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Match Ratings Ratings vs Chelsea

MOTM

  • Lloris

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Trippier

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Sanchez

    Votes: 30 7.4%
  • Verts

    Votes: 23 5.7%
  • Davies

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Dier

    Votes: 6 1.5%
  • Dembele

    Votes: 1 0.2%
  • Lamela

    Votes: 23 5.7%
  • Eriksen

    Votes: 192 47.2%
  • Dele

    Votes: 117 28.7%
  • Son

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Kane

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Wanyama

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Sissoko

    Votes: 3 0.7%
  • Poch

    Votes: 6 1.5%
  • Undecided

    Votes: 6 1.5%

  • Total voters
    407

monkeynick

Well-Known Member
Sep 3, 2007
1,244
2,255
We have played better at Chelsea and lost but maybe we were playing better Chelsea teams.

Anyway that was sweet, I was confused at 1-3 as to why we didn't concede a goal to make the last part of the game hellish viewing?

Imagine the reaction if Salah had scored that goal Dele did?

As for player ratings I can only find fault in Hugo and he made up for it, if pressed my MOTM is Eriksen. COYS
 

diamond lights

active member
Aug 31, 2012
1,442
5,657
++ Eriksen, Dele, Sánchez
+ Lamela, Vertonghen, Dier, Dembele
<> Lloris, Trippier, Davies, Son
- n/a
— n/a

Great performance. Eriksen MOTM. I think he’s our most important player, hope he signs a new contract this summer!
This 100%.

I love this team. Loris, Trippier, Davies and Son being our poorest performers today but each have had a claim to be MOM on other days.
Poch's philosophy about the team is really paying dividends.
 

Dougal

Staff
Jun 4, 2004
60,346
129,920
We’ve played well there before and not come away with the victory. Dele put the ball in the net twice for us. It was the difference in the score line we have waited so long for. After the week he had he’s my man of the match. Top work fella.
 

lukespurs7

Well-Known Member
Feb 21, 2006
4,833
4,259
10’s all round. What a fucking result and win!!

Lloris 10 - because we won 3-1 at the bridge for the first time in 28 years!! Get in!

Trippier 10 - because we won 3-1 at the bridge for the first time in 28 years!! Get in!

Jan 10 - better than Toby anyway ;)

Sanchez 10 - just keeps turning up in huge games, so impressive.

Davies 10 - actually not his best game but 10 because we won 3-1 at the bridge for the first time in 28 years!! Get in!

Dier 10 - that pass

Dembele 10 - for being Dembele

Eriksen 10 - worldy after worldy after worldy

Dele 10 - stop it, wow those goals the effort that celebration

Lamela 10 - his off the ball work is soooo key and he got a nice stamp in on cesc!

Son 10 - would’ve been fuming if he’d not passed to dele and then Lamela and we’d not scored, luckily we did. 10 because we won 3-1 at the bridge for the first time in 28 years!! Get in!

Poch - tactics at half time won the 2nd half and for once brilliant substitutions, couldn’t have been a more perfect player than Kane to bring on in that situation.

COYSSS FUCKING GET IN. Forget trophies that feels like we won the league. #worththewait. But Hopefully not another 28 years until the next one there ;)
 

isaac94

Well-Known Member
Jan 5, 2017
2,921
9,733
Credit to everyone, but thought I would special mention Lamela, guy was a absolute warrior today, please don't leave in the summer
 

mpickard2087

Patient Zero
Jun 13, 2008
21,886
32,513
I think that was a game that exemplified are resilience, self belief and fighting spirit. With a dollop of quality on top.

I felt this first half there was a lot wrong. Very much wrong in fact. To save myself the effort, this is what I wrote at HT:

Exceptionally lucky to be going into HT all square. I think we've been all over the place.

You have to start with tactically. Last year in this fixture we were given the run around by Chelsea's then new-fangled 3-4-2-1, since then in fixtures we've matched up against pretty well, today it's just back to square one and we're losing this tactical battle. The wide forwards are killing us, Davies and Trippier are outnumbered but also making poor decisions, and their wingbacks (particularly Alonso) are killing us in the second wave working off the wide forwards movement. We're also poorly set up for the counter attack and getting done by quick combinations.

