Newcastle 0-2 Chelsea | Just 90 mins to go! | Blue Champions

Newcastle 0-2 Chelsea | Just 90 mins to go! - [BlueChampion]

Mon, May 5, 2008

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Premier league is generally known as the marathon, for the consistency and endurance that separates the Champions and the rest. Seldom would you see such close runners in a marathon. The finish to the premier league this season would rather resemble the 100 metre dash than a marathon.

Chelsea responded to Man Utd’s result with a good 2-0 win over the resurgent Newcastle at St. James Park. If we could two awards for the player of the year, one for the first half and another for the second half, Michael Ballack would pick up the latter quite deservedly. He seems to have the knack of picking up the crucial goals in crucial matches. It wasn’t his best performance but he made a telling contribution. Even with teams, what separates big teams and small teams is how they react in crucial moments. That’s why we see a team dominating for 70 minutes and then losing the match (I’m certainly not referring to this match) and a team does not turn up for most part of the match but ends up winning.

The first half was quite nervy for us. Newcastle were very calm and composed on the ball. They had the better of chances while we could not even get the sniff of the goal for quite some time. Only a smart goal line clearance from Terry stopped Newcastle from taking the lead. At one point I thought, may be we’ll have to wait for that luck that has kept following us this season. This time it was not an own goal but a well-prevented owen goal. The first half performance from Chelsea was not something that you’d expect in the penultimate match, from a team that are on top with level points.

I was quite impressed with the way Newcastle played. In attack and in defence, they played very confidently. They played with a belief that they could contain Chelsea and pick up something from the game. Kevin Keegan, after his poor start, has certainly improved Newcastle. By the end of the first half, Newcastle must have been very happy with the way the game had gone.

I was hoping for some kind of reaction from Chelsea in the second half. If we did not turn anything around in the next 45 minutes, our long fought season could have been over. Apparently, the Chelsea players had got that sense of urgency in the second half. We started to force things. In a few minutes into the second half, it was evident that a Chelsea goal is in its way.

After that tussle between Drogba and Ballack over the freekick against Man Utd, this time they had the responsibilities nicely segregated. One to assist, the other to score. I loved that goal. While Drogba’s execution in directing the ball to Ballack’s head was fantastic, Ballack’s positioning and finish was cool. If you see that goal again, Ballack was not trying to move around too much within the box, he was not trying to push the defenders, he was not trying to jump - all this meant the defender did not give his best to stop him. It looked like a very well trained and planned goal. It was made to look easy.

After we scored, Newcastle once again had this period where they came closer. With three-fourths of the match gone, Newcastle were tired of the running around, while Chelsea were as strong as they were at the kick off. Lampard came on for Anelka in the second half. I was quite impressed with Avram Grant that he took off Anelka, which was absolutely the right decision. I was wondering why Malouda was not removed. Easily, Malouda was the worst Chelsea player on the pitch today. Mikel was at his best today. He made a couple of dubious tackles but on the whole he was rock solid. Oh wait, Drogba was superb too. He set his team mates for goal quite a few times but did not get himself into right areas.

The way I see it, one of these two things are true - Grant wants to make Essien the permanent right back or we are getting a world class right back this summer. Essien is a brilliant footballer. He knows the game very well, and has complete awareness of the things happening across the length and breadth of the pitch. I was surprised when he was used as the right back and centre back last season. He did rather well and he even seems to gain expertise in those areas. But the problem I see in this is, in accountants terminology, the ‘opportunity loss’ of not using him in the midfield.

Finally, it so happened that the worst player on the pitch had to seal the match for Chelsea. Lampard slipped a superb throughball to Malouda who made no mistake with his neat finish. Again, it was intriguing to see that no one ran to Malouda to celebrate only his second goal of the season. In fact, I felt sorry for him. Picture Malouda running with immense joy and turning back to see none of his team mates bothering to come to him. Pity.

When the match ended, Chelsea were deserving winners and that should not have been a surprise despite a fine run at home by Keegan’s team. One worry though was Carvalho’s injury. I hope he can make a recovery for just two more matches. Grant can even play Alex against Bolton while resting Carvalho for the big day.

