World Football Postulant

The article’s headline does not do justice to the performance Chelsea side turned in Sunday during the Luiz Felipe Scolari’s managerial debut.  Against Portsmouth, the FA Cup holders who have been tabbed to challenge for European football, the Blues posted a 4-0 win, a score that undersells how convincing they were.

Chelsea nullified the striking duo of Peter Crouch and Jermaine Defoe, exposed a completely undermanned Pompey midfield, and showed no reverence for the respected Portsmouth defense.  Harry Redknapp’s side, for their part, did not play especially poorly.  Save a couple of David James curiosities, there was little the visitors could do to slow down the Blues.  As Roman Abromovich applauded from the stands upon seeing the first returns on his investment, a new, clear Premier League favorites were crowned.

That crown, however long it stays at Stamford Bridge, sits firmly on the head of Deco.  Chelsea’s one high-profile summer acquisition was the man of the match, providing an absolutely scary display of distribution for a team that had lacked a true midfield playmaker in season’s past.  Chelsea has had Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack, and Micheal Essien, all of whom are world-class players, but they have been without somebody like Deco, whose immediate utilization of the hyper-active Joe Cole looks to be a potent (and annoying) combination.  With somebody like Cole willing to work for him, Deco could unseated Cesc Fabregas as the league leader in assists.

If Deco was the man of the match, Cole was not far off, giving a performance that makes all the rumors of a Robinho acquisition seem ludicrous.  Off an adroit pass from Michael Ballack (a one-touch punch off the outside of his foot that found Cole bursting past the line), Cole open’s Chelsea’s book just past the ten minute mark.  It was the type of play that could only come from two, world class players who have played together as often as Ballack and Cole.  The moment Portsmouth gave the ball away to Ballack’s feet, Cole was bursting past Sylvain Distin.  Ballack put him in alone on James.

Unlike the Chelsea FC of last season, this club did not rest on its laurels.  The second goal from Niclas Anelka, a header from a ball popped-up in front of the goal line while David James was out for a walk, was the result of constant pressure.  Rather than attack on turnovers, Portsmouth seemed to exhale in relief when Chelsea gave up the ball.  Without any talent in midfield that could compete with Deco, Ballack, Lampard and Jon Obi Mikel, Pompey was left parrying attacks throughout the first half.  They needed Pedro Mendes. They needed Sulley Muntari.  They needed some midfield help, and they needed it help more Chelsea pressure helped created a penalty kick off a hand ball just before half time.  Lampard’s first goal of the season put Chelsea up 3-0 at half.

It was a scary, relentless performance that hinted at a sea change at Stamford Bridge.  The Chelsea players finally seem convinced at how good they are.  In this window before Arsenal’s youth matures, Chelsea has the most talented collection of players in the league (and have had for years).  Scolari seems to realize this and has encouraged the players to show their skills.  The fluid football the Blues showed in their China tour and during their two matches in Moscow at the Russian Railways Cup was still on display Sunday.  Just like in the preseason, Chelsea’s players looked to be having fun, challenging themselves to play beautiful and (to Abramovich’s pleasure) exciting football.

Even at match’s end, when Pompey had conceded they had no chance to dent Chelsea’s armor, the team’s ambition was on display, with Deco putting a 30 meter shot past James while Portsmouth’s back line stood back, shell-shocked.  As he left the field, Deco shook his teammates’ hands while his teammates shook their heads at him.  Deco’s arrival may have changed everything in the Premiership, and it took two months for us to realize it.

Harry Redknapp needs midfield reinforcements, but will be hard for him to take too much from this match.  Even before stepping onto the pitch, everybody know Portsmouth was short of Chelsea’s class.  The question everybody has as Pompey leaves London:  Is anybody in the same class as this Chelsea club?

That’s how impressive the Blues were.

Note: This article will be edited for distribution on American Soccer Reader.

