With the international break coming at the wrong time for us after a great bit of form and we hope to regain that form after, all of the articles are a bit vague and off topic so I thought I would review the teams performances after 10 games.
Our most played starting line up:
Cech: Despite not keeping may clean sheets this season I would not blame Cech but the change in tactics and I hope that we will be able to get used to them soon. But saying all of this Cech has been as reliable as ever with some solid performances. 8/10
Bosingwa: Considering he is used to warming the bench than playing I think that Bosingwa has been fairly good over the past 10 games. He has become very helpful in attack getting some good assists and scoring a stunner against Norwich but his defence still has a question mark over it. 6/10
Terry: Due to Chelsea's new high line tactic Terry has had to adjust but because of his lack of pace he has been exposed more than often. Saying that he has still been Mr. Reliable in defence and he scored a great goal against Sunderland. 7/10
Ivanovic: Not used to being a centre back and lacking in pace he has looked vulnerable but he has been fairly good in defence it will take a while for him to get used to life in centre back but he has been managing . 7/10
Cole: Not what he used to be and age taking a toll on him he has left a lot of space on his flank while he has been getting forward. Still remains effective and solid but not living up to his standards. 6/10
Meireles: Slotted in to the team quite nicely and looked a great asset producing some great passes to Sturridge, Mata and Torres and hopefully he can carry on the same way. 7/10
Ramires: Where do I start, hardly putting a foot wrong he has been are best player this season. He has a real engine and his work rate is outstanding. He is in great form and deserved his two goals against Swansea. If he carries on this way he will be one of our players of the campaign. 9/10
Lampard: At first Frank was struggling to keep up with our faster play with the quick football and he was awful. many people doubted him and he looked finished. And then out of the blue he did what he has done his whole career work hard and now he looks like the old Lampard banging in the goals for fun. 7/10
Sturridge: He has been brilliant this season dash the Man United game. Scoring goals, he has confidence and his pace and movement has been great. Definite first team player now in my eyes. 8/10
Mata: Everything we needed and more creative, dynamic, intelligent, humble, and a breath of fresh air as we are used to Kalou and Malouda . Great signing, great player. 8/10
Torres: He is back. Took a long time but El Nino looks back to himself. Hopefully he can carry on as he has and not like last season. 7/10
Bench:
Luiz:7/10
Drogba:7/10
Mikel:6/10
Anelka:7/10
Kalou:3/10
Josh: N/A
Lukaku:5/10
Romeu:7/10
Do you agree with me and what are your ratings?
International Break and Player ratings
posted on 9/10/11
Good article, enjoyable read.
I would bump Mata and JT up one, Ivan down one but apart from that spot on IMO.
On another note (you reminded me with Josh getting an N/A). He needs to either play or go out on loan, the current situation is doing no one any favours.
posted on 9/10/11
I agree with you but I would give Ivanovic a 5/10 and cole a 5/10 too, as both have been poor by there standards...
posted on 9/10/11
I do agree about Josh going out on loan if he is not getting game time as we don't want his talent to be wasted. And I said Torres is back but he needs to be consistent. And Ivanovic has changed from right back to centre back so he will take time. Cole looks like his age is getting the better of him but hopefully he can do a Lampard
posted on 9/10/11
Cech - 8
Done well this season with his saves, generally the goals we've conceded have been when Cech is not in goal or been defending/individual errors.
Bosingwa - 6.5
I'm still not convinced with him as a RB for a top team but he's started ok this season but his last few performances have dropped in quality
Terry - 8
Been an underrated player for us this season IMo, always been solid in defence and generally still going strong
Luiz - 9
Big fan of this guy, he's such a class player and footballer. Been great in all his appearances this season.
Ivanovic - 6
Not been to impressed with him at CB. Looked quite vulnerable most of the time and slightly lost. I'd still like to see him tried at RB as competition for Bos
Alex - 5
My oh my what happened here? It seems a combination of constant injuries and the intoduxtion of a high line has taken it's toll on Alex. Real shame as at his best he's one of the best defenders in the Europe.
Cole - 6
Not been impressed, been average this season pretty much andstrangely for him has looked weak defensively. I'd like to see some competition on this side of the full backs as well with Bertrand as Cole needs to improve.
Mikel - 6.75
He hasn't been bad at all this season I think, last theee appearances he's been pretty good and had a good game at the start as well. The introduction of Romeu has proved well.
Ramires - 8.5
Been class this season, so glad to see he's working hard and still adapting and improving his overall game. Great little player
Meireles - 7.5
Really improved our style of play and given us a decent outlet and amother option in the centre. He won't do flash skills or go on a 30 yard dribble but he keeps things ticking, plays quickly and makes good passes
Lampard - 6.5
Doesn't deserve a 7 or above yet for one good performance after a flurry of very poor ones. Having said that I hope he continues this form.
Kalou - 5
Nothing more needs to be said
Anelka - 7.5
Been pleasantly surprised with him, I wanted him gone in the summer but as a squad player he's doing well, being a good impact sub and actually showing effort. it won't last all season but let's enjoy it for now
Sturridge -7.5
Still finding his feet but he's shown at times that he's ready for the first team IMO. Still has improvement to go but the potential there is massive and he's a genuine goal and creative threat on the right.
Torres - 7
Started off poorly but fortunately the past few games he's really turned it around. He's not back to his best, I'd say he's 70% of the way there but even that is still good.
Drogba - 5.75
Hasn't had much chances this season, in fact only notable ones are Norwich and Bolton, the first one in which he was poor and only on for half an hour, the second one was fine ImO but just back from injury.
Mata - 8
What a great buy, keeps things ticking in the final third and still gets goals and assists, really helps with the creative problem we had last season
Malouda - 6
A couple of decent performances but other than that average really. Better than last season though.
Not doing Lukaku, Romeu, Bertrand and Josh - to little playing time to judge
posted on 9/10/11
Have to say I don't agree:
Cech- hasn't really put a foot wrong, but hasn't done anything spectacular. I get the feeling he isn't assured as he used to be but good nonetheless 7/10
Bosingwa- was for a period our best defender and Avb has injected life into him. Good going forward ad needs some work going back, but he's been decent. Also contributed a goal and assists. 7/10
Terry- reliable as ever, strting to settle with the new system and with Luiz next to him, I see a reliable partnership being formed 7.5/10
Luiz- I know he hasn't played that much but he'll get a lot more game time and whenever he has played, he's looked a breathe of fresh air. Will be world class by the end of the season IMO 8/10
cole- been out of sorts and although he still has the stamina, he's not as good defensively or going forward than last season and has been caught out. Although with Mata at left wing, he is often exposed and so has more pressure on him 5.5/10
ramires- great start to the season, becoming one of our best players and is slowly reminding o the essien of old, but with more goals. His tackling, shooting and finishing need work and if he took his chances at United I think we might have won 7.5/10
meireles- been a revelation for us IMO. Not really a surprise that when he joined we started playing quicker and better football. He has an eye for a pass and transfer the ball from defence to attack so quickly. Want to see him shoot more, but he's been an unsung hero for us 7.5/10
lampard- had an awful start to the season, but being dropped has upped his game and it looks like he is fitting into our system as his passing has improved and he presses well. 7/10
sturridge- he's overrated by our fans a bit too much but he's been decent thus far contributing goals and assists. He needs to run and dribble past defenders more which he isn't doing and he tends to drift out of games and become greedy. A lot more to come though 7/10
torres- well....he's has MOTM, 2 goals and 2/3 assists. In my eyes that's a solid start to the season and he hasn't fully got up and running yet. He's been denied by brilliant keeping on several occasions and links with mata well. He just needs to not work as hard and keep his head up the whole game 7/10
mata- brought us the creativity we all craved and is impressing massively. He along with Meireles have changed the outlook of our team, but I'm slightly worried about fatigue 8/10
ivanovic 6
drogba 5
anelka 6.5/7
kalou 4
posted on 9/10/11
For once, I agree with TBK's ratings!
posted on 9/10/11
posted on 9/10/11
posted on 9/10/11
Think you've over-rated us
Cech-6.5/7-can't really fault him, hasn't had a great deal
Bos-6.5-his forward runs are good but his crossing and defending are as poor as ever. Over-hyped, wish Ivan could be given a go at CB
Terry-6.5/7-solid if unspectacular
Ivan-5.5-imo one of our weaker performers, doesn't look comfortable at CB, in fact looks error prone and an accident waiting to happen
Alex-5-really struggled for consistency, which is a shame. Stupid errors comign into his game as well
Luiz-7.5/8-easily our best defender, love his forward runs. Becoming one of our most important players at both ends of the pitch
Cole-5.5-lacklustre, has been since the world cup
Lampard-6.5-poor start, but responded well to being benched
Meireles-7.5-not so much a revelation but was exactly what the doctor ordered
Ramires-8-imo our best player this season, still needs to work on his tackling and finishing but has turned into one of the most consistent players in the division
Kalou-4
Malouda-5. Vaguely productive in terms of goals and assists, more than can be said about Kalou
Mata-first time since Robben I've felt this confident about a Chelsea winger. Great signing
Sturridge-6.5. Over-hyped, still feel his final touch and decision making is poor. Also feel he;s far too selfish
Anelka-7/7.5-considering how much slack he's taken in recent seasons a very positive start
Torres-6/6.5-looks infinitely sharper than he did last year, not too difficult mind you. Some positive signs but needs to calm down, think he's trying a bit too hard and getting reckless
posted on 9/10/11
Cech - 8 - Solid, made no mistakes, and has had to deal with a fair few one-one-ones due to the defensive transition
Bosingwa - 6.5 - Showed flashes of brilliance, but has been mainly average. And is seemingly unable to mark set pieces
Ivanovic - 6.5 - Done OK. Still not convinced CB's his best position.
Terry - 7.5 - Decent considering he's not blessed with pace and has had to deal with playing a high line
Luiz - 8 - .Best defender IMO. Definitely a CB not DM. He's just rough around the edges and can/has improved
Alex - 5.5 - Error prone this season
Cole - 6.5 - Fairly average going forward and hasn't been quite as solid defensively
Ramires - 8.5 - Best performer so far this season
Mikel - 7 - Been decent at what he does
Meireles - 7 - Been pleasently surprised. Nothing spectacular but has slotted in very comfortably and refreshing in holding role
Lampard - 6.5 - Pretty quiet up until he got dropped.
Malouda - 6.5 - Played OK in both midfield and on wing
Mata - 8 - More of the same please Juan
Anelka - 7 - Been very useful from the bench
Sturridge - 7 - Although has been very good in flashes, he could do better, and be more consistent
Drogba - 6 - Seems a bit rusty
Torres - 7 - Certainly an improvement on last year