CHELSEA V WEST BROM 2-1

Still trying to figure out how this wasn't a handball


Its cliche but that was a textbook case of a tale of two halves. Two things I pointed out last week turned out to be in play vs West Brom. One being that Anelka played the whole game. Two, Villas-Boas had to be flexible with the formation. I thought for sure that if Anelka started, it meant Kalou was on the bench, but instead it was Flo who was on the bench. Like I said, it wasn't gonna take that long for AVB to realize that Kalou is best coming off the bench and it was good seeing him cut his losses by not waiting till halftime to make a change. I just don't think Kalou fits as a wide player. He had that nice run early on, but that was really it, he just kept getting sucked in to the middle. Honestly, not that he's such a terrible player, but after finally getting Juan Mata today, they should get what they can for Kalou and move on. He's not gonna be happy riding the pine and I just don't see how he's a better option coming off the bench than Flo, Anelka, Drogba and Sturridge when he gets back. Just send him to Arsenal so the games actually have a chance to be competitive. As for the formation change to the diamond when Flo came on, in my opinion, thats what they should stick with. I know that the go ahead goal was when they went back to a 4-3-3, but still, it was good to see AVB make the adjustments based on the pace of the game, which is what was needed. Sluggish start, but after the way the second half went, I can ignore the first.

Other notes:
-Hey...Alex, I know you want a long term deal and Chels won't give it to  you, but quit trying to throw the game bro, that turnover was brutal
-So Mikel didn't score, sue me. But Still had a solid game and had some good tackles. Gonna be interesting to see what the midfield is like with Mata on board as well as Romeu when he returns, but Mikel should still get some PT
-That son of a bitch Jonas Olsson deserved to have that deflected shot go off his leg. He got away with a blatant shoulder check in the box, without even going for the ball, on Anelka about 5min before the goal. Ball don't lie.