Individually it's been more bad than good. The fullbacks, Dier and Dembele have been a shiteshow, the front four have been two narrow too quickly and haphazard apart from a couple of combination plays, and Lloris had another of his big game wobblers.... It hasn't been good.

And yet for all this struggle, one moment and we are back in the game. But I hope we're not resting on our laurels, because it's got to be much better in all facets in the second half.

At the time I don't think this was an overreaction, but credit to the team as we did come out better. Maybe spurred on by the equaliser before the break we played with a greater intensity, started winning individual battles, and gained a foothold. We also got a small tactical change - Eriksen was finally brought inside after the bonkers decision to start him on the left, and Son was moved wide to give us some structure. I thought Alli would have been moved to the 9 role, but Lamela got the nod and offered more ball security and a better workrate.

We then performed something of a smash and grab to completely turn the game. There was quality in both goals, following on from the wonderful equaliser, and after some heartbreakers, including the Juve game recently, it was our turn to be ruthless and efficient and knock the stuffing out of the opposition.

As I mentioned about the first half, I didn't think tactically we did well against their 3-4-3 shape. In all truth I don't think we did a much better job in the second half and we were exposed still a number of times on the flanks - Alonso was worked in a couple of times at the back post for instance but wasted decent openings. However winning some individual battles started to compensate for this a bit, and in particular I felt Vertonghen was fantastic in the second half to almost man mark Morata and stop vertical passes at source and so Chelsea were unable to put those quick counter attacking combinations together and get at the defence and overload us. In the end, despite some warning signs, at 3-1 we'd done enough damage to their belief and we were solid enough and the game was seen out fairly easily.

Not a perfect performance, but a spirited and ruthless one. And a big big win in terms of our objectives for the rest of the season.

Lloris - The big game rap sheet grows ever larger.....

Trippier - His positioning is a must watch, but not for good reasons. Felt he had ropey game without the ball, even if admittedly he was left outnumbered on his flank frequently, and made some poor choices with the ball at times and was easily rattled by the press.

Sanchez - Felt he had a really good game and when the wheels were threatening to fall off in the first half he stood up and made some really important bits of defending. Continued to be that solid presence in the second half.

Vertonghen - Decent first half, whilst playing second fiddle to Sanchez. I thought his second half was exceptional though with the man marking job he did and to frequently intercept high up the pitch, and also to scramble in our penalty area when called upon. My man of the match.

Davies - Not quite as bad as Trippier, but much the same applies. Particularly with the ball at his feet.

Dier - Really poor first half. Improved in the second as he started to break up play a bit, and today one of those passes finally came off... And tbf what a pass it was.

Dembele - Equally as bad first half, didn't really improve too much in the meat and drink of the second, as the game drew towards its close at 3-1 he finally woke up and put some coherent bits of play together.

Lamela - First half was one of the main culprits for us getting too narrow and being a rather shapeless and ineffective attacking unit. However he worked hard throughout and made mostly smart choices with the ball.

Alli - Especially first half, it wasn't great. In his all round play it was often far too lax - for instance second half when he is waiting for the ball, Azpilicueta nicks it and charges into the penalty area and all of a sudden we're in danger, that wasn't the only time he was caught like that for instance... However you can never deny that this kid knows what to do and comes alive in the penalty area - both in terms of instinct, technical quality, and just sheer determinedness, we saw all three today - and this is where he needs to be on the ball. Stepped up and provided that goalscoring threat when it was needed most today.

Eriksen - Thought it was a weird move to put him left initially, especially in such a big game where you'd think it was imperative to have him central conducting play. Eventually this mishap was rectified and he finally was able to stamp his mark on the game.... And we got a treat. Superb equaliser, and the pass round the corner for the third goal was not far behind it. Our most important player, no one else can provide what he does.

Son - This seems to always happen, gets thrust into action as the No.9, initial signs are promising, you get a game where you're expecting him to confirm he can play the role..... And it doesn't really work out. Didn't seem to enjoy being the focal point and his touch was often suspect. Didn't think he put in a great shift either. A little better when stationed wide and had his brightest moments, but he did his best to barbecue the 3rd goal, didn't he.....

Subs:
Kane - A little slow on a couple of occasions and so lost the ball, but a decent focal point and looked quite sharp in his cameo.

