Premier League: Bolton Wanderers 0 - 2 Chelsea
Saturday, 06 December 08, 04:19 PM · Comments (86)
Match reports
The Observer, Duncan Castles:
"When opponents are forced on to [Chelsea] by the expectations of the home support, Nicolas Anelka has room to run in to as his team-mates trade passes and launch the counterattack. Goals flow
freely, generally early, and the game is dead before energy levels ever become an issue."
Sunday Telegraph, Derick Allsop: "When your game is supposedly faltering and you are confronted by the Premier League's in form team, you could be excused a sense of trepidation. Chelsea, palpably, had no such concerns."
Sunday Times, Pete Oliver: "Didier Drogba is likely to return for Chelsea when they look to secure their passage from the Champions League group stages on Tuesday night and chief executive Peter Kenyon says he will not be sold in the January transfer window. But with Nicolas Anelka continuing his prolific scoring to lead Chelsea to an eighth successive away league win this season, who is the main man of Stamford Bridge?"
Official Chelsea FC Website, Andy Jones: "Chelsea set a new English record with an 11th straight away league win at Bolton on Saturday, thanks to goals from Nicolas Anelka and Deco."
The goals
9' Anelka 0-121' Deco 0-2
The game
Convincing, professional, plenty of classy moments, two cracking goals and beating the top flight record for away wins set in 1960. Not a bad afternoon’s work.
This was Chelsea on the road at their best. Two goals up early on and playing plenty of slick one touch football enabled the fans to relax knowing three points were in the bag. The only tension remaining for the afternoon was whether Liverpool would also pick up maximum points.
Early on Bolton had one great chance when Kevin Davies headed over from close range but after nine minutes we took the lead. Some nice work by Jose Bosingwa on the right wing and his decent cross was met by a Nicolas Anelka diving header which flew in off the post.
Fifteen minutes later and as another attack seemed to break down the ball looped out to Deco who, from just inside box, hit a wonderful overhead scissor kick into the bottom corner of the net.
Player ratings
Thought about using the Henry formula but misplaced my slide rule so have instead opted for four judges style voting as in Strictly Come Dancing. You can phone in and vote if you like.- Petr Cech: 6-5-6-6 – some decent saves but his clearances continue to be suspect, often putting our defenders under instant pressure.
- Jose Bosingwa: 7-8-8-7 – some great attack work and created the first goal.
- John Terry: 7-7-7-7 - solid.
- Alex: 7-7-7-7 – also solid just bigger.
- Ashley Cole: 7-7-7-7 – got stuck in.
- John Obi Mikel: 7-7-7-7 – up to this season's high standard.
- Frank Lampard: 7-7-7-7 – must be due a goal soon.
- Michael Ballack: 7-7-7-7 – hardworking and seems to like Basil Fawlty impersonations with the head bandage.
- Deco: 7-8-8-7 – was crap against Arsenal and got jeered off but much improved today and his goal will definitely be played over and over on Chelsea TV’s Goalden Moments.
- Salomon Kalou: 7-7-6-6 - pacy and hard working but needed more composure in front of goal.
- Nicolas Anelka: 7-8-7-7 – another goal enabling him to perform his butterfly hands to the 5,000 Peter Kays behind the goal.
Man of the Match
Jose Bosinwga. Tight call but a repeat of last week for his attacking prowess and energy.
Final thought
Why can’t we perform as well at home as when we play away?
Is it because home has become too familiar and lost its sparkle? Or because when we play away they’re more accommodating and let us try out new positions?
Whatever the reason we need to stiffen up at home to sustain the challenge.
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86 Comments · Add yours
First Comment! Woot! Only Watched the first half but a good performance from the Blues all-Round.
Our away form is very good and beyond. I hope it will stay this way, when we have to play the big four away from the Bridge.
What a better side we are with a fit Ballack and no Malouda.
Shame we don't have someone to replace Kalou :D Who I do rate, some of the goals he scored for PSV were stunning. But his composure and decision making in front of goal are shocking!
Good to see we are back to winning. Unfortunately didn't get to see the game.
LINK
Scolari admits he needs a striker if everyone stays injured.
LINK
The Telegraph is claiming that Arsenal might make a bid for Kalou. As well, we might loan out Alex, and Roman apparently wants Arshavin on the team. I hope he is a player Scolari wants, but I think he would fit in our new style of play... Otherwise, the usual Wagner Love, Benzema and Amr Zaki are the striker targets.
As well, rumor has it Valencia will sell David Villa- but last I remember he wants to stay in Spain.
So another perfect away day. What's the point of getting tickets to the Bridge when you can enjoy Anelka et al running riot away from home?
