God answers Mourinho’s prayers!
As hordes of Chelsea fans wept into their beer after our dire Anfield outing, Mourinho mumbled his prayer into the microphone: “Please God, let Manchester United falter tomorrow”. Prayer granted, still six points behind, but the worst is averted and the best is yet to come!
Of course, the Anfield result was bad, but we were desperately unlucky with injuries and suspension. Against a terribly smarting Liverpool with a lot to prove after their nightmarish outings against Arsenal, the best we could have hoped for was a draw with the team we had out there. But now, Arsenal have saved our bacon and we need panic no more. Mourinho’s teams in the last two years have won the Premiership title with nothing less than eight points, so what is a six-point gap for the Champions? Okay, we’ve never had to chase any team at this stage of the season in the past two campaigns, but here’s an opportunity to show just why we’re the Champions.
Now, as for all the stories making the rounds, I’m not one to speculate on who’s punching who at Chelsea; but one thing I’m sure of is that Roman Abramovich did not arrive at where he is today by being dumb. First, the Andriy Shevchenko story is evidently orchestrated by the press in their desperate attempt to put a wedge between players and management and between Shevchenko and the rest of the boys. Why in God’s name would Abramovich now suddenly decide he needs a snitch in the dressing room after three years of owning the club? If he needed a snitch, did he need to wait this long to get one? Was Alexey Smertin not a fellow Russian who could have easily done the job for him if he wanted? What kind of coup would Mourinho and the players be planning against such a benevolent owner in their dressing room and why? What exactly would the players be talking about that they’d wish Abramovich not to hear? And if indeed he needs a snitch in the dressing room of an English club side, would the candidate be a non-English speaking Russian?
Obviously, Mourinho is not happy that Shevchenko isn’t scoring and being no respecter of reputation, it wouldn’t be beyond him to let Shevchenko know. Shevchenko himself isn’t happy with his own form and he’s said as much. But both these people are consummate professionals who know from experience that such situations arise in football. Mourinho has his style of using tough love to motivate players. He’s done it with Joe Cole; he’s done it with Damien Duff; he’s done it with Arjen Robben and he’s done it with Ricardo Carvalho – all successfully and with no malice. If he’s doing it with Shevchenko, the latter is experienced enough to know what the objective is. Shevchenko understands that Mourinho determines how and when to use him. He knows Mourinho has given him ample opportunities to make his mark. In his mind, all he wants to do is prove his worth and he knows that in spite of Mourinho’s posture, he’s also wishing him to come good soon, because he’s clearly making the effort even though the goals aren’t coming. Abramovich wouldn’t for the sake of any player antagonize Mourinho and no player is big enough in Chelsea not to understand that. Shevchenko was very close to Silvio Berlusconi and can speak fluent Italian, but no one ever accused him of being a snitch at Milan. What I think is that the English press have found in him a convenient scapegoat by exaggerating his friendship with Abramovich, despite his protest to the contrary. I do not think there’s any iota of truth in that story. All Shevchenko wants to do is score and when he does, expect him to run to Mourinho on the sidelines to celebrate.
Mourinho obviously has some differences with the board reportedly over transfer targets, but his job is to identify and nurture talent and it is the board’s business to sanction and implement a purchase as it deems fit. Mourinho is not bitter because the club aren’t buying (or at least aren’t buying yet), after all he’s had countless of such situations at Porto and still succeeded. He’s merely stating that if the policy is that we aren’t buying after the manager identifies the need, then the least to be expected is that nobody should be sold. The last I checked both parties have kept to their bounds. No Chelsea player has so far been sold and we have men returning from injury, not least Mourinho’s “£50 million” man, Petr the Great! The transfer window is still wide open and managers everywhere are haggling and negotiating with their boards regarding their needs for the rest of the season. Mourinho is no different, but because we’re Chelsea and he’s Mourinho, the press is making a mountain of salad out of one tiny stick of carrot. Such is Mourinho’s influence, that having raised the bar, people expect the impossible. The fans particularly and the football world generally simply expect Chelsea to demolish every opposition put before them. In Mourinho’s world, a little stutter masquerades as a mighty tremor.
