The Soccer Blog: FA Cup Recap: Chelsea 1-1 Everton (3-4)

Monday, 21 February 2011

FA Cup Recap: Chelsea 1-1 Everton (3-4)

By: Devin | February 21st, 2011
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You’ll forgive me for the tardiness of this recap, but I needed a 24-hour reprieve from all things Chelsea to clear my head. This was as hard a loss to swallow as we’ve endured this campaign. If you could have predicted this outcome, then you’d probably be a rich man right now- or a Liverpool fan. Either way, we officially have a crisis on our hands. Yeah I said it.

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Chin up.

In reading Jamie’s previous post, I was struck by how raw her words felt. ‘The Pit of Despair’ is probably the most apt description you could conjure to accurately convey our current state. It’s gone from bad, to worse, and then it’s managed to some how get even more fucked up. Carlo, clearly, seems a man without a plan or the slightest clue of what’s going on or how to remedy the situation. I won’t say he’s ‘given up’ at this point, but I think it’s safe to say he shouldn’t be investing in any real estate anytime soon.

On this day, as all others of late, we were drab. Insipid, uninspired, unfocused. In short, somewhat hard to watch. Opting to start Obi Mikel in place of Essien was a smart decision I felt by Carlo, but OTRNNG (Obi Trice, Real Name No Gimmiks) got the yank after 45 minutes and barely had a chance to get out of second-gear. Otherwise, Carlo elected to play the only remaining fit defender in the first team, one Paulo Ferreira, who typically indicates that we’re about to concede a goal or three. Now, Paulo wasn’t terrible. But he wasn’t exactly the strong presence of Ivanovic, or even the quickness of Bosingwa. Still, he did get skinned on a couple of occasions. But, overall, it was a strong side picked (Anelka started on the bench in favor of Kalou) and one that clearly has the quality to win on most days.

Here’s the quick and dirty synopsis of what happened:

- We had a ton of chances, and couldn’t beat Howard.

- Frank, seriously, needs to work on his shooting. I counted at least four clean chances before his eventual goal that he could have knocked down another day.

- Everton equalized with one minute of time remaining in the second extra period.

- Anelka shanked a penalty. Ashley Cole whiffed a penalty. We lost.

Once again, we concede in the dying embers of another match. So. Many. Fucking. Times. This. Season. It’s as if our collective brains click off after scoring, and we somehow forget that there’s a match in progress. Typical to the script, Everton equalized and pushed this bullshit party to penalties. I’m avoiding saying anything particularly awful about Anelka or Ashley at the moment, but IN the moment, I was cursing their names with aplomb. But I’m glad I took the 24 hour break post-match to consider my thoughts on what has devolved into a hot mess.

We’ve got one trophy we can still win, and that seems like the most impossible of asks at the moment. Based on our current form? We clearly lack the ability to take on the Arsenal/MU/Barcelona/Madrid’s of the world. Shit, we couldn’t beat Everton this week. Yeah, it’s gotten that bad. The bad news? It’s been this way for months now and all of us at various points (myself included) have been tricked into thinking it was over long before this moment. We’ve all managed to trick our minds into believing that things weren’t as bad as they seemed, or that a win was right around the corner. But we have to face facts and admit that, based on this latest display: we are playing some of the worst football this season, right now. Hell, Tottenham beat AC Milan this week. Do you think we have the stones to do that right now?

Carlo claims that only EBALJT and Bane are ‘in-form’ at the moment. How, you ask, this is possible from a team of professional footballers? I wish I had the words. I can understand three or four players being in a slump, but seriously, to have 9 of the 11 first-team players be ‘in a funk’ at the same time? Crisis, confirmed. Our downfall this time, as it has been many times this year, was our wastefulness around the box. Here’s hoping Nando can find his shooting boots sharpish and start pegging back a few, or else.

I’d rather not discuss the penalty shootout at length, to be honest. It was gut-wrenching, as they all are. But it was made worse by the fact that I KNEW we were about to lose. It was like an extended execution- the only uncertain part was how long it would take to finish. Not upset with Ash for his miss, he hasn’t been in a scoring form this year, I’m more shocked at how poor Nico’s was. Regardless, it was just difficult to witness, and it only serves to fuel the fire of Carlo heading back to Italy to take the vacant Roma job.

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IN the net, not outside…

For what it’s worth, Carlo’s continuing to say ‘all the right things’ in the press, insisting he has no intention of abandoning ship, and that he would only leave the club if the decision was handed down by Romes. He continues to insist that we’re playing ‘good’ and that our latest showing was another example of bad luck. But we all know that thing’s ain’t right in the Kingdom, and it’s clearly time for some decisive action and post-haste. On to the ratings.

Petr Cech – 6.5

Wasn’t terrible, and we know that penalties are his achilles heel. Got skinned again on another free kick, this time by taking too long to build his defensive wall.

Paulo Ferreira – 6

What you’d expect, nothing more.

