Go to Beaker's View
Or check out Priesty's Version
I'll break with tradition here and start with player ratings
Anyway, now I've got that out of the way !
If you always sit in the same seat, sometimes its nice to watch a game
of football from a different angle as it can give a different
perspective to the match. I don't think my views of this match would
have altered even if I'd been watching it from the Goodyear Blimp that
continually circled overhead for the duration of the match !
After the first 5 minutes what passed as our team settled into a rhythm
of such abject awfulness that it's hard to recall a less convincing display.
What we saw brought back memories of the 3-0 drubbing we received
from the same opposition at the Bridge last season. We seemed to have
absolutely no shape whatsoever and were devoid of anything in the center
of the pitch.
Lambourde and Newton gave the ball away with such tedious
monotony that I started to believe they were playing for the
opposition. To be fair, up till the goal neither side had looked much
like scoring and a Bergkanp header that hit the bar was the only
excitement. Then up stepped Ruud. The ball was knocked aimlessly down
the middle of the pitch (sensible tactics as we were completely devoid
of talent in this area) and our illustrious manager expertly flicked the
ball into the path of Overmars who scored easily. It was such an
elementary mistake it left the Clock end stunned.
For the rest of the
half we struggled more with ourselves than the opposition and the team
resembled a group of individuals who'd met in the tunnel 5 minutes
before kick-off, none of whom possessed any previous football
experience. Any forays into the opposition half, normally led by Flo,
petered out through lack of support and wayward passing and our one
chance of note was wasted by Zola (story of the last few months!).
The half time whistle brought some relief and we warmed to the prospect
of a half time reorganization by our player manager. He duly obliged and
conceded that he should move to midfield as he was having a nightmare in
defense. This masterstroke led to the Arsenal second goal and proved
that, when you're finally over the hill there really is no hiding place
in the modern game. Overmars broke clear on the left, leaving Duberry
for dead and crossed into space that out to have been covered by our
defensive midfielder (Gullit) who was unfortunately otherwise engaged
puffing and panting on the half way line. Their 22 year old smashed the
ball home under no pressure whatsoever.
After this great tactical reorganisation we retreated to playing some of
the worst football I've seen for sometime, anywhere in the UK. The
chief culprits were Lambourde, Newton and Gullit himself. By the time
Hughes was brought on for Flo (After the latter had missed a free header
from a corner!) we really ought to have been 4 or 5 down and but for the
brilliance of De Goey (who now has his own song!!! to the tune of Doctor
Who!) we would have been. However, since half time Charvet had been
introduced in place of Petrescu - who really could have had no
complaints and must be another player whose involvement in the World Cup
is by no means certain - and we looked alot better on the right. I
think the main difference was that Charvet actually played on the right
where Dan seems to get sucked into the middle leaving us with no width.
Anyway, I predict Mulder will start on the bench on Saturday.
It was mostly down to Charvet that Zola was presented the ball on the
edge of the area which he crossed to Hughes who headed past their
stranded 'keeper. For the last 10 minutes or so we looked better but
then again, it would have been difficult to look worse and I actually
entertained thoughts of an equaliser, however, under the circumstances,
we should be thankful that we finished only one goal behind.
I have to say that I'm beginning to question Ruud's tactical acumen but more
annoyingly, I am extremely pissed off that he is trying to strengthen
his contract negotiating stance by playing in a team when clearly his
fitness doesn't merit a place in the side. If nothing else positive
came out of last night, lets hope he bites the bullet and retires at the
end of this season and leaves the playing to those who still can.
I have to say that the best part about this match was the banter in the
pub prior to the match.
Disgusted!
(Tunbridge Wells)
I watched on TV, and had to put up with the abysmal Alan Parry commentating. When are Sky, who are otherwise Past Masters at presenting football on TV, going to sack the git ? The prick thought Ruud had a good game ! Almost every time Gullit got the ball, Parry was off on one, praising him to the moon and back. The trouble was that even Ruud himself would admit that he didn't have anything LIKE a good game, even being responsible for the first goal (I didn't see any Chelsea player calling him an arsehole, funnily enough!). It really was irritating listening to Parry. Andy Gray was blatantly taking the piss out of him before the match, miming that Parry was a nutter behind his back - Gray may be an opinionated arsehole, but at least his opinions are based on a sound knowledge of football. And nutters.
I've read Beaker's report, and would like to re-state that I don't necessarily agree with everything he says, but on this occasion he's pretty well hit the nail on the head. Chelsea were VERY lucky to have left Highbury with an away goal, and even luckier to have let in only two goals.
The fact that Chelsea did manage to hold the Arse to two goals is testament to Ed De Goey's brilliance on the night. He made two or three of the best reaction saves I've ever seen, and I'm old enough to remember the likes of Bonetti and Banks. I've played in goal from school days, so I like to think that I know when I've seen something special in that department, and I can assure you that this was it. The way he gets down to low shots is amazing, given his enormous height, but his all round performance last night ranks as one of the best I've seen in ages. Nice one, Mr. Ed !
Eddie Newton, Frank Sinclair, and Mike Duberry are three of my favourite players. One reason I like them is because all three are products of the Chelsea youth system, another is that they are obviously proud to play for Chelsea, and equally obviously would die for the Club - could you ask for anything else from a player ? No, not normally, but last night all three of them had nightmares, so much so that I took to closing my eyes whenever they got the ball, from pure fear. It looked as though they'd gone colour blind, they were passing to the opposition that much. Mind you, Ruud wasn't setting them a very good example, was he ?
Again, I'd have to agree with Beaker that the only player (De Goey apart) who really earned his money last night was Graeme Le Saux. He lost his temper a couple of times, and got booked for it, but he showed a real appetite for the game, and didn't pass to the opposition much. The usual "sex case" taunts were forthcoming from the Arsenal mob, and after an incident with Grimandi (for which they were BOTH booked) they booed him every time he got the ball - unfortunately he was unable to show them his arse this time, due to the presence of live TV cameras !
Charvet, the French player on loan from Cannes, also looked good when he came on, providing Zola with the ball to cross for Hughes' goal. If half the stories about his disciplinary record are true, he'll provide some excellent entertainment in the future, too.
Hughes, who came on with half an hour to go, immediately stiffened up the line, scoring a typical headed goal. Steve Clarke also had a solid game, the defence really relied on him. I wouldn't write off Gullit just yet, I believe he could be a lot fitter, then he may play to his usual high standard. And keep out of the defence, Ruud !
Poor old Vialli - it was a damn cheek sending him on with two and a half minutes left on the clock, but pro that he is, he got busy straight away. Unfortunately there just wasn't time for him to shine. How a bloke who plays an average of ten minutes a game can be top scorer two seasons on the trot is beyond me.
Let's see if we can do better at the Bridge - we should do, the boys have proved that they can play any team in the Premiership off the park. (Except Everton, Southampton, etc..)
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