Friendlies, Matches, Pre-season - Written by BlueChampion on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 23:46 | 2,546 Views | 100 Comments | Add Comment
Brondby 0 - 2 Chelsea: The Drogba Show!
Quite a decent win. After a poor first half, Chelsea picked up momentum in the second half and Didier Drogba was there to clean up Brondby. More than anything, at the end of the pre-season friendlies, key players stayed away from injuries as much as possible.
Chelsea started with 4-3-3 as I expected. As I see it, Sheva got the sack while Essien was rested. The three-man midfield was Captain Lampard, Sidwell and Mikel. We played in our newly unveiled third kit, which I wasn’t too impressed with. The white kit of the last season was much better (can’t forget Drogba scoring that screamer against Everton in whites).
The Chelsea team that played today: Cudicini (Cech 45), Johnson, Ben-Haim, Carvalho, A Cole (Hutchinson 64), Mikel (Pizarro 29), Sidwell (Grant 78), Lampard (c) (Cork 82), Malouda (J Cole 45) Drogba, Wright-Phillips(Sinclair 70).
The first half was a very drab one. Both teams were not too keen in really making a raid. From Chelsea’s perspective, we couldn’t set foot in the attacking third at all. Mikel having a bad game did not help either. Mikel was replaced by Pizarro after only 28 minutes. He was also limping then. So, I’m not sure if he was subbed due to that or because he was so bad that, after a series of mistakes, Jose could not put up with him anymore. He was also limping then. So, I’m not sure exactly why he was subbed. Jose will have to have a word with Mikel to bring him back to the form and commitment he showed last season. I’m counting on him for the Community Shield match.
We were losing the ball too often and too cheaply. SWP was okay but very wasteful when it mattered. The front three did not look too motivated to burst through the Brondby defence, while our defence looked dangerously dis-jointed. Well, this was the first this back four ever played together. So, there was nothing too worrisome about that.
At 0-0 at half time, I would not have bet against a goalless draw. The second half started brightly though. We held more possession, we passed well and with purpose too and when we took the lead, it was a very well deserved one. An okay ball from Glen Johnson was met by Drogba with a very well timed header. There was some confusion on whether it was a foul by Drogba on the keeper, but the goal was given, which was the right decision.
The Chelsea goal had a great impact on our tempo of the game, and during this period, we saw the Chelsea that we hoped to see all this pre-season. Pizarro and Joe Cole, playing on the wings, were very active all along and it was not a surprise to see them both involved in the goal. Around the 80th minuted, Joe Cole got the ball around the halfway line which he manage to retain and proceeded near the box. Then Joe Cole, Pizarro and Drogba did a neat triangle pass to find Drogba with the ball, onside, with all the goal and the goalkeeper in front of him. Drogba then blasted a volley that was reminiscent of Ronaldo (the true one - PSV, Barca, Inter, Real Madrid). Brilliantly set up goal and a thunderous finish.
Pizarro was outstanding in this match. He played with so much ease that you wouldn’t believe that he has just joined a fortnight back. Interesting thing about his play is that, despite being a good striker himself, he does not seem to mind letting Drogba score the goals. He appeared to be very clear about his objectives, which was very comforting. Pizarro should have had a goal for himself, but the Brondby goalie made a stunning save off the header from our Peruvian. Scott Sinclair made a cameo where he once whizzed past 3 or 4 opponents with his pace and dribble, that showed his potential which can be certainly used this season, if he is not going to be loaned out.
The last 30 minutes of the game showed a lot of promise. Players like Pizarro, Drogba, Joe Cole, Johnson were all extremely good tonight. We were a lot better team when we did not allow Brondby to put 10 men behind ball.
In other news, The Sun reports that Deco reveals his interest for Chelsea:
The idea of working with Jose again appeals to me. He was a huge influence on my career and he did so much for me. I’ve worked with him before and it would be good to work with him again. The Premier League is definitely on a par with La Liga - and playing there absolutely appeals to me.
I don’t see too much space in the current midfield for a big player like Deco, who would prefer to start as many matches as possible. If he comes in, then the exit of a existing midfielder might happen. Would that be Maka, Diarra, Lampard, Ballack . . .
