Chelsea host Aston Villa on Wednesday night, so what better way to prepare for the game than analysing Chelsea’s play and looking at their strengths and weaknesses.
Overall:
In general Chelsea were very creative against Hull, especially in the first half. Their midfield is perfectly balanced and often the forward will help build up play rather than hang about in the opposition box. Chelsea will most likely play a 4-2-3-1, a formation commonly used under Rafa Benitiez. In midfield almost every player is instrumental in creating opportunities. Hazard will do well out wide and can get pass a player or two with skill, the same can be said about Oscar who can easily find space for himself and his team mates. In front of the defence Chelsea have the experienced Lampard who offers leadership and knows where the goal is. He plays next to Ramires who can be a threat up front and can also supports the defence well.
Chelsea’s defence is completely unchanged for more than a season, Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry and Cole are all very good. Terry is the leader of the defence, he can have his poor odd game but otherwise he’s usually on it. He is a block at the back, and he’ll be the one marking Benteke. Cahill hasn’t played his best football at Chelsea, but if he isn’t playing well, Luiz can be deployed and we know he is good. Their quality defence makes sure that Cech doesn’t have too much do, and often, he doesn’t, but he is prone to the odd mistake as well.
But what makes Chelsea particularly strong is the squad depth, their bench against Hull City was pure quality, Mata was even on it. If things don’t go well for Chelsea in the first half, Mourinho can easily change his team. On top of that, Mourinho is yet to lose at Stamford Bridge.
Weaknesses:
Chelsea were magnificent against Hull Tigers in the first half, in the second their performance lowered and they were defending more than attacking. Mourinho blamed that on players lack of physical and mental fitness, can Aston Villa exploit that? Also, you can frustrate Chelsea, you’ve got to have a well organised defence and a midfield that can work well with the defence. Playing counter-attack is probably the way to go. Their defence doesn’t have that much pace, apart from Luiz of course.
Top 3 Players to Watch:
Hazard, LW: Almost every top team was chasing for his signature back in 2012, Chelsea got their man and he’s getting better in every game. He terrorised the Tigers defence with his pace and skill. He can pick out his team-mates or score a goal himself. If Villa want to beat Chelsea, they’ll have to stop Hazard on the wing.
Mata, CAM: He didn’t play against Hull, that mean’s he’ll probably play against us. Mata has been instrumental at Chelsea ever since he was signed from Valencia. Mata is a very creative player and if any player were to create a goal, it would be him.
Luiz, CB: Luiz was one of the best defenders in the Confederation cup. Luiz is very fast, strong and good on the ball. He’s even scored a few crackers during his time at Chelsea, no wonder the likes of Barcelona and Bayern Munich were interested in him. Luiz also didn’t feature against the Tigers, and it’s still unknown whether or not he’
At least it’s better than the other defender I’ve seen him mention. Scott Dann News and Views.
I think I can’t afford to go to the Chelsea match tomorrow as I only have enough cash to go out on Thursday for a long standing night out and then survive the rest of the month by the skin of my teeth. I’m sorely sorely tempted though. £50 a ticket plus £25 or so for a train ticket kills it for me though. I’m also being optimistic and thinking we’ll lose by more than one goal, but that’s based on my predictions always being wrong. I was with an Arsenal supporter today, albeit a realistic one who isn’t an arsehole. He wasn’t very happy and reckons we shouldn’t have had two penalties. I explained to him what a Gabby was and how it’s one of our very best weapons. Can’t wait to see him in action tomorrow and for Wiemann to start banging in goals (remember ManU last season?). Delph is a goal waiting to happen, Luna might not be the perfect defender but what a run and pass from Wiemann on Saturday. So many positives, so much better than the dirge McLeish and to a certain extent Houllier presented us with, miles better than this time last season. Who cares if Chelsea do beat us, I’m sure we’re going to give it all we’ve got tomorrow. UTV!
I think one thing that may work in our favour tomorrow is that Mourinho will almost certainly change his team around. With 3 games in a week and Man U up next, he will prob rest certain player. This could really work in our favour…although then again, the players that may come in (Mata, Lukaku, etc) arent bad either! The advantage we have is that our first XI is starting to gel nicely together.
