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Slick Chelsea bring Martin O’Neill's Aston Villa down to earth at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea (2) 2 Aston Villa (0) 0
By Henry Winter at Stamford Bridge
Last Updated: 9:35PM BST 05 Oct 2008
Classy display: Joe Cole scores Chelsea's first goal past a flailing Martin Laursen Photo: EPA
Martin O'Neill had arrived at the home of the Premier League pace-setters, believing his vibrant Aston Villa could actually win. After this chastening defeat, O’Neill admitted feeling “daft’’ at having the temerity even to dream that Chelsea might slip up.
Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side were a mix of the beautiful and the ruthless, combining sweeping attacks with a hunger for strangling the life out of the visitors. Villa had not been this outclassed since running into a rampant Manchester United last March. The only travesty was that the scoreline did not reflect the brilliance of Frank Lampard, John Obi Mikel and Joe Cole.
Awkward assignments lurk on the horizon for Chelsea, from old foe in Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Oct 26 to the gloriously unexpected in Hull City at the KC Stadium on Oct 29, but the Premier League table makes enjoyable reading for Scolari’s side, although they will be aware of the pounding hooves of Sir Alex Ferguson’s thoroughbreds.
O’Neill rightly pointed out that there was still four-fifths of the season to go. He gave respectful name-checks to United, Liverpool and Arsenal, reminded everyone that fortunes can change like a weather-vane in a hurricane, but he was clearly in awe of Chelsea.
“They were brilliant,’’ reflected O’Neill. “It was a harsh lesson for us. This is where we want to be, this is what we aspire to. We were on a crest of a wave. This morning I thought we could win, which shows I’m daft. Chelsea would have beaten some of the best teams in Europe today.’’
Invited to go into specifics on why Chelsea are so good, O’Neill began by hailing their new leader. “Scolari’s a brilliant manager,’’ said O’Neill. “He has inherited a great team here, and put his own stamp on it, and that is remarkable.’’
Asked again to cast his experienced professional eye on the exact nature of the Scolari “stamp’’, O’Neill lauded the Brazilian’s full-backs.
Under Avram Grant and particularly Jose Mourinho, the marauding instincts of individuals like Ashley Cole were not encouraged. Now, Cole and the newcomer, Jose Bosingwa, are urged to overlap.
“He’s got Ashley Cole back to his very best with a licence to go forward,’’ observed O’Neill. “He’s pretty comfortable about going forward because if he plays the ball inside, with their midfield he knows they will play it back on for him. Bosingwa gives them another option going forward.’’
Scolari’s full-backs spent most of the game as auxiliary wingers such was Chelsea’s dominance. From back to front, the hosts were a class apart. If the Matthew Harding Stand were slightly cruel in belittling Villa’s ambitions – “Champions League?’’ they cackled, “you’re having a laugh!’’ – there can be no question of Chelsea’s superiority.
O’Neill highlighted one of Chelsea’s myriad strengths when he noted “their ability to withstand injuries’’ because of the quality of their squad. Branislav Ivanovic was threatening to become a quiz question at the Bridge – had anyone seen him? – yet he slotted in impressively alongside John Terry in the absence of Ricardo Carvalho and Alex. On the rare occasions that Villa ventured into the final third, the Serb nimbly dispossessed John Carew.
Otherwise, there was little to occupy Ivanovic. When the electronic hoardings began flashing up an exhortation to “Take The Tour of Stamford Bridge’’, Chelsea’s back four could have signed up en masse. They were hardly needed. Mikel had everything under control, the Nigerian breaking up Villa’s few attacks before they could build up anything approaching steam.
In front of Mikel, Lampard delivered an even greater display, gliding forward time after time, turning away from tacklers to unleash shot or slide team-mates through. He was involved in both goals, would have scored but for Brad Friedel’s reflexes, and was feted by both managers afterwards. “Lampard played very, very well – two times I will say 'very’,’’ enthused Scolari. “Absolutely outstanding,’’ was O’Neill’s verdict.