So it’s all going to final day of the season. It’s going to be awfully nervous on the last day. Both Chelsea and Man Utd kick off at the same time. Reminds me of the way Eredivisie finished last season. I can’t take that kind of pressure. This is my script. Chelsea and Wigan to score within 10 minutes and Chelsea scoring again within 30 minutes and both matches staying that way. And then we will be . . . . champions!

Written By BlueChampion

77 Responses For This Post. Add Your Comments Here!

Hooray! Victory and clean sheet!

Just love it when a title is decided on the final day of the season…hope Riccy is okay though…

I just hope Calvaho Injury does not last long. Thats a good match

Go Blues

Good Victory….. Again Ballack scored, good clean sheet

Can any one tell how i can upload photo in to my profile ???

Arun CFC

To upload your photo - read this post!

i completely disagree with you BC… Did you even watch the match at all. Ballack was woeful in the first half, he improved just a bit in the second… anyone would have scored the goal he scored… a header about 3 yards from the post with the keeper frozen to is feet..
iN fact, our 2 goal scorers were poor… malouda was erratic.. just when we were shouting in the “BC SHOUT” that he should be replaced by joe cole, he scored a goal..

The true match winners were mikel and essien…. especially mikel. He was everywhere, never let the ball past the halfway line in the second half, thus pushing THE WHOLE NEWCATLE TEAM INTO THEIR OWN HALF… incredible second half for mikel… drogba was also superb.. Anelka is a flop.. all his shots were more like passes and off target.

congrats to Grant though, it’s time i started liking him.

MOYO : I donot think Ballack was woefull in first half.He was the most hardworking player on the pitch.Even Essien and Drogba was also not doing that much running in ist half.
Ballack was continously looking for ball and try to regain possesion.But yes He was looking tired.Most of guys were looked tired like Ricardo,Terry,Drogba,Essien .

I think Chelsea Played very good game and won it comfortably and first goal was class,if u remeber wat happened in MANU match between DD and Ballack.This was total Team effort, Drogba was putting BALL on Ballack head that,Just small touch required.Some delivey even Becks can smile

Essien was working hard but i think he was not creating much like in dying seconds missed goal and before straight forward pass to Sheva he not played…

Let us Enjoy this victory

i kinda agree to moyo … maybe ballack and the team was just waiting for 2nd half.. first was was ver poor and we were fortunate own didnt scored..

2nd hald was awesome.. if it had not been ballack it would have been some one else… great play…

regarding carvaios injury i dont think its serious as terry was asking him to continue…

great going chelsea…

a proud supporter…

KTBFFH

i think i should tell it that the first goal came because of essien… it wont be eveident in highlights… he was the only person who regained the possesion of opposition when opposition player tried to hit it off line of his foot… and then the free kick came

for the 2nd goal what a pass by lampard…. i wonder what cement sack can do?

I missed the match, but feel Ballack’s play based on what I’ve read
was superb.

I don’t understand why Avram has continued to play Carvalho every match with a perfectly fit Alex on the sidelines. In a match like this, Alex can be quite effective. Now he’s injured and hopefully he’ll be fit to play in the final two matches!!
As for Alex, I think he’s a perfect replacement, although obviously Carvalho, when not passing the ball to Rooney, is a tremendous CB in the big matches.

@Moyo ballack was superb today,Mikel and Essien also had a good game.

BC, I can’t agree more about Ballack’s form, he deserves to be our player of the year this year, I can’t wait to see him operating the German machine come the Euro’s.
I for one wouldn’t mind two more clean sheets this season

Thank U BC , Now my photo is working

BC
after seeing the match i would say this is the perfect match report

great work

cheers

Malouda scored his second goal of the season. and none of his team mates bothered to celebrate with him….. thats same if that is true it was not very nice of them.

Mikel is such a rock !!
Essien is a force to reckoned with!!

I think RB next season will belong to Ivanovic. For the amount we paid for him, he is surely going to be battling Ferreira.

