League Cup review: Chelsea 4 - 0 Wycombe Wanderers (Agg: 5 - 1) (includes video)

Oh my God! The match today made sooo happy! Specially because Sheva scored again, and twice! I always had faith on him and knew he would shut up everyone who was saying all those things about him.

Kisses,

Anna

Better performances from Sheva and, in my opinion Ballack, who looked much more comfortable in linking up with those around him.

A good win against Forest at the weekend, and our season could well be right back on track.

Confidence is a huge thing and to have Sheva , Ballack and Jose all happy would be a huge advantage for the rest of the season.

From Stamford Bridge to CARDIFF.......We'll keep the Blue Flag flying high!!!

This should be big morale boosting for Sheva.... Love to see him n drogba up front... both in form would be the deadliest strike force to cope with for any defence..... Another good game against nott. forest for sheva should bring him back to his finest n that is wht all chelsea supporters is hoping for right now.......

Even if Terry comes back against blackburn...i feel we still need another "above average" central defender as a back up. Ben haim or mathew upson should be good options...But looking at $6 mill bid for upson getting rejected i dont think that would be a good option now...still we should get before the transfer window closes in 1 week time.

Prediction against nott forest....chelsea win with 3-0

solid all round performance from the team......i saw plenty of spirit (4get about the quality of the opposition)

the support from the crowd was overwhelming too.....the feeling is really nice now...and something tells me it will stay so

Much more like it. OK I know we'll get 'it was only Wycombe' thrown at us, but Shevchenko's performance was really encouraging and I hope he can maintain that now against stiffer opposition. I thought Essien was brilliant and if he can get those bursts forward going from midfield, he will destroy opponents. Who needs Gerrard??? Agree the ref was an idiot, at times I swear he was acting as a Wycombe defender he seemed to take up positions obstructing our forward passes. Downsides? For me not enough from Ballack again - a wasted opportunity to make a real impact. Petr Cech looked a little rusty, understandably, hopefully the one or two minor slips will disappear as he gets more matches under his belt. Overall very pleasing, we have been under the weather of late but we're on the way back!

Already purchased by train tickets to Cardiff (assuming it's 3pm kick-off).

I must have been watching a different game; I thought Lampard was poor, aside from his goals and Ashley Cole was hopeless because he kept giving the ball away.

Still Ricky showed how centre backs are meant to play.

And whose idea was it to put out the blue cards so we threw paper darts at Cech at the Mathew Harding end?

Isn't Kamara's commentary superb. Real passion for the game!

A good performance, although I am with Stephen on Ballack who for me was more of a hindrance than Mike Dean. I was impressed with Diarra but also slightly perturbed by his constant giving away of free kicks, something that Maka has been guilty of, and was again last night. In fact Maka has done this regularly all season and this is one of the reasons I feel its a season too far for him. I hope Diarra isn't allowing that side of Maka's game to influence him.

Mikel played well though and is looking more and more composed. Sheva was superb last night, but in all honesty I haven't had a problem with him much this season anyway - when he's on the pitch with Drogs then this does put the fear of God into other teams. Carvalho was magnificent again. We really could not afford to lose him again. Essien, as ever was a masterful presence and were it not for Sheva and Lamps he would have been my MotM.

A good team performance, but in my view we still have a couple of weak points in Maka and Ballack....oh and Kalou when he came on once again showed his inability to control or pass the ball. He needs a spell out of the spotlight to re-focus on some of the basics of his game.

I share your thoughts on Mike Dean. Did he referee the first match? the referee in the first match often came up with decisions that bordered on partisan. Even last night there seemed to be a different application of the law applied to chelsea tackling than to Wycombe.

It was slightly better after half time and I wonder whetehr there wasn't some kind of dicussion between Dean and the forth official during the break.

The conclusions we can draw are; 1. Mike Dean is not fit to referee to class football; 2; Mike Dean has a chip on his shlolder when it comes to Chelsea; 3 Mike Dean was under instruction to try and keep the match interesting for TV.

Have to agree with Stephen, we'll no doubt get the 'only Wycombe' comeback, but a pleasing return to some sort of form.

Regardless of the opposition, the 4 goals were very well taken. Was very impressed with how Sheva seemed to get better and better as the game went on. Would have been nice for him to get a hat-trick, but a great performance.

His two goals aside, I was slightly disappointed with Lamps. Nothing really seemed to happen for him, his touches let him down, and his passing was not what I'm used to. It matters little.

