Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho should make Demba Ba first name on his team-sheet Scouting report: Enthusiasm, energy and a positive attitude - Demba Ba offers qualities lacking in Chelseas other strikers Fernando Torres and Samuel Etoo Sat on the bench next to Fernando Torres, Demba Ba had made his point in fairly emphatic fashion. With four games to go of Chelsea’s Premier League season, a campaign that could end in glory if results go their way, this big, powerful player had laid claim to a position that has caused Jose Mourinho so much obvious angst. Coming off the back of his heroics last Tuesday when his dramatic late goal in the Champions League quarter-final saw off Paris St-Germain, Ba had done it again in this crucial game at Swansea. The only goal of the game flew from his left boot to keep Chelsea in the midst of this compelling title race. So what now for Mourinho? Who does the manager pick up front for those remaining games against Sunderland, Liverpool, Norwich and Cardiff? Torres, the £50million man who continues to punch below his weight? Samuel Eto’o, the 33-year-old striker in the autumn of his career, or even the winter if yesterday was any indication? Or does Mourinho put his faith in the forward who has lagged third in the pecking order all season, the forward granted his first league start in six months at the Liberty Stadium? The answer, in truth, looks clear from this angle. Ba surely deserves his chance now as someone who can offer something different from the moderate threat offered over the last nine months. Working in his favour is a level of enthusiasm and energy lacking in Torres and Eto’o. Not only that, but an ability to physically impose himself on centre-halves in a way that has never been the style of his two fellow strikers. Confidence must also play a huge part at this late stage. Ba must be buzzing after his successful week, desperate to lead the charge over the final few furlongs. That has got to count for something when Mourinho sits down to pick his next team. It was not so much that Ba tore up the place here. He did not terrorise Swansea with the panache and pace so often admired in Liverpool’s attack. But he did lend the visitors a useful focal point that has not always been present in this Chelsea side. That became more evident in the second half as Chelsea started turning up the heat against Swansea’s 10 men. A glancing header nearly found the far corner before he latched on to a lofted pass by Nemanja Matic to find himself finally in a one-on-one duel. Ashley Williams, the defender in question, found himself backtracking furiously when Ba let fly with a shot that deflected off Williams to squirt under the grasp of Michel Vorm in goal. If a bit of good fortune had come Ba’s way, you could argue he deserved it after such a testing season demanding plenty of patience. But unlike some at Stamford Bridge, the 28-year-old has always come to work with a smile on his face, despite his manager’s selection habits. That positive attitude, what’s more, set Ba in good stead for the moment when his boss thought the time right. And the time was right. Mourinho guessed that. His decision to let Ba loose from the very start reaped valuable dividends in this corner of South Wales. Chelsea fans might see shades of Didier Drogba in the way that Ba goes about his business. Those supporters will certainly hope the incumbent can have the same impact as their old hero in a month that could turn into something quite special. But only one man can make that possible. Mourinho must decide how to go about a task that will feel much harder without a cutting edge. Just now, Ba is providing one of those. Given the chance, he might till the end. Brendan Rodgers passed the test with flying colours. To pick a Liverpool line-up as attacking as he did to face Manchester City took conviction and guts. He could easily have erred on the side of caution rather than include Raheem Sterling and Philippe Coutinho in the same team. But what a reward. Rodgers deserves everything that comes his way. Manuel Pellegrini, Jose Mourinho, Roberto Martinez, Tony Pulis and Rodgers: the list of Manager of the Year contenders has rarely been longer. Steve Bruce, however, does not always get mentioned. He should though. Having steered newly-promoted Hull City to Premier League safety, he now looks forward to an FA Cup final. Brilliant work. I said last week that even Red Adair would struggle to save Fulham now. But two wins on the trot have changed the picture. And if Felix Magath could have hand-picked his remaining opponents, surely he would go for those safe in mid-table, playing for little apart from pride. Tottenham, Hull, Stoke and Crystal Palace give Fulham a chance to flee the flames. Howard Webb has made some uncharacteristic mistakes this season and the latest came at Selhurst Park when he awarded Crystal Palace a penalty for a handball by Aston Villa’s Nathan Baker. But unlike some referees, Webb was big enough to change his mind after consulting with his assistant. Nothing wrong with that. It should happen more often. - The Telegraph
Posted on: Wed, 16 Apr 2014 10:41:07 +0000
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