Anyone who’s followed Mourinho’s history with the media even before he stepped on our turf would know that his TV acts of bellicose inscrutability are only for media effect. Mourinho is a psychologist. He anticipated a media backlash from the loss to Spurs and the strings of draws and for being six points behind United. Mourinho knows that the media feeds off Chelsea in a very negative way and when results aren’t so great on the field, it has always been the signal for them to create stories or play up minor differences of opinion to destabilize the fortress of the Kings of the King’s Road and Champions of all England. Mourinho is merely playing politics, but not with the board or Abramovich (because there’s no conflict to the extent being reported as everybody respects each other and understands the limits of their individual power within the organisation, even with what Peter Kenyon has paradoxically described as “healthy tension”). The way Chelsea is run, Mourinho would never have a disagreement over funds with Abramovich. All such matters are routed through Kenyon, so if anyone is going to wield the axe of refusal, it would have to be Kenyon, not Abramovich. Mourinho has repeatedly said all he discusses with Abramovich is football; so all these stories about Mourinho not on speaking terms with Abramovich over the latter not making funds available for players this window simply don’t add up. What I suspect Mourinho is doing is what he does any time his team is in a sticky spot, which is to create or encourage a situation that will attract attention to his person, rather than to the team. He knew the press are merely selling speculations as news, but he plays along, knowing that his people at Stamford Bridge (not the players) understand his game. It serves his purpose for the press to report an earthquake at the Bridge when it’s only a storm in a teacup. And then there is the further advantage of using such reports to motivate his team.
Mourinho will not take Roberto Mancini’s job nor look too closely at Fabio Capello’s seat. His love for Chelsea is not in doubt. He’s smart; his family loves it here; he loves it here and he knows he has the best job in the world and an owner who does not interfere negatively, but who is always available as a fan and lover of the game - an owner that actually respects him, despite the stories circulating. It wouldn’t be a big deal if the board overrules him on transfers in the areas of their powers, but if the press plays that up Mourinho would gladly oblige them as far as it deflects attention from his players. By the time the press wakes up to realize that they were put off the scent by Mourinho, it would be the beginning of 2007-2008 season when he (yes, the same old Mourinho) puts out a Chelsea team to continue his winning legacy. I mean, if there’s anything you’d expect in an Abramovich-run enterprise, it is organization. Chelsea have it on and off the field. Mourinho knows the job is his till at least 2010 and he in fact has been doing things that are more far-reaching than next year. The blueprint is for Mourinho to stay as long as possible to create the kind of distinct club and playing culture established by such long-serving managers as Bill Shankly, Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger, Mourinho’s imprints are everywhere at the Bridge and at the training ground in Cobham. The man who has the safest job on the planet will not gamble, even if there are many big clubs that will bay for his services. Chelsea value stability and Abramovich and Kenyon will ensure that’s what we get by keeping him. Kenyon’s latest statement of support is part of a well-managed ploy to move on now that Mourinho has achieved his aim. Don’t be surprised if Chelsea buys one or two players in the coming week.
The most important thing right now is to hunt down United. I personally believe that the loss at the Emirates will eat deeply into their confidence and it is left to Mourinho and the boys to exploit this. Whether we’re buying or not, we can’t afford any more wobbles. We’re at the business end of the Premiership and this is the perfect time to show why we’re Champions. I expect Mourinho and the boys to use the upcoming Cup games to boost confidence ahead of our next league match with Blackburn. It’s time to pull together – fans, owner, board, manager and players! If we all stand behind Mourinho and the team, I believe we can retain the title. And, if we do, it would be the sweetest victory of all.
So, it’s time to find out what Manchester United are made of by putting fire up their backsides!
C’mon Chelsea!
- Posted at 01:16 AM · Permalink · Print · 3180 views · Last indexed by Google on the 16th May 2008
- Tags: AC Milan, Alex Ferguson, Alexey Smertin, Andriy Shevchenko, Anfield, Arjen Robben, Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, Bill Shankly, Chelsea, Cobham, Damien Duff, Fabio Capello, Joe Cole, Jose Mourinho, Peter Kenyon, Real Madrid, Ricardo Carvalho, Roberto Mancini, Roman Abramovich, Silvio Berlusconi, Stamford Bridge
I honestly don’t believe the situation at the Bridge is as rosy as you make out, Kenn.
Somewhere in-between your Blue-tinted view and the press’s apocalyptic reporting is probably closer to the mark.
Oh God. Kenn’s back with his apologist gibberish.
