Spurs v Chelsea FA Cup Preview

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Spurs v Chelsea

FA Cup 6th Round at stamford Bridge

Sunday, 11th March, 2007 KO 12.45pm

Referee: Mike Riley

Chelsea in the FA Cup 6th Round, Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup 6th Round wasn’t how I’d envisaged the draw on the Monday afternoon following the win over Fulham. In less than twenty four hours the euphoria of that win had been dampened by the realisation that Spurs had to visit the Billionaires of West London. Plymouth Argyll at White Hart Lane had been more what I had thought of but we’ll keep them for the semi-finals.

Ignoring the last FA Cup game against Chelsea for obvious reasons, preferring the 6th Round game at Stamford Bridge in 1982 when Spurs as Cup holders met the 2nd Division side who had defeated European Champions, Liverpool, in the previous round. A memorable game as Spurs appeared in an all white strip with yellow socks and as the game progressed everything clicked for them. Chelsea had taken a first half lead but gradually Spurs started to show their superior class with Glenn Hoddle giving a master class of ball control. Eventually Spurs scored when Steve Archibald poked the ball home after the Chelsea goalkeeper failed to hold a Hoddle free-kick. Spurs immediately stepped up a gear and within ten minutes were 3-1 ahead. The second goal was a masterpiece. Hoddle and Hazard cut through the Chelsea midfield with an exchange of passes and, after Hazard's flick had left them wrong-footed, Hoddle crashed a 25-yard drive past the goalkeeper. Hazard then confirmed Tottenham's superiority with a coolly taken drive and although Chelsea pulled a goal back Spurs coasted home on a wave of possession football. The performance was even greater as the match was played on a barren pitch with a very uneven bounce. (Just why was Hazard included in the Daily Mail’s all time worst Spurs team?)

A similar performance and result on Sunday would be very, very satisfying but just as Chelsea sought revenge in the last FA Cup meeting in 2002 following their Worthington Cup defeat, so Spurs need to avoid being caught in the same way as Chelsea seek to avenge the Premiership defeat at White Hart Lane in November.

This preview is more difficult than against most other teams because when you look at Spurs’ record against Chelsea – the last win at Stamford Bridge was in 1990, David Howells and Gary Lineker scored – and compare it with Chelsea’s record at Stamford Bridge under Mourinho, only two defeats in 80 games – against Barcelona in the Champions League and to Charlton on penalties – you realise the extent of the task facing Spurs.

Spurs are the last English team to defeat Chelsea although they did lose to Werder Bremen in the Champions League.

Chelsea have been favoured with this season’s FA Cup draw – this is their fourth home game, having defeated Macclesfield, Nottingham Forest and Norwich in the previous rounds.

Mourinho has shown respect for what Martin Jol has achieved at Spurs in that he has always sent out a full strength side against Tottenham. He will be anxious to include John Terry if he is given the all clear by the medical staff as the Chelsea defence is so much more secure when he plays. Chelsea have relied heavily on Didier Drogba this season for their inspiration and outstanding goals (29) and while Shevchenko is showing improving form he has yet to reach the level of performance shown before coming to England. The Spurs midfield will have to be at their very best to compete against Ballack, Essien, Makelele, Lampard but if they can, then Berbatov, Lennon and Keane or Defoe are capable of creating problems for Chelsea’s defence.

At least Spurs are going into this game with confidence following their five consecutive wins and if they need inspiration to believe they can win on Sunday, they need look no further that a 6th Round tie in 1995 when Spurs had to go to Anfield and given little chance, Sheringham and Klinsmann combined to give Spurs an impressive, if unexpected 2-1 victory. Can Berbatov and Keane combine to produce a similar result on Sunday?

This game will show whether Spurs’ improvement has been more due to the standard of opposition they have played recently or whether they have taken a real step forward. Recent visits to Stamford Bridge have seen Spurs compete and make Chelsea earn a result, while just falling short themselves – perhaps this time they will get some reward for their endeavours. (Although with Mike Riley in charge, Spurs will do well not to concede any penalties.)

Martin Jol's New Improved Tottenham

Martin Jol’s New Improved Tottenham

(from Logan's Column on www.Topspurs.com)

What a change! Whatever happened at the training ground in the days following the defeat at Sheffield United – it’s had the desired effect. That’s all that supporters have been looking for – a team that is committed, players who show they want to play for Spurs, players for whom winning matters and who are playing to their ability and in a style that is more akin to the Tottenham ‘way’.

