One more thing we haven't really harped on about today's match. Brana didn't get torched like usual & The Blues got a Clean Sheet. Right there are a couple of positives to take from this match.

Was about to mention Branna had a decent match.

Was about to mention Branna had a decent match.

 

Like that cross he put into the path for Hazard that almost won the match. If it wasn't for a great reaction save by Lloris, we would be saying something else about this match.

I wonder if Splishsplosh had any money on his prediction today... 

 

Game kicked off at 11 pm down here. I was on the edge of my seat with anticipation of the Kane hat-trick. I thought that I watched the whole game pretty closely but I must have had 3 micro-sleeps because I missed all 3 goals! Might watch a replay to see the goals.....

A decent result and a decent performance.

I wonder if Splishsplosh had any money on his prediction today

 

 

Game kicked off at 11 pm down here. I was on the edge of my seat with anticipation of the Kane hat-trick. I thought that I watched the whole game pretty closely but I must have had 3 micro-sleeps because I missed all 3 goals! Might watch a replay to see the goals.....

 

Most of us would have taken the point before kick off. Despite where they are on the table, Spurs didn't want risk much either and contend with the point. 3 Weeks ago we would have lost this match easily, so we definitely have made some progress lately. On the downside, only 1 goal in 270+ minutes in the league, we got to find a way to score goals, with striker or not.

Sometimes when you lose your way;you have to find a way to play and we did today. The false 9 worked well and we have the players to effect this strategy. Hazard tried everything to make it work and our chasing down and running at the Spurs players never let up. Pedro worked hard and had his best game for us so far while Fab-Oscar-Willian were tireless in supporting Hazard. The defence was defiant and Begovic was solid. Costa had to have a strop even though he never crossed the line. Regardless Jose was rightly pleased with the team and felt we deserved more. But we found a way to play and I think we will see more of this in future. Nice run of games coming up and what 12 pts off 4th place ? incredibly we are far from out of things. 2-3 re-enforcements in January and everything is possible in this league.

Edited November 29, 201510 yr by claytonblue

getting a point away to a top 4 club isn't bad in the grand scheme of things i suppose. 

A very decent performance. An away game at WHL, our poor season to date, not conceding and some good team coordination.

 

I'd say a decent day out by all means. 

 

What's up with Costa. I think some reprimand in order or what? He can't get away with it can he? It's about the team not the individual right?

Given the form of both teams so far this season I think a draw there is a decent result but we really need to kick on now. 3 clean sheets in a row is a promising sign but it's up front where things really need to improve.

 

I never have, and never will understand the thinking behind the Falcao signing. He was clearly a busted flush at Man Utd last season so what on earth did we see in him ?  As for Costa, brilliant last season but woeful this and his childish throwing of the bib today was just pathetic.

Sometimes when you lose your way;you have to find a way to play and we did today. The false 9 worked well and we have the players to effect this strategy. Hazard tried everything to make it work and our chasing down and running at the Spurs players never let up. Pedro worked hard and had his best game for us so far while Fab-Oscar-Willian were tireless in supporting Hazard. The defence was defiant and Begovic was solid. Costa had to have a strop even though he never crossed the line. Regardless Jose was rightly pleased with the team and felt we deserved more. But we found a way to play and I think we will see more of this in future. Nice run of games coming up and what 12 pts off 4th place ? incredibly we are far from out of things. 2-3 re-enforcements in January and everything is possible in this league.

Genuine question but can someone please explain to me what 'False 9' even means ?   It's a phrase I have heard quite often recently but I have yet to hear anyone explain it.

Genuine question but can someone please explain to me what 'False 9' even means ? It's a phrase I have heard quite often recently but I have yet to hear anyone explain it.

It is a player who isn't a striker playing in the striker's position. Like what Hazard did today. People say Messi is the ultimate false 9 because he isn't a striker but scores better than any striker out there and used to play as the most forward player in Pep's Barca. I consider Torres as a false 9 too because a striker cannot be "falser" than Torres.

Edited November 30, 201510 yr by RomansRoubles

No premiership titles, no UCL trophy, inferior fanbase worldwide and even their stadium is smaller and yet he has the audacity to suggest that spurs is bigger club? lol...

 

Pochetino is getting ahead of himself now by claiming that..  best run in like 30 years and off he goes with this drivel.. maybe it's somekind of an achievement for them after all, should release the DVDs..

Do you have a *.gif when Oscar made Mason look foolish? Or maybe the one where he fooled Lamela. I LOL on both occasions

 

Indeed I do, here you go.

 

Loved what he did in both situations.

 

 

Hopefully we'll pick up at least 10 points from our next 4 games and climb up into the top half.

The biggest positive for me in this game is Ivanovic. Can't believe he played all 90 minutes against Spurs and we didn't concede a goal!

He made one mistake, when he allowed son of all people a free header at the back post...noticeably he didn't get forward anywhere near as much...looked like a deliberate instruction from Jose and we looked more solid for it

Indeed I do, here you go.

 

Loved what he did in both situations.

 

 

Yeah looks great, but as usual with Oscar, no end product

It is a player who isn't a striker playing in the striker's position. Like what Hazard did today. People say Messi is the ultimate false 9 because he isn't a striker but scores better than any striker out there and used to play as the most forward player in Pep's Barca. I consider Torres as a false 9 too because a striker cannot be "falser" than Torres.

 

Boulahrouz was a false nine for us. Wait, what?

Yeah looks great, but as usual with Oscar, no end product

 

 

End product is also dependent on those around. The cross to Hazard for example is end product, the finish just wasn't there 

Was Remy on the bench? Or injured? Because if Jose would rather play with no real striker than start with Remy, I can't see him hanging around long.

Remy's mrs had a baby

I must admit that i didnt expect a win at spit hart lane.......Would have been glad of a draw and that was the outcome....Feel that we woulda coulda won it if this spat with Diego hadnt seen him on the bench...But heyho thats footy .........Listen...We wont win anything this year.......We must get rid of a few soldiers of fortune from the team and get a player base of 15plus for next season who care soley for the club and its honour..Not for their own names, irrespective of how bigger name they feel they have........The only time , in my opinion, when players were deservedly bigger than the club badge was 68 73.....Now the players should realise they are hired to play for the chelsea club badge......There are 3 or 4 id gladly kick if i saw them in the street

He made one mistake, when he allowed son of all people a free header at the back post...noticeably he didn't get forward anywhere near as much...looked like a deliberate instruction from Jose and we looked more solid for it

Can't fault him for that, he was in the right podition it's just that the cross came in which such speed and power that it was past him before he could even jump for it.

Was one of the best crosses I've seen in a long time, probably since Bale used to be at Spurs.

It is a player who isn't a striker playing in the striker's position. Like what Hazard did today. People say Messi is the ultimate false 9 because he isn't a striker but scores better than any striker out there and used to play as the most forward player in Pep's Barca. I consider Torres as a false 9 too because a striker cannot be "falser" than Torres.

 

Loving that last sentence!