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Spurs win a triumph for bold approach

FA Cup
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Spurs boss Juande Ramos and his triumphant players demonstrated the power of positive thinking with a Carling Cup final victory that was richly deserved.

Chelsea were scrappy, negative and stuck in their shell apart from the last 15 minutes, when Spurs were finally spooked by the notion that they might actually claim the trophy.

Spurs, in sharp contrast, were vibrant and set about Chelsea in a manner that suggested they were not going to die wondering what might have been.

Almost from Juliano Belletti's calamitous first touch that presented a chance to Robbie Keane, Spurs were the team with the intent, the ideas and the drive.

If the attitudes of the teams reflected their managers, Ramos comfortably outmanoeuvred the inertia of Avram Grant.

Chelsea, the team and their supporters, were subdued throughout and it was only a basic fighting instinct of players such as Petr Cech, John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho that kept them in the game until extra-time.

Grant claimed there was a period before and after half-time when Chelsea dominated.

I have to confess I must have missed that portion of the game because all I saw was a team that was a shadow of the winning machine forged under Jose Mourinho.

Spurs, with Jonathan Woodgate and Ledley King a formidable foundation, were urgent, if not always inspired.

Steed Malbranque and Aaron Lennon were busy, while Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane were always threatening.

Didier Zokora should have prevented the need for extra-time, but the anxious wait appeared to make the win even sweeter for the Spurs hordes, who provided the sort of backing their team deserved.

Ramos has beefed up this Spurs side and made them contenders by making the signing Martin Jol should have made in the summer - namely a defensive commander such as Woodgate.

He was magnificent, and with the winning goal to add to his defensive display, it was the perfect day for this talented, but injury-plagued individual.

Chelsea were simply not good enough. They never got on top of the game and inspiration from Grant and his henchman Henk ten Cate was in short supply from the touchline.

Didier Drogba may be an almighty pain with his theatrics and his finger-wagging, but at least he turned up and had go - unlike some others.

Frank Lampard looked way off the pace, and it was a surprise when he was left on and Michael Essien removed from the action.

And for Grant to complain about refereeing, including what he clearly regarded as the unhelpful and rather inconvenient timing of the final whistle, was both churlish and self-deluding.

Spurs have come a long way since the accident-prone days of early season under Jol.

A defence that resembled little more than an open goal was defiance itself in a frantic finish, while the much-criticised keeper Paul Robinson made up for questionable positioning on Drogba's goal with fine saves from Joe Cole and Salomon Kalou.

Some say the Carling Cup is a lesser trophy - don't tell that to the Spurs fans, players and officials as they celebrated wildly at the final whistle.

This can be the starting point for big things under a manager in Ramos who is positive, tactically aware and has a very happy knack of winning trophies.

It is onwards and upwards for Spurs - we must wait to see if it is the same for Grant after this damaging defeat.

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comment by kayode_akinmuda (U8969772)

posted Feb 26, 2008

Na wa for Chelsea o.Great job by Spurs ! I am a gunner - Kay

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comment by chiversmarmalade (U11145848)

posted Feb 26, 2008

watch out ! We're going to go on a goal spree now. Expect a few scores of 5 and 6. The pressure's off, UEFA place secured. The league doesn't matter and we'll give this year's UEFA a good go. PSV were on the box last night and looked nothing special. And next year, if we keep the defence fit we'll be up there from there start

Where would Berba go? Chelsea won't, Man u won't, surely, Liverpool won't. The only one I could see is Arsenal, God forbid. I think he'll stay

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comment by tonycurriesbigtoe (U3015761)

posted Feb 26, 2008

I've seen a lot of Gooners writing to congratulate Spurs for this win. Wouldn't have happened if Chelsea had won, I think.
The fans in North London might hate each other, but they also respect the way that both clubs try to play football (except when Arsenal were under George Graham, of course). Maybe they even need each other, 'cos as you grow up there you learn that being a Gooner means not having to be a Spud, and vice versa.
But if Abramovich took his money away, and Chelsea collapsed, would anyone north of Kensington High Street even care?

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comment by JM-Trulyspecial (U8996249)

posted Feb 27, 2008

Finally got time to post today.
A big congratulations to Spurs who thoroughly deserved their victory over my Chelsea.infact the result flatters Chelsea.
This result only shows how good JM was.Grant had JM's team,no injuries plus Anelka yet sat on the bench like a doll.Had nothing in his head to tell the players at half time except think that the refree should have gone to sleep and wait till Chelsea equalise before calling off the match.
I hope RA had a good laugh at the final whistle.At least he now knows that money alone doesnt win titles.......a good coach is also important.

Not disappointed at all cos i lowered all my expectations since JM left.

To all Chelsea haters,i'm with you for once.let the Chelsea bashing continue.for once,i can stand it and even smileokbiggrin

CONGRATS once again Spurs & Ramos.No team deserved it this season more than you guys and best of luck in UEFA cup(another Ramos speciality).
BLUES FOR LIFEok

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comment by Medieval-Evil (U9650532)

posted Feb 27, 2008

Chelsea always strike me as a team that waits for a chance to materialise rather than actively seeking to create one. They suck the life out of every football match they are involved in - this was true under both Mourinho and Grant.

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comment by Medieval-Evil (U9650532)

posted Feb 27, 2008

The article above is also nonsense. Makes it sound like Spurs were camped in Chelsea's third, poised to create a goal. The match as a whole was second-rate, scrappy and dull. Not all of that was Chelsea's fault.

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comment by UnitedsPremiership (U11144111)

posted Feb 27, 2008

Chelsea are nothing without Mour...so they will just have to settle for 3rd!! Cause i dont think they have the spirit or the players to do anything else..we all kno this!! FAIR PLAY to Spurs they totally deserve it and fair play for fighting back after going a goal down!!

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comment by Stokerambo (U10467796)

posted Feb 27, 2008

I didn't see the end of the game, I watched about 60 mins and then went out...
...however, isn't it typical the mass hysteria reaction surrounding this Spurs win. Obviously Spurs were the better team and deservedly won, but an extra-time victory doesn't suggest a walk in the park and it was clear several of Chelsea's top players just didn't show up on the day. I guarantee that had Lampard, Essien and co. played to true form, Chelsea would have won. Negative football or not. I think the comments concerning Grant are slightly unfair. Since his appointment - when everyone doomed him to failure - he hasn't done much wrong. They have already reached one final this year, are still capable of winning the league and looking strong in Europe.
Spurs have recently played United twice, whilst they weren't bad and played good football, they never really looked like beating us, in fact they were much better when they unfortunately lost at Old Trafford early in the season.

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comment by Topspur82 (U7222091)

posted Feb 27, 2008

''The article above is also nonsense. Makes it sound like Spurs were camped in Chelsea's third, poised to create a goal. The match as a whole was second-rate, scrappy and dull. Not all of that was Chelsea's fault.''

DIDNT FEEL LIKE THAT FROM MY POINT OF VIEW MATEY, BUT THEN - WE WERE WINNING!

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comment by senorg (U8941970)

posted Feb 27, 2008

er Stokerambo
'Spurs have recently played United twice, whilst they weren't bad and played good football, they never really looked like beating us,' you scored an own goal equaliser with the last kick of the game at White Hart Lane, it was United who never looked like winning. Also how can you comment on a match you only watched half of? Hardly the basis for incisive comment, as you've proved nicely with your post.

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