If Jose is deflecting attention from the team, then repeated press conferences stating the team can’t defend, the players can’t play in those positions, he has no centre backs and that he’s identified players he wants who haven’t arrived, is not the way to go about it. Everyone and their dog is pointing at the inadequacy of Ferreira and Essien and centre back and Shevchenko up front, with the press offering players galore to other teams. The unresolved dispute only accentuates all that.
It won’t be 2007\8 before people realise what’s going on - it’s happening in the full blaze of public spotlight right now. Maybe it’s only you who can’t see it, Kenn, what with all that blue-tint on your glasses. And I don’t appreciate all this revisionist codswallop trying to tell me that night is day. How condescending is that!
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I too feel that José has some troubles with the Board. But it is about the transfer budget and not on Sheva or Ballack or Arnesen. Those are all ‘newsoftheworld’ journalism.
I have this strong feeling that we will stage a brilliant comeback and make this title sweeter than the last two. And José won’t throw his medal this time!
Too verbose - get to the point man.
Anyhow it’s the first time I’ve cheered an Arsenal goal but to take advantage of the situation we’re going to need to turn our form around immediately. Being an eternal pessimist I don’t see any evidence of us starting a winning run from now until the end of the season.
The JT injury is a bit of a smoke-screen. The special one has spent loads to build a weaker team than last season. I’d happily swap Ballack, Mikel and Kalou with players we’ve sold in the last 12 months.
There is no doubt about a cold war between Jose Mourinho n Roman Abramovich. Jose have played 4 leagues and and has won all of them. His main strenght is the defence and he is not dump to play a season with only 2 central defenders. When someone take away the powers from the manager, the manager has all rights to get angry coz the money will not play for him the players will play. But he is Jose Mourinho, and no one in this world can break him not even Roman Abramovich and he will prove that at the end of this season.
JOSE MOURINHO RULES
and i m Jose’s biggest fan.
Squiddy
.
The night is not day this is true, but it is not night it is just twilight, which CFC can turn to be the day or the night. TSO wanted the gap to be not bigger than six points and it is six points. Menas we can still turn things.
We badly need the return of John Terrry. I think everyone knew that he was important, very important, and if we are honest, it should surprise no-one that we have struggled since his injury. Frankly, in the current circumstances I would be playing Drobga at center half and give schechenko a run at center forward. We need an inspirational leader at center half and, combined with his strength and heading ability, Drobga is possibly the best emergency solution. More than cover in central defence, we need a propoer right back. I would also drop Ballack. Its difficult to make an argument for his contuinued inclusion with the team playing like it is.
Rather than moaning about lack of support in the transfer market, its time to be pragmatic about deploying the resources we currently have in the most effective manner.
Mourihno also needs to show a bit of leadership rather than bleating about the depleted resources. Leadership is not about parading infront of your troops with the sun on your back and your amour sparkling, its about lifting your men up off the floor when moral is at its lowest and giving belief hope and direction to get them moving forward. Its in ther darkest moments when peoples true characteur is revealed.
To win the championship from the current position would be Mourihno’s greatest achievement - eclipsing his Champions league victory with Porto.
Once again, you can only marvel at the fact we are still so close to the top when we’re playing so badly. So frustrating, because, good as this United side are, they would be there for the taking if we’d been slightly luckier with injuries. Liverpool and Arsenal are still a long way from championship material, although the latter are getting closer.
Yes, JM screwed up in the summer, but he could never have anticipated his gamble to have bitten him on the arse so violently - to have two goalkeepers injured at the same time is one thing; to also be missing three centre-backs and the two most creative players - well, even if we still had Gallas and Eidur, we wouldn’t be a whole lot better off, surely. A couple of points at best.
Anyway, two more big games this week before we’re back into the league maelstrom - this season has been an education, if nothing else.
An undisputable poor performance from Chelsea and a descent display from a red team. That has to be the worse performance I’ve seem a JM team play.
I don’t understand why pundits and a few on this blog are so optimistic for Chelsea’s end of season. After such a performance we’ll be lucky to finish in the top 4, most of the games we have left could well be losses or draws. Our form will no doubt pick up but it won’t be untill the best centre back in the world is starting games.
JT looks to be out for another month at least and we don’t have any centre backs anywhere near as good. Even if we buy a new CB what are the chances he’ll come in to the squad and turn things around, let alone start games….
