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Wenger: Gunners have the fight


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Updated Apr 16, 2011 7:04 AM ET
Arsene Wenger is in no doubt Arsenal have the fight to battle their way back into the Premier League title race.
The Gunners host Liverpool on Sunday looking to close the seven-point gap on leaders Manchester United, who tackle local rivals City in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.
Sat., Apr. 16​
Birmingham 2-0 Sunderland | Recap
Blackpool 1-3 Wigan | Recap
Everton 2-0 Blackburn | Recap
West Brom 1-3 Chelsea | Recap
West Ham 1-2 Aston Villa | Recap
Sun., Apr. 17​
Arsenal vs. Liverpool
Tue., Apr. 19​
Newcastle vs. Man Utd
Wed., Apr. 20​
Chelsea vs. Birmingham
Tottenham vs. Arsenal
BPL Scores | Table | Fixtures​


Wenger's men returned to winning ways at Blackpool last weekend following a run of three successive draws which had threatened to derail their title bid.
Striker Robin van Persie and midfielder Abou Diaby were involved in a half-time bust-up at Bloomfield Road, where the Gunners had been 2-0 ahead before the Tangerines fought back only to be hit on the break as the visitors ran out 3-1 winners.
Wenger feels such show of emotions - the Dutchman unhappy with his team-mate's needless booking which left him walking a disciplinary tightrope - is evidence Arsenal do have what it takes to claw their way back in contention ahead of the showdown with United at Emirates Stadium on May 1.
"They are two good friends who get on very well. Van Persie was concerned about Diaby getting a first yellow card and that he gets a second one because we all have in our memories what happened at Newcastle [when Diaby was sent off]. Diaby accepted it and said 'okay'," Wenger said.
"Of course I am pleased [about the passion]. I never was worried about the mentality of the team.
"Nobody takes into consideration that in football you lose sometimes, but it is as well how you lose."
Wenger added: "I told you many times I am very proud to manage this team because they are focused, they want to do well.
"Unfortunately we have been hit very hard, but we have not been out of every competition early on having not performed.
"This team has given absolutely everything to perform in every competition and we are still today in the championship."
Wenger, meanwhile, has warned Jack Wilshere could have no choice but to miss England's senior matches at the start of next season if he is selected for the European Under-21s Championships in Denmark this summer.
The 19-year-old midfielder has enjoyed a breakthrough season with the Gunners but is fast closing in on 50 matches for club and country having been handed a first competitive England start by Fabio Capello for the Euro 2012 qualifier victory in Wales last month.
Under-21s coach Stuart Pearce is keen for Wilshere to be part of his group in Denmark in June - a month which also sees another senior qualifier against Switzerland at Wembley.
Wilshere himself has spoken of his desire to be involved for England at any level, hoping an amicable agreement can be reached between Arsenal and the Football Association for his release this summer.
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Wenger, however, has warned that at some stage Wilshere must be given a break - which could mean the player having no choice but to rest up and sit out England's friendly against Holland at Wembley on August 10 and the qualifier with Bulgaria in Sofia on September 2, as well as the start of Arsenal's 2011-12 campaign.
"It is a bit of a grey area, but the rules from FIFA are that you have to give four weeks holiday to a player, it is compulsory and I always do it," the Arsenal manager said.
"Our players playing in international games come back on July 6, if they play on the 6th of June. We have to respect that.
"FIFA rules are on their side as well - if they [England] want to use Jack I cannot do anything about it.
"I can understand that the boy wants to go, but they have to as well maybe to consider that he will not be fit enough to play certainly for the friendly in August and he should be short for the qualifier in September.
"It is the first year he plays so many games, but England has to make that decision and we will go along with it."
 