Certainly, the three wins have greatly boosted the player’s confidence and raised the spirit within the team and the players are playing with a style and flair that many had despaired of ever seeing from them.

The players showed against Fulham that they were prepared to compete and took the goal scoring chances when they presented themselves. They carried this endeavour forward into the Everton game and played a skilful passing game that had Everton bewildered. It was only after the goal from their fortunate free-kick that Everton started to exert themselves. However, Spurs set aside their annoyance at that decision and showed resilience uncommon for Spurs’ teams and battled through the second half and became stronger through the final minutes as Jenas scored the winner.

The opening minutes against Bolton were unbelievable. Going into this game everyone knew how they expected Bolton to play and Spurs’ results showed that they have had great difficulty against them in recent seasons – only one win in eight games. Most supporters would have been expecting a very tight, competitive game with Spurs having to battle for any opportunity to play football against a very well organised team. They would have been grateful for a hard-earned win to maintain the momentum of the past week. However, in those opening minutes Spurs were a revelation, playing creative, exciting football that had Bolton reeling and in disarray as they found themselves three goals down within twenty minutes – the stuff that dreams are made of. Spurs continued to dominate and looked likely to add to their goal tally when Bolton were awarded a penalty and Robbie Keane was sent off.

Was the dream going to turn into a horrible nightmare? That thought must have been going through every Spurs supporter’s mind as they recalled how Spurs have folded in the past when put under constant pressure. Somehow, Spurs survived and got through to half-time without conceding another goal but they were under pressure and it wasn’t looking good. Could they hold out for the second half – an early Bolton goal was the fear, but Spurs showed early signs that they could take the Bolton pressure and be dangerous on the counter attack. Dimitar Berbatov caused Bolton constant problems and showed his class throughout the game – he always looked capable of scoring or setting someone else up for a goal. Spurs displayed their new found resilience and slowly minute by minute the half ticked away and, in fact, the Bolton goalkeeper was busier than Paul Robinson, so well had Spurs marshalled their defence to ensure they gave Bolton not a glimmer of hope that they could win. Then to add the final touch to a perfect day, Aaron Lennon scored the fourth goal in added time – one that Spurs fully deserved.

How has this change come about? The defence has been much tighter and Robinson has looked to be returning to his best form while the strikers have taken the goal scoring opportunities that have been on offer. Mido worked hard against Fulham while Berbatov returned and played well alongside Keane, working together for the team and providing movement that has made it easier to make chances and create space for other players. Berbatov’s movement and touch have been outstanding and displayed his real class – making him very difficult for any defender to play against.

The improvement at the back and upfront has been important but the biggest difference has been in midfield. For much of the season, Spurs have had a midfield which has lacked pace and movement. They have been very static and ponderous, neither providing cover for the defence nor supporting the strikers. Only Aaron Lennon can be excluded from this criticism as on many occasions his pace and trickery have been the only creativity within the team and if he was out injured or not performing well, the team had nothing else to offer. The return of Jermaine Jenas from injury has brought vitality to central midfield and he uses his pace both in defensive duties and to support from midfield and his four goals since returning have been invaluable. He was often criticised but in his absence supporters have discovered his importance to the team. Didier Zokora has finally started to show why Spurs signed him in the summer. It has taken him a long time to adjust to football in the Premiership and hindered by illness, only occasionally did we see his pace and strength to take players on – now he is prepared to do it more often and the two central midfield players are working well as a partnership. The play of Teemu Tainio has also added strength to the team – if only he could stay clear of injury to get a consistent run in the team. Although, still missing a natural left sided player, this combination of players has given a balance to the team that had previously been missing. Constant player rotation didn’t help the team develop a style of play or allow the players to develop an understanding of how to play together. Perhaps Martin Jol has settled on his best options and will stay with the side as much as possible, keeping future team changes to a minimum.

The players are now playing with a passion that was lacking earlier in the season. The success in the Carling Cup and in Europe was papering over the cracks of the poor league form and the lack of motivation when under pressure. Too often Spurs succumbed to heavy defeats through a lack of fight and determination – they were too ready to accept defeat when things weren’t going their way, the poor away results and their poor goal difference are evidence to that. In the past three games the Spurs players have shown more passion – encouraging and rebuking each other where previously whatever happened was just accepted without blame or comment. Such a competitive attitude is essential if the players are to perform to the true level of their ability and skill and must be maintained in the coming weeks with a number of difficult games in League, FA Cup and Europe.