The spanish newspaper “mundo deportivo” has a news on chelsea. The article says that a group of players asked AG to play the Mourinhos tactics 4-3-3. It also says that Kenyon was informed of the players wish, and Ten Cate accepted as the best formation regarding the characteristics of the players. It also says that AG had no alternative but to accept the wishes of the players. Also says, that so serious was the players’ request that a member of the present management staff that worked with JM before, went to Setubal and asked JM help Jm incondicionally explained the tactics. JM apparently felt very emotionally that his players wanted to follow his tactics. RA was kept in the dark, but apparently it is an open secret now. Also mentioned that players wanted JM to go to Moscow, invited by the players mentioned above, that the players would like to see JM, their favorit manager in Moscow,but JM will on go if he is invited by the board.

Remember, Mundo Deportivo is not like tribal football. It’s a very respected Spnaish newspaper from the city of Barcelona.

@12.

Much as I like Alex, I can’t stand with the idea he is a 100 per cent replacement for Carvalho. Yes, he is great in the air, experienced and rock-solid when it comes to one-on-one contest. But Ricardo is phenomenal in anticipating the play and he is always right in the place he has to be. This is a weakness of Alex, I would say.

@19.

Do you really feel this to be Mourinho tactics? Let me remind you that when Jose had Ballack, Lampard and Essien together, he discovered a f***ing diamond tactics that never worked properly. Yes, it was him who played Essi as a fullback for the first time - but simply because he didn’t have any other choice, all suitable defenders were injured. Grant [or Ten Cate or whoever] is the first who used this tactics as a regular option and it works. Let him enjoy the credit - he deserves it.

@ 20 - incorrect. JM used the diamond to accommodate shevchenko. whenever sheva did not play, he reverted to ‘his’ 4-3-3. Anyway, he didn’t see much of Ballack as he was injured most of the last season, just like cech, cudicini, joe cole, terry, essien etc.

thanks for the spanish post steve! i can understand. there must be some truth in it. it is fully believable. more such news will come out one by one. if three or four players ‘demand’ a certain tactic, i don’t see grant as someone who will stand up to what he thinks. he would surrender without a fight. “if you can’t beat them, join them”. that’s his motto. unconfrontational, whatever it leads to.

@19 and @21

it was also mentioned in the local sports press about a supposed meeting with Jm in Portugal.
Mundo Deportivo as a reputation to be a very serious sports paper, i have no reason not to believe.
Regarding the Barca fans wanting JM it is true you only have to read mundo deportivo online, it is there for everyone to see.
About Ballack i could say a few things, but leave it for the moment, but guys dont forget under JM he was injured for most of the time JM was there, so I dont buy the story that he only came good under AG, he got fit, besides I listened to one of his interviews in German TV when he said thea JM was the best manager he has ever worked with, well thats until AG came LOL.

It is official JM is not going to Barca, Guardiola will be the new manager, well at least he was a damn good midfielder, and has done a good job with Barca B.
The reason Mourinho did not accept the job at Barca, was, quoting his interview in the portuguese radio, was he is not prepared to accept anybody except his own team. The same team he had at Porto and Chelsea. He also said that he was not in a hurry to manage any team, though he misses the day to day affair of management. but he is loyal to his men that helped him achieve european cups, unlike some other managers in football.
I personal do not believe Inter will replace their manager, 2 titles in a row in Serie A is an achievement.
So I am afraid ww will may have to wait until Christmas to see if JM joins a club.

I hope Valencia kicks United butt next game and we emerge champions. Wigan has improved by leaps nowadays and MANU is not going to have an easy day against Wigan. Now the advantage is with us.

JoseHoliday,

Did you get the visa to Moscow?

sometimes I think whether we fans watch different matches and then comment…how can anyone say Ballack was fantastic even if he scored one…he may be good at best but fantastic, no way….after that fantastic ManU match Drogba was back to his poor ball skills…why dos he rams directly into opposition defenders with ball…does he have some eyesight problem….
@10…one pass and u r going overboard…MFs are supposed to do it week in week out..its their bread and butter just like Cech makes saves….