Vieira: Gunners lack 'killer attitude'


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Updated Apr 16, 2011 7:09 AM ET
Former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira believes the lack of a physical element to the Gunners' game has proved costly in their push for honours.
The Manchester City midfielder told L'Equipe: "I still have warm feelings for Arsenal, but it's starting to become frustrating. They play the best football in England, yet they fail to win anything significant.
"I really enjoy watching them, but they lack the physicality to impose themselves. Arsenal don't have the killer attitude that a team like Manchester United have.
"[Tony] Adams, [Martin] Keown, [Nigel] Winterburn and [Ray] Parlour weren't as good with the ball as the current players, but they put their head where others won't even put feet."
 
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  • Report Abuse WestsideGunner
    • 4/16/2011 6:09:02 PM
    That is the truth Patrick. That is the truth. A few more bulls and a few less matadors would take this club a long way. Whatup Jackal. Perhaps if our old hard men like Viera and Keown keep speaking the truth Arsene will listen. The problem is Arsene is so bull-headed he thinks any deviation from his path is a rejection of his entire philosophy. What scares me here is Arsene is more like an oak than a palm tree. A palm tree stands its ground but flexes with prevailing winds. An Oak tree relies stands stiff in the same wind...unless that wind is strong enough to snap the tree. The winds of change are blowing. The only question is how hard.
  • Report Abuse Spudkilla
    • 4/16/2011 3:32:05 PM
    All i know is this team needs to step it up big time because Chelsea is one point behind and if we slip up tomorrow we could find ourselves fighting for fourth with Chitty.
  • Report Abuse karlosthejackal
    • 4/16/2011 12:31:52 PM
    Guys like Vieira and Henry and Parlour and Keown and Adams...guys who helped build The Emirates...they can all see it.

    They are speaking out now because they LOVE the club and the supporters.

    Wake up Arsene!!
  • Report Abuse karlosthejackal
    • 4/16/2011 12:29:31 PM
    RWO...

    I think it was Diaby who did it in the 2007 Carling Cup Final...and YES it was sweet.
  • Report Abuse Spudkilla
    • 4/16/2011 9:13:57 AM
    Patrick please put a call in to LeBoss and wake him up because he is asleep as far as this teams toughness is concerned.
  • Report Abuse barcamaninks
    • 4/16/2011 8:44:17 AM
    LOL Red. Terry does have a big noggin. If we fans and former players see it, why doesn't AW see it? It being the "physical element".
  • Report Abuse RedWhiteAndOrange
    • 4/16/2011 7:47:42 AM
    I'll never forget when Viera almost kicked John Terry's head off. Good memories....
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Knighthood calls flatter Dalglish


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Updated Apr 16, 2011 11:55 AM ET
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish is flattered by calls for him to be awarded a knighthood by relatives of victims of the Hillsborough disaster.
Sat., Apr. 16​
Birmingham 2-0 Sunderland | Recap
Blackpool 1-3 Wigan | Recap
Everton 2-0 Blackburn | Recap
West Brom 1-3 Chelsea | Recap
West Ham 1-2 Aston Villa | Recap
Sun., Apr. 17​
Arsenal vs. Liverpool
Tue., Apr. 19​
Newcastle vs. Man Utd
Wed., Apr. 20​
Chelsea vs. Birmingham
Tottenham vs. Arsenal
BPL Scores | Table | Fixtures​


