Chelsea vs Bolton (Prem) 13/04/10 2000 KO

[ace]

What I hate is that one of the BBC commentators called Carlo's lineup as an indication that he has no idea who his best players are, and that surely he must've noticed that Malouda and Cole livened up the game. I bet if Ferguson got a 1-0 decision with Macheda and Gibson preferred to Valencia and Nani he would be applauded for getting 3 points while resting two of his preferred attackers, not questioned for being unaware how good Malouda and Cole are...

Also, found this gem on the BBC live update: From Chelseapaul via text: "Feels weird saying it but we do actually look like we miss Malouda at the moment. Strange feeling."

FFS, where has this guy been?

 

[The Moos]

This might have been a very lousy performance from us with only a couple or so players being good, and we might only have won by 1 goal, but what I think is most important is that we actually won by 1-0. Earlier this season we've dropped points because we weren't good enough and I think we've dropped a few leads as well. This time we managed to score a goal even though we didn't play well and hold on to it.

Our defence had alot of problems, but seldom got in real trouble. It seemed like they knew they wouldn't win the ball in the air all the time and made sure that one always was there as support. Worked really well.

The midfield was abysmal. I hardly noticed Lampard apart from one period in the 2nd half. Did he even touch the ball?

Ballack, who I had high hopes for since he was good last game, was as invisible as Lamps.

Mikel is the only one who had a good game. Apart from a few silly fouls (though he wasn't alone in committing them) he looked calm and solid. As usual his passing was almost flawless.

Our attacking trio was decent. Drogba was strong as usual and helped the team keep the ball up high. Anelka did his usual hard work to help his team and also got a goal as a reward. Kalou was......Kalou - never before has someone done so much for so little.

He can't score to save his life. I heard that he has only scored one goal this season (perhaps they meant in the league). That is not good enough. Only positive thing I can say about Kalou is that he atleast is involved alot and not invisible like Lamps or Ballack.

Nice that Cech got a clean sheet. And correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't this Big Pete's 100th clean sheet for Chelsea in the league? I seem to recall hearing that he was on 99 against ManU so this must be his 100th.

If so, congratulations Pete!

4 games remaining (5 for Arsenal). The race is still on. Let's not forget that if Arsenal wins tomorrow they'll be only three points behind us and with slightly easier teams left to play against. I really hope Tottenham do us all a favour and win tomorrow so that we will still be 6 points ahead of Arsenal.

 

[PloKoon13]

Also, found this gem on the BBC live update: From Chelseapaul via text: "Feels weird saying it but we do actually look like we miss Malouda at the moment. Strange feeling."FFS, where has this guy been?

To be fair, he kind of has a [semi-serious] point. A year and a half ago, would we believe that we'd be saying how much we missed Malouda, and how big an attacking threat and a part of our team he is?

If only we'll be saying the same about Kalou in another year and a half's time...

 

[abramovich]

Anelka - 1-0

http://www.soccerclips.net/en/videos/chels...0-bolton-anelka

 

[ace]

To be fair, he kind of has a [semi-serious] point. A year and a half ago, would we believe that we'd be saying how much we missed Malouda, and how big an attacking threat and a part of our team he is? If only we'll be saying the same about Kalou in another year and a half's time...

Yeah but given his massive increase in form recently, I was referring to my thoughts before the game today, where I thought we could struggle without one of our best attackers on the pitch.

But yeah, even though Guus got some pretty good performances out of Flo, I'd agree with you that a year ago I did not see him being someone we would be utterly relying on for our double push, someone that is likely in the starting lineup for every single game we're playing from here on out.

 

[Cam]

Relief describes my feelings quite well.

Horrible game to watch, but a result we can enjoy.

What annoys me, is that everyone seems to think we're being gifted the title on poor ref decisions. Like we haven't copped some shockers (and our opposition have never had the rub of the green).

 

[ozboy]

kalou 1v1 was a clear chance I felt. so was joe's from 2 yards out. and ballack could have done better with his header from joe's cross. we were worth more than a 1-0 despite not playing particularly well.

That's true. We should have scored from one of those. Ballack's goal scoring seems to have gone completely this season. Kaloul is like SWP, unreliable at crucial moments. I've seen Kalou play a lot better than he did tonight, he hasn't had much game time recently. Joe Cole on the other hand looks to be coming back into form although its taken a long time.

As we all agree Zhirkov performed well and so did Anelka. I do wish Mikel would push right on into the penalty are occasionally it would change the dynamics.

Still nothing in the title but I like our chances better than anyone else's. We can actually afford to lose one game and still win the title if we win the other 3. That's a pretty good position, although a lot can still go wrong.

ManU and Larse both have two tough games in a row now. Frankly the season is building up to a great climax.