Thought Diarra looked very comfortable at RB, better than Geremi and Ferreira in recent weeks. Mikel looked solid and composed on the ball.

A pleasing outcome, hope for more of the same Saturday.

Exactly what was needed. Same again Sunday and then back into league action with some relatively easy fixtures. Shouldn't read too much into it, but hard to ignore a definite feeling that things were returning to normal. So much of that is down to Cech's return, backed up by Carvalho.

First Cup finalists of the season - not bad for a club in meltdown...

Save for the two goals scored by Lampard, I thought he was our worst player on the night closely competing with A.Cole

Ballack and Shevy did play much better than Lamps...gave the ball away carelessly...which is becoming part of his defensive game...

That was the bad in the game.

Diarra and Obi were the most positive for me...in view of the current and the future...

Two words to sum it all up,
Commitment and Desire.
Enough said!

I think the best that come out of this game was Diarra earning a point to show he can cover on the right.
And Cech. Good to see him back and commanding his back as if he hadnt been away.

But I am very pleased for Shevchenko to get some of this form back. Lets hope he can carry on this form over in to the next few games.

See how Obi's one touch football brought everybody into the game. Shame on Lumping!

Cole only struggled because Lamps wasn't protecting him. And as long as he isn't protected he is gonna get more suspensions and probably injured(trying to do 2 men's job.)

I is tinking mebbi we oll becumming heppy becos our fenz they oll making lotof noising and shouting in the wik ham ligcup game. I also is very happy becos shebchenka he most brilyant man on the footbol fild. 2 goal but he ple with lotof speed and all the time pass and join with players others, know what i mins? Anyway. if dogba and shebchenka is ple tugeder and also ruben and jokol (jokol is MOST exselent) we inshala scoring many more goal. Then shebchenka is happy and if happy he ple more brilyant. Salam and peace on chelsea frends oll ovar the world. Who is main of this bologsite? Please tell to me. Thank you and most sorry. I try very much but english is my no good.

The weekend started off so depressing, then improved with MU getting beaten. But the smile on my face last night!! Sheva firing them in, Diarra proving himself, a place in the final (please be Spurs!!) and JT on the way back!
Great to see the team so committed and fired up, even against 'weak' opposition. And TSO shaking hands with Sheva was just great.

We're back - come on the blues!!

Hmmm, it was good but let's be honest it was only Wycombe and you'd always think their limitations would be exposed at SB. Similarly the same hysterical "we're back" outbursts started after the Wigan game despite them being very poor.

I am reminded once again of Mr Wolf in Pulp Fiction.

Tony I agee it was only Wycombe, and we should be beating them easily. But for me what I was impressed with as I mentioned earlier, was the commitment and desire, they were hungry and wanted to prove a point, and that they did.

Lets hope that remains for the rest of the season wherever it takes us.

Tony my man, don't be such a persistent doom merchant, just relax and enjoy the occasion like the rest of Chelsea fans. :-)

To Julfikar Ali Butta;

That is the best blog I've ever read, please come here again.

KTBFFH.

Is it just me or what?.....

Why does the weekend seem so far away suddenly?

Salam to you too Julfikar!

True it was only Wycombe, but the commitment last night was excellent, and we haven't seen a buzz about the team like that in a long time.

And Sheva. I know I harp on about this constantly and I bore myself but give that boy the ball in front of goal and he nearly always scores. You would hope that JM might have noticed this.

Up the Chels!

Tony Tony...

I guess there will always be a party popper coming to the occassion...

So it was why comb so what?...but they were playng at this stage because the got that far...Cup game remember... It is comments from people like you be-littling the opposition that make other fans loathe us... Oh I forget respecting others is not your strong point...The opposition beat two Premiership teams to get here...

We did play like Champions and no similarity with Wigan can be made beacaue this time the team did play like Champions...a unit of players with hunger and desire to be there...

When we draw with this team articles are flung in of how disunited the tea was, and when we beat the same team by a four nil margin we were expected to do so...

Negative Negative Negative...huh???? I do know the players do read these blogs and fans like you do not offer support to the humans out there doing us proud...You claim you have been supporting this team for a while..well then you know how bad our team was...We are where we are because someone is putting their foot forward..what about you giving a helping hand once in a while...

Jose Musumba

Do agree with every word you said here. They were the team who reached semis and that is good enough!! You can beat only what you have. That was solid performance against team which reached semis!

