Warro Bantan
20-10-2005, 11:59
While the article below speaks more to the efficacy and prudence of one player (Essien), it is the midfield trio that I found of even more intrest.
It is long understood that football games are won and lost in the midfield, and establishing a solid presence there (as we apparently did vs PSV, but just didnt capitalise) is fundamental for victory (in most cases).
I will post more on this after some further reflection, but not getting Essien, or a player like him, may ultimately prove costly for us. On the other hand, Vogel is the kind of player (though aquired specifically to spell Pirlo) that we could utilize in an "Essien" type role.
The bold section of the article is where I would like readers to pay particular attention.
Your comments are appreciated.
From The Gaurdian:http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,1563,1596316,00.html
The very model of a modern midfield general
Jon Brodkin at Stamford Bridge
Thursday October 20, 2005
The Guardian
A rerun of Saturday's game against Bolton must have made for nervous viewing for Michael Essien until Fifa saved him from an almost certain three-match suspension for a bad tackle, but the Chelsea midfielder can watch replays of last night's game with nothing more than satisfaction. Not only did Chelsea cruise past Real Betis but the former Lyon player demonstrated why the club went to such lengths and expense to sign him.
Utterly disciplined after last weekend's let-off for a dangerous challenge on Tal Ben Haim, Essien set up two Chelsea goals and defended and attacked excellently as part of what, with Frank Lampard and Claude Makelele, is arguably Europe's best midfield at the moment. His strength, eye for a pass and ability to burst forward stood out as Chelsea scored more than three goals for the third successive game.
If a player can possibly be termed a bargain at more than £24m, Essien looked that. No Chelsea fans will be pining for Steven Gerrard if he continues in this form and it is not just Essien's varied collection of talents which makes him so impressive but the way he complements those around him.
The blend of Chelsea's midfield trio looks ideal. When Manchester United stood at their peak under Sir Alex Ferguson it was often suggested that David Beckham, Roy Keane, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs were unmatched across the continent as a unit. Now perhaps only Juventus, with Patrick Vieira, Emerson, Pavel Nedved and Mauro Camoranesi, can match Chelsea in that department.
Essien showed here that his reliability in possession, capacity to spot a killer pass and ability to run powerfully with the ball - allied to his defensive qualities - make him an ideal foil for the ever-reliable Makelele and Lampard. Between them the three can do everything. Makelele's selfless work at the base of midfield, where he cleans up so much defensively and triggers moves with his quick passing, was again evident. It was his winning of the ball and pass to Hernán Crespo that culminated in Chelsea's sweeping third goal as Essien's vision put in Joe Cole for a fine finish.
Lampard, meanwhile, has a scoring habit unmatched by his midfield partners which has already brought him eight goals for Chelsea this season, and possesses a range of passing that marks him out. His perfect crossfield pass that cleared the Betis left-back and allowed Shaun Wright-Phillips to cross for Crespo's goal exemplified that.
Essien's driving runs bring a different element, his ball-winning adds to the solidity and his passes, which rarely leave the floor, can be devastating. His instinct for knowing when to run with the ball and when to release it stands out. That was demonstrated when he intercepted a loose Betis pass in the first half, surged forward past a floundering defender and picked out Drogba to put Chelsea ahead before anyone could challenge.
Here Essien, who linked well with Wright-Phillips several times, was usually the most advanced of the three midfielders but never ignored his defensive duties. The first-half minute during which he blocked a Betis shot near his own box and then helped his team almost score summed up his value. If Makelele is ever missing Chelsea have an ideal stand-in. A wild late shot over the crossbar when he might have passed was a rare aberration.
Mourinho has been generous in saying that Essien "has an incredibly clean record on disciplinary issues" given that has was sent off twice for Lyon this year. A dismissal in July's Peace Cup for catching an opponent in the thigh with his studs came after February's expulsion against Monaco for two cautions, a late tackle and then an elbow. But his foul on Ben Haim has been a rare loss of discipline here and this performance demonstrated why Chelsea will be grateful not to have lost him even for three matches.