I happy to see that the friendlies are over. After a few days of rigorous training, Chelsea will play Man Utd for the Community Shield match on Sunday. If the friendlies form of Chelsea and Man Utd are any indication of what’s to come, there’s nothing to be very cheerful for a Chelsea fan. But, you never know. That’s another day and another place!
Related Links:
Official Chelsea FC website report
Chelseablog update
The Offside report
[tags]Chelsea, Brondby, Friendly, Drogba, Didier Drogba, Goal, Video, Highlights, Jose Mourinho, Pizarro, Joe Cole, Glen Johnson, SWP[/tags]
100 Comments
1. Anonymous
2. fola
spot on with the information of the matches and thank goddness our blushes have been saved today.
seems the team is so disjointed with the comments i see. well its the chelsea way….even if you are not playing well, win well.simple
3. Jiday
Up chelsea! I think finally we av a result worth rejoicing over,bt we shldnt 4get dat this r jst pre-seasn friendly matches.D truth is we need 2 work on our passes in d mid-field,i think they shld b more accurate and outstandin,dat way we’ll get d best of our great strikers
4. Jiday aloba
Up chelsea! I think finally we av a result worth rejoicing over,bt we shldnt 4get dat these r jst pre-seasn friendly matches.D truth is we need 2 work on our passes in d mid-field,i think they shld b more accurate and outstandin,dat way we’ll get d best of our great strikers
5. Mourofsame
BC, I think you forgot to include SWP in your line up. Good result. End to warm up matches. From Sunday, serious business begins. And when serious business begins, count on the Blues to do the business especially agaisnt Manure. another thing that many of you have failed to take note over our last three matches that affected our overall performance- the absence of the Bison- the power man, essien. He will be back with a vengeance on Sunday, am sure. Go Chelsea, lets take our title back.
6. Mourofsame
BC, I do not think Sheva was axed. Here is what i have picked up on our injury situation.
John Terry, Andriy Shevchenko, Arjen Robben, Michael Essien, Claude Makalele and Paulo Ferreira all missed a full-scale practice match at the Chelsea training ground on Monday but club insiders say that the injuries to these particular players are by no means serious.
The Blues are already without Michael Ballack who has just returned to training after an ankle operation, Wayne Bridge will be out until November following hip surgery and Mikel John Obi, Salomon Kalou and Lassana Diarra are all doubts for the Charity Sheild on Sunday against United.
7. Peter jones
another lack lustre performance i mean this team we played was shit and only 2 0? What happens when we play better teams?wel be screwed something aint right in chelsea and jose knows it.he needs to sort it out .manure no sunday?my word !
8. Peter jones
another lack lustre performance i mean this team we played was terrible and only 2 0? What happens when we play better teams?wel be screwed something aint right in chelsea and jose knows it.he needs to sort it out .manure no sunday?my word !
9. Midfield_Decider
Chelsea is going down the drain with Jose in charge. Mark my words.
10. Blue Champion
Mouofsame! The official line could be that Sheva is injured or something. I have a feeling that he’s been dropped. At the end of the last match, I was sure that he would not play today and that’s why I had not included him in my line-up too.
11. huntycfc
So today’s game was rather lacklustre. Although the overall performance and the hesitance to go forward at times there are still many positives to come out of today’s, and the previous games.
Malouda is, with every game, looking worth every penny that we splashed out for him, and is definitely going to keep Robben on his toes. Two world class left wingers in the team is definitely not a bad thing.
Shaun Wright-Phillips looks to be re-capturing the form that we saw at Man City, and the reason we paid £24mil for the guy. Okay so his crosses have been a bit wayward, but there is no denying that his confidence is creeping back with every minute that he plays.
Pizarro. Well what can I say? A free transfer and £50,000 for a player that already looks sharper, faster and more aware than Shevchenko ever did throughout the whole of last season. I hope for his sake and ours that Pizarro is what Shevchenko needs to ignite that spark that once upon a time could have justified the £30mil price tag that he carries around with him.
Reading a past post of yours which explains why United keep destroying teams and we’re winning 2-1 or drawing 1-1. You hit the nail right on the head there. We’ve played the current Mexican champions, the most dominant force in Scottish football for the past umpteen years, and a huge force in Dutch football, whereas United have played, actually I don’t know who they’ve played.
