Premiership review: Chelsea 4 - 0 Wigan Athletic (includes video)
Sunday, 14 January 07, 11:55 PM · Comments (25)
Match reports
The Observer, Jamie Jackson: "After the week that might just have begun Jose's long goodbye, this rout was heartening for the Portuguese coach. Wigan, with six consecutive defeats before this match, may have proved all too easy opposition, but the crowd and the Chelsea players went beyond securing three points to produce a rousing display of unity. In the closing minutes the champions, then coasting, went looking for a fourth goal and collected easily. It came from Didier Drogba's twenty-first strike of what is becoming a career-defining season."
Independent on Sunday, Steve Tongue: "Whatever their problems after a series of unconvincing performances amid renewed doubts over Jose Mourinho's future, Chelsea still have far too much about them for a team playing as feebly as Wigan Athletic did yesterday. Following four draws in five games, they kept Manchester United in sight at the top of the Premiership with the most straightforward of victories."
Sunday Times, Joe Lovejoy: "The first three goals were all gifts, to a greater or lesser degree, but the champions were massively superior ”” so much so that Wigan failed to muster a single noteworthy goal attempt. The return of Arjen Robben, after hamstring trouble, gave Chelsea the width and penetration they were lacking during three consecutive draws in the Premiership, and when he went off, after 82 minutes, it was to a hero’s reception from a grateful, appreciative crowd. Wigan will feel haunted by him, the Dutchman having scored the winner in the corresponding fixture at the JJB stadium three weeks ago."
Sunday Telegraph, Patrick Barclay: "Some teams — if another of Shakespeare's works may be paraphrased to describe this comedy of Wigan errors — earn victory, while others have it thrust upon them. Chelsea fell into both categories. By far the superior side, Jose Mourinho's champions still had to rely on gifts for three of the goals that kept them tucked in behind Manchester United at the top of the Premiership table; the fourth, from Didier Drogba, came in stoppage time."
Official Chelsea FC Website: "Drogba has his 21st goal of the season and with major players returning and this morale boosting big win, the team has every reason to approach next weekend's trip to Anfield with confidence."
The goals
The good
- The performance overall was better than we have seen for a while. But in all honesty, Wigan handed us the three points on a plate. Then again, as the old adage goes, you can only beat what's in front of you.
- Arjen Robben. Breathed new life into the team. The switch to 4-3-3 in Andriy Shevchenko's absence allowed Robben to supply some much needed width and penetration. Different class.
- Wayne Bridge. On Wednesday he was asked to play in a front three and duly obliged with a goal. Switched to his preferred left back position in this game because of Ashley Cole's suspension, he once again showed his ability to support the front players.
- The fans. Made it patently obvious where their support lies with renditions of "Stand Up For the Special One" and "Jose Mourinho" throughout the game. Whatever is happening behind the scenes at Stamford Bridge, Jose Mourinho has the backing of those that matter.
- Michael Essien. Lined up along side Ricardo Carvalho at the centre of defence for the second game running. Wigan didn't offer much going forward, nonetheless Essien's versatility continues to impress.
The bad
- All the talk of Mourinho leaving the Bridge is making me edgy. I'm not normally one to believe what's written in the press, but in this case there must be an element of truth to the reports; John Terry's insistence that he would be prepared to lead a players' protest to persuade the club's hierarchy to keep Mourinho confirms this.
Man of the Match
Arjen Robben. By a country mile.
Final thoughts
Are we becoming the Hearts of England?
We live in interesting but increasingly worrying times.
Related links
- Reaction: Jose welcomes £50m man
- Terry will fight to keep Mourinho
- Mourinho takes to his new victim status with relish
- Abramovich backs down after Mourinho outburst
- The last days of Jose
- Skipper Terry poised to sign £150,000-a-week deal at Chelsea
- A dangerous game to play
- Mourinho wins transfer truce after show of player power
- Mourinho can be Real saviour
- 'Special One' has suffered a power cut
- Kenyon on peace mission at Chelsea
- Brinksman Mourinho wins partial victory
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Agreed about journos, Johnathan. It really can be a hard job, having to fill that blank screen every week with something resembling coherent argument when all you really have is prejudice and bile in your head. Poor old Collins. He's a hack of the old school, when we only had newsprint and his columns were thrown away and forgotten with the leftover chips. Now he and his fellow scriveners have their made-up stories published online. It exposes them to the cold light of scrutiny and checking. They have never been read by so many, while paradoxically their words have never meant less.
