Chelsea ‘ruthlessly’ as Lampard explained it, beat West Ham 3-0 at Upton park in last Saturday’s Barclays Premier League game. Jose Mourinho showed a glimpse of his dominant Chelsea team that won the title in 2005 in his first reign at the club. John Obi Mikel in the ‘Makelele Role’ with Lampard freed to go forward alongside Ramires to create a triumvirate in midfield that was synonymous in Jose first reign at the club.
In this Azonto edition, we take a look at certain main points that are looking good or worrying after the international break. Jose Mourinho had few players with him for the week world cup qualifiers and friendlies dominated the world football scene. After memorable moments like Lampard getting his ‘Golden Cup’ ahead of the friendly against Chile at Wembley stadium and also some heartbreaks as the three lions themselves lost both friendlies scheduled for the International break against the south American side and arch-rivals Germany.
After all, the players were back at Cobham ready to kick-start a crucial period in a season for every team that is bidding to win the EPL come the end of the season. As Jose pointed out before Saturday’s London derby against West Ham, a win-less record in 3 consecutive games would have been ‘unacceptable’. And his stars didn’t disappoint in a stadium were it might get real tricky for the big teams like it has in the corresponding fixture a year ago.
But, the Blues looked solid, dominant and in all a side that Mourinho won the premier league with in his first reign. Even though Eto’o didn’t score, he provided some good understanding and precise passes to Hazard and Oscar out wide. Eden Hazard has been given a free-role for this game with out defensive work and he shined with a good performance assisting Oscar with a delightful flick pass for Chelsea’s 2nd.
Frank Lampard came back to haunt his old club yet again by scoring his 206th and 207th goal in Chelsea shirt. And he was marveled by Chelsea’s ‘complete’ performance against West ham and called for a winning run to contend strongly for the title throughout November and December leading into a high standard game against leaders Arsenal.
“It did feel more ruthless from us today,” said Frank Lampard
“I think it has been easy to consider it a ‘funny start’ for Chelsea but we are second. Nobody has caught fire except perhaps Arsenal and we are in touching distance of them. The talent in the squad is there but the consistency, spirit, desire and mentality have to be there. We showed that. We have to do that every week.”
“When Jose was first here we were five or 10 points clear at certain times, stuff like that. It is a different league. But we are right in there with a shout. If we can do it over 10 games and put a real run of wins together then maybe we will scare other teams. We will focus game by game, although Arsenal just before Christmas is in the back of our minds. Hopefully go there and have a ding-dong with them.”
This shows the Blues lead by Jose Mourinho this term are on a mission to really go and win the all important league title and assert our domestic dominance as was in Jose’s first term here. Next we go on and play against the team that shocked us in our first Champions league game this season, FC Basel. The game will be played in Switzerland in Tuesday Champions league kickoff. We are leading Group E of the competition with 9 points from 4 games so far and a win against the Swiss side will guarantee a qualification into the next round of the tournament.
And other thing to look out for is the inclusion or exclusion of Juan Mata from the line-up Jose will hand out come in Tuesday night. As reported a day ago, the Spaniard who has won two player of the year awards in successive years is lined up for a loan move by Athletico and Juventus in January. More scary is the fact that he is discontent in staying here in order not to seat on the bench and watch his world cup dream in Brazil disappear.
It is highly unlikely though that Mata will opt to leave permanently or that Jose might look into possibly loaning out his star midfielder to any club interested. Also we should hope the dominant win against the Hammers will inspire the Blues to continue a winning run in all tournaments and break the ‘Black November Curse’ that ruined much things for Chelsea in recent past seasons. Mourinho is already looking forward. First to Basel tomorrow but more crucially the Emirates on December 23. He said: “Let’s see how we arrive there. Who knows what happens? Maybe they are third and we are fifth? You never know. In this Premier League, anything can happen. We just play match after match and see what happens.”
Thanks for reading and please let us know of what you think from this edition of Azonto. We will get back to you with more next week after two crucial matches in two different competitions all equally important for Jose’s men.
Follow on twitter (@FahmiCFC) for more. KTBFFH!!
mata was part of the 2 games we lose this year: everton and newscatle. Tell me what he bring? we lost or draw 90% of our game when mata starts this year so far: this is the reality. Mou has not the choice THAN PLAYS OSCAR.