Boys, boys. Jose and MikeL - with all due respect you're both talking bollocks. How am I dis-respecting the opponent by stating that "it was only Wycombe". Get a grip, they are in the BOTTOM tier of the league system and 4-0 is about the least I would expect from a home game against such opposition, especially as we are the reigning champions. Even the most ardent Wycombe fan would admit it should be a mis-match. All you guys do with your hysterical "we're back, we're invincible" outbursts is put a rose tinted view on the games. We haven't performed well against Reading, Fulham, Villa or Liverpool. When we start beating those teams again then I'll get the bunting out and consider a street party. And both of you are guilty by implication of demeaning other PL teams with your constant overly positive views of how good we are.

Again, just because you both patently don't understand my plain English....

a.) I love Chelsea
b.) I will always love Chelsea
c.) I have done for 36 years
d.) I will until I die
e.) I am a season ticket holder, and have been a fully paid club member for over 20 years
f.) I reserve the right, by living in a democratic country to exercise free speech and criticise or praise my football team by virtue of being a money-paying stakeholder in them
g.) I am a realist not a pessimist
h.) I've seen the lows and still remained faithful
i.) I love the highs but can see the artificially high expectation levels, especially amongst a lot of new fans, including those who are glory-hunters
j.) Read my articles and you'll see honest opinion based on what I actually see, praise in bucketfuls where it's due, and criticism where it's justified
k.) Don't ever accuse me of not being supportive because that's bollocks. Constructive critique is supportive and if the players do read this then they'll have a bloody good idea of some very justified criticism and praise
l.) At the game I am very vocal in my support and you'll NEVER hear me boo anyone wearing the blue shirt
m.) I may HATE opponents, I may DETEST certain teams or individuals, but I always respect them because at heart I'm a bloody tub-thumping egalitarian socialist who believes everyone is due basic respect even if I hate them.

So when you're both through talking out of your blue-tinted rear ends, perhaps some decent debate can occur based on logic, evidence and facts, rather than unquestioning faith.

Excellent Tony, but like most the things in life, I think you may be preaching to some of our more blinkered supporters.

Yes, it was a cup semi but it's perfectly fair to say that it was 'only' Wycombe - albeit that they performed way above themselves, they simply didn't pose the kind of challenge over 90 minutes that a Premiership side would (and will). But in terms of confidence and desire it was a very encouraging performance - another one against Forest will set them up nicely for a return to league action against Blackburn.

There is always room for criticism and debate, as long as there is a rationale behind it (as there has been with Tony's recent articles and comments); we're all 'stakeholders' in this, to coin a hideous NuLab phrase, so if we see something about the club we don't like or that is worth questioning we should do so.

That said, open forum so all comments are welcome (hey, we publish Henry on here - how much more can we do in the interests of balance and free speech?!)

getting a bit tetchy lads....That's good to see people are pasionate about their veiws.

If the Tony's and MikL's of this blog were to think the same then it would all be very borring and there would be no bedate.

I side with Dyer here, we should hammer teams in the lower divisions even though they bring there game up for the prem teams. This game was mostly positive with a good display by some of the recently underperforming squad and a glimpse of the team spirit we lack of late.

The players and JM are fully aware of Wycombe's league possition and willbe taking positives from the performance rather then the win. The forest game will be more telling and should set us up for a return in form (due to JT's return) when we face prem opposition the following game.

Gimme a Ceeeee, Gimme a Haaaayyyych, Gimme an Eeeeee........

Chelsea Beefl, glad to see some appreciation for my cousin Julfy's efforts. .Fellar must've spent about *2 HOURS* peicing together that post. But this is to STEPHEN: 'Haaal-eluloooija! Pres the Lorrr!!! What fineness be this? Whence cometh such word, such soccour that do comfort mine weary eye? I SALUTE you, sir! That 'plan B' article, now DAS the shid aaam torkabow!!! 2 years is about right too. Every damn thing you said was...was just BANGING them nails on the head. Stephen, sir, YOU ARE THE MAN! So much passion in what you wrote. So much sense; especially that other comment about roaring back from 1 down to smack in 3 or 4. Maybe im going overboard with my appreciation, but man, that was *!GOOD!* to read. You don't know the frustration i go through, tryin to explain to people exactly what you wrote. You have GOT to contribute more articles, more posts-- hell, get your own thing going as well as posting on this blog. (BTW do you reckon we play such bland stuff because unlike the mancs and the gooners, we NEVER start with 2 wingas & 2 strikas?)

