Friday 21 February 2014

The Title Race

With only 12 games remaining in this season’s Premier League, all the signs show it could be going down to the wire. Chelsea currently lead the chase, with the top four all in close proximity; but will we still see the Blues at the top of the table in 3 months time?


It’s at this point in the season we see the difference a larger squad can make – or squad depth for that matter. At this moment in time, it’s going to be difficult to stop Manchester City. The difference – I feel – is that power that City have up front, that we so crucially lack. The Manchester side have netted 68 goals this season, compared to our 48. I’m normally the one that argues for points over goals, but in this case the emphatic amount of goals City are scoring are winning the points in tricky games, where perhaps we lack fire power.

I look to the absence of Sergio Aguero to support my point. The Argentine has missed several games this season due to injury, but even without him City have three clinical strikers, in Dzeko, Negredo and Jovetic, all contributing their fair share of goals in City’s surge for the title. The frustrating thing for me to admit as a Chelsea fan is that, really, I would have any of those three strikers to lead our line.



So what is it that our three front men are missing? Power? Acceleration? Clinical finishing? To be truthful, it’s all of that and more. City have four excellent strikers at the peak of their careers, all with that desire to want more; to improve. I don’t like to be too critical of our forwards because they work their hardest for the team. But the unfortunate circumstance is that these – formally so clinical – strikers and now on a downward spiral. This is one of the things that irritated me the most in Lukaku loan at the beginning of the season. Of course he will make mistakes, but these mistakes are a fundamental part of a player’s development, and Lukaku is only going to get better with age (albeit perhaps at a different club, unfortunately).



Arsenal are also title contenders, and after a disappointing defeat to Bayern at the Emirates on Wednesday, it seems the Premier League will now have to be their prominent focus. Arsenal have been impressive this season, with perhaps their strongest title contention in several years. Although the injury to Aaron Ramsey – who is targeting the Chelsea game next month as his come back – has tainted their season slightly, the North London side seem more than serious challengers this year. The question is, will they fade away like the typical Arsneal we know and love? They have a much tougher run of fixtures than us, but in this season’s Premier League that seems to mean very little.

Completing the top four are Liverpool. The Merseyside club are perhaps enjoying their best season since a certain Fernando Torres was firing in goals from all angles under Benitez. Sturridge and Suarez have been in formidable form this season, and the latter’s appearance at the top of the golden boot table is pushing Liverpool onwards, as they are now only four points off the top. They also have the advantage as the only top four club that isn’t in Europe, meaning Champions League weeks will provide welcomed rest to their squad. I believe the next few games will really determine Liverpool’s ambitions for this season; if they maintain the level they are at now, then there’s every chance they can be title contenders.

What are your top four predictions come May? 

http://www.chelseatalk.co.uk/

Monday 3 February 2014

Digging Deep

Ivanovic rifles home the winner to give Chelsea a valuable three points




"A Mourinho Monday Night Masterclass" were the exact words used on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football; and that it was. Chelsea stealing the three points from a City team yet to lose at home this season prior to tonight's game, in what was a stunning performance from the Blues. 


The game began in a slightly uncomfortable fashion for Mourinho's men, as within the first two minutes Petr Cech and Gary Cahill were not far off from repeating the Hart-Nastasic disaster in the reverse fixture earlier this season. City began the game strongly, overrunning the Blues for the first 15 minutes, in which David Silva could have, and should have, put the Manchester side 1-0 up. 

This was perhaps the wake up call that Chelsea were in need of. Mourinho's tactics on the night were far from what the media and the fans themselves had predicted; although the Blues had adopted a 4-3-3 - much like at the Emirates just after Christmas - they were far more decisive and threatening than City anticipated. Ivanovic pushed so high up on Kolarov that, at times, it felt like we were playing three at the back! The chances soon came thick and fast for Chelsea; Eden Hazard - who was sensational on the night - at the heart of everything in and around the City area. The ball broke to Premier League debutant Nemanja Matic on the edge of the Chelsea area as played Willian in to set up a 4-on-2 involving the Brazilian, Eto'o, Hazard and Ramires - the latter squandering what really was a golden opportunity. Despite the result and the team performance, the conclusion of this chance really frustrated me, and - judging by the reaction on Twitter - the majority of Chelsea fans. For me it emphasised what we've been missing this season. Yes, it was a fantastic performance. Yes, we got the three points. However, all it needed was one goal from City, and we are left ruing our missed chances. It's that lack of clinical finishing in front of goal which may be decisive come May. 