Links
Scolari warns Chelsea not to rest on their laurels
Scolari Hails His Beautiful Blues
Scolari calls for more
Chelsea answer the call for Brazilian style and move on to another level
Chelsea 4 Porstmouth 0: Scolari’s ‘beautiful game’ brings joy to Chelsea
Chelsea 4 Portsmouth 0: Scolari wants style as well as substance
Redknapp rues defending
Scolari satisifed with win
Scolari: Satisfied and Happy
Lampard: Blues had electric start
Delighted Scolari hails team spirit in Chelsea opener
Frank - As well as we can play
Blues delight on Scolari bow
Player Ratings: Chelsea 4-0 Portsmouth
Lampard Hails Top Drawer Chelsea
Chelsea start Scolari era with win over Pompey
Chelsea 4- Portsmouth
Chelsea begin Scolari era with 4-0 victory
Chelsea 4-0 Portsmouth: Scolari starts in style
Formidable Blues inspired by Deco
Deco inspired imperious Chelsea in Portsmouth rout
Rampant Chelsea rout Portsmouth
Chelsea 4-0 Portsmouth
Blues brush Pompey aside

Frank Lampard had to know Jose Mourinho and Inter Milan were going to find somebody else to fill the central midfielder’s role this season should he not leave Chelsea this summer and join his former coach in Italy, but it’s unlikely he figured Inter to move for somebody like Sulley Muntari.  It is a move that could close his best exit route from Stamford Bridge.  If the midfielder really does want to finish his career outside England, as he has said before he wants to do, he may look back with disappointment at the decisions he’s made this summer.

After it became clear Lampard would not be coming for the start of their season, Inter moved for Portsmouth’s Sulley Muntari, completing that acquisition today.  Muntari is not a one-season solution.  The 24-year-old Ghana international signed a four year deal and is still improving.  While a midfield that would see Lampard and Muntari playing together next fall is enticing, consider the amount Inter’s spent on Muntari.  The €14 million they gave Portsmouth is ther Lampard money.  It’s unlikely they would allocate so much money to one spot, especially considering the salary Lampard would require on top of a transfer fee.

Of course, next summer Lampard’s transfer fee would be nothing.  With his contract up, Lampard could join any side he wants, and if he wants to play with Mourinho badly enough, Inter could find a way to afford him.  Mourinho’s hinting at wanting to thin out a deep and star-studded striker force.  Money will be available should Zlatan Ibrahimovic or Adriano move on.

It is possible, though, Inter will be far less interested in bringing Lampard in one season from now.  A 31-year-old midfielder standing to make £150,000 per week is a precarious proposition.  Lampard has a reputation for being a very physically fit player, so playing at a high level for two, three, four additional years would not be a surprise.  But wanting a five year deal from Chelsea, would Lampard settle for less from Inter, especially considering his is likely to be hearing offers from other clubs around the continent.  One team will be willing to offer him a five year deal, even if it means potentially having to eat the last year-or-so when Lampard won’t be playing at the same level.  It’s possible Inter will not be that team, though.

One team that is willing to make that deal is Chelsea, who is reported to have a £150,000 per week, four year offer extended to Lampard.  Some reports have the deal being five years in length.  If so, Lampard may want to take advantage of that offer now.  He may desire a shift of scenery and want to rejoin Mourinho, but lift for him at the Bridge is not that bad.  He is a beloved player for a club that is committed to staying at the top of the footballing world.  He has a firm offer in front of him, whereas there is some uncertainty as to whether there will be deals out there come next summer.  One injury, one tactical change from new coach Luiz Felipe Scolari can see Lampard’s market value dip.  For somebody who does seem to be angling for a deal of maximum value, he may want to take the chickens in hand.

Even if Inter has moved on, you can see a team like Milan willing to break the bank for Lampard.  Clubs like Juventus or Bayern Munich could also, depending on what happens this season, be looking to bring in a star, central midfielder.  Chelsea may also keep its offer on the table into next summer.  Whatever the hypothetical scenarios for next summer, Lampard’s immediate options have narrowed with the Muntari deal.  If he wants to secure his future before January, he now has Chelsea.  And that’s it.

Quotes

“Muntari will be our last acquisition, now we must work on reducing the squad as coach Jose Mourinho wants 22 players and three goalkeepers.” - Gabriele Oriali, sporting director, Inter Milan
“I’m not disappointed by Lampard. The important thing for a player is to do what makes him happy. If his decision is to stay at Chelsea I accept that.” - Mourinho

Links

Inter Milan end interest in Lampard
Jose Expects Lampard to Stay
Inter Give Mixed Messages Over Lampard
Muntari ends Inter Lamps chase
Inter sign Muntari and give up on Lampard
Inter rule out Lampard after Muntari signs
Muntari will be last signing, say Inter Milan
Inter still keen on Lampard

Just posted a piece on American Soccer Reader walking through Chelsea’s lineup considerations for the upcoming season.  As you can see here, there is the case to be made that Lampard is somewhat without a position, especially since the acquisition of Deco.

