Walking the ball into the net

Walking the ball into the net

   

   What is going wrong? So much talent. The manager, the players, the backroom staff. On paper, tipped for success. On the pitch, different story. Chelsea Football Club have lost 3 out of 3 in all competitions. One in the Super Cup, one in the Premier League and another in the Champions League. I accept the fact that Chelsea lost the Super Cup against Bayern, albeit winning twice against them and being pegged back to 2-2 within the last 7 seconds. Against Everton, created 21 chances, took none. Eto'o drifts out wide too many times so there's no vocal player in the middle. Against Basel, Chelsea were simply poor. Jose underestimated Basel, leaving Torres and Schurrle completely out of the squad. Van Ginkel made his Champions League debut for Chelsea and personally, he looked a boy in man's game. Too many fouls, too many misjudged errors. He looked very average. He needs to be nurtured properly, brought into games, not rushed into the Champions League. David Luiz should have filled in there and Chelsea should have played John Terry with Gary Cahill.

   Chelsea too many times, tried to walk the ball into the net. I can only recall, perhaps twice from Oscar, where he shot from distance, one hit the bar and went out. Every time, Lampard, Mata, Oscar, Hazard or Willian got the ball, it would be to try and walk the ball into the net, dribble through the Basel defence with neat footwork or slick passing. This didn't work. There was no strong, prolific striker. Even Eto'o tried a few dribbling runs. This was pointless. It clearly hasn't worked.

   Rotating so many players hasn't worked either. Willian was almost anonymous tracking back, Hazard had the poorest game in a Chelsea jersey and Eto'o seemed out of place. There was no fluidity between the team. Chelsea seemed like 11 individuals. Mourinho needs to pick his strongest eleven and work with that and rotate rarely rather than constantly. I think we missed Victor Moses running at people. Such a direct player. There is no consistency in the side and Jose underestimated Basel. This is the cause of our loss.

This should have been the team Jose went with:


                Cech
Ivanovic Terry Cahill Cole
      Luiz Lampard
Oscar   Mata   Hazard
          Torres

   Hazard and Oscar will be tracking back as well as going forward to support Mata and Torres. Luiz, as well as Lamaprd, naturally run forward to help the attack. This would have been a far solid squad compared to our eleven individual players last night.

   Next match is Fulham FC at Stamford Bridge on Saturday 21st September at 5:30pm. I look forward to see who starts and how Chelsea perform.  

Eto'o, Willian or simply the Juan?

Eto'o, Willian or simply the Juan?

   As the Premier League resumes tomorrow (Saturday 14th September) after having an international break, I'm going to see who will make the biggest impact between Eto'o, Willian or Juan Mata.

   Willian Borges da Silva: He is an exceptional player. He adds something extra to that already entertaining midfield. His speed, skills, movement and composure are an asset to any team. Rumoured to have cost anything from £25 to £32 million, depends on what tabloid you read, the former Anzhi Makhachkala playmaker glides rather than runs or sprints. A quote from Cahill states, he was ''terrified'' whenever Willian got the ball to his feet in training in the first couple of days. There is a slight problem for the new Brazilian at Chelsea; he is facing a mountain to become a starter. The number of attacking midfielder Chelsea posses is incredible. His natural position is on the left but Hazard, almost guaranteed a starter, will Willian adapt to the right where he faces competition from Schurrle, De Bryune and Oscar? I'm unsure if Willian will start, however, I can see him coming off of the bench and creating an impact on the game.

   Samuel Eto'o: No matter how you view this guy, he is something to behold. He has played for the two biggest clubs in Spain, went on to win the treble with Inter Milan and Jose Mourinho and was later sold to Anzhi Makhachkala, where he earned £300,000 per week, which is 60 pence a second. After signing for Chelsea on a one-year deal believed to be £130,000 a week (no way near the ridiculous number he was payed at Anzhi) Samuel Eto'o is somewhat a mystery. He has signed on a free, at the age of 32 but hasn't played at the top level for 2 years now. Is he a starter ahead of Torres and Ba? For me; yes. If he is able to regain his form he showed for clubs such as Barcelona and Inter Milan, Chelsea would have acquired a bargain. Ba and Torres are stop and start and personally, it is very frustrating to see the pair fire one week and draw blanks the next. Eto'o should start for Chelsea no doubt.

   Juan Mata: The Chelsea player of the year for two seasons in a row. Who would have thought, he wouldn't be guaranteed a starting place. Everything seems to be rosy in the Juan Mata camp but how long will that last after he finds out he won't play as many games as last season? I have total belief in Mr Mourinho but playing Juan Mata is no argument. Embed your method in him. Juan Mata is simply an outstanding player. He can unlock defences like a walk through a park. This guy is a genius. It will be a big blow if we lost Mata but time can only tell and I hope he starts tomorrow.

   I personally believe we have too many attacking players at Chelsea in this moment in time. The players on loan such as Kakuta, Marin, Atsu, Piazon, Victor Moses, Thorgan Hazard, when will they get a chance at the first team? I mean, all the attacking threat in the Chelsea 25 are young too so how will this work out? Wasted talent? I believe in Jose Mourinho and the board but buying a player of Atsu's calibre was a waste? No? Bar Juan Mata and Willian, Atsu is only a year younger than Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bryune, Andre Schurrle and Oscar. We shall see what the future holds. In the mean time, concentrating for tomorrow's match.

My prediction for tomorrow's line up against Everton stands at:

Cech, Ivanovic, Luiz, Terry, Cole, Ramires, Lampard, Oscar, Schurrle, Hazard, Eto'o.

Note: This is my personal view. I am unaware who Mr Mourinho will pick come Saturday 14th September 5:30pm at Goodison Park.