12. FAMOUS CFC!
Nice one Didi….. you saved us once again! i aslo agree - we need to sort out the passing game in midfield… they are all top quality players but i still think the need to work on quick passing and movement rather than just pumping it up to the big man…. if we can sort that out then maybe we’ll see the best in Sheva… Give Sheva time people, ive a fealing his guna be the man come christmas!
i think the main problem at chelsea is the 12th man - it makes me so sad when i turn up to the bridge and no one sings… im mean ok some might say that our performances, sometimes close tight games, that we nick 1 -0, make it hard to get right behind the team… but hey look at westham man… i admit i went to an away game with a mate to westham last season and the passion… win loose or draw was immence….
SIGN YOUR HEARTS OUT FOR THE LADS!!!
13. FAMOUS CFC!
DOH! *SING
14. Jon
Pizarroo!!!!! Nice pass to Drogba…
15. sooraj...........................
fingers crossed for the commu sheild game………
go chelsea…..i ws totally impressed with pizzaro….
a comforting win but i dont take these results into consideration the big things are yet to unfold…………….
16. Adonis
The boys are a bit rusty, they haven’t played 3 in midfield for a while. They’re adjusting, but it’s all good. We played hard and scored and that’s what counts. I’m not judging Chelsea until I watch them on the fifth.
17. Blues_Godson
i dont know what to say…didn’t see thematch nd i dont think brondby is a team we should beat 2-0…can we ever score 3 to 4 goals in a game..i hope we do good on sunday cos i would be dammed if manure the sheild…
18. Blues_Godson
BC..why dont m name show in blue like yours…i signed on and even got a profile on and its still showing black….holla at your boy
19. AgentBlue
:-(
:-(
:-(
:-(
20. legushka
swap deco for lampard so sheva can finally get a descent passer that would understand his intelligent runs. then he will shine. do u expect a guy to score 20 goals in a season from the shitty passing he’s been getting?
21. AgentBlue
Who is Brondby????????
22. AgentBlue
I have sum questions of my own???????
23. AgentBlue
Why arent we scoring?
What is happening to our central midfielder??????
Or do we need one?
Im a bit frustrated right now……….
24. AgentBlue
I think IM BEGINNING TO PANIC GUYS:-(
25. AgentBlue
We ought to be scoring 2 goals easily per half against Brondwho????
This is really getting out of hane!
it begs 4 the question………is Lampard doing enuf as our “creative midfirlder?”
26. AgentBlue
Its not encouraging to me that drogba scored two goals 2nite!
Quite frnakly I am gonna be real honest!!!!!
i think Drogab is a good player….i think he robs this team a lot!!!
27. legushka
2 agentble
we dont need anymore central midfielders
what we need to do i buy trade dec for lampard
and play like this:
—————Cech————-
a.cole—terry–carvalho—alex
—————mikel————-
—–ballack———-essien—–
—————deco—————
——sheva———-drogba—–
28. AgentBlue
Quite frankly Im begginning to worry for any striker who has to play alongside him this season!!!!!
29. sooraj...........................
hi legushka…….
so you are up for swapping a 20 goal scorer to get a probable 20 goals on sheet…….i guess you need to rethink…………….
30. AgentBlue
Legushka really dude….this lampard thing is giving me a headache!!!
im beginning to worry mate!
if we are gonna act we gotta do it now!!!!
Whats the position with our “playmaker”????
31. legushka
id rather get a better assist man like deco that could supply sheva and drogba so both of them get around 20 in the season, rather then keep someone like lampard that shoots every time he sees the ball. deco as well can shoot but he does that intellegently.
if we keep lampard he will not score more than 10 goals and will screw up many freekicks and corners. mark my words…
32. AgentBlue
Sooraj….Listen dude!!!!
Both Drogba and Lampard while they are classs players they are also liabilities!!!
They dont get other players involved in our play enough mate!
Look athe trend…………
When we won the league for 2 consecutive seasons
there was no individual scorer who grabbed 2o - 25 goals!!!!!!
Whats the point in getting 2o goals from Lampard and Drogs and only 25 goals from the rest of the whole team???????
33. AgentBlue
I wont be plaesed until i see all our midfield palyers enjoying themselves playing and making assists and scoring!!!!!
34. AgentBlue
This aint good for the team either!!!!!
seriously……..Lamp hasnt signed a new contract as yet………..If Deco becomes available! I would be willing to let Lamps leave in exchange!!!
Lampard has proven himself to be a goalscorer……….Thats really not the main aim of a midfielder!
its admirable he scores so much goals but he lacks vision on top of the box!
That vision that will allow him to make defense splitting passes consistently and to give enforce proper movement of our attackers in the attacking third!
35. AgentBlue
if this is gonna be the case with Lamps let him play striker!!!!!!!!!(lol)
But seriously mates………he has to changr his create more and score less if Chlelsea are to become champions again!!!!!!
36. AgentBlue
Ya’ll ever won why gerrrard will always be rated more than lamps??????
Cuz while Gerrard is busy creating chances and getting his teammates involved as an attacking midfielder, lamps is too busy robbing the strikers of their opportunities to score!!! he’s scoring a bit too much goals for his own good and for the good of Chelsea!!!!!!
37. bluewinner
Latest on Sheva is that he is suffering from a rather vague “back complaint.” BC may be on to something with him being dropped.
38. FleetofFoot
I feel like I have to stand up and disagree with all the bashing of Lamps as “too much” of a goal-scorer (if that’s REALLY a bad thing for us). In 2006/07 Lamps had the most assists of the three mentioned (Lamps, Gerrard, and Deco). Lamps had 16 for Chelsea, Deco had 12, and Gerrard only 9. The true reason that Gerrard will always be rated higher than Lamps is that the media are in love with him, and like to blame Lampard for the misfortune of the English National Team. I’d rather have Frank, that Diving Deco or Stevie G any day.
39. Adonis
Let’s hope this Deco stuff materializes. Trading him for Ballack or Lampard isn’t such a bad idea.
40. RomanHoliday
I await the BISON in midfield to destroy ManUre come Sunday.
And hope JM has been just experimenting ,using the pre-season to fiddle around, throwing up a smoke-screen so everyone will think CFCis inept,befuddled,unbalanced etc…….
The real business the show is abt to begin !
Chelsea as usual might be slow in racking up 3-0 wins but they will surely come .
The Premiership and Champs league are ours this season……!
41. saji
i woudnt swap lamps or anyone,,, u jus have to look at his goal scorin record for past 3 yrs and his appearence as well as the yellow cards,,, deco is a great player but am sure if hes to play in premireship he will get knocked down by the giant midfielders and defenders in our league whereas if lapms goto barca , he would get plenty of time and spce and he will def bang in goals from all over and if we are unfortunate enough to get them again in some stage of the champions leaguee, we cud be in big trouble,,the point is we need some one more creative inda attacking midfield,, there is a lack of goals for sure from last seaoson,,, i have seen a lota games last season and always feels like we r not fired up intill the opposition scores,, theres a lack of energy from the bigning.. once the opposition scores then our players get behind the ball and start playing the way we like them to play,,, hope fully this season we will go for full fledge attack and destroy teams rather than givng them any hopes of come back,,,,, if i cud recall the games against fulham and reading at home,, last minute equaliserss,, (own goal )wateevr it iss,,, we lost points so bad ……..
42. Blue Champion
Blues_Godson
You should have added ‘www.bluechampions.com’ in the field for website, in your profile. I’ve added it myself for you now. No worries. It should work now.
43. true blue
i d like to let frank lampard leave from chelsea and Deco bring in, beacsue Lampard can not run in the midfield and he doesnt know to pass short passes he only nows t fly the ball as europlans, that is not good for our team we need a midfielder that passes shortly and get past from one man even two man , but lampard can not past from one man .
lampard is a dictator of the team.
please mourinho and abramovich lampard leave, thanks
44. Blue Man
hi BC, could u pls make my nickname in blue?
i have registered and fill the form but my nickname still hasn’t turned blue 
45. Mourofsame
I said it from the word go on this site that Pizarro was going to be a super addition to our team. This was at the time when lots of folks were expressing doubts about him. am glad lots of us have started really appreciating his worth. The guy is real class, i maintain. Vision, movement, ball control, strength, sleek passing, heading.
