1. Any World Cup hangover will be minimal
Going through the Chelsea line-up were a host of players who had a World Cup to forget: the English contingent of Cole, Terry and Lampard, and France’s Nicolas Anelka and Florent Malouda had rather embarrassing tournaments, while the African trio of Mikel, Essien and Drogba all suffered injuries keeping them either restricted or out of the tournament altogether. Back in the relative comfort of a Chelsea shirt, they looked like the quality players that they are, with far too much for West Brom to handle. Essien in particular, is refreshed and will want to make up for lost time.
2. Ancelotti was right to fight for Cole
As Jose Mourinho looks to build his new Real Madrid team, Ashley Cole was on his wish list to improve a shaky Real backline. After the World Cup and the breakdown of his marriage, Cole seemed disillusioned with life in England, and the thought of linking up with the man who took him from Arsenal would have been a tempting offer to consider. But before the story could fully develop, Carlo Ancelotti nipped it all in the bud to declare that Cole was going nowhere. Having enjoyed one of his best ever seasons in Ancelotti’s first season in charge, arguably the world’s best left-back seems to have picked up where he left off.
3. Little has changed at West Brom
Having been relegated or promoted in six of the last nine seasons, on this evidence there is little to suggest that that pattern will not continue. At Stamford Bridge on Saturday they had a lot of the ball, more than many teams will, and they keep the ball neatly, but lack a killer touch as Roman Bednar cut an isolated figure up front. It appears that under Roberto Di Matteo, just like two seasons ago under Tony Mowbray, West Brom will continue to try and play good football rather than get in the face of sides. Although admirable in style, the system appears to offer little in the way of security and ultimately, Premiership safety.
4. Joe Hart is the best English goalkeeper
If it was in doubt beforehand, surely this weekend’s fixtures showed that Joe Hart is England’s best option for the no.1 shirt. David James has dropped down a division, Paul Robinson has retired from international duty and Rob Green, along with Scott Carson at Stamford Bridge, provided hapless displays all after Hart pulled off save after save in thwarting a Spurs onslaught. Carson was given little protection from his defenders, but indecision and shoddy handling were far too a generous gift for the grateful Chelsea forwards as they helped themselves to goal after goal. Often keepers have enhanced their reputations at smaller clubs i.e. Ben Foster at Watford, Robinson at Blackburn or Hart himself at Birmingham, but Carson really struggled on Saturday and may be in for a tough season.
5. Chelsea’s first XI picks itself
The one major thing Chelsea now have over their rivals is that everyone now knows their best team: Cech, Ivanovic, Terry, Alex, Cole, Mikel, Essien, Lampard, Malouda, Anelka, Drogba.
Without having to get out of third gear, they demolished West Brom. With Carvalho’s departure to Real Madrid, Alex is assured of his place alongside John Terry (if it wasn’t assured beforehand) and Branislav Ivanovic’s reputation was enhanced by simply not playing and allowing Paulo Ferreira to provide little in either attack or defence. While the Portugese full-back remains a decent back-up, Ivanovic proved last season it is now his position to lose. With the arrival of Ramires and (hopefully) another centre-back, the line-up may change, but for now, Chelsea look dangerously settled for the rest of the league.
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