Two weeks ago, pressure was mounting on Martin Jol as disgruntled supporters aired their grievances on the team’s failings – now, in the space of a week – a Cup win followed by six points in the Premiership and Spurs fans can’t wait for the next game – a trip to play troubled West Ham United. The same urgency, determination, endeavour and application that have been displayed in the past week will be needed there and in the subsequent games against Braga and Chelsea. A week can be a long time in football but if the lessons of the past few games aren’t taken into the coming games then the past week’s success and enjoyment will have been as nothing and Spurs will still be in a cycle of success and failure, going nowhere fast.

Carling Cup Semi-Final

It Never Really Looked Like Happening for Spurs

Arsenal 3 Spurs 1 (aet) [1 - 1 after 90 minutes]

While we all made optimistic noises that it was only half-time and that Spurs could still win the 2nd leg of the Carling Cup semi-final at the Emirates Stadium to become the first visiting team to win there, in reality, on the day it never looked like happening.

At no point during the two hours did it feel that Spurs had the upper hand and were really putting Arsenal under such pressure that they would be able to re-gain the advantage in the two-legged tie.

Spurs' opportunity had gone a week earlier when Berbatov, the scorer of their goal, went off injured. At that point Spurs were one goal ahead and putting the Arsenal defence under such pressure that they were in considerable disarray - so much so that from the free-kick shortly after Berbatov left the pitch, Baptista conceded an own goal. That unfortunately was as good as it got for Spurs.

The re-organisation when Robbie Keane came on, while the Spurs' management maintain it was 4 - 3 - 3, in my opinion, it became 4 - 5 - 1, with Defoe as lone striker and Keane wide on the left, gave Arsenal time to re-group. While Spurs continued to have the better of the first half, this change allowed Arsenal to get back into the game and where they had looked ragged, they started to settle and made some forays on the Spurs' goal from which they could have scored.

However, after half-time Arsenal came out and took control and could have won the game - Spurs had lost that early dominance and momentum and were glad to hold on for a draw. As Arsenal brought on players with greater experience, Spurs had no response.

Similarly, in the second leg, while Spurs competed all round the pitch, they didn't look like taking the initiative - it was all about holding on and not giving Arsenal anything. Robbie Keane missed an early scoring opportunity when through one - on - one against the goalkeeper but didn't look like he was going to score.

Spurs' cause was not helped by the continuing absence of Ledley King, and Berbatov and then Aaron Lennon who took ill just before the game, so close to kick-off that he had to be included on the substitutes' list even though he would not be able to play. Spurs' game was all about containment, even though a draw would not take them through because of the away goals' rule. When Arsenal scored late on in the game it looked as if it was all over but Spurs did rally and for a few moments one wondered if Mido was going to become the unlikely hero. It is well known that Spurs had been trying to sell him during the January transfer window and he has been pilloried incessantly by supporters but he managed to score to level the game and in the final moments another shot just went the wrong side of the post. It wasn't to be!

After that, in extra time Spurs were a spent force although it was Spurs' usual unforced error against a top side that brought about their demise. Arsenal went ahead with the last kick of the first half of extra time when new signing Rocha tried to head a ball that was inches from the ground. He had come on to replace Gardiner and his missed clearance fell nicely for Arsenal to take the lead.

After that although a second Spurs' goal would have taken the game to penalties, they never looked like getting it and another Arsenal goal confirmed the defeat.

Spurs still have a long way to go and while they competed and gave it everything, apart from the opening quarter at White Hart Lane, they never looked like progressing to play Chelsea in the Final at Cardiff. Spurs can't afford to play wthout their three top players - King brings solidity to the defence, Lennon brings pace and creativity to the midfield and Berbatov brings a touch of class to the strike force. Elsewhere, while they were fully committed - the Spurs' players came up short - too many couldn't make any impact on the game - Keane and Defoe rarely had a sight of goal, Jenas and Zokora who had looked so pacy and energetic against Southend at the weekend just couldn't raise their game when faced with higher class opposition while Ghaly and Malbranque were mostly anonymous. The defenders stood firm but those around them were unable to give them relief from the Arsenal pressure which eventually bore fruit.

Spurs are still in the FA Cup and UEFA Cups but if there is to be any success and silverware adorning White Hart Lane this season, they will need to have all their best players recovered from injury and available because the others just aren't capable of raising their game to sustain a challenge at the highest level when faced with the top teams.

Spurs haven't won a League game since Boxing Day and need to put together a run of results in the Premiership to lift them from their current mid-table position, to be able to challenge for European place next season - that starts with this afternoon's game against Manchester United, no easy task following the disappointment of the mid-week defeat.