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Match Day Thread Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea

Discussion in 'Tottenham Hotspur' started by PleaseNotPoll, Apr 19, 2017.

  1. PleaseNotPoll

    PleaseNotPoll Well-Known Member
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    please log in to view this image

    Saturday 22nd April 5.15pm
    FA Cup Semi-Final
    Wembley Stadium​

    Another comfortable 4-0 home win out of the way and now we're onto the big stuff.
    An FA Cup semi-final might not be quite the media focus that it was in the past, but this one is.
    1st and 2nd in the Premier League meet in what could be a massive mental battle, as well as a chase for trophies.
    A place in the final awaits, but a big psychological blow could also be dealt in the fight for the title.
    Just how big will those 4 points look by the close of play on Saturday evening?

    Antonio Conte's first campaign in England has had some monumental ups and downs.
    His early games were tight and cautious, as he ground out three wins in games that he was expected to win.
    A first stumble came away at Swansea, as they were held to a draw.
    This was followed by his first defeat, as Liverpool grabbed all three points at Stamford Bridge.
    A humiliating display followed at The Emirates, as Arsenal blew his team away with three first-half goals.

    Not a man known for taking defeat easily, Conte returned to the drawing board.
    His system changed, as did the personnel, as he switched to his favoured three man defence.
    Ivanovic and Oscar were dispatched, then sold in January, as Victor Moses came into the side as a wingback.
    The team didn't look back.

    13 successive league victories followed, as they shot to the top of the table.
    Champions Leicester were beaten easily, former manager Mourinho was thumped 4-0 and on the run went.
    Our visit to Stamford Bridge started promisingly, but fell apart just before and after the break.
    City were dispatched at The Etihad and various others couldn't withstand their new form, either.



    The 14th win would've broken records and was set to be the game at White Hart Lane.
    Pochettino had other ideas, though.
    Koeman's Everton had tried to match up systems against Conte and it had been a disaster, as they lost 5-0.
    The lineups had some suggesting a similar fate for Spurs, but the result was a lot closer than that.
    Dele Alli made the difference, as he scored both goals in a 2-0 victory with almost identical headers.



    Any thoughts that this might derail the league leaders were well wide of the mark, however.
    Their next eight games resulted in six wins and two draws, as they pushed even further ahead of the pack.
    A successful FA Cup run and another win against Jose Mourinho added to their confidence.
    This was slightly hurt by the unlikely form of Sam Allardyce's Crystal Palace, who won at Stamford Bridge.
    Two more wins seemed to settle them, until their former manager got some revenge at Old Trafford.

    That brings us to where we stand now. Two teams, two trophies and two wars.
    One will happen on the pitch and one will happen in their heads.
    Biggest game of the season, so far? It could well be.

    Neither side has any suspensions for this one, but both may miss players through injury.
    Winks, Lamela and Rose will all miss out for us, while Vorm faces a test to be fit.
    Courtois and Alonso are both doubts for Chelsea, though the latter will probably return after illness.

    Lineups for each side's last league game:

    Spurs: Lloris; Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies; Dier, Dembele; Eriksen, Alli, Son; Kane.
    Subs: Lopez, Trippier, Wimmer, Wanyama, Onomah, Sissoko, Janssen.
    League form: WWWWWW.

    Chelsea: Begovic; Zouma, Luiz, Cahill; Moses, Kante, Matic, Azpilicueta; Pedro, Hazard; Costa.
    Subs: Eduardo, Ake, Terry, Loftus-Cheek, Fabregas, Willian, Batshuayi.
    League form: WWLWWL.

    Referee: Martin "Are you taking the piss?" Atkinson.

    TV: BBC1.

    Should we stick with four at the back or switch back to the side that beat Chelsea at White Hart Lane?
    Should Wanyama return to the starting XI and if so, who should he replace?
    Should Michel Vorm start if he's well, as he has in all the previous rounds?
     
