Chelsea
Chelsea's Fog On The Tyne
Drogba's goal
By Gary Watton
December 6 2014
If the Blues do not proceed to lift the English Premiership trophy next spring, they can look back in anger at two trips to the north east on successive weekends that produced a measly one goal and one point. Such a return is not exactly the stuff of champions. Now Chelsea's characteristically lightning start to the season looks even more precious as it at least afforded the team margin for error, and God knows, the errors have now surfaced.
What did we learn about this contest against the Magpies? Well, the glaringly obvious is that Chelsea without Matic are not quite the same functioning machine. Confirming our worst fears, John Obi Mikel proved to be a poor stand-in. Also, the league leaders are still a bit impotent in front of goal. Yes, it's easy to net the second or third in a 2-0 or 3-0 stroll, but we still lack the ability to come from behind. Whilst Arsenic irritatingly excel at late winners, the table-toppers are distinctly average when it comes to delivering late equalisers and winners - at least from recent experience. That especially annoys me.
Why did Remy not get the opportunity to score against his former employer? He may well have done precisely that, but he was denied a second half cameo. Maybe Costa's goals might dry up for a while. It ain't easy trying to maintain an average of about one goal per match. That would be pie in the sky. It is perhaps important to rotate the strikers during the next busy month, thereby keeping them fresh. In doing so, we may bring out the best in all three centre forwards.
At least Didier Drogba continued to roll back the years with yet another goal. The guy remains as lethal as ever - a true workhorse. However, it was a pity that his manager let himself down by drawing attention to the ball boys' failure to return the little round object quickly enough. Sure there is some validity in Mourinho's outburst, but God knows, it happens at every venue around the globe where the away team are chasing an equaliser or winner. We've endured such shenanigans infamously at Swansea City a couple of seasons ago, but let's face it, when it comes to trying to run the clock down, well Chelsea are masters at this particular art of gamesmanship, so our team boss can scarcely cry foul of a tactic that he is the world's leading exponent of!
Furthermore, it would be fanciful in the extreme to suggest that Cisse's two goals owed themselves to the contributions of the ball boys. Nor can one attribute the failure of the away team to convert their chances to the dastardly intervention of the ball boys. No, I'm afraid that the ball boys remark follows close behind the comments about the lack of atmosphere at the Bridge in reminding us that Jose may be a great manager, but is still a flawed human being, capable of ill-advised statements.
Oh well. We have no more engagements in the north east this Premiership campaign. Perhaps we should thank our lucky stars that Darlington, Hartlepool, nor Middlesbrough are in the same league as us. That said, I do think that Chelsea could do with an FA Cup trip to Newcastle and Sunderland as it simply won't do to have to wait until next season to acquaint ourselves with the art of winning up on Tyneside or Wearside.
Newcastle United 2 CHELSEA 1; half time: 0-0. Saturday 6th December 2014.
CHELSEA goal scorer: Drogba
CHELSEA team: Courtois, Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta, Mikel, Fabregas, Hazard, Oscar, Willian, Drogba. Used substitutes: Schurrle, Drogba, Filipe Luis.
CHELSEA LEADING SCORERS:
Costa - 11 goals
Hazard - 7 goals
Drogba - 6 goals
Oscar - 4 goals
Matic and Remy - 3 goals
Fabregas, Ivanovic, Ramires, Schurrle, and Willian - 2 goals
Digg
Delicious
Facebook
Reddit
Stumbleupon
06/12/2014 15:50
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
