Enough sympathy for Fernando Torres. The misfiring Chelsea striker a £50m boondoggle seems to be on the mend with his confidence and touch. Unfortunately, he seems to have also some taken some Lee Strasberg acting lessons and his theatrical dive in the box while Vernon Anita pulled his leg back was enough to fool Phil Dowd. It was Eden Hazard getting his first goal from the spot kick. Hazard seems to have landed in the Premiership with his undercarriage wheels on for a smooth landing.
Torres tried the same stunt against Fabricio Coloccini and this time Dowd booked him. However there was no mistaking the quality of the second goal as Juan Mata cleverly back heeled the ball into Torres’s path and his strike was imperious and swift leaving Tim Krul akimbo. No upright, no crossbar. It was Mata, Hazard, and Torres providing a trident that skewered Newcastle. And if you were to look at the MOTD highlights closely, you cannot sing enough praise for John Obi Mikel who was a rock stopping a number of inventive Newcastle attacks early enough from developing into a threat. Mikel does all the unglamorous stuff which allows all that invention upfront. Chelsea endured some anxious moments with David Luiz being a trifle cavalier and there was a pronounced lull which allowed the Toons breathing room to come back in the second half.
But this side is fast, fast, fast. It’s a generational shift as the new Chelsea seems to be the equivalent of a rapid deployment unit in military parlance whereas the older squads were built on industrial grade strength and a less attractive direct approach. This is more to do with Roman Abramovich and Michael Emenalo’s vision and less to do with Roberto Di Matteo, whose zen like presence on the sidelines allows all this talent to percolate nicely on the pitch. In their ranks, Ramires, Oscar, Marin, and Moses, to turn the heat on if need be. A perfect 3-0 start for them and if these displays are predictors, they will be right up there with the Manchester clubs at the end of season.