Families of the supporters killed in the 1989 tragedy have asked Liverpool Walton MP Steve Rotherham, the city's former Lord Mayor, to put down an Early Day Motion requesting the Queen confer a knighthood on the Scot.
Dalglish was in his first spell as Liverpool manager when 96 fans were crushed to death at the FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest at Sheffield Wednesday's ground.
The 60-year-old earned widespread gratitude and admiration for the role he played representing the city and the club in the aftermath of the disaster.
He attended many funerals in person and remains emotionally involved.
On Friday, Rotherham told a crowd of thousands at a memorial service at Anfield to mark the 22nd anniversary of Hillsborough of the families' request.
Dalglish said: "It is very flattering but I just go about my work, do the best I can.
"If somebody wants to do things that are outside my control that is up to them, but it is very flattering.
"But I don't think I will get carried away with it."
Dalglish resigned as Liverpool boss in 1991, later admitting the stresses associated with Hillsborough had taken a heavy toll.
He returned to the Anfield hotseat for a second time in January following the departure of Roy Hodgson.
He attended Friday's service along with all players on the club's books and many former Reds stars and reiterated his continuing support for the families' quest for justice.
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Dalglish said: "It was very poignant.
"Everybody that has some feeling for Liverpool Football Club realises the importance of yesterday's day and the service.
"Every single person from the football side of the club were there, the Academy lads were all there for the first time, which was brilliant.
"You tend to forget that it was 22 years ago and some of them weren't born then.
"It is fantastic to see the progress they are making in their quest for some form of justice and I just hope they get it.
"We want to make sure they get what they deserve and I don't think they have had what they deserve so far."
 
Carlo: I have nothing to justify


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Updated Apr 16, 2011 7:16 AM ET
Carlo Ancelotti insists he does not need to justify his record as Chelsea manager as he reportedly nears the end of his Stamford Bridge career.
Ancelotti looks to be a dead man walking after overseeing what is set to be the club's worst season since Roman Abramovich's takeover almost eight years ago.
Only twice before have the Blues ended a campaign without silverware during that period and the manager was sacked on both occasions.
Winning Chelsea's first double in his maiden season seems to have counted for little for Ancelotti, whose attempts to build on that success arguably have been undermined since.
The Italian admitted the buck ultimately stopped with him but felt his he did not need to defend what he had achieved under the circumstances.
He said: "I've been working here for two years. So what do I have to justify? Nothing.
"I try to do my best every time."
Ancelotti claimed he should not be judged solely on this season, in which Chelsea suffered earlier-than-expected exits from every cup competition and which sees them 11 points behind Manchester United in the Barclays Premier League.
The past 10 months have seen senior players allowed to leave without being replaced, assistant manager Ray Wilkins sacked for seemingly no good reason, while Ancelotti has also felt compelled to keep playing £50million flop Fernando Torres in must-win games.
"It's difficult to speak about this," Ancelotti added.
"We have to speak about it at the end of the season, about what was wrong and what was good."
Speculation has already turned to the identity of the Italian's replacement, with the likes of Guus Hiddink, Frank Rijkaard, Andre Villas-Boas and Marcello Lippi all linked with the job.
Ancelotti has been in limbo for now but insisted he preferred that to knowing for certain that he would be sacked.
"You can take a decision without a cold mind," he said.
"It's better to wait and see what happens at the end of the season.
"At the end, when the balls have stopped, we can speak about this."
Despite his departure seeming inevitable, Ancelotti had not given up all hope of clinging on to his job.
"I know the history of Chelsea - I will try to change it," he said, revealing he even had a plan in place for next season.
"I hope I have the chance to discuss this."
A squad overhaul looks likely, whoever oversees it, but Ancelotti insisted the club's ageing stars still had plenty in the tank.
"I don't think they're playing for their futures," he said.
"The club believes the players here are strong enough to play for Chelsea, but I think they want to show a reaction."
 
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  • Report Abuse batam
    • 4/16/2011 7:45:27 PM
    Carlo should be giving another chance if only he will let some of aged players leave, bring in some young talent as Mouruhno did with Real Madrid, trust some chelsea's growing talent like Sturidge. McCaren, Kakuta, Jeffrey Bruma, Fabio Borini.
    I do not know if Carlo watch previous teams tape before games. If he does I believe Manchester United will never beat his team becoause MU plays one way every game, which is long balls on the wing with counter attach. All what his team have to do is neutralize MU wings and make his team move the ball faster with one or two wingers. MU, Liverpool, Tottehnam play the same way every game. Mourihno can give him some good advice on how to beat these teams. Manchester City won today because they neutralized MU''s wings.
  • Report Abuse lghfghdfdhf
    • 4/16/2011 6:50:15 PM
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  • Report Abuse Diosesdel10
    • 4/16/2011 10:07:59 AM
    ANd talk of Neymar and aother Brazilans like WIllian coming in to the Squad.

