After 5 straight league wins on the spin, the first real test of the 2010/11 season was always going to come at Eastlands. After the exit from the Carling cup, albeit with the kids and reserves on show, it was going to be interesting to see how the Blues responded and sadly it was with an away defeat.
Carlo put out a full strength line up with only Lamps missing through injury but despite two pretty much nailed on penalty claims, the reality was that, in a tense and tactical encounter, City came out on top thanks to a single moment of magic from Tevez the Troll.
The 'in game' tweets went like this
After giving the kids & reserves a run out (& breaking a few of 'em) in the Carling Cup, its back 2 the serious stuff with a trip 2 Man City
It's pretty much a full strength blues line up with only Lamps still missing. City have started brightly but the opening 15mins is goalless
Nic's had a sloppy start giving up too much possession but on 27mins Bran hits the bar from our 1st corner - Hart saves the 2nd attempt
This game needs some pace to liven things up & it comes in the final 10mins but fails to deliver a goal. The half ends 0-0
No changes at half time & more of the same until 12mins. Ramires looses possession from a corner & the Troll scores from a quick break 1-0
Chelsea have to press now & gaps are opening up - Zirkov replaces Jedi so no holding man & Sturridge surprisingly replaces the Drog
Young Josh McEachran is on 4 the last 10mins but the blues are just huffing & puffing with no penetration & City see this out 4 a big win.
So the first big test of the season leaves us coming up short and now we have to get up for Marseilles in the CL group stages and the small matter of Arsenal at home on Sunday. More work to do Carlo
Another emphatic scoreline though the first half performance didn't give much indication of it. Indeed, Wigan gave a good account of themselves and had the best two chances of the opening exchanges before Ash broke down the left on 34mins and found Lamps in the box. His shot was parried by Kirkland but Malouda was on hand to tap in from close range.
Within 3mins of the restart, the Jedi fights free of some tough challenges and finds Nic with a superb ball - Nic shoots across Kirkland and its 0-2. Another quick break, this time from a Cech clearance and Malouda crosses for the Drog who guides the ball back to Nic for his 2nd and our 3rd. That would have been game over in the Jose years but not for this Chelsea. Ferrieia is replaced bt Bran and Kalou comes on for Malouda on 73mins and promptly scores from a sweet Drogba pass. More changes and Yossi is on for Ess and in the 89th min, Ash and the Drog combine nicely on the left and when the cross comes in, Kalou is on hand to head home for 0-5. Into the last minute and the Drog, who has been brilliantly unselfish today, switches the ball from left to right and as the ball is crossed in, Yossi is on hand to score his first Chelsea goal and our 6th on the day.
Yet another drubbing six goal drubbing - COME ON YOU BLUES
After a less than impressive pre-season and a world cup that's best forgotten, the Blues got back to business with a 17:30 home game against newly promoted West Brom. Though the Ramieresfinally gone through on Friday, the lad was not paraded in front of his new fans before kick off. Thankfully the side saw the return of Cech and Alex to shore up the back and the Drog to lead the line however the accident prone Ferreria was preferred at right back to Iva.
Before the game, Carlo had come out and said we weren't interested in Luiz as we had JT, Alex Iva and young Bruma. Its a shame no one had mentioned that Iva was our cover at right back for Paulo and so we genuinely do look light at the back. Still it didn't seem to matter today as normal maxi goal service was resumed.
Here are the in game tweets that came live from the Brigdge earlier today.
Off to our opening game of the season at home to WBA. Hoping to put a miserable pre season behind us with a convincing win. Come on U Blues !!
5mins gone and the keeper spills a free kick from the Drog - Malouda is on hand to tap home and its 1-0
We've taken the foot off the gas & WBA are playing some tidy stuff. Lamps plays Malouda in on 36mins then drills a free kick at the keeper.