On this form we’ll be knocked out of all the cups as well.
KTBFFH
maybe the likes of kalou and mikel will one day be good enough but in my best english we aint winnin nothin with them in the team this year
if only we could have this kind of piece on the back pages, but i guess it wont sell.
Not to take the facts away, i think we are too optimistic with our present situation. the pure facts on ground are not encouraging either;
1a. It is unlike chelsea not to sign early in the transfer window…..just unlike us.
1b. Januray window is also not the best time to assess players as you hardly find one that adjust to the premiership pace if they come from outside.
2a. Spate of injuries…this is a calamity for us this season.
2b. we talk of Gallas and Huth, for the records they are injured now and even if they were with us, they’d probably be on the injuries list and still be in the same scenario.
3. Mourhino’s frustration..i want to hope that this has not gotten to him. he felt so dejected after the lvpl loss.
4. sheva…whether we like it or not, the fact that we bought him for 30 MILLION QUID and put him on the bench calls for real concern..its either we are wasteful or we lack judgement. if only sheva can be given more time.
Boosters….we have 2 lower league oppositions (not belittling them) now and i believe we can use that to steady the ship.
The press will ALWAYS colour us bad and i really do not bother about what they say anymore….but i guess i would love to hear a good and better news on the pitch and new signings.
The first twenty minutes on Saturday were truly abysmal - in 17 years I don’t think I have seen such a shambolic display and if we were playing United at OT they would have smelt blood and demolished us.
I think Jose’s negativity both pre and post match was deliberate. He suspected we would get beat without any central defenders and wanted to play down the significance of the result. I personally prefer that we lost playing dreadfully (though it is embarrassing and I travelled all that bloody way) than lost playing brilliantly. I believe the latter at this stage would be more worrying. United et al know that it wasn’t a true Mourinho performance and it is unlikely to happen again. However I am not overly confident about winning the league, and quite frankly we do not deserve it. In my opinion we have only had two excellent performances this year over 90 minutes - both Barcelona ties. The rest has been mediocre at best.
I do worry about JM and the way he is handlig this ‘crisis’. As a poster has already suggested, Mourinho needs to fire up the troops and earn his corn. This is the first really adverse situation he has faced and rather than moaning and blaming other people he should get the team organised and hungry again.
His treatment of Shevchenko is complety bizarre - deliberately ignoring him at the final whistle was ludicrous. How on earth does he expect to get the best out of him when treating him as shabbily as that? I get the feeling JM is cutting his own nose off to spite his face. It is unbelievable that Kalou, who put in one of the weakest, inept, performances I have seen in a while, reamined on the pitch for so long and that Sheva came on when the game was lost.
The Arsenal result has given us another chance and we really need to seize it. TO win the league we will have to go the rest of the season unbeaten and win, I suspect, all of the games.
It is not impossible. As Mourinho himself would say, we need big belief.
Up the Chels.
“I advise you Wycombe fans to book your Carling Cup final tickets now. At Anfield, Chelsea were the worst they have ever been since His Specialness took the helm.”–Robbo Robson….http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A19124642
Nick,
You can accuse me of being too optimistic, but to say my view is “Blue-tinted†is actually saying nothing, because at the end of the day I’m a Chelsea fan. The fact that you admit that the press reports are off the mark is enough for me. After all, all of us, including the press, are only speculating. Football on and off the pitch is about opinions and we are all entitled to ours depending on how we read the relevant situation. There are a million and one different opinions between what you call my “Blue-tinted view and the press’s apocalyptic reportingâ€; so saying the truth lies somewhere in-between does not get us closer to any truth really.
In any case, I haven’t said things are “rosy†at the Bridge right now. If you read me well, you’ll notice that I’m not oblivious of the possibility that there’s tension at the Bridge. I’ve not said Mourinho hasn’t got a disagreement with the board. At least I admit there’s a possible difference of opinion over transfer targets for this window. I’ve also admitted that Mourinho isn’t happy with Sheva, but what I dispute is the reason for the unhappiness. I do not believe Mourinho’s unhappiness with him has to do with him being a snitch or being supposedly imposed on him as being widely reported. I do not believe that the Ukrainian’s supposed friendship with Roman is a problem and I do not believe Mourinho has a direct disagreement with Roman over money. All I’m saying is that the press is exaggerating Mourinho’s differences with the board and making up other stories along with this to support a predetermined theory that the Chelsea house is collapsing. Of course, it’s easy to believe their version(s) when results aren’t going our way.
