes it all the more impressive that we did so well. I hope that fromn now on this line-up will be the default; my concern is that Harry played it to "match up" Chelsea's three and because he considers it more defensive against a strong team. If that's the case then imo he's wrong, we created more chances today against a strong Chelsea away from home, then we have in recent games against weaker teams at home, playing a supposedly more attacking formation. In my opinion it's not attack or defence, instead it's simply balance.

Credit to Harry and the team for today. Hopefully that stops the rot.
 

Mr Pink

SC Supporter
Aug 25, 2010
54,770
99,329
In a weird sort of way that was one of our best performances of the season - particularly in the context of our recent form - though perhaps 'balanced' performance is a better description.

I agree with BBLG (I think?) who said Sandro was a bit rusty. To that I'd add that everyone seemed slightly rusty in the set-up and how to play it.

Which makes it all the more impressive that we did so well. I hope that fromn now on this line-up will be the default; my concern is that Harry played it to "match up" Chelsea's three and because he considers it more defensive against a strong team. If that's the case then imo he's wrong, we created more chances today against a strong Chelsea away from home, then we have in recent games against weaker teams at home, playing a supposedly more attacking formation. In my opinion it's not attack or defence, instead it's simply balance.

Credit to Harry and the team for today. Hopefully that stops the rot.

That's what he should be taking from the game today.

The second half performance was very strong, and on another day we could of won that 2 or 3 nil.
I agree with BC, the commentators were moaning in the first half but I was more than content, our tactics were totally stifling them. Second half we started to impose ourselves and Modric was starting to control the game when finding space.
 

Bus-Conductor

SC Supporter
Oct 19, 2004
39,837
50,713
In a weird sort of way that was one of our best performances of the season - particularly in the context of our recent form - though perhaps 'balanced' performance is a better description.

I agree with BBLG (I think?) who said Sandro was a bit rusty. To that I'd add that everyone seemed slightly rusty in the set-up and how to play it.

Which makes it all the more impressive that we did so well. I hope that fromn now on this line-up will be the default; my concern is that Harry played it to "match up" Chelsea's three and because he considers it more defensive against a strong team. If that's the case then imo he's wrong, we created more chances today against a strong Chelsea away from home, then we have in recent games against weaker teams at home, playing a supposedly more attacking formation. In my opinion it's not attack or defence, instead it's simply balance.

Credit to Harry and the team for today. Hopefully that stops the rot.

Tactically, I think that was our best away game of the season. It was inches away from being a victory and a performance against a top 4 (sans us) team away from home. We shut them down, made the better chances and had 55% of the ball on their ground.

Redknapp also gave a good tactical explanation post match as well. Actually made sense. I just wish I could be sure it won't be all forgotten next week.


Today my MotM vote goes to...

...Harry.


In the absence of a stand out candidate on the pitch (because there were several decent performances) I'd agree.
 

Pedro

Blue & Yellow
Jan 4, 2005
2,039
1,355
Friedel 6 - Not much to do, needs to come off his line more.

Walker 7.5 - Good game, defended well, was a real attacking threat - fantastic run full length of the pitch but shame Ade couldn't quite find him

Kaboul 7.5 - Great as usual this season

Gallas 8 - Faultless. If he can stay fit he has to be first choice over King on current form (hurts to say that), born leader and winner

BAE 6 - OK, few daft moments but dosen't get much support from Bale

Parker 7 - Busy, didn't try passes beyond his capability, stuck to what he is good at, looked better with Sandro and Modric around him in the centre

Sandro 6.5 - Not at his awesome best, but was what we needed today, hope to see him play more.

VdV 7 - Used the ball well generally, should have scored

Modric 7.5 - Quiet to start with, but at times brilliant, great to see him play centrally with both Parker and Sandro

Bale 7.5 - Once he got into the game he looked dangerous, good header although unchallenged so maybe could have done better, great free kick at the end, needs to track back with purpose rather than a token jog.

Adebayor 8 - Just edges MOM for me, we really miss him when out, worked hard, holds up well, and unlike any other striker we have gets involved in build up play with great technical ability

Harry 8 - Picked the right team, right formation, right tactics. Not so sure about taking VDV off for Saha though. Hope this will be our standard formation.
 

Ionman34

SC Supporter
Jun 1, 2011
7,182
16,793
Patience is a virtue...

That was in most ways the best performance by a spurs side at Stamford Bridge for a very long time. Of course one of the reason's is that in terms of personnel, we have never played them on such favourable terms, but another reason was we did lots of things right today.

To begin at the beginning, Redknapp dared to detour from his 442 crutch of late, bringing Sandro into midfield and playing the 433 that had proved so inspired earlier in the season. I'm not sure it was inspirational thinking today or just Redknapp deciding to match up Chelsea (I can't understand why it hasn't been used since December otherwise) but it was much better than the predictability of the 442's of late and although away at Chelsea it couldn't be applied with Redknapp's preferred free for all, credit to him (Redknapp) he made sure there was more positional discipline today.

