Nic nicks three as Kalou gives us the blues
If I had known that suggesting a parting of the ways for Chelsea and Anelka would have heralded four goals in four days, I’d have done it sooner. Let’s see if the same trick works for another misfit . . .
I have come to the conclusion that Salomon Kalou is an impact player — in the same vein as Torre Andre Flo (although Sunderland have different memories of him, I’m sure). When Kalou starts a game, he is invariably frustratingly unproductive, when he comes on as a sub, he’ll have a positive, often match-winning, impact.
Things will be more evident now that Drogba is making his way back to full fitness. Will the manager carry on with one up front? Will we finally see a prolonged run with Drogba and Anelka leading the line, a formation that most of us assumed was the idea when we initially bought the Frenchman, with Kalou adding another dimension when occasionally required?
Arsene Wenger has not hidden his admiration for Kalou but then that doesn’t always mean that first team football and a well nurtured career beckons in French colonial North London — just ask Lassana Diarra. Anyway, what Arsenal need are centre-halves and a goalkeeper, and some team spirit.
A lot has been made about the Sunderland support this season. . . by Sunderland fans, so I was interested to see what they were bringing to the Bridge, and the truth is I was disappointed. Just like those other gobby northerners, Newcastle, Sunderland only took half their allocation and even with that there were a few spare seats. And those that were there weren’t exactly vocal.
I know the last thing you want to do when you have driven over 250 miles to watch your team capitulate in such a manner in the pouring rain — is sing; however, I remember going up to Sunderland and being 4-0 down after 38 minutes in sub zero temperatures, and keeping our spirits up and body temperatures within a survival range by singing our hearts out and cheering any time we completed a pass, got a corner or won a free kick. Our main chant that day was “we’re not very good”, which would have been more than appropriate for the Wearsiders at the weekend. They can borrow it for the rest of the season.
After a week spent routing opposition it might be churlish to criticise Scolari, but there is an issue developing over the limited efforts he is making to encompass some of the club’s talented youngsters.
When Anelka put in his third, our fifth, there was 35 minutes left and a great opportunity to give playing time to Scott Sinclair, Franco Di Santo, Miroslav Stoch or Gael Kakuta. The exclusion looks even more wasteful because Chelsea just played keep-ball until the final whistle.
It’s rather depressing to see the same four suspects occupying the top four spots again. Villa are intermittently threatening, Manchester City demonstrate that one quality player cannot carry an entire team, much touted Tottenham and Newcastle’s troubles have been well documented and Everton are struggling through under-investment.
But Chelsea are proof that things can change and you never know what or who is round the corner. Coincidentally, this weekend we visit a team who had their most recent moment in the sun in the ‘94/95 season and have struggled to do anything since. This season Blackburn look to be sliding into mid-table mediocrity (if they are lucky) with little chance of silverware or a European place at the end of it. But Ewood Park is often a combative and difficult match for us and nothing should be taken for granted.
I’m off now to pack my body armour for the Roma trip, and as you read this I am hoping not only that the Blues won last night, but that we weren’t provided with the traditional Italian welcome dished out by the Carabinieri.
I hope, too, that John Terry checked his back pocket before boarding his flight to ensure that Kenwyne Jones wasn’t still in there from the weekend.
Contact Trizia on Trizia_f@hotmail.com
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