I hate snow. I was really looking forward to the Man United vs. Chelsea game last Sunday, and the extended highlights of Blackburn vs. West Ham and Sunderland vs. Bolton games on MOTD didn’t make up for the lack of fixtures. When the highlight of the weekend is a great save, you know it’s been snowing (but I must add - it was an incredible save by Craig Gordon).
Alas, no football means not much to discuss. But the lack of excitement has inspired me to choose my top five favourite goals ever: the goals that have made me get out of my chair and dance around the room, or forced a very loud noise out of me.
So here we go, from 5 to 1, starting off with a Brazilian.
5. RIVALDO - Barcelona vs. Valencia, 2001
You might notice a pattern emerging with these goals: most of them happened right at the death. I love late goals - the drama beats anything you can watch in a cinema, and this goal wasn’t just late in the match, but also late in the season; the last game of the season to be precise. To add to the drama of it, a winner for Barcelona would ensure qualification for the Champions League. And if that wasn’t enough, the former World and European player of the year, Rivaldo, was on a hat-trick after scoring two stunning goals. 90 seconds left of normal time, Valencia were set to hold on to the 2-2 draw and finish fourth, clinching the final Champions League place. But then, Holland’s Frank De Boer chipped the ball towards the Brazilian on the edge of the area, who, facing away from goal, chested it, and then hit the most glorious left footed bicycle kick into the bottom corner. Surely the greatest hat-trick every scored, but also one of the most important goals ever scored - failure to qualify for the Champions League would have been a big financial problem for the Catalan giants.
4. STEVEN GERRARD - Liverpool vs. Olympiakos, 2004
In the 2004/2005 season, it must’ve been great to be a Liverpool fan. Still to this day, I can’t believe they won the Champions League - with a team full of unbelievably mediocre players like Djimi Traore, Vladimir Smicer, and Igor Biscan. Not only that, but there were so many points along the way that they could have got beaten and knocked out. This team had amazing spirit though, and the success of 2005 will always be remembered by that incredible night in Istanbul. Incredible performances, amazing drama - the greatest final ever. But without a certain Steven Gerrard goal, Liverpool wouldn’t even have reached the knock-outs. I’m sure he’ll be remembered as Liverpool’s greatest ever player - it’s a tragedy he hasn’t won more trophies, but his ability to inspire his side through adversity is something that separates him from other great players. He most famously did that in the final, but he also did it in the group stages, against Olympiakos. It started badly: the Greeks went a goal in front thanks to, Rivaldo of course, meaning the Merseysiders needed three second half goals. Liverpool legend Florent Sinama Pongolle equalised, Neil Mellor scored a second, and one more goal was needed. In the final minute, Mellor cushioned a header out to Gerrard, who hit a memorable half volley into the corner from 25 yards. It was so good, commentator Andy Gray quite right observed that it was a “beauty”. And it wasn’t a fluke, Gerrard did it again in the FA Cup final against West Ham a year later.
3. RONALDO - Barcelona vs. Compostela, 1996
I love long range goals, but I also think it’s easier to score a wonder goal from 30 yards than running past half a team with immense pace, skill and strength, before calmly slotting it home. I remember when I played for my under 13’s team, I played up front with a lad called Daniel. He was a really awful footballer - he hardly ever scored, and when he did, he used to bundle them in, or the keeper would spill one of his rubbish shots into the net. Then, one day, he picked the ball up from 30 yards out, and smashed an unstoppable shot into the top corner. Even he looked surprised. My point is, if you hit a ball sweetly, you might get lucky and it’ll go where you want it to go. But to do what the original Ronaldo did against Compostela in 1996 takes something very special and involves almost zero luck. Ronaldo was an amazing footballer - if you’re talking about the greatest players of the last fifteen years, I’d put him at the top, above Zidane, Ronaldinho, and even Messi. He had everything, and what I really liked about him, was that he was capable of scoring all different kinds of goals. At Barcelona, he scored 34 goals in 37 appearances, and a lot of them were wonderful. The one against Compostela was the best, because it had everything - strength, pace, skill, and finish. He picked up the ball inside his own half, got fouled about four times, but stayed on his feet. He then ran past two players like they weren’t there, before running towards goal and, the best bit, somehow managing to avoid being tackled by two players as he was sandwiched in the penalty area. The rest was a formality - placing the ball into the corner. Barcelona’s manager at the time was Sir Bobby Robson, and when the goal was scored, he put his hands on his head in disbelief. A wonderful goal scored by a wonderful player; what a shame injuries prevented him from becoming the greatest player ever.
