bridge views - the thinking fan's chelsea blog

No excuses for Chelsea's insipid Sunderland battering

Like last Monday, today’s journey into work took an unfamiliar feel. Same bus, same journey, same dreary monotony…save one detail. Normally my morning routine involves catching up with the latest football headlines on Sky Sports News, before casting my eyes over the online news on the bus.

Not today, not last week. Two terrible Chelsea Sunday performances have seen me, ostrich-like, bury my head in the sporting sand.

This time though, I’ll emerge to post my thoughts on the game. First thing’s first: Sunderland were excellent. Many teams have come to Stamford Bridge in recent months, caught Chelsea in something less than top form, and still left with nothing. Steve Bruce’s team certainly caught Chelsea below par, but tore through them relentlessly to record a well deserved victory. As Chelsea fans streamed from the stadium five minutes from time, the away support jeered: ‘easy, easy, easy’. Easy it certainly was: in many ways, 3-0 flattered Chelsea.

Sunderland fans might not agree however, but I think that, if Chelsea had turned in anything resembling a competent performance, the result would have been different. Bewildered Chelsea fans trudging out of the Britannia gate were left to speculate how a team fielding five players bought for more than £15m could have turned in such an average performance.

There are, of course, excuses that fans and Chelsea staff alike might look to. Injuries, of course, being the primary one. Yesterday’s was a team deprived of Alex, Terry, Essien and Lampard: four experienced and probably world class players who would walk into every team in the Premier League. The defence was a pale imitation of what it might have been and conceding was probably inevitable. No-one mentions Benayoun in the list of players missing yesterday (probably because his is such a long-term injury), but my feeling is that the Israeli might have played a key role yesterday, stitching together an otherwise rudderless display.

But whilst Chelsea’s bench might have been vacant of established talent, the first XI still possessed enough quality to deliver a better showing. Zhirkov and Ramires looked nothing like £36m worth of footballer. The Russian actually looked pretty good going forward, single-handedly carving out Chelsea’s best chance in the first half, but is probably too lightweight to play such a pivotal central midfield role when not supplemented by an Essien or a Lampard.

The less said about Ramires the better, at the moment. Clearly not yet ready for the Premier League, a few good tackles yesterday did not distract from a display that saw him continuously get brushed off the ball. Yes, he needs to be given time to get up to speed, but he also needs to find a way to contribute more in the interim. Getting the basics right would be a good start.

The other excuse Chelsea fans might be looking to could be last week’s departure of Ray Wilkins. We will probably never know the full and precise extent of the fallout of his departure, much less why he was got rid of in the first place. There must be more to it but, either way, Wilkins’ departure surely doesn’t constitute enough of an explanation. In any case, in my view yesterday’s showing was merely an extension of previous form for which, presumably, Wilkins was in part responsible for.

Realistically, the game was lost because too many senior players didn’t play to potential. Chelsea haven’t really played well since the first half against Blackpool back in mid September, but have racked up points because our special players have been able to produce something. When the whole team’s form drops off a cliff – with the exception of Cech and Mikel – chances are losses won’t be far away.

This was an insipid, inspiration-less Chelsea, reminiscent of the worst performances under Scolari two years ago. We are nowhere near those darker days, of course, still sitting a relatively healthy two points clear at the top of the Premier League. But worrying signs are there, and Ancelotti has his work cut out to get his side’s form back on track. Inspiration is his job.

Chelsea winger Zhirkov to return in one week

He barely figured in Chelsea's pre-season because of injury, but Yuri Zhirkov is convinced he's nearing his first competitive start for the team. The Russian moved to quash rumours that he needed surgery on his knee and suggested that he might be ready to play by the time Chelsea face Burnley on Saturday 29th August.

Zhirkov said: "I don't know who spread these rumours, but they don't correspond to reality. My condition has improved and the doctors say that in two or three days I will be able to return to training, although not fully. I'll work on an individual programme. All will be clear after an examination on Thursday. I was feeling pain and noticeably limping when running, but now that's behind me".

His return will be good news for Chelsea, providing a timely burst of speed and dribbling ability as the season starts to hot up and much needed cover for Ashley Cole at left back. For those of us who haven't seen much of Zhirkov play - or have simply forgotten what the Russian has supposedly been bought for - check out the video below of a stunning solo goal he scored for CKSA in last season's UEFA cup.