    It would definitely aid in the transition and adaptation of the in-coming Brazilan players and that's never a bad thing.

    PLus the man has done EXCEPTIONALLY WELL with PORTO.

    ANYONE BUT SIGNOR LIPPI.
  • Report Abuse Diosesdel10
    • 4/16/2011 10:04:43 AM
    And i wouldn't nind Ancelotti staying for another season, but i would only be alright with that if Lamps, Faggeira, Kalou, and a couple other of his favourites LEFT FIRST. THat way he can't Play them.

    BUt the Best would be for ANcelotti to go. He's overrated and has questionable tactics and selections, ever since his MILAN days.

    I'd prefer Guus of course or even Rikjkaard and i'd def. be willing to give the young Portuguese ANdre Villas-Boas a shot, but i think the OLD Chelsea Guard like Lamps and Terry would give him a HARD TIME because he'd prolly choose to Bench Lampard and a couple other oldies....

    I would LOVE it for him to come in tho, esp. with the FUTURE of the BLUES looking to be of the PORTUGUESE SPEAKING LANGUAGE with RAMIREs, SHIDESHOW LUIZ, LUCAS PIAZON, and talk
  • Report Abuse Diosesdel10
    • 4/16/2011 9:59:46 AM
    A complete overhaul is indeed necessary and whoever feels different about that, including ANcelotti, is not truly out for the best of the clib.

    Lampard and Kalou, despite their goals today, need to go... Kalou because he won't grow and is stuck in that mentality that he has and Lamps because he's old and he's getting fatter and slower and Chelsea can't be dependant on someone like that for their creativity in the midfield.

    Faggeira, he's a bum, fit only to play for a women's league, Bosingwa is alright but a little inconsistent and is a FAIL in Big Games, as well as Zhirkov who's a little SOFT to be playing in a TOP ENGLISH TEAM.

    Anelka is too laid back and he won't change so he can't Bounce. Malouda is doing well today, but he's gotta go ...
  • Report Abuse galant
    • 4/16/2011 9:04:45 AM
    It's clear that the successful preparation of Chelsea by Guus Hiddink was overlooked and all kudos was given to Ancelotti at the end of last season.. Every game has a differrent line-up despite a victory in the previous, giving way to experimentation. There is no consistent plan of action or tactical approach. Ancelotti is guessing, if he was totally responsible for last season's success it would have continued or even expanded this season. I believe good leadership begins at the top, the easiest decision would be to dismiss Ancellotti but what about the board who is to seek the interest of the clubs future success. That is where the brunt of Chelsea's weakness lies and as long as the board remains unchanged then there are a lot more seasons like this one to expect assuredly in the future
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Fans tire of FA's Tommy Cooper ticket prices at Wembley

Making Wembley pay its way is no laughing matter for spectators whose team loyalty makes them sitting ducks



  • Wembley-fans--007.jpg
    Fans arrive at Wembley where some tickets for the FA Cup final will cost more than £100. Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