But the main objective of my post is not to find the truth in the speculations, but to encourage all of us to keep hope alive now that Arsenal have done us the favour of beating Manchester United. Our team is going through a rough patch, but we are still very much in the hunt. I pray the dark clouds blow over; I pray for our injury crises to abate and for our main men to return. I pray Sheva finds his touch and I pray that wise heads continue to rule at Chelsea. I do not believe that any of the protagonists in this whole saga would sacrifice the new Chelsea dream for personal pride.
As a Chelsea fan, the only thing I know is to be an optimist, “Blue-tinted†and all!
CHEERS!
Sheva was given a good few games start and chances to score goals at the beginning of the season. After a number of poor finishes and no profit from starting with him JM correctly banished Sheva to the bench. The only problem here is we don’t have another striker, Kalou (Wonder kid) is crap, how many chances does he miss. Mikel = £16m, what on god’s green earth was the board and JM thinking when they signed him?
The reason i feel we’re fuc*ed this season is from the beginning ’summer transfers’ both in and out. Yeah injuries aren’t helping but we weren’t beating teams 3/4-0 before all this ‘bad luck’. JM and the board should of worked harder on keeping Gallas and Eider.
If we had the usual wingers, a holding mid-fielder, attacking mid-fielder, and striker we would be much better off. We used to tear teams apart in the first season and beginning of the second season under JM. Now it’s gone up the swany.
If TSO can turn this season in to a second place finish and any cup final I’ll be shocked. I’ll eat me hat (literally) if we win the EPL.
I don’t like being pessimistic but the results and performances speak for themselves.
KTBFFH
Just remember there is always someone worse off than you.
Leeds Utd are about to secure their place in Division 3 thanks to owner and former Chelsea Chairman Kenneth Bates and his management team of former Leeds nemesis Dennis Wise and fellow Chelsea legend Gus Poyet. Talk about brining down the system from within… you really couldn’t make it up.
Chelsea Beef - Having seen inside the new Wembley during last night’s Masters Snooker final, I’d settle for being the first team to win the FA Cup there. The stadium looks amazing.
Normally I curse the fact I ‘play’ football on a Saturday when a supposed mouth-watering tie such as Liverpool away at lunchtime is on T.V.
By 12.10, after the annonucement Carvalho was out, I’d sent pre-emptive text messages to all the Liverpool fans I know confirming my pessimism that we’d lose. By 1 o’clock (by the sounds of things) I was vindicated in my actions.
I hasten to add I’ve only seen ‘highlights’ of the game. In our defence (or apparent lack of one !!!) we were always going to struggle against Cruch and Kuyt. Even JT has struggled against Crouch. Ferreira being a right back, therefore, never had a chance. He was desperately wrong-footed for Kuyt’s goal. Pennant’s goal wouldn’t have been saved by any keeper I’ve ever seen play - it was simply too good. 2 - 0 doesn’t translate that badly in the grand scheme of just how bad we were.
I’ve read numerous reports on the match (most of which conform with the deep lying media hatred for our club), but some by Chelsea fans. They all have the same points in common. Each of them mention the lack of a leader; the apparent lack of commitment by some individuals; the fact Michael Ballack would have been more effective standing in the middle of Goodison Park.
One comical assessment of our team by a Chelsea fan summed it up by saying something along the lines of ‘Kalou having a first touch which travels further than Ferreira’s defensive headers’.
There’s no let up. We struggled at Wycombe with Essien and Ferreira in the middle; it’ll be the same again tomorrow. O.K so Drogba and Shevchenko are available, and it is ‘only’ Forest at home on Saturday so we get a further respite from the faltering league campaign.
Clearly there is something going on behind closed doors, something us fans will doubtless never find out. The fundamental problem is that whatever is going on shouldn’t have an impact on the 11 on the pitch. Sadly, it appears it is.
Chelsea beef - maybe if Shevchenko actually got the ball in front of goal he would be more effective.
Unfortunately that is not the Mourinho way. He prefers, for reasons that I don’t quite understand, to have Shevchenko chase long balls into the corner. It is, in my opinion, one of the most spectacular misuses of talent I have ever seen.