GOOD:
1. Performance - After a limp resignation to defeat against Arsenal, today the side showed fight and passion. We played some great stuff in the first half but strangely the second half was a more pleasing sight for me. To see that this team can win a physical battle and grind out a victory gave me hope that the old Jose mentality hasn't been lost yet and when combined with free-flowing counter attacks, we do seem like the perfect away day specialists.
2. Away record - 11 straight wins and only a deflected Robinho free-kick conceded in that run. With the Bridge rapidly turning into our bogey ground (taken over from Villa Park) maybe we should aim for 19 away wins instead. That kind of run should see us lift the title.
3. Deco - When given time and space he can look like a genius and who would of thought he'd look great at the Reebok and not at home against the artists from the Emirates? It wasn't just his overhead kick, but his vision, passing and running made him my MOTM. He looked up for the fight and his late tricks against Steinsson summed up a great performance. Knowing him, he'll probably be anonymous against Cluj.
4. Counter-attacking - When teams attack us, they leave us the room to play some great counter-attacks, reminiscent of the Robben and Duff days. The forward running of Lamps, Bosingwa and Anelka were a constant threat in the first half. Sadly those of us who can only get to the Bridge will never see this with teams only looking to defend deep.
5. Ballack - Added much needed steel, power and strength to midfield and his experience should help us through the difficult Christmas period. A welcome return from Ze German.
BAD:
1. Bosingwa - Nothing to do with his play but his reaction to the slightest of touches from McCann was rather embarrassing.
2. Eboue - Brought on for the injured Nasri only to have a shocker, then he gets booed by his own fans every time he touched the ball and then a massive cheer goes round the Emirates when he's hauled off by Wenger. I know he's shit and one of the most hated players in the league but Arsenal's fans certainly showed a distinct lack of class by booing his every touch.
So the bandwagon rolls on away from home and up next is the most important game of Phil's Chelsea career against Cluj. One of the main problems facing him is the red card Lamps received. Deco looked good today in his free role from the left wing and his slight laziness and the extra time he wants on the ball seems more suited to a more attacking position away from central midfield. So how to replace Lamps, especially with Joe still out?
Bring in Paulo to the holding role and move Mikel further forward?
Bring back Malouda to the left wing and move Deco to CM?
Play Ivanovic in the holding role?
Unleash Didier and Anelka in an attacking 4-4-2 with a diamond behind him?
As we need a win against Cluj i'd love to see Phil play both Nico and Didier. But more likely is the return of Malouda, which should bring some Christmas cheer to all those going to the game:) But whoever plays, a win is a must. Can anyone imagine the fallout from us crashing out? I wonder if Phil would even last the week knowing the obsession Roman has with the CL.
Chelsea is the best team ever. If they tried to beat Man United they would win
4-0. Lampard and Deco were outstanding. Super game from Chelsea FC.
Roman must be pleased that his minions are carrying out some classic Russian censorship. Criticism of the board just will not do:
LINK
I know it's from the mail but when i first saw it on goal.com i couldn't exactly trust them, so i went looking for the story.
"Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari is on collision course with owner Roman Abramovich after the club censored critical comments he made to fans over the club's transfer policy.
The Brazilian World Cup winner told a supporters' forum at Stamford Bridge on Thursday night that the club must sign players in next month's transfer window if they want to win trophies this season.
Scolari said: 'I think the board know it, I know it and the fans know it.
'We need one or two more players to put in the team and if we get them then we are in good condition to win trophies at the end of the season and, if not, there might be problems. If we have two more players in the squad, we will have a good chance.'
Scolari's words were greeted by loud applause but when Chelsea's official website reported on the evening his implied criticism of Abramovich, who has ruled out spending on players in January, was deleted from a transcript of the question and answer session."
I think we all agree with Phil and for all the talk of Villa, Benzema or Arshavin (i think he's cup-tied unless he managed to stage a strike for every European tie) we will be looking at other options who must follow 3 criteria:
1. Cheap
2. Not cup-tied
3. Better than Malouda or Kalou
So if there's a good enough player out there who can meet all the criteria and who wouldn't interest City then we'll have him. If not then we'll be relying on Malouda to win us the Premiership or CL!
a must read:
LINK
Anyone know anything about 20-yr old Orlando Sa of Sporting Braga? Apparently he's been training with the first team and is a big centre-forwardy type person.
@LTB
With a name like that he sounds more like a Florida holiday resort.
@LIMETREEBOWER
Google search for Orlando Sa did not produce any conclusive results.
The only informative link I found is
LINK
It looks like he is heavily linked with the Blues and deal is almost done.
@Clive
If teams are going to come and park the bus in their goalmouth, then perhaps we need a whole hotel to play up front.
If this Orlando Sa fellow is actually any good, will he displace Anelka/Didier as our main Striker??