    Confronted by public indignation at FA Cup final ticket prices soaring through the £100 barrier at a time of economic uncertainty and financial restraint, a spokesman for the Football Association came out with the usual condescending guff. "Our ticket price structure is in line with other major sporting events held in the country every year," it was claimed. "Prices for the semi-final ties have not changed despite an increase in VAT."
    Spot the giveaway. The FA Cup final does happen to be a major sporting event held in this country every year, and while commendably stopping short of Uefa's rapacity in charging up to £300 for Champions League tickets at Wembley in May, the FA can ask more or less what it wants for admission. It is not a tourist destination like Centre Court at Wimbledon or the final green at the Open, where it hardly matters who is playing as long as the occasion has been bagged. Supporters will pay through the nose to watch their team in an FA Cup final and be glad to do so. Especially if, like Bolton and Stoke in today's semi, the chance comes around only once in a lifetime.
    But Bolton and Stoke are already playing at Wembley. Quite a high percentage of the once-in-a-lifetime experience will have been used up by the time of the final. The new Wembley is not such a thrilling spectator experience it leaves people clamouring for more, it is only team loyalty that does that. And while semi‑final prices may have been pegged they would still not strike anyone as cheap, because the FA has a £767m outlay to recover and every possible opportunity must be taken to make Wembley pay its way. Even in these straitened times fans could put up with a price hike for the final, however unjustified, but to make people travel to Wembley for semi-finals, then ask them to shell out even more for the final because it is a unique sporting event is the sort of double whammy most businesses would be wary of foisting on customers.
    Not to worry, though, because according to Matt Phillips of the FA, playing the semis at Wembley does not take away the magic of a final at the stadium. "Wembley is set out in a different way for each round so fans who come for the semi will have a different experience from those who come for the final," he explains. How much of a different experience can that be, though, to make it worth over £100? One hopes he is not simply referring to sitting in a different seat, or getting a new perspective from another part of the ground. Because the core experience is going to be pretty much the same: A muted atmosphere due to all the corporate guests. Twenty quid to park. Almost as much again for a hot dog and a match programme. Sodom and Gomorrah at the tube station.
    It would be churlish to pretend that the new Wembley is not a vast improvement on the old Wembley – once you are inside the ground you can almost see where all the money has been spent. Yet English football's £767m statement has not made much of a change to its immediate environs. Getting to and from the ground is just as problematic as it has always been, whatever your chosen mode of transport.
    The last thing this column would wish to be accused of is putting a damper on the excitement of fans experiencing the magic of Wembley for the first time this month or the next, though if spine‑tingling excitement, with side orders of dramatic tension and unforgettable atmosphere, is what you are looking for it seems more likely to be on the menu in Spain at the moment, where all attention is on the upcoming four games between Barcelona and Real Madrid. There is nothing in England to match such a rivalry, the recent three games between Chelsea and Manchester United did not really come close and neither would Arsenal-Spurs or United-Liverpool. Both Barcelona and Real boast the sort of homes that obviate the need for a national stadium anyway – it way well be the case that Wembley is a comedown for the victors of the final showdown at the Camp Nou on 3 May – but when a neutral venue is needed, for an event such as the Copa del Rey final, a switch to Valencia's Mestalla was all that was required. No one appears to be complaining about any loss of magic.
    Only in this country would you get supporters complaining about having to go to Wembley twice to help pay off the debt on the stadium, then having to fork out more than ever for a Cup final ticket, while officials reassure them with a straight face that the magic is still intact. It is going to have to be pretty strong magic to overcome growing hostility and resentment. After pitch problems, price hikes and police preventing anyone getting a drink on all the trains down, there is a limited appetite for any more of the Tommy Cooper stuff.
    Why not look closer to home?

    Look, here they all are again. Here's Jose Mourinho, there's Guus Hiddink and Frank Rijkaard, Rafa Benítez and Pep Guardiola will doubtless be along soon and even Didier Deschamps is making an appearance.
    If Chelsea are in the market for a new manager then it goes without saying it must be a foreign one. It seems Roman Abramovich would no more think of installing a home-grown coach than he would have thought to save himself £50m in January by telling Carlo Ancelotti to give Daniel Sturridge a first-team run instead of sending him out on loan.
    Maybe there are no suitably qualified English or British coaches out there, given that Abramovich is believed to desire a Champions League trophy above all else, but after eight years in this country it might be time to accept that the continental route has not really worked out either. While Chelsea almost got it completely right straight off the bat with Mourinho, none of the European specialists they have brought in since has gone as far in the Champions League as Avram Grant, who oddly enough does not figure among the favourites to replace Ancelotti.
    Chelsea can only afford to chase European glory from a position in which their top-four status is secure, and for much of the season that has not been the case. A major overhaul of an ageing team is now required, and while it does not necessarily take a home-based coach to supervise that, it calls for a longer-term approach than merely identifying previous European Cup winners then tiring of them when they fail to repeat the achievement.