However, as Jose said post-match on Saturday, referring to the stories: "Some of it is based on reality, some of it is rubbish." We, as fans cannot know everything. Behind-the-scenes politics are being played out using the media, with different sides looking for an advantage. It is in the nature of modern football (and many other professions). Managing is a precarious job that needs a tough approach to all matters if it is to be a success. It requires a necessary sackload of ego to carry off at the highest levels. And with that comes a certain malice and cunning. Jose has all that in abundance and has used it well to gain us an advantage on the field. He, as much as anyone, is fighting to gain an advantage for himself at the moment. It is understandle, even if it is all a bit disconcerting for fans. But we were here before Roman, Arnesen, Kenyon, Jose and all the plastic supporters ever came, and we will be here when they have gone. Blues to the end.
With the press...a story sold is a story told. Does not matter how true it is. Chelsea is a story to tell and sure we do have some who wish to make stories about us.
I personally do not mind them much. I think we may actually need this toss in the press to push for greater things.
Interesting that our game rose after all the talk. Was that the same Wigan that we played earlier? Players are willing to die a little for something...This talk has put a little hunger where our own self satisfied status had began de-generating our game to levels concealed in hypocritical self derision. A wake up call was needed and interesting that we actually are getting this from the press.
I hope they keep it up, it will help us focus better on what needs to be done...I will not be surprised if we do the four... I am just watching this space...
On the ref decisions - a lot of mockery is being employeed by the uniformed me in the middle. Is it me or are the ref decisions becoming pro-manu every match...Can't something be done against this trend? off side goals for ManU while on side goals for chelsea are being cancelled...
Lovely game against Wigan...Essien Carlvalho is actually not bad, but they lack height in the middle.
My line up for Liverpool...
Cech
Ferreira
Essien
Carlvalho
Wayne/Cole ? I do not care
Obi Mikel
Lampard
Ballack
Robben
Drogs
Kalou
That should do enough to do in any Liverpool team out on that day.
Come on Chelsea Come On Chelsea Come on Chelsea
Jose, your ideal team selection against Liverpool (barring injuries of course) is near enough the same that mine would be, with Mikel taking up the defensive role in midfield behind Lamps and Ballack. He has been looking more effective lately, and although it may be a big risk considering the quality of the opposition, and his evident susceptibility to rashness, it could well pay off.
My one deviation would be to have Geremi at right-back. He was a major role in our 4-1 drubbing of Liverpool at Anfield last season, and his quality in putting in some decent crosses could well be the telling factor.
To be honest, so long as we win, I don't give a monkey's what team we put out. :)
Not sure about Mikel in the holding role; his tackling is an accident waiting to happen and I don't think he's really quite up to the pace of English game to read it well enough as yet.
Going to be tough up there, no question but with Robben on form, anything could happen.
Is it too much to hope for JT to be back...?
Well, I have to say the truth all these noise in the press makes me feel bad and it looks like there is smoke and there is fire. You tell me whatever, but i think R.A. not right. When you bring manager who performs you can not tell him what to do. R.A. wanted a friend to his wife a big football name in the list of his friends and that is the only reason he has brought Sheva. Now he says Mour not the Special One enough to use him. This is simply preposterous!!!!! The other thing about that Israeli guy Grant. By chance I am an israeli (with russian origin) who supports Maccabi Tel-Aviv, club where Crant used to be a manager. This guy did not achieve anything special and he is not football revelation at all. I am pretty sure Steve Clarke better than him.
Is Boula suspended for the next game? I know Maka is - but why are you discussing having Essien as CB?
Glad to hear the press say that apprently JM will be given defensive reinforcements during this transfer window. All we can do is hope that ManUre drop some points over the next couple of games and ronaldo getting inured wouldn't hurt either.
Come on Mr. Kenyon - make Jose and Roman kiss and make-up and keep to your word by making us the biggest club in the world by 2014!!
God bless Roman's Blue Army!!
25 Comments · Add yours
Goals! Brilliant Nick! Please try and keep this up if poss...
Whilst there is clearly some issue (and a fairly serious one) between the powers that be down at the Bridge, the media are pulling their usual 2+2=5 trick; the conflicting reports are so different in places it is ridiculous.
Depending on who you read, Boulahrouz was either forced on Jose against his will, or Jose fought to get him over a.n. other choice of Arnesen. Basically the vast majority of them have no idea what is going on and are making it up. There's a surprise.
But the most hilarious quote of the weekend goes to Patrick Collins in the Mail who was rambling in his usual fashion about Abramovich etc. until this final quote;
'Yet this is a major club, a club of proud tradition and an important constituent of the national game. I doubt that the chancers who currently control its destiny are aware of its stature. Perhaps they should be told.'
And there was me thinking that he'd spent the last 3 years telling anyone who'd read his bilge that we were exactly the opposite. Journos - gotta love 'em.