MOTM vs Birmingham?

[loz]

Could be one of many tonight. Excellent in the first half, maybe a little too relaxed in the second.

I went for Deco who I thought excelled in the holding role again.

[Ruh Buh Juh]

JT, Deco, Lampard and Malouda all stood out for me.........................Malouda it is, he was excellent tonight.

[Mod]

Super Frank for me, I thought Deco wasted a lot in the first half.

[The Machine]

There were many good performances tonight. The player that I voted for was Petr Cech. The reason being that he made a cruical save from Macfadden when the score was still 2-0. Had Macfadden scored it would have set up a tense finish in the match. Thankfully it did not happen and in the end Chelsea won 3-0.

[german-blue]

Lampard for me. He found his scoring boots back.

[Granticus]

I went for Ashley Cole, he was a menace anytime the ball came near the left side. But it could have been one of many.

[Virosh]

Everybody, to the last man played excellent tonight. I will give it to Lampard for his two well taken goals.

Deco was a very strong contender, but he spent the first 15 minutes giving it constantly away and committing silly fouls. He was otherwise impressive throughout, though.

[Hutch]

malouda for me. i thought he had one of his best games ever for us tonight. never mind his goal, he was fast, passed well and his movement off the ball was excellent, and with a little luck he could easily of had a hattrick.

[Phillip]

Malouda for me as well. Our worst player was Carvalho (if anyone cares), though he was not terrible, just not as good as the rest.

[Chippy]

my stream was stop start so I'll wait till I see the game to vote but on what I saw I thought Deco was good and maybe needed to niggle at the Birmingham players for the first 10 minutes, unsettled them a bit and he kept the ball moving well after that,

Thought Ballack looked pretty good too and was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet.

Malouda looked good as did Ivan and Ash,

Cant say anyone looked bad, maybe Joe late on went off a bit but at least he showed a bit early on.

All in all a great result against a team that are not easy to beat.

well done to the Manager, got everything right.

Edited January 27, 2010 by Chippy

[bjd]

malouda for me. i thought he had one of his best games ever for us tonight. never mind his goal, he was fast, passed well and his movement off the ball was excellent, and with a little luck he could easily of had a hattrick.

totally agree with all that. Thought he was superb tonight, his best ever game for us.

[g3.7]

ashley cole, guy is in incredible form.

[supernuk]

Joe Cole, had his best performance since his return from a knee injury for me, created the first goal beating Lee Bowyer for pace down the right and a delightful cross for maluda!. Also had a good few efforts on goal!. I think he's slowly getting back to his best!

[Anders]

Gave it to Frank.

[Mod]

Thought he was superb tonight, his best ever game for us.

You really think that was Malouda's best game for us? I thought he was brilliant but he's had many much better.

[bjd]

You really think that was Malouda's best game for us? I thought he was brilliant but he's had many much better.

I do. I don't ever recall him playing with such vibrancy and confidence before.

[ethicalstrategy]

Just back from the match. Fantastic performance. We made a team who were unbeaten in 15 games look completely out of their depth.

Candidates for MoTM?

Well let's start with Joe Cole. A quite brilliant run and cross for the first goal and easily his best performance since he returned from injury. Flagged a bit in the second half but that's understandable.

Frank Lampard. Back in his element with us playing a 4-3-3. We had the width to let him spray balls out to the right and left and some space in the middle for him to run in to. Took both his goals very well.

John Terry. Commanded the back line and used the ball exceptionally well. He really is a fantastic player.

Ashley Cole. I never realised what all the fuss was about until I saw play like he is now. He gets forward and back so quickly and reads the game so well. His decision making is exceptional.

Malouda. Good to see him getting a run in the team and showing the form he found last season under Guus.

and the winner is....Deco.

I know it is only a few matches, but we have looked a better side for having a playmaker in the "defensive" midfield role. First Belletti and then Deco against Preston and Birmingham. His reading of the game and use of the ball was excellent. He made his fair share of tackles and interceptions and kept the ball moving for us. Birmingham had one of their front two dropping back to put him under pressure whenever we had the ball but after the first 5 minutes they couldn't really get near him. Ballack and Frank had to work hard to support him but I thought it worked really well.

Perhaps the only criticism is that we didn't put the match out of sight in the second half. Overall though, a terrific win.

[disillusion]

Just back from the stadium and I´d give it to JT. Cannot remember and duel he lost, When Riccy and Cech messed up a bit JT was there to help out. Also he drove us forward several times.

[Peckham Blue]

Just back from the stadium and I´d give it to JT. Cannot remember and duel he lost, When Riccy and Cech messed up a bit JT was there to help out. Also he drove us forward several times.

Just back myself, couldn't agree more. JT was immense in defence but his passing is excellent.

[ThunderDan]

Lamps over Malouda (with a nod to JT)

[just]

Superb performance in which four players stood out for me. Lamps, (diamonds may be a girl's best friend but unfortunately, Frank is allergic to them), JT, Ashley and Deco.

I vote Ashley.

[Cam]

Malouda just over Lamps. Lamps was great with his 2 goals, but Malouda was more threatening throughout the game.

Deco, JT, Carvs all honourable mentions. No one was poor though.

[BigIzz]

I picked Joe Cole. Thought he was dangerous, particularly at the start of the match where we had established dominance early. By the time this one was 2-0 it was all but over. Cole wasn't perfect but this was far and away his best game of the season. Is he rounding into form or more comfortable in this different role (or a combination of both)?

Lampard obviously was great. As was Malouda, Terry, Ashely Cole. Hard to complain about anyone really. I think this also may have been Deco's best match of the season as well. He did great playing deeper then usual and actually won quite a few balls. If we learned anything from this match it may be neither Deco nor Joe Cole are suited for the tip of the diamond - maybe we'd be better off with the 4-3-3 all the time?

[evissy]

Malouda for me. Could have picked anyone from Lampard, A.Cole and Terry but Malouda's movement with the ball made him my MotM.

[rahul]

Excellent performance. The best part was how quickly we were moving the ball and the excellent off the ball movement of every player on the pitch. Glad for Lamps finding his scoring touch again...both his goals were typical Lampard. Joey had a good game, Malouda was excellent, Anelka awesome as ever...his run in the second half through a crowded area and finally a shot which was blocked reminded how skillful he really is. Deco too got some very good tackles right and his battle for ball and pass for the third goal won me over. Terry won most of the headers and was almost impregnable.

My man of the match, however, is Ashley. What a player! Was excellent in attack, excellent in defense...went up and down the left flank so quickly and his reading of a situation is amazing.

PS: Is Lampard the best finisher in the league?