Eastern Block

Dynamo Kiev held Chelsea to a 0-0. Or did Chelsea hold them? This draw was not a result I was expecting, although I feel it was reasonable. Both teams were pretty equal on the day.

I knew they would be harder to break down than Tel Aviv and not as dangerous as Porto, but I would have hoped for at least two goals.

On spirit, the Blues looked wonderful. Matic was operating like a genetically modified Messi; pirouetting and dribbling with such beauty I was enthralled.

Zouma is such a gem, even as right-back he was very solid. Although I feel that he would be better suited as a midfield partner to Matic, and Ramires should be put out as a wing back.

The best moment of the day was seeing Eden Hazard smiling again.

So the down-trodden Chelsea of late looks to have picked themselves up by the bootstraps, but there is still much work to be done.

While the performances were on an even keel, I feel Chelsea were the better side. They forced Kiev into snatching at chances, long-range shooting, and keeping possession in non-threatening areas.

Kiev also allowed acres of space for Willian and Fabregas to terrorize the Ukrainian Champions in between the midfield and back lines. The first half belonged to a Chelsea attacking mentality, the second half made clear that a draw was the most likely outcome.

So this begs the question: where have all the goalscorers gone?

Diego Costa has his back to goal 90% of the time and is now resigned to a hold-up role. Fabregas looks to make the killer pass, but with no runs being made, no goals can be made with his help. Hazard is on the mend, so to speak, and his timing of passes needs to improve to the same calibre of his dribbling.

Though the team mentality has improved, the same tactical oversights are problematic. Crosses from the wings come to naught. There is never anyone of real threat in the box, and crosses from the wing players also have a large rate of failure, as is the case with most BPL games too.

There are one of two solutions that I can see. The first is that Diego Costa needs a strike partner who can poach and run. He can use his strength and positioning to keep possession and the other striker can make a nuisance of himself.

The second is to encourage attacking runs from the middle, and having Terry and Cahill far higher up the pitch. Matic actually isn’t bad at being an attacking threat. He can manage some mazy dribbles into opposition space with relative grace(lethargy). Ramires and Oscar can hammer in long shots. Sometimes. If the weather is right. And if certain stars and planets are aligned. Same goes for Willian, although his recent dead-ball accuracy is wicked.

Before Diego was brought in and the bench had Fernando Torres, Samuel Eto’o, and Demba Ba, Mourinho bemoaned that he had “no strikers.” Such is the case now I feel with Diego’s finishing prowess not having a chance to shine. And especially reminiscent of those weak days are Falcao and Loïc Remy.

Funny to see Shevchenko watching the match between his two past employers. I wonder if he and Fernando feel better about their careers seeing the impotence of Remy and Falcao now.

Calling all agents: Chelsea need a new striker, and preferably an expensive one.