No doubt Ranieri would have played him as goalie though…
Anthony, you are right. Shevers had great service at AC. Our new system/formation this season doesn’t allow for a player like Shev.
I know i’m loubouring this point but with wingers we were getting goals and conceding few 14 in the first season. We must of conceded 14 this season in the first month…
The only good thing about bringing Shevers in is Drogs woke up shat his keks and started scoring some terrific goals.
Celery Celery….
I had to groan reading a story moments ago claiming we may sign Jefferson Farfan from PSV.
Oh good. Another prolific striker banging them in in Holland. Man U buy RVN, we buy Kezman. Liverpool buy Kuyt. We buy Kalou.
A horrible pattern is emerging.
Chelsea Beef - completely agree. Problem is Kalou looks lightweight, SWP has been crap (best game on Saturday however) and Robben doesn’t like being kicked.
We need Joey back so badly.
There have been better weekends, but it could have been an awful lot worse.
Look at the the options we had to call on to vary the attacking play over the last two seasons; Joe Cole, Duff, Gudjohnsen and Robben. Injured, departed, departed, injured.
This season? Kalou? Talented, but currently looks as though he couldn’t trap a dead dog in a phone box. Wright-Phillips? Hmm. Shevchenko? The subject of much speculation (and there is clearly something ‘up’ between him and Jose, but quite what is anyone’s guess), but how many would he have bagged in Serie A whilst unfit and without Kaka supplying the bullets? We’re in a fairly sorry state of affairs in terms of creativity which is hardly helping. We get Robben for two and a half games once every 6 weeks if we’re lucky at the moment. That boy needs to start eating his greens and pronto.
Without Terry and Cech, the team hasn’t had its air of invincibility which has won any number of games in the last two seasons before we’d even stepped onto the pitch. Champions do that. I seem to recall Bryan Robson fielding a half-strength West Brom side at the Bridge last season, citing more ‘winnable’ games being his target. That isn’t happening any more; exactly the opposite in fact.
Our defensive ‘diamond’ that has served as the platform for the last two seasons has taken a few knocks this season - Cech, Terry, Carvalho (Gallas), Makelele. Injured, out of form or departed. We’ve had to play a large chunk of the season with the best midfielder on the planet at right back or centre half. And that invincible, never say die spirit that we’re so used to? JT is about 80% of that. With him back, some of the steel will return, but the question is when?
Man U have let us off on a couple of occasions when they could and should have stretched their lead. But of the teams in the top 4, there are only 3 in form. And we certainly aren’t one of them.
Jose’s demeanour is certainly not that of the brash, bullish and fantastically arrogant man we’ve seen over the last two years; far too much speculation as to why this is which has been chewed over enough already, but I’m not certain that the ‘healthy’ tension that Kenyon suggested exists at the Bridge is exactly that. To what extent this, the injuries and all the other alleged hoo-ha at the Bridge is affecting the once water-tight unit that was Chelsea FC of 04-06, who knows? But it doesn’t look like a title winning side at present.
So let’s think forwards. JT back, a couple of purchases (Richards and Huntelaar would be nice, but unlikely) and things could be on track again, but only if the team and the manager pick themselves up and start fighting, and sharpish. At the moment, all this does seem a long way off - should we be a little more concerned about those behind us than the team in front? Possibly. But they’d still swap places with us like a shot.
A couple of steadying performances in the cup before Blackburn would be handy and very welcome right now.
And we’re STILL second and in with a chance for all four trophies? Football, eh? Bloody hell.
Oh well…
Anyways, all I said was that the article is absolurely awesome!
We really do need to unite right now, not when we were cruising last season. We need to help the team!
And Kenn’s article did just that!
So absolutely incredible job, Kenn!
I admire your optimism Kenn. Like others here I have a tendency for pessimism. The thing is since Jose arrived and certainly over the last two seasons I turn up at The Bridge expecting a result. Against my nature you might say, a huge compliment to what Jose has brought to the club and instilled in the team. Winning attitude. Among fans and players alike. The problem for me is that those vibes are seeping away by the week and not helped by the clear sense of resignation exuded by Jose at Anfield on Saturday. I don’t think any of that was acting for the media and he even referred to the players lack of spirit himself. It’s reached a nadir when I worry about us turning over lower league opposition. Injuries? Yes, OK, no one could have expected or planned for the goalkeeping problem. We all knew we’d miss Terry if and when he got injured. Cole et al too. Makelele was a notable absentee on Saturday. But it was that bad, that disorganised you wonder what they’ve been doing all week on the training ground. I can’t bring myself to mention them but a certain other club manages to send out all kinds of youngsters, in or out of position and still stay organised. And it’s come to something when we have to applaud last minute goals from that lot in north London to save our title campaign. We need and deserve a big reaction on Tuesday.