Wanyama - Solid enough as we closed out the game.

Sissoko - n/a.
 

JimmyG2

SC Supporter
Dec 7, 2006
15,014
20,779
Pure gold.................9.........Eriksen for the goal and pass to Son for the second.
Diamond geezer.....8+.......Dele. Were you watching Gareth? Movement and touch superb.
Rubies......................8.........Erik (the beast)Lamela,Verts,
Saphires...................7.........Trippier, Sanchez, Dembele, Dier,Lloris Made up for his error
Paste Pearls.............6.........Son, Davies

Eriksen's goal changed the attitudes of both teams and managers.
Mauricio gave us more width, Conte inexplicably went more defensive,
they stopped closing us down and dropped deeper at 1-1 in a game they needed to win.
Unlike two years ago we let the football do the talking
Apart from lamela who had private scores to settle.
Great day
 

newbie

Well-Known Member
Jul 16, 2004
6,051
6,342
I think that was a game that exemplified are resilience, self belief and fighting spirit. With a dollop of quality on top.

I felt this first half there was a lot wrong. Very much wrong in fact. To save myself the effort, this is what I wrote at HT:



At the time I don't think this was an overreaction, but credit to the team as we did come out better. Maybe spurred on by the equaliser before the break we played with a greater intensity, started winning individual battles, and gained a foothold. We also got a small tactical change - Eriksen was finally brought inside after the bonkers decision to start him on the left, and Son was moved wide to give us some structure. I thought Alli would have been moved to the 9 role, but Lamela got the nod and offered more ball security and a better workrate.

We then performed something of a smash and grab to completely turn the game. There was quality in both goals, following on from the wonderful equaliser, and after some heartbreakers, including the Juve game recently, it was our turn to be ruthless and efficient and knock the stuffing out of the opposition.

As I mentioned about the first half, I didn't think tactically we did well against their 3-4-3 shape. In all truth I don't think we did a much better job in the second half and we were exposed still a number of times on the flanks - Alonso was worked in a couple of times at the back post for instance but wasted decent openings. However winning some individual battles started to compensate for this a bit, and in particular I felt Vertonghen was fantastic in the second half to almost man mark Morata and stop vertical passes at source and so Chelsea were unable to put those quick counter attacking combinations together and get at the defence and overload us. In the end, despite some warning signs, at 3-1 we'd done enough damage to their belief and we were solid enough and the game was seen out fairly easily.

Not a perfect performance, but a spirited and ruthless one. And a big big win in terms of our objectives for the rest of the season.

Lloris - The big game rap sheet grows ever larger.....

Trippier - His positioning is a must watch, but not for good reasons. Felt he had ropey game without the ball, even if admittedly he was left outnumbered on his flank frequently, and made some poor choices with the ball at times and was easily rattled by the press.

Sanchez - Felt he had a really good game and when the wheels were threatening to fall off in the first half he stood up and made some really important bits of defending. Continued to be that solid presence in the second half.

Vertonghen - Decent first half, whilst playing second fiddle to Sanchez. I thought his second half was exceptional though with the man marking job he did and to frequently intercept high up the pitch, and also to scramble in our penalty area when called upon. My man of the match.

Davies - Not quite as bad as Trippier, but much the same applies. Particularly with the ball at his feet.

Dier - Really poor first half. Improved in the second as he started to break up play a bit, and today one of those passes finally came off... And tbf what a pass it was.

Dembele - Equally as bad first half, didn't really improve too much in the meat and drink of the second, as the game drew towards its close at 3-1 he finally woke up and put some coherent bits of play together.

Lamela - First half was one of the main culprits for us getting too narrow and being a rather shapeless and ineffective attacking unit. However he worked hard throughout and made mostly smart choices with the ball.

Alli - Especially first half, it wasn't great. In his all round play it was often far too lax - for instance second half when he is waiting for the ball, Azpilicueta nicks it and charges into the penalty area and all of a sudden we're in danger, that wasn't the only time he was caught like that for instance... However you can never deny that this kid knows what to do and comes alive in the penalty area - both in terms of instinct, technical quality, and just sheer determinedness, we saw all three today - and this is where he needs to be on the ball. Stepped up and provided that goalscoring threat when it was needed most today.