2. DAVID BECKHAM, England vs. Greece, 2001
This goes in at number two because it was an amazing moment for English football. It’s not much fun being an England fan; how many great performances have we witnessed in the last 15 years? I would say three: Holland in Euro 96, Germany in 2001, and Argentina in 2002. The performance against Greece was really poor, but David Beckham was at his brilliant best. A draw was needed for Sven’s men to qualify for the World Cup in Japan/South Korea, but twice Greece had gone in front thanks to strikes from Angelos Charisteas and Demis Nikolaidis. It was quite embarrassing really; some of the defending was suicidal. Greece probably should have scored more than two, but thankfully they didn’t, and in the 93rd minute, Teddy Sheringham won England an extremely soft free kick. Beckham had had a few chances already from free kicks, and Sheringham looked interested in taking it, but it was the captain who placed the ball. Just as well. Beckham’s scored some great free kicks in his time, but this was his best. The swerve was deceptive; the keeper moved to his left before realising it was curling to his right - and then he didn’t move. It was unstoppable, and even better because it was practically the last kick of the game, and sent England through to the World Cup. I can’t remember enjoying a goal as much as that one.
1. DENNIS BERGKAMP, Holland vs. Argentina, 1998
The 2010 World Cup final was horrible. Dutch legends were genuinely upset at the way their team approached the game against Spain. It was a small miracle for Holland that Nigel De Jong and Mark Van Bommel didn’t get sent off that night, but thankfully, whilst the Dutch were physically attacking their opposition, Spain continued to play football, and were rightfully crowned ‘Campeon del Mundo’. Now that Spain have finally won it, Holland are without doubt the best team to have never lifted that famous trophy. Not this year of course, but certainly in previous World Cups they would have been worthy winners. Everyone points to the 1974 World Cup for the best Dutch team ever - Cruyff et al and ‘Total Football’. Unfortunately I’m too young to have witnessed that, but the team of ‘98 were pretty good: Kluivert, Stam, Cocu, Overmars, and of course, Arsenal’s Dennis Bergkamp. But with all these great players, the goal that Bergkamp scored against Argentina was so simple - I think that’s why I love it so much. It was the last minute of the quarter final; 1-1, Claudio Lopez’s goal had cancelled out Patrick Kluivert’s opener. Holland were capable of some terrific football, but sometimes you can hoof the ball forward and something will happen, especially if you’re hoofing it towards Dennis Bergkamp. Once again it was Frank De Boer on the ball (funnily enough he got the assist for two goals on this list!), inside his own half, launching the ball forward to Bergkamp. And then three perfect touches of the ball. The first one to pull the ball out of the sky, the second to play it inside the defender, and the third to place it past the Argentine keeper Carlos Roa. There’s a wonderful moment just after he scores it, where he puts his hands over his eyes in disbelief that he’d just won the match. It was an emotional moment, a historic moment for Holland, through to the semi final of the World Cup. They played Brazil in the semis, and lost on penalties - a cruel exit for a team who probably would have offered more in the final than Brazil did. Although Holland didn’t win the tournament, a moment of magic from Dennis Bergkamp will always be remembered.
Friday 24 December 2010
Thursday 16 December 2010
My One and Only...Penalty Taker - How To Miss A Penalty
Thursday 16th December 2010
Prior to last weekend’s football, I wrote about the importance of a team having a number one penalty taker, with regard to the flurry of penalty misses that have prevented Brighton and Hove Albion from having a far more comfortable lead at the top of League One. The following day, striker Glenn Murray had the opportunity to put Albion in front against Huddersfield, only to see his weak penalty saved by Terriers keeper Alex Smithies.
To further expand on my point, I explained how Chelsea have benefited so greatly in recent times from having Frank Lampard as their number one taker. At White Hart Lane on Sunday, Chelsea were awarded an injury time penalty to earn all three points against Spurs. Frank Lampard was on the pitch, but Didier Drogba decided he wanted to prove a point after being left out of the starting line up. Heurelho Gomes dived the right way, and Chelsea dropped two points.
