havent been on here since before the game and havent yet read any one elses views so hopefully my report will be an un-biased view! THE GAME Firstly I was pleased to see us play 4-4-2 as it gave us the ability to attack their 'weak' defence in my view and really take the game by the scruff of the neck. Once the pre match (non)handshake was over we could get down to business. Chelsea definately started the brighter of the two sides but we kept a solid shape and were matching them pound for pound. First half was shaded by them in my opinion and we were not helped by two injuries forcing two subs in the first half - the excellent Johnson unfortunatley couldnt continue. The game went a into a bit of a stalemate towards the end of the half with both teams cancelling eachother out. Second half was really where we came alive. We looked a much better threat going forwards, and in my opinion we may have been forced into what looked like a better defence - Bosingwa at LB, Onuoha at RB (although still a little suspect), and Nelsen and AF in the middle. It looked a strong powerful unit. I cricticised Park last week which opened up debate - but I am pleased to say this week he showed exactly what I have been expecting of him - a industrious and full hearted display. The centre of the pitch was our best performing area with Granero and Faurlin looking like a very promising partnership together - they simply clicked from the off. We got lucky with one penatly decision (SWP on Hazard) but I cant see how the Nelsen on Terry one (putting my hatred to Terry to one side) was a penalty. Terry just fell into Torres I think it was. But overall we put in a very positve performance and more than matched them. In my opinion we can count ourselves a little unlucky to 'only' get a point. THE RATINGS CESAR - 8 - what a debut! looked a composed and commanding goalkeeper and breath of fresh air to see! a few great saves and his distribution bar one kick was spotless. very comfortable with the ball at his feet. FABIO - 6 - was getting forward well but for me has a constant injury problem - always going off injured for man u and it is continuing here. NELSEN - 8 - a very good performance, and as MH said after travelling round the world. Looks a composed and intelligent defender and is built like a tank! FERDINAND - 8 - the same as nelsen. with all the distractions he put in a top performance and wont most of the battles. BOSINGWA - 7 - got forward very well at times and looked solid. although one mark taken away for several sloppy passes. FAURLIN - 9 - JOINT MOM - always at the side of the chelsea players ready to intercept and tackle. and always at the heart of our best moves. he has come back very strongly and still looks like a class player. we have missed him big time. GRANERO - 9 - JOINT MOM - cannot seperate either him or faurlin - and you couldnt in the game - they were constantly supporting one another getting into their faces and making their presence felt. not afraid to get stuck in and some quality tackles to win posession back. not to mention the passing ability. a promising parternship. PARK - 8 - a much much better showing. looked the player i thought he was, always getting stuck in and made one brilliant tackle in the second half by the ellerslie touch line! only bad point was again not a proper LW as he couldnt beat his man - always coming inside or backwards which did hinder us attacking wise. SWP - 7 - did alot of work, a hell of alot of work, but little end product. uses his pace to beat a man but has no end product. a few poor crosses when a decent one would have let us in with a decent chance. JOHNSON - 7 - not on for long hence the lower score, but was excellent when on the field. was constantly winning the ball back and making off the ball runs. have to say i was surprised in his intelligent runs and link up play. ZAMORA - 8 - again a very good showing. always getting stuck in and linking up well. a poor shot on the turn in the first half and missed a glorious chance to become a hero late in the game. other than that a good performance. SUBS: MACKIE - 7 - again worked hard and was a constant problem but attacking wise didnt create too much (perhaps im being a bit harsh here). ONUOHA - 7 - came on in the first half and used his big build to full effect to win many balls - but still a bit suspect at times. CISSE - 7 - caused problems with his pace and had a couple of openings but began to fade as the clock ticked down. THE FINAL WORD What a game. A truly team performance yesterday and the two weeks hard work definately showed in my opinion. I have been to all four of our games so far and can say that there has been a steady, if unspectacular improvement. Still a nagging doubt over goals (only two so far) but having faced City and Chelsea already we can be satisfied imo. A much better showing yesterday with a clear understanding between players. I also think we can see what having a confident GK can do for the defence. We looked much more solid as a unit and deserved to keep the clean sheet. As I said above, we can count ourselves bit unlucky not to have won, but also lucky with one penalty decsion (karma for the fa cup game!). So many postives, especially the central midfield paring of Granero and Faurlin - that will be interesting to watch for sure. They look so at home playing next to each other and have an amazing understanding.
another well balanced view mate and can't disagree with anything exceptmotm which i went for Nelsen,all about opinions though
cant really disagree re nelsen - i just thought AF/EG were superb and at the heart of stopping them, and powering us into attacks. But Nelsen looks a top class defender. Something we could have done with last season in the middle.
Thanks Judo great write. A very relevant point you make about there being only 2 goals so far. We can't continue to play SWP and especially Park in these forward positions if we are going to improve on this. I wouldn't have given Park or SWP more than 6's yesterday, nearly all our promising attacks disintegrated when the ball reached them which it invariably did. They work very hard, all honor for that, but they are being played out of position in the attacking 4, and they are back up players only for the more defensive positions when Ale, Granero and Diakite are all fit.
Good report Judo. Only thing I'd take issue with is you saying that we may have stumbled on our best back 4. I thought Bosingwa was less effective on the left and Onuoha offers nothing at all going forward, all though he is a solid defender. I'm quite happy for Traore to come in now at left back.
and he totally forgot about Mbia. it will be Boswinga Mbia Nelsen Fabio. Ferdinands performance was the exception rather than the rule, he has to play like that in most games to be considered 1st choice.
Hopefully that's exactly what MH will be telling him. Nothing like an incentive to keep the form going knowing there is strength in depth waiting to get a chance.
I thought Mackie did a great job on Saturday but not in the normal way. He came on as a striker, switched to the wing and then switched to right back and never looked bad. Very diverse!
Agree with most of your ratings except: I'm not a big Onuoha fan but I thought he did really well when he came on. If anything the defensive unit got stronger with his presance. Can't see how Zamora merits an 8. Won none of the aerial battles and hesitated when the big chance came his way.
I'm not saying Zamora was outstanding but I think he's been good lately and deserves no real criticism. Also, he seems to be a great character in the squad and we wouldn't go wrong making him captain. If Park is ever unavailable for a game I would put the armband on BZ.
Nice Post Judo, can't disagree with anything although i was watching on the ropiest stream ever and missed large parts. It's also nice to have a thread with people airing views, having differing opinions and everyone accepting this. Have to say from the bits i saw Cesar, Nelsen and the entire midfield had a stormer, can't wait to play some lesser opposition at home based on this performance.
just looking at some players ratings and not everyone was impressed with him "Not particularly convincing in possession and his lack of pace was a worry at times, but the veteran centre-back was utterly dominant in the air against Torres and made some vital tackles." 6/10 sounds a bit mean to me
Good post, Judo. The exciting thing about Granero is I'm convinced that so far, we're seeing only two thirds of what he's capable of, and what he will produce once he's fully settled into the team
apparently he was the 2nd quickest player over 7 yards after SWP according to some stats someone else posted. I think he was my MOTM. Its obviously he knows nothing about defending if he says he dominated a world class forward but only gave him a 6.
I do like the fact that hes already putting in studs up tackles and not complaining about tackles like that on himself. No complaining at all like Faurlin but completely unlike the stroppy Torres who was whining non stop at the ref.