Chelsea FC: Transfer Gossip

Those of you who read yesterday's Fiver will already have seen the rather amusing commentary around Zhirkov's pre-destined arrival at the Bridge:

New Chelsea signing Yuri Zhirkov is worried his lack of English will hold him back at Stamford Bridge.  "Abramovich came to our [CSKA Moscow] dressing room to congratulate the team on winning the Russian Cup Final in May 2006.  Then, he suddenly turned to me and said, 'Yuri, start learning English'.  I didn't say anything, just smiled.  Unfortunately, I still have not learnt the language.  Now I know I should have taken his advice more seriously."

Perhaps he could take lessons with Carlo?

The Sun today reported that John Terry has demanded talks with Abramovich to discuss his contract.  Apparently his silence over Man City's bid is not so much because he's secretly planning a move north-wards, but instead because he intends to use City's interest as leverage to enhance his current £115k-a-week contract.  Rumour has it he's not happy that Frank's contract (signed last summer) is richer at £135k-a-week.  I love JT, and have always been a massive admirer, but he's fast becoming injury prone, is unlikely to age well given his back and lack-of-pace issues, and has always been dependent on a strong partner alongside him.  Given he hasn't come out to declare his loyalty to Chelsea, should we really be upping his contract by another £20/30k a week at this stage in his career?  If he's willing to call our bluff and go to Man City for a bit of extra cash, he may not be the man I thought he was...

And finally, The Times is reporting that we're still in the market for Ribery.  Given that Real Madrid have stated that they've been priced out of buying him, it seems crazy to suggest that we'll be prepared to splash enough cash.  But this is football, and stranger things have certainly happened...

Ancelotti's First Day in Charge

Some good news - Ancelotti faced the media today, showing off some not too shabby English, and even chucking in a joke or two to keep the journos amused.  Even better news, Ancelotti reiterated that JT will remain a Chelsea player: "he said he wants to stay, there is no problem for him for us, the story continues - Chelsea and Terry".  He went on to compare Terry to Maldini, high praise indeed.

Worryingly, Ancelotti once again took the opportunity to reiterate that he's joined us to win the Champions League, so whatever the fans may think, it seems definite that we're prioritising Europe over the Premiership this year.  He also commented that he "would like that Chelsea have an identity to play, and this identity we want to build".  This harks back to earlier comments Ancelotti made that Roman was unable to recognise the Chelsea side, and that they lacked personality.  This is crazy - we might lack world-class wingers, on a consistent strike force, but personality we have in droves (the home-leg against Barca was some of the most committed, disciplined and driven football I've seen in years).  Team spirit is one of our greatest assets.  Let's hope he spots that once pre-season training gets going.

Back to the good news again - Chelsea also announced today that they've completed the signing of Yuri Zhirkov from CSKA Moscow for £18M.  He's very versatile, able to play left-back and left-midfield, so provides much needed cover and competition following the departure of Wayne Bridge.  He's only 25, so adds a bit of youth to the side.  Given his versatility and our need for genuine cover on the left, he's probably a better buy than Johnson would have been.  Combined with recent purchases of Sturridge and Turnbull, it seems like we might have abandonned the policy to buy ready-made stars (that the team may or may not need), and instead to focus on building a team for the future.  It remains to be seen whether they're good enough to take us to the title next season.

Let us know whether you think this is a good start to Ancelotti's reign, and what you make of the Zhirkov signing.

Yuri blue?

Breaking news from Russia suggests we've signed Yuir Zhirkhov from CSKA for $30m - a Russian tabloid seems to think it is a done deal and he'll join next week. If you can read Russian, read it here. Seem to remember him him being linked with Chelsea for a while - but is this Guus' influence?

 

Check him out on youtube.

 

Can't say I've seen him play more than once or twice, but he seems to be the kind of player we need - pace, creativity, willingness to take a man on, and the right age. His scoring record is a little suspect though. Added benefit is that apparently he can also play at left back, and as we need cover for Ashley Cole, his signing could kill two birds with one twenty-million-pound stone.

 

Time will tell how he does - if he joins of course. Does seem a whole lot more plausible than Ribery for £43m. If he could have half the impact of Arhsavin...