Evening everyone. We start 2012 at the bottom of the Premier League, just five years after we welcomed the New Year in the dizzy heights of third. Don`t go looking for the table at the start of 2007, it will depress you. It will make you think ‘what if?` and will also worry you. Where will we be in another five?
So, to yesterday`s match. Sam Ricketts certainly made an impact. From the start his display was noticeably different from what we have come to expect from Paul Robinson. His generally marking of the opponent was good, he was composed on the ball, he had pace, and was able to bring the ball out from defence and move towards the more dangerous areas of the field. This was most evident in the 22nd minute when he curled in a fine right-footed shot from outside of the box.
However, early in the second half, Ricketts went from hero to zero. As another set piece from the wings came across the six yard box, Ricketts allowed Steven Fletcher to get goalside of him, and never competed for the ball with the in-form Scot, allowing him to head in Wolves` equaliser. This single mistake in a good first performance back after so long out can probably be to put down to match sharpness, but unfortunately it cost us the other two points on offer. He will improve as he gets games, and was already a huge improvement on Robinson, who may be leaving us shortly if the rumours about Stoke`s interest are to be believed.
As for the rest of the team, I think there was a big improvement in our performance from the previous game. We weren`t fantastic, but the midfield was able to enjoy a more solid back four than usual behind them and it showed in their own play. Petrov was able to focus on what he does best, taking players on and putting quality balls into the strikers. Muamba seemed to make some good runs into the box; and Reo-Coker, unshackled from the responsibility of having to be everywhere on the pitch at once, was able to focus on controlling the middle of the park, bossing Henry from start to finish.
The Ngog-Klasnic showed improvements, and even though there was really only scraps for them to feed off in this game, I can see the partnership working after more gametime. Super Kev`s second anonymous substitute appearance in as many games reaffirmed my believe that he can no longer be considered even a Plan B. There are arguments that he can be useful in games where we need to play more directly, but can anyone honestly remember any time this season where he has bettered his opponent in the air, or been anywhere near the handful he has been in previous seasons?
Gary Cahill had an average game in what appears could be his last for the club. At the end of the game, there didn`t seem to be a huge reaction from Gary as he clapped the fans and walked down the tunnel. I`m not sure what to make of this, but what I do know is that it will be a long time until we see a player of his quality at the club.
In a match with few chances for the both sides, and few moments of excitement, a draw was a fair result. However, this should be one of the games we are winning. I earmarked these two home games for six points; we got one, and that is not enough. Everton, United and Liverpool in the next month means we could be stuck on 13 points for some time, and I honestly cannot see where our next points will come from.
A player who didn`t make it onto the pitch was Gael Kakuta, who has now returned to Chelsea after his loan expired. I will never understand why he didn`t get the gametime his bit-part performances probably deserved in what can only be described as one of the worst Premier League teams of all time.
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