No take Malouda off for Cole. SWP has been excellent apart from his final shot. He offers the pace that Aston Villa can't handle. Malouda is quick but not lightening fast. Cole is about as quick and can cut inside to take shots or pass. Drogba has the physique but Pizarro will link up the play more effectively. Essien hasn't really gotten into the game and Mikel has faded a bit. Maka has been a calming influence in the center.
Really, I thought for 25 minutes we were excellent. For the other 25 the match went stale a bit, but our Brazilian defenders looked great. We just need better finishing. That has been our problem. Also we miss the shooters from range, Ballack, Lampard, Malouda are really our only players who can consistently blast from that area. Oh and Drogba, when he's up for it. Coley will bring something new, and he'll track back with enough pace to help Ashley Cole out. Pizarro links up play very well, but his finishing has been a bit suspect. I'm pleased with the early play very pleased, but we need to keep it up until we score, not slow down and allow Aston Villa to attack.
TOTALLY diggin' the new signings alex and belletti. alex has been a rock and belletti's been freakin' everywhere. midfield got a little static towards the end of the half but the first part of it was looking really creative.
He's been playing good but his finished is awful. Any bets that it's going to be a reverse of how we normally play, where we are crap in first half and good in second?
I thought it was going to be like this, Villa with a ton of energy, working hard. We just need one break through here, a goal will win it.
Not a bad first half. Lets not get carried away and look to win everything away from home right from the start. We've held them up pretty good, restricted them to very few chances and are winning most of the ball in the middle. Belletti is looking quite comfortable at right full, even more impressive when considering he's dealing with Young - he's also looked to start something everytime he takes the ball out. So far so good in the tight game everybody expected.
I expect Cole to come on for Essien. We need an attacking threat in CM and support for Drogs. Either this or a switch to 4-4-2 with Kalou in support. I'd bet my money on the first.
not great t.b.h. but we have looked dangerious from corners and set pieces.saying that id prefer if we kept the ball on the pitch and passed it out wide other than cutting it across the middle of the pitch,which normally has resulted in a back pass and into a punt up the pitch. too many over the top long balls are hurting our cause with only drogba up front....
Alex fitting in well quite nicely, looks better and more comforting than Ben Haim so far; Beletti playing well though a couple dangerous tackles in the box, Mak makes such a big difference; definatly going to need Joey Cole I think to open them up for Obi or Malouda, Obi playing ok but does not look like he will threaten the goal Don't think we will get another penelty call this season after the muppet Hackett and the League sent a clear message - call a penelty for CFC and lose your job
Mikel looked great early on but a bit. Still better than Essien I feel. The midfield is fine, just need more movement from the front or a forwards (Joe Cole or Kalou instead of Maldoua, pacey players who can take on players) who can drop back and help linkup (Pizarro)
But he has pace and can take on defenders. Malouda is more of a clever passer who uses skill as opposed to pace to get by players.