League Cup: Chelsea 4-0 Aston Villa
Thursday, 09 November 06, 10:15 AM · Comments (10)
Match reports
The Guardian, Jon Brodkin: “Anyone who imagined that Sunday's defeat at Tottenham would have lasting implications for Chelsea was set straight by this rousing victory last night - one achieved without a whiff of confrontation with match officials or opponents. Their excellent second-half display was the type that ought to endear them to more neutrals, featuring three goals that swept aside a disappointing Aston Villa who never seriously threatened and could have lost more heavily.”
The Times, Matt Hughes: “Having been knocked out by Charlton Athletic at this stage last season, and seen Manchester United get seasick in Southend on Tuesday evening, Mourinho took precautions against suffering an upset, fielding a formidable line-up. Those enjoying his fall from grace ”” and there are many in Milan ”” would have scoffed that Shevchenko’s selection was a sign of Mourinho playing his second string, but with an industrious performance, he has begun to prove his critics wrong.”
The Telegraph, John Ley: “Chelsea have been accused of many things but taking the Carling Cup lightly is not one of them. Having spent several days complaining about officials, they concentrated instead in moving closer to another trophy, easing themselves into the last eight of the competition at a canter.”
The Independent, Jason Burt: “In a competition that has so often failed to make a noise in the past, a result that will resonate throughout the rest of the Premiership - but also another worrying incident of an object being thrown at a player. In league terms four places separate Chelsea and Aston Villa but, last night, the gulf was vast. It was certainly far wider than the four goals that Jose Mourinho's players rattled in and Martin O'Neill's conceded.”
Daily Mail, Neil Ashton: “Chelsea were relentless and, although Michael Essien and Didier Drogba added to Chelsea's tally with late strikes, Lampard was the driving force behind this victory.”
Official Chelsea FC Website, Paul Mason: “Chelsea’s first four-goal haul of the season made it an easy passage to the quarter-finals as Premiership opposition Aston Villa had no answer to the strike power of Lampard, Shevchenko, Essien and Drogba.”
The good
- Chelsea’s dominance of the game. Sixteen attempts on goal to Villa’s one. Martin O’Neill is a shrewd manager whose teams are always compact and difficult to play against, but I’ve personally never seen a side under his command so comprehensively overwhelmed as Villa were last night.
- The midfield. Michael Essien was typically superb — £24 million, Mr. Aulas? It looks like you were robbed. And just ask Gavin McCann and the rest of the Villa midfield whether Ballack and Lampard can play together.
- The football. Style, guile and steel — what more do you need? Some of the passing and build-up play was as good as I’ve ever seen down at the Bridge. It’s just like watching Arsenal. Only with goals.
- Mark Halsey. A very creditable performance from the man in black; unfussy, cards to a minimum, great game of football. Can’t ask for more than that really.
- Seeing Petr Cech in the stands at half time. Although it isn’t unfair to suggest that Cudicini probably could have joined him for large chunks of the game.
- Randy Lerner providing the Villa fans with free travel down to the Bridge. And they got to see some great football too. Bargain!
The bad
- Objects thrown by Villa fans at the Chelsea players. On the whole they were fantastic in terms of their support, but there are always a few fuckwits around to spoil it.
- The home fans. Cheap tickets, full house, great football. You’d think that the combination might have encouraged them to make a bit more noise really.
- If there is one small quibble about the performance, it’s that we should use the full backs more; I lost count of the number of times Bridge and Geremi were stood in acres of space, begging for the ball. The situation improved in the second half as we started to dominate (Geremi’s contribution to Essien’s goal for example), but it would be good to see them getting forwards more often.
- Graham Poll, in the headlines again after another controversial decision? Surely not? How many more times?
Man of the Match
Frank Lampard. A great performance, but also because we’ll have to rename it the Michael Essien Man of the Match Award if the mighty Ghanaian carries on like this.
Final thoughts
This team is starting to look like something very special indeed. The same sort of emphatic performance against Watford on Saturday would be a great way to end a week which started in the worst possible way.
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Joe,
I received that email circular as well, apparently from a Tottenham source. Not sure I believe it though. Sounds like someone stirring shit with ulterior motives. I don't believe JT would have come out with the comments about being given 2 different reasons by Poll for being sent off if he knew himself the real reason was racist abuse. It would just give people the excuse to highlight it.
You're damn right that we don't want any of that at Chelsea, and I'm yet to be convinced we do.
Can't say I believe it either. The morning after the game a couple of Spurs blogs were claiming racist abuse.
The replays seem to show JT shouting "F*ck off!", "F*ck off!", then walking away and barging into Ghaly.
There's obviously an element of Spurs fans that would like nothing more than to see JT done for racism, and I believe it's them spreading this malicious bollocks.
Nick, the email also refers to Rio's book and his claims about a 'well known England player' being the most racist player he'd come across. But that is bollocks, his book does not say it is an England player, just that he is well known. Plus the player is supposed to be retired now.
New Nation - Staying Power: Rio Ferdinand
Yes quite right guys, just mischief making on the part of the Rottenham tossers.
I'm sure Wanker Poll would have been quick enough to state it in his report, to put him in a slightly better light for his reason for sending JT off.
I am pretty sure that would it be a racial abuse we all would know by now about it. Joe do you really think that if some people who send e-mails know about it papers do not? It would be all over the press by now. They would read it from his lips and spread it. Imagine headlines "English captain makes racial abuse!!!". No paper on the planet would miss such an opportunity. Leave it man. I believe he has said "f...k off", but no racial stuff was involved. Some spuds wankers just trying to make storm in the mug.
What a beautiful game it was! It's worth every penny of my £20 cash! And the 6000 Villa fans seemed to enjoy themselves even they're losing 4-0. Can we have Wycombe please next round? They love to have a great day out in West London, don't they? :-)
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Found my self warming to Alan Green on 5 Live last night. Actually said something nice about Chelsea, won't last long I don't suppose. Looking forward to to a pasting on Saturday, hopefully Joe Cole will get a run-out maybe even SWP??
The truth about why John Terry was sent off against Spurs. This will come out in the next few days - Terry called Ledley King 'a ****ing black monkey' which is why Chimbonda took such offense. It also explains why Terry left the field so quickly and shamefully. Disgraceful Tel. We don't want any of that at Chelsea. Not sure how Cole, Essien, Drogba and Makele are going to consider his comments but I don't feel so bad about Terry's sending off now I know this.