By dixon9
March 14 2007

The media hailed this as a momentous Chelsea comeback. There’s a large part of me that whilst agreeing clawing back 2 goals to level the score was achieved by daring tactics from Mourinho, feels there was a slice of uncharacteristic tactical ineptitude that put us in the mire in the first place.

With John Terry watching the match track suited in the stands, we had a recognised right-back/ centre-half in Boulahrouz on the bench but yet a player who is the driving force of our team in Essien, playing in a position where he’s just not comfortable.  Ok, Essien´s already demonstrated that, whilst up against teams who don’t put us under too much pressure he can do a more than reasonable job there but when faced with a more dynamic attacking force he often gets caught out of position and with fatal consequences.  OK, Boulahrouz may be rusty after returning from injury, but surely the overall and so crucial balance of the team would have been better with the Dutchman alongside Carvalho?

It would be VERY unfair of course, to blame the result purely on Mourinho´s erroneous musings on the dressing room chalkboard.  Despite surely being the more tired of the two teams after their European exertions against Braga on Thursday evening, during the first 20 mins, Spurs appeared the fresher and more incisive side - Chelsea looked alarmingly laboured and wooden.  Indeed, Spurs fans could point out with some justification that if Jol had been a bit braver with his own tactics during the last period of this match, they may well have scored a 4^th and put the game out of our reach.  Fortunately for us, as Mourinho got braver and braver with his substitutions, Jol became more cautious and wary in his own.

Berbatov in particular looked a class act – sharp yet relaxed, skilful yet unhurried.  The man certainly lived up to his hype and I’m sure there must be thousands of anxious Spurs fans hoping that he signs that 3 year contract ASAP.   Certainly the period of his contract should not be the only issue – Spurs suits must make sure the salary is sufficiently enough to make domestic and European suitors for his signature at least pause for thought before confirming their intentions.  No doubt in the summer, Spurs fans will anxiously scan the morning papers, warily expecting the dreaded words “Real Madrid” ”Barcelona” ”Manchester United” or even “Chelsea” linked with the word “Berbatov” in the same sentence.

Still, we wanted a match worthy of a FA Cup London derby and I’m sure the neutral fan would have given his seal of approval.  Chelsea and Spurs fans meanwhile, whilst now proclaiming that this was a match worthy of the category, were probably reaching for imaginary oxygen masks for large periods of the 90 minutes.  Even those that still cherish the old days of each clubs respective “firms” meeting up to exchange pleasantries apparently had their fill outside a pub in the morning and later, in the evening at Parson’s Green. Fortunately, more of us these days prefer the battle to take place on the pitch although Spurs fans would smile at the irony of being positioned “legally” in the Shed at our invitation whilst older Chelsea fans would have expressed their disgust at such sacred ground being given up in this manner.

During the first 20 mins, Berbatov, Defoe and Lennon were a nightmare for the Chelsea defence with young mini-Maka, Diarra doing his best to fill in in a position which now bears the Frenchman’s name but which he and ourselves hope to see make his own in the future.  Carvalho did his best to patch up for Essien, but we just could not cope with the superb diagonal runs and confusion created by the north London trio.  Soon, the inevitable occurred when Defoe and Lennon sliced through our frantic backline leaving Berbatov in space to smash home.

 

Then, the creaking Chelsea monster seemed to have received a dose of 3 in 1 and proceeded to pressurise.  Robben was lively (yet theatrical), Drogba heaved and drove, and Shevchenko did his best to create space in a packed Spurs defence.  Drogba crossed from the right, Shevchenko laid back for Ballack whose firm but misdirected shot was instantly steered past Cerny by Lampard.

 

But just when we expected to up the anti, Spurs caught us cold again. The mecurial Lennon crossed low from the right and was about to be intercepted by Cech, Essien however, charged in and contrived to guide the ball into the bottom right-hand corner!  I doubt that Boulahrouz would have made the same error.

 

The 1-2 score line was a significant yet cruel blow and prompted Mourinho to make his first change; Ferreira was removed and Wright-Phillips introduced in order to give us more width on the right and make the Spurs midfield more cautious when marauding forward, however, the move didn’t change matters.  Berbatov dispossessed Robben leaving Ghaly to run forward and slot his shot beneath Cech.  Any dreams of being the first FA Cup winners at the new Wembley…..or doubles, trebles or improbable quadruples were vanishing rapidly from our minds.

 

Half-time arrived – time to regroup.  What would Mourinho do to rectify his tactical errors and motivate the team?

 

The 2^nd half, as usual, witnessed a much better Chelsea and finally, it seemed the effects of Tottenham´s very recent trip to Portugal kicked in. 

 

Lampard was particularly impressive and Ballack anxious to aid in directing affairs.  The Tottenham lines drew further and further back.  More yellow cards on both sides were received – something like 9 in total I believe – and during a tense, intriguing 2^nd half, It was now our turn to turn the screw.

 

On the 70^th minute an excellent Robben corner was met by Ballack whose header Drogba just managed to lay back to Lampard who slotted in easily from close range with the north Londoners defence in disarray.

 

Mourinho now changed the formation to an old fashioned 2-3-5 formation and Jol responded by shoring up his side further.  This was probably Jol´s one tactical mistake and for the first time abandoned his "best form of defence is attack" philosophy.

 

The match was now reaching frenetic proportions, and weary Spurs legs soon caved in to the inevitable.  Carvalho switched out to Drogba who steered a headed waist high ball across the box for Kalou who volleyed home with aplomb.

 

Spurs did have one final word to say however, when Defoe drove in a crashing shot which Cech stretched to tip onto the bar.

 

3-3 it was then.  A delicious evening replay on Monday at White Hart Lane with the victors reward a semi-final tie against Blackburn.   Terry should be back and Essien in his rightful position in midfield.  Hopefully Mourinho´s tactical nous will also return.

 

Chelsea: Cech, Ferreira (Wright-Phillips 34), Essien, Carvalho, Ashley Cole (Kalou 64), Diarra (Boulahrouz 57), Lampard, Robben, Ballack, Drogba, Shevchenko.
Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Bridge.

Booked: Diarra, Carvalho, Ashley Cole, and Kalou.

Goals: Lampard 22, 71, Kalou 86.

Tottenham: Cerny, Stalteri, Dawson, Rocha, Young-Pyo Lee, Ghaly (Gardner 81), Tainio, Zokora, Lennon (Malbranque 76), Berbatov (Mido 66), Defoe.
Subs Not Used: Burch, Huddlestone.

Booked: Ghaly, Zokora, Young-Pyo Lee, Stalteri, Cerny.

Att: 41,517

Ref: M Riley (W Yorkshire).

 

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS VIDEO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-16zVcD9YtA