Game starts at 1130 am EST. If there’s a winner, the winner will sit alone atop the table for at least a week. FiveThirtyEight has Chelsea as 48-percent favorites to win; betting markets … think the exact same thing. Someone is gonna make me eat my words. Who will it be? Let us find out together!
It'd be interesting to see Spurs, playing the same way, with a third great attacker next to Son and Kane. Bergwijn, Lamela, and Lucas are all varying degrees of "fine". Bale doesn't seem like he'll ever have the legs.
Not loving the pattern of this game. Chelsea aren't really able/willing to push enough bodies forward to break Tottenham down. The possession dynamic is giving Spurs plenty of opportunities to counter, but since Chelsea haven't pushed many bodies forward, there isn't a ton of space for Tottenham to counter into. A goal would help shake things up!
Inaugural recipient of our Metaphorical Ham: Pierre-Emile Højbjerg.
Not much to say about this one: tired players, one team that didn't want to attack, another team that was scared to give up counter-attacks. Still not sold on Spurs. Still not sold on Chelsea. Terrible game. But some really great ham-talk. Thanks, as always, for hopping in here. We'll do it against next week!
this game's just givin off 'Do Not Lose' vibes and a 0-0 draw means that his players played in a more inhibited way and didn't not lose, just as instructed.
I want them to talk more about the 500 dollar ham Jose bought Reguilon after the City game. Was it an extremely fancy ham or just like...absurdly large?
I think the only "must-watch" TV right now is the age-defying brilliance of Zlatan, the sheer brute force of Erling Haaland, and the always comical Gonzalo Higuain bottling chances for the 19th-placed Inter Miami.
I've decided that we're going to award a metaphorical Spanish ham at the end of the match to whichever player is most deserving.
Like John Madden giving away a turkey leg on Thanksgiving
Sissoko doesn’t eat ham, so we’re gonna have to reconsider
Not even metaphorically?
Ham Rove has copyrighted "metaphorical ham" and would like a word.
'He was hamatastic today! Much deserved.'
If you win the NGITC fantasy league, I'll buy you ham.
another underrated mourinho narrative-control trick: teams that play against him never get credit with shutting down HIS attack
Nothing to do with this match, but please spare a thought for Sheffield United. In a so-called "relegation six-pointer" with West Brom, they generated 2.9 expected goals and a whopping zero (0) actual goals. https://fbref.com/en/matches/bd68404c/West-Bromwich-Albion-Sheffield-United-November-28-2020-Premier-League
Who gets the ham? I think it has to be Hojberg for this special moment: https://twitter.com/euandewar/status/1333109390686216192?s=21
a herd of pigs won't be enough to show jose's appreciation
Give the man his ham
As good as any
Ndombele for Lo Celso is the new Kovacic for Barkley.
My prediction: 2-1 Chelsea win. If I'm wrong, please hold it over my head until the day I die.
Spurs have taken one shot since I wrote that thing about Spurs having four shots in the first 15 minutes.
That's, uh, nine shots in the last two matches. West Brom and Crystal Palace average more than nine shots per game.
and spus play palace next...a true shooting bonanza. the soldier from Hacksaw Ridge
probably supports crystal palace
this is the way
aaaaaand then Davies comes on for Bergwijn
It'd be interesting to see Spurs, playing the same way, with a third great attacker next to Son and Kane. Bergwijn, Lamela, and Lucas are all varying degrees of "fine". Bale doesn't seem like he'll ever have the legs.
bale plays like he's carrying a couple of hams on his back.
Jose loves having that third attacker be average so he has more of an excuse to use as an extra defender
Our worst HT stat update yet:
Shots (on target): Chelsea 5 (1), Spurs 5 (1)
xG: Chelsea 0.11, Spurs 0.19
Final-third passes: Chelsea 82, Spurs 34
Penalty-area passes: Chelsea 1, Spurs 5
Ham for all.
Turkey eaters...
Is Mourinho a turkey eater? We need an official ruling
I don't know what he eats, but he absolutely 100-percent does not eat turkey.
I think he eats ham
Safe to say no one who has that much money and lives in Europe eats turkey
Not loving the pattern of this game. Chelsea aren't really able/willing to push enough bodies forward to break Tottenham down. The possession dynamic is giving Spurs plenty of opportunities to counter, but since Chelsea haven't pushed many bodies forward, there isn't a ton of space for Tottenham to counter into. A goal would help shake things up!
will the managers' alpha status allow anything but a draw. probably agreed before the game
FT update:
Shots (on target): Chelsea 13 (3), Spurs 5 (1)
xG: Chelsea 0.87, Spurs 0.19
Final-third passes: 147 Chelsea, Spurs 76
Penalty-area passes: Chelsea 4, Spurs 8
Inaugural recipient of our Metaphorical Ham: Pierre-Emile Højbjerg.
Not much to say about this one: tired players, one team that didn't want to attack, another team that was scared to give up counter-attacks. Still not sold on Spurs. Still not sold on Chelsea. Terrible game. But some really great ham-talk. Thanks, as always, for hopping in here. We'll do it against next week!
https://yarn.co/yarn-clip/f1ad8ee8-2a93-4887-a35b-f19681a46b89
Shocked that Spurs didn't somehow win on whatever the hell that Lo Celso situation was.
Or on the Rodon back pass. Mourinho would have never played a youngster again.
