Premiership review: Chelsea 3 - 0 Blackburn Rovers
Thursday, 01 February 07, 12:57 AM · Comments (34)
Match reports
Daily Telegraph, Henry Winter: "Chelsea looked a real team, more of the unstoppable machine of recent years. Michael Essien was again a rock in defence, Lassana Diarra again shone at right-back, while Lampard ran midfield. Even those controversial recruits, Michael Ballack and Andrei Shevchenko, contributed gamely, and Shevchenko even received a warm embrace from Mourinho when substituted."
The Independent, Sam Wallace: "They still have Manchester United within their sights, but on the night the transfer window closed the Chelsea manager's depleted squad are yet another man down. The crowd in Stamford Bridge winced at Ashley Cole's bizarre self-inflicted second-half tumble and the player himself was left fearing the very worst."
The Guardian, Jon Brodkin: "A comprehensive Chelsea win ought to have provided pure pleasure for Jose Mourinho as he tries to catch Manchester United but his joy was tempered by an injury to Ashley Cole last night. The left-back departed on a stretcher in obvious discomfort with what the manager called a "serious" left knee problem after catching first one foot and then the other in the turf as he chased a ball with no one near him."
The Times, Matt Dickinson: "Huge issues such as the manager’s future remain unresolved, but at least this display gave hope to the Chelsea supporters that if Mourinho is to depart, it could yet be on a high. It was only one match and defensive frailties cannot be passed over but, in their vigour, Chelsea showed that they have stopped feeling sorry for themselves and are prepared to battle for trophies, whatever is going on in the boardroom."
Official Chelsea FC Website: "Blackburn had their moments but in a game run for the most part by an outstanding Lampard, and containing a Lassana Diarra display that earned his first chants from the crowd, Chelsea merited both their goals and their clean sheet."
The goals
The good
- The performance. It was as far removed from the Liverpool fiasco as is humanly possible. Despite early Blackburn pressure the team really showed they were up for the fight, battling for the ball and for 20 minutes following the goal passing the ball so slickly even Arsene Wenger would have been drooling. Every player did well including Claude Makelele, despite his unswerving ability to concede free kicks.
- Lassana Diarra. Showed deft touches, tough tackling skills and real desire and commitment. The fine obviously worked.
- Michael Ballack. At last he showed what he's capable of, running into great positions, showing great vision with his passing, controlling the midfield, tackling well and actually looking like a real hungry player. Unlucky not to score with an excellent chance from a header.
- Andriy Shevchenko. Fabulous ball control, visionary space making, should have had a hat-trick, forcing one world class save from Brad Friedel and completely arsing up another glorious chance. Jose Mourinho looked well pleased and so were the crowd.
- Didier Drogba and Michael Essien. Can these two possibly get even better? A frightening thought for the teams we have yet to play.
- Blackburn Rovers. Credit where it's due, despite the result they came and tried to play football without cynical fouls or player histrionics. A credit to Mark Hughes who is forming a very handy unit. I was particularly impressed by Benni McCarthy and Morten Gamst Pedersen.
The bad
- Graham Poll. Pedantic, fussy, visually challenged and seemingly even more pompous than ever. He was at least even-handed in his awfulness giving free kicks to both teams on several occasions when they had a real advantage to play.
- The injury to Ashley Cole. A real sickener because he was having a real ding-dong battle with McCarthy, even on points in my view. The cruel fact was he went down with no-one within 10 yards of him and the first thought was his knee had given way. It hushed the crowd and he was given a rousing chorus as he was stretchered off in obvious pain. Still, not a bad backup in Wayne Bridge huh?
- The atmosphere. The evening kick-off and the unglamorous opposition obviously had an effect - I doubt there was more than 37,000 in there tonight. It took some real effort from the Matthew Harding stand to get some singing going but compared to other evening games I've attended it was hardly spine-chilling.
- Ricardo Carvalho's bizarre goal line clearance. The ball was going in, but Carvalho seemed to be gazing elsewhere as he ran back to try and prevent the goal, only to spring into life with the ball inches from crossing the line despite the fact he could have hooked it clear a few seconds before. Not really bad, but bloody weird.
- The girl who sits two rows behind me didn't turn up tonight and she is drop dead gorgeous. I am comforted by the fact that even if we have a bad game I can gaze longingly at her and fantasize about what I think she really needs from me. Just don't tell my wife that!
Man of the Match
Well for me it would be Didier Drogba again, just shading Michael Essien, but I welcome any suggestions because frankly every player was downright bloody marvellous tonight and any criticism would really be me nit-picking to say the least.
