Itchycoo Park (Chelsea 1 – United 1)

By: Simon James | September 22nd, 2008

“It’s all too beautiful”, the Small Faces reminded me on Sunday when Ji-Sung Park scored his 18th minute goal.

I’ve had a bit of a pop at him over the last few days and I’m not afraid to say that I loved Mr Park for a few minutes on Sunday. Just a few minutes, mind you. I still think he doesn’t deserve a place in the starting line-up but he WILL win me round if he keeps scoring important goals.

There isn’t much to write about the game that hasn’t been written already to be honest, it was marred by a lot of bookings (a £25,000 fine, see below) and a Chelsea equaliser that was deserved. the thing that scares me the most at the moment is the obvious lack of second half tactical nous. Querioz is missed I feel and at the moment, the lack of ideas later in the game is costing us points. Rooney didn’t seem to know what his role was when Ronaldo came on and if he keeps giving away senseless fouls due to frustration, he will do us no favours not unlike the goal that resulted from the free kick. Tevez’s industry was missed, I feel, even while Berbatov’s flair shone teasingly of bigger things to come.

Game’s like this make me want the next game to come quicker and it’s slightly frustrating that the Carling Cup is next as Fergie will no doubt rest a few players for the game against Boton at the weekend, which will be a physical affair.

Overall, I feel like there can be no more excuses for poor performances, and this was by no means poor, and I am hoping someone is going to be on the end of a hammering in the next few weeks when Rooney, Berbatov, Tevez and Ronaldo click. I’m hoping it’s Bolton.

Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Carvalho (Alex 12), Terry, Ashley Cole, Obi, Joe Cole, Ballack (Kalou 74), Lampard, Malouda (Drogba 46), Anelka.Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Bridge, Belletti, Ferreira.
Booked: Obi.

Man Utd: Van der Sar (Kuszczak 32), Neville, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra, Fletcher, Hargreaves, Scholes (Ronaldo 55), Park (O’Shea 75), Berbatov, Rooney. Subs Not Used: Brown, Giggs, Nani, Tevez.
Booked: Scholes, Ferdinand, Neville, Berbatov, Rooney, Evra, Ronaldo, Cantona, Robson, Schmeichal, Charlton, Albiston, Solksjaer, Coppell, Wilkins (ha!), Taibi, Prunier, Moses, Bailey, Birtles, Macari, Hughes, Sharpe, The Coach Driver, the Kit Man, Manchester (the red bits).