Anelka grins when he wins
When he finally unscrewed the bottle top, he recoiled in mock surprise as if a genie had emerged in a puff of smoke.
All very genial stuff for the cameras, but with far more relevance than he probably realises. For bottle, read a relatively untapped source of French genius and for the genie, substitute Nicolas Anelka.
No longer ‘Le Sulk’, Anelka’s transformation into ‘Le Smile’ at Stamford Bridge has been one of the most remarkable achievements in Scolari’s brief time in England.
So often mistrusted by team mates during his wanderlust career, the French international seems, at last, to have found a manager that understands his maverick talents and a place to finally call home. He actually looks like he is enjoying himself.
All the statistics bear testimony to that fact. Anelka’s two lethal interventions highlighted the huge gulf in class between Tony Mowbray’s admirably naïve basement dwellers and Scolari’s Premier League leaders, and elevated him to the top of the country’s scoring charts.
No longer is there a lack of trust, more an indecent amount of haste from his compatriots to get him the ball to deliver more goals.
He has certainly been a wish come true for captain John Terry and a saviour in the absence of Didier Drogba. No wonder Scolari is not too concerned how long the Football Association ban the Ivory Coast striker when they hear his case for violent conduct, for the striker’s ridiculous act of coin throwing in the Carling Cup.
Unlike the discredited Drogba, Anelka’s missiles are perfectly legal, all 13 of them so far, which is why Scolari now rates him as his number one striker and Terry is so relieved that he opted to join Chelsea for £12m (€14m).
“He has been on fire, some of his link-up play as well as his goals has been brilliant,” he said. “He’s been a saviour for us with Didier out.
“He is in the best form of his career. When we signed him I said: ‘Thank God you are here’ because I used to hate playing against him.
“He’s always a problem, always plays on your shoulder, with pace and he is a great finisher as well. He is in great form: long may it continue.”
So too, for Terry, the marvellous success outside the confines of Stamford Bridge. From the moment Jose Bosingwa’s shot from the corner of the area was horribly misjudged by Scott Carson, Chelsea’s 10th successive away win, eclipsing their own Premier League record of 2004-05, was never in doubt. The only black cloud was the foot injury to the England captain and the need for a scan which threatens his participation in England’s friendly against Germany in Berlin on Wednesday night.
“As I landed, I got shoved in the landing awkwardly and I felt a sharp pain in the bottom of my foot,” Terry added.
“It’s throbbing at the moment. I hope the scan gives me the all-clear because I am desperate to go away with England. Fingers crossed. With me having to pull out of the last squad I’m desperate to go and play. As captain I want to be there.”
Terry’s participation rests on medical advice, but Carson’s must be refused on psychological grounds.
He appears mentally scarred behind a novice defence, that even Tony Mowbray admits does not have a hope of stopping the best the Premier League has to offer.
The goalkeeper’s decision-making is impaired, his reading of situations too slow and his embarrassment was complete when Anelka beat him at his near post for Chelsea’s third. Dean Kiely must be given a chance soon.
If Carson is being adversely affected, so too must Mowbray’s other players. Admirable thought is for the Albion manager to remain determined to stick to his passing principles, he simply does not have the quality in the right areas of the field to capitalise on their ability to retain possession for long periods against superior opponents.
If Anelka, rather than Ishmael Miller, had been on the receiving end of Borja Valero’s exquisite pass early on, the outcome would have been significantly different to the scuffed shot across Carlo Cudicini’s goal. Mowbray knows no points will be handed over with the plaudits he has been receiving for the way his side play, but he is not ready to panic.
There is only one point separating Albion at the bottom of the table and with January looming he will be given the requisite funds to find the goalscorer to apply the finishing touches to Albion’s inventive approach.
“We have two players in mind,” he said. “Everyone knows what our weaknesses are and we are trying to address that. There is no disgrace in losing to a Chelsea side as good as they are. Our fate will be decided against other teams.”
REFEREE: Steve Bennett (Kent) 7: Hardly noticed. No contentious decisions and gained the respect he deserved by allowing the contest to constantly flow. The video should be a blueprint for officials.
MATCH RATING: **** Tony Mowbray, the West Brom manager, admitted he feared the worst and his concerns were realised. The gulf in class was scary.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