Eriksen - Thought it was a weird move to put him left initially, especially in such a big game where you'd think it was imperative to have him central conducting play. Eventually this mishap was rectified and he finally was able to stamp his mark on the game.... And we got a treat. Superb equaliser, and the pass round the corner for the third goal was not far behind it. Our most important player, no one else can provide what he does.

Son - This seems to always happen, gets thrust into action as the No.9, initial signs are promising, you get a game where you're expecting him to confirm he can play the role..... And it doesn't really work out. Didn't seem to enjoy being the focal point and his touch was often suspect. Didn't think he put in a great shift either. A little better when stationed wide and had his brightest moments, but he did his best to barbecue the 3rd goal, didn't he.....

Subs:
Kane - A little slow on a couple of occasions and so lost the ball, but a decent focal point and looked quite sharp in his cameo.

Wanyama - Solid enough as we closed out the game.

Sissoko - n/a.

I think I your harsh first half wasn’t that bad, I thought we started well, Chelsea have got some great players, if only we had an Eden Hazard.

Son, away from home it’s a big ask to lead the line, he needs a bit more room, his not quick enough or strong enough to lead the line away against Chelsea but he can still do a good job there against most teams.

Yes we miss last years Walker and Rose but last year we also played 3 at the back a lot.
 

steve

Well-Known Member
Oct 21, 2003
3,503
1,767
I hate games like today's, hard to relax and enjoy games against this lot as we've been on the end of some cruel defeats when we've played well (league this season, cup last season).

I thought we started energetically and the press was in evidence but gradually Chelsea came to life and I thought exerted more control on the break and created better chances. The wing backs pushed ours back or engaged them pretty high up the pitch and we were caught in congested areas and coughed the ball up under pressure a bit too easily.
We had plenty of ball but Dem and Dier didn't move it quickly and we were pretty easy to defend against, thankfully Eriksen did his thing again and we went in square slightly undeserved I thought.

I was hoping at half time (without expectation) that Poch was going to match Chelsea up formation wise, drop Dier into a 3, drop Eriksen in with Dem (or Wanyama) and push our fullbacks onto theirs to cut out their threat as they did cause us problems first half.

Initially I didn't think the changes Poch made worked 2nd half as I thought we had a poor 5 minutes to begin with but then we gradually grew into it. The shift in players allowed Son and Dele to keep their fullbacks occupied and our goal had dented their confidence.

The goals speak for themselves, all wonderfully created and more crucially finished and that today was key - we've created more chances in other games and scored less but today when we had the ascendency we took our chances and killed the game. At 1 - 3 Chelsea were dead, they are not a team brimming with confidence and they never really believed they could come back into the game.

We were pretty sloppy for 20 minutes after the goals and a goal could've shaken us and lifted them, thankfully it never happened.

Massive kudos to this team, they just don't get beat very easily and you always feel like they can do it, they make mistakes and sometimes sloppy ones in big games but so often they stick together and dig themselves out like they did today. We've some real big time players here and we must be nailed on for at least the top 4 and I'm hoping top 2 and the FA Cup.

I thought Eriksen (again) was the standout but big ups go to Dele and Lamela and our centre halves who had a tough afternoon and came out on top.
 

Nerine

Juicy corned beef
Jan 27, 2011
4,756
17,217
I didn't get to see the game today, as I was gigging, but I just watched MOTD.

FFFFFUUUUUUU..... Davinson...

Awesome!
 

Mr Pink

SC Supporter
Aug 25, 2010
54,772
99,334
I thought we were ok for the first 25 minutes or so and then we got a bit sloppy with our passing which gave Chelsea some attacking impetus on the counter.

But was really perplexed with some of the comments, in commentary, basically saying Chelsea were rampant lol

We actually had a fair amount of control of that first half but we were barely threatened as it was all too condensed until Eriksen dropped deeper.

Eriksen my MOTM with Dele a very close second. His first goal was exquisite but the determination for his second was just as impressive.

But Eriksen dropping deeper and getting on the ball more just before HT was so crucial in terms of the timing. Wonder goal and that pass to Son was sublime.

Lamela also played very well, great movement and workrate.

The last standout was Sanchez, extremely good positioning that almost certainly prevented at least one goal.