I think that what Jose and Henry prove is both blind loyalty and totally negativity really add nothing to a meaningful debate. Henrys views are invariably nonsense and most of the time Jose offers nothing more than a eulogy to the wonders of the management and players - whatever the standard of performance they may be delivering at the time. I've never booed a Chelsea player (though I came pretty close on occasion with that Jokanovic bloke Ranieri hired) but as a season ticket holder I pay my money and am entitled to my opinion. For the first time since Jokanovic left the club, there are players on the pitch who are either not of the required ability to merit a place in the team or lack the work ethic that characterises this modern Chelsea side and therefore don't deserve to be selected. I don't think we should be viewed as disloyal for pointing this out.

Also, we have a manager who is so far up his own arse that he believes that when he leaves, our club captain and other key players will turn their backs on the club that has made them and follow him pied piper like to whichever club he decides to grace with his presence next. This is pure vanity.

Peter,

Have to agree with your point about Jose believing JT will leave.

JT is a dying breed. A player so completely and utterly devoted to his club, you know he would actually play for nothing. I simply cant comprehend seeing him in another shirt than the bluue of Chelsea (and the white of England). It wont, and cant, happen. There arent many of his kind left, not at Chelsea, and not anywhere. We'll never know how close Gerrard came to leaving Liverpool, buts he's completely devoted to them. Beyond a few more players, the rest seem to be guided by pound signs and nothing else.

I'm wouldn't be so convinced about JT not leaving. He stated he doesn't want to play under another manager other then Jose in his career at Chelsea. This maybe a sporadic comment by JT, but it could also mean wherever Jose goes he goes. And TSO won't be going to a mid-table team it will be a great/galactico team in Italy or Spain.

I could only see Terry and Lamps leaving once the Champs league and a few more Prem trophies are secured. I beleive professionals such as these guys want to challenge themselves in new leagues in europe and maybe America. You can't begrudge them these rights, it's only natural to want to change and try a new enviroment.

If JT and Lamps left as things stand we would be in a world of sh*t. If they ever do deside to sample life in Italy or Spain good luck to them. Fans shound only be upset of there departure not hateful or resentful.

KTBFFH...

JT would have gone to Arsenal in 2003 if Abramovich had not have rocked up.

And he nearly went to Leeds the year before but decided against it.

I love him to bits, and he is integral to our side - but play for us for nothing?

Never in a million years.

Ranieri spent RA's money but neva achieved anythng.....fact!

JM did and won himself back-back league titles...fact!

Real madrid spent money amassing stars but won nothing in the last 4-5yrs...fact!

No team wins all the time, even in the BEST OF FORMS with all their key players intact.....fact!

My point?.... dont berate JM for the present woes of the team (eventhough i know he's not a saint and cant be totally exonerated). He's a world class coach (given his age and achievements with chelsea and porto) and no one can take that from him... has anyone ever thot that the team's problems may be arising from 'external' interference (RA and the Board)

Anyteam can have a run of bad form.....have we 4gotten that this same team had a run of bad form last season such that Man U gained grounds on us (from about an 18 point lead) towards the end?...and this was with the same players whose sale are being queried some bloggers/fans

I dont know about some of u blokes but i'm up for a coach who WANTS TO WIN ALL THE TIME regardless of the quality of the opposition and who apprecaites the fact that history is made more out of victories than anything else....including 'entertainment'

Most times....pple dont appreciate wat they'v got until its gone or lost.....remember real madrid and their coach Bosque.....they'v not won anything since he left....i hope this is not where we'r heading

We should all get behind the team cos as far as i am concerned, they are only guilty of BEING 6 POINTS BEHIND MAN U.....the problems affecting their play would be addressed soonest, especially if the fans are behind them and the key players return...

Always blue!

Happy Birthday to José Mourinho!... We love you! Please bring us all the shiny trophies! :-)

I agree with Beef and Anthony...... I would not be at all surprised if the likes of JT, Lamps and Drogba were to follow Jose, if he decides to call it a day.

It is quite rare in modern football for players and manager to have a relationship like Jose does with most of the squad. They trust each other implicitly and what is undeniable is that Mourinho has made Terry, Lamps Drogba far better footballers than before he arrived.

The squad does need a huge overhaul,as many of the squad players are just not upto the standard required of Premiership and Champions League Champions, and make no mistake, that is what Roman is looking for.

