Chelsea vs Stoke: The One Without Diego Costa's Gloves

Mikel's reaction at seeing Fabregas starting from the bench

If you were wondering what exactly Guus Hiddink’s priorities were with this Chelsea team, he did everything he could to clear that up with his lineup for Saturday’s match against Stoke. Guus wants cups. Cups as far as the eye can see.

While there’s obviously no problem with squad rotation, most of this particular squad took the first half of the season off so should be fresh as little daisies in this run up. Sure -- there’s not much Chelsea can realistically accomplish in the league title this season. But aren’t mid-table clubs still supposed to try and beat those around them? Stoke were well within Chelsea's reach. Maybe I got a little too excited about this whole top half of the table business and wanted us to creep into single digit league positions. Greedy.

I’m not sure I can stomach moaning about the pairing of John Obi Mikel and Nemanja Matic again. But it does beg the question, why Guus, why? I realise Stoke have fooled everyone into thinking they’ve scored loads of goals since becoming Barcelona’s B side, but they’ve scored fewer goals than Crystal Palace — who have been playing without a striker for most of this season! There’s almost never a need for two holding midfielders and certainly not against Stoke. At home.

Chelsea’s midfield lacked purpose. Possibly because they lacked the focal point that the masked marauder offers when he’s mooching about in the opposition’s box. But they also didn’t have a recognised leader. Cesc Fàbregas has picked up that mantle in recent weeks telling everyone where they should be, where the ball needs to be, stopping Willian from drifting into an offside position. You name it, he’s taking care of it. Neither Mikel nor Matic step into that dominant and vocal role, leaving everyone to fend for themselves rather than function as a unit. No idea what Hiddink was trying to accomplish with Fàbregas’ 10 minute cameo, but even in that minimal time he managed a couple of saucy little passes into the box and had anyone but Loic Remy been there, we might just have sneaked it.

Speaking of our French forward - what happened to him? There was a time when we all believed he probably deserved to be starting a few more matches — or at least getting a good half hour in most matches where Chelsea needed something a little bit different. But without the chance of a move away now pushed back until at least the summer, has Remy decided he no longer needs to be an impact sub? Someone should remind him, he’ll end up with better offers if he looks like he can do a job.

If truth be told, I would have brought on Pato. While I’m under no illusion that he’s going to be the player he was once projected to be - he’s keen. And there’s something to be said for that level of enthusiasm. Given the opportunity, Pato’s energy may have been enough to draw a defender or two away and offer space for Eden Hazard to nip into — providing he takes the shot himself and stops trying to help Oscar shoot high and wide.

Roll on Zlatan FC

jb x