Oluwaseun 🇳🇬

Spurs are going through a lot of inconsistencies right now. They beat Mancity 4-0 at the Etihad and drew to Fulham at home and lost to Bournemouth. You can also talk about the fact that their CB depth is on their last knees being a good reason for that. But then it's not all

The way Spurs play as we all know is to invert the Fullbacks(both) centrally in the build up and they advance into the half spaces and make late runs into the box in the final third.

Ange prioritizes Overloads in the half spaces and men in the box. So naturally the first thing we can exploit is winning the ball in the build-up. Spurs aren't the most secure on the ball. Udogie is more than Porro but then they aren't the most secure.

Because of the space left by the Fullbacks, when you win the ball in these areas with a good press, Spurs are left open to Transition against.

As much as City were decimated, they didn't take their chances as they carved Spurs open in the first Half but couldn't put their passes against Away. Chelsea have been one of the best at playing through if you press them in settled play and more clinical.

Like the switch you saw there. Chelsea would be switching it to more capable 1v1 wingers who can eat up space and threaten the goal with shots or crosses/cutback. And the thing about Spurs is they give lots of space out wide. They defend narrow like Villa so you can get 1v1s

Spurs are also not compact at all in their block. There is space to exploit.l, out wide and in the pockets. City tried to use rotations to create space for their widest players and then put passes into the half spaces. Im still surprised City just didnt score.

If you give Chelsea these spaces in the pockets enough for Palmer and Jackson to receive where Haaland received the ball here, Chelsea will hurt you. Latest evidence was against Villa who even have a more compact block. https://x.com/ChelseaFC/status...

Last but not least is Spurs's Highline. We know how Ange loves his Highline to be able to press opposition teams but when they bypass the press, there is enough space in behind to exploit. Jackson made use of it last year and. Chelsea played a similar team in Brighton

So I would say we're set for a highline if Spurs play it. It's about burying your chances and considering we have one of the best conversion rates in the league(hoping missing 7 big chances v Soton didn't have too much impact), we should be able to take them.

If Spurs are to play the same way which they probably will as they won't want to shy away, especially at home. They will back themselves and Ange also mentioned the fact that they've been performing against big teams so they will take the game to us.

Spurs's main threat in attack is Kulusevski he's been one of their best players. This season, Ange has deployed him more centrally with Johnson at RW. Kulu's ball carrying dribbling and passing ability are huge threats, he shouldn't get time on the ball. Why I see Lavia start

A Caicedo-Lavia pivot or Caicedo inverting from RB because of Enzo's form could mean all 3 could start, if you also consider Spurs have a pretty fairly physical midfield of Sarr and Bissouma and Kulusevski central, Madison central top. Lavia is someone that I would bring back in

Spurs are threats on the counter because of Kulusevski and Son too. So we have to be wary, but I trust our rest defence enough to limit them to few chances at least enough to just concede 1 goal.

Spurs play out of the back no matter what. A good M2M press helps us win the ball high, Spurs's threat on the counter is apparent if we don't get the ball though, That's the threat as I mentioned so it has to be aggressive when we do press M2M. Spurs exploited City like that

Another attacking threat not mentioned is Johnson's back post runs. Usually Werner picks him out when he comes on. But I also trust Cucurella to handle that as he's incredible tracking runs to the back post.

I believe, Chelsea will have too much for Spurs, the way Spurs play fits Chelsea's style to exploit and I don't see how they keep them out especially with the defensive injuries. Predictions- 3-1