Orlando Sa's 3 goals against Spain U-21:
LINK
LINK
LINK
Tragic marking, but he has a nose for goal.
After watching his great display against Everton, maybe Ashley Young could be a useful January signing. A definite improvement on Malouda for that left wing position in a 4-3-3.
Watching him on MOTD2 he reminds me a little of Robben and Duff when we were running riot. Since their departure we haven't had the same pace on the wings and if we can somehow nick him off O'Neill then he'd fit in perfectly.
@HABS
Ashley Young is worth a punt definately. But can he withstand the pressure of playing for a big club and dont falter like SWP?
LINK
Was their evr any doubt that our favourite coiffeured misfit would....'let em down'?
I wonder if there's a Villa Blog somewhere where they muse about buying Lampard in the January window? "He's like Gareth Barry only much better, let's get him in."
Can only comment on Saturday from what I saw on MOTD and read in the papers yesterday. It's become apparent we're productive against teams who try and play football, but when they come to the Bridge and shut up shop, we have no answer to it. And, in fairness, the away fixture list has been pretty comformtable for us - no really testing games on the road yet.
MOTD showed me we still need to show composure in front of goal, Deco and Kalou both getting caught in at least 2 minds what to do with just Finlands finest to beat. And the papers say Cech was pretty rubbish on Saturday - I'm hoping that's a one off Petr.
Ashley Young?
Would say yes, but he'd cost twice as much as a foreigner who's just as good - look how much we laid out for SWP.
Regarding this Orlando Foot Spa - havent we got some striker on loan from Sporting Lisbon (Fabio Paim???) who's been about as visible as Ivanovic was in his first months at the Bridge. If DD goes, we need someone who's established to fill that role in the short term.
@ Fiftee #21
"And, in fairness, the away fixture list has been pretty comformtable for us - no really testing games on the road yet."
I was thinking the same thing yesterday and if I wasn't taking the medication and retired to my darkened garrett to gnaw on my overwhelming sense of paranoia, I might find mayself chuckling that the silly sod who made sure we had to play all the big boys at home first so that:
1. Our home record would go before the end of the year
2. Ensure that our opponents would have the easier run in at the season's end
overlooked the fact that we would start setting records for playing on the road (or pilgrimage if you like).
I anticipate that should we do something like go unbeaten on the road this season our first 4 away fixtures next year will be anfield, old trafford, cashburton and one other that they consider may trip us up......
Now where did I put my pills...?
Incidentally, this was also good news over the weekend. After the Mikel incident, perhaps people will start to realise that Manchester United FC, far from being a good honest old-fashioned football club up against our evil empire, tend to lie quite a lot about pretty much everything at any given opportunity.
LINK
I've just returned from 4 internet-free days out of the country to find that:
1) Roy Keane has gone for that long walk with his dog already
2) I've missed the deadline to buy my own seat for the FA Cup 3rd round game - though just made the season ticket holders' priority last day
3) My Sky+ box developed a mind of its own on Saturday and while claiming to have the 60 minute Football First coverage of the Bolton game I'd set it to tape it actually had recorded Hull v Middlesbrough!
So I've just seen MOTD's blink and you miss it coverage too - as I drifted toward sleep resisting the temptation to fast forward through all the other games shown first.
@21. Fiftee - not sure which papers said Cech was rubbish, but in the hard-copy Observer I read the reporter made him Man of the Match - it's all just opinion...
@ Mark,
Thanks for the report. I enjoyed the new style of marking. Looking at your assessment there's no John Sargeant this week then.
Other matters
Sportainment - Read this at the weekend, you couldn't make it up. Browse the interview as well if you can stand it.
LINK
Me, I'm going into my box early if this is what it's come to. If I leave a bag of nails and a hammer could someone just nail the lid down tight? Thanks
LINK
Injury Crisis
More on perhaps why we are experiencing 2 seasons of injury problems. May be true some of it? Some on here have questioned our stamina late on in games. Has LSF tuned down the intensity to try and cut the rate of injuries? The bit about Essien is very worrying if true.
Well I made b#ll*x of that. This is what the second link should have been...
LINK
BBD,
Admittedly, the views were from those respected Sunday publications the News of the World and the Mail on Sunday (read at the in-laws - I wouldn't pay myself to read it).
As you say, it's all just opinion.
Just when you thought the season was going a bit pants....
Bolton – one of the powerhouses of the cotton industry in times gone by. What images does that conjur up? Well Mississippi cotton fields, dark satanic mills maybe, but in our everyday lives cotton means one thing – pants.