Pochettino deserves credit for the tactical tweak but above all its the mentality change we're witnessing that is absolutely phenomenal, and that's all down to him.
 

Bus-Conductor

SC Supporter
Oct 19, 2004
39,837
50,713
They Got Alli'd, and I'm not sure they Understand.

It was pretty clear that the first half we were tactically out done by Conte, it wasn't that our intentions were bad, or that we were drastically outplayed, we'd had plenty of ball, but Chelsea controlled and channelled us where they wanted us to go, squeezed us and waited for us to cough up the ball and then countered to good effect. The game got congested, our forward's started bumbling into each other, Son was having one of those games where he couldn't control the ball, Alli was fucking around when a more sure foot was needed, Lamela was Lamela and even Eriksen, played in strange role first half, was struggling to conduct.

Throw in that Dier and Dembele were both very poor first half, lethargic and careless with the ball, both getting hassled into playing sloppy passes or passes to people already under pressure, and worse, both making poor decisions without the ball, such as Dier diving in and selling himself a couple of times, allowing Chelsea to maraud forward straight onto outnumbered defenders. They were neither dictating tempo for us, nor preventing Chelsea cutting us open on the counter.

Poch going 4231 (almost 244) against Chelsea's (3421) shape and tactical application, funnelling our AM's centrally, left our fb's exposed and frequently had their WB's always available in acres of space on the counter with Hazard and Willian often free to double up too. In all honesty, we were probably a bit lucky to come in even as Chelsea had several great situations on the counter first half and often last ditch defending saved the day.

I'm really not sure why Poch didn't go with the proper 433 he used in the last game, a format designed to fuck with the 3CB system, which may have also provided our wide areas with more cover on the counter and also dragged Chelsea forwards 10-15 yards, giving our forward players more spaces to work in.

I've not got too many quibbles with Lloris for the goal. I think he has to go for it,* and if he doesn't Morata's header goes in the corner anyway, and I don't think Sanchez could do any more either, it was just endemic of what had been happening, Moses found in acres of space, Davies isolated was a bit slow to close him down maybe, but it's just a cross put into the zone that arrows it's way to their guy.

*Ha, as I type this I am watching MOTD2 and Lloris coming out actually puts Sanchez off, he clearly moves his head I think in reaction to Lloris.*

In the reverse of last year, we then got that crucial goal just before half the, and what a strike. Eriksen had already had a range finder and this time hit an Exocet that just did the keeper all ends up.

After half time Poch switched Lamela and Son, and pulled Eriksen central and got him dropping a little deeper. I honestly don't think we were drastically better second half, and I really don't think the tactical switch of Lamela and Son really helped us loads - but I'll happily listen to those who can explain how and why they think it did - I think getting Eriksen more central and a little deeper helped somewhat, but what made the most difference was two bits of football, that turned the game and it's dynamics on it's head. It would have made more sense to me to swap Son and Alli, have Alli as the focal point, with Lamela and Son as ARM and ALM respectively, still energetically helping to win the ball and protect the FB's, but also cutting in from their favourite sides etc. whilst allowing Erisken that central birth. Other options I mooted at HT were going back to that pure 433, or dropping Dier into a back three and going with a 3cb system.



Dier played one of those raking passes he tries most games, this time getting it spot on, but what converted that great pass into something more was the excellent run and composure then shown by Alli, who on one beautifully poetic movement controlled and deftly dinked past their keeper. It was an absolutely sublime bit of play by Alli. This was followed four minutes later by his second. Eriksen plays a clever little pass round the corner on the right that puts Son clean through, unfortunately Son's bumbling was continuing, and if we can forgive him for not squaring for Alli initially, not knocking it back for Lamela to tap into to an open net was unforgivable, a sin not lost Eriksen who was still admonishing Son for his stupidity after we'd scored. Luckily we got that bit of fortune that the footballing gods had been allocating Chelsea in this fixture for much of the last 20 year, Son's bumbling rolled for us, Alli was on the spot, and again, in contrast to much of the first half, he was cool and composed, deftly dragging and then finishing.

This completely changed the dynamics of what had been a reasonably scrappy tussle. Chelsea now had to abandon any tactical pragmatism, push for goals, and to be honest, they did have some very decent situations, but it just wasn't their day, a combination of excellent defending and their poor execution saw us home.