 

[General]

Job well done today, liked the Daily Star headline on sh*te sports news something like Ancelotti Nick-ed it, how many 1 nils did Chelsea win by when the last 2 titles were won - a lot, and some of those performances we were less than pretty. Its about time we got the rub of the green as well.

The rested players were with an eye on the spuds game obviously, but agree Ballack & Kalou added nothing much today , far more effective lately coming on as 70 min subs. 4 games left all but 1 a week apart so after Spuds plenty of recovery time, lets hope CA sticks with the winning lineup, Malouda and Cole even Deco starting, also maybe Ivan and Ashley Cole and perhaps Essien available for the last 2 or 3 games at least. Things are defo getting better and what a player Zhirkov has become after a good run of games, even Paulo is looking like his old self !

Onwards and upwards to three point lane. Keep The Faith, the double is still within our reach.

 

[Mikstaw]

Despite the modest goal by Nicolas Anelki in a meeting with Bolton Chelsea was a big step in the direction of reach for the crown of champion of England.

Three points after they reached Tuesday evening, Chelsea means to increase lead over Manchester United by four eyes. No wonder that Carlo Ancelotti was satisfied with the result.

It was not an easy match for us. But do not expect anything else, because we knew that Bolton arrives at Stamford Bridge to play his ball. Rival played a good match putting pressure on us for 90 minutes meeting with long balls. It was a difficult match for us, but we played it well and most importantly - we won. We had a lot of chances for goals and improve the - after the final whistle said Italian coach.

The victory had to fight for others dosing, but failed. We had shots and deserved this victory. It was tough but we managed to reach the goal and for me this was our good performance - says Ancelotti.

The only goal of the match when he headed a great company of Drogba, Nicolas Anelka, for whom this was the first goal since January.

He plays well, is still in motion changing its position. Comment was fantastic, it was a great reaction to Drogba, Anelka turned on that goal. All done an excellent job.

Advantage means that Chelsea is the unquestioned favorite for the title, Carlo Ancelotti, however, remains cautious.

I do not want to look at other teams, now the Premier League fate is in our hands and we must keep spokój.Gramy match after match without looking at others.

We can win the duels correspondence over Manchester United and Arsenal, but we can not be sure. Difficult matches ahead of us as the derby with Tottenham on Saturday. We are, however, is not ready. We feel the excitement of the moment, but we know that you need to re-tanąć to fight and we're ready for it - ends Chelsea manager.

from: www.chelsealive.pl

 

[Spiller86]

The midfield was abysmal. I hardly noticed Lampard apart from one period in the 2nd half. Did he even touch the ball?Ballack, who I had high hopes for since he was good last game, was as invisible as Lamps.

Mikel is the only one who had a good game. Apart from a few silly fouls (though he wasn't alone in committing them) he looked calm and solid. As usual his passing was almost flawless.

This is a point many have made, so I had a look on those chalkboards The Guardian have. Interestingly the fact that Bolton marked and closed down Ballack and Lampard really showed up in the data. Both struggled to get on the ball, and when they did they weren't always effective as can be seen in the fact that they only had around 25 completed passes each for the match. Mikel on the other hand had 49 passes for 47 completions, and JT and Alex had high figures as well. Just shows that the pressure they were exerting in the centre of midfield meant we often had to go back and around (through Zhirkov mainly).

(I'd embed so you could see the pictures, but I'm not sure how to embed Flash in BBCode, or if I can for that matter.)

I suppose my point is that it's perhaps not entirely Ballack and Lampard's fault. Bolton played five in midfield and essentially set themselves up as many teams have this year to stop us gaining control of the middle of the park. Muamba in particular didn't really get on the ball and had the sole duty to stop Lampard and Ballack playing. So rather than Ballack and Lampard being abysmal (I will agree they weren't great) I think credit should go to Bolton for being well structured and disciplined in midfield and closing down that avenue for us. On another night it could have worked out for them, thankfully it didn't and we got the points.

 

[Nibs]

Ballack will be great, mark my words. I thought he was great against United when he came on to be honest. More of that please Michael!

Hmmm.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing...........

 

[dkw]

Well that was definitely an after the lord mayors show type of performance, and a before the lords mayor show too. coming sandwiched between our semi (fnar) and away to spuds this was always gonna be a hard and horrible match. But at this stage a win is a win and sod the performance, and that is the kind of game that has ruined our title chances the last few years. Zhirkov was easily the best player, though JT and Alex put in a good shift. Kalou can just go, for the love of god just go. that one on one is the kind of chance to finish a game off, and the kind of chance a top player should score. So onwards and upwards, come on spuds tonight, be sh*t saturday.

 

[yorkleyblue]

You seemed to spend most of the game tarting about trying to get a stream to work. Or were you just looking for attention?