Hi, I’m from Brazil and a huge Chelsea fan. I’m very optimistic about the improvement of our team, and really upset because of all the things the press are saying. I’m also a big fan of Shevchenko, and I think he’ll get back on his feet and give us title along with our boys. I really like the blog and I always check it out. Go blues!
Kisses,
Anna.
i am a chelsea fan in Gaborone, Botswana. as usual i am surrounded by by the red people Man U (they are an mob), Liverpool and the Arsnl crowd. in the office everyday i have to contend with an anti-chelsea onslaught. but i am ok. i just have to note that we do not look that convincing. we do not match foward the way we used to last few months. of course our defense is porous but that does not explain how we do not score more. however i know that Mourinho, better than anyone else would be concerned about our current slump. injuries do not help. but i know we will be out of this very soon. and that will make our victory much sweeter than the other seasons. that championship is ours and we will grab it like we are detined to.
Can anyone enlighten me on Frank Arnesens contribution since he arrived beyond the poaching of those 2 leeds teenagers?
Is this not when his skills should come to the fore in sourcing undervalued?
Kenn, I share your sentiment entirely. The press is digging something negative to say about Chelsea everyday; the trend is any positive view on Chelsea now would be seen as unbelievable. It’s doom merchant rule!
There’re still many matches to play in this season, and that means plenty of opportunities for Chelsea to put things right. It’s always a long hard struggle to win the Premiership title, but I really believe Chelsea are capable of fighting back till the end, and (with a bit of luck) bring us that holy grail and other shiny trophies!
In José we trust!
Good shout about Arnesens, wheres the next fabregas?! i mean we have no youth talent worth shouting about that will make our first team right now.
Chelsea fans al over the world unite!!!
By all accounts, the youth team is prospering well, there are some class acts out on loan at the moment.
I imagine / hope Sahar will be involved tonight as he was in the first leg. Sinclair looked sharp for Plymouth last night when he came on; both Jimmy Smith and Mancienne on loan at QPR have received rave reviews from John Gregory and assorted press types following recent displays.
We have others on loan. Granted, few of them look like getting a regular chance at the moment, but that’s just a reflection of the ’supposed’ quality of players we’ve brought in.
I’m not for one second defending the decisions to send them on loan, in fact I’d rather they all be given a chance. If recent performances are anything to go by, our reserves and youth team must be wondering what they need to do to get a chance based on the lethargy some so called senior players are demonstrating.
I watched the youth team at Norwich (my neck of the woods. Glamorous I know) before Christmas and have to say I was very impressed. They played coherently and effectively and, more importantly, professionally.
Sure, they may be a few years off the first team. Especially when you condier the impact Fabregas had at 16 / 17 when he broke into Arsenal’s first time. However, you have to admit he’s a bit special, particularly given his position.
I only pray we’ve got the next Fabregas.
My only problem is that Chelsea isn’t taking advantage of Man U’s slip ups. Surely why cant we give some of the young players we have a chance to shine? If we cant play them now, will they ever get a chance at Chelsea. If Arsenal can play 18 year olds and they beat Liverpool, surely we should be able to play 9 senior players and 2 young players(Mancienne & Mikel) and draw against Liverpool. (That is if we are good like we think). Why is Jose scared? I know it might not be a good idea to play Mancienne for such a big game, just incase he gets a bad debut, but shouldn’t we have recalled him this month and tried him against teams like Macclesfield alongside senior players to boost his confidence?
I think Jose if far too scared to try young guns, but this is their time, or else they should forget about making it at Chelsea and move on. Isn’t Nuno Morias a centre back that even played against Bayern Munich in the CL? If we cant build on such a guy what are our intentions? Do you guys think he would have done worse than Ferreira did in central defence?
I understand why Roman is reluctant to spend this time round. People are messing with his hard earned fortune and I support him. Its high time we did some soul searching?
i think we have the best players ever