Final thoughts
We might, just might be leaving the tunnel of darkness, with John Terry due back against Charlton, Joe Cole talking about being back in March, Arjen Robben due to return and a performance that for once suggested we didn't miss any of them. The whole team, including the bench oozed confidence, and despite the press reports, real happiness and unity. I'm not throwing street parties or getting the bunting out yet, but maybe we've turned the corner and can start the sprint to the line.
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Apologies.
It seems I have lost all ability to spell. The opening line should read:
"Lady luck has well and truly done one from the Bridge"
haha, give more info on number 5 in your bad points. :D
I was a lil surprised by all the empty seats at The Bridge.
But I have been promising myself, when I finally get down to London I'll be going to this mid week games as often as I can. Shame this game didnt take place in a months time as I could of been sat watching the best Chelsea performence for a while.
And singing along to Diarras first chants. He did play amazing.
That was a really top, top performance. Solid, fluid, powerful, confident - proof that when the diamond works it really doesn't matter about the lack of width cos you can just slice right through teams like they're not there. We had so much of the ball - surely our best league performance since... Watford? A long time, anyway.
Diarra was superb, though I worry about players being used out of position - they can last for a while, but as soon as somebody targets them (like Arsenal would in the CC final) they're left horribly exposed. He's clearly an excellent player, though.
Essien and Drogba were magnificent. Lampard-Ballack-Mikel is really working. Shev played... okay... got into the right positions even if his finishing wasn't there. He should definitely start because it also means we can use Kalou better - coming off the bench, where his pace and quick feet are the last thing a tired defence wants to deal with. Reminds me of Flo or Solskjaer or RVP.
Even the two chances we gave away were dealt with by good defending rather than poor finishing.
Oh, and Brad Friedel. He's one of those keepers who you think always plays well against you, until you realise that he actually always plays well against EVERYONE. He's a very, very good keeper.
Now we face a new problem - what to do with Essien now that JT is back... I'd be tempted to drop Maka and play him with Lampard-Ballack-Mikel. Any thoughts?
Oh, and Tony. How do you watch the girl when she's sitting behind you? Hardly subtle mate...
The atmosphere might not have been rocking but there was a positive buzz bout the place. We did play very well, despite the pitch that once again resembled a ploughed field by the time Cole caught his studs in the turf. I am lost in admiration when it comes to Michael Essien. Although you'd probably have to give premiership player of the year to Ronaldo (because of his speed and attacking threat) if there is a more complete footballer in the league at the moment than Essien I haven't seen him.
Despite all the positives I still don't like the diamoind formation. Lampard is not a left winger and neither is Mikel a right midfielder. Playing this narrow would be a disaster against Utd or Arsenal (I'm sure the manager knows this but its worth pointing out).
Credit where credit is due,this performance was considerably better and I agree with everything that has been said with one possible exception.
Whilst the midfield and forward line linked wonderfully,the defence wasbreached far too often and a side better than Blackburn would have had a couple of goals. Not yet convinced by Diarra at right back, although he does look strong and excellent when going forward. Iam beginning to see what all the fuss was about Mikel, and he will, in time, be a quality addition to the team.
The usual suspects all turned up again: Frank, Essien and DD , and it was great to see Sheva and Ballack play as if they meant it.
So....The quad is back on, JM and Sheva are hugging, JT is (hopefully) back at the weekend and it is only Charlton that we have to beat.
Lets hope the Spurs will be outto salvage some pride after their hiding by the Arsenal reserves, and do us a favour by beating Utd.
One man went to mow, went to mow a meadow........
One thing I don't understand though is why JM is willing to give everybody else a chance except SWP. The likes of Obi, Kalou, have all had a series of blinding stinkers but he gave them time.
34 Comments · Add yours
Awsome passing, good if we're gonna do it the Gooners'way. I always new we're capable of playing decent football.
I doubt if Cashly would have got injured if we had wingers.
Lady luck has well and truly doen one from the Brisge.
Jose's right, we never get the niggling 7 day injuries do we. Ashley's injury looked bad, and whilst Bridge is a brilliant replacement, we're once again a defender short. JT still isn't confirmed as playing Saturday, with the Middlesbrough game a possibility.
It looked as though we played as a team last night; Diarra can only play himself out of RB at the moment, he's on fire. Sheva seems to come up against keepers on top form every week - Friedel made some quality saves last night.
All in all, things are looking up. 13 games to go, still a long way.
And a final point. A season and a half ago, I read the daily saga of Aulas from Lyon demanding the Earth for Essien, and wondered to myself if he is worth it. Based on his current form, I imagine the phrase 'daylight robbery' seems pretty apt.