Match Preview: Spur v Chelski (and we must do better).
Don Scully wrote an article on the rivalry between Spurs & the Russian team of Chelski. To read it, click “here”
My angry thoughts
Chelski are in the doldrums, and so are we, but they’ve just got a new manager after giving Frank Lampard a kick up the arse, while we lost Kane through injury. Should all make for sad times, at least for one of us.
After the match Mourinho said to BBC Radio 5 live, I can imagine that the team when it loses is a sad team”. Yes, well, like all professionals they are supposed to pick themselves up, rub themselves down with an oily rag and fucking get on with it. Not mope around all day and end up pissing everybody off.
Mourinho also said, “The reaction after that defeat was not phenomenal, the fact that you lose, I don’t like to speak on behalf of the players, but they feel too much the absence of a player like Harry [Kane].” They may be surprised to learn this, but in professional football, injuries do happen from time to time, when they are in that situation they shouldn’t feel the absence of anybody but work with the person who has replaced the injured one. It is called professionalism. That is what potential champions do, such as Liverpool, United, City etc., as we did when we won the double. We had injuries back then, but we got on with it and won titles. For Fuck sake. We didn’t have subs back then, and they played more games. In those days players and managers travelled on the bus or walked into work (with the fans), not like now when they come into work in their £100,00 car or brought in by their fucking chauffeurs. When we won the double, those players were getting about £12.00 per week. They were hard nuts like Dave Mackay.
With Kane sidelined with injuries to both ankles, Bale started just his second league game of the season. But, like the rest of our forward line, Bale looked uninspired in the opening 45 minutes. He was then subbed shortly after the hour mark. Obviously wasn’t ready, so why use him for an hour then? They should have used Vinicius from the beginning.
Mourinho also blames defeat on “lack of energy.” Oh, give us a break! Why a lack of energy? I haven’t heard the managers of United, City, Leicester Titty and Liverpool crying because they had a lack of energy. These managers would have probably kicked any player up the arse that complained that their balls are in a ringer and it snapped their power. What were they doing before the match? Having sex with each other, or did they bring their partners in for a ride before the game? It all stinks of excuses and poor ones at that. I’ve heard of unrest behind closed doors. Whatever, it needs sorting out, and quickly.
They should be lucky that there are no fans in the stadium to give them what for! Lack of fucking energy… would you Adam and Eve it? I’ll give them a fucking lack of energy. Dave Mackay, Cliff Jones, Blanchflower, Smith and the rest were on £12 per week, they never complained of “lack of energy”. Give somebody £200,000 per week or more, and they are drained of energy! Maybe we should help them out and take some of that money off them, to stop it from dragging them down.
TEAM NEWS
Spurs
Tanguy Ndombele’s fitness is being monitored at the moment; he was forced off at Brighton through injury. Sergio Reguilon, Giovani Lo Celso and Harry Kane remain out, and the latter’s absence could mean Carlos Vinicius starts his first Premier League game.
Chelski
Chelsea winger Hakim Ziyech should come back into contention after being rested against Burnley on Sunday. N’Golo Kante was on the bench against the Clarets, so the Blues could have a fully-fit squad for this match.
My Thoughts and prediction on the match
This will Thomas Tuchel’s and Mourinho’s biggest test so at the moment. One because of Tuchel’s appointment, and Mourinho’s after our poor performances.
It is becoming the same old story with Harry Kane getting injured, as they are not the same team without him. As for Gareth Bale, well his arrival last September was meant to help and change things, but he looks a shadow of his former self. He has lost that energy and twinkle in his eye, which was his trademark and when I watch him play he doesn’t really seem like he is enjoying playing football. Like everybody else I’ve seen him on TV, apart from the Antwerp game, where I was lucky to see him play in the flesh (so to speak).
If we lose, then the pressure will increase on Mourinho, with calls for him to go. Levy has wanted him at the club for a long time, and of course, by him being here it gives the club prestige. But it is no good having prestige with a team falling down the league table.
As for my prediction, that is a hard one, I usually would be positive and say something like 1-0, 2-1 or 3-1 (to us), but this time I am going for a draw.
Prediction: 2-2
My possible starting lineup:
Lloris; Alderweireld, Dier, Rodon; Doherty, Hojbjerg, Sissoko, Davies; Bergwijn, Vinicius, Son
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
Chelsea are unbeaten in the past four Premier League meetings, keeping a clean sheet in three of them (W3, D1).
We could lose back-to-back home league matches against Chelsea for the first time since a run of three defeats between 2004 and 2005 when Jose Mourinho was in charge of the Blues.
Tottenham Hotspur
We could lose three consecutive top-flight fixtures for the first time since November 2012.
We have trailed for 118 minutes in our past two league games, having been behind for just 102 minutes in their first 18 matches this season.
We are the only side yet to lose a London derby in this season’s Premier League, although we have drawn four of five such matches.
Jose Mourinho is in danger of losing back-to-back home league games for the first time in his managerial career.
Chelsea
Chelsea are vying to record consecutive Premier League victories for just the second time this season.
The Blues have lost four of their past five away league games, as many defeats as in their previous 16.
Chelsea have conceded 50 Premier League away goals since the start of last season, a total exceeded only by Newcastle.
Thomas Tuchel can become the first Chelsea boss to record clean sheets in each of his first three league games since Jose Mourinho in August 2004.
Tottenham Hotspur Premier League form: DWDWLL
Tottenham Hotspur form (all competitions): WDWWLL
Chelsea Premier League form: DLWLDW
Chelsea form (all competitions): WWLWDW
Well, that’s it, folks, be safe and let us hope we get a bloody win, anything else will mount the pressure on old José!
Best Regards,
Glenn
COYS!
My name is Glenn Renshaw.
I am currently a Premium Season Ticket holder (West Stand) in the new stadium. Before that – at White Hart Lane – a season ticket holder in various parts of the ground (mainly in the North stand).
Before becoming a season ticket holder, I stood on the shelf and various other parts of the ground since the 1960s (the season of the double). In 1987 I became one of the first to hold a Spurs Membership card. I was also a life long member of the Spurs supporters club (now defunct).
I go to all home, away and abroad matches.
I was born in 1955, Edgware, London. I currently live in Berkshire.
I also collect all Spurs books, Spurs handbooks, Spurs programmes etc.
Previously, I wrote for Spurs Fanzines: The Spur, Spur of the Moment, My Eyes have seen the Glory and various other Spurs fanzines’. I also wrote for the SpursWeb app & its website.
I currently write and work for spursnetwork.com and its website. I write its Reviews & Match reports and a lot more.
My other interests are; reading, history, social history, Politics, going to the gym, wine, going out for a meal, music (all sorts), writing, theatre, concerts, going on holidays, socialising etc.
I have been writing blogs/ articles since 1989
If you wish to read more of my blog, please click “here”