 
Chelsea bounce back with comfortable dismantling of West Bromwich




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Premier League

West Brom 1
  • Odemwingie 17
Chelsea 3
  • Drogba 22,
  • Kalou 26,
  • Lampard 45




  • Joe Lovejoy at The Hawthorns
  • guardian.co.uk, Saturday 16 April 2011 17.01 BST
    West-Bromwich-v-Chelsea-007.jpg
    Chelsea's Salomon Kalou, right, celebrates with Didier Drogba after scoring his side's second goal against West Brom. Photograph: Lindsey Parnaby/EPA

    West Bromwich Albion are much improved under Roy Hodgson but Manchester United they are not, and Chelsea put a grim week behind them with a win much more convincing than the scoreline would suggest.
    A repeat of the 6-0 drubbing they inflicted on Albion on the first day of the season would not have flattered them unduly, such was their overwhelming superiority on an afternoon when even Fernando Torres had the ball in the net – only to be flagged offside.
    Dropped after the midweek elimination from the Champions League, the Spaniard got on after 82 minutes, in place of Didier Drogba, but still had time to miscue horribly from close range. In mitigation, the offside decision that denied him his long-awaited first goal for Chelsea was borderline.
    Hodgson, who had hoisted Albion to 10th in the table in a seven-match unbeaten run, said beforehand that he feared Torres opening his account. Instead, Carlo Ancelotti reverted to the 4-3-3 formation his players prefer, omitting Torres and Nicolas Anelka and playing Drogba on his own through the middle. The big Ivorian responded with a herculean, man-of-the-match performance, scoring Chelsea's first goal and doing the spadework for the other two.
    The personification of power and incisiveness, his contribution was a reminder of how much he has been missed in his various enforced absences, after surgery and with a bout of malaria. It is not unreasonable to suggest that had he been fit and available more often Chelsea would not have fallen away so badly after their flying start to the season. As it is, they are only a single point behind second-placed Arsenal.
    It is almost certainly significant that Saturday's improvement came on a day when Drogba played as lone striker, without Torres or Anelka for company, for the first time since the £50m man's arrival.
    Ancelotti gave an embarrassed smile when he was asked if he was still kicking himself for playing Torres, to the exclusion of Drogba, in the decisive leg of the Champions League quarter-final against United. "Maybe, but this is in the past", he said. "He played very well, but I have already spoken about this, and we have to look forward."
    Eight points adrift of the league leaders, was the title still a realistic target? "I don't know, but we have a very clear aim – to win the next six games and see what the other teams can do."
    West Brom, brimming with confidence after successive wins against Liverpool and Sunderland, made the brighter start and after 17 minutes Jerome Thomas played in Peter Odemwingie, who beat Petr Cech to the ball before shooting into the untenanted goal. Chelsea could conceivably have wilted had Albion been able to retain their lead for any length of time, but a daft mistake by Nicky Shorey enabled them to equalise within four minutes. Florent Malouda's cross from the left had run past the far post when Shorey inexplicably knocked it straight to Drogba, who plundered his 11th goal in the Premier League this season, from 12 yards. It was the lift Chelsea needed and, passing the ball with increasing cohesion, they took complete control.
    They were in front after 26 minutes when Scott Carson, going low to his right, could only parry Drogba's drive from distance and Salomon Kalou dispatched the loose ball, left to right.
    It was 3-1 just before half-time, with Drogba inevitably involved. He dispossessed Odemwingie on halfway before knocking the ball beyond Steven Reid for Malouda to chase, then supply a cross that Lampard, 16 yards out, tucked low into Carson's right-hand corner.
    The margin could easily have been wider, Abdoulaye Méïté deflecting a shot from Kalou against his own crossbar before Torres, set up by Malouda, rounded Carson and had the ball in the net, only to be flagged offside. Given a second chance, from Malouda's free-kick, he miskicked horribly in front of goal.
    What had Hodgson made of his first defeat? In a Cantona moment, he said: "The Swedes have a saying that no tree grows to heaven, and we have been reminded that we are a very ordinary birch in the middle of West Bromwich and not something out of Jack and the Beanstalk." On a less esoteric note, he added: "We've had a wonderful spell, now we've got to learn how to lose. I don't think we can have any complaints. Chelsea were clearly the better side."
    THE FANS' PLAYER RATINGS AND VERDICT