Blue Champions

———————————————————————————
257. BlueClive • 5:54 PM • 3rd May
- I could win the EPL with one hand behind my back and both my eyes closed!
Cheers
We have a genius, moron (delete as appropriate) on the blog.
———————————————————————————
Chelsea FC Team a.k.a. World Eleven
GOALKEEPERS: (GK)Petr Cech (GK)Craig Gordon (GK)Kasper Schmeichel

DEFENDERS: (RB)Micah Richards (RB)Paulo Ferriera (CB)John Terry (CB)Ricardo Carvalho (CB)Alex (CB)Tal Ben Haim (LB)Gareth Bale (LB)John Arne Riise (R)???

MIDFIELDERS: Arjen Robben (if possible a return)(LM)Joe Cole (LM)Florent Malouda (CM)Frank Lampard (CM)Steven Gerrard (CM)Ryan Babel (CM)Gelson Fernandes (CM)John Obi Mikel (RM)Morten Gamst Pederson (RM)Adel Taarabt (R) Scott Sinclair

EG. Adel Taarabt (AM)[Reality]

FORWARDS: (FW)Fernando Torres/Samuel Et’o (FW)Robinho (FW)Darren Bent (FW)Adriano (R)Claudio Pizarro

-Who owns Chelsea football club?

-I am just being honest.

Cheers

I think Chelsea played differently now. Which is more entertaining. More short passes and one-two. For yesterday’s game against Toon, I think we played quite well with a very good Newcastle team. All players show their hunger for victory. 3 and 1/2 star performance by Chelsea!!!

Very entertaining perforance by chelsea, this is sexy football and guess what? we saw this football being played when we changed to a 4-4-2 formation, Anelka can only play centraly and we saw a much better performance from him int he 2nd half. Newspapers today are saying didier now wants to stay.

I’m in the middle of the Nargis cyclone hit area and chaos Arghhhhh But I just found out I just have to show my ticket, no need for a visa anymore.
My heart is all for the victims of the disaster now and trying to be of help …

but I surely will be in Moscow come May 21st…

the problem is getting out of this country.. my office, passport,plane ticket and stuff and staff ….are all gone.. drenched.. scattered.. and sad I am …

managed to watch yesterday’s match though…( the win was a comfort )KTBHFT !

( dictated by JoseHoliday over the phone from the storm-hit delta and typed in by his friend Wallace who is up-country and whose internet connection works )

even if drogba dont allways score he is allways good to have on the pitch. cause 2-4 defenders are allways round him and that makes moore room for the other players to score. he’s fantastic.

good to hear from you joseholiday!!

I think the withdrawl of viduka at half time with injury also helped chelsea cause. martins, viduka and owen trio once broken hampered their attack. talking of Ballacks goal really no one was marking him.. he didnt moved nor did the defenders.. simple bread and butter stuff… i think he was being marked by smith

JH,

I’m hearing from news channels that Nargis have made some serious damages.

Its very sad to hear that so many lives have perished. I wish for a speedy recovery from this tragedy.

I’m sure that all BC readers will extend their support for a speedy recovery in one way or other.

By the way wallace, its KTBFFH

Keep us posted.

Alex is not in the same class as Carvalho..i would have RC as my partner to JT anyday..

Guys! I’m off on a short holiday. I’d be back home only a few hours before the kick off on the final day of the league. I hope Adam Mikhail and Blue Devil would come in as subs while I’m away. See ya!

wonderful proformance by the blues!!!

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_3528063,00.html

am I wrong or is this the first time JM has publically stated he was fired and not that it was a mutual decision?

Maybe not the best time for that interview to hit the press

JoseHoliday very bad to hear about our Suffering,Best wishes for a quick recovery from this natural disaster .

I found this team on the internet?

Chelsea FC Team a.k.a. World Eleven

A team to go and win all four cups.

First Team priority: Barclays EPL and Champions league.
Second Team priority: Fight for place in the first team and Play minor league matches and Carling Cup and FA Cup matches.

The second team player should be able to replace the first-team player.

