Posts Tagged ‘Chelsea player ratings’

Chelsea FC Rout West Bromwich Albion on Opening Day

Chelsea FC started the 2010/2010 in style with a domineering six goal rout of newly promoted West Bromwich Albion to ensure they start the season as they finished the last, atop of the Premier League.

The result will have lifted the spirits after an unnerving pre-season that failed to inspire confidence or show the fitness of a post World Cup squad.

The game itself was a rout despite some of the goals being scrappy, Chelsea were dominant throughout with only Paulo Ferreira’s poor marshalling of Jerome Thomas to concern the home side as only a Chelsea victory looked possible after Florent Malouda’s opening goal.

Six goals is also an impressive statement to be making to the rest of the league on the opening day, Chelsea may be champions but have no intention of giving up their title in a hurry.

The season is long and this is no time to get carried away, West Brom were poor and some would say ‘lucky to get nil’

eChelseaFC player rankings

Petr Cech – N/A –  Unfair to rank this spectator who had little to do except remember to change ends at half time

Ashley Cole – 8 – Offered plenty going forward and looked composed in defence with some deft touches and sublime turns

John Terry – 6 – Little to do in defence but did whatever was asked, some frailties as shown in community shield exposed from long ball.

Alex - 7 – Same comments as for John Terry, however this understanding should improve with games and fitness.

Paulo Ferreria – 4.5 -Played poorly and was exposed frequently against Jerome Thomas, expect Ivanovic to replace him in the first team imminently.

Michael Essien – 7 – Great to see him back and his performance did not disappoint.

Frank Lampard -8 – Excellent performance capped off by a well worked goal as the England hangover was put to bed.

Florent Malouda – 8 – Two goals and a professional performance from the Frenchman

John Obi Mikel – 6 – Overall a good performance but clumsy in possession at times which will be punished by better opposition.

Nicholas Anelka – 6.5 – Performed well at times and is a perfect foil for Drogba, however he will have more of an impact on other days.

Didier Drogba – 9 – Free kick created the first goal and he got 3 himself even if the last one was fortuitous, starts the season as he finished the last in blistering form.

 View from the Shed (Well… Mathhew Harding Upper this time)

Evening kick offs are great as gives alot more time for pre-match preparation in the pub and it was great to see all my Chelsea friends around the Bridge again.

Like many fans I was caught out in a pre game downpour that soaked those queuing to get into the ground twenty minutes before kickoff, fortunately the weather was relatively warm and the rain was unable to dampen the fans pre-game spirits even if I did have to give up my coat to a friend in the front row.

After digging out some old Chelsea shirts the day before I elected to wear the 1993 away shirt to the game, as this was the first Chelsea kit I ever owned and I got nostalgic looking at the shirt I first wore when I was 7, I think I have stumbled upon a new first game tradition.

A great day and a fantastic result, next up Wigan away.