You have heard it from me too that the real dream partnership we will have will be Pizarro and sheva. not Drogba. Why? the two are more selfless in the last third and more in love with putting the ball in space for one twos that will bring us more goals. All sheva needs is to have the likes of essien and Mikel doing that. I maintain Lamps and drogba are massively contributing to ur inability to get much more from Sheva.
46. Mourofsame
I am grateful that Lamps has been so massive for us all these years. I love his spirit and he and Terry and Drogs have epitomized the spirit of Mour- great fighting spirit. But I think in the new phase Mour wants to take the team, Lamps has to either adapt or be made to play a little less central role in our midfield effort. Ballack on form will be more massive in erms of fowing balls, putting short and long passes into good space for strikers and generally allowing for a more creative goal scoring game than the shoot at first sight tendency of lamps. i said it earlier that Jose must start developing the ability to let lamps know that he is no more an untouchable. I know this is quite a testy issue for blue fans but Chelsea should be greater than any single player.
47. Mourofsame
Lamps has great scoring ability no doubt. essien scored lots of goals at Lyon too and was actually one the leading scorers in his last Champs league with Lyon. but different roles have been given to him here at Chelsea. Ballacks, the same. What is the point of having a midfielder being so hungey for goals while a striker on whom we have spent 30 million is being starved of opportunities? Sheva clearly is determined to shine but needs lots of help from the midfield and the wingers this year. Lamps must be told that.
48. Blue Man
thanks BC 
go chelsea!
its in the blood!
49. Blue Man
i prefer the 4-3-3 formation.
jose must regain the team’s mentality to win & be hungrier than ever.
50. Mourofsame
Sorry if it looks like we are embarking on some Lampard bashing game. No, thats not it. The only constant in the universe is Change. All we are asking for is some positive dynamic change in his game in order to push forward our overall success. meanwhile, am happy to see that Joe Cole really tok his game notches higher yeterday. Glen was really good too. SWP I agree is fast rediscovering his form. I think Jose has realised that the boy does very good when not running wide but rather cutting throu from the centre. If only his concentration will improve even more.
51. Mourofsame
Last season, Mikel was only to be an understudy playing a bit part. What happened? He gradually put the master, Maka on the bench. Makelele, was benched by Mikelele. I believe Sinclair will be breaking into our team this year. Watch out for that boy this year. He is brilliant
52. Mourofsame
I prefer the new 4-4-2 with two wingers than the 4-3-3. I would not mind us trying a 4-3-1-2 sometimes though with Joe Cole or ballack playing behind the two strikers.
53. Midfield_Decider
Well well well
Now I can see that more and more of CFC fans in this blog start to realize who Lampard is. While me and joeblue were bashing him last year all of you were backing him. Now you start bashing him too. Isn’t that a little bit late? Better late than never:)
Ballack (healthy), Deco, Gerrard, Kaka, Fabregas are all better than Lampard.
The man is not a midfielder who plays like a striker because he cannot play like a midfielder. Some of you are talking about his goals. He scored only a single in the last European campaigne while we reached semi-finals. How many scored Kaka? 10. How many scored Ronaldo? I’m sure that more than 1. This man scored only againt easy oppositions in the Premierleague. He has no creativity. He is one of the answers to the questions as to why Chelsea cannot win the Champ. League.
What is painful is that when even you started to realize what’s going on in the Chelsea’s midfield Jose does no realize that. In his eyes Lampard is untocuhable. LOL
Sack Mourinho.
54. Midfield_Decider
I meant: “the man is a midfielder who plays like a striker because he cannot play like a midfielder”
55. Peter jones
Chelsea still need attractive football for this lampard must go all he does is hit long balls up to drogba and score against shite teams.
56. Midfield_Decider
Hahahahahahaha
Mourinho gor Malouda and lost Robben.
The man really doesn’t understand what flair and creativity is.
57. SH.IBRAHIMI
CECH
DIARRA CARVALHO TERRY COLE
MIKEL
ESSIEN BALLACK
ROBBEN MALOUDA(J.COLE)
SHEVCHENKO
I think that with this formation we will be unstopable …
58. Midfield_Decider
Go Brondby!!!
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