Not surprisingly the run up to the game was filled with talk about nothing other than Stones! Every question to Roberto was more about him not selling Stones than the tactics and the feeling before the game in the dressing room! Also, no surprise here, but nobody was predicting a win for Everton. OK, I was included in that, which on reflection was a bit naive of me. I saw many a Tweet with predictions mostly leaning towards a draw, but it felt from the beginning that nobody was considering Everton's solid start to the season and the not so good start made by Chelsea.
A consideration I don't think Jose had thought through. Although he did blame his lack of computer and tactical meeting on the morning of the game but surely the history they have had in recent seasons would require a bit more up front work than a tactical meeting in the morning of a 12.45 kick off game? I would question whether this is a lack of respect from Mourinho, the same lack he showed in the ever discussed transfer window. A respect that I think was shown to us by Pellegrini whose tactics led to our 2-0 home defeat against Man City a few weeks. That man did his homework. He put his big strong defenders and holding midfielders all over Romelu and Ross. At times when Ross had the ball in front of goal there were five players around him. Jose didn't have the sense to tell Ivanovic to stay close on the heels of a Steven Naismith who had scored against his side only two seasons before.
I can't even begin to describe the performance of the Blues yesterday it was outstanding. I think Paul Scholes said it perfectly, it didn't matter who Everton played they were going to win, they were unstoppable. The defensive line did not allow Chelsea's front men anywhere near the goal to allow Tim to have work to do. As proven by the goal from Matic having to come from so far away. Stones proved to Jose exactly why he badgered The Toffees so much for his services, his calm resolute stance was one that put the Londoners right off their pace. At one point in the first half he allowed Costa to pass it through his legs knowing he would be able to block him from moving in front of him, a move I think defenders of the past may not have had the confidence to do. In the middle Barry was strong and Coleman found spaces well. But my stand out man in defence had to be Galloway, he looked like a different player to the one I saw against Man City. He looked confident and read spaces and opportunities very well including the cross that ended in one of Naismith's three goals! And that is where we look to the men up front, I felt for Rom he seemed to be finding it very difficult to get the ball into the back of the net. I do wonder whether the pressure of being back in front of Jose is not easy for him. But obviously our attention has to be with Naismith. It was under sad circumstances that Naismith had to brought on with the loss of Besic. But boy fate was looking down on Goodison Park! As my husband will tell you I have been a fan of Steven even before he came to the North West (secretly because he looks like my husband and I have a soft spot for Glasgow Rangers) so when I see people moaning about him coming on it always grates. Yesterday was no different but thankfully for me he showed all those moaners what he is made of! He worked Ivanovic perfectly, read space well and clinically took the chances that were put in front of him. He was confident, strong and bloody minded. He always works hard in my opinion and yesterday his hard work paid off. To think the last person to score a hattrick against Chelsea was Dixie Dean, not bad company for the Scot to be in. I can't imagine many players will be joining him either, and not with a perfect hat trick as Mr N had!
