2020/21’s congested fixture list continues for Tottenham Hotspur as we have another speedy turnaround from European action and we look forward to this years’ trip to Stamford Bridge to take on Frank Lampard’s Chelsea team.
The game always has some spice to it for understandable reasons but I doubt the Pensioners will have yet forgiven manager Jose Mourinho for his u-turn and I significantly doubt we sit in top spot in front of them by two points, so there’s no way we can be complacent for this one as more than bragging rights are up for grabs.
As we know, Toby Alderweireld will be out for this one with his muscle injury, but it seems the club are pretty confident that Hugo Lloris, Erik Lamela and Steven Bergwijn will pass late fitness tests after the knocks they picked up over the last week which saw them miss out on Ludogorets.
Until we kick off, all eyes to the other fixtures to see whether we can open up a gap at the top of the table on Sunday – whichever way you look at this game, the result is the important thing, not specifically the performance but if we can keep our improvements going, even better.
Chelsea...
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I thought Jose said that Lamela wouldn’t be available on Sunday?
On the other hand I understand Lo Celso is expected to pass a late fitness test after getting a knock in training which kept him out of the midweek game.
When I waffled that last night, BBC were saying all were expected back? Physioroom backed that up with their return date. In other words, buggered if I know lol
This game in many ways for both clubs has become a 6 pointer.
It is now as important as the North London Derby.
It’s basically who is now the top London club.
There is the old Jose wanting to beat his former employers and a little bit of bitterness there.
Frank wanting to beat his former manager.
We have the bitter taste of two years of almost there recently destroyed by Chelsea.
I don’t do predictions any more.
I need a wish from HT, just like the City game.
As usual folks aiming for the stars.
COYS.
Being the home team there is far more pressure on Chelsea to win. On paper it looks like a close game. The reality is that any of the three results is possible and none would be a surprise. If we defend as well as the City game it could be another 0-2 win.
I think it is a mistake to label this a 6 pointer, for several reasons.
First of all, 3 points against Chelsea are worth just as much as 3 points against Brighton. As Geof has always said, averaging around 2 points per game is far more important, whomever those points come against.
Second, this is game 10 of 38. We could lose this game and still win the league, or win and still finish 11th. If this was a title decider in April, things would be different. At this point of the season, so much can still happen after this result.
Given the run of tough games, I feel that if we can get 10 points or more from our next 5 games, that would be huge. But I’d be OK with losing Sunday and getting those 10 points elsewhere.
I also think that our “demise” from 2016 could just as easily be pinned on losing at home to Leicester, or the myriad of points we dropped against smaller teams that year. The calendar made it that Chelsea was the last nail in the coffin, but even a win in that game probably wouldn’t have mattered – Leicester were well ahead at that point.
I am hoping for a win of course, but given our exceptional form recently, even a poor result on Sunday wouldn’t be the end of the world.
Geof. I also think we will have jose prepared with a plan to beat Chelsea, similar to city game. Dele will be up for this as he always scores against chavs, so I hope jose will play him after Thursday night game where he did well. Jose did say vinnie’s tap in goal was 75% dele’s goal, so expect to see dele as sub.
Chelsea have fast attacking players so we need fast moving defenders and mid field… It will be a highly motivated game with chelsea defender saying they will beat spurs like they did 2.5 yrs ago to stop us wining the league… and I hope this will add to spurs players motivation, so we get all 3 points, or 1 at least. COYS
The stats for the two clubs are almost identical. Add to that you would expect if anyone understood Jose’s tactics it would be Lampard. So I’m not expecting a tactical master class, rather it’ll be who plays better on the day. Like BelgianSpur I don’t think one game defines your season, not in a league competition anyway, a cup is different. Its about grinding out points throughout the season better than anyone else.
As I said on the previous thread……4 points from the two derbies would be a good return for me but even 3 wouldn’t be a disaster. If it is to be 3 I would prefer them to come from the NLD. :- )
Some see tomorrows game as a 6 pointer, others do not, we all have different opinions, there is a long way to go, but for me the game is about “Bragging Rights” for us fans then add to that lets see how far we have come under JM, we have spent some dosh but the deep pockets brigade have spent a hellova lot more.
I believe the lads will be up for this, revenge etc in their sights, so Come On You Spurs.
Chelsea have the incentive of knowing they will go above us in the table with a win, our aim should be to stop them doing that, a draw would be good enough even though Liverpool and Leicester have (on paper) a good chance of going above us if we don’t win.
PY
You have nailed my point. As BS says it’s worth as much as a win against WBA, or Brighton.
