A blog of two halves

Moses in the promised land

With all the gushing praise – entirely justified, incidentally – about Eden Hazard’s rejuvenation, the rebirth of Victor Moses could be overlooked.

8 November 2016
By Tim Harrison
Categories:
Chelsea FC
Image 1

Victor Moses celebrating Chelsea's win against Everton. Picture: Action Images

With all the gushing praise – entirely justified, incidentally – about Eden Hazard's rejuvenation, the rebirth of Victor Moses could be overlooked.

While Hazard's seven-goal tally so far this season (including two gems in the 5-0 demolition of Everton) underlines how miserable his four-goal total was for last year's entire campaign, he has got his act back together and refocused after suffering distractions last year, and is clearly enjoying himself again.

Yet Victor Moses' return to the Bridge, recalled from West Ham where his performances and pace were so appreciated, passed almost unmentioned in the summer. Fans shrugged and talked about something else.

Moses is sharper, faster and fitter than the player sent out on perpetual loan.

Now, right at the moment the Blues need the momentum to continue, there's another maddening international break.

Chelsea have already won almost as many home league games as they did in the entirety of last season.

And Moses deserves a goodly share of the credit. All that's needed to complete his transformation is a repeated scoring touch.

He has slotted into the role of wing back with ease after being given the chance to shine by Tony Conte who admired him in pre-season.

Conte can't understand why Moses wasn't a pivotal part of the Chelsea team since signing from Wigan in 2012, but in truth he needed the development time that his stints at Liverpool (where Brendan Rogers knew his potential), Stoke and West Ham gave him.

The Nigerian is defending well, tracking back magnificently and going on the offensive with gusto. His crosses are textbook, his commitment wholehearted and his modest, diligent approach to his work commendable.

There's a strong case to be made already for Moses to be the Blues' player of the year. No doubt the accolade will go to Hazard, but perhaps an exception could be made and the prize shared. Victor is really that good.

The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and unless specifically stated are not necessarily those of Hammersmith & Fulham Council.

Tim Harrison

Tim is our Chelsea FC blogger.

He also writes our Shepherds Bush Cricket Club match reports during the football close season.

Tim has been writing Chelsea match reports since the late 1980s for newspapers and, more recently, websites.

When he first reported on the Blues, the press box was a metal cage suspended over the lip of the old west stand - and you reached it via a precarious walkway over the heads of the fans.

But he has been a Chelsea fan since his father took an excited seven-year-old to watch Chelsea v Manchester United in the mid 1960s... and covered his ears every time the chanting got too ripe.

In July 2005 he wrote The Rough Guide to Chelsea, published by Penguin, which sold 15,000 copies.

His favourite player of all time is Charlie Cooke, the mazy winger who lit up Chelsea's left wing in the 60s and 70s.

When he isn't watching the Blues, Tim acts, paints, writes and researches local history.

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