Back to Plan A

Stamford Bridge went back to Plan A on Saturday…in more ways than one too.

Plan A, as always at the Bridge, is to win the game and didn’t Chelsea deliver those 3 points well! It was a great performance (well, better than what we have seen in recent months) but it was a huge step in the right direction.

The first half, although a still frustrating affair, was still easy on the eye for the Chelsea fans. The ball was kept moving, at a decent tempo too, there was intent in the Chelsea attack and although chances came few and far between, there was an air of confidence from the Chelsea fans (who also returned to Plan A in getting 100% behind the team in unison) that we actually would go on and score a goal and claim a much needed win.

The second half performance backed it up. If Chelsea’s biggest problem this season of being profligate hadn’t occurred again, it really could have been 5 or 6…3 goals and a clean sheet will do nicely though.

Ironically, all 3 goals were of the caliber that we have been craving this season; a piece of magic to break the deadlock and decent delivery into the box for someone to attack. Funny how the piece of magic comes from your centre half, who to be fair, we probably expect to create something like that. Despite his position on the pitch, his quality is something craved by any team knowing that a defender like him can unlock a defence. He really is quite something!

There was nothing funny or unpredictable with the 2^nd and 3^rd goals however, classic Frank to classic Didier followed by classic Mata again to classic Frank. Plan A returns yet again.

The biggest return of Plan A though…credit probably has to be given to AVB and its credit he hasn’t been given by many fans or the media after the game.

First of all, if you do have a bust up with your key players, like Cole or Lampard, you still have the choice whether you play them or not  for the best of the team. Man City have been excellent this season, but don’t tell me that someone as good as Tevez wouldn’t have made them better. Bust up with the manager, he wasn’t aloud back in, but AVB had to swallow pride and get our key players back in the team. Hard thing to do for any manager, to admit they made a mistake, but selecting them probably showed a glimmer of light that he was sorry for putting his own pride in front of the teams success.

The biggest credit I’ll give him though, and it was a brave decision, was a return of the high line.

Just like at the beginning of the season, AVB went for 4-3-3 and the high back line and it paid off brilliantly. We moved the ball quicker and the link between midfield and attack was evident. Being closer together from the higher defensive line definitely helped the speed and movement of the ball and players. The first goal by Luiz showed what a defender breaking from a high line can do…. he initially won the ball breaking out.

AVB even changed the game further. 4-3-3 wasn’t getting the break through in the first half, so cue the second half going 4-2-3-1 with Mata in the hole and victory was later secured.

This was AVB’s Plan A from the start. We started the season this way and although goals were conceded, we played some fantastic football and won. Bolton was on the backlash of Plan A returning and Chelsea looked, at times, like a top team again.

One victory doesn’t make everything okay again, there is a long way to go yet, especially as we haven’t put more than 3 wins in a row together this season, but signs were there to suggest that we could now (and finally) start to compete again.

It makes you wonder…if AVB’s original tactics hadn’t been pressured to change from particular influences at the club (no hints as to who of course) then maybe we would be in a much better position.

We could also say the same about the absence of Portuguese players too!!

UTC

By Liam Hawkes