Closed Everton 1-2 Chelsea

[Rubber bullets 1,183]

Is it me or has Cole been lacking in the last few game? Is it a case of tiredness?

[Peppi85 110]

Is it me or has Cole been lacking in the last few game? Is it a case of tiredness?

Is it me or does the ball barely gets to the left side of the field? were always playin trough the middle or from the right flank...

[Hamilton 2,120]

Winning your lesser games, that's how champions are made!

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

Is it me or has Cole been lacking in the last few game? Is it a case of tiredness?

Thought Cole was awful for the first 30 but tremendous most of the rest of the game. He really was calm and went around the aggressive Everton pressure with ease.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

There were about a dozen things wrong with the first goal, of which Luiz's positioning was one (Cole's was far more shocking and I'll have to check this but I think he's into double digits for the amount of times he's played in that position).

Yes, but we are talking about Luiz's mistakes. Regardless of everyone else's mitakes, if Luiz had been doing his job well, we would not have conceded.

He deserved a yellow card and I don't think anyone could look at his display and think Webb would give him a red.

What does his display have to do with the YC? He was already on a yellow and made 2 unnecessary late tackles that could have seen him sent off. It was plain stupid and if I were the manager I would be telling him just that after the match because he could have cost us points.

[Henrique 9,133]

Don't think so. He once again sloppy with his passes. His positioning was terrible as is evident with the goal and the osman shot that Cech saved. He kept being draw to the wing on the defense leaving Pinaar to wreck havoc in the middle. His defending was naive and too aggressive. At the end he should have been sent off; he made two challenges that would have gotten him a second yellow if Web was to be strict. His recklessness nearly let the team down.

Another hypercritical review regarding Luiz, you can say he wasnt that good, but your last line "his recklessness nearly let the team down" is way too stupid. Luiz got his yellow in the last 15 minutes or so for a ugly foul on Pienaar, but after that he NEVER had another foul worth a yellow card.

[The only place to be 11,313]

Yes, but we are talking about Luiz's mistakes. Regardless of everyone else's mitakes, if Luiz had been doing his job well, we would not have conceded.

What does his display have to do with the YC? He was already on a yellow and made 2 unnecessary late tackles that could have seen him sent off. It was plain stupid and if I were the manager I would be telling him just that after the match because he could have cost us points.

So let's just focus on Luiz's mistakes and not the good he did today?

He was out of position for that goal. He wasn't the only one - what more do you want? It's his 6th fucking game in that position and you're writing him off? In fairness, you've been doing that since day one so at least you're consistent.

And I completely disagree with the idea he could've been off. Try not to be too disappointed about his lack of a red.

[Rupert 130]

Rafa prepared the team for an intense high-pressing Everton who would fight for every ball and second ball especially in the opening 15 minutes. But despite the preparation we showed our fundamental weakness as a team - disarray and slight panic when under high speed attack. Our playmakers were too slow in their first touch and too slow and rushed in releasing the ball and they gave it away almost every time for the first 24 minutes. Hazard does not convince when he is under pressure and has no space. His bad pass led to the first goal. Mata looked like he had not adjusted to the speed of English football for the first 25 minutes. There was also too may wild clearances and aimless long balls and the team was spread out and not compact enough. They lost touch with each other and Torres was isolated for most of the first half. This is the exact opposite to the way Rafa likes his teams to play so I put it down to the player's weak mentality under pressure. Rafa was able to get them focused and organised at half-time. But you could see the fatigue in Chelsea legs. Eventually, as expected, Everton lost energy and Chelsea became more comfortable but still not safe. Moses instead of Hazard was an improvement and while I did not want Oscar to start because he has also been slow and wasteful lately I thought bringing him on towards the end was a great move. He was under instruction to hold the ball and run down the clock - you would think he rest of the team would have figured that out when they were in the lead, but they didn't. Oscar did it very well and posed a threat on the counter. Lampard scores so many by just being in the six yard box - I'd like to see Torres do more of that. Another, deserved win for the team coming after a grueling four weeks - great credit to Rafa. Lampard, Luiz (who never stopped trying even when he made mistakes) Ramirez who was one of our main threats. But worries about Chelsea central defence and how easily Cole gets rounded and caught out of position.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Another hypercritical review regarding Luiz, you can say he wasnt that good, but your last line "his recklessness nearly let the team down" is way too stupid. Luiz got his yellow in the last 15 minutes or so for a ugly foul on Pienaar, but after that he NEVER had another foul worth a yellow card.

He had 2 late tackles. I honestly though he was off after the first one. He was late and no where near the ball and would have gotten a yellow if he were not already on a YC.

[Cosmin 2,484]

I am so glad I was wrong when I said that we won't win this game. Congratulations to all the Chelsea players and to the staff.

Thank you for making hour holidays happier!

[Superblue 6,372]

Very impressive result and we're showing some real fight and steel about us at the moment. The pressing game that all of the players have embraced under Benitez IMO has been a big factor in recent games - a big case in point today was the final 20 minutes. Having taken the lead at Goodison with 20 minutes to go, you know that Everton will throw everything at you, but with the attack and midfield pressing hard and the defenders holding a high line rather than falling into their own box, we prevented them from pumping balls constantly into our box and applying pressure.

With the exception of the Jelavic chance they created nothing in those final 20 minutes which for me was one of the most pleasing aspects of today's performance. Very professional today!

[The only place to be 11,313]

He had 2 late tackles. I honestly though he was off after the first one. He was late and no where near the ball and would have gotten a yellow if he were not already on a YC.

Two late tackles on who?

I've just looked at the minute-by-minute on the BBC website and I can't see a free-kick given away by him after his booking.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Two late tackles on who?

I've just looked at the minute-by-minute on the BBC website and I can't see a free-kick given away by him after his booking.

Webb played advantage on both occasions.

[Sheva. 5,373]

Great win, especially after the way we started the game. Ramires did alright and so did Luiz - and we were able to win such a tough game without a proper DM.

[SinineUltra 1,170]

Another hypercritical review regarding Luiz, you can say he wasnt that good, but your last line "his recklessness nearly let the team down" is way too stupid. Luiz got his yellow in the last 15 minutes or so for a ugly foul on Pienaar, but after that he NEVER had another foul worth a yellow card.

It isn't always the nature of the tackle but the sheer number of fouls.. and Luiz is known for his ill timing and moments of 'brilliance'.. it is a justified fear.. in my eyes, he was lucky not to receive a red

[Melanicus 5,208]

An idiot Everton fan on Twitter with some ******* tweets.

Go and report him.

[The only place to be 11,313]

Webb played advantage on both occasions.

And anyone who saw them knows that there was no way Webb was going to give yellow for them - he let the play flow very well. That suggests Luiz might've known exactly what he was doing, but that's a matter of perspective and seeing what you want to see.

[MetsajCFC 1,255]

Two late tackles on who?

I've just looked at the minute-by-minute on the BBC website and I can't see a free-kick given away by him after his booking.

I remember those moments aswell and one in particular could have easily been a yellow card