So, just over 10 days ago I wrote that Chelsea's problems would not be solved by the addition of Fernando Torres. And so it was evident in todays loss to Liverpool-this team is no longer fit for purpose. On a weekend when we saw records broken for goals scored in the Premier League, Chelsea could barely manage a shot on target in 90 minutes against a well organised Liverpool team. And the problems continue at the other end of the team-FUD is rife in the Chelsea penalty area of late, as witnessed by the events leading to Liverpool's winning goal (very well taken by their outstanding player of recent weeks, Raul Meireles), and by the tense exchange between Cech and Ivanovic late in the 1st half.
Torres is an excellent predator-but when there is no prey, he is just another body on the pitch. Chelsea's failure to create more that 1 opportunity for the mercurial Spaniard makes him no more useful than a Kalou or a Malouda. Not to mention that in 2 games for Bolton, Danny Sturridge has managed 2 goals (I'm not for 1 minute suggesting that Sturridge is a better player than Torres). Maybe if Chelsea were more willing to give youth a chance, this season wouldn't have turned so stale so quickly. Sturridge, McEachran, Bruma, van Aanholt, Kakuta have played sparingly and are now likely to feature less due to loan moves or the manager's conservatism.
This is now the 7th game in which Chelsea have failed to score in this years Premier League. Contrast that with last season, where they scored in 37 of 38 games, and Man Utd's record this season (have scored in 22 of 25 games), you can see that there is a problem, and the cause is a lack of creativity rather than a failure to take chances. When you add that to a shaky back 4, you are going to have more days like today.
On a weekend when Man Utd finally showed that they are far from invincible and Arsenal showed (yet again) that they don't have the mental toughness to win a Premier League title, this was an outstanding chance for Chelsea to get themselves back in the title race and put a bit of pressue on Man Utd ahead of next Saturday's Manchester derby. Instead, Chelsea now have 13 games left to overturn a 10 point deficit. Even if they manage to beat Man Utd twice, they will have to win every other game as well and hope that others can do to Man Utd what Wolves managed yesterday. No surprise that the bookies have Man Utd at 6/4 on to win the Title at this point.
Tip of the cap to Liverpool-Jamie Carragher epitomises true grit, and in Meireles, they had the outstanding midfield player on the pitch today. King Kenny had a plan that worked to perfection-surely NESV will hand him the reins on a permanent basis sooner rather than later?
Sunday 6 February 2011
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