Monday 12 May 2014

Cardiff City 1 vs Chelsea 2: review by a Chelsea fan

Cardiff City 1 vs Chelsea 2: review by a Chelsea fan

Sorry if this comes across as a bit dour

I needed inspiration for writing an end of the season match blog with the realisation that my team wasn't winning anything that season at the back of my mind. I needed the assistance of a experienced relative....he's an Arsenal fan!

The Cardiff fan trolling Mourinho by singing 'You're not special any more' didn't help

The match

The first half was essentially a one- way traffic with Chelsea having most of the ball and the better chances. However they still ended the half a goal down.

Oscar could've had a penalty in the second minute. His brilliant turn in the box had its progress halted by a foul. Ref waved play on

Torres missed a golden opportunity - he only had the open goal to aim at and still pick out Steven Caulker's big toe! :-o...making it look like a superb block

In the 15', a speculative effort from Bellamy from outside the box took a wicked deflection off Azpi's back and found it's way into the right side of Schwarzer's goal! The Keeper had no chance! 1-0 to Cardiff!

Salah missed a few half chances and had a shout for a penalty late in the first half

In the 26', Oscar beats the offside trap and should half scored. He was ponderous after controlling the ball and this allowed the defender to block the shot -resulting in a corner kick

The second half was essentially like the first, with Chelsea dominating possession and being ineffective in the last third. Our man Torres= Chief Culprit

Then Schurrle was brought in for Mikel and Oscar switched to central midfield

Chelsea's game improved and in the 72'- Azpi beats the offside, heads a neat cross which was saved point blank by Marshall, Azpi hits his rebound against the crossbar and the following rebound was volleyed in by Schurrle 1-1!

In the 75', Torres finally scores.

Fabio plays Torres on side in the box when he receives a Schurrle headed ball. He even had the luxury of two more touches before he slots it home. 2-1 Chelsea

He didn't really celebrate ( sign that he's leaving finally!?! )

Nathan Ake replaces Salah with about 13 mins to go

One of the Academy players, Jonathan Swift, had a couple of minutes of football - when Hazard was introduced

Nothing newsworthy in the remainder of the game

Thoughts

Salah really is a terrible finisher, but his second half performance was much better than the first

Kalas played well in CB again. Ivanovic was his supporting act.

on the right is a much more effective attacking tool than Ivanovic

Azpilicueta is one of the best man to man markers and is a better attacking full back than Ivanovic

Oscar is a creative player from the deep. The ideal partner for Matic in CM, in my opinion. He is not a No 10 ( at least not at Chelsea)

Compulsory decision making classes is required for every AM this summer.

The last time Chelsea came from behind in a league match ( prior to yesterday) was December 29th, 2013, when Eden Hazard and Samuel Eto'o combined to overcome a Martin Skrtel goal and see off Liverpool 2-1.

In fairness Chelsea didn't go behind a lot in 2014, but when they did, the outcome was disastrous

Pix 4 and improved decision- making should sort that ish out next season

Chelsea needs to move the ball much quicker too

I hope Mourinho was passing the dreaded vote of confidence on Torres in that Postmatch speech -where he was extolling the inept striker's virtues

Chelsea scored 30 & 31 fewer goals than Liverpool and Man City respectively. That's enough to tell you where Chelsea got it very wrong this season.

Chelsea's 105 league goals in a season record is still intact though. Just! ( some positive in a disappointing season)

I have a feeling Ashley Cole has played his last match for Chelsea. He didn't do much wrong at left FB yesterday though

Ashley Cole: Chelsea Legend

Congrats Man City. Enjoy it while it lasts

Can the next season start already?

 

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