Trudge,Slog, Huff and Puff! Birmingham 0 Chelsea 1
By dixon9
January 21 2008
Did any of you watch the “Keegan Factor” Newcastle v Bolton match? Yes? What a terrible game eh? Well, that match was “Real Madrid 7 Eintract Frankfurt 3” compared to ours. This was such a turgid affair, that, to be honest I can hardly be bothered to write the match report.
I’m probably guilty of not having enough perspective to be honest, after all, the Woolwich only managed a 1-1 draw against McLeish’s team at the Camel Dome last weekend, Man Utd scraped past them 1-0 at home and there was a 0-0 draw at Anfield.
The most important of all are the 3 points though. We are well short of players we can actually select of course so winning away against a team that are so dogged and determined with a new manager that seems to have incorporated a new discipline in his side is very welcome.
We pretty much controlled the game (70 odd % possession) and apart from a dodgy 10 minute period near the end of the first half they didn’t look like doing much damage to us.
The real downside was the early injury to Wright-Phillips who now looks doubtful for the midweek semi-final against Everton – Lampard may or may not be available and I doubt if Ivanovic is fully match fit yet – so god knows what sort of team we’re going to put out.
Pizarro came on for a nippy winger and did his best to impress. The Peruvian forward has come in for a bit of stick from Chelsea fans for a while now (unfair in my view – he hardly plays and when he does it’s out of position) so I was pleased to see him score – a stooping header from a corner (yes! From a corner! Makes a nice change doesn’t it?!).
There was one more action which caught my eye; Joe Cole left 3 Brum players bewildered with a dribble and turn that was so quick it seemed instantaneous in its execution – that piece of skill shone out like a diamond in a cesspool of an afternoon’s football.
Oh, and by the way, before any of you oppo fans start to feel smug about the lack of quality in this match – just wait until your team plays there. I think I can guarantee you it will be a tough, excruciating afternoon.
Birmingham: Maik Taylor, Kelly, Schmitz, Ridgewell, Queudrue, Larsson, Muamba, Johnson, Kapo, O'Connor (Forssell 72), Jerome (McFadden 72).
Subs Not Used: Doyle, McSheffrey, Parnaby.Booked: Muamba.
Chelsea: Cech, Belletti, Alex, Carvalho, Ashley Cole, Wright-Phillips (Pizarro 29), Makelele, Ballack, Joe Cole (Sidwell 85), Anelka, Malouda (Bridge 90).
Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Ben-Haim.Booked: Pizarro.
Goals: Pizarro 79.
Att: 26,567
Ref: Rob Styles (Hampshire).
Dixie the Chelsea poor mouth is a bit much dont you think...the talent at your disposal is vast despite your "injury crisis"....
team v Birmingham......
hmmm.....
Cech - top premiership stopper
Belletti - one of the form full backs...CL winner
Alex - one of the top Cb in europe last season
Carvalho - always top class
Ashley Cole - always consistent /england first choice
Wright-Phillips - Chelseas form player
Makelele - always reliable - world cup winner
Ballack - another form player for Chelsea
Joe Cole - england first choice
Anelka - 16m purchase due to ANC absense of Drogba...
Malouda - french first choice 16m full back
so...how are ye exactly "well short of players"?? Please that team would give any team in Europe a game.....[b][/b]
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2008:01:21:16:54:51 by perrygroves.
Three points are three points no matter how they come. I though we defended very well, except Cech almost giving another goal away with his poor clearance. Alex and Carvalho were superb and SWPs injury was a fluke.
Pizarro is rubbish, Malouda is starting to find his form and the only decent chance Anelka got all day, he was brilliantly tackled as he was pulling the trigger.
Roll on Everton
KTBFFH
Now make a list of all the players we´ve had missing this season and for how long - then do the same with "equivalent" players from the Arsenal squad and tell me what you think.
Its been pretty much like this since LAST January but I´d put it to you that a team missing Terry, Essien, Lampard and Drogba - the medular of our team - will be affected. True, we do have good back up, but lets not pretend that that back up provides a true strength Chelsea.
We´ve got Everton on Wednesday and to add to our problems we´ll even be missing Wright-Phillips. Lets be honest, the best time to face Chelsea is now.
.
"It is born out of hypocrisy and fundamental insecurity. There have been two kids on the block for the past 12 years. Suddenly, there is a third and that one is threatening to be more successful than the others and they don’t like it." P Kenyon.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:01:21:20:53:51 by dixon9.