Nope, had a decent stream from about 5 minutes in - spent SOME of the first half tarting about trying to get a different stream with english commentary. Stayed out of shoutbox and concentrated on the match for the rest of it.

Were you paying attention?

 

[coco]

When Kalou was 1-on-1 against the keeper, I shouted chip him- CHIP HIM, imagining a Messi style little dink over the keeper, but despite Jaaskelainen going down very early, Kalou still managed to donk it into the keeper. He really should be putting them away by now.

 

[Bridgeboy]

They are all having it out on talksport trying to build some sort of feeling that everyone will now have been cheated if Chelsea win the league because of two handballs.

Utterly ridiculous !

 

[Chippy]

I don't think the team played that badly..I think Bolton played to a plan very well.

They were very quickly on our midfield which meant that when Lamps or Ballack did get the ball they were very quickly chased down and had little chance of putting in a good pass..Mikel suffered to a lesser extent the same way.

I think the game was far easier on paper and after our last two results against them Carlo felt he could rest Malouda and Joe and keep them fresh for Spuds..

Zhirkov and Ferreira were great and we could have had four with better finishing..Ballacks header, Franks post, Kalous unbelievable lack of finishing skills and Zhirkovs thunderbolt at the near post could all have gone in on another day and Bolton never really threatened.

the handball shouts looked understandable but there is nothing to say had a penalty been given and scored that we couldn't have gone up a gear and scored again.

all in all I'm happy although it was hardly entertaining I think we'll get a lot more entertainment once this team have proved to themselves they can be champions again and had a refresh in the summer..if all gos well next season could be even better.

 

[The Moos]

Does anyone have a vid of Drogbas handball? I can't remember seing that one.

 

[Nibs]

I don't think the team played that badly..I think Bolton played to a plan very well.

Good old Chippy - forever the positive!

In a way I agree. Bolton did play well (probably as well as they can).

But you have to look at Carlo's team selction once again to see why we struggled. Once again THAT midfield and Kalou ahead of THAT midfield.

Kalou poved once and for all what he is good at in the Villa semi final at the weekend. Coming on for 15 minutes or so against a very tired defence. Then he looks world class. Start him in a match and all he will do is frustrate you. He will never be more than a squad player and not a particularly useful one at that. He CANNOT start anaother game this season.

Nor can swe start another game with THAT midfield three. Lets make no mistake, we got three points last night but we struggled and on another night, Bolton would have nicked a draw with at least one penalty.

So no more calls of how we never get the rub if the green ref's decision wise and how we are so hard done by. That's possibly three penalties in the last two matches + the Drogba offside against Utd - think we've had it pretty good of late!!!

 

[Chippy]

Good old Chippy - forever the positive! In a way I agree. Bolton did play well (probably as well as they can).

But you have to look at Carlo's team selction once again to see why we struggled. Once again THAT midfield and Kalou ahead of THAT midfield.

Kalou poved once and for all what he is good at in the Villa semi final at the weekend. Coming on for 15 minutes or so against a very tired defence. Then he looks world class. Start him in a match and all he will do is frustrate you. He will never be more than a squad player and not a particularly useful one at that. He CANNOT start anaother game this season.

Nor can swe start another game with THAT midfield three. Lets make no mistake, we got three points last night but we struggled and on another night, Bolton would have nicked a draw with at least one penalty.

So no more calls of how we never get the rub if the green ref's decision wise and how we are so hard done by. That's possibly three penalties in the last two matches + the Drogba offside against Utd - think we've had it pretty good of late!!!

It would be hard not to be positive being in the position were in even if your name was octville

I gave my reasons as to why I think we struggled earlier ie team selection (I think Carlo wanted to rest players and earlier results suggested the team he put out was good enough) and Bolton had a plan to stifle our midfield that worked in conjunction with some hard physical play very well.

Yes we got a bit of luck with the handball shouts but we got some badluck with our lack of finishing (I forgot to mention the Drogba free kick that came off the keeper onto of all people Kalou and somehow never went in the goal).

I don't entirely agree with the midfield 3 as although I think they are slow and uninspiring I would have played them in that game..I think Deco would have been lost and we would have been happy to see heir Ballack come on for him as soon as possible..I would play Deco against Spurs though.

No team has won a title without games like that and on chances for us and distinct lack of chances for them we were good value for the three points, in our title winning seasons we had loads of games where we scraped a 1-0 and if you look at our closest opposition they have had plenty of games they didn't deserve 3 points so I am happy to take the three from this that I think we did deserve.

 

[Liam]

Nope, had a decent stream from about 5 minutes in - spent SOME of the first half tarting about trying to get a different stream with english commentary. Stayed out of shoutbox and concentrated on the match for the rest of it.Were you paying attention?

Clearly not. Well only to Valerie.