joe-cole-everton.jpg‘Clinical’ is the right word, or ‘typical’ would suit even better. Chelsea earns a well deserved place in what would the first final of this season. It was not a smooth sailing as such. Everton put up a very spirited display but in the end, that extra bit of quality in Chelsea players won the match. I would have loved to see Arsenal beaten by us in the final once again. Too bad, it has to be Spurs now!

I was extremely happy to see Pizarro not starting. I’m very sure that a correct move by Avram. In the system that we play, and with the abundance of strikers we have, Pizarro has no role but to be on the bench. Once again Chelsea started with a very strong team for this League Cup match. We never disrespect these competitions by fielding weakened teams and today was as best as we could, except that Ballack did not play for some reason.

Anelka, Joe Cole and Malouda is our best foot forward. In defence, Alex, Carvalho, Belletti and Bridge is our best set of players based on form. In the midfield, we played with Makelele, SWP and Sidwell. The only possible weak link in the whole team was Sidwell but he didn’t do that badly.

The first half was pretty dour with both teams unable to create anything worthwhile. Everton played with slower tempo, built their game up and tested us with numerous crosses. Chelsea were playing high tempo and losing possession fairly quickly. The only half decent chance that was created in the first half was that brilliant shot by Anelka that hit the post. Other than that, there was nothing special.

Everton came out and played with some purpose in the second half. Still they were playing with slow tempo as their strategy seemed to be using the crosses instead of cutting through the middle, which would mean they have to encounter the great Makelele. For a period of about 25 minutes in the second half, Everton put Chelsea under tremendous pressure and it looked like we were going to concede in one of the set-pieces. Chelsea were completely men behind ball, while having the counterattack option always open. Almost all Chelsea attacks in the second half were results of deep defending and counterattacking.

I want to mention about two things that I noticed. One was that we looked very very vulnerable in set pieces. If you swapped the two goalkeepers, the score could be something else. We did not test Tim Howard as much as Petr Cech was tested. Cech made some incredible saves to keep us in the game. If Everton had gone 1-0 up, it could have been a different ball game as that scoreline would put them through. The other thing was we defended deep and we did not close down. We allowed them to pass around and saw their crosses fly right, left and centre. Apparently that was to force Everton get closer to us in numbers and counterattack when possible. It was a dangerous ploy which shone only because of a superlative performance by Petr Cech.

Anelka was unlucky not to have scored a goal. Anyway, he looks promising. Many times, we were simply using him as the target man but I saw him in everywhere. I guess it would be lot better if he sticks to the centre where we can get the best out of him. Pizarro played a cameo. If Anelka had that chance that Pizarro squandered, it would have been his debut goal for Chelsea. SWP is again hot and cold – getting back to his ‘final ball syndrome’?

What was not typical was our style of play. Going by Grant’s pre-match promise that we would attack and not sit back, I was hoping for something else and was served with a different dish which still was good enough for my appetite. Defending deep and counterattacking was not what I understood from what he said. At times, it looked like a bottom half team fighting away against the champions. We need not have played with so much fear, that too for Everton! We packed our half leaving only Anelka in the front. I’ve never seen Chelsea play this kind of plain targetman-counterattacking football. With the kind of players we had, we could have done more than just counterattack. Anyway, I’m fine with this win. I don’t demand football of X-type and goals of Y-type. The measure of success and failure sometimes depends on the expectations created.

Finally, let’s talk about the goal. How do you call that? A long ball? Cross? Early Cross? I’ve always believed that over the last few seasons, Chelsea has become a team that is very strong in the air and it’s insane not to take advantage of it. With the way Everton were defending, they would have defended ground passes all day long. Striking through the air turned out to be our trump card that Everton could not deal with. A lovely ball from Malouda and a divine touch and finish from Joe Cole. Sublime moment.

The Chelsea juggernaut makes it to the first final of the season in typical fashion. Despite their crushing win over Arsenal, I don’t see them beating a Chelsea team in a final. Chelsea is a very very difficult team to beat in big matches. I have a feeling that Spurs would be an easier opponent to deal with, than Everton. For some reason, I don’t tend to undermine this cup or any cup. As long as we participate with an intention to win, we should aim for the trophy. To defend the league cup would be fantastic. Look forward to our third consecutive win at the Wembley!