The FA Cup Final surely meant more to Liverpool than to Chelsea FC. Deep down, Chelski must know they have the strongest roster in the EPL. Because they refused to buy in to what their young coach was selling, their league form was a great disappointment. Nonetheless, Chelsea have put together some amazing Champions League nights, so this match- no matter what the Brits would have you believe- is a step down in intensity.
For Liverpool, it has been a shyte season. The club is still reeling/recovering from the previous ownership having run its finances into the ground. There was no Europe this year, no foreign talent on the team. It's as if they solely concentrated on domestic talent (if you can call Stewart Downing, Jordan Henderson and Charlie Adam "talent") to claim domestic success. Of course, they must've known that this was a mid-table team, so they put it all into winning the cups. They claimed the league cup and here we are in the FA Cup Final.
Chelski eased out to a two goal lead. The rent boys, in fine form since Di Matteo took over the reins, nonetheless came out decidedly pedestrian, as if they had other things to do.
The first 10 minutes consisted of little more than both sides hitting the ball around. Out of nothing, Chelsea capitalized when Spearing pissed away possession and Jose Enrique let Ramires walk right by him, despite having the angle. Ramires then beat Reina near-post. Courtesy of a series of blunders, this match had output without production.
Having recently played a big mach or two, Chelsea were content to adopt neutral tactics and avoid expending energy. Liverpool were in no position to attack, as their midfield was so utterly incapable of creating against the stronger Chelsea group that they had to use the defenders to advance the ball, with predictable results.
What's worse, Liverpool insisted on attacking down the left with Stewart Downing and Jose Enrique where they might've been better served doing that with Bellamy and Glen Johnson. Both Downing and Enrique had a decided speed disadvantage against their opponents. Downing, as shown all season, isn't any good anyway, offering a decent cross every tenth ball or so. That is, when he can create the space, which he usually can't.
In starting Bellamy, Kenny Dalglish wasted the spirit he would've provided by inserting him on the hour. As it was, the attack ignored him and he didn't have anything left to contribute when it was most critical. Thanks for everything Kenny, but don't you think it's time?
Another Spearing error, this time diving in on Lampard, who easily walked around him, contributed to Chelsea's second. Lampard found Drogba- who had the sense to move inside after being stuffed in Glen Johnson's pocket in the first half- in the box and DrogDrog's shot 'megged Skrtel rolled home at the far post.
The Reds, buoyed by, of all people Andy "Fatso" Carroll, made a game of it. He looked like he'd dropped a few pounds and was more assertive on the pitch than at any other point during his time at Liverpool. Some pressure and a fortuitous deflection left Carroll in the box with John Terry. Carroll shook JT and fired home over Cech.
It was game on, kind of. I mean, Chelski retreated and Liverpool were all over them. But, they still had the same issues that had previously kept them off the scoreboard. It was only the force of Carroll that made them seem likely to level. Carroll came within inches, too. He rose, unmarked at the far post, to head a cross that Cech saved off the back of the line and onto the post. While Carroll was off celebrating his equalizer, the ball caromed off the post and bounced in play, after which it was finally fucked out. Kuyt was the only one who tried to follow up, but was too late.
Both Kuyt and Carroll subsequently took down balls with space in the box, but neither had the touch needed to collect and shoot. You can say that they ran out of time, but there was plenty of time to buy a midfield and plenty of time in the first half to get their shit together. The needed Lucas; ask me 15 months ago if I would've ever thought that.
Anyway, playing out the string Liverpool play Chelski again in a few. If they win, it will be like the guy who went out with my prom date after I went away to college. Careful not to fall in, mate.
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