    GLYNIS WRIGHT, Baggies.comWe're not too despondent – it's just a bit maddening that the three goals we conceded were sucker punches after taking the lead. We believe in Roy Hodgson and what he's trying to do. I could wring Scott Carson's neck sometimes. He was responsible for at least one goal, but, then again, he came up with a world-class save when he tipped the ball over the bar. He's too inconsistent.
    The fan's player ratings Carson 5; Reid 6, Olsson 6, Méïté 6, Shorey 6; Mulumbu 7, Scharner 6 (Jara 73 6); Brunt 5, Morrison 6 (Vela 73 6), Thomas 6 (Tchoyi 82 n/a); Odemwingie 7
    DOM JAMES, Observer reader Really comfortable. It wasn't spectacular, but we dictated the tempo and the pattern of play: the gap in class was pretty obvious. Drogba and Mikel were superb: Mikel was a beast in the middle and Drogba was man of the match – he's clearly trying to make a point. But it was good to see Torres coming off the bench and nearly scoring. He'll get one soon. It was just a shame he wasn't given more time: 10 minutes isn't long to make an impact.
    The fan's player ratings Cech 7; Ivanovic 7 (Bosingwa 63 7), David Luiz 8, Terry 7, Cole 8; Essien 7, Mikel 9, Lampard 8 (Benayoun 77 7); Kalou 7, Drogba 9 (Torres 82 7), Malouda 7
    To take part in the Fans' Verdict, email sport@observer.co.uk

 
Chelsea bounce back with comfortable dismantling of West Bromwich





Premier League

West Brom 1
  • Odemwingie 17
Chelsea 3
  • Drogba 22,
  • Kalou 26,
  • Lampard 45




  • Joe Lovejoy at The Hawthorns
  • guardian.co.uk, Saturday 16 April 2011 17.01 BST
    West-Bromwich-v-Chelsea-007.jpg
    Chelsea's Salomon Kalou, right, celebrates with Didier Drogba after scoring his side's second goal against West Brom. Photograph: Lindsey Parnaby/EPA

