Chelsea have lost yet again! The fifth time in 10 games and Jose Mourinho didn’t look happy in the stands. Wait a minute… where?
Jose Mourinho emerged from half time in the stands after he witnessed Nemanja Matic get red-carded toward the end of the first half, while his goalkeeping coach Silvino Louro was also shown the exit after his reaction to Matic’s sending off.
It remains to be seen why Jose did not appear in the technical area after half time, but the ultimate discussion point is Chelsea’s 2-1 defeat to West Ham at Upton Park.
Chelsea have conceded the first goal in five of their 10 Premier League matches this season and the defeat was written in the stars only after the 17th minute when Zarate’s near post shot found the net.
It’s official, Ivanovic has his position firmly reserved for him
Jose has used quite a number of players in that position this season, Branislav Ivanovic, Cezar Azpilicueta and Kurt Zouma have all had a stint at right full back and none has impressed. However, the latter’s contribution from right back slot is one that beats my thinking as to why he is deployed there. Against West Ham he was slow to attack and almost beaten to the ball by the Hammers players who were deployed on that flank.
The fact Baba Rahman was left out against Dynamo Kyiv and West Ham simply because he was not trusted enough is evident that Ivanovic will retain his place when he returns from his injury. Azpilicueta will be retained at left back and the Serbian national team captain should be grinning after watching no one steal the right to own that right back position.
Jose’s players are not helping matters
Jose has tried to effect changes to his starting line-up in several games this season, but all attempts to rescue his failing season have failed. Against Bilic’s side, Nemanja Matic was the latest player to have an early shower in a Premier League game after he received a second yellow for pulling down Diafra Sakho. First team coach Silvino Louro was also shown the exit and the decision to also send Mourinho off at half time left the technical area almost empty.
With a man down, Chelsea fought hard enough to pull one goal back through Gary Cahill but it wasn’t enough after Andy Carrol powered a header past Asmir Begovic in the 79th minute to send Chelsea down to 15th on the league table.
West Ham are indeed giant killers
Slaven Bilic has arrived at Upton Park and converted the team that struggled last season into a machine that only probably works against top sides. They had beaten Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City prior to their clash against the Blues and they duly delivered a signed and sealed performance that condemned Chelsea to a fifth loss in 10 games this season in the top flight.
Ironically, this is West Ham’s best ever start to a Premier League season after 10 games, they have amassed 20 points. With games against Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspurs to come, Bilic will be buoyed going into those games.
11 millimeters strong enough to deny Chelsea an equalizer
Chelsea were one goal down by the time Kurt Zouma headed the ball down to the right of West Ham goalkeeper, Adrián who made a mess of the save but was saved by the timely clearance by Lazini.
The rule says the whole circumference of the ball has to cross the line’ before it’s awarded as a goal and the goal-line technology proved the system is doing its work efficiently. Jose can’t blame anyone in this one, because it was the right call by the technology.
Safe to say Chelsea won’t defend their title
There won’t be too much to say about this. It’s pretty clear where the title will be going, and it’s not West London. Already both Manchester clubs are far away from the West London club with City leading the pack with 21 points while United have 19 points. Bizarrely, Arsenal are soaring high this season as a win against Everton saw them leapfrog City into first position.
Chelsea won the title last season with great performances to go with it, however they have failed to replicate those moments for their fans. Calls for Jose’s head is fast becoming popular among Blue fans but we wait to see the extent to which Roman Abramovich will go with his newly found patience.