After three straight years of a 98-point-or-more winner, there's a decent chance one of *these* teams, producing *this* game, wins the Premier League.
Intrigued to see the ultimate clash of styles between Liverpool and Spurs in a couple weeks time
i feel like they know it and are being really self-conscioius about it.
league is primed for a shithouse winner
have we ever watched a fun game together?
Brighton-Everton had 6 goals IIRC.
i thought this time for for communal existential crisis contemplations? I've been lied to
what *is* "fun"?
o/u on the minute pulisic goes off injured?
Pulled beard muscle in 82’
Can't believe I predicted there would be three goals in this game.
I felt extremely confident betting over 3 goals in Everton/Leeds yesterday so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
enter lo celso
Spurs: four shots in 90 minutes against City. Also Spurs: four shots in 15 minutes against Chelsea.
It feels like they have had less though
feel like jose would be more annoyed if spurs won 1-0 than if it ended 0-0
A Davies sub would confirm that here
is the this energy coming from an anger at how he sets up spurs to be defensive? i'm confused.
this game's just givin off 'Do Not Lose' vibes and a 0-0 draw means that his players played in a more inhibited way and didn't not lose, just as instructed.
Definitely more conservative and hoping Son / Kane can convert a low percentage chance to nick a win. The Man City model.
(The Spurs vs. Man City model.)
Mourinho mood meter: contented
Timo Werner looks like a collie. This has been my first half analysis
Good game (so far) for Tom’s Hugo Lloris love on the podcast! That save on Mount was great
Preach
"Why did he not get good contact on that one?" Rodon cutting him underneath seems like the reason
I want them to talk more about the 500 dollar ham Jose bought Reguilon after the City game. Was it an extremely fancy ham or just like...absurdly large?
We need to get Blake some Spanish ham.
This fancy ham has shot to the top of my Christmas list.
It was extremely fancy. https://twitter.com/HotspurRelated/status/1331327047214501889
The hoof still being on is *chef's kiss*
Wow. I googled the ham and apparently the pig is fed a diet of "cereals and legumes"
https://www.enriquetomas.com/usa/en/jamon-ham-de-campo-iberico/jamon-ham-de-campo-iberico.html?gclid=Cj0KCQiAqo3-BRDoARIsAE5vnaIkdV8mvhC0L27mrHBlvFb9JC2CqHY22Bk35XRaGr792YDltz1GMDgaAnAAEALw_wcB#
Spain loves their ham
the referee looks like iniesta (just thought that was weird)
have you ever seen both of them in the same place?
yeah, this is the kind of borefest you get when one team is coached by mourinho and the other is overly-afraid to overcommit
N'Golo Kante in the wall is a wild visual
telling Kante he can't be in the wall would be like telling a child they're too small for the fairground ride.
Mourinho mood meter: outward=disgusted, inward=ebullient
Are Spurs & Chelsea in danger of getting banned from the NGITC
watch parties?
We're running out of teams. Maybe we'll just watch every Leeds match together.
I think the only "must-watch" TV right now is the age-defying brilliance of Zlatan, the sheer brute force of Erling Haaland, and the always comical Gonzalo Higuain bottling chances for the 19th-placed Inter Miami.
this is a world wide problem. unless alaves are on the come-up
https://twitter.com/euandewar/status/1333109390686216192?s=21
Front-runner for the post-match existential ham.
Thank god for Lloris preventing Mount from being the match winner
honestly, matches are now just set-ups for Jose's post match IGs. I just don't know what's better for the post, a win or a loss.
and for 'gram. don't forget the 'gram
I think we all deserve some ham after that crap first half
This Ndombele guy is pretty good, surely he plays all the time, no controversy or anything
Day 1 starter, first-name on the team-sheet, etc.
Now he does! Except after 60 minutes when Lo Celso comes on for him.
Hojbjerg has the Mourinho talking points down pat in this post game presser
It's really special. Deserves his ham.
looking forward to arsenal- wolves. arteta's disappearing his players for bad behaviour like dexter . who's next?
What the hell, Lo Celso...LOL
Mourinho mood meter: gratified
spurs obviously saving themselves for LASK
Do we think frank doubles down on his plan to have ziyech and James just pump crosses into the box?
Early signs say yes!
Just curious, do offside chances count towards xG?
Only if they miss and offside is never officially called...
Anyone else go down a ham rabbit hole? I ordered a country ham for Christmas. Maybe also a statement on the quality of this game.
I need this game to pick up so that I don't switch to the Jets at 1
Sounds like you need some Spanish ham, too.
Jets? Ouch.
I'm an absolute sicko Jets, Mets, and Everton fan
Glutton for punishment... and ham.
Revolting against my Jewish ancestors, reveling in delicious cured meat
and you wonder why you still have child locks for your cutlery draw as an adult
No Dele Alli? Somone hug Vermont.
The aurier-Werner matchup seems like a mismatch
So you don't think Werner is gonna be able to deal with Aurier's runs forward?
Exactly
In before an 80’ minute Pulisic winner
Alas. There was a half chance there too!
leicester's coming fixtures are extremely amenable.
What a pass from Kane
last minute hand ball penalty incoming...but who?
My mind tells me a 0-0 away result against Chelsea is great. My heart tells me I know we're about to go down a goal and never recover.
Great, now Pulisic is coming on.