Chelsea vs. Tottenham: Player Grades for the Blues

In the last game before the holidays, Chelsea visited White Hart Lane to take of local rival Tottenham in an exciting one all draw. Both sides had their chances, but isolated goals out of the break in the first half was all the scoring the fans would see.

Spurs got the better start after a great tackle in the midfield took the ball away from Daniel Sturridge. Gareth Bale collected it and sprinted right past the Chelsea defense to deliver a low cross Emanuel Adebayor would turn home.

With the hosts up 1-0, Chelsea began to settle in and push for their own score. In the 23rd minute, Didier Drogba would deliver a smooth one touch past to Ashley Cole flying down the left wing. Right back Benoit Assou-Ekotto would deflect the ball, but only into the arm of Cole, who brought it down to feet and crossed his own ball for Sturridge to knock it home.

The Tottenham players surrounded ref Howard Webb appealing for a handball, but Webb dismissed the argument suggesting that it was not intentional. Replay shows that Webb had gotten the call right.

Both sides had their chance to take all three points, but neither was able to take advantage of the plethora of chances they would have.

In the end, both managers should be content with the way their two teams played. Both would have like to gotten a victory, but considering the run of play, neither could claim dominance.

Petr Cech: C+

Again, Cech could have some of the blame put on him for dropped points. Spurs goal was not entirely his fault, but his indecision did not help. He knows he should have come out much harder and grabbed that ball.

By the end, he had made up for his mistake, making some good saves, including swatting away a deflected shot that could have gone anywhere.

If the keeper can get back the form he has shown over the past few seasons, Chelsea will really take a step getting back toward the top.

Jose Bosingwa: B-

Bosingwa was himself for 30 minutes, but with a change of position, he became another player. Tottenham’s first goal was him simply being outpaced by Gareth Bale. Bosman is known for his speed, but he looked out of the English winger's league all game.

However, when he was moved to center back, he really played well and solidified the back line. From then on, the chances were few and far between for the Spurs attack. Perhaps, against all logic, this is the place he really belongs.

Branislav Ivanovic: C-

Again, the Serbian defender looked a bit off. Whenever he is forced to play in the middle, he seems just to be behind the run of play.

There is not much to base this grade on, as he received a hamstring injury very early. But with the way he started, it could have been a long night.

John Terry: A-

What can you say about this man? Terry had his best game in quite some time. After the opening rush by Spurs, he really settled down and controlled that back line. He can take some blame for the goal, but he was in a position of having to play catch up.

He saved what would have been the game winner for Spurs, with an excellent tackle across the six-yard box, and had another few good stops elsewhere. Considering the week he had, he really showed why he is the Chelsea captain.

Ashley Cole: B+

Welcome back, Ashley! Cole was out of his mind today getting down the left flank. He provided the cross to Sturridge that tied up the game and a half dozen more that could have won it.

Defensively, he was also stellar, covering back on a thin line that he knew could struggle with Ivanovic out. If Terry wasn’t your vote for man of the match, then it has to go the his fellow Englishman.

Jon Obi Mikel: B-

After being forced to the bench with Romeu performing better and better every game, Mikel returned to the starting lineup for this huge contest and played well.

He did not do anything spectacular, but for his style of play, that is perfectly acceptable. He won quite a bit of 50/50 balls in the midfield and helped settle down that back line after some opening nervy minutes.

Not really sure for the reason for his substitution, but I don’t really know if it could have been based on performance. Perhaps just a change of pace.

Raul Meireles: C

Not much happening with the Portuguese international; he was pretty absent from the run of play. He didn’t really get up in the attack like I think he was expected to. He provided a good pivot point of for the offense, but not much else.

Ramires: B-

Ramires played great except for one minor detail…he could not score! The Brazilian had at least three clear opportunities in which he could have given Chelsea the lead, but muffed them every time.

Ramires is really been the unsung hero of this Chelsea season and one of the best buys in the clubs recent history. If only he can figure out how to be more poised in front of the net, he could become one of the best all-around players in the world.

Juan Mata: C-

Surprisingly absent in the match. Harry Redknapp did his homework and realized if you shut down Mata, you give yourself a great chance of getting a win.

The Spaniard moved all around the pitch all game trying to get on the ball and make something happen, but just couldn’t. You have to figure that that was the difference between one and three points.

Daniel Sturridge: B

Another goal in another game brings the youngster's total to nine in 13 league games. However, this quite impressive stat does not take into account that his over ambitions led to the goal against.

Sturridge is going to be a great player for years to come, as he has all the attributes you want in a goal scorer. But if he really wants to cement himself into the status of a legend, he has to become an better all-around player and understand that every time he has the ball, he does not need to push forward.

Didier Drogba: B+

After it has become apparent that Drogba is the main man in front of net for Villas-Boas, he has really turned it on. A poor outing last week did not disrupt him at all today.

He was his usual dominating self, winning balls in the air and making himself a presence whenever Chelsea had the ball. He delivered a great one touch pass that found Cole with a bit of luck that led to the first goal.

A few minutes later, he controlled a cross off his chest and rattled it off the bar with a furious strike. Considering in the minutes leading up to the game that his fitness was questionable, he performed above expectations.

Paulo Ferreira (33rd Minute for Ivanovic): B-

Played fine considering he came on cold and unexpected. He seemed to handle the pace of Bale better than anyone else could. His introduction meant a loss of support in the attack on that side, but it also meant the Spurs offense settled down.

The one thing that I think Ferreira really showed this match was his age.

Oriol Romeu (45th Minute for Mikel): B

Keeps on proving he deserves to be an every game starter. Came on for Mikel and continued the great holding play Chelsea had in the midfield all day. Even had a nice volley from the top of the box that skidded about a yard wide. I swear he will hit one of those soon.

Fernando Torres (77th Minute for Drogba): D

This move will probably come under question in the postgame analysis, but again, Torres was a non-factor. Given more than 10 minutes to come in and make something happen, he was absent the whole time, and momentum swayed toward the hosts.

Another game where Villas-Boas will have to answer for the failures of the English game's most expensive transfer. I am not suggesting to get rid of the Spaniard, but he just proved why Drogba cannot be sold.