The ritual Lampard versus Steven Gerrard debate will resume this week as the best two central midfielders in the land report for England duty. Gerrard has been exceptional for Liverpool of late, and Lampard was at the very top of his game yesterday, giving Gareth Barry a masterclass in midfield movement.
After Friedel had thwarted Michael Ballack and Florent Malouda, Lampard took control, helping create Chelsea’s 21st-minute opener. When Malouda cut the ball back to Lampard, the midfielder was the picture of composure on the edge of the box. Spotting the darting Joe Cole, Lampard placed the ball perfectly, his pass eluding Barry and reaching Cole, who fired it confidently past Friedel.
Chelsea fans had so much to celebrate, from Cole’s strike, to news of Spurs going behind to Hull to Nicolas Anelka ghosting away from Curtis Davies and hitting the bar. Chelsea continued to roll in blue waves towards Friedel’s goal. The American punched away a Lampard free-kick, and then saved from Malouda, but had no chance when Chelsea came calling again with a minute of the first half remaining.
Again Lampard was involved, linking with Malouda to release Ashley Cole down the left. The defender’s pass found Ballack and the goal opened up. With Villa’s defenders absent without leave, Friedel saved at close range from Ballack and Anelka’s follow-up but was stranded as Anelka made certain with his second attempt.
Chelsea had finished scoring, but had not finished impressing. Lampard kept going close, a reminder of the team’s ethos of technical excellence with unremitting commitment.
Another sign of their strength in depth arrived in the busy form of Franco di Santo, who replaced Anelka after the Frenchman felt a slight pain in his leg (although he will be fit for the resumption of Chelsea duties after the international break).
Di Santo’s touch, movement and enterprise, if not his shooting, were a constant, and confirmation of what Chelsea insiders have been whispering for some time, that the Argentinian is a talent to watch. So are Scolari’s Chelsea, a winning mixture of steel and elan.
Chelsea (2) 2 Aston Villa (0) 0
By Henry Winter at Stamford Bridge
Last Updated: 9:35PM BST 05 Oct 2008
Classy display: Joe Cole scores Chelsea's first goal past a flailing Martin Laursen Photo: EPA Martin O'Neill had arrived at the home of the Premier League pace-setters, believing his vibrant Aston Villa could actually win. After this chastening defeat, O’Neill admitted feeling “daft’’ at having the temerity even to dream that Chelsea might slip up.
Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side were a mix of the beautiful and the ruthless, combining sweeping attacks with a hunger for strangling the life out of the visitors. Villa had not been this outclassed since running into a rampant Manchester United last March. The only travesty was that the scoreline did not reflect the brilliance of Frank Lampard, John Obi Mikel and Joe Cole.
Awkward assignments lurk on the horizon for Chelsea, from old foe in Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Oct 26 to the gloriously unexpected in Hull City at the KC Stadium on Oct 29, but the Premier League table makes enjoyable reading for Scolari’s side, although they will be aware of the pounding hooves of Sir Alex Ferguson’s thoroughbreds.
O’Neill rightly pointed out that there was still four-fifths of the season to go. He gave respectful name-checks to United, Liverpool and Arsenal, reminded everyone that fortunes can change like a weather-vane in a hurricane, but he was clearly in awe of Chelsea.
“They were brilliant,’’ reflected O’Neill. “It was a harsh lesson for us. This is where we want to be, this is what we aspire to. We were on a crest of a wave. This morning I thought we could win, which shows I’m daft. Chelsea would have beaten some of the best teams in Europe today.’’
Invited to go into specifics on why Chelsea are so good, O’Neill began by hailing their new leader. “Scolari’s a brilliant manager,’’ said O’Neill. “He has inherited a great team here, and put his own stamp on it, and that is remarkable.’’