As ever, Poch's subs baffled me completely and didn't really positively effect the dynamics. Surely at 3-1 up Wanyama could have been introduced much sooner, not Kane chugging around. And I could understand Dier going off at any time in the first hour, but on 80 minutes when we were shelling it ? Strange.

We've played better at their place quite a few times and come away with less, so I'll take it all day long, but this wasn't a slick performance, we were tactically poor for patches of it. Two quick goals second half effectively turned this game on it's head, and if anything I'd chalk this one up to this teams bottle, character more than tactical excellence or collective cohesion. Oh, and Deli Alli.


Lloris - Sorry but he fucked it again. Some good saves before and after.

Trippier/Davies - Tactically I think both were left very exposed at various times in this game and this was not a great game for either of them.

Sanchez - A very good game. There was one moment first half where Hazard was played through and his pace was crucial, no way Alderweireld stays with Hazard in that situation.

Vertonghen - Very good game.

Dier - The great ball for Alli aside, not a great game. Very poor first half, pressed into poor decisions, poor with the ball and without, unable to inject any tempo or play incisively and unable to prevent Chelsea steaming forward and ripping us apart on the counter, selling himself (and his defence) . Second half improved a little but we spent the last 25 minutes of it shelling, which should be his forte, but was eventually dragged off.

Dembele - Much the same as Dier really, and I can't remember a game where Dembele gave the ball away so many times so cheaply. Even toward the end of the game there was a sloppy pass that was so unnecessary that put us under pressure, for all my grumbles about him, that's not one that I usually have. Slow and too risk averse, a bit flat footed without the ball in a fast game sometimes, but never careless. He was generally better in the second half but games like today from him and Dier, really emphasise why we have to start planning for the future and get some more talent in the midfield area.

Lamela - Pretty Lamela like performance, he scrapped for everything, played some Ok football in patches, struggled first half like everyone as Chelsea suffocated the game. Had better games.

Eriksen - Two cracking contributions for goal's one and three, like many others, he's had more involved days, and wasn't helped by Poch's strange tactical application first Half which had him on the left. Still probably ended up our most influential player on the day and pushing for a motm.

Alli - I'm giving him my MOTM today. Overall, probably not as influential on the game as a whole as Eriksen, but he did work hard (even hunting down the ball for the first gaol) and he showed that game intelligence to keep getting into those great positions and his control and finish for that first goal was a sublime piece of skill that turned this game.

Son - This was a real bumbler of a day. Really had to tap it back to Lamela for that third goal, stupidly greedy.
 
Last edited:

Dillspur

Well-Known Member
May 18, 2004
3,747
9,926
If Lloris stays on his line (like he should've) I still don't think he gets near the header, it was too good. Agree that Sanchez couldn't do much, maybe some blame can be put on Davies for not closing the cross down better but it was really just a great cross and header.

If Hugo stays on his line Sanchez heads it clear
 

Mr Pink

SC Supporter
Aug 25, 2010
54,772
99,334
Thought Danny Murphy made a good point with Dele playing more from the left second half, seeing the game sideways on and that movement arching in centrally for his first goal.
 

mpickard2087

Patient Zero
Jun 13, 2008
21,886
32,513
I don't think it was wrong of Lloris to come and claim the cross, he just, pretty inexplicably, made a massive misjudgement on the flight of the ball, ran the wrong line, and was left flailing as it went sailing over his head.
 

steve

Well-Known Member
Oct 21, 2003
3,503
1,767
They Got Alli'd, and I'm not sure they Understand.

It was pretty clear that the first half we were tactically out done by Conte, it wasn't that our intentions were bad, or that we were drastically outplayed, we'd had plenty of ball, but Chelsea controlled and channelled us where they wanted us to go, squeezed us and waited for us to cough up the ball and then countered to good effect. The game got congested, our forward's started bumbling into each other, Son was having one of those games where he couldn't control the ball, Alli was fucking around when a more sure foot was needed, Lamela was Lamela and even Eriksen, played in strange role first half, was struggling to conduct.