GOALKEEPERS:

(GK)Petr Cech
(GK)Craig Gordon
(GK)Kasper Schmeichel

DEFENDERS:

(RB)Micah Richards (RB)Paulo Ferriera

(CB)John Terry (CB)Ricardo Carvalho (CB)Alex (CB)Tal Ben Haim

(LB)Gareth Bale (LB)Wayne Bridge/John Arne Riise
(R)???

MIDFIELDERS:
Arjen Robben (if possible a return SB) (LM)Joe Cole (LM)Florent Malouda

(CM)Frank Lampard (CM)Steven Gerrard (CM)Ryan Babel (CM)Gelson Fernandes
(CM)Elano Blumer(CM)John Obi Mikel

(RM)Morten Gamst Pederson (RM)Adel Taarabt
(R) Scott Sinclair

EG. Adel Taarabt (AM)[Reality]

Michael Ballack: What do you do with this Genius? He could continue to play for CFC and/or he could teach/coach/develop Academy hopefuls into world-class players easily.

FORWARDS:

DD wants to leave to join the special one?

(FW)Fernando Torres/Samuel Et’o
(FW)Robinho
(FW)Darren Bent
(FW)Adriano
(R)Claudio Pizarro/Franco Di Santo

Hey Jose
I hope you will be ok, my feelings go to the victims of the cyclone.

Remember, Mundo Deportivo is not like tribal football. It’s a very respected Spnaish newspaper from the city of Barcelona.

In the opinion poll conducted among Barca fans, 85% of the fans wanted Mourinho to replace Rijkaard. In the last match, there was even a huge placard pleading Mourinho to replace Rijkaard. The only reason why JM has not signed for Barca is that the club wants Guardiola as the deputy manager whereas JM wants his own man.
—————————————————————————————
“The spanish newspaper “mundo deportivo” has a news on chelsea. The article says that a group of players asked AG to play the Mourinhos tactics 4-3-3.”

-Rubbish. THe players should have learnt to play under a different formation and strategy in what since September 2007.C’mon! All that rubbish propoganda JM spoke must’ve got to their heads.

Play the formation which best suites the team firstly, then the individuals.

“It also says that Kenyon was informed of the players wish, and Ten Cate accepted as the best formation regarding the characteristics of the players.”

-Good. Right thing to do.

“It also says that AG had no alternative but to accept the wishes of the players.”

-Have an open discussion. And most importantly come to a damn agreement. Both parties musn’t compromise.

“Also says, that so serious was the players’ request that a member of the present management staff that worked with JM before, went to Setubal and asked JM help Jm incondicionally explained the tactics.”

-Desperate to win silverware? Who is Bolton Wanderers? Didn’t Chelsea FC outplay Man U recently?

“JM apparently felt very emotionally that his players wanted to follow his tactics.”

-Rubbish. JM has absolutely nothing to gain from this little meeting. Why would he want to give advice to the club that literally gave him the boot. Only an IDIOT would even listen to the first words of the conversation or read the first few lines of that advice scribbled on that piece of paper.

“RA was kept in the dark, but apparently it is an open secret now.”

-The staff would love to stay at SB next season. Oh wait, they’re doing this because they love the club etc.

“Also mentioned that players wanted JM to go to Moscow, invited by the players mentioned above, that the players would like to see JM, their favorit manager in Moscow,but JM will on go if he is invited by the board.”

- Moscow? When does the plane leave?

“Remember, Mundo Deportivo is not like tribal football. It’s a very respected Spnaish newspaper from the city of Barcelona.”

- I take this VERY seriously!

“In the opinion poll conducted among Barca fans, 85% of the fans wanted Mourinho to replace Rijkaard. In the last match, there was even a huge placard pleading Mourinho to replace Rijkaard. The only reason why JM has not signed for Barca is that the club wants Guardiola as the deputy manager whereas JM wants his own man.”

-Anyone who has worked in an office/supermarket/etc. would know that this forced relationship would never work out.

Unless they meet each other face to face and have an open/honest discussion. Actually this is the only way to settle this matter.

THE ONLY WAY.

I can’t stress this point any further than what I’ve already done.

