So. The Community Shield is over, and the 11th encounter between Rafael Benitez's Liverpool Jose Mourinho's Chelsea went in favour of the Reds. A meaningless match for some, especially those Chelsea fans who stayed away and left the Blue half of the Millenium stadium unfilled, but there was plenty on display for the Premiership to ponder.
Inconceivable last year, but this season's Chelsea team looks thin on the flanks. Both in midfield AND defense. Geremi is a midfielder playing as a full-back, Paolo Ferreira looks uncomfortbale when run at, Joe Cole is a central midfielder played out of position on the wing, and Arjen Robben spends so much time on his backside one wonders if he has an inner ear problem.
On top of that, Frank Lampard has demonstrated that he has to be the dominant midfielder in the middle of the park, and his effectiveness is drastically reduced if this isn't the case. Given that Lampard had a disastrous World Cup alongside Steven Gerrard, the logic of signing Michael Ballack appears flawed. Lampard only shrugged of his torpor when Ballack went off injured in the 26th minute. By then however, he should have already received a red card for a petulant kick at Boudejiwn Zenden.
As at Real Madrid, it is painfully obvious that Claude Makelele is Chelsea's most important player, and that without him on the pitch they lack strength and discipline through the middle. It is unlikely that the dimunitive Frenchman would allowed John Arne Rise to pick up a headed clearance on the edge of his own box and run the length of the pitch before firing a 25 yard shot past Carlo Cudicini. A shot which Cudicini should have saved and Petr Cech would have. Even so, Makelele is 33 years old, and his motor will not continue to run forever.
According to some, Roman Abramovich's ambition - and so Chelsea's - this year is to win the European Cup. It is the one club trophy you really cannot win without Lady Luck on your side. All the money in the world cannot buy luck, and so come the end of the season Chelsea may still be looking enviously at the trophy with the big ears.
Inconceivable last year, but this season's Chelsea team looks thin on the flanks. Both in midfield AND defense. Geremi is a midfielder playing as a full-back, Paolo Ferreira looks uncomfortbale when run at, Joe Cole is a central midfielder played out of position on the wing, and Arjen Robben spends so much time on his backside one wonders if he has an inner ear problem.
On top of that, Frank Lampard has demonstrated that he has to be the dominant midfielder in the middle of the park, and his effectiveness is drastically reduced if this isn't the case. Given that Lampard had a disastrous World Cup alongside Steven Gerrard, the logic of signing Michael Ballack appears flawed. Lampard only shrugged of his torpor when Ballack went off injured in the 26th minute. By then however, he should have already received a red card for a petulant kick at Boudejiwn Zenden.
As at Real Madrid, it is painfully obvious that Claude Makelele is Chelsea's most important player, and that without him on the pitch they lack strength and discipline through the middle. It is unlikely that the dimunitive Frenchman would allowed John Arne Rise to pick up a headed clearance on the edge of his own box and run the length of the pitch before firing a 25 yard shot past Carlo Cudicini. A shot which Cudicini should have saved and Petr Cech would have. Even so, Makelele is 33 years old, and his motor will not continue to run forever.
According to some, Roman Abramovich's ambition - and so Chelsea's - this year is to win the European Cup. It is the one club trophy you really cannot win without Lady Luck on your side. All the money in the world cannot buy luck, and so come the end of the season Chelsea may still be looking enviously at the trophy with the big ears.
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