According to Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti, “Frank Lampard was not able to shoot because he did not train”. Not fit enough to kick a ball from twelve yards? Or perhaps his lack of training meant he had forgotten the art of penalty taking. Either way, a costly miss from the Ivorian, and I can guarantee that if Chelsea win a penalty against Man United on Sunday, assuming he is on the pitch, Lampard will take it.
Back to Gus’ Seagulls, and it seems that they don’t know who their number one penalty taker is. Glenn Murray, loanee Chris Wood, and Elliott Bennett have all taken, and missed penalties this season, and when we look back in May, will those misses and dropped points count against Albion in their hunt for promotion?
If Brighton are awarded a penalty against Notts County, Gus Poyet insists he knows who will take it. “I’ve never seen a team practising so many penalties like us this week”, added the Uruguayan, who will ensure his team are top at Christmas with at least a point on Friday night.
Many would argue that practising penalties in training cannot prepare you for the real thing. Spurs and Ireland striker Robbie Keane thinks it‘s psychological, “When it comes to a game situation, it’s completely different. You’ve got 50,000 people booing you before you go up to take it”. Whilst Albion don’t have that number of people willing them to fail, it certainly is a test of nerve.
The pressure on a penalty taker is enormous: whether in a World Cup final watched by 700 million people, or on a Sunday morning watched by a man and his dog. It can be the difference between winning and losing; people are relying on you and only you, and what’s more, there is an expectation that you will score. When a team wins a penalty, it is common to see the players celebrating the decision as if it were a goal. That would suggest a certain amount of assurance that the penalty will be tucked away nicely. All of this cannot ease the pressure on the taker.
What it all boils down to is confidence, which is borne out of experience, practise, and most importantly, belief. I don’t think it is merely coincidence that Didier Drogba and Wayne Rooney both missed penalties last weekend whilst experiencing a dip in form. Even the best players in the world miss sometimes; proof that ability has very little to do with it.
In terms of Brighton’s penalty record of late, I don’t think it helps that the last three have been taken by three different players. It seems to suggest a lack of faith in the supposed main takers. Also, Poyet can’t seem to settle on his forwards. In the last four league games, in which they have lost two and drawn two, he has gone with three different pairings up front, and no single striker has nailed down his place in the side.
This extends beyond penalty taking; since Ashley Barnes and Glenn Murray’s partnership has been disturbed, Albion have struggled for goals. Of course, it is completely unfair to blame Chris Wood so early in his loan spell, but Albion seemed content with Barnes and Murray up front. Twelve goals in four games put them eight points clear at the beginning of November, and both players started all those games. Since then, four games, four goals and just two points - Barnes and Murray only started together in one out of the four.
I’m being very harsh on Chris Wood to suggest that his inclusion in the side has disturbed things, especially as the poor run has coincided with the loss of Kazenga Lua Lua. However, it will be interesting to see if Poyet reverts back to the Murray and Barnes partnership for the Friday night match. If he does, I would imagine Ashley Barnes will be first choice penalty taker considering his decent record from twelve yards. And if the decision is proved to be a good one, it may give the manager confidence to stick with the front pairing that has helped Albion exceed expectations.
And maybe they’ll score a penalty…
Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Notts County - Friday 17th December, 19.45pm
Sports Saturday with Ben Holt, 2-6pm, Brighton's Juice 107.2, juicebrighton.com
Prior to last weekend’s football, I wrote about the importance of a team having a number one penalty taker, with regard to the flurry of penalty misses that have prevented Brighton and Hove Albion from having a far more comfortable lead at the top of League One. The following day, striker Glenn Murray had the opportunity to put Albion in front against Huddersfield, only to see his weak penalty saved by Terriers keeper Alex Smithies.
To further expand on my point, I explained how Chelsea have benefited so greatly in recent times from having Frank Lampard as their number one taker. At White Hart Lane on Sunday, Chelsea were awarded an injury time penalty to earn all three points against Spurs. Frank Lampard was on the pitch, but Didier Drogba decided he wanted to prove a point after being left out of the starting line up. Heurelho Gomes dived the right way, and Chelsea dropped two points.
According to Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti, “Frank Lampard was not able to shoot because he did not train”. Not fit enough to kick a ball from twelve yards? Or perhaps his lack of training meant he had forgotten the art of penalty taking. Either way, a costly miss from the Ivorian, and I can guarantee that if Chelsea win a penalty against Man United on Sunday, assuming he is on the pitch, Lampard will take it.
