I was on holiday when Chelsea began their pre-season tour of the States with a game in Seattle against MLS side Seattle Sounders. Being in Europe and 1 hour ahead of the UK, the time difference became a real head spinner and I kept up-to-date using Twitter, knowing there would be a wealth of news , to keep me informed.
My first piece of information around 4.15am (local time) saw Chelsea concede a 2nd goal which was bad enough till I realised that Chelsea had taken a very quick 2-0 lead through the ‘boy’ beast Lukaku and debut boy Eden Hazard (nothing changed I thought, Chelsea throwing a two goal lead away)
With that I just had to stay up at least until half-time, and with further goals from another debutant Marin and a 2nd from Lukaku, I felt it was safe to return back to sleep with Chelsea leading 4-2 at the break.
Not that I slept much. Up again (around 5.00am local time) and out on the balcony, so not to interrupt the ‘boss’ I stayed on Twitter until the final whistle.
Not a lot happened except for a load of substitutions, which will always disrupt the flow of any game, let alone a friendly attended by over 53,000 fans, which is a credit to the Seattle public, rumoured to be the best supporters in the MLS.
Later on in the morning, armed with I Pad and on the beach I dissected the action.
All four of Chelsea’s goals came down the left.
A sweet pass from young Josh to lay on Lukaku for the first, then a mazy dribble from Hazard from just inside Seattle’s half before cutting in and shooting in Chelsea’s 2nd and his first in a Blue shirt.
Again Lukaku storming through down his left hand side before rounding the goalkeeper for his second and Chelsea’s fourth after Marin a few minutes earlier again cutting in from the left before firing home Chelsea’s 3rd.
As for the two goals Chelsea conceded. If you were to believe the soothsayers and doom mongers, it was the end of the world, a travesty, a defensive display of incompetence and that Hilario (a hero and legend) is the worst goalkeeper in football.
I felt he had no chance with either goal and for a bench-warmer, I thought he did what he had to do so to pillar and quarter a bloke who has served Chelsea so well and who doesn’t even play reserve team football, frankly was a disgrace and this was a friendly, THE first game in two months since Chelsea became Champions of Europe.
As far as I am concerned and I have written it here every year for the last few years, pre-season friendlies are not about results.
They are designed for fitness, conditioning, practice and tactics and if Chelsea can notch up a few victories along the way there is your Brucie Bonus good grounding for morale and confidence building.
Captain, Leader, Legend JT has joined up with the squad in New York which will further build morale and confidence after his exploits at Euro 2012 and in the NOT GUILTY courtroom.
Whether Bobby Di decides to give him a run-out, we will not know until kick-off (midnight UK , 7.00pm local time).
The game against our former Double Winning coach Carlo Ancelotti’s BIG spending PSG is being shown live on Chelsea TV (coverage begins at 11.30pm) and we will endeavour to bring you updates on the message board below.
2012 FA CUP WINNERS AND CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE
TWITTER: @WVOMChelsea
Chelsea on Tour: Match 2 v PSG in New York
Posted by: 50 Years Over 100 Years (IP Logged)
Date: 22/07/2012 10:19
What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
Yes Lukaku played well but halfway decent defenders and GK in the EPL will stop both of his goals especially the first. He is quite a big guy though and should learn (Drogba-esque) to use that to his advantage. Hazard and Marin will be great. Marin needs to vary his tendencies. Need attacking options on the right. Chalobah is ready. Give him games all along the backline. He is quick and hard on the tackle and smooth in transition to attack. "False nine" ala Spain in the Euros did not work. Need two reliable CF options behind Torres to cover for injuries and the number of games the team will be involved in and a RB. Lukaku is going out on loan and Sturridge, YES Sturridge is the only one behind Torres. INS --- Willian (play him on the right), Lewandowski, LLorente, Cesar. I am counting Oscar in already. You do not go do a medical and count yourself out. Out -- Sturridge, Mierelles, Essien,Malouda.
We put this type of balance in midfield and attack on the solid backline we have and give it some time to gel and I say bring on the titles.
Chelsea can attack Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at the new yank Stadium this Monday, a game that includes 2 powerful European sides coming back off fascinating summers.
Chelsea ended last campaign on a high note, besting Bayern Munich within the Champions League final—in what would end up to be Didier Drogba’s last game with the Blues.
PSG, unhappy with last season’s end, spent an way over $135 this summer, luring variety of high-profile transfers, several from AC Milan.
There are scant higher-profile venues than the new yank Stadium––between the setting and every one the star power on the sphere, this preseason friendly ought to still be a must-see event.
Pastore on a mazy dribble with three blue shirts around him manages to hit the post and then the ball finds Nene who blasts the ball via Luiz's heel into the net
We record all IP addresses on the Sportnetwork message boards which may be required by the authorities in case of defamatory or abusive comment.
We seek to monitor the Message Boards at regular intervals.
We do not associate Sportnetwork with any of the comments and do not take responsibility for any statements or opinions expressed on the Message Boards.
If you have any cause for concern over any material posted here please let us know as soon as possible by e-mailing
abuse@sportnetwork.net
