Game theory

When you wake up to discover that the boiler is out and the hot shower you were expecting has turned into an Arctic trickle, then arrive in the office to find that your workload has got together with someone else’s overnight to produce lots and lots of bouncing baby workloads, all sat smiling and gurgling in your in-tray, then the coffee machine stops working and your new pair of Oliver Sweeney loafers get splashed with something unmentionable by a passing tramp… perhaps you start to get an inkling that it isn’t going to be your day.

Avram Grant has had an awful lot of these since his managerial takeover at Chelsea, and it speaks volumes about the casual contempt with which press and fandom hold him that his enviable League record counts for so little. His tired comments after the game – if we win it’s normal, if we lose then it’s a big game – invite a certain amount of sympathy. A certain amount.

Tottenham must wish they could play Chelsea every week. For some reason the Blues, for years such a bugbear to the north London side, are now bringing out the very best in them. Only a true churl would deny that last night’s game was one of the matches of the season, mingling Chelsea’s fluidity and poise on the ball – exemplified by the peerless Joe Cole – with Spurs’ second-half heroics earning them a well-deserved point. That the point means nothing to them and everything to Chelsea can only have increased their satisfaction. A win against Arsenal on Sunday will still thrust us into second place, but the chance to make up another couple of points on United was passed up in a game where Chelsea conceded three goals from set pieces.

Sadly for Grant, it’s yet another opportunity for his myriad critics to twist the knife. And I can’t really defend the indefensible, if you’ll pardon the pun, because I just can’t see how we would have thrown away a 2-goal cushion under his predecessor. For Chelsea to concede 4 is astonishing in itself. To concede 3 of those from dead ball situations is almost blasphemy. To allow yourself to be pegged back to a draw from a 2-goal lead… that’s nothing short of setting fire to the altar and micturating on the tacky gold statue of the baby Jesus.

So what went wrong? Well, it couldn’t really have looked any worse for the manager. To make his tactical sub – Alex for Kalou – and then concede within minutes, prompting a surge of hope for Tottenham. To take off Chelsea’s best and most influential player in Joe Cole. And then to invite Tottenham onto the visitors for a final 15 minutes. It was almost enough for Berbatov to win it.

Well, the manager had his reasons. Theoretically, there seems to be an element of sense in going 5 at the back. Theoretically, Joe Cole had been working his little legs off for 80-off minutes and was, perhaps, fading a little. Theoretically, Ballack could have helped retain possession in the middle of the park and taken some of the pressure off the defence.

Well, theoretically bollocks, or so it would seem, and Grant’s haunted expression was even more hangdog than usual in the post-match autopsy. It’s still theoretically possible for Chelsea to win the League, we’re told. Well yes, this is theoretically true. But for this Chelsea fan, Avram Grant has a loser’s look stitched onto that craggy mug, and it will take a supreme effort to bring the title back to SW6.

Comments

[Alan LUCAS]

Well, I read the Rottenham fanzine report before I read this one, obviously two games were on the same night. I only had the benifit of TV highlights (there were many!) but I have said since his appointment, AG is not the man to TAKE US ON. He has held us together and against lesser teams done OK, but he got away with a big error on Sunday in playing Essien at right back when we have two very capable right backs!- the only area Arsenal looked threatening. He is too busy keeping them happy rather than doing the best for the team

[Ric]

I guess you've been spoiled over recent years, but are you saying Grant should be replaced or not? The article seems a little tenuous (althought other than that it was a very good piece).

As a City fan, I pray to God you (or Arsenal, or Liverpool - OK I'm clutching at straws) pip United to the league but there's no chance. As much as I loathe them they seemd the only side with the courage and conviction to go on and win the title this year. More's the pity.

Still, Ambrovic can't complain about the lack of excitement - that was the best game I've seen this season.