Links

Why Chelsea Should Sell Frank Lampard

Chelsea fans may be bemoaning what amounts to a trade of Frank Lampard for Deco, but in terms of what their club needs, this is a good move.  As I discussed last week, one of Chelsea’s main concerns coming out of last season’s second place finishes is the lack of options they have for transitioning the ball through the midfield, into attack.  Moving Michael Essien back to a full time midfield role is a huge first step, but they have no other means to effectively transition beside their main route from last year:  target Didier Drogba; rely on him to win and hold the ball; establish an attack around him.

The problem with this:  Drogba, while a beast when focused and healthy, was neither last season, and without Jose Mourinho around to tap into his talent, it would be folly to rely on Drogba carrying the club again.  That is why the club needed a player like Deco.  Deco can take the ball just outside Chelsea’s third and carry it or make the right decisions to the ball into a point of attack.  Essien is the only other person on the team that can do this, and the Ghanaian lacks the Portugese’s skill in distribution.  The Bison’s style is much more blunt:  I will physically carry this ball to wherever it needs to be.

But while I endorse Chelsea’s implicit decision (Lampard has kind of forced their hand by moving towards Inter Milan), I can’t say it’s without risks.  In fact, there is the distinct possibility that they will not be able to replicate Lampard’s twenty goals.  They will miss his resourcefulness around the box, and you don’t loose a guy who has been with the club that long without things around the locker room noticeably changing.

To offset that, the thinking goes, Deco will be able to get more out of players like Joe Cole, Florent Malouda, and Salomon Kalou, hopefully making up for the loss of Lampard’s goals.  It may not work, but Chelsea had to tried, because although finishing second in either the Champions League and the Premiership would be a massive accomplishment for any club, it’s not good enough if your work for Roman Abramovich.

Links

Scolari signs Deco for Chelsea on his first day in office

Deco signs for Chelsea

Chelsea sign Deco from Barcelona

Deco leaves FC Barcelona to join Chelsea

Chelsea complete Deco deal

Chelsea sign Barce playmaker Deco

Chelsea sign Barca magician

Just rushed to get a tentative confirmation up on ASR.  Here it is.  It’s news that originates out of France.  I was originally going to wait, as the first English source to relay it was Goal.com.  But when the Telegraph picked it up, I decided to write a measured post, hence the “Report:” in the title.

It’s a great move for Inter, who could really use a threat from midfield.  They have a glut of forwards but few who can both link and be a threat in attack.  Frank Lampard can also be a buffer between team and new coach, Jose Mourinho.  Inter just needed a boost, after last season’s near collapse.  I’m not the biggest Frank fan, but this is still a good move.

I don’t think Chelsea will miss a beat, however.  Going to Luiz Felipe Scolari’s system, it was going to be hard to accommodate both Frank and Michael Ballack, and Ballack has to be the choice between the two.  Michael Essien has to play in the middle, as he’s the only guy who can transition the ball out of their own end.

They still have issues because Scolari likes holding mids and neither Essien nor Ballack are best utilized in that way.  Essien can do it, but then there goes his ability to link through attack.  It’s a very strange assortment of players.

Links

Report:  Frank Lampard Signed by Inter Milan

Frank Lampard Quits Chelsea for Inter Milan

Jon Obi Mikel, who looks to take on an increased role with Chelsea if Claude Makelele’s move to Paris St. Germain happens, said yesterday that life will go on if Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba leave.  He was speaking for himself but might as well as been speaking for the club.  Given the resources Chelsea FC has, I don’t doubt it.  Chelsea will find a way to replace their losses, though with their depth in midfield they may not have to get anybody to replace Lampard.

Still, Drogba will not be easy to replace.  Yes, he was injured for half of last season’s Premiership, and yes, when he was playing it seemed like he was only playing half the time.  But towards the end of the season, when Chelsea went on their near-miss run towards a double, he was the key to their attack.  Playing Michael Essien at right back half the time, they had no way to transition out of their end besides targeting Drogba and relying on him to win and hold up the ball.

That’s a slight exaggeration.  They did, sometimes, transition possession in other ways.  But I can’t stress enough how important Drogba was to Chelsea last season.  Luiz Felipe Scolari is likely to change the team’s tactics and make them less reliant on Drogba, but even if they play more 4-4-2 and find another creating midfielder, losing Drogba will be a much bigger loss than letting Lampard go.

Mikel might want to be careful what he asks for.  Though he’s not really asking for anything.

I just wanted to be cliched.

Links

Obi tells Lampaard and Drogba:  Life at Chelsea will go on without you