However in terms of team mentality, I feel this is worth much more.
The reason I was calling this a 6 pointer was that this would be (for me) like a statement of intent.
If we do come away with anything I’ll be well chuffed.
I am well aware that it is too early in the season, and I am also aware that the Leicester year, we lost much earlier, but Chelsea certainly let us know they hammered the last nail in.
So for me as a statement win, it is more than 3 points.
For me, every match is quite simply a match to be won. I don’t care if it’s Chelsea or City or Sheffield United. All PL matches are played for 1 point, 3 points or zilch. But whatever the result, the rest of the season will not hinge on this one match.
Tell me what is worse though. Losing to Chelsea at SB or losing to say; Fulham at home?
Chelsea are looking good and playing well this season. So are Spurs. And as jod points out, our stats are almost identical. So it could well be a very hard fought match with each team playing just as well as the other. Or, Spurs could dominate and still lose. And vice versa of course. And so losing this will not necessarily be a sign of things to come for the rest of the season, for either team.
But, winning a match such as this one, may just boost our confidence for the next one and so on. But, what if they outplay us but we get a (lucky) win anyway? Will that help us play any better in the next one? Who knows?
We go there to win and we are more than capable to get that win. But a score-draw seems like it could be on the cards to me and that could prove to be a fair result between two teams that played just as well as each other on the day…
In other words; Anything can happen in this game but also in the rest of the season.
But, I’m going for a Spurs win. Why? Because I always do… 😉
Blues 1-3 Lilywhites!
I would take a point right now. Also Chelsea will be more of a threat then city were and this is a big Derby game, even more so both teams are in the top 3. Plus we have arsenal and pool with Palace in between next
Good point for Brighton against ‘pool, Klopp will no doubt complain about the late penalty against them but to be fair Brighton could/should have been 2-0 up at half time.
TQ …. Dead right. Brighton, in terms of clear-cut chances, deserved to win. There was some really poor defending by Pool at times …. which I’m sure Spurs forwards will take note of. Good result and a good start to the weekend fixtures! Now let’s see what Burnley can do.
It’s what I said in an earlier post. When others were putting us down for beating the likes of Brighton by just a goal. There are no “gimmes” in this league.
The game being assessed and reassessed by VAR and milimitres are deciding whether a goal is allowed or not. But these results are what make the Premier league watchable throughout the world.
It also goes to show what two or 3 vital injuries can do to a teams performance and confidence.
We just got past Burnley yet Man C who we beat are destroying them today.
Geof……….seems Burnley couldn’t do much at all! :- )
Leeds have done us a favour though with a good win at Goodison.
Bragging rights are very often just a question of opinion.
If we beat Chelsea, but fall behind them in the table in 2 weeks’ time, can we still brag about the victory? If they beat us tomorrow, but we beat them in the return fixture – what then?
Last year, we drew against Arsenal twice. We finished above them in the league, they won the FA Cup. Who has the bragging rights?
I could go on and on.
Not to dismiss the concept, but I feel it is sometimes a bit overhyped.
Except for maybe a select few academy products, the rivalries often mean far more to the fans than the players anyways.
We had a “bad” result against West Ham a few weeks ago, and that really didn’t seem to affect the squad much one way or another.
In fact, the sheer notion that we would even really have a rivalry with West Ham is up for debate – they seem to think we’re their big rivals, but most Spurs fans would consider Arsenal and Chelsea far bigger rivalries :-).
To each his own, but I’ll just focus on the fact that we’re up against a good football team with talented players – that’s already plenty to worry about.
BS …. For supporters, bragging rights are a huge thing even if it’s just for a few days. There is often a sense of pay-back and satisfaction when you see certain work-mates or friends who support other clubs and the subject of football becomes tribal.
I understand the concept, I just personally think that it is often very short-lived, and almost always a bit petty.
That “tribalism” has had its excesses too, with hooliganism, racial abuse and other problems associated with it. If it was just a bit of banter, fair enough, but unfortunately it often evolves into more than that.
I get that but It’s hard to change human nature and tribalism is what it is.
BS we beat arsenal last season at home 2-1
Of course its bragging rights for the fans etc, but its how you react to a result win lose or draw, beat Chelsea, draw against palce, or draw with Chelsea and beat palace its still 4 points.
Is that not actually what it is all about. Bragging rights.
We won the league you didn’t. We won the Cup blah De blah.
That’s why we support teams, nail our colours to the wall, put our flag up.
For me if I can “slag off” (wind up) ManU fans about a 6-1 win happy days.
If we win anything this year your right I’ll be celebrating “bragging” what ever you want to call it.