Kane Off The Pace & Eriksen Barca-Bound?

Sometimes you just have to hold your hands up and say “they have that little bit extra, that WOW factor”.

Spurs Not Quite The Real Deal
Costa and Hazard coming on and a wonder strike from Matic was just that for Chelsea but boy do I feel sorry for Spurs.

Dare I say it that they are the realest of real deals? Not quite, that was proven by the Chelsea substitutes I just mentioned and my worry is that if the Lilywhites leave this fantastic season empty-handed that the lure of regular trophies both home and abroad may well break this team up. I desperately hope I’m wrong!

Eriksen Barca-Bound?
Pre-match, chatting to some of the great and good to get the latest gossip, one agent told me (I trust this guy big-time)

that Eriksen was already on the Barca radar

…not on a provisional list of targets but on THE list of the Camp Nou men.

If Spurs finish second in the league now, could any Spurs fan honestly blame him or any of the other players to have their head turned? Look, I have written extensively about everything positive going forward for Spurs but players today, in 2017, have no loyalty whatsoever. You know, you know, that clubs like Barca are a shoe-in for trophies in the next two years, not the next three or four which could be realistic for Spurs.

Kane Off The Pace
On the pitch I thought Eriksen & Dembele were superb. Dembele has been one of my favourite players in the league for years now and seemingly has found a real home at Spurs Lodge.

The only slight doubt for me was again Harry Kane.

Strange that may seem to criticise the England man after a cracking goal but that outrageous pace that the very, very best have seems to be lacking, and trust me, against the very best that turn of pace is the difference between being a semi-finalist or winner.

Nathan Ake caught the eye for Chelsea at the back, knitting seamlessly with Luis and Azpilicueta, and although Kante was a little hot and cold at times today (especially when Wanyama got the measure of him) the difference he makes when he’s the hunter supreme is often the difference between Chelsea being good and great.

Overall a very good advert for the FA Cup, and if my prediction is right…

Chelsea will now go on and win the double

…not a bad first season for Conte!

Bring on Arsenal v Man Cty!!