SOUTH AFRICA (Cape Town) Time 12.30AM

ps. I didn’t proof read this. And I answered your questions in literally 7-8 minutes.

Cheers

Well, for a long time, so many Man Utd fans have wondered why Becks and Ruud were sold on the cheap to the only team (other than us) that can’t be mugged in transfers.

Well, folks the answer is here.

Look at the uncanny connection between the winners of La Liga and the Premiership in recent years:

2001 Real Madrid-United
2002 Valencia-Arsenal
2003 Real Madrid-United
2004 Valencia-Arsenal
2005 Barca-Chelski
2006 Barca-Chelski
2007 Real Madrid-United

In as much as i don’t believe in this facts, its just staring me in the face! any body got another stats to dispute this.

@ 40. hotseafydo damn man where do you get these things!! that quite strange!!, I just hope wigan dont sell out like west ham did… I dont like the idea that we haver to depend on other team’s results, Grand blow it when we drew with Wigan (1-1)at home … along with Spurs way(4-4)

@40

Yes their is a pattern if this pattern is to continue Arsenal is gonna go trophy less for many years now considering valencia these days

even if man utd wins the EPL…i think we would beat them to the UCL….and lets see which is better…been the english champion…or been the European champion…lol

i think wigan would definately sell out like west ham did…considering the fact that their coach was fergies boy

KTBFFH

Newsflash..RA goes for Sergio Ramos,even ready to offer 40m for him…has he gone crazy…

Chelsea are reported to have bid for Sergio Ramos for £55 million. Why is that every transfer we are rumoured with is a pathetic one?

@ 43. Yeah you’re right. In 05 and 06 we were establishing a team. Big spending was necessary considering the time available for bringing success.

Given the quality of our current team, buying a defender for more than 50 million pounds is a WASTE.

Can anyone suggest quality additions to our squad for a cost of less than 15 million pounds?

@ 44. Correct. No need to buy anybody to our defense now - at least not a mature player. We should concentrate on searching for talented youth players elsewhere instead of bringing new and new stars to our yet very strong squad.

I hope that you will understand what I am trying to say. Please get the idea. I would love to go to Stamford Bridge. Only someone with inside knowledge could write something like that.Please.

I’ll try to give a better definative answer to your final question.

(1)Both men need to meet each other.
(2)They need to get to know each other ie. hobbies etc. In order to see what type of person they are dealing with.
(3)Talk about football to each other, in other words find out where both men stand (philosphy wise).
(4)Then begin to gel. Make idle conversation about what is happening in the world to get a sense of what the other man is about.
(5)If they get along well, there will be plenty of smiles and laughs and they leave the meeting satisfied, that both men are focused on the same objectives (best way to go forward).

Moscow? When does the plane leave?

44. Arthur
so your saying that under 50 mill you would open RA walet ?
god your a big spander with others $$$
so funny

one point for all the home record lovers

If we lose this title it’s that is for me the main factor

Hi guys,

The present chelsea squad is very strong..it can b made better by doing the following

OUT
—

Hilario( 0.5 million)
Belleti(2.5 million)
Tal Ben Haim(3 milion)
Wayne Bridge( 8 to 10 million)

SWP( 8 to 10 million)
Malouda( 8 to 10 million)
makalele( free)

Pizzaro( 2 to 3 million)

IN
–
Micah ricahrds( 20 to 25 million)
Philip lahm(15 to 18 million)

David Bentley(12 to 15 million)
Downing( 12 to 15 million)
Van Der vaart( 15 to 18 million)

Huntelaar( 15 to 18 million)

That is we spend around 100 million to bring in players and get around 40 million by selling the ones we dont want..that makes it a net of 60 million spent on players

So our squad would look something like this

GK—Cech, Cudicini, (romote our reserve team GK as 3rd GK)
RB—Ferreira, Ivanovic
CB—Terry, carvalho, alex, Micah
LB—Ashley Cole, lahm

RW–Joe,Bentley
CM–Lamps, Ba

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Newcastle 0-2 Chelsea | Just 90 mins to go! - [BlueChampion]

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