Marching into oblivion: Spurs 0 Chelski 1
Yes, we are marching into oblivion. In my previous article, I said that we would get a draw (hoping for a win), we never even got that far. Totally crap. It is time for Levy to start thinking about the unthinkable.
I started the match by drinking a bottle of wine, that didn’t help to I turned to tea… by then I gave up.
Before this match, Jose Mourinho said cryptically, it is not “difficult to coach” at former club Chelsea. What is he trying to say? Sending a subliminal message that Levy is to blame or something else? He then went on and added, “Chelsea always has great players, and great squads and good coaches are happy to work with these clubs.” Yes? He then added that the Blues players “give you a very good opportunity to be successful and win titles”. But not at Tottenham, he seems to be saying. Well, who’s fault is that? His or Levy’s? Come on, man, spell it out. To be honest, it doesn’t matter who’s fault it is, you are the man in charge, and you must make do with what you’ve got. Levy gave you the opportunity, and now you need to step up to the mark. Riddles are not going to help us, but positive action, which seems in short supply.
On Sunday we’ve got WBA, we usually would consider this a comfortable ride, but not now. The sacked manager of England, after one game, Sam Allardyce must be jumping with joy (lovely women). I bet he is thinking, I can’t wait until we face Spurs and getting three points. Brighton thought the same, long with the Spammers, Palace and all the other lowly clubs struggling; all gaining points from us.
Let us contemplate suicide; to the match:
We suffered our third consecutive defeat as we lost at home to Chelsea, who moved up to sixth in the table. We are in 8th, miles away from City. We are closer to the bottom strugglers than we are to City. Just think, it wasn’t that long ago that we were top of the league. It also wasn’t that long ago that we mocked Chelsea, the Spammers and fast approaching Gunners. Now the joke is on us.
Jorginho’s penalty, after Eric Dier had fouled Timo Werner, gave Chelsea a lead in the first half. Bloody Dier again. What doe he want, promotion to Chelsea? Werner, who headed wide in the opening minute, was denied a goal by an excellent block from Serge Aurier. Erik Lamela had a chance to equalise, but his shot was pushed wide by Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
Carlos Vinicius also headed wide late on as we were beaten for the third time in eight days, after losing 3-1 at home to Liverpool on 28 January and then 1-0 at Brighton on Sunday. It doesn’t rain, just pours. It was also the first time Jose Mourinho had lost back-to-back home games in his managerial career.
Where do we go from here? Morris dancing just doesn’t quite cut!
Marilyn Monroe once said, remember her? “Just because you fail once doesn’t mean you’re gonna fail at everything.” I wonder if that was going through Mourinho’s mind and hoping, next time?! No, not Monroe, unless he is into rigor mortis, but the quote. Or maybe he is more philosophical than that and was thinking of what Thomas Edison said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” Or, who gives a fuck? Years without trophies has made us more pissed off with Levy’s attempts to get it right with the mangers he employs.
Thoughts!
We were bloody negative and deserved nothing
Mourinho will no doubt point to that bad late miss to Vinicius as a moment when we might have snatched a point – but, in reality, we deserved nothing. We looked desperately short of answers without the injured Kane, even Son struggled as he received little support or service. But the truth of the matter is that we can’t/shouldn’t rely on one man. Achieving footballing goals is a squad effort.
We seemed unwilling to leave our own half, instantly handing the initiative to the opposition. It was an invitation Chelsea were only too happy to accept.
After the break, we showed positive intent, but it was hardly a wave of attacks and, when Mourinho did make changes, it was by turning to Lamela and Lucas Moura rather than Gareth Bale, who was left unused.
Kane’s absence would strip any team of an edge of menace, but Mourinho’s no-risk strategy let Chelsea benefit for most of the game.
At this rate, we will struggle to get a Europa League place, unless Mourinho is thinking of winning the Europa League and getting into the European Champions League through the back door?
Let us all cheer ourselves up and look at the statistics (Not!)
Mourinho lost back-to-back home league matches for the first time in his 327th such game.
Tuchel became the first Chelsea manager to keep clean sheets in his first three matches in charge since Mourinho in August 2004.
We have suffered three successive Premier League defeats for the first time since November 2012.
Chelsea have seven points from Tuchel’s three matches – as many as they managed in Lampard’s final eight.
We have lost four of our past five league games when Kane has not played.
Mourinho has not won any of his past seven games against former club Chelsea – his joint-longest winless run against an opponent in his managerial career (also against Barcelona between April 2011 and January 2012 when he was Real Madrid boss).
Jorginho’s opener for Chelsea was his 10th Premier League goal, eight of which have been penalties.
Alongside Jamie Vardy, Anthony Martial and Patrick Bamford, Chelsea striker Werner has won the joint-most Premier League penalties this season (three each).
What next for us?
What should have been an easy trip (like Brighton) has now turned into a worrying game. We face WBA on the 7th Feb (Sunday) at 12 noon.
I have been informed that if we should lose that match, Daniel Levy will be issuing the Samaritans phone number.
Let us look on the bright side (what bright side?)
Until next time, be safe and take care,
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
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