Yes here is a visual re-interpretation of Mark’s (and Spencers??) player assessments as pants (with apologies to Mark)
Chech – Kept us covered at vital moments but there’s concern that he leaves himself a little exposed at the back
www.inmagine.com/is085/is085051-photo
Boswinga – racy, pacy, exciting.
LINK
Terry - comfortable and dependable, covered everything
LINK
Sorry some of the links didn't come out, I don't do technology but I think you can cut and paste them.......
For Blue Bayou.
LINK
if you thought all men were born equal you've never been to a locker room!
@PeteW
?? are you referring me to the lone comment as while tennis is pants I can't see any other relevance ;-)
I've been reading this blog daily but it's been about 6 months since i have commented, greetings to all.
Did anyone hear the latest comments by uncle scolari?
something along the lines of
"the chelsea job is zero pressure.. in brasil there is 108 million people and they are all coaches.. that's pressure..."
could be infamous last words...
Got my tickets for the big game tomorrow night. first time at the bridge since 01/02. can't wait. it's great to be back in london.
I am mildly amused at the volume of comments after a loss vs. after a victory. Everyone knows better than Scolari, it seems, and none of us can wait to talk about it.
@34- Well, I'm no Scolari critic, but it also seems that nothing really happened. We won another away match. I think it is fantastic- but the team has proved that they can do that.
On the subject of the kids...
LINK
'We are in a good position until now,' the Chelsea manager insists, 'and sometimes it is impossible to change much because we have two or three players out with injuries.
'The solution then sometimes is young players and I don't want to give pressure for these players.
'Miroslav Stoch, Scott Sinclair, Franco Di Santo, this is not the players that I say, you solve my problems. It is other older players that need to solve my problems.
'When I have all the players in my hands, I try to change, maybe 4-4-2, 4-3-3, two strikers,' he promises. 'But until now I don't have chance to change many times because of injuries, because of bans.
An interesting insight into his thought. It seems that he is still trying to build a sense of "his" team, and the responsibilities of the senior players. Regardless, this year will continue to be very interesting...
I really don't like comments like these from Scolari
LINK
As a Chelsea fan, I couldn't give a toss how big he thinks Brazil are, but I care deeply how Chelsea perform and if he thinks a loss to Cluj tonight (or CL elimination) will be accepted by Blues fans, he will be seriously wrong.
I want to give him a fair chance, but whilst on occasions the football has been sensational this year, I long for the days when we knew that we had the better of teams like Tottenham , Arsenal, Utd and Newcastle, amongst others on our home turf.
There was nothing better than knowing we had the best defence in the league, and there was very little opponents could do about it.
If I wanted to support a side than plays pretty football and wins sod all, I would go to the Emirates..... Come on Chelsea, tighten up at the back, and start putting sides to the sword at home!
Our current form at home doesn't fill me with loads of confidence ahead of tonight but, saying that, Cluj can't even qualify for the UEFA Cup and so have nothing to lose - they'll be there giving a good account of themselves so hopefully it'll be more of an open game than a normal league encounter.
As I ponder what will happen tonight, I'll throw forward my predictions :
- Deco will either be amazing, or abysmal. Seems to have no middle ground, is either shit-hot, or plain shit.
- Set pieces, now in the hands of Ballack, will be effective, and we'll score from at least one of them. Then Lamps will be back on them on Sunday.
- Injury. There'll be another injury. Maybe to Joe Cole, again.
- Any goals we score tonight wont come from Anelka or Drogba. It'll be one of those frustrating for a striker type games, where the defenders double up on them at every occassion.
There. Set myself up for a fall now.......
Blue Bayou - it was a standing ovation!
Greenlight - Scolari was simply responding to questions about pressure after Ray Wilkins told the press on Saturday that Felipe was looking tired and feeling the strain. He's trying to calm down the speculation (think Jose 'bird flu') and also take the pressure off the players.
He;s also dead right about the kids, but doesn't really explain why he gave Stoch his debut with ten minutes left and us 1-2 down to Arsenal!
LINK
We cant let him go to City - this is one player that we do need. Him and anelka would be just lovely.
Greenlight - he is just trying to remove the pressure - they all know that for us to not qualify and in truth to not qualify in style tonight would be unthinkable.
He just wants his players to relax and enjoy the game in order to get the best from them.
We need an early goal and he knows it - i predict DD and Anelka up top - lots of mixing it up too - long balls and wide balls to the wing backs.
Chelsea 3 - 0 Cluj
@37. Fiftee - Pat Nevin makes the point in his column on the website today that the contrast between our home and away form domestically is reversed in Europe, where it's away from home that we're struggling with 2 from 2 wins at home.
@38. PeteW - re Scolari and the kids, I guess he would claim bringing on Stoch just reflected how short of alternatives he was that day with even his preferred late sub, Belletti, injured that day.
