287 replies to this topic

[wxwax]

When it was clear that Lamps had to come off, I was mentally urging AVB to bring on Kalou, not Malouda.

Problem being, who do you put on the left if mata moves to the middle? Neither AVB nor I could solve that, so on trots the tractor-like Malouda.

I sincerely believe that for all of his limitations, Kalou's injection of pace is exactly what Chelsea could use when the team is sleepwalking through a match. But who makes way for him? Studge? No way. So he sits and waits, when Chelsea could really use his liveliness and penetration. At least he's willing to run at people with the ball. Not many Blue shirts were, on Monday.

[footballoholic]

Thought Malouda brought all that on Monday wxwax. Injection of pace, liveliness, penetration and surprisingly willing to run at people with the ball. He reminded me for the first time in a long time of double season Malouda.

[wxwax]

I agree he looked better than he has all season. I still think Kalou would have brought more. But Kalou's trapped behind Chelsea's most improved player.

[SydneyChelsea]

PloKoon13, on 27 December 2011 - 04:05 PM, said:

Great post mate, and I am glad that there is a (although considering the amount of booze this forum consumes there must be many more) fellow rum fan on the Shed End. I was starting to think Scotch whisky had a monopoly on our collective stash...

Secret- I enjoy rum more than I do Scotch.

[Spiller86]

Well you're outed now, the pair of you. SC next time I'm in Sydney I'm getting you a solid glass of Lagavulin and you'll never go back to rum. You'll join us in the Scotch Ascendancy.

[SydneyChelsea]

wxwax, on 28 December 2011 - 12:11 AM, said:

It seemed to me that other than a fortuitous goal, Mata was invisible on the left side in the first half. He never really got involved. It all changed for him when Malouda come on and Mata shifted to the center of the pitch. After that, he was very involved and was excellent. I think Mata's isolation and lack of involvement in the 1st half were emblematic of the problems in Chelsea's midfield.

He didn't get much support from a very lacklustre Cole, but he also had a poor individual performance. There were plenty of passes going his way but his touch and running were really sloppy.

[Castiel]

Malouda has frustrated me for a long time now but he did perform yesterday.

[SydneyChelsea]

Spiller86, on 28 December 2011 - 08:41 AM, said:

Well you're outed now, the pair of you. SC next time I'm in Sydney I'm getting you a solid glass of Lagavulin and you'll never go back to rum. You'll join us in the Scotch Ascendancy.

Haha! I got no problem with Scotch, but there's something more "real" about dark rum. Good Scotch tastes ethereal and unearthly and sometimes i'm just not in the mood for transcendence.