Boro shocks Chelsea 2-1,Things to look for in Prem
For a full recap:
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=199100&cc=5901
Watching the Chelsea/Boro match today I had a thought - Chelsea was up 1-0 and decently in control of the game early in the second half. Boro looked reasonably bright, was at home, and Chelsea was missing the creativity of Cole and Robben. But it was the type of game and lead that Chelsea has rarely squandered over the past 2 years.
Then Schevchenko made a great run down the left and hit Lampard alone at the six for the certain clincher. Lampard hit the bar, Schwarzer recovered and Boro started gaining some steam with great work rate and some hard tackles that brought the crowd to life. The thought was, if Boro nicks a goal and gets a point, maybe Chelsea will be beatable this year.
Lo and behold, Boro got 2 goals and bagged all 3 points with a 2-1 win. Is there hope for the chasers this year? I'll say this - they were both goals that Chelsea never concedes. An unmarked Pogatetz on a set piece and a lose scramble for the second with 4 Chelsea players caught frozen for the Viduka winner. And the goals were in the 2nd half - last year, Chelsea was even more dominant in the 2nd half than the first.
I'm not gonna overdo it - its one match - but its the stumble everyone else was looking for. I would still pick Chelsea to win the prem, but at it gives real hope for the chasers (who have been buried by the end of the first 15 games the past 2 years).
Other thoughts:
Sheva looks pretty solid - perhaps hasn't seen enough of the ball yet, but looks really good when he gets it. Also provides a good 2nd option on direct kicks to the recently erratic Lampard - Sheva almost scored on a beauty from 30 yards.
Kallou looked a little lost out there - he was a late replacement for Robben and didn't offer much.
George Boateng looked good in the middle, especially the 2 times he stepped up and drove the ball forward when Chelsea refused to mark him. Both times that he did this he sprung dangerous Boro attacks - I'd like to see him to more of this to match his brutal, effective tackling in the middle.
Gaizka Mendietta has ditched his signature stringy, shaggy blond hairstyle for a "short on top-medium on sides" look that only seems to highlight his baldness. He has struggled with injuries since his move to Boro and will probably need more matches to regain form. But I wonder if he will ever regain it - its always hard to tell with older players dealing with declining skills and injuries. I did think Boro looked much better with Lee Cattermole and the other energetic youngsters (they out-hustled Chelsea in the 2nd half). I don't see Mendietta playing a big role for them this year.
Some we will see, some we won't. Some things I am looking forward to now that the Prem is back:
Harry Redknap keeping Portsmouth up again. And twitching.
Nolberto Solano curling in a beautiful goal.
Alan Smith lose the ball to a tough challenge. He turns and hunts the ball and chops down an opposing player. Then a "fuck-off" to the ref on the inevitable whistle. Depending on the speed of the ref, the over/under is about 9 seconds from Smith's loss of posession to yellow card.
Off the dribble, Christiano Ronaldo beats everything except the lingering adolescent acne on his cheeks.
Seeing 3 sides I have barely ever seen. Also, not having to see Sunderland anymore.
Press conferences with Jose Mourinho. Anything with Neil Warnock.
Solkskjaer playing again and scoring big goals again.
After a visitors' goal at Anfield, when an announcer, in grave tones, warns a visiting player not to "taunt the Kop."
Kevin Davies win 90% of header chances sent his way
Robbie Keane continue to score and impress and remain underrated and often 3rd choice at striker for Spurs.
The first color commentator to suggest the first goal is important in this match.
Drogba and Djiouff shaking hands pre-match and both going down in a heap clutching their faces and asking for cards.
Martin Tyler.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=199100&cc=5901
Watching the Chelsea/Boro match today I had a thought - Chelsea was up 1-0 and decently in control of the game early in the second half. Boro looked reasonably bright, was at home, and Chelsea was missing the creativity of Cole and Robben. But it was the type of game and lead that Chelsea has rarely squandered over the past 2 years.
Then Schevchenko made a great run down the left and hit Lampard alone at the six for the certain clincher. Lampard hit the bar, Schwarzer recovered and Boro started gaining some steam with great work rate and some hard tackles that brought the crowd to life. The thought was, if Boro nicks a goal and gets a point, maybe Chelsea will be beatable this year.
