First of all my aplogies to anyone who logged on earlier expecting to share half time and full time thoughts. My Internet service provider became my internet no-service provider this morning. Normal service has just been resumed.
And to the game. I enjoyed the game and the time flew past. There was always the threat o####oal or a controversial incident to keep me glued to the set. A share of the points I thought was fair over the ninety minutes with United no doubt regretting their failure to put Chelsea away in the first half.
United were terrific in the first half. The back fire was water tight and the midfield was much brighter and quicker in thought and deed than their Chelsea counterparts. With Giggs being given the freedom to room the United game plan seemed to consist of getting the ball to Ronaldo and allowing him to run free or alternatively, to move the ball quickly through the midfield and isolate Makelele.
The United goal started with Giggs popping up deep on the right side and the ball was quickly relayed to Saha. Saha showed the deftness of a pickpocket as he almost passed the ball into the net.
Mourinho’s key move was taking off Geremi (a lovely passer but not the most mobile of players) and slotting Essien in as a right wing back. We saw Essien’s versatility a couple of weeks ago against Tottenham as Chelsea tried to salvage the game. This time Essien did turn the game. He did a fine defensive job but he also provided Chelsea with much needed width on the right side and an extra man in midfield. I am pretty certain it was Essien who was up in the United penalty box and who forced the corner from which Carvalho scored.
I don’t think SAF will be disappointed in any of the performances from his players although Jose Mourinho is unlikely to feel the same way. It looks to me as if Claude Makelele is beginning to show his age against teams that move the ball quickly. Ballack and Shevchenko both disappointed and not for the first time this season.
Up to this season Mourinho’s teams have exceeded the sum of their parts - that is not the case this season. Chelsea is far from firing on all-cylinders.
Finally a word about the referee Howard Webb who did a fine job.
So how exactly was Carrick man of the match? In the first half when Man U were dominating he played well, but it was mostly them going around Chelseea's midfield. In the second Lampard and Essien pretty well dominated the mid, not sure that I even heard Carrick or Scholes mentioned. I'm sure he did some defensive duties, but so did Ballack and he was certainly not the best on the pitch.
Next time I fully expect Chelsea to play 4-5-1 against Man U. Robben was very poor this game (errant passes and aimless runs) but the width shut down the supply to Ronaldo and Giggs, shutting down Man U's control.
I agree the game was a nail bitter and I can not wait until these teams meet up at Stamford Bridge. I also agree that Schevchenko was a bit of a dissapoinment and it led me to wonder. What differences between Chelsea and AC Milan could maybe explain why he hasn't performed in the way some of us have expected? and Does Chelsea have the right combination to really make use of him or did they just sign him without really knowing how to work him into their system?
Bobby
how does Carvalho not close down on Saha with Terry behind him? ManU played the game as thought they needed it more which they did in the first half. Europe still up in the air and chelsea nipping at there heels in the premiereship this was a statement game for Man U they made....sort of. In my opinion they were far to willing to allow chelsea to control the pace of the second half.
I expect the articles about Sheva's form this season will double after his no-show today. With Drogba hanging a bit with his injury now was the time for Sheva to step up - but no. I wonder if the Galactico disease that infected Chelsea this summer will be the undoing of their championship hopes.
I know, I know- if they ever do settle down they'll be deadly and holding Man U to a draw keeps them still in plain view at the top of the tables. This is true - but I still wonder.
Bobby , l am surprised you branded the game intresting, l think you have to also consider the big names in both teams and l have to say they were disappointing, apart from ronaldo no one was having a go at other opposition consistently, sheva and drogba did not leave up to their billing and words.l have always felt that lampard's shooting is his strenghth and his weakness, and today unfortunately we saw the bad side of it , he always have a go even whrn other players have better positions.l do think your comment on claude is unfair, to be honest the whole chealsea midfield was caught by surprise by the way the united midfield and full backs got on to a flying start and the yellow card restricted his dirty work.l was listening to jose's post match comments and you can tell that he is not feeling comfortable, and sees a point good result and he certainly has an eye on stripping arsenal 3 points in 2 weeks time.you say that chelsea are not at their best but l feel that it will not happen with the type of players they have in the midfield they seem not to be playing their natural roles, and if you see ballack and essien play for their countries they are different players, and l feel that if they go back to last season 4-5-1 with robben and cole in wide areas they are easily the strongest team in europe l have to admit.last season they out played every other team with that formation
Last edited by henry14 on November 26th at 3:29 PM.