The game progressed, and shortly after Hazard - completely isolating Demichelis - picked up the ball on the touchline before cutting inside and opening up the Chelsea attack. The Belgian played the ball to Ramires before making a run behind the City back four where he received the ball from Ivanovic, creating the chance from which the Serbian, on his weaker left foot, drilled the half-volley into the corner of the net from 20 yards out. It was nothing short of what we deserved, having really played City at their own game for half an hour. 

Not long before the break Chelsea hit the woodwork for the first time, which would accumulate to three by the end of the game; Hazard again gliding past Zabaleta as if he wasn't there, before playing the ball across the face of goal for Eto'o to run onto and smash against the bar. I can't think of many times in my life where I have not wanted the half time whistle to blow. We were dominating a very important game in our challenge for the title, and I felt half time would allow City to regroup and come out stronger. 

It was a testament to our resilience that, in fact, they came out with no more desire to score than they had in the first half. We began the second period in the way we had finished the first - determined to win every ball and stop City from doing what they do best. Hazard yet again creating chances from no where - the 23 year old only seems to be getting better and better; playing with that raw talent from which he can make the most difficult task look like a stroll in the park, accompanied by his newly installed hunger to track back and help the team out. Hazard and Willian were fundamental on the night, with performances that conveyed the reasons behind the departure of Mata. The two wingers were simply on another level, Mourinho has filled them with this new mentality, which Gary Neville picked up on in the post-match analysis. The way the modern game is evolving, you cannot simply have a 'luxury' player on the wing, a top team needs a winger who is also a wing back, and a wing back who is also a winger. This was seen emphatically tonight in Chelsea's performance, with Hazard and Willian's work rate placing the likes of Silva in their shadows. 

Mid-way through the second half Matic crashed a shot against the crossbar from a good 25 yards out. The Serbian was brilliant on the night of his Premier League debut, collecting the Man of the Match award. Watching a couple of his performances last season, I saw him as a similar player to Yaya Toure, and what better night to have my judgement than when he faced up to the Ivorian. Toure has been a monumental figure for City this season, and Matic was absolutely superb in keeping him quiet for the majority of the game. I felt like, at times - to use the cliche - Matic was giving Toure a taste of his own medicine. I believe him to be exactly what we need in 'today's Chelsea'. A player who can sit and defend in front of the back four with ease, but when required, is able to exude sheer power to surge forward and create an attack - something we have been lacking for many seasons. 



As the game concluded, Cahill hit the post as he leapt to meet Willian's corner. Cahill was another contender for Man of the Match, in what was perhaps his strongest performance in a Chelsea shirt this season; never allowing the City forwards any time on the ball, as well as putting his body in the way to make influential and crucial blocks. The Blues dug deep to keep a clean sheet at the Etihad, a task not accomplished by an away side there for 61 games (over 3 years), another call for celebration!  I felt it was our best team performance of the season. We were decisive and effective in all areas of the pitch. For me, the 3 central midfielders worked well together, but I think there could be room to rotate. What are your thoughts on the midfield 3 and our performance as whole?


Team ratings: 

Cech - 9: Didn't have too much to do, but when he did (Silva's free kick and Jovetic's shot towards the end) he was confident and both were great saves. Another clean sheet. 

Ivanovic - 9: One of his best performances of the season, playing as a right winger and a right back. Fantastic goal and technique on his weaker foot, and kept City away from that left flank for most of the game. 

Terry - 8: Solid game from our captain. Played every minute of Premier League football this season and has shown no signs of tiring. Inspiring performance. 

Cahill - 9: As they suggested on MNF, if his header had gone in he would have perhaps scooped the MOTM award. Nonetheless a superb performance. One of his best in a Chelsea shirt.

Azpi - 7: A solid game, kept going until the end, although he allowed Navas a lot of space towards the last few minutes which didn't help my nerves! 

Luiz - 8: Less temperamental than I have seen him this season. Felt confident with him on the ball and he and Matic worked well to keep Toure quiet.

Matic - 9: Brilliant debut for the Serbian, appeared every where on the pitch and picked up the MOTM award. 

Ramires - 7: Still annoyed by his wasted opportunity, but can't fault his work rate. 

Hazard - 9: Breathtaking. What else?

Willian - 8: Lost the ball a few times but the clean sheet can largely be put down to his work rate in the midfield, stopping City from moving the ball about.

Eto'o - 7: Probably should have had a goal when he hit the ball. Worked well at the top whilst isolated, still don't believe he is the man to take us forward. 

Thoughts?