I know you're all bored of the admiration I have for him, but all the time he was linked to us, it was never speculated that we were as close as this to tying up the deal :
"It is understood that the deal, worth an estimated £160,000-a-week, could be completed as early as Friday"
I hope it's not true. Or that we're frantically trying to find £160k a week to give him. We need him.
Unless Villa wants to put football before cash (will Citeh be able to offer any European action next season?), I'd suggest that we're pissing in the wind even thinking we're at the same table as City on this one. No point trying to outbid them - if he's going anywhere then it looks like it will be Eastlands.
Think we'll be OK tonight - as long as they don't score first...
Apparently Big F(oo)il is going to play Drogba and Anelka up front.
"Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari will start Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka together for the first time this season in Tuesday's crunch Champions League Group A clash with CFR Cluj. (The Sun)"
Just what I need to aggravate my Anti-Scolaritis.
This was suppose to be Deco&Ballack's chance (alongside Obi) to prove they are our best MF patnership, without some trigger-happy bloke CONFUSING them.
Shame on Big Phil. Would love to see santa ramming his 'behind' into a cheap flight to Rio.
@ Fiftee #42
IF Chelsea signed Villa for £160K a week is there a timepiece accurate enough to time the pause between Villa's signature and Terry's agent, Lampard's agent and god knows who else banging on Kenyon's door?
@ PeteW
Ah I see. You're too kind. I'd assumed with your usual trenchant wit that there was a hidden message...and ended up spending 4 minutes of my life that I'll never have back waiting for a pants related incident. Oh dear the insecurity that comes with genius :-)
@ BB
IF Chelsea signed Villa for £160K a week is there a timepiece accurate enough to time the pause between Villa's signature and Terry's agent, Lampard's agent and god knows who else banging on Kenyon's door?
Nanoseconds doesn't even begin to cover it...!
Be interesting to see what Citeh do in January - no doubt there will be attempts at big statements of intent, but even on a good day they barely look anything more than a top half side; who wants the pressure of being the big £60m signing to deliver a top 4 finish or else?
We'll have to stick with Orlando Foot Spa, I suppose.
In the unlikely event we fail to qualify for the next round of the CL tonight, could all the doom and gloom merchants please post their views now. ;-)
As it's nearing Xmas I would like to remain festive, and not festering.
Ho Ho Ho!
In the unlikely event we fail to qualify for the next round of the CL tonight, could all the doom and gloom merchants please post their views now. ;-)
But of course; I blame Kenyon. And Avram Grant for getting our expectations up last season.
Bayou,
I imagine they've bagsied their places outside Kenyons office already.
I see Wendy Ramos is about to be appointed Real manager. Can't see that lasting any longer than the stay at Spuds.
Spurs to Real Madrid - was there ever a better example of the frying pan / fire analogy?
@ KJ11 #50
I see at as something more like from this
LINK
to this
LINK
We better qualify! That's it, no excuses otherwise the next home game the fans will make him feel the need to buy a one way ticket to Brasilia!!!! I am sure we will given the players and the opposition whatever that idiot vampire striker says about respect. How can a team which over the last three/four years ago was terryfing for anyone including Barca, man-u et all to come and even think about winning at the Bridge suddenly have upstarts thinking they might get a result?
My message to Schorai, just win and forget the nice politics, get us through, get back on track in the Prem and then well talk again! Until then stop making predictions such as not losing all season and booking hotels for the Cl in Rome! and for god sakes stop conversing with journalists about tactics and who i sgoign to paly etc. Jose, Wneger or Ferguson dont talk about whether they will play a 442 or whatever else in public. keep your counsel. your smile is wearing, JUST WIN!!!!!!!!!!
So are you saying BB... that you see Spurs more of low end greasy spoon type club?
Up till now i never thought City could get a player of Villa's quality who's not in it for the money and if they get him then i will feel slightly worried. Jealous yes, but more for the fact that we seem to have swung to the other extreme in terms of transfers. I know Kenyon wants to break even by 2010 (no chance of that happening) but we seem to have gone from buying anyone and everyone to nobody. I don't see why we can't follow Fergie's policy of bringing in 1/2 very good players instead of 3/4 average ones. His transfers recently have involved Vidic and Evra (1 transfer window), Anderson and Tevez (1 transfer window) and then Berbatov (this summer). Whilst i know Roman feels hurt that he's been ripped off on the likes of Boulahrouz, Tiago, Kalou, Malouda, Parker, Veron, Mutu, Crespo, Johnson and Sheva (his fault on that one) that shouldn't mean we should just close ranks and say we won't even compete for any world class players. After all Roman was willing to give Phil £30m to spend on Robinho in the summer so why can't we use that £30m now on David Villa? He's not cup-tied, playing at a club in financial turmoil and most importantly is fucking amazing. It's not as if he's a dream signing like Kaka or Messi, we've actually got a shot at getting him as i'm sure the lure of the CL every season, challenging for titles as well as joining a club on the King's Road would trump the money up at City. He doesn't seem a player in it for money, after all he rejected a massive offer from Real in the summer so i would like to see Kenyon go for him. He'll certainly be a better bet than wasting £5m on Orlando Sa who'll probably turn out to be the next Kalou.
