There's Only One Game Left...

That one hurt didn't it? The numbers showed we deserved something out of that game. We had more of the ball, more shots, and better XG. However, we still lost and ultimately that came to player quality. Chelsea were able to do more with less. We huffed and puffed but to no avail. However, this Sunday brings a new (and final) opportunity.

Just before we get to that, I want to push back on a term I have seen used frequently this season ‘Well, We Deserve This’. I disagree. No one deserves unequal treatment from officials. No one deserves an injury crisis to this scale. The squad may lack balance and quality but it’s one of the biggest in the league. When everyone is fit there are senior players who can’t make our bench. Yet, despite having a 25 man squad, (a far bigger one than other clubs in Europe such as Villa) we find ourselves without 10 senior players. 

Anyway, roll on Everton. This is an opportunity to put this cruel season behind us and enjoy some time in the sun.Right, onwards and upwards!

COYS #OhSo33,
– Jim

In a game that, if won or even drawn, could’ve secured our safety in the Premier League, Spurs let themselves down. It wasn’t for lack of tactics – it was clear from the get-go what De Zerbi wanted his team to do. Pass throughout the midfield and create one-off chances through the wingers or via Richarlison. Perhaps it was a bit too clear, as the Chelsea players were able to predict every movement before it even finished.

And that was the most disappointing part. The team once again looked disjointed, like parts of a machine that are clunky and grind against the gears. Yes, there can be an argument that going away to The Bridge is something that we’re not very good at doing, but that should never be the true excuse when it comes to playing football. At the end of the day, maybe it really came down to the fact that we have a squad beleaguered with injuries from day one versus a Chelsea squad that has a rotation of at least three full teams. But that cannot excuse poor performances that come from the players themselves. Results, pressure, and outside factors are things they cannot control. What they do have control over is their own effort. If they’re going to play with a level head, and execute the plan. What we got instead was Pedro Porro trying to kill his national teammate Cucurella via a careless slide tackle that almost led to a free-kick wonder goal by Enzo Fernandez, a sloppy Joao Palhinha being slow and making terrible passes, and Micky van de Ven picking up another yellow card.

That isn’t to say Chelsea were great. No, the game was boring by “Battle of the Bridge” standards. It wasn’t like Chelsea were banging away shots that were impossible to save. You could even say the goal Enzo Fernandez scored in the first half was saveable – though I’m not a goalkeeper so I can’t really comment on that – as it was a shot from pretty far out and middle of the goal.

At least we had Djed Spence laughing on the timeline after Liam Delap decided to break his jaw. Which, how in the world Delap managed to get away with that I’ll never understand…

So now, all focus truly goes to Everton at home. The final game of a pretty – for lack of better word – shit season. Everton are still looking for European qualification, West Ham fans have their fingers crossed, and we have a terrible home record. Can we save ourselves and win?

You’d better hope so…

Predicted Lineup
4-2-3-1: Kinsky; Porro, Danso, Van de Ven, Udogie; Bentancur, Palinha; Gallagher, Muani, Tel; Richarlison. Barring any injuries it will likely be the same. We don’t have many options to change things. Possible changes to who fills the right wing position, but I expect it to be the same.