Throw in that Dier and Dembele were both very poor first half, lethargic and careless with the ball, both getting hassled into playing sloppy passes or passes to people already under pressure, and worse, both making poor decisions without the ball, such as Dier diving in and selling himself a couple of times, allowing Chelsea to maraud forward straight onto outnumbered defenders. They were neither dictating tempo for us, nor preventing Chelsea cutting us open on the counter.

Poch going 4231 (almost 244) against Chelsea's (3421) shape and tactical application, funnelling our AM's centrally, left our fb's exposed and frequently had their WB's always available in acres of space on the counter with Hazard and Willian often free to double up too. In all honesty, we were probably a bit lucky to come in even as Chelsea had several great situations on the counter first half and often last ditch defending saved the day.

I'm really not sure why Poch didn't go with the proper 433 he used in the last game, a format designed to fuck with the 3CB system, which may have also provided our wide areas with more cover on the counter and also dragged Chelsea forwards 10-15 yards, giving our forward players more spaces to work in.

I've not got too many quibbles with Lloris for the goal. I think he has to go for it,* and if he doesn't Morata's header goes in the corner anyway, and I don't think Sanchez could do any more either, it was just endemic of what had been happening, Moses found in acres of space, Davies isolated was a bit slow to close him down maybe, but it's just a cross put into the zone that arrows it's way to their guy.

*Ha, as I type this I am watching MOTD2 and Lloris coming out actually puts Sanchez off, he clearly moves his head I think in reaction to Lloris.*

In the reverse of last year, we then got that crucial goal just before half the, and what a strike. Eriksen had already had a range finder and this time hit an Exocet that just did the keeper all ends up.

After half time Poch switched Lamela and Son, and pulled Eriksen central and got him dropping a little deeper. I honestly don't think we were drastically better second half, and I really don't think the tactical switch of Lamela and Son really helped us loads - but I'll happily listen to those who can explain how and why they think it did - I think getting Eriksen more central and a little deeper helped somewhat, but what made the most difference was two bits of football, that turned the game and it's dynamics on it's head. It would have made more sense to me to swap Son and Alli, have Alli as the focal point, with Lamela and Son as ARM and ALM respectively, still energetically helping to win the ball and protect the FB's, but also cutting in from their favourite sides etc. whilst allowing Erisken that central birth. Other options I mooted at HT were going back to that pure 433, or dropping Dier into a back three and going with a 3cb system.



Dier played one of those raking passes he tries most games, this time getting it spot on, but what converted that great pass into something more was the excellent run and composure then shown by Alli, who on one beautifully poetic movement controlled and deftly dinked past their keeper. It was an absolutely sublime bit of play by Alli. This was followed four minutes later by his second. Eriksen plays a clever little pass round the corner on the right that puts Son clean through, unfortunately Son's bumbling was continuing, and if we can forgive him for not squaring for Alli initially, not knocking it back for Lamela to tap into to an open net was unforgivable, a sin not lost Eriksen who was still admonishing Son for his stupidity after we'd scored. Luckily we got that bit of fortune that the footballing gods had been allocating Chelsea in this fixture for much of the last 20 year, Son's bumbling rolled for us, Alli was on the spot, and again, in contrast to much of the first half, he was cool and composed, deftly dragging and then finishing.

This completely changed the dynamics of what had been a reasonably scrappy tussle. Chelsea now had to abandon any tactical pragmatism, push for goals, and to be honest, they did have some very decent situations, but it just wasn't their day, a combination of excellent defending and their poor execution saw us home.

As ever, Poch's subs baffled me completely and didn't really positively effect the dynamics. Surely at 3-1 up Wanyama could have been introduced much sooner, not Kane chugging around. And I could understand Dier going off at any time in the first hour, but on 80 minutes when we were shelling it ? Strange.

We've played better at their place quite a few times and come away with less, so I'll take it all day long, but this wasn't a slick performance, we were tactically poor for patches of it. Two quick goals second half effectively turned this game on it's head, and if anything I'd chalk this one up to this teams bottle, character more than tactical excellence or collective cohesion. Oh, and Deli Alli.


Lloris - Sorry but he fucked it again. Some good saves before and after.

Trippier/Davies - Tactically I think both were left very exposed at various times in this game and this was not a great game for either of them.

Sanchez - A very good game. There was one moment first half where Hazard was played through and his pace was crucial, no way Alderweireld stays with Hazard in that situation.