John Terry – 7

Strong in the air, challenged well. Made a few crunching tackles and got forward as possible. Did well to help out Paulo on a number of tricky occasions. Mistimed one challenge that could have led to a goal by Osman.

Branislav Ivanovic – 6.5

Similar to JT in his effectiveness, but I think we all prefer him on the right.

Ashley Cole – 6.5

Was back about his wits, getting up the pitch and helping in the attack. Defensively sound, handled his markings appropriately. Can’t be faulted for the penalty miss (no one really can).

John Obi Mikel – 5

Didn’t get a chance to do anything, really.

Ramires – 6.5

Ran well into challenges. Had a few forays into the attack.

Frank Lampard – 7.5 (MOTM)

At least he managed to create some chances, which is more than we can say about him over the last few weeks. Too many misses, however.

Kalou – 6

White Swan. Black Swan. Today was White Swan. Timid, confused, indecisive.

Drogba – 6

Didn’t see anything in the form of dominance from him.

Malouda – 6.5

Created well off the left.

Anelka – 5.5

Wish he’d started the more I think about it.

Zhirkov – 5

Hooray the Russian’s back! Something to cheer at least!

…no salient words of wisdom to close. No battle cry. At least not until the Copenhagen preview goes live.

Some Related Chelsea Posts:FA Cup Recap: Everton 1-1 ChelseaPL Recap: Chelsea 1-1 EvertonPL Recap: Arsenal 3-1 ChelseaPL Recap: Birmingham 1-0 ChelseaPL Recap: Blackburn 1-2 Chelsea

Category: FA Cup, Fixtures, Match Reports, Player News, Player Ratings

Tags: FA Cup, Fixtures, Match Reports, Player News, Player Ratings
Tweet « Happy Birthday, Peter Osgood | Home | SLAgree with everything said but just wanted to say that although FA Cup hasn't the prestige of CL or premiership, I was bitterly disappointed that we didn't win this game. It was a competition we could have won 3 years running to create history and all of us fans would have been really proud of that. I don't get the feeling the manager or the players are particularly bothered which is very sad. It was yet another painful Chelsea performance and poor Fernando can't be used as the scapegoat this time and I am sorry but I think the manager has to take responsibility for one of the worst seasons we have had in recent times and he should pay for that with his job. Anyone with half a brain can see he is not motivating or getting the best out of these players and he doesn't seem to have the ability to change things during the course of a game and is clearly petrified to bring on any of the youngsters most of which seem to have now been sent out on loan. I honestly don't think introducing the youngsters would have made this team any worse, might have even improved it. Its clear that a lot of the players maybe think they have won everything and are not that bothered. Its simply not good enough. It will take a miracle to win the CL and its going to be very tough indeed to get that 4th spot. I don't think I have been as depressed as I am now about this Chelsea team and the manager in all the 30 years that I have been a supporter but I will never lose the faith, love Chelsea always will...Devin AnandI'm not losing faith. Just my wherewithal to watch this team play at the moment. But I agree with all your points.ajI dont see the logic of shipping out sturridge and bringing in torres, sturridge is better if you ask me, he always looked dangerous when he came on and scored a few goals as well as loads in reserve, he deserved his chance. everyone (including ancelotti) could see chelsea needed a playmaker and a winger. why not spend 50m on established world class playmaker and winger instead of torres. If only sturridge would get the same chances torres is currently getting.Aj"We know the Premier League is now very tough for us but we want to play in the Champions League next year, it is the most important thing for everyone, I don't want to train a team that is not in the Champions League as for me it is the best competition in the world. "

Why on earth come out and say something like that. Why state on record as you are looking for your side to gain confidence and to get some momentum between now and the end of the season, "I don't want to train a team that is not in the Champions League"?.

Surely that sort of thing is ill-timed to say the least, but at the same time doesn't exactly show that he is committed to the Chelsea cause.

Also after the fa cup loss, he branded that only 2-3 players are performing for the shirt and the rest arnt. that sounds like finger pointing to me especially players hes missed out like luiz, ramirez.

Mateoi also red the exact quote from carlo.... it kind of disapointed me as it seems he is washing his hands from any responsability.

an other thing about the game that i haven't seen anyone comment, the PK shootout line up was weird with Essien and Ashely shooting the 4 and 5th isnt it too much pressure for a defensive midfielder and a left back? i always thought the last shots where left to experienced scorers.龍爺and yet everton cleaned us out with a bunch of defenders taking shotsajand the penalties were being taken in Chelsea's home ground, Chelsea have the better goalkeeper, Chelsea players more experienced with penalties aka CL final.

You would have thought chelsea would be favourites, they just bottled it to me, im not blaming Cole but Anelka put pressure on the whole team missing his one, he even missed in the CL final if i recall. waste of space and needs to be shipped out in summer.AjYou’ll forgive me for the tardiness of this recap, but I needed a 24-hour reprieve from all things Chelsea to clear my head.

well nothing like a good performance on tue to clear the headaches then again the pain could be unbearable with a equally poor performance and result.blog comments powered by Disqus