you could see by the look on his face that the last thing he wanted was to come on, then he goes and scores !! master stroke by pellegrini? hope we do not miss out on the title by two points !!
Absolute class though. Would have taken a draw any day, but I think Jose's tactics were off. That said, still clear at the top. Just heart breaking to lose points that way.
What a wonderful player Frank Lampard has been....and still is. I was glued to the telly this afternoon watching him turn the game, the reception he got from both sets of fans but especially Chelsea, was wonderful to see. It was a fitting gesture to all the years he had at Chelsea. Well done Frank Lampard (from a Newcastle United and England fan).
It was the thing I was praying wouldn't happen. Unfortunately it did, but hey-ho, it's another feather in super Franks cap and he looked like it caused him pain. Still a Chelsea legend!
Agree, Pellegrini pulled his trousers down today for me. 2nd time in a row. Disappointing not to see out the result v 10 men but it won't matter as long as we beat Villa and Arsenal at home. 4 points from Everton and City away isn't bad given our horrific record at both in recent years.
Well for probably the first time ever, I got the score right, but didn't expect Frank to be on the scoresheet. Didn't like the way we played after the great stuff since seasons start. Biggest thing was Yaya playing Cesc out of the game and the 2 CDs for City, they were a cut above. No criticism of Cesc, he was up against it all day, and Yaya just had one of those great games. Shows just how fragile we are if Cesc's not on form, and we really do need a back up. That said, couldn't fault our effort, JT and Cahill played a big part, but I think most people can see they are not as good as the City 2, or not as good yesterday anyway. Willian again was poor for mine, he just can't pass to a team mate .Overall, fair result and we are definitely looking likely for the title.. You can't be disappointed with a draw at City, but I think if Jose was a bit more inventive, and with a man off, City were there for the taking. Seriously impressed with our away supporters and their great reception for Frank, very well done guys and gals, you did your Club proud.
As usual C.P. a good post. I know that a lot of our fellow posters think you're a bit negative but for me you are usually on the money ! The only point i might disagree with you on is Willian. He is a Mourinho player. I.E. works his arse off, gets back if he loses the ball and he gets through an ocean of work. The corrolary of him is Mata. Now don't get me wrong... i loved Mata while he was here and he wasn't player of the year 2 season's running for nothing. Loved hearing Manuel P saying Chels were a small team. A touch of the Kevin Keegan's there ! As for Frank what can you say. 211 goals from midfield. Absolute gentleman. Legend !!! I know that this prediction could come back to bite me in the arse but i reckon we could be in a position around late February where, like happened with Utd a few times, the bookies pay out on us as winners. After all the twists and turns last season that's probably a ridiculous statement.....but i'll stick with it.
Yaya played lights out. He was all around the midfield. Silva had little today. But Mangala & Kompany partnership is frightening. Jose did show some invention after they went down to 10. Remember Costa was an inch away from grabbing his 8th goal in 5 games. Costa's temperament is commendable. This is the second time in 2 games (after Everton) he was being targeted squarely. To me it is not Willian - but Rambo who was shambles most of the game - except for that last ditch tackle on Dzeko.
I can't fault Willian for effort, but he was ineffective yesterday. He does look like he's ready at any moment to really step up, but he just keeps on the same way. Just watched the replay and I don't think I am being too critical when I say he gives the ball away, 3 or 4 times in succession on the 1st tackle. If he could just sort that he'd be heaps better. Ramires struggled too, but he seems to have got rid of his recklessness and selfishness and looks for someone to pass too more often. They just got monstered by Yaya yesterday, no shame there he's the best in the business on his day, and yesterday was it. We could have been over run 1st half, but stuck to our guns. Not a bad result at all, and a little bit of work to do and some things to think about. We're travelling well. PS. Apparently Frank broke another record yesterday, Chelsea became the 39th PL team he has scored against, which is the most by anyone ! One record I wish he didn't hold !!
The game was always going to be dull, their DM stifled our main outlet, Cesc. Our DM stifled their main outlet, Silva. From 10 minutes on it was like watching 2 boxers who had just gone 14 rounds, out of breath, slowly swinging limp windmills at each other in vein. Horrible game. It feels bad because we could have won it, but a draw away at the champs is perfectly fine. Bring on Arsenal, I always love playing Arsenal.
Watching as a neutral, I agree with CP, but I'd go far as saying Willian isn't good enough full stop. He runs a lot, and drew a couple of fouls whilst on the ball, but generally, he doesn't look much like a footballer. He reminds me a bit of a slightly better version of Jonas Gutierrez, tremendous work-ethic, will run all day, can't do much else with the ball though. Useful for getting the ball to safety, useful to stretch a team, but the kind of player that sums up why Jose plays the way he does against the other title contenders. It's not all about the "draw those games and win the rest will get you the title... His squad just isn't as good. Chelsea disappointed me yesterday, barring the Schurrle goal. Very organised without possession, hard to break down, but exceptionally poor with the ball. The amount of times Chelsea won possession, and most of the players stayed in their own half was ridiculous. Tactic worked though. A much more impressive Yaya bossing things in midfield had City going forward, but they mostly lost momentum in the final third, and with no thrust there, it was easy for hard-working Chelsea. They looked the far superior footballing team, and that Mangala chap was absolutely epic, so I think a point with classic Mourinho tactics was more than you probably justified in the game, but fair enough, you both stuck it in the net the same number of times. Regarding Mourinho, I was confused by his Lampard sentiments... Sounded like "Any love story he had is over now he plays for a rival... but when I was Inter boss, I experienced the love story..."? Sometimes the guy just talks waffle. He came back to Chelsea "the team of his heart" he frequently aggrandized...
Willian will never shine in our team as everything goes through Hazard and Cesc. Willian would and did look better in a team built more around him at Shaktar. But he does a job and part of the machine. Very very happy with the result. This on paper is our hardest game and to get a point (despite the circumstances) is very good. We'd all have taken the league table as it is after 5 games at the start of the season. All our rivals have been dropping points they shouldn't and we haven't so - so far so good. The tactics were as I expected, merely to stifle the opposition take a draw or nick a 1-0. Worked fine but I hope we are a little more adventurous against the other rivals as I don't think they are to be feared as City arguably are. United for instance, we should attack the **** out of them as it is clear as day where their weaknesses lie.
Mind you, we shouldn't have let Frank score. I mean, he made a late run into the penalty area, got on the end of a cross and buried it......not like he's ever done that before. No surprises, other than us not being able to prevent it. Before the game, if you'd offered me a point away to City, I'd have grabbed it. That said, after they went down to 10 men and we scored, I was very disappointed that we couldn't hang onto the ball and move it around the pitch. We should have got full control at that point. Anyway, still smiling from Liverpool & Man Utd, so not a totally disappointing weekend.
United, Liverpool, Everton and Spurs all losing very winnable games and us getting a point at City to keep us top. Sounds pretty amazing to me!
Aye, the ****ed up thing is we actually EXTENDED our lead at the top by a point, even though we didnt win Ignore the fact that we are 3 points clear of second placed Southampton too. The clubs we need to look at are City and Arsenal (the other title contenders in my view), and we are 5 points clear of City and 4 of Arsenal (though hopefully 7 clear of Arsenal when we beat them ) Not bad considering we are only 5 games in.
Main thing was not to lose. Having drawn with Shalke it would have been seen as a mini blip if we'd have lost and City closed the gap. We now have a nice little cushion and our hardest game out the way. Just 33 more games to go, win em all and we're champs