Vertonghen - Very good game.

Dier - The great ball for Alli aside, not a great game. Very poor first half, pressed into poor decisions, poor with the ball and without, unable to inject any tempo or play incisively and unable to prevent Chelsea steaming forward and ripping us apart on the counter, selling himself (and his defence) . Second half improved a little but we spent the last 25 minutes of it shelling, which should be his forte, but was eventually dragged off.

Dembele - Much the same as Dier really, and I can't remember a game where Dembele gave the ball away so many times so cheaply. Even toward the end of the game there was a sloppy pass that was so unnecessary that put us under pressure, for all my grumbles about him, that's not one that I usually have. Slow and too risk averse, a bit flat footed without the ball in a fast game sometimes, but never careless. He was generally better in the second half but games like today from him and Dier, really emphasise why we have to start planning for the future and get some more talent in the midfield area.

Lamela - Pretty Lamela like performance, he scrapped for everything, played some Ok football in patches, struggled first half like everyone as Chelsea suffocated the game. Had better games.

Eriksen - Two cracking contributions for goal's one and three, like many others, he's had more involved days, and wasn't helped by Poch's strange tactical application first Half which had him on the left. Still probably ended up our most influential player on the day and pushing for a motm.

Alli - I'm giving him my MOTM today. Overall, probably not as influential on the game as a whole as Eriksen, but he did work hard (even hunting down the ball for the first gaol) and he showed that game intelligence to keep getting into those great positions and his control and finish for that first goal was a sublime piece of skill that turned this game.

Son - This was a real bumbler of a day. Really had to tap it back to Lamela for that third goal, stupidly greedy.

I thought that Son and Dele/Lamela stayed wider 2nd half which kept their fullbacks occupied...couple that with Eriksen dropping into the middle more meant that we had a good 15/20 minute spell were we saw and used the ball better and freed up/helped our fullbacks a bit who tucked in a bit more to help our centre halves/midfield almost as wing halves. As you say we scored in that period and killed off a close game.

We also were at it a bit more in that period, moved the ball quicker and showed more desire but as you say the goals changed the game and they were belters.
 

steve

Well-Known Member
Oct 21, 2003
3,503
1,767
I remember reading somewhere years ago about something Garth Crooks had apparently said after we'd come back from a goal down to win 2 - 1 at Highbury in the 80's....that games are played in spells, and when you have your spell you need to make the most of them.

Today sums that up for me, creating the chances and putting them away in that spell, especially in a game against against a good side who you can't dominate for the majority of the game.
 

St José Dominguez

Well-Known Member
Jul 15, 2014
3,592
11,648
Gave it to Dele because of all the bollocks said in the media about the 21yr old, and to then go to Stamford Bridge and do that, what an absolute superstar we've got at Tottenham.

In reality though it was Eriksen (again). People talk about leaders in terms of Roy Keane types but he has become such a leader for us. He comes across so laid back and quiet but the way he's grabbing games by scruff off neck this season is true leadership, he's genuine world class and getting better and better. He's a leader, even had a Roy Keane esque moment of rightfully shouting at Son for not passing after goal.
 

wishkah

Well-Known Member
Jan 27, 2011
4,790
14,449
to be able to do some of the things ekirsen did at the point in time he did them justifies a MoTM review. It's why attacking players get the plaudits

However he wouldn't have been able to do that if Ledley incarnate hadn't played his role. There was an instance where he covered against William, forced him wide via covering the angle then dropped. Acm to head Williams cross. He just played three defenders positions in one go-with the composure to match. So impressed by this man even if he has an off game.

It's quite clear jan is peaking duck. His whole career building to two world class yeasrs and he's showcasing it at 29/30. Fair play old bean. Sanchez is......
 

whitelanefever

Well-Known Member
Aug 21, 2012
2,149
2,855
To anyone that doesn't see what Dier does..how many 1on1 did a atackers get against our cb..positionally Dier is best deeplyinget midfielder in europe.. 2nd half fullbacks pushed on, he was sweeping up & keeping us recycling the ball.. if you are a ball watcher you will never appreciate what Dier offers to the team..he done his job e majestically today
.my mom because without him we coulent of pushed up the field..
 
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