Chelsea V Tottenham Hotspur - A Preview
By Keir Boxshall
September 17 2004
So, the next fixture on the horizon pits us against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. This does not bode well for our unbeaten record, I hear you say; well lets look at the facts.
So, the next fixture on the horizon pits us against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. This does not bode well for our unbeaten record, I hear you say; well lets look at the facts.
Both teams have new men in charge of the teams and have made multiple additions to their squads over the summer. Chelsea having spent a great deal more on their 8 signings than we have on our 15, but then Roman Abramovich’s Chelsea is the rich tourist of football; the locals see him coming a mile off, to our Frank Arnesen with his finger on the pulse and his ear to the ground. This is not to say that we have signed the better players as our agendas are completely different; when you spend as much money as Chelsea you are expected win everything, and now, whereas we are in the ‘building for the future’ category. You might say we are in a period of transition!!
The signings:
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CHELSEA |
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR |
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Goalkeepers: Petr Cech |
Goalkeepers: Paul Robinson Marton Fulop
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Defenders: Ricardo Carvalho Paulo Ferreira Nuno Morais |
Defenders: Erik Edman Noureddine Naybet Noe Pamarot Calum Davenport Rodrigo Defendi Leigh Mills
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Midfielders: Arjen Robben Tiago Mendes
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Midfielders: Reto Ziegler Thimothee Atouba Sean Davis Pedro Mendes Michael Carrick Spase Dilevski
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Strikers: Mateja Kezman Didier Drogba
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Strikers: Rolando Silva |
Add to this 7 additions to the non-playing staff at White Hart Lane; Frank Arnesen (Sporting Director), Jaques Santini (Head Coach), Martin Jol (Assistant Head Coach), Dominique Cuperly (Specialist Coach), Dr Charlotte Cowie (Head of Medical Facilities), Dean Kenneally (First Team Physiotherapist) and Geoff Scott (Reserve Team Physiotherapist) and it is easy to see why it is being called a revolution at the Lane. Chelsea have made alterations to the backroom staff themselves, snapping up Jose Mourinho, last years ‘Champions’ League winning manager, as he is so fond of telling us!!
With so many of the same questions hanging over both teams before the season; ‘how long will it take for the team to gel?’, ‘How long before the new signings settle?’, ‘Is the new manager as good as we hope?’, etc. both sets of fans must have been very pleased by the starts their teams made, with both remaining undefeated. Chelsea have won 4 and drawn 1 of their games thus far whilst we have won 2 and drawn 3. Chelsea have also played one match in the ‘Champions’ League, away to Paris Saint-Germain, and came away with a creditable 3-0 win with a very good performance and a slice of luck.
With Middlesbrough travelling to Everton and Bolton playing the nomads from Woolwich a win could easily see us attain the 3rd place we would have received if the ball had just gone in against Norwich. However, most Spurs fans would just be very happy if we maintained our unbeaten status.
Joe Cole, Drogba and Cech have impressed me for Chelsea this season and Lampard, Terry and Bridge are continuing where they left off last season, so they are looking strong. We are building something at the lane ourselves, with Naybet adding experience to the backline, Ledley looking every bit the world class centre-back he is, Edman looking assured, Mendes’ industry, Robinson excelling and being rewarded with England’s No. 1 jersey, Davis has been a revelation, Davies back from injury and saving the best for last Defoe – a legend in the making.
Both Santini and Mourinho have adopted the safety first attitude with the fancy football to come later in the season when the players have become accustomed to each other, so I wouldn’t anticipate too many goals this time around. Santini will again opt for the straight 4-4-2 whilst Mourinho prefers the diamond formation. Simon Davies should be in line for his first start of the season after coming through a reserve match in midweek and with Davis and Carrick out injured I predict the following line-ups:
…although with the huge summer influx of players and both bosses showing no fear of making changes we could see something quite different. One thing is certain; whoever is on the pitch will know they are in a game when our first London derby of the season kicks off on Sunday, and what better time to end the hoodoo?
Speaking of which it is worth mentioning that despite having won 15 and drawn 9 of our last 24 league meatings Chelsea are still lagging behind in the all time stats with Tottenham Hotspur having won 63, drawn 35 and lost 61 of the 159 ties played between the two clubs in all competitions, scoring 244 and conceding 237 in the process. Our last win is worth a mention, a 5-1 hammering of the blues, coming in the league cup in 2002, proving that it is all in the mind and, hopefully come Sunday evening, the past!
COME ON YOU SPURS!