However,there is no point in turning over the squad, if it is not going to improve it. The squad last year was, in my opinion far better than this season with the likes of Huth, Gudjohnssen, Duff being far superior to Kalou, Boula and SWP.

Having said all that, I still wouldn't bet against us winning a number of trophies this season, before Jose tells Roman he has had enough.

JM is so yesterday. Gone! and shed no tear. RA wants entertaining football and he's a right to.

Why would JM be shipping away RA's favorite players all the time. This is his club for goodness sake. He did that with Crespo and thought he could do the same with Sheva and SWP. This a fight he started and leave RA alone. He's our saint.

Alex, Ranieri did nothing? Raniery did NOTHING? So you think Big'ed would've won 'back 2 back titles without: J.T (who Ran nurtured, made captn)gallas, cech (ran signing!), W.Bridge, duff, robben (ran signin!), joecole, crespo, gudjonsn, THE whole damn squad was assmbld by Ran; all the quality was brought in by him. JOSE mourinho inherited a BLOODY good bunch of players, a bunch he would have failed to amass himself. He's steadily DEPLETED our squad. Duff out.Why? Eidur? Gallas (our BEST cb)? DROGBA has turned out to be his only good signing. Essien? cole? with half a brain you could work out these two would be positiv aquistns. Left on his own in Ran's shoes, this narcissistic prat would've shipped in half of porto/benfica reserves. And the other half? Well, a few kezmans, some tiagos, jaroriks, delhornos, carvalhos (overated, rash, flimsy), fereiras, .Hilarios and other AVEREAGE / POOR players. he would have eyed for Porto. I dislike jm, but of course he's a fine manager, just not as fine as we're constantly made to believe. Wivout what ranieri did, jm would've struggled to fight roman's axe- after all, it would have been a lot trickier with scrappy, dull football under him, as it was for his 1st 3 months till duff, lamps and robben resQd his arrognt arse RANIERI did wot JM cud not hav done. J.M is doin what Ran wud not do- go the extra yard, instil the mentality, belief, workrate, orgnztn. Before you start worshipin, just think: a) with wot jm had n has, there is a bloody goody chance othas can emulate his achievements but wiv added entetainment value, and, b) wivout the finest (ran-grown and ran-picked) potatos, your bag of (mourino) crisps might not taste or sell as good as they do.

Tony Glover

I do not question your love to Chelsea and this is probably impossible. However, what I ask is not be negative. When we win CC nobody will remember that on the road we crushed Wycombe. Nevertheless, would we fail to beat Wycombe it could be remembered forever. We have and should be happy about it. I know exactly like you that it was second division and there is no point to remind it. You can read in todays press that R.A. has no intention to ditch J.M. and it was obvious, but from the beginig some people on THIS site were looking for some sort of substitution. What was simply premature. I believe we will go through the troubles and become stronger than ever. Come on Chels!!!

i dnt mean to sound funny anything but why the hell do u tink mourinho is aowrser than raneiri is beyond me ill give u 5 reasons y mourinho is a class manager

1. not lost a home game under him since he arrived
2.he has won us bk-2-bk premiership titles
3.the most successful manager u will ever have
4.abramovich has done the right thing in sayin he will never replace the speical one
5.prooves he is the special one because he won the champions league with porto came here bought players got the 1st title went for the second he is class end of ... any disagreements then your sad to me coz he is fanstastic n to ur surprise


ALL THE SQUAD BACK HIM N SO DOES KENYON AND U WONDER WHY !!

AND I KNOW MOURINHO WONT LEAVE !!!!

end of thats all im going to say to chelsea fans n other fans that dislike him u best think of the trophies he has won before you criticize him ok ppl

and the word thats abit wrong is worser ****

Fakredin III.You only say c***t!!How can you say that, carvalho one of the best cb in the world an average/poor player??What tha f**k do you know about football???Ranieri did a great job but if there was no carvalho and ferreira and drogba , and robben and the best manager in the world?? your club woul remain in the very c***t that was in the last 50 years!!I advise to by a puppet and throw your frustations to him because I think a puppet is the thing that has an intelligence more similar with yours.You're nothing but street coach that thinks himself good in the FM!!

let everyone wait and see,mikel is likely to be the 1st nigerian that would be named in the world three best footballers in the world,with all the loads of troubles on his head at the youth championships he excelled brilliantly. he did not even play for any club prior to the competition.
he is no doubt a RAW talent, and if harnessed may be rated among world GREATS like zidane,garincha,best ,maradonna,pele.we are all in suspense