My only major group criticism all day long once again revolved around the pressing. Although it wasn't bad in the first half, it just generally needs to be better, be more intense, which would allow us to utilise the ability of our team and set up. In a very tight tussle, the ability to strip the ball a little higher up the pitch and send someone like Bale scuttling could prove vital.

Two of Chelsea's best chances in the half came from Modric not closing down and pressing and allowing their players to pick clever runs out that, luckily they didn't make the most of. It has and will cost us if we don't learn this simple but effective discipline. NOT BARCA PRESSING - just simple proper closing your man. Busting a gut to make sure he doesn't have time and space (both on the pitch and in his brain) to make a choice. It is one of the main factors separating us from being a genuine contender.

The commentators were grumbling about the first half, but the pressing niggle aside I was very pleased. They want entertaining, we want a result, we got it right. Patience was the order of the day and we showed it in the right measure.

No silly open, gung ho bollocks. We kept it very tight, were positionally disciplined and made sure we had as much ball as them and with the excellent (out of form of course) Parker and Sandro their midfield was never allowed to control the game, get into rhythm or set any tempo. We didn't either but it was a much cleverer tactic than any other we might have employed, because it was a clearly thought out piece of pragmatism. We have the better players, win the battle and hope that they deliver the superior quality to finish the job.

And but for our quality players that plan nearly worked to perfection. I don't think it's belief, players like Adsebayor and VDV have done it on bigger stages and in big games even for us. I think we just needed the rub, even more than against ManU, that rub was cruel today. There were a couple of poor choices made by all our creatives, but they all also made some good ones too. Bale's ball to Walker was superb. Modric's to Adebayor was the best of the game. Adebayor seemed to do the right thing an inch to the right or a little bobble on the ball and we win. Fine margins that we deserved to go our way today, because we dominated the second half.

What we did today proves that tactics matter. Proves conclusively the difference they can make. Not just who you pick or the formation you place them, but the instruction and application of them.

In the end it was just individual moments that prevented us from gaining a deserved win.

If we could get this right more often we have the players to be challenging. I do not think that we are inferior in personnel to ManU and are at least on par with Arsenal and very close to ManC. They just get the coaching and the tactics right more often collectively than we do, especially in the 6 pointers.

I personally would have loved to have seen VDV left on for 5/10 more minutes as spaces were emerging in the later stages (especially after the subs) that he might have been able to exploit, especially as Saha played in pretty much the same places.


Ratings:

Friedel 5 - Needed a blocking off Walker. His reticence to leave his line, even for a ball 4 yards from his line leaves defenders panicking and causes danger.

Walker 6 - Worked hard, has a great attitude but lacks the technique and craft to capitalise on it. Defensively still susceptible sometimes too.

Gallas 7.5 - Excellent game. First choice alongside Kaboul now for sure.

Kaboul 7 - Caught out by the clever movement and quick delivery of pass that was enabled by poor pressing further up the pitch, but grew into the game.

Ekotto 5 - Really poor today in all ways. Gave the ball away too cheaply sometimes, defended badly, was overly fucking casual a couple of times and I hate the way he turns his back on a challenge often. Technically good and sees shitloads of ball but has a casual brain sometimes.

Parker 7.5 - Excellent game. Because of our shape and tactics wasn't overburdened for a change. (433 converting to 451 with everyone working hard) 38/42 passes

Sandro 7 - Good game. Nothing spectacular, but that was why he's there so the opposition don't get the freedom that our chocolate teapot formation usually allows.27/32

Modric 7.5 - Got off to a shaky start, with not much room to operate, but he acclimatised and grew into the game, eventually becoming possibly the most influential player in the game, creating the two best chances of the game. 51/56

VDV 7 - So much goes through him, and he often manages to wriggle himself space from tight corners and get off a pass, sometimes short sometimes it changes direction of play. Unlucky not to score ut put in a decent shift in hard fought quarters. 46/52 (76 minutes). Seeing more ball than any of our other upfield players.

Adebayor 7 - Good shift. Wanted him to press from the top just a fraction better at times but by and large he was good today. Showed up, held up and so nearly scored.36/42

Bale 7.25 - Was actually pretty poor first half. Doesn't like these kind of games where there is no space and people don't give him carte blanche and hates it when he has to work hard defensively, but as with a couple of others, he grew into this game and as it opened up, he did and was more influential than Mata for example. 41/48

Excellent post BC.
 

theaman

Member
Jan 3, 2005
476
0
Adebayor was immense. Wish he would play like this every week.

Electric pace, great skill, hold up play and a great focal point for our attacking play.
 

stevenqoz

Well-Known Member
Apr 10, 2006
2,776
553
Friedel 6
Walker 7
Gallas 7.5
Kaboul 7.5
Benny 6
Sandro 5.5
Parker 6.5
Modric 6.5
Bale 6.5
VDV 6
Ade 7

Saha 5.5
 

stevenqoz

Well-Known Member
Apr 10, 2006
2,776
553
Vanilla 4 5 1 nothing else.....first half lacked the pace and intent to get forward to support Ade. Second half we realised how ordinary Chelsea are.........
 
Top