I haven't seen the game so I won't comment on it but good result for Arsenal, even though many don't belive they've a chance of winning the title. I still can't give up hope till I see how it goes in the next month. Does anyone feel like Arsenal look like Man U at the beginning of last season, playing good but not converting chances? But luck has also played a part in Arsenal's struggles.
Last edited by Gunner44 on November 26th at 7:29 PM.
This is a repeat of a posting from this morning that's pretty much identical to your view Bobby. I just wanted to re-ask the question a the end.
A fair result and an interesting pointer for the future. I thought United were given way too much space in the first half but they never went full out when they had Chelsea dominated. Moving Essien to right back/half switched the game and Robben's presence at least stopped Neville from coming forward. Chelsea with Cole and Robben look a different team.
If anyone needed it, today proved that the presence of Ballack is a failed experiment. Other than getting in the way, he seemed disconnected from the team.
Shevchenko in a way is a bigger disappointment. He just doesn't seem to have the skill level nor the physical presence, we saw in Italy.
In last year's game at Stamford bridge Joe Cole took United apart. I think he's Chelsea's real star and we haven't seen the best of him by a long way.
Bobby. Do you think that Mourinho has the courage to revert back to 4-3-3? He'd be effectively sdmitting that the Ballack/Shevchenko purchases didn't work, as everyone on your blog today seems to agree.
When we get to the point when it is time to hand out the trophies he will have to go with what works. But he has some breathing room in that Chelsea is within striking distance of United in the League and have already qulaified for the Champions League. He can persevere with the diamond if he wants to.
This is a good result for the rest of the Premiership. The Reds and Gooners are still in with an outside chance (albeit way outside), but the table could get interesting during the holiday season. I think Chelsea have the edge on Man U because of their respective benches.
Agreed that kudos go to Howard Webb for a fine job.
ManU looked like themselves in the first half. Scholes looked like he and Carrick had the midfield under control. At the second half I thought Chelsea's bench would play a bigger role. When I saw Robben and Cole come into the game I thought ManU would struggle to keep pace. It didn't happen. I can surmise from a few of the comments that most felt like I did about Ballack's perfromance: lousy! I do not like his style and felt he should have been carded early in the match and maybe even dismissed for some of his tactics. It is a good thing that H. Crespo no longer plays for Chelsea or this could have been a very long day for the Red Devils. When will SAF find a replacement for Scholes? He looks good then he has times when he really shows poor form/fitness(?)in the same match.
Bobby- I was happy to see that you agreed with me on the performance of Mr. Webb. He didn't look flustered at all.
Last edited by neophyte on November 27th at 8:09 AM.
well i predicted Saha would score Rooney did not(i predicted he would)if he did then we would probably win.. big props to Vidic he has come a long way from looking like a deer caught in a head light way back in january... suddenly Rio look good i wish we had won but we never loose either Man U are coming back All those players who never wanted to play in THE RED shirt ie.DIARRA,MIKEL..when we looked out of it last season sit up and take a look we will attract some great players who love the game more than the money in it in order to bolster the bench
Bobby can you please tell me why it is that Arsenal can't convert on the million chances that they tend to create in games. It pains me lots to see them lose because I beleive that they play the most attractive, entertaining and definitely the most adventurous football in the whole Prem. Is it because Arsenal are more of a counter attacking side and so when they fall behind teams would put all their players behind the ball to defend?
Also I have heard people speaking ill of Scottish League, saying that it is not a real competition because the season is already over.Since its inception over 100 years ago two teams have won it 90+ times. Do you agree that they should just end the league if they can't find some way of making it more competitve.
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