A truly entertaining, end to end match that sadly was mainly decided by a blown non red card call in the first 5 minutes. David Luiz should have been giving his marching orders after he took down Demba Ba in the beginning of the match but was luckily only given a yellow card. This led to a match where Newcastle hit the post a bunch of times and Chelsea could have scored at least 5 more goals then they did. The worst possible result for Newcastle where not only did they unlckily lose their unbeaten home record, they also lost two of their best players through injury. With no depth at center defense, and both their star center defenders getting injured, Newcastle look to be in serious trouble. Adding that their star defensive midfielder, Tiote, is also injured, Newcastle will need some serious reinforcements in the January transfer window if they are to maintain their top 6 place. Chelsea, on the other hand, were extremely fortunate today and got the result they needed before their big Champs League game coming up in mid-week. This game will look to be the positive changing point of their so-far underperforming season.
Newcastle
Krul- 8.5 Two world class low left handed saves in the first half- the first on Lampards penalty, the second on Sturridges breakaway. Could really do nothing with Drogbas header and made a couple more great saves in the second half. Extremely unlucky to give up two more late goals and had another man of the match performance.
Simpson- 4 Wretched first half where he gave the ball away way too easily. He is a young improving defender who can hang with other decent players in the EPL but when coming against a star such as Mata, he has no chance. Improved in the second half but still a very weak display today.
S Taylor- 7.5 An extremely difficult game without his better center defender partner. Solid in the first half but couldn't do much playing alongside a player as wretched as Perch. Worked his ass off like usual but was given no help from his pathetic other defenders. Came off injured late on in what looks to possible be a serious calf injury.
Coloccini- N/A Made a couple solid defensive stops before he came off earl with what looks like an ongoing back injury. Was sorely missed to say the least.
R Taylor- 4.5 Some of the worst positioning I have ever seen. For a defender, he brings a great work rate and an exceptional offensive game. However, he is far too slow to be playing at outside defense in the EPL and for a defender, he really cannot defend well at all. Horrible challenge at the end of the match that showed his frustration and easily could have been a red.
Obertan- 4.5 Yes he is dangerous with the ball on the right wing and has skills in abundance. But he seems to run around like a headless chicken that has no soccer IQ whatsoever. Gave the ball away way too easily and seems to only be able to go right, thus making him far too predictable for a winger.
Cabaye- 7.5 Solid all around. I love everything about this player and he does everything above average. He is fierce in the tackle, seems to always be one of the smartest players on the pitch, and has perfected the cross field pass. However, he was slightly at fault for Mata getting separation in Drogba's first half goal.
Guthrie- 6.5 He is too slow and not even close to the power man that is Tiote. However, he knows what his strengths are and sticks to them wisely. Another solid game deputizing at center mid.
Lovenkrands- 6 A surprising start, and a more surprisingly well played first half where he looked dangerous and full of confidence every time on the ball. Faded massively in the 2nd half and came off for Sammy.
Ben Arfa- 5 Newcastle's most skilled player did what he has been doing all season- he tried to do too much too much of the time. He did again show his flashes of skill when on the ball but could have done much more. Came off at half, hopefully for tactically reasons and not cause of injury.
Ba- 7.5 Easily Newcastle's most dangerous player who has developed into a fantastic all around striker and one of the buys, if not the buy, of the season. Hit the post once in the first half off a fantastic header and forced another post hit again in the second half when pressuring Drogba. Got tired at the end and seemed to need more help today.
Subs
Perch- 4 Maybe the worst player in the EPL. He is far too weak to hang w/ Drogba in the air and is far too unconfident to do anything else well either. The drop off going from Collo to him is like going from dating a dime for a year and having her break up with you so you go to the bar get blacked out and take home the fatty. However, he did improve greatly in the second half and seemed like he finally grew some confidence. Sadly, it looks like he will be starting in central defense the nest couple weeks.
Shola Amoebi- 5.5 Came on at halftime for Ben Arfa to add a big physical presence and def made his presence felt. He, as always, screwed up a couple opportunities but was able to hit a lovely right footed rocket off the bar. Like the rest of his team, he was very unlucky today.
Sammy Amoebi- 5 Showed his flashes of skill in one dribble but didn't offer much else.
Chelsea
Cech- 6 Pretty decent save on Ba's turnaround effort in the first half. He kept his clean sheet but that was mostly because of luck aka the crossbar/post.
Ivanovic- 6 Ok first half where he did nothing really wrong nor nothing really well. Did what he needed to do and didn't offer anything more.
Luiz- 4 Ooo how he always seems to amaze me. He should have been sent off for tackling Ba in the first 5 minutes and almost gave away a goal a few minutes after that. Then he got beat way too easily by Ba for his header that hit the post moments after that. He did settle down as the game went on.
Terry- 8 It was always going to be difficult playing with such an unreliable player such as Luiz but, like usual, he played with his heart on his sleeve and put his body out there when he needed to. Fantastic performance to help his team keep the clean sheet they needed.
Cole- 6 He realized very early that Obertan can only go right and, on the most part, did a decent job defending him. Like Ivanovic, he had a solid game defensively but didn't offer much in attack.
Ramires- 7.5 For one of the few players who played mid-week, it was surprising that he seemed fresher then most. However, it was not surprising that he seemed faster then everyone on the pitch and did everything above average. Fantastic player all around.
Romeu- 7.5 If Ramires surprised me, Romeu baffled me. And I mean in a good way. For the youngest player on Chelsea, he someway seemed the smartest. He never gave the ball away cheaply and except for one time when Ba completely blew by him, his defending was rock solid. A great young player who at this rate Barcelona will surely use their genius buy back plan on as soon as they need him.
Lampard- 6 A decent game from the England International who had his penalty saved, but it wasn't a bad penalty whatsoever. He looked extremely pissed to be taken off in the second half and surely knows his time as a starter is about to come to an end.
Sturridge- 6 He created so much in the first half but yet couldn't finish any of the chances he created. Far too selfish today and will need to improve his decision making and finishing if he wants to be starting in place of Rooney for England during the group stages of Euro '12. Nice strike late on however to finish the scoring.
Drogba- 6 A fantastic header goal in the first half that was followed by a horrible miss in the beginning of the second. Great hold up play once Collo went off through injury but nothing to brag about since he was going against a Championship players such as Perch.
Mata- 8.5 World class play in the first half from probably the only world class player on the pitch. His movement, timing, intelligence, touch, and passing are second to none (except for maybe his Spanish counterparts he cant seem to jump in the Spanish starting lineup). Faded a lot in the second half but did all the work he needed to do in the first. Came off in the second in what sure is to rest him for their Champs League game coming up.
Subs
Miereles- 5.5 Did what he needed to do when he came on in the 2nd.
Torres- 4 No confidence or sharpness in his play. He is a shadow of his former self.
Kalou- 5 Was lucky to score his first goal of the season. Will he ever get a start again?
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