Chelsea 2 - West Bromwich Albion 0

Date: Saturday 22nd November 2014 
Competition: Barclays Premier League
Chelsea:
7.9
WBA:
4.1
Foster 8.8, Wisdom 3.9, Dawson 6.1, Lescott 5.5, Yacob 3.5, Baird 3.6 (Gamboa, 67 4.9), Gardner 5.0, Brunt 3.9, Dorrans 4.9 (Morrison, 84 4.5), Sessegnon 4.7, Berahino 5.1 (Anichebe, 78 5.2)
Unused subs: Myhill, McAuley, Ideye, Samaras
Manager: Alan Irvine 3.8
Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire) 4.3
Attendance: 41,600   Home Fans 5.1   Away Fans 6.5

oshawabaggie:

Chelsea 2 - 0 Ben Foster. Actually that's a bit unfair to Dawson, who put in a great defensive performance, but it was Foster who kept the score below double figures, especially in the first half. If there is anything positive to take away from this one sided game it was our ability to keep them off the scoresheet after Yacob's two footed lunge left us with 10 men. In the days of Billy Bremner this would have been a great tackle, but it's not part of today's game. Yacob has become a liability and his partner Mulumbu, also out of form and favour, has taken to Twitter to voice his frustration.

Most of our new signings are not playing or even in the squad and players like Brunt and Mozza are past their best, so the big question is, do we have the team to comfortably keep us in the league, or is it going to be yet another nail biter? AND who convinced Peace to part with ten million quid for a guy who has hardly had a kick this year? However, 10 men against Chelsea away was not a fair barometer, so let's see what we can come up with against lesser opposition.

Didcot Baggie:

We were being taken apart when we were 11 men so its a miracle that we didn't concede a hatful when we went down to 10 men. Perhaps the managers had a word before a dull second half - "we won't try if you don't".

Anyway only Foster really turned up and the team selection left much to be desired - Baird at full back? Wisdom was poor - no closing down, Brunt had a mare, etc. So where are the summer signings - lets give em a try.

Mark Koppel:

Yes this was always going to be really tough away at top the league 'Chelsea Cheats'. But why make it even harder for ourselves through odd team selections again? I refer to 3 mistakes Irvine makes even before kick off:

  1. Baird at Left Back? This player, as the Bournemouth game proved, is not good enough even in his preferred position.
  2. Wisdom. Still has not blocked a cross all season. How much longer are we going to try and give this player a chance?
  3. Yacob. Being off the pace for a very long time now. Only just about good enough at this level when totally 100% fit. When even 99% fit he is simply not good enough.

Player ratings:

  • Foster 9 - World class performance. Saved our defences', and Irvines', blushes.
  • Wisdom 2 - Wisdom by name but not by name. I will open up a bottom of champagne when he blocks his first cross this season.
  • Dawson 6 - Probably the pick of our defenders on Saturday, but that is not saying much.
  • Lescott 4 - Worrying drop of form in the last few games.
  • Baird 2 - Has he ever played left back before? How bad must Jason Davidson be to be kept out the Team by an old man playing out of position?
  • Yacob 2 - A really, really stupid challenge from a really, really stupid player.
  • Brunt 4 - Achieved our one shot on target, or was it a back pass. Also achieved the MOTD 2 Award of worst free kick of the week.
  • Berahino 6 - Set up Brunt superbly for this back pass shot. This player alone has kept us out the bottom 3 so far but he cannot do this all season.
  • Sess 3 - Plays one good game in six. This was one of the five. Stood and watched Hazard walk into the box for their second goal. Very lazy, not sure he gives a crap.
  • Gardner 5 - Looked tidy without really getting over the half way line. I think this was the role given to him by Irvine after the sending off.
  • Dorans 5 - As per Craig Gardner.
  • Subs 4 each - All came on too late and with little impact.

One again I know it is Chelsea away but I have a nasty feeling about how this season is developing for both the Manager and the Team. We have failed to score a single goal from open play for 4 games now. If we fail to win one of the next 3 games Irvine needs to go.

PS Any sign yet of Brown 'No' Ideye to come and save us?

CadizBaggie:

Strange game, not really a lot to say, or much to be able to judge us by. On another day the first goal could have been called offside, on another day Yacob’s red would have been yellow, then again on a different day we could have got thumped 8-0, and I think the sending off could have been a blessing in disguise.

The ten men played well, through what was worse than watching paint dry at times. Chelsea treated it as a training game, and I actually felt sorry for some of their fans (and i mean some, i.e the real ones) who had actually paid to watch a team run at half pace and play it around the middle. We cant take anything from the performance, and i don’t see anything out of the Arsenal game either. December and January however are a total different story and I would hope for massive improvement, and a few points in the bag.