Lo and behold, Boro got 2 goals and bagged all 3 points with a 2-1 win. Is there hope for the chasers this year? I'll say this - they were both goals that Chelsea never concedes. An unmarked Pogatetz on a set piece and a lose scramble for the second with 4 Chelsea players caught frozen for the Viduka winner. And the goals were in the 2nd half - last year, Chelsea was even more dominant in the 2nd half than the first.
I'm not gonna overdo it - its one match - but its the stumble everyone else was looking for. I would still pick Chelsea to win the prem, but at it gives real hope for the chasers (who have been buried by the end of the first 15 games the past 2 years).
Other thoughts:
Sheva looks pretty solid - perhaps hasn't seen enough of the ball yet, but looks really good when he gets it. Also provides a good 2nd option on direct kicks to the recently erratic Lampard - Sheva almost scored on a beauty from 30 yards.
Kallou looked a little lost out there - he was a late replacement for Robben and didn't offer much.
George Boateng looked good in the middle, especially the 2 times he stepped up and drove the ball forward when Chelsea refused to mark him. Both times that he did this he sprung dangerous Boro attacks - I'd like to see him to more of this to match his brutal, effective tackling in the middle.
Gaizka Mendietta has ditched his signature stringy, shaggy blond hairstyle for a "short on top-medium on sides" look that only seems to highlight his baldness. He has struggled with injuries since his move to Boro and will probably need more matches to regain form. But I wonder if he will ever regain it - its always hard to tell with older players dealing with declining skills and injuries. I did think Boro looked much better with Lee Cattermole and the other energetic youngsters (they out-hustled Chelsea in the 2nd half). I don't see Mendietta playing a big role for them this year.
Some we will see, some we won't. Some things I am looking forward to now that the Prem is back:
Harry Redknap keeping Portsmouth up again. And twitching.
Nolberto Solano curling in a beautiful goal.
Alan Smith lose the ball to a tough challenge. He turns and hunts the ball and chops down an opposing player. Then a "fuck-off" to the ref on the inevitable whistle. Depending on the speed of the ref, the over/under is about 9 seconds from Smith's loss of posession to yellow card.
Off the dribble, Christiano Ronaldo beats everything except the lingering adolescent acne on his cheeks.
Seeing 3 sides I have barely ever seen. Also, not having to see Sunderland anymore.
Press conferences with Jose Mourinho. Anything with Neil Warnock.
Solkskjaer playing again and scoring big goals again.
After a visitors' goal at Anfield, when an announcer, in grave tones, warns a visiting player not to "taunt the Kop."
Kevin Davies win 90% of header chances sent his way
Robbie Keane continue to score and impress and remain underrated and often 3rd choice at striker for Spurs.
The first color commentator to suggest the first goal is important in this match.
Drogba and Djiouff shaking hands pre-match and both going down in a heap clutching their faces and asking for cards.
Martin Tyler.
posted by the idiot at 3:18 PM
2 Comments:
I always thought Chelsea would be fucked if they were ever to lose Lampard to injury. Every other team has lost key players over the last couple years to injury, with the exception of Chelsea. Terry and Lampard have been constant. However, much to my surprise, Chelsea are losing Lampard to a loss of form, not injury. The chance prior to Boro's first goal was one he would NEVER have missed over the last couple of years. He scores, Chelsea are up 2-0, game over. But not anymore. Yes, it's one game but it's been an entire World Cup and counting now for Frank. I'm hopeful his poor form will lead to other slip-ups.
You know I can't help but wonder if part of the Lampard problem is that Mourinho never sits him. Even when Chelsea fields a b squad for a cup game, Lampard is always playing. Chelsea has played a ton of matches over the last 3 years and throw in all the matches Lampard played for England and it is too much for anyone.
I can understand Terry playing every game, but I think a midfielder needs a break every so often.
The drop in form from 2 years ago is huge, yet I think he is still an effective player - he just doesn't compare to the 2004-5 Lampard. It might have been just a stretch when the stars aligned and everything fell into place for him, and we might not see it again. That said, I bet he still leads prem midfielders in scoring this year.
I am not sure Ballack is gonna step into his role, and I am actually expecting to see more of Essien attacking this year.
Btw, someone posted a question on Bobby M's blog about the large number of goals Lampard has scored from a deflection off a defender - something I had been wondering about as well (does he hit a "heavy" ball?) Any thoughts on this quirk? Could just be luck, but it happens so often, I can't help but wonder.
Btw, I really like the added commentary you are doing on your site. Good stuff.
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