- Mar 7, 2005
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This was a really interesting game, classic premiership but also quite a tactical affair too - both Redknapp and AVB changed things around and both were nearly vindicated, a draw was a fair result.
It was obvious AVB would go with his recent formula of sitting deeper, less possession and playing more reactively on the counter attack, see here...
http://www.zonalmarking.net/2011/12/19/andre-villas-boas-chelsea-possession/
With this in mind the obligation was for us to take the initiative, play high up, move the ball around and dominate the game and that's exactly what we did early on and got a well deserved goal, but unlike most teams who come and play deep and on the counter at WHL who will continue to do that and try and nick a late goal etc, Chelsea immediately came out, played higher up and got more of a grip on the ball. I guess with all the mixed messages coming from us this week about who was fit/unfit AVB had them drilled to play high and deep at the click of the fingers. As soon as they got the equaliser where Walker and BAE were horribly exposed, they dropped deeper again and we once more got a grip on the ball.
Redknapps half time switch will get criticised, but there was a real logic to it - it's just a shame that Pav didn't realise this either. Mikel went off just before half time for them and he is excellent at sitting between the lines suffocating the space, this is why VDV was playing from the right which I was happy with, there would have been no space for him to operate in had he played off Ade. Romeu is more of a deep lying passer who will step into the midfield and play more fluidly meaning there would be more space in the hole, and with VDV injured Pav was a decent choice to operate their and also pick up Romeu off the ball so we weren't outnumbered in the centre, which Pav did very poorly. It was a brave move, and didn't quite work out, but I won't criticise Harry for that move. With a 4-4-2 in place we were naturally going to play more directly, quicker balls forward to try and test a slow makeshift defence and also lure Chelsea out to play higher up and more proactively where they have well documented failings this season. Redknapp was John Terry's arse away from being vindicated, but they had some great chances too which was always going to happen as we deliberately opened the game up. I criticised that move against Arsenal, but here I think it was just about justified.
It was an entertaining game, and I can't be disappointed with our performance or Harry's tactics at all. We go into Christmas as London's top club, and I for one am delighted with the way this season is going so far. We're still not there yet, but we are improving, have a great team spirit and I think Redknapp is getting a lot more right than wrong than he was last season.
Friedel 6 Enough has been said about him staying on his line, but I was most disappointed with him nearly gifting Sturridge a goal by parrying the ball straight into a danger area in the first half.
Walker 5 AWOL for the goal, and whilst you can't fault his willingness to get forward and attack he didn't have much joy there.
BAE 4 Poorest game for a while, joined Walker in the AWOL department for their goal, and his passing was very poor. Sturridge gave him a torrid time.
King 6 Not his best, and finally lost his 100% win ratio this season.
Gallas 8 Big game player, didn't disappoint.
Bale 7.5 Devastating going forward, must work harder. The ball for Ade was sickeningly good.
VDV 7 Got involved, rarely loses the ball and had he not got injured would have had more joy in the second half where I'm sure Harry would have brought him central.
Modric 7 Decent enough, was obviously best early on when we dominated the ball.
Sandro 8.5 Absolute machine, him and Parker together are like 2 supercarged Pacmen munching anything in their path.
Parker 7.5 Looking a little tired now, but still more than decent.
Ade 7.5 Good performance, so involved in our play - when his first touch recovers a little these will be 9s.
Pav 5 Blown off the ball by a moderate gust of wind.
Merry Christmas SC.
That's a good analysis of what Harry was trying to achieve, it falls down however, when you consider the player he was trying to achieve it with. Conceding the middle of the park to a team as strong as Chelsea in exchange for the added goal-threat of Pav is frankly a little reckless.
I don't think it was a dreadful move by Harry, and over all I'm pretty pleased with a decent performance in tough circumstances, but I do think his instinct ruled his logic.