I never thought of Monday’s game, but considering that I’m sure that Mourinho see’s the United game as more vital than this one. So he could try out some of his new signings.
Hopefully, that means that Ba starts up front
Shawcross won’t happen, stoke will look for at least 12 mill for him and he will be lookin for top wages so forget about it, mcmanaman is a little scumbag who isn’t great anyway and McCarthy is still at wigan because they are lookin for about 15 mill for him and obviously not many teams can pay that except the top teams who probably already hav better players in midfield, shawcross and McCarthy would b great signings but cost too much, not just for villa but for 80% of prem teams. Darren bent is a good goalscorer nothin more, he is lazy but he has always had the same style of play he wasn’t just lazy cause he was with us and we paid him too much, give him proper wingers and he will score as he did for us, really don’t understand what some fans ar upset about, bent did what he was bought for until we sold all the players that made him good, goin for a 2-2 draw 2moro, same score i went for the arse haha hopefully goes the same way!
That’s the issue with dealing with English team’s, we all want an inflated price for any player and huge wages.
It’s just cheaper to buy and sell to international clubs because you don’t end up strengthening your rivals.
I agree for both players. McCarthy would provide great cover for the back 4 and Shawcross would compliment Okore very nicely. Problem is, we need 20-25m to buy them! Wages wouldnt be out of our budget, but the price tags are.
I still think we will bring in one more player before september, but i doubt it will be either of these two….
shawcross and McCarthy would be great signings, im surprised they are still at wigan along with mcmanaman, id have though at least Martinez would’ve been in for them two, he took kone but none of the other 3,(the other being Maloney) maybe there’s a reason? aside from Whelan thinking he’s selling Messi and getting stupid with the money, all summer ive not heard one rumor regarding the wigan trio, surprising really.
I’ve wanted shawcross for ages I’m axed sky 4 Havnt signed him
testing testing 1 2 1 2
I could see stoke selling shawcross if a decent bid came in, they desperately need strikers and money to buy said strikers or they are going down this season, just don’t know how they are gonna score enough goals to win games, shawcross, the defence and bergovic can only do so much.
I also think shawcross would fit the current villa ethic.
Shame we didn’t part ex bent then for shawcross would of been great business
Hey hey im back finally hows it going? Think chelski will beat us 3 0 sorry lads jose back and hasent lost at the bridge but you know what they ssay about records
villa 1996 I will say welcome back mate, same things Vlaar, Vlaar, Vlaar, other than that sod all, hey Sponsorships down only 5 million,was 8 million last year.
I’m told that the Anvil Inn Sutton Coldfield show all the Villa games live.
My lad had to close his down Bill sky came at him and if he does it again 6 thousand fine, and that was running Italian sky.
Cheers Bill P, Ill give that a miss then and find a stream. Something to do with the premier league logo isn’t it? Hence that’s why its sorta smudged on the streams.
In general sky will leave you alone providing you are still a sky subscriber. as soon as a pub cancels a sky package they are lined up for a visit from sky package(unknowingly) to check if they are broadcasting foreign channels.
Foreign channels can be broadcast as long as the logo is covered. In our local they have software that covers it
is that right? jose has never lost at home? no wonder the Chelsea fans luv him
If you have a quick look at Jose’s record at home for all his clubs it’s really quite astonshing
Unbeaten home league record
Between 23 February 2002 and 2 April 2011, Mourinho went 150 home league matches unbeaten: 38 (W36–D2) with Porto, 60 (W46–D14) with Chelsea, 38 (W29–D9) with Internazionale and 14 (W14–D0) with Real Madrid. The run was broken by Sporting de Gijón on 2 April 2011, when they defeated Real Madrid 1–0 at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in La Liga. After the match, Mourinho entered Gijón’s dressing room and congratulated them.[140] His only prior home league defeat had come when Porto lost 3–2 to Beira-Mar on 23 February 2002
The last time the self-styled “Special One” experienced a league defeat with a side that he coached was on 23 February, 2002, when Porto were beaten 3-2 by Beira Mar.
(nairaland.com)
A bit of perspective on this, he has been managing top teams most his career and money as never been object – hardly a Clough, Shankley or Busby and built it up from scratch.
Well dont get to down lads about tonight we will still have a great season we will not be regatated we shall not be moved god damn bill shares down again