And what position was Mata playing in those games? A right winger not his usual No. 10 role
Forgot 4-0 thrashing vs s.Bucharest and 2-0 ars???
I believe Joes should start obi
so do you mean mata is a “bad luck” remember he was there at arsenal
Great stuff from Seth. Always a pleasure to read!!
Mata should play……..
@ anonymous u hate mata.hatred blinds a man from seeing something good in others.so all u could remember were the matches we lost with mata on the field,then what of arsenal & bucharesti which are tricky away matches,yet mata we won with mata.u arent a real chelsea fan.real fans gets behind their players & managers during hard times,but glory hunters only care about winning.
@ anonymous hatred blinds a man from seeing something good in others.so all u could remember were the matches we lost with mata on the field,then what of arsenal & bucharesti which are tricky away matches,yet we won with mata.real fans get behind their players & managers during hard times,but glory hunters only care about winning.
Against Spurs, Mata gave us the draw goal line.
people on this firum have become so borring because they are no longer objective because their favourite player is not playing, MOURINHO knows best and admit it he made almost 97% of the fans CHELSEA has now start suporting the club on his first coming,his second coming will even bring better results, cant you feel happy were as last season we were a lost team without Mata but we now can play without any special players, if mata has to play he has to be putting in an all round perfomance like others are doing, we dont want to be shiping in goals the way it was under Benitez where you could be leading a team like Soton at home 2-0 and go on to draw, what the fuck is that??????????
well,mou knows better, he should use and play any player he believes can give him result needed.its just that there are some games that oscar got disappeared, which means, he may not fit in to all matches. in view of this, i think player like mata should be giving chance,probably mou should adopt a winning pattern that will bring the best out of him.mata is a good asset for chelsea.
Where are you getting your stats of losing or drawing 90% of games Mata started from?
Chelsea have played 19 matches in all competitions so far, and Mata has started only 7 times. In 7 starts with Mata, we have won 5 times and lost 2 times.
HULL- Mata didn’t play -W
MAN u- Mata didn’t play- D
Bayern- Mata didn’t play-L
Aston V- Mata starts- W
Everton- Mata starts- L
Basel- Mata didn’t start(Sub) – L
Fulham- Mata didn’t play- W
Spurs- Mata didn’t start (Sub)- D
Bucharest- Mata didn’t play- W
Norwich- Mata starts- W
Cardiff- Mata starts- W
Schakle- Mata didn’t play- W
Man C- Mata didn’t play-W
Newcastle- Mata starts- L (After he came off, we lost)
Schakle- Mata didn’t play- W
West Brom- Mata didn’t play- D
West Ham- Mata didn’t play- W
Capital One Cup
Swindon- Mata starts- W
Arsenal- Mata starts -W
Here you have it- Mata has only started in 7 games that’s about 37% of all Chelsea matches. He won 5 games in 7 starts, that’s a 71% winning ratio. Where r u getting your facts of 90% loss of draws, cos Mata hasn’t even played up to 50% of games for the blues.
Forgot the bucharest game- so he has actually started 8 games n he has won 6 games and 2 loss. He played only 42% of Chelsea games and he has a winning ratio in games he started of 75%.
Where are you getting your stats of losing or drawing 90% of games Mata started from?
Chelsea have played 19 matches in all competitions so far, and Mata has started only 8 times. In 8 starts with Mata, we have won 6 times and lost 2 times.
HULL- Mata didn’t play -W
MAN u- Mata didn’t play- D
Bayern- Mata didn’t play-L
Aston V- Mata starts- W
Everton- Mata starts- L
Basel- Mata didn’t start(Sub) – L
Fulham- Mata didn’t play- W
Spurs- Mata didn’t start (Sub)- D
Bucharest- Mata starts- W
Norwich- Mata starts- W
Cardiff- Mata starts- W
Schakle- Mata didn’t play- W
Man C- Mata didn’t play-W
Newcastle- Mata starts- L (After he came off, we lost)
Schakle- Mata didn’t play- W
West Brom- Mata didn’t play- D
West Ham- Mata didn’t play- W
Capital One Cup
Swindon- Mata starts- W
Arsenal- Mata starts -W
Here you have it- Mata has only started in 8 games that’s about 42% of all Chelsea matches. He won 6 games in 8 starts, that’s a 75% winning ratio. Where r u getting your facts of 90% losses or draws, cos Mata hasn’t even played up to 50% of games for the blues
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