Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Review: The biggest departure since Zola


CHELSEA 2 - BLACKBURN 0

TEAMS
CHELSEA: Cech, Bosingwa, Alex, Terry, A Cole, Essien, Mikel, Lampard, Drogba, Anelka, Malouda
BLACKBURN: Robinson, Andrews, Nelsen (Doran), Givet, Warnock (Khizanishvili), Diouf, Tugay, Grella, Pedersen, Samba, Villanueva.

'I have had second thoughts, sometimes third thoughts, but I have to
leave.'
Guus Hiddink

Sunday was the day the Stamford Bridge chanted one of the best managers in the world out of the stadium. Guus Hiddink is leaving SW6, confirmed, and a Blackburn clash was the last saloon in front of the Blues faithful.


We lined up with the exact same team that secured third place last week, hoping to line up second. However Benitez's men took that silver medal earlier.

No youth, which was disappointing, but considering Malouda and Co's current form, it was worth it to see the football.

The game opened with an early goal yet again, Anelka with the assist and Malouda with a fantastic header that I couldn't have seen him doing a year ago. Hiddink must have hired a hairdresser to give him that terrible cut, and then threatened him to play well.

We played well in the first half, creating numerous chances. However Blackburn weren't letting go and held firm to keep us 1-0 up heading into the break.

It was man of the match Anelka's time to score hitting the hour mark. Malouda not having the enough form to hit the bicycle kick, but Anelka was on hard to slot it in the bottom right, taking him back to the top of the EPL Golden Boot, and setting up perhaps the most exciting event happening on the final day, spare the relegation battle. I'm predicting Anelka, as CR7 may not even make the grade, what with Ferguson wrapping up the title and one eye on Barca.

But back onto Anelka. Forget the Scolari reborn act, I personally enjoy the current Anelka as he smiles more assists more, and scores great goals. Which leads me to a condundrum - Anelka or Drogba? I can't choose, honestly.


PICK OF THE DAY
Abramovich tapping his bodyguard on the shoulder and asking what the fans were singing. "Oh, just the latest rendition of "Stick Ancelotti up your arse". Truer words never spoken. Forget the Italian coaches, they will be no good for us. So no to jobless Mancini, no to under fire Ancelotti, and definitely no to sacked Ranieri.


PLAYER OF THE DAY

Anelka was very good today. So he wins the award. However, Michael Essien played like a bull in a football team, running and technically being everywhere. Kudos to him, it may go unnoticed sometimes, but contributions like Essien's can decide a game.

COMING UP

We travel to the Stadium of Light to farewell a Premier League season that started so brightly, fell apart, and was pieced together back together again. All in all, a strange sort of EPL season we can turn around and laugh about it in years to come.

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1 comments on "Review: The biggest departure since Zola"

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Bipin on May 19, 2009 at 1:40 PM said...

I loved the 'Stick Ancelotti up your arse' chant !! Too bad, Ranieri has been sacked again :( Loved that guy, a true gentleman. But ofcourse, that doesn't mean I had want him at Chelsea :P

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