L Cup Semi 2nd Leg: Everton 0 Chelsea 1 + Video
By dixon9
January 25 2008
Chelsea have now booked a 3rd League Cup final appearance in 4 years after a competent and professional display against the people’s club of Liverpool – Everton. What was impressive about the performance was that is was achieved with a depleted squad – in fact, the initial line-up and the substitutes bench almost represented the only players available in the club.
I was a bit nervous before the match and not entirely optimistic and my concern deepened when it emerged that Ballack didn’t even travel after suffering a minor calf strain.
The German captain has pretty much been the conductor of the Chelsea orchestra in recent matches – who was going to direct matters on the field given that we were missing our principle Generals in Terry and Lampard?
I needn’t have worried though and would have been deservedly chided for being such a wuss in the first place; we had plenty of leaders out there as Colonel’s in our ranks emerged in the shape of Carvalho and Wright-Phillips.
Seanie looked extremely doubtful to be able to play but insisted in training and performing a fitness test in order to be named in the squad for the trip.
There were plenty of other performances that deserve a mention in dispatches; Cech pulled off some good saves despite no sleep the night before (he became a father for the first time), Alex was imperious alongside Carvalho (I never thought I’d see the day when I could have so much confidence in a replacement for Terry), Malouda is now regaining match fitness and is demonstrating some of the qualities in his armoury, Anelka looked dangerous almost every time he got the ball despite being relatively isolated and Joe Cole scampered around and caused mischief in the Everton trenches.
Makelele would be a worthy contender for MOM after managing to largely shackle the influential Arteta and even manage to restrict Cahill.
However, there is another group of soldiers I should mention; the infantry of Chelsea fans who made the trip were in full song and outsang the Goodison faithful. “Chelsea Chelsea Chelsea Chelsea!”, “Calm down! Calm down!” (When some Everton fans took to mysterious infighting on two occasions – maybe some Liverpool were in the home end?), "Carefree!" and plenty of other less savoury renditions could be heard loud and clear throughout the match.
I expected more from the Everton players as well as their fans. They seemed to lack belief in themselves and the passionate performance I was expecting from them never came.
There were half chances for both sides but the tie was settled by a sublime goal.
Malouda collected at the halfway line in the 2nd half and had time to turn and flight a perfect 50 yard pass onto the foot of the in-running Joe Cole.
The instant control and strike from Cole was up to his usual high standard and reminded me of his recent goal away to Blackburn, but Malouda´s pass will probably rank as the pass of the season.
So another final and we have the chance to make yet more history by being the first to win the League Cup at Wembley (and the last to do so at the Millennium Stadium).
The League Cup is sometimes derided as “Mickey Mouse” (usually by those that have been knocked out of it). Just look at Arsenal for example; Wenger was forced to eventually play his first team against Spurs on Tuesday night despite earlier insistance that he wouldn´t and their own players, no strangers to tantrums and fisticuffs when things don’t go their way, even ended up fighting amongst themselves – strange that this should occur in a competition not deemed important?
I can guarantee that when two sides walk out at Wembley for the Final all will be wishing it was their team doing so.
Come on Chels!
Highlights:
http://www.footytube.com/2008/01/24/everton-0-1-chelsea/
Everton: Howard, Neville, Jagielka, Lescott, Nuno Valente, Osman, Cahill, Carsley (Anichebe 70), Arteta, Fernandes (Vaughan 78), Johnson.
Subs Not Used: Wessels, Hibbert, Stubbs.Booked: Carsley, Fernandes, Nuno Valente, Neville.
Chelsea: Cech, Belletti, Carvalho, Alex, Bridge, Makelele, Malouda (Ashley Cole 90), Sidwell, Joe Cole (Pizarro 82), Wright-Phillips, Anelka (Ben-Haim 90).
Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Ferreira.Booked: Makelele, Belletti.
Goals: Joe Cole 69.
Agg (1-3)
Att: 37,086
Ref: Steve Bennett (Kent).
The final against Spurs is going to be very tasty!
31,000 odd tickets supposedly?
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"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.
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"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.
starting at £38 to £80.
I get mine Thursday
sod the toss for socks lol
Don't Gamble, Bet Risk Free
Seriously though, I can remember us lobying Bates for years to get white socks back.
A tradition that Tommy Doc started with the Docherty Diamonds,
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"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.