As for tonight, well the nerves are beginning to play up. We should beat them but without Lamps i'm not so sure. No matter what idiots like Hnrey say about him, he's one of the best players in the world and without him we always seem to look lost. I'll go for a very nervy 1-0.
Was watching Georgie Thompson Neckline News again and saw Deco. When he refers to Frank by his nickname it comes out as "Lumps". Awesome.
I just love the headline LINK unlike the unreal job he had before.
And for the nervous amongst us please go here LINK
Evening ladies, gents and Henry -
Just to let you know that since yesterday lunchtime my home/office Internet connection has been down after BT ballsed up a line migration, which means I won't be able to post anything about tonight's match until sometime tomorrow - unless BT come through and fix things tonight (unlikely). Apologies in advance.
THIS IS COOL.
Very shaky start and could have gone behind,hope this is not s sign of things to come.Need to up their game big time,hope I'm wrong but this could be a very anxious night.
Not too be too gloomy but we're awful,I can't name a Chelsea player who's having a good game,things will have to change before too long,they're looking more dangerous than us,not comfortable viewing.
We've scored,even Kalou coudn't miss from 5yrds out,still a very poor performance though.
1-1 what a fucking surprise,whatever happens we've been very poor in every way.Shocking passing,defending and shooting.Hope Mr Scolari has got his bags packed,just incase.
After 75 minutes....
Both Coles have been useless!
John Obi Mikel...indispensable!
Drogba...welcome back!
Kalou...fared better than J. Cole so those calling for his head better rethink!
Hoping no surprises and we go thru....
Always Blue!
Good to have qualified....
Just thinking... who would draw chelsea and not be afraid (second or not)?
"Kalou...fared better than J. Cole so those calling for his head better rethink! " - never ina million years. At least Joe passes to his mates and makes a decision. I lost count of the time Kalou-less ran into a group of Cluj players tamely surrendering possession. he needs to be told he ISN'T Lionel Messi!
Kalouless had little to do. He took the goal well but when he took other players on he was his usual frustrating self. Great to see Didier back. We showed us everything that we have been missing recently. 4-4-2 is a must.
------------------Cech-----------------
-----------Riccy-------Terry-----------
Bosingwa-----------------------A.Cole--
--------Lamps/Ballack---Mikel----------
J.Cole/Kalou------------------Deco-----
-------------DD------Anelka------------
@ Evillynn
Pray tell, where did you disappear to? Were there not enough bad vibes for you to feed off? Your recent contributions on here just about sum you up perfectly - you appear to bleat like a flock of pissed off sheep when the chips are down but you vanish like a fart in a storm when anything vaguely positive happens. Cheer the fuck up you miserable twat, it might never happen.
Job done. Welcome back the Drog - fuck spending silly money in January; keep him fit and interested and anything is possible. Carvalho back in defence, Essien providing a bit of power - lovely stuff.
Sorry Alexis, I've called for his head and I'll continue to do so.
He was awful tonight. Yes he scored (despite completely missing it first time round, and then mis-hitting it to convert the chance).
Amazing how we'd scored another goal within minutes of him departing the pitch - no surprise given that everyone else in blue was less shit and therefore able to - almost - find a team-mate every time. He gives us nothing of note out wide, can't cross and has minimal success in beating his marker.
Seriously, he started so badly, I could feel an Eboue-type situation starting to develop. Though that could have just been in my living room.
Eboue type situation? Hmmmmmm....I desperately want a big flat screen TV and in order to persuade Mrs CT of the absolute desperation we have for said device, alongside a nice blu-ray home cinema system, my best ploy seems to be sabotage the existing one. However, it needs to be convincing, not just a spilt cup of tea or an accidental boot removal accident.
Now if I continue to watch Kalou play for us on TV............perhaps I could just smash the thing to pieces whilst jeering and booing Kalou as he trudges forlornly around the pitch.
Justifiable TV homicide perhaps? Especially if Malouda rejoins the fray. In fact if Malouda rejoins the fray (anyone else think his omission from the bench for the last 2 games spells 'the end') I could even take the hi-fi out as well.
Is there such a thing as 'serial appliance killing'?