Albion are playing some neat football with a few chances but a Drogba special goes thru the wall on 44mins to make it 2-0 at half time
An Albion free kick grazes the bar on 52mins but we go straight up the other end where JT connects with a corner & the Drog prods home. 3-0
Its smooth, smooth Chelsea now - Anelka to Cole to Lamps and its 4-0. That's why we're champions. Yossi is on to give Lamps a rest.
Drogba cuts inside on the edge of the box, let's flys & a cruel deflection makes it 5-0 on 68mins. He too is given a rest an on comes Kalou
Pre-season?? Wot pre-season?? Normal service is resumed as a sweeping move ends with Malouda tapping home a 6th. It ends Chelsea 6 - 0 WBA
It wont be this easy every week and we looked a lot better with Iva at right back but hopefully we'll see a few more signings before the window closes
Have you ever seen the Blues win a double - I have !!!!
A great day at Wembley if a somewhat bizzar game of football - The Blues should have been 5 up by half time yet 2 missed penalties made it a nail biting affair.
In the opening 45mins, Lamps hit the post, Kalou hit the bar (from 5 yards out - possibly the worse miss ever at Wembley), JT headed against the post and the Drog hit the bar with a rocket that James just got his hand to. Add to that another Drogba effort that scraped the outside of the post and you can understand why at half time we were starting to worry. All this and Cech still had to make a fine save from Piquionne on 22mins but the half amazingly ended all square.
The second half started in a more balanced vein and within 10mins we could and should have been behind. Belletti brought down Dindane in the box but thankfully Boetang decided to pass the ball tamely at Cechs feet for an easy save. Within 5mins we were ahead as the Drog buried a a trademark dipping free-kick beautifully past the despairing James. It should have been all over in the 88th min when Lamps was bundled over in the box but amazingly he scuffed his penanlty chance. It mattered not a jot as 5 nervy minutes later the singing and dancing began.
A trip to Anfield is never easy and this one was made that much harder by the thought that victory today would put us one step closer a momentous premier league title and keep us on course for a historic double. Carlo tinkered only as needed with JT returning to the heart of the defence and Bran moving to his more familiar right back role.
The nail biting in game teweets went like this
The TV's on Sky, the volume is up and the bum is squeaking. Come on U Blues !!
Its a bright opening 15mins but Drogba spends too much of it off getting treatment. Kalou is doing his usual tripping & tumbling routine
The Blues look very tense. Best chance goes to Aquilani as Maxi sets him free in the box on 28mins but he bottles it and Bran covers
Disaster for Liverpool as Gerrard back passes to the Drog who rounds Reina to make it 0-1on 33mins completely against the run of play
Lamps runs in unchallenged on 36mins but drives just wide & then does the same 2mins later to release Nic but his effort is blocked.
Babel replaces Maxi & there are cards for Malouda & Ballack. Wiley ignores a big pen shout on 45mins as Lucas brings down Kalou. Still 0-1
No changes at 1/2 time. Kalou skips into the box on 50mins out foxing Mascherano but his goal line cross misses out everyone
Malouda flicks a ball out to Nic on 53mins and this time his cross is slid home by Lamps. Its 2-0 and the travelling Blues start to sing !!
Alex puts in a great last ditch challenge on Babel on 59min. At 0-2 we still don't look comfortable. Both Nic & Malouda test Reina on 66mins
JT gives away a handball on 73mins but it comes to nowt. Into the last 10mins & a laboured counter attack sees Reina save from Nic & Kalou
5mins to go & its ole passing that precedes Zhirkov replacing Kalou. Cech makes his 1st save in stoppage time (says it all) & it ends 0-2. Over to u Fergie
Thoughts turn now to the Stadium of light for the visit of Man U to Sunderland. The need a win as a draw would leave only mathematics of overhauling a 10 goal difference
Hi, welcome to "Rock and Roll Football" - my footie and music blog. I have 3 passions in my life - my family, my music and Chelsea football club and this blog focusses on the last two. The Chelsea posts are unashamedly biased and the music entries simply reflect my personal views, tastes and observations. Enjoy and feel free to comment.