It is long understood that football games are won and lost in the midfield, and establishing a solid presence there (as we apparently did vs PSV, but just didnt capitalise) is fundamental for victory (in most cases).
I will post more on this after some further reflection, but not getting Essien, or a player like him, may ultimately prove costly for us. On the other hand, Vogel is the kind of player (though aquired specifically to spell Pirlo) that we could utilize in an "Essien" type role.
The bold section of the article is where I would like readers to pay particular attention.
Your comments are appreciated.
From The Gaurdian:http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,1563,1596316,00.html
The very model of a modern midfield general
Jon Brodkin at Stamford Bridge
Thursday October 20, 2005
The Guardian
A rerun of Saturday's game against Bolton must have made for nervous viewing for Michael Essien until Fifa saved him from an almost certain three-match suspension for a bad tackle, but the Chelsea midfielder can watch replays of last night's game with nothing more than satisfaction. Not only did Chelsea cruise past Real Betis but the former Lyon player demonstrated why the club went to such lengths and expense to sign him.
Utterly disciplined after last weekend's let-off for a dangerous challenge on Tal Ben Haim, Essien set up two Chelsea goals and defended and attacked excellently as part of what, with Frank Lampard and Claude Makelele, is arguably Europe's best midfield at the moment. His strength, eye for a pass and ability to burst forward stood out as Chelsea scored more than three goals for the third successive game.
If a player can possibly be termed a bargain at more than £24m, Essien looked that. No Chelsea fans will be pining for Steven Gerrard if he continues in this form and it is not just Essien's varied collection of talents which makes him so impressive but the way he complements those around him.
The blend of Chelsea's midfield trio looks ideal. When Manchester United stood at their peak under Sir Alex Ferguson it was often suggested that David Beckham, Roy Keane, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs were unmatched across the continent as a unit. Now perhaps only Juventus, with Patrick Vieira, Emerson, Pavel Nedved and Mauro Camoranesi, can match Chelsea in that department.
Essien showed here that his reliability in possession, capacity to spot a killer pass and ability to run powerfully with the ball - allied to his defensive qualities - make him an ideal foil for the ever-reliable Makelele and Lampard. Between them the three can do everything. Makelele's selfless work at the base of midfield, where he cleans up so much defensively and triggers moves with his quick passing, was again evident. It was his winning of the ball and pass to Hernán Crespo that culminated in Chelsea's sweeping third goal as Essien's vision put in Joe Cole for a fine finish.
Lampard, meanwhile, has a scoring habit unmatched by his midfield partners which has already brought him eight goals for Chelsea this season, and possesses a range of passing that marks him out. His perfect crossfield pass that cleared the Betis left-back and allowed Shaun Wright-Phillips to cross for Crespo's goal exemplified that.
Essien's driving runs bring a different element, his ball-winning adds to the solidity and his passes, which rarely leave the floor, can be devastating. His instinct for knowing when to run with the ball and when to release it stands out. That was demonstrated when he intercepted a loose Betis pass in the first half, surged forward past a floundering defender and picked out Drogba to put Chelsea ahead before anyone could challenge.
Here Essien, who linked well with Wright-Phillips several times, was usually the most advanced of the three midfielders but never ignored his defensive duties. The first-half minute during which he blocked a Betis shot near his own box and then helped his team almost score summed up his value. If Makelele is ever missing Chelsea have an ideal stand-in. A wild late shot over the crossbar when he might have passed was a rare aberration.
Mourinho has been generous in saying that Essien "has an incredibly clean record on disciplinary issues" given that has was sent off twice for Lyon this year. A dismissal in July's Peace Cup for catching an opponent in the thigh with his studs came after February's expulsion against Monaco for two cautions, a late tackle and then an elbow. But his foul on Ben Haim has been a rare loss of discipline here and this performance demonstrated why Chelsea will be grateful not to have lost him even for three matches.