@ Evillynn
Pray tell, where did you disappear to? Were there not enough bad vibes for you to feed off? Your recent contributions on here just about sum you up perfectly - you appear to bleat like a flock of pissed off sheep when the chips are down but you vanish like a fart in a storm when anything vaguely positive happens. Cheer the fuck up you miserable twat, it might never happen.
Bloody hell JD remind me never to get on the wrong side of you, in a bad mood I take it? What happended did you come home from work early and catch your wife in bed with another woman but missed all the action? :-)
Anyway what you said was spot on, people whinge when we play pretty football and lose, and then when we're functional and lacklustre and win, that's all wrong. I suppose the old saying is true, you can please some of the people etc etc...
???
There's obviously some error of perspective that strikes whenever we try and describe Kalou. Or maybe it's a parallel universe thing. In the game I was watching, he went past defenders a few times, teed people up for shots, got tackled a few times same as everyone else, and generally offered a decent if hardly Robben-like threat down his side. Not only did he not start badly in my universe, but he actually created the first proper chance -- beat defenders in the left side of the penalty box and cut back perfectly for Anelka. But obviously in the alternate dimension he was outstandingly rubbish. Schrödinger's Kalou.
We were pretty awful in the first half. Incredibly static: the image of the night was of someone with the ball in a central attacking midfield position, facing forwards, and either A) no one in front of him, a few people jogging casually up into attack from behind; or, B) three or four people in front of him standing absolutely still. I'd expected some urgency but there was a visible lack of intensity, again.
Considerably improved in the second half, with the ball being moved around more quickly, if not all that penetratingly.
I thought Joe was the game's best player apart from perhaps Obi (who seems to be developing reliable low-level inconspicuous brilliance a la Carvalho). Drogs looked well up for it. The return of Riccy and of Essien should make a difference too, Essien in particular -- when things are flat we need someone who pelts forward with the ball from midfield, rather than standing and looking around as Deco, Ballack and (sometimes) Lumps do.
Schrodingers Kalou - very possible. At any one stage he exists in all states, but the act of observation collapses the probability wave and we see a shit player. I think perhaps LTB, you only exist in a single universe, whilst the rest of us exist in this one. At some point we've had an inter-dimensional universe clash. You saw a good Kalou, 39,000 others plus the TV element saw the normal one. I mean ....even Pleat called him ineffective.
And Pleat fancies every bloke on the pitch.
Is there such a thing as 'serial appliance killing'?
Tony just give me your address tell me when you're all out and a list of things you want to go missing. I assume that you have insurance cover?
At least you could SEE kalou in the game....cant say the same for J.C. who was anonymous until that loop for Drogs...
Kalou WASNT in the the Bordeaux game but JC was, yet we were shit!...no endeavour not real threat at goal!...arguably one of the worst matches we'v played in terms of attacking threat!
Comparatively, he's scored more goals than JC over the seasons and that counts for something....
Fair is fair, the micrsocope set on kalou if set on JC may not show anything radically different...thats my point! Invest time and tutelage on kalou and we'll get more from him than JC whom most kalou critics have been conveniently silent about!
I'm a Kalou critic and hers my take on Joe Cole. Joe Cole is a far better and more consistent player that the likes of Man Utd and Liverpool would love to have. Kalou on the other hand might just be a useful utility player for Citeh.
Thoughts-
A serviceable win. A touch timid, but we're in. Kluj are something of a good side- they are by no means a bad one. They had fear on their side- who cares if you lose? Only Chelsea had something to play for that was worth losing.
Great to have Drogs back. Was happy with how he played. The team really turned around when he appeared on the pitch- all of the players were looking for him, looking to send him the ball. More than that, he was looking for the ball, looking to either score, or create opportunities. I think we'd be nuts to sell him- you can see what he meant to the side today. More than that, he was tactically flexible...
I thought Mikel was great, as everyone has mentioned, and Ballack played a nice, if quiet, game. We need to be sharper on the ball, as we get in trouble when there are giveaways behind the overlapping backs.
After the marking on that goal, I have still have no problem with selling Alex and calling up Mancienne.
This match wasn't going to be easy, and I didn't expect amazing tactical switches to happen. So I thought what transpired was good, I thought our wingers were poor, I thought little barcelona-style passes between Deco and Anelka in the box might really come to something if we drop Kalou or Cole and buy, perhaps, Arshavin.
Oh, and Belleti should shoot more. Too bad no one crashed the box on his shot...
Who's got the better goals ratio?
For all the flak Kalou gets you'll think he's much worse than JC given the 'returns on investment'...but the facts prove he's not!
