Saturday 13 March 2010

Half Time Report Chelsea 1 West Ham 1


Let's start by saying it could be 3-2 so we will take 1-1, but what a sitter Ilan missed! Spector and Mido did so well initially and the pull back from the trimmer Egyptian was perfect. Ilan perhaps showed in that moment why Zola hasn't fancied him thus far.

The Chelsea goal highlighted our defensive ineptitude once again. It all started with Spector losing the ball well inside his own half. He tackled back superbly but conceded the corner when the ball should have been up the other end of the pitch. We cleared the first cross, but then nobody got out to close the second one. The delivery was thus inch perfect because there was no pressure on the man, and Alex was left completely unmarked 8 yards out in the middle of the box. Who was supposed to be marking him? Kovac I think, who was two yards behind the play as Alex planted the ball past Green.

We are horribly open down our right frank. With Ilan playing wide right and unwilling to perform defensive duties, Spector is finding himself one against two time and time again. Zola has to change this at half time somehow. I think we should keep the same personnel but go 4-4-2, with Behrami detailed to protect Spector more. That instruction should have been given by now and, in truth, we are lucky that we are not behind at half time. Chelsea have tried to walk the ball in on a number of occasions, with Drogba, uncharacteristically, trying to set up team mates rather than heading for goal. If the change isn't made, sooner or later Malouda is going to tee up Drogba, Anelka, Ballack or Lampard.

The plus points? Daprela has only been done once and the cover was then good. Parker has been excellent in front of Capello. And the team is fighting. When that early goal went in, I feared a tonking. We may still be stuffed if we leave the right flank open but the performance, thus far, has been heroic. And then, of course, there was Parker's goal - a real collector's item and an absolute beauty. Many more of those and he might yet make it on the plane to South Africa!

Fingers crossed for the second half!

16 comments:

Hammersfan said...

What did I say? Malouda completely unmarked, sits the ball up for Drogba to knock in from a yard out! Sack Zola. Nothing done to address the blindingly obvious at half time! If I can read it, why the hell can't he?

Hammersfan said...

Lampard hits post unmarked in 6 yard box from cross from Malouda, unmarked down our right flank!

fred149 said...

4-1 zoal out this is getting to be a pistake his line up sed it all the way they played sed it all

Anonymous said...

LOL I said 4 nil to the chelsea, I was close. West ham are sooooo perdictable, the manager is a f**cking joke, the fans with their elusions of grandeur attitude. Staying up on default is are only hope.

Anonymous said...

Wow! fred149 is growing some balls! Maybe he has seen the light after all. ZOLA OUT!

Anonymous said...

You've been bleating on and on about using Ilan for weeks

hammalot said...

Guys its Chelsea we were gonna lose no matter what. The problem is we have dropped points to every side around us! Draw at Pompy? Home loss to this Bolton? Lost to Brian Laws!?

Absolute disgrace.

Savvakis said...

Both managers were playing for Chelsea today. Spector is so slow a turtle can pass by him and put in a cross. Ilan and Mido were huge disappointments. Why the hell did Zola bring in Diamanti 5 minutes before the end when the game was lost; that tells it all about his tactical skills. The only positive is that Drapella seems like the real deal. He has speed and skills. We still have two vacancies in our defence. Spector should never play again and Gabbidon cannot do the job as he proved by giving away the third goal.

Stani Army said...

Savvakis,
Gabbidon is our best defender mate. In all honesty, you are nitpicking.

Anonymous said...

Do you think the board already have a replacement lined up. It would be nice to think so but this is west ham utd we are talking about. Zola should have gone when the porn kings arrived at the gates of upton park. Of course that isn't the west ham cockney way. Its all smiles and we love zola. Even after defeat a handshake is not enough for zola, let me pat you on the back and thank you for my humilating defeat today and your glorious win.

Hammersfan said...

Curbishley is getting behind the wheel of that brown Volvo as I type!

Anonymous said...

"Parker has been excellent in front of Capello. And the team is fighting" sorry I'm confused = what should I believe?

Anonymous said...

http://www.vintageclaret.smfnew.com/index.php?topic=3445.0

And then other read it totally different

Savvakis said...

Sorry Stani I can't agree with you about Gabbidon. He is an unreliable defender (desperate defending, falls down a lot, wrong passing and son). I know you like him but I can't agree with you. In my opinion he should not be in the team. Definitely not after coming back from another long injury before first having a few games in the reserves.

fred149 said...

that performance proved it without cole diamanti and parker we r nothing tomkins is our best defender and shudnt of bee ndropped for gabbidon who is shit upson out and bring in a fuking gd defender we need someone like bullard for our midfield and any1 t ogo with tomkins in defence

Hammersfan said...

1928, believe what you want. But try to read the whole report eh? It does say we are lucky not to be losing and does warn what will happen if we do not tighten up on the right flank. Accurate or what?