Match Preview: Chelsea v Spurs (a London derby battle).

 

Match Preview: Chelsea v Spurs (a London derby battle).

This game will decide how far we've improved from last season under Conte's strict training policy.

Since losing consecutive Premier League games against us in 2018, Chelsea are unbeaten in seven games, conceding only one goal in that run. However, this Sunday, we shall change things around and show them and the world that we mean business and not only beat the Blues but also that we are competent challengers for the Premier League title and other trophies.

Harry Kane has scored 41 Premier League London derby goals, however, he's failed to score in any of his past five appearances against the Blues. A slight derailment, but I expect Kane to get back on track and show the Yankee team owners and the world that he is the best in his field and will score to put tears in the eyes of the former Roman Abramovich Blue's misguided supporters.

Our game this Sunday against our old rivals is the first Premier League's 'big six' this season at Stamford Bridge. I expect it to be a real wing-dinger of a game, with us coming out on Top and cementing our position (we are currently on Top of the Premier League by goal difference).

Both sides got their campaigns off to winning starts last weekend, with our victory over the Saints being more of a standout spectacular, compared to Chelsea's mundane victory over the Toffee's. Tommy Tickle-Tuchel's Chelsea were forced to grind out a 1-0 win at Everton after Jorginho scored the only goal from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time, while we were rampant, tearing Southampton shreds in a 4-1 win at our Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

However, and saying all that, we all know that form counts for nothing when going into a derby game.

The team

Five of our close-season signings had to be satisfied with a place on the bench against Southampton, and I can't see Conte changing that approach in this game...

Richarlison is available after suspension but will likely join the substitutes given how fatal Dejan Kulusevski, Son and Kane looked together.

My predicted lineup

(3-4-3): Lloris — Romero, Dier, Davies — Emerson, Bentancur, Hojbjerg, Sessegnon — Kulusevski, Kane, Son

My prediction

1-3 for us at Stamford Bridge

Thoughts

Our resounding win over Southampton on Saturday will have eased many of the usual fears circulating among the critics and fans.

Levy obviously realises that getting the best – in management – means a bite of kowtowing. Getting most of our transfer purchases done early usually goes against Levy's grain; however, it shows you the mighty axe Conte is wielding at Tottenham. Fabio Paratici and Conte must have done a tag-team number on Levy, pointing out success comes at a price and being a prick over saving money doesn't work, and can backfire, which has happened in the past (and too often). Now we are at a new dawn, and our cockerel is crowing proud and loud. The smell of "Glory, Glory days" is starting to waft up from past histories and glories, invigorating all.

Even though Kane and Son were notable for their absence from the list of goalscorers, it revealed Conte's general philosophy of team effort ("all for one, one for all").

Despite the absence of a specific playmaker, we were highly creative. Once we had settled ourselves down, the threat was always with us.

Conte is starting to put the Tottenham puzzle together, and the picture looks pretty impressive.

Our bench offered many options, including Perisic, Moura, and the youngsters Gil and Spence, to name but four.

We will likely compete on several fronts this season, and purchasing domestic silverware is almost certainly on Conte's wishlist.

Challenging for the Premier League title

If you ask most pundits and fans, they will say outside Liverpool and City; we are the most improved team and capable of finishing above the rest. However, we did the double of eventual Premier League winners, City and drew twice with Liverpool, the runners-up. In other words, we can win the League… if we can sort out our past errors, losing games because of bad miscalculations.

Conte has worked wonders with the team he inherited last season; this season, he has gotten rid (or getting rid) of the deadwood and replaced them with superior quality, which will show up when challenging on all fronts this season.

We are at the Top of the League – yes, after one game – but get a victory over the Yankee doodlers on their own turf, and we will send out an important message to all, pundits and football teams alike; that we are not there just to make up the number, like the Spammers, Gooners, the Yankee Doodlers (formerly Chelski), Toffee munchers, Steven Gerrard's punctured testicles, the Seagulls, marching Saints (going around and around)etc. We are there to kick arse, rattle a few cages and pick up some silverware. We are Spurs, and the "dreaming and Glory" starts now.

COYS!

Glenn