Chelsea FC at West Bromwich Albion: Post-Match Reflections

Willian and Branislav Ivanovic

Pedro’s performance down the right flank also made 2 things clear: Chelsea fans have been short-changed by Willian! His industry, work rate and dribbling ability have earned him the admiration of both the fans and Jose Mourinho, but 8 goals and 5 assists in 2 seasons at Chelsea paints a clearly different picture.

Pedro scored from his only shot at goal… Willian hit the target with only one of his 3 shots (one from a clear-cut chance set up by Pedro himself). Pedro reached a Chelsea player with all his attempted crosses, an area Willian has failed to improve on. Pedro created 3 clear-cut chances… Willian created none!

Willian has seen off competition from De Bruyne, Mata, Schurrle and Cuadrado, but it will be intriguing to see if he can survive the arrival of Pedro, especially if Oscar is able to shake off his fitness issues and regain the form that convinced Mourinho to sell Juan Mata.

Ivanovic doesn’t deserve the 2-year contract he is clamouring for! He has had a torrid time since the season commenced and has clearly not shaken off the effects of the torture he was subjected to by Jefferson Montero.

While he has improved the attacking side of his game over the past 2 seasons (although he still cannot cross even if his life depended on it), the pressures of combining that with his defensive responsibilities had been too much for him as he isn’t blessed with a lot of pace.

With Pedro ahead of him, he wasn’t asked to bomb forward as often as he is prone to, yet he was still given a torrid time by Chris Brunt, and later Callum McManaman (when Pulis finally figured out that the midfielder’s pace and trickery was being wasted on Azpilicueta). Baba Rahman’s signing couldn’t have come at a better time!

Next: John Terry No More?