Everton vs Chelsea Scout Notes
Chelsea reached their second consecuctive Carling Cup final with a stubborn performance and a simple but stunning goal from Joe Cole. Here’s my notes on last night’s game…
Everton 0 Chelsea 1
While Spurs reached the Carling Cup final in delcious style, Chelsea hurdled their semi-final obstacle with ominous efficiency. Resolute in defence once again, the goal that took them to Wembley was direct and clinical in execution. A sixth goal of the season in all competitions for Cole, firing the ball past Howard after expertly controlling Malouda’s raking pass.
Everton carved out few chances. Arteta’s delivery caused problems at set-pieces but when they did breach through Chelsea’s rearguard they found Cech in fine form. Moyes dropped Hibbert to the bench, shifting Neville to right-back in order to hand Fernandes a first start in midfield since his return on loan from Valencia. Everton were otherwise unchanged with Valente once again at left-back and Cahill pushed up to support Johnson up front.
It was a 4-4-1-1 for Moyes then, although that’s likely to change next time out with Cahill suspended having picked up a fifth booking in this game. Moyes won’t have the option to shift Neville back into midfield with Hibbert also banned so that’s likely to see Anichebe handed a start against Spurs on Wednesday.
For Chelsea, Wright-Phillips made the lineup having recovered from the ankle injury sustained at Birmingham at the weekend. Ballack wasn’t so lucky however, he was suffering from a “minor” calf injury according to Grant. Sidwell came took his place. Elsewhere, Chelsea were unchanged with Anelka once again leading the line with Wright-Phillips bombing on to support from midfield.
The Chelsea defence, even without Terry, has kept nine clean sheets in the last eleven games. Alex was once again, superb here and will continue to find fantasy suitors. Belletti’s forthcoming suspension after picking up his fifth booking in this game is a blow. He’d just established himself ahead of Ferreira at right-back but has now handed a further opportunity to his rival in the home game with Reading next Wednesday. At left-back Ashley Cole looks secure, however, with the Champions League approaching, we could see some rotation from Grant.
Indeed, things are going to get tough fixture wise for Chelsea. In February they face a vital home clash with Liverpool in the Premiership, the Carling Cup Final against Spurs and the first leg of their Champions League Quarter-Final with Olympiakos, one after the other. It’s tough to see where in that run Grant will be able to rest players, although it’s likely that Terry and certainly Lampard, will be back in the reckoning to shake things up in the lineup.
Injuries and Bans
Cahill picked up his fifth booking of the season, although many reports seem to have missed it. This means he’ll miss the Spurs game next Wednesday along with Hibbert. Neville and Carsley moved on to four bookings for the season here.
Belletti also earned his fifth booking for Chelsea and will miss next week’s game against Reading.
Does anyone know if Valente will continue to start for Everton? He seems good value but worried that he may be rotated or dropped when Yobo comes back.
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Lads - Should I take a 4 point hit and sell Keane and buy Adebayor???
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…or sell Kane and buy someone else??
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Beletti can still play this Saturday in FA CUP against Wigan though?
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Tough one with Spurs Chris..they come up against United and Chelsea in their next two at home so they may not be as free scoring as normal. If there is a time to get rid of Keane or Berbatov it’s probably for this block of fixtures but then you have to factor in the fact that morale is so high. You could see them having a real go at both United and Chelsea after Tuesday night. Much will depend on how much stuffing is knocked out of them in the FA Cup game this weekend.
Keane will play in the FA Cup at Old Trafford so could even be rested vs Everton. Even if selected, I can see the game at Goodison being tight and so I’ve not ranked either of the Spurs strikers highly. I also think that Keane could be rested for the Derby game if Defoe isn’t sold.
Adebayor does look the best alternative. Fixture wise, only the City defence looks likely to cause Arsenal any problems when it comes to goals in the next five, so you’d have to expect Adebayor to score 3+ over the next five at the very least in his current form. There’s a chance he could be rested having played in the FA Cup game but I just can’t see Wenger gambling on Premiership points. He’s too much of a key player now.
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Yep Gobbi, Belletti is okay against Wigan. He should play too given that Grant can risk losing Ferreira to injury for the Reading game.
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Brilliant info as usual Mark. Thanks, much appreciated!!
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