I don't understand the Kalou hating bunch here. He isn't the best of the best, but he's still quality player, he consistently beats his marker, he sometimes passes and finishes well, and generally appears dangerous. His contribution is clearly on the positive side. I also find it hard to believe that buying a big money striker would be a good thing. Anelka when given some space and ball to feet is clinical finisher, whereas drogba can handle crosses and tighter spots. Buying would be unwise also because the team is already crowded, since three of the following have to be left out: mikel, ballack, lampard, essien, deco, j cole, kalou, anelka and drogba, and the back-up team of belletti, ferreira, malouda, mineiro +youngsters need some time on field too..
Alexis/Jose fan - for fucks sake its not all about goals. Is Kalou better than say Carvalho on that basis? Its a bollocks argument in every sense. Joe Cole has consistently been a better all round player than Kalou in every way since Mourinho put faith in him. Yep, he has the odd stinker, but look at Deco thus far this season, whose had more than enough stinkers for a whole season, let alone a third of one. Why is Joe Cole the more likely to be in front of Kalou on the team sheet? Mourinho,Grant and Scolari seem to agree with me on that. I've criticised JC for his goals return before, but he's more like a Rooney than an out and out striker. Kalou scored tonight, so well done. It hardly makes him a fucking genius does it? I'll eat the humble pie when I see Kalou play a whole game with effort, intelligence mixed in with his inconsistent capability.
just got home from the game- could have added afew more goals late in the game if any of the players took a f$cking shot!
chelsea seemed to lack imagination. By the end all of us in the matthew harding were pleading with The incredible sulk to take a shot.
happy to go through. anyone know when the draw for the last 16 is?
i thin kalou would be a grand player if we kept him out of the box- he seems to panic a little bit when he gets close to goal, much like a pimply faced virgin on his first date. once he gets a bit more comfortable with the ball(s), perhaps we can let him into the box?
KTBFFH
What has happened to PSV. They could do with Alex back. Their defence made Keane look good.
ChelseaTony
JC may be better, yes....but not by much and that is my point!
Both are played in similar roles as wingers most times, so the analogy to Carvalho (defender) wouldnt arise...Thats why i compared like with like
Kalou is more likely to go round a marker AND leave him behind...his maturity and composure on the final ball may be inferior to JC's but that does not wipe off his other positive attributes, which can be built upon...
As stated earlier, the comparison between both players has only been made to point out the fact that Kalou is not as 'useless' as some of us make him out to be...everything considered!...How many players do we have in the team that can play as wingers and strikers?
And even though its not all about goals, goals ratio is very very key when assessing forwards...
Really good to see the Drogs back...more options up front
@Habs - Check your email.
Just to join in with the debate...
I think the main problem people have with Kalou, Alexis, is that we've been talking about his potential for two and a half seasons now but we have not really seen any real development.
I don't think he is at all useless - he has popped up with some crucial contributions, like the equaliser against Tottenham in the FA Cup, the header against Man United this season, THAT assist for John Arne Riise just to name a few - but he does not have the consistency or intelligence to be a first team regular. He is arguably our weakest link now that SWP is no longer at the club - a decent squad player of a club with our ambitions but nothing more.
He was pretty much a first team regular last season when Malouda was still adjusting, and technically contributed about the same amount for our cause as Duffer did in our first title-winning season, and even Robben in the three years he was here (check the goals and assists tally on the official Premier League site). It's common for us to be nostalgic at the moment about the 2004-05 days where we had two highly on-form wingers who tore teams to shreds. Kalou can assist and score the odd important goal, sure. The difference is he cannot actually change the game like Robben did, and that is the sort of player that we need at this club.
For someone who arrived three summers ago with the tag of 'the next Thierry Henry', he has not lived up to the bill. Contrast his development with that of Mikel, who used to play further up the pitch and was still a constant red card liability and is now the lynchpin of our current system. His intelligence as a player has grown immensely, and he's a few years younger...
I don't think it's at all exaggeration to believe that Mikel will eventually become a greater player than Maka in the defensive midfield position. I don't see Kalou improving enough to claim a regular first eleven spot without someone else being injured. Shame, as he seems a lovely bloke.
Ran out of space... Of course, I would love to be proven wrong!
It's almost cliched now, but Robinho was a massive, massive miss for us in the summer. Imagine him terrorising opposition defences in royal blue! We've been watching the world-class wingers like Ribery and Robinho get traded around us for the past two years, and I admit it's frustrating to know we've gone backwards from the days of Robben and Duff. Neither of those players were sustainable in the long run due to their injury problems, realistically, but the club have been unable to replace them with wingers of equal quality.
That said, Bosingwa is the best right back we've had since Dan Petrescu... Our back four is possibly in the best shape it's ever been, the same for the centre of our midfield. Just one brilliant winger and an end to all these bloody injuries and I think we could well be back on the way towards European domination.