    #1
  2. littleDinosaurLuke

    littleDinosaurLuke Well-Known Member

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    No Paul Stewart <wah>

    Not **********$%£***** enough
     
    #2
  3. Citizen Kane

    Citizen Kane Danny Rosebud

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    Just look at all those W's <yikes>
     
    #3
  4. PleaseNotPoll

    PleaseNotPoll Well-Known Member
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    I had to leave one out, too. <whistle>
     
    #4
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  5. Lovearsenalcock

    Lovearsenalcock Homeboy
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    One thought has been going around my head all week...what will Poch say to focus the boys?

    For me if I was stepping out onto that pitch my driving force would be that if we win, we can really rattle them, not only win but a solid win..make them feel weak, inferior...id be chomping at the bits to try to destroy their morale.

    I hope Poch puts a fire up their arse....this season they are mature enough to express themselves through the football.

    This is not about form...if they want it...they can go and get it!
     
    #5
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  6. The RDBD

    The RDBD Well-Known Member

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    Win the game, you are more than a match for them.
    Win as you did in January, and their PL campaign may really collapse.
     
    #6
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  7. Lovearsenalcock

    Lovearsenalcock Homeboy
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  8. Tilly'sowner

    Tilly'sowner Well-Known Member

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    Great match thread PNP. I really appreciate these :emoticon-0148-yes:

    One thing I willl say is that I do believe Spurs will win the match on Saturday, and despite the calamity of hosting the CL matches at Wembley, I actually believe the recent matches there have helped the team familiarised themselves with the "occasion" of playing there.

    However, I don't hold much faith that by winning the game, this will have any material effect on the PL. Yes, it will potentially create some jitters amongst the Chelsea team, but the reality is, Spurs winning on Saturday will not affect their remaining matches in the PL. We must separate the FA Cup semi and the PL discussions. One does not affect the other.

    COYS :emoticon-0165-muscl
     
    #8
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  9. The RDBD

    The RDBD Well-Known Member

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  10. Blue and White

    Blue and White Well-Known Member

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    Ah but it does when we bring on 3 academy players as substitutes in the 89th minute and they take out Kante, Hazard and Luiz
     
    #10
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  11. Dier Hard

    Dier Hard G'day mate!

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    Poch: "Eric, Victor... Smash"

    Eric & Victor:
    please log in to view this image
     
    #11
  12. Lovearsenalcock

    Lovearsenalcock Homeboy
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    Exactly what im talking about Eric!!!

    You going to the game?
     
    #12
  13. Dier Hard

    Dier Hard G'day mate!

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    I am indeed mate, good few of my family got tickets too so I'm buzzing for it.

    You going?
     
    #13
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  14. Spurf

    Spurf Thread Mover
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    I have to disagree I think this game is pivotal to both clubs seasons. We have already seen a chastened Conti after the defeats by Palace and United, doubts have crept in and that affects decisions. He will now be thinking about changes and changes mean success or failure is brought into sharp relief. Winning this game is crucial to both sides and could well be season defining.
     
    #14
  15. Spurf

    Spurf Thread Mover
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    Another great match thread PNP <ok>
     
    #15
  16. Rocky blue army

    Rocky blue army Well-Known Member

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    Good match thread as always pnp
    Tough game to call but we have already ended wheelchairs season last week <laugh>let's hope it's chelski turn this week .Ps I hope Costa gets carried off in the first minute <laugh>.COYS <cheers> LET'S SMASH EM.4 NIL
     
    #16
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  17. Tilly'sowner

    Tilly'sowner Well-Known Member

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    I will be ecstatic to be proven wrong!
     
    #17
  18. Spurf

    Spurf Thread Mover
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    Only if we win
     
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  19. The RDBD

    The RDBD Well-Known Member

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    Whether you believe this is a one-off game or will be significant in
    deciding the PL champion, I think Spurcats' comment the other day holds :

    A few weeks ago Spurs would have to play at their very best to
    beat Chelsky. Now the converse is true.
     
    #19
  20. Dier Hard

    Dier Hard G'day mate!

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    *When.
     
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