Call for optimism or the usual unwarranted hype?

Article by Joe Webb

After what can only be described as a positive, overdue, team performance against a very good Everton team, is the optimism about getting a result against Chelsea a bit too much?

I was so pleased with the performance on the weekend, especially given our recent results at home, as well as going 1-0 down against a team that are starting to find their feet this season and always put in a great team effort.  It was a result and performance that Spurs showed under the likes Martin Jolor ‘Arry.

However, let’s be honest, Stamford Bridge is a daunting place to go.  We’ve had some bad luck over the years there, the Lampard goal that Gomes saved but was inadvertently given, the Vertongen slip last year meant a good 40 minute performance was forgotten and we collapsed.

I think, without doubt, Chelsea deserve to be top of the table.  The players they have mixed in with the performances and style of play they have been putting on the pitch this season has been nothing short of world class. They look strong is every position.

Harry Kane pointed out that they are missing Costa for the Spurs game, a bonus? Of course. Any team who are missing their leading scorer will not be as much of a threat however when you have the likes of Didier “I love a goal against Spurs” Drogba, I think Spurs fans (and players alike) cannot start thinking the game will get any easier.

So what’s the plan? To start with we need to respect our opponents but not fear them. We cannot let them bully us.  There is no doubt they have power, pace and quality in all areas and they can hurt us, but we can also hurt them.

We cannot afford to over commit or press too high as they have the pace to hurt us. Given that Chelsea are likely to come at us I think that will suit our style of play as we are a lot better going forward when we can attack on the counter as opposed to attacking a box that has 8-9 men in front of it.

We have to be patient when waiting for chances. We have to be prepared to defend for long parts of the game. We have to show character, determination and willingness to fight for each other, just as we showed against Everton.

What do I think will be a very good result? If I was offered a 0-0 draw I would take it all day long against a very good Chelsea team. Given that we’ve not won at the bridge for what seems to be an eternity, 3 points would be heaven. The only saving grace is that in recent years we have broken our duck at Old Trafford and even winning there two seasons on the bounce and, of course, unbeaten records are there to be broken.

In all honesty, as long as we put in a performance that can mirror the Everton game, I think we can look forward to an rewarding festive period at White Hart Lane.

COYS

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