Asked again to cast his experienced professional eye on the exact nature of the Scolari “stamp’’, O’Neill lauded the Brazilian’s full-backs.
Under Avram Grant and particularly Jose Mourinho, the marauding instincts of individuals like Ashley Cole were not encouraged. Now, Cole and the newcomer, Jose Bosingwa, are urged to overlap.
“He’s got Ashley Cole back to his very best with a licence to go forward,’’ observed O’Neill. “He’s pretty comfortable about going forward because if he plays the ball inside, with their midfield he knows they will play it back on for him. Bosingwa gives them another option going forward.’’
Scolari’s full-backs spent most of the game as auxiliary wingers such was Chelsea’s dominance. From back to front, the hosts were a class apart. If the Matthew Harding Stand were slightly cruel in belittling Villa’s ambitions – “Champions League?’’ they cackled, “you’re having a laugh!’’ – there can be no question of Chelsea’s superiority.
O’Neill highlighted one of Chelsea’s myriad strengths when he noted “their ability to withstand injuries’’ because of the quality of their squad. Branislav Ivanovic was threatening to become a quiz question at the Bridge – had anyone seen him? – yet he slotted in impressively alongside John Terry in the absence of Ricardo Carvalho and Alex. On the rare occasions that Villa ventured into the final third, the Serb nimbly dispossessed John Carew.
Otherwise, there was little to occupy Ivanovic. When the electronic hoardings began flashing up an exhortation to “Take The Tour of Stamford Bridge’’, Chelsea’s back four could have signed up en masse. They were hardly needed. Mikel had everything under control, the Nigerian breaking up Villa’s few attacks before they could build up anything approaching steam.
In front of Mikel, Lampard delivered an even greater display, gliding forward time after time, turning away from tacklers to unleash shot or slide team-mates through. He was involved in both goals, would have scored but for Brad Friedel’s reflexes, and was feted by both managers afterwards. “Lampard played very, very well – two times I will say 'very’,’’ enthused Scolari. “Absolutely outstanding,’’ was O’Neill’s verdict.
The ritual Lampard versus Steven Gerrard debate will resume this week as the best two central midfielders in the land report for England duty. Gerrard has been exceptional for Liverpool of late, and Lampard was at the very top of his game yesterday, giving Gareth Barry a masterclass in midfield movement.
After Friedel had thwarted Michael Ballack and Florent Malouda, Lampard took control, helping create Chelsea’s 21st-minute opener. When Malouda cut the ball back to Lampard, the midfielder was the picture of composure on the edge of the box. Spotting the darting Joe Cole, Lampard placed the ball perfectly, his pass eluding Barry and reaching Cole, who fired it confidently past Friedel.
Chelsea fans had so much to celebrate, from Cole’s strike, to news of Spurs going behind to Hull to Nicolas Anelka ghosting away from Curtis Davies and hitting the bar. Chelsea continued to roll in blue waves towards Friedel’s goal. The American punched away a Lampard free-kick, and then saved from Malouda, but had no chance when Chelsea came calling again with a minute of the first half remaining.
Again Lampard was involved, linking with Malouda to release Ashley Cole down the left. The defender’s pass found Ballack and the goal opened up. With Villa’s defenders absent without leave, Friedel saved at close range from Ballack and Anelka’s follow-up but was stranded as Anelka made certain with his second attempt.
Chelsea had finished scoring, but had not finished impressing. Lampard kept going close, a reminder of the team’s ethos of technical excellence with unremitting commitment.
Another sign of their strength in depth arrived in the busy form of Franco di Santo, who replaced Anelka after the Frenchman felt a slight pain in his leg (although he will be fit for the resumption of Chelsea duties after the international break).
Di Santo’s touch, movement and enterprise, if not his shooting, were a constant, and confirmation of what Chelsea insiders have been whispering for some time, that the Argentinian is a talent to watch. So are Scolari’s Chelsea, a winning mixture of steel and elan.
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