Chelsea 6-0 West Brom: I did not see that one coming!

So I have had some time to think about and digest what happened yesterday and I still am shocked at the result and performance as I really really never saw that kind of performance coming.

We all know we have had a nightmare pre-season and performance last week against Manchester United. In addition to this we have had the ridiculous international week so our preparation for the West Brom game was literally a couple of days and that was it. So if you had read my pre-match preview on Friday you would of seen that I was on a downer about our preparation and squad depth.

Then we had the news that we had signed Ramires late Friday, so I woke up yesterday with renewed optimism and posted on here a rallying call to the team and our supporters and said:

Anyone fancy 7-0?

Little did I know or expect that it very nearly was!.

We looked like we did for our title run-in last season, looked like we had never stopped for the summer break and most importantly of all we looked like we were cruising and never stepped out of second gear. That's what impressed me the most.

As predicted Bobby Di Matteo decided to deploy a 5-man midfield as I had predicted and looked to make life diffcult for Chelsea in our 4-3-3 formation which gladly looks as though this is the formation Carlo wants to stick with.

Chelsea looked at full strength apart from Ivanovic at right back who started on the bench so Ferriera got the nod to start as he had all pre-season. Cech was back in goal, Alex returned from injury next to JT and Cole at left back. Lampard, Essien and Mikel in midfield and Malouda left, Drogba through the middle and Anelka wide right.

West Brom at times in the game passed the ball around well but never really caused Cech too many problems at all. The had a shot well wide and AAnelka had shot straight at Carson before we took the lead. Drogba had taken a free kick and Carson couldn't hold onto the ball. Mikel was onto it like a flash and challenged Carson to the ball and the ball came loose to Malouda who fired home to make it 1-0 Chelsea.

Chelsea made it two when Didier Drogba smashed home a free kick into the bottom corner. Carson had reason to moan at his wall as when Drogba hit the ball the people in wall seperated and Carson had no chance. 2-0 Chelsea. At this stage I think we all thought at the time game over, that's no disrespect at all to West Brom.

Drogba made it 3-0 early in the second half after a Florent Malouda corner was met by JT who headed towards goal. Amongst the bodies in and around the six yard box was Didier Drogba. As JT's header rebounded off the defender there was a scramble for the ball and eventually the ball came loose to Drogba who lashed home left-footed from six yards. 3-0 Chelsea.

Frank Lampard made it 4-0 after a great move by Chelsea down the left hand side. Mikel played the ball into Anelka outside the box. Anelka spotted Ashley Cole had made his run down the left and into the box and Anelka slid the ball inside the box to Cole. Cole had two options as he was unmarked left of centre 12 yards out and could have belted a shot on target, but to his credit and to cap off a fine move, he played the ball square to Lampard who took a touch to set himself and fired home into the bottom corner. 4-0 Chelsea.

Drogba made it five after Chelsea possession down the left wing was played back to Drogba about 25 yards from goal on the left hand side, he took touch inside and decided to hit a shot on goal, his shot was deflected away from Carson diving to his left and the ball found its way into the unguarded opposite corner!. 5-0 Chelsea and a Drogba opening day hat-trick!.

Chelsea made it 6-0 late on in the game as Anelka had the ball played to him 35 yards out in the middle of the pitch, spotted Malouda was about to make a run in behind their back four, and played the pass of the game over to Malouda who took one touch to control the ball, then knocked it past Carson who had come off his line to make a challenge and Malouda slide the ball home in off the near post.

So it was another impressive performance from Chelsea and like I have said completley unexpected from the Chelsea we had been watching pre-season and leading up to yesterdays game. We looked impressive going forward once more and to think that it will still take us a couple of games to fully get into our stride, it gave a message to everyone else that we are the team to beat!.

Carlo Ancelotti said afterwards:

'Didier did a fantastic job, not just because he scored but he worked for the team very hard, as did Anelka and Malouda. They all worked very hard defensively. That is the mentality of our strikers, they are working for the team and it was a good start, we wanted to win because we had a difficult pre-season.

We played a good game, we showed good football, scored a lot of goals and there are a lot of good things to come from this game. We started the first half well, kept a high tempo on the pitch, but it wasn't our game until the second goal. Then it was easier for us because there was more space up front and we had a lot of possibility to score.

We knew we had a problem, We decided to give our players who played in the World Cup another six days of holiday. It was necessary for them to have a full recovery and we knew the first game of the pre-season we couldn't play them. Also Cech, Alex, Drogba, Essien, all had problems during pre-season but they are all very close to their best condition now. John Terry, Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard also showed good condition today.

Maybe they are still not in the best condition but they have time now to arrive in the best condition. Now the squad is complete. Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard and John Terry can still improve their condition. In two weeks they will be 100 per cent.

We did our job, nothing special, This team can show this kind of play, can score a lot of goals and this is our job.'

Roberto Di Matteo also spoke after the game about a difficult afternoon for his side back in the Premier League. He said:

'Playing the champions away for the first game of the season, you know it is going to be a tough game, There aren't many teams who come away winners from Stamford Bridge. You can see why they are champions they are strong in every department. They are very good and it is very difficult to play against them. Now we have to learn very quickly and we have to improve very quickly as well. On the upside we won't be playing Chelsea every week!'

(Source:Chelseafc.com)

So we sit top of the Premier League once more, yes its only after one game but this is where Carlo Ancelotti and our side will want to stay to dictate the pace of the title run this season and if can improve on our performance yesterday then its a massive wake up call to everyone else in the run in.

For now, Didier has a hat-trick, Malouda has two and Frank is on the goal trail, surely a start we would have wished for but never ever expected!

KTBFFH!

I am sure you have all seen the goals already if you haven't here they are: