FA Cup review: Chelsea 3 - 0 Nottingham Forest
Monday, 29 January 07, 01:45 PM · Comments (10)
Match reports
The Guardian, Richard Williams: "Roman Abramovich stayed away from this one, preferring to spend the weekend watching teams from Israel, Russia and Ukraine compete in a friendly tournament mounted with his money. Maybe he knows more about football than we think. Back in west London there was nothing of significance to be learnt from a match that resembled a pre-season kickabout against a semi-pro side, and precious little to enjoy."
Daily Telegraph, Henry Winter: "This was Robin Hood in reverse, the rich taking from the poor of Nottingham. Forest were too deep, too cautious, and were duly put to the sword through first-half goals from Andrei Shevchenko, Didier Drogba and John Obi Mikel."
The Independent, Sam Wallace: "The possession statistics at half-time were a humiliating 81 per cent in Chelsea's favour and even that seemed generous to Forest."
The Times, Matt Dickinson: ""Forest 2 Chelsea 0" more than one banner in the visitors’ end proclaimed yesterday, with reference to European Cup victories, but the past was the only sphere in which the underdogs were going to claim supremacy. The present brought a lesson in how far Brian Clough’s former club have fallen."
Official Chelsea FC Website: "In 2000 when we last won the Cup, Forest were beaten at the Bridge 2-0 in the fourth round. In quest to make the first Final in the new Wembley, José Mourinho's team have gone one better."
The goals
09' Shevchenko 1-0. 18' Drogba 2-0. 45' Mikel 3-0.
The good
- Chelsea were made to look good by Nottingham Forest's awful performance. I was particularly impressed with...
- Lassana Diarra. Quite possibly Claude Makelele's equal at this early stage of his career. Deserves an opportunity to prove he can do it against quality opposition.
- Frank Lampard and John Obi Mikel. Does Lampard play better alongside Mikel? Is Mikel better than Michael Ballack?
- Didier Drogba and Michael Essien. It's not going to be easy to decide which of these two is crowned Chelsea's Player of the Year.
The bad
- I continue to be disappointed with Geremi. Even against piss-poor opposition he was lacking. He was gifted so much possession, time and space yesterday but still didn't make the best use of it. His final ball is often wasted, and some of his passing leaves a lot to be desired.
- Nottingham Forest.
Man of the Match
Lassana Diarra.
Final thoughts
Chelsea put in a very good performance, but in all honesty Nottingham Forest were the worst team I've seen at Stamford Bridge in a while. The one thing you can say about Macclesfield Town in round three and Wycombe Wanderers in the League Cup is that they had a go whereas Forest just stood off and looked devoid of ideas. One wonders what the late Brian Clough would have made of their performance.
The future looks bright
Chelsea will host either Blackpool or Norwich City in the fifth round.
Watch Scott Sinclair score for Plymouth Argyle against Barnet (and Ian Holloway's priceless reaction). Better than Theo Walcott?
Related links
Like this blog? Help spread the word: 
Agree about Geremi.
I can't understand why he get so much of the ball. Bridge is far better going forward but we kept playing it up the right. Not since Jesper Gronkjaer has one man done so little with so much crossing opportunity.
Geremi's delivery was awful, but then having seen Glen Johnson play for Pompey on Saturday, he's still the best we've got.
Bridge is surely the best left back at the club.
Diarra and Mikel were excellent; SWP and Shev were average. Essien is immense and Carvalho also deserves more respect than he usually gets. He's exactly what we're told Rio Ferdinand is - tough, but elegant. A really top player.
Sinclair looks sensational.
I forgot about Glen Johnson's abject performance against United. Will surely be sold. Done for shoplifting a few days ago too.
I agree that Carvalho deserves more respect.
First couple of games this season Ricky was very shaky but ever since Boro away he has been absolutely brilliant.
Never liked Johnson - has ability but carries himself in a way which is prfoundly aggravating and is prone to at least one spectacular cock up a game.
Where can I see Sinclair goal?
Our ticket into the quarterfinals should be extremely likely following another very nice draw.
Watch us get United or Arsenal away.
P.S. The Sinclair goal is actually breathtaking.
10 Comments · Add yours
Sound summing up.
Can't wait to see the Sinclair goal (can't get it to work in the office). He looks a very exciting talent.
Some of my Gooner friends have been moaning about Walcott of late - they don't think he is up to it - though he does have time on his side.
Forest were completely abject despite their support being magnificent.
Sorry to be negative but another player I thought was poor was SWP. I was hoping after his excellent performance against Liverpool that he might have turned the corner but alas not. Geremi also was pretty bad.
Looking forward to Wednesday. I heard that Hansen slated Sheva but I thought he played well again, and if he can start banging them in in the Premiership it will make a major difference to our run-in.
Also great that we have got another relatively cushty draw. With the exception of the Champions Leage group this year I can't remember a season when he have had so many favourable draws in the cups.
Come on Chels!
Yes were crap - awful in fact. We stood in awe instead of getting stuck - Calderwood said play the shirt not the name on it but we didnt and as a result looked awful.
Thought Essien was world class in both thought and movement. Didnt expect to win but thought we might just make a match of it.