    West Bromwich Albion are much improved under Roy Hodgson but Manchester United they are not, and Chelsea put a grim week behind them with a win much more convincing than the scoreline would suggest.
    A repeat of the 6-0 drubbing they inflicted on Albion on the first day of the season would not have flattered them unduly, such was their overwhelming superiority on an afternoon when even Fernando Torres had the ball in the net – only to be flagged offside.
    Dropped after the midweek elimination from the Champions League, the Spaniard got on after 82 minutes, in place of Didier Drogba, but still had time to miscue horribly from close range. In mitigation, the offside decision that denied him his long-awaited first goal for Chelsea was borderline.
    Hodgson, who had hoisted Albion to 10th in the table in a seven-match unbeaten run, said beforehand that he feared Torres opening his account. Instead, Carlo Ancelotti reverted to the 4-3-3 formation his players prefer, omitting Torres and Nicolas Anelka and playing Drogba on his own through the middle. The big Ivorian responded with a herculean, man-of-the-match performance, scoring Chelsea's first goal and doing the spadework for the other two.
    The personification of power and incisiveness, his contribution was a reminder of how much he has been missed in his various enforced absences, after surgery and with a bout of malaria. It is not unreasonable to suggest that had he been fit and available more often Chelsea would not have fallen away so badly after their flying start to the season. As it is, they are only a single point behind second-placed Arsenal.
    It is almost certainly significant that Saturday's improvement came on a day when Drogba played as lone striker, without Torres or Anelka for company, for the first time since the £50m man's arrival.
    Ancelotti gave an embarrassed smile when he was asked if he was still kicking himself for playing Torres, to the exclusion of Drogba, in the decisive leg of the Champions League quarter-final against United. "Maybe, but this is in the past", he said. "He played very well, but I have already spoken about this, and we have to look forward."
    Eight points adrift of the league leaders, was the title still a realistic target? "I don't know, but we have a very clear aim – to win the next six games and see what the other teams can do."
    West Brom, brimming with confidence after successive wins against Liverpool and Sunderland, made the brighter start and after 17 minutes Jerome Thomas played in Peter Odemwingie, who beat Petr Cech to the ball before shooting into the untenanted goal. Chelsea could conceivably have wilted had Albion been able to retain their lead for any length of time, but a daft mistake by Nicky Shorey enabled them to equalise within four minutes. Florent Malouda's cross from the left had run past the far post when Shorey inexplicably knocked it straight to Drogba, who plundered his 11th goal in the Premier League this season, from 12 yards. It was the lift Chelsea needed and, passing the ball with increasing cohesion, they took complete control.
    They were in front after 26 minutes when Scott Carson, going low to his right, could only parry Drogba's drive from distance and Salomon Kalou dispatched the loose ball, left to right.
    It was 3-1 just before half-time, with Drogba inevitably involved. He dispossessed Odemwingie on halfway before knocking the ball beyond Steven Reid for Malouda to chase, then supply a cross that Lampard, 16 yards out, tucked low into Carson's right-hand corner.
    The margin could easily have been wider, Abdoulaye Méïté deflecting a shot from Kalou against his own crossbar before Torres, set up by Malouda, rounded Carson and had the ball in the net, only to be flagged offside. Given a second chance, from Malouda's free-kick, he miskicked horribly in front of goal.
    What had Hodgson made of his first defeat? In a Cantona moment, he said: "The Swedes have a saying that no tree grows to heaven, and we have been reminded that we are a very ordinary birch in the middle of West Bromwich and not something out of Jack and the Beanstalk." On a less esoteric note, he added: "We've had a wonderful spell, now we've got to learn how to lose. I don't think we can have any complaints. Chelsea were clearly the better side."
    THE FANS' PLAYER RATINGS AND VERDICT

    GLYNIS WRIGHT, Baggies.comWe're not too despondent – it's just a bit maddening that the three goals we conceded were sucker punches after taking the lead. We believe in Roy Hodgson and what he's trying to do. I could wring Scott Carson's neck sometimes. He was responsible for at least one goal, but, then again, he came up with a world-class save when he tipped the ball over the bar. He's too inconsistent.
    The fan's player ratings Carson 5; Reid 6, Olsson 6, Méïté 6, Shorey 6; Mulumbu 7, Scharner 6 (Jara 73 6); Brunt 5, Morrison 6 (Vela 73 6), Thomas 6 (Tchoyi 82 n/a); Odemwingie 7
    DOM JAMES, Observer reader Really comfortable. It wasn't spectacular, but we dictated the tempo and the pattern of play: the gap in class was pretty obvious. Drogba and Mikel were superb: Mikel was a beast in the middle and Drogba was man of the match – he's clearly trying to make a point. But it was good to see Torres coming off the bench and nearly scoring. He'll get one soon. It was just a shame he wasn't given more time: 10 minutes isn't long to make an impact.
    The fan's player ratings Cech 7; Ivanovic 7 (Bosingwa 63 7), David Luiz 8, Terry 7, Cole 8; Essien 7, Mikel 9, Lampard 8 (Benayoun 77 7); Kalou 7, Drogba 9 (Torres 82 7), Malouda 7
    To take part in the Fans' Verdict, email sport@observer.co.uk
 
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