Still not convinced; Norwich are a poor side & offered very little. Spurs will be a decent test, and we have been here before with Villa another poor side.

This was a better performance than there Villa game.

We created more and better chances today and Ruddy made a couple of decent stops against Matic and Costa and Zouma hitting the bar as well.

The team pressed better and with more purpose, performances like this will get us results.

Spurs isn't going to be easy I agree but if we can get a decent result midweek then hopefully we'll go into that game with a bit more confidence which might make all the difference.

Thought it a delicious karma that their non-stop intentional fouling to stop play is what led to the winning goal.

Driving back from Hertfordshire to Chichester. When I saw that we went 1-0 up, I thought "Yes. That'll do."

The steady improvement over the last few games carried on today, what I like to see is no standout bad performances which will go a way to calming the nerves in the team as will the clean sheet.

 

Only Norwich may be the feet on the ground verdict but it was only Palace, only Stoke etc, anyone can beat a team not at their best in the premiership nowadays and every three points are a good three points.

 

Fourteen points behind the leaders with seventy five available, an in form Hazard, an in form Willian and a recovering Matic, Fabregas etc will make the world of difference, if Costa can start attacking the six yard box now the ball is starting to be put in there we'll be able to start wondering how high we can climb.

Just back.Good day out with the grandson,but bleeding freezing.Played much better i thought....UP THE CHELS!

Good performance particularly in the first half (bar the first 5-10 minutes) but the second half was nervy I thought.  Could barely watch the last few minutes!  Oh and nice to see someone has returned the real Eden to us and taken away the imposter.

a decent performance; Costa clearly knows he is off form - his goal celebration was restricted to simply pointing towards the players' wives and friends box. I do wonder if we could somehow play 2 up top - he seems to want to drift out wide and he can really only do that if we have someone else heading into the box. 

 

I've had a look at the fixtures between now and New Year and I think we might make it into the top half

 

Spurs Away - Lose

Bournemouth Home - Win

Leicester Away -Draw

Sunderland Home - Win

Watford Home - Win

United Away - Draw

Just back.Good day out with the grandson,but bleeding freezing.

 

Next time you can trade me for the Warm Weather here Northern California for a trip to the Bridge - good that you enjoyed yourselves

Edited November 21, 201510 yr by robdog

Thought we played brilliantly today probably the best we've played all season, If Costa was making some of the runs he was making last season in and around the 6 yard area we could have won by 4 or 5.

Not sure if posted but; Terry's tribute to Zola.

 

 

https://cdn.streamable.com/video/mp4/04n1.mp4

I thought the game at Stoke was a decent performance and this went a step further. Obviously great to have H back. Last season we were all worrying about how much we relied on him for creativity and what we'd do without him. Now we know and it hasn't been pretty. Back to his brilliant best today and it's almost like he is inspiring the others. Matic much more like himself. Fab better although he didn't need to defend. Terry made the block, Brana stayed with his man and made the tackle, Costa got the goal (eventually) - all things that haven't been happening.

Watching today I thought Pedro was a bit underwhelming and how Frankie would have loved arriving in the box to some of those crosses when no one was there. Isn't there some de ageing treatment we can give him and get him back in there?

Edited November 21, 201510 yr by mickydroysleftpeg

You get the feeling that someone is going to be in for a big beating soon...let's hope it's spurs

Reading back over the thread, I'm surprised how many people have such short memories over just how bad Torres was...yes Costa has been sh*t of late, but at least you notice him even when he has a bad game...there were many matches where you completely forgot whether Torres was even playing or not...he was more afraid than Costa has been of late to get in the area...as his measly 20 pl goals in over three years shows

I wanted to cry with joy!

 

We played a gorgeous game, fluid, high-tempo, organised and great fun to watch.

 

Good to have half our team back, especially Hazard. We've been missing you.

 

I really really hope this is the inspiration we need. A shot in the arm for our confidence!

 

KTBFFH!

Reading back over the thread, I'm surprised how many people have such short memories over just how bad Torres was...yes Costa has been sh*t of late, but at least you notice him even when he has a bad game...there were many matches where you completely forgot whether Torres was even playing or not...he was more afraid than Costa has been of late to get in the area...as his measly 20 pl goals in over three years shows

 

bro its because the media have gone to town on how much DC is a Bad Boy. I tell you what, DC shows fight & heart. I don't mind my #9 having that spirit. Especially when you know bustas like Shawcross or Skirtel are getting away w/ murder against our #9. The thing about strikers is the fact they can be a goat for 89 minute, but can be a hero in 1 minute. That is what I got from DC today. He got the perfect strike to win the match. I know many want to win 5-0, but 1-0 wins w/ Jose at the helm are just find w/ me. Got a clean sheet & the 3 points. Good Day for everyone in Blue!!!

A much-improved performance today, far from being out of the woods just yet, but more of this would be very good.

 

Surprise surprise, we win and the match thread is only 20-odd pages long.

Good performance and hopefully it has 'kick started' our season.

It's a good overall performance, that kind of intensity and desire are back.. it's looking positive now.. it's doable.. 

Big relief yesterday, I've said this a few times this season and I hope finally I'm right this time that this win must kick start our season, we simply cannot afford to keep losing games. Tough test in Israel on Tuesday but keep in mind that Spurs play in Qarabag on Thursday, we have quite an advantage on that front

Finally! Phew

 

Last 10 mins were a little bit stressful (but we are all WELL versed in managing stress at this stage!)

 

Team looked sharp, good movement off and on the ball, controlling the flow and not too many pointless back passes which was nice. Yes, i know, it ONLY Norwich, well we can only beat (or try to beat!) the team in front of us and we did just that! As other posters stated, Boring Boring Chelsea! I'll take this 1-0 any day of the week! Thank you very much

 

BTW - Does anyone remember the interview with Jose stating "ANY team can win 1-0,... its the easiest thing to do..." *cough, cough*

 

A few comments from myperspective

 

- Welcome back Eden!

- Welcome Back Matic! Some very proactive runs forward...

- Ivan wasn't TOO bad, a few mistakes and got out muscled (i know right!?) a few times - Still lacks A LOT of confidence! Seem almost lost when in the final third.

- Kennedy played very well, and that was thanks to Jose planning (as he stated!)

 

Only Criticism,

 

- Why is DC10 in the 6 yard box!?!?!?! I've been saying this for a while now, we have all this talent charging down the wings and NO ONE in the 6 yard box - I know i'm not the only one saying this... I don't get it - How many tap in's did DC10 do last season because he was the fox in the box! This year, Nothing! not sure what his issue is...

Finally the combination of Costa with Fabregas has worked well. 

Are we no longer doing the MOTM threads? Is it because this season hasn't produced any clear MOTM?

- Welcome Back Matic! Some very proactive runs forward...

 

Matic played well, but at 1-0 with 15 mins to go didn't think his run into the box was necessary, he was subsequently caught out of position leaving us exposed on the transition. Fortunately Norwich failed to capitalise.

Edited November 22, 201510 yr by the special one

Are we no longer doing the MOTM threads? Is it because this season hasn't produced any clear MOTM?

 

I think it's because the answer to nearly every MOTM thread is Willian we just don't bother any more.

Only thing stopping us all saying this was a brilliant display was woeful finishing.

Willian, Costa and matic all guilty of missing simple chances. Our general play was superb and 1-0 is not a fair reflection on that, 5-0 would be, Norwich were garbage apart from a decent defence that looked decent due to our poor finishing.

Big credit to jt for his amazing block at 0-0 though. That goes in and we are likely talking another loss.

Edited November 22, 201510 yr by axman2526