Chelsea fans’ discussions centred both on the players with potential who need time and those given time but yet to fully build on their potential, though a run of just 6 points in 7 games and the missing of a stoppage time penalty was obviously bound to make this grumbles more pointed.
The main target has been Kalou, whose wayward finishing focused more attention on the limitations to the rest of his game compared with Daniel Sturridge, who enjoyed a positive cameo appearance off the bench. Surely the time has arrived for Ancelotti to get full value from the £70,000 a week Sturridge, who shows the willingness to look up and play the cutting passes, even if they aren’t always paying off at the moment.
Kalou may have just reached both the limits of his talent and the end of his shelf life, a reality which even young Gael Kakuta may now be facing after failing to find a place on a youthful substitutes bench, now with just over 6 months left until his current contract runs out.
The half time substitution of Mikel paved the way for a better Chelsea display, but not just because it introduced Didier Drogba after being shockingly left on the bench during the first half, it also gave Ramires both the space and responsibility to stamp his presence in an energetic second half performance, having too often looked like a spare part when picked in a five man midfield alongside Mikel and Essien. Like Manchester City, the sheer number of defensive midfielders could be to blame for limited goal returns in recent weeks, though the long-awaited return of Frank Lampard should solve that problem.
Branislav Ivanovic had been perilously sat on four yellow cards, but crucially survived unscathed and will vitally not be suspended for the Manchester United game, with Alex out injured. He and Terry kept the Spurs stars who have scored so freely in Europe remarkably quiet, with even Bale unable to make an impact and Spurs only really having one quality shot on target, giving them the 1-0 lead.