Back to Gus’ Seagulls, and it seems that they don’t know who their number one penalty taker is. Glenn Murray, loanee Chris Wood, and Elliott Bennett have all taken, and missed penalties this season, and when we look back in May, will those misses and dropped points count against Albion in their hunt for promotion?
If Brighton are awarded a penalty against Notts County, Gus Poyet insists he knows who will take it. “I’ve never seen a team practising so many penalties like us this week”, added the Uruguayan, who will ensure his team are top at Christmas with at least a point on Friday night.
Many would argue that practising penalties in training cannot prepare you for the real thing. Spurs and Ireland striker Robbie Keane thinks it‘s psychological, “When it comes to a game situation, it’s completely different. You’ve got 50,000 people booing you before you go up to take it”. Whilst Albion don’t have that number of people willing them to fail, it certainly is a test of nerve.
The pressure on a penalty taker is enormous: whether in a World Cup final watched by 700 million people, or on a Sunday morning watched by a man and his dog. It can be the difference between winning and losing; people are relying on you and only you, and what’s more, there is an expectation that you will score. When a team wins a penalty, it is common to see the players celebrating the decision as if it were a goal. That would suggest a certain amount of assurance that the penalty will be tucked away nicely. All of this cannot ease the pressure on the taker.
What it all boils down to is confidence, which is borne out of experience, practise, and most importantly, belief. I don’t think it is merely coincidence that Didier Drogba and Wayne Rooney both missed penalties last weekend whilst experiencing a dip in form. Even the best players in the world miss sometimes; proof that ability has very little to do with it.
In terms of Brighton’s penalty record of late, I don’t think it helps that the last three have been taken by three different players. It seems to suggest a lack of faith in the supposed main takers. Also, Poyet can’t seem to settle on his forwards. In the last four league games, in which they have lost two and drawn two, he has gone with three different pairings up front, and no single striker has nailed down his place in the side.
This extends beyond penalty taking; since Ashley Barnes and Glenn Murray’s partnership has been disturbed, Albion have struggled for goals. Of course, it is completely unfair to blame Chris Wood so early in his loan spell, but Albion seemed content with Barnes and Murray up front. Twelve goals in four games put them eight points clear at the beginning of November, and both players started all those games. Since then, four games, four goals and just two points - Barnes and Murray only started together in one out of the four.
I’m being very harsh on Chris Wood to suggest that his inclusion in the side has disturbed things, especially as the poor run has coincided with the loss of Kazenga Lua Lua. However, it will be interesting to see if Poyet reverts back to the Murray and Barnes partnership for the Friday night match. If he does, I would imagine Ashley Barnes will be first choice penalty taker considering his decent record from twelve yards. And if the decision is proved to be a good one, it may give the manager confidence to stick with the front pairing that has helped Albion exceed expectations.
And maybe they’ll score a penalty…
Brighton & Hove Albion vs. Notts County - Friday 17th December, 19.45pm
Sports Saturday with Ben Holt, 2-6pm, Brighton's Juice 107.2, juicebrighton.com
Friday 10 December 2010
The Curse of High Expectations - Brighton & Hove Albion
Friday 10th December 2010
You could say that it hasn’t been the best four and a bit weeks for Albion; four FA cup ties against two non-league clubs, a defeat and two draws in the league, and a serious injury to one of their keys talents - on loan winger Kazenga Lua Lua. But if the Seagulls get at least 3 points out of Huddersfield and Notts County in the next seven days, Gus Poyet’s team will be top at Christmas - a perfect present to wake up to on Christmas morning.
It’s been a fabulous season - exceeding expectations by a long way, and, considering Albion’s position at the top of League One, it is completely inexcusable that the fans can boo their team at half time if they have failed to impress. One could argue that you pay the price for the ticket, and therefore can respond how you wish to what you are watching. I disagree. You watch a football match to support your team, and I will only boo if I see lack of effort and genuinely poor performances, on a consistent basis. To boo a side who are top of the division, and have earned 21 points out of a possible 27 at the Withdean, is quite frankly ludicrous.
The “boo boys” obviously want to share their frustration during this rough patch, and it’s an understandable frustration. The goals aren’t flowing as freely as they once were; perhaps there is a worry that they have been found out by the opposition. Perhaps Brighton without Lua Lua is Brighton without that extra option, the ‘something out of nothing’ player. All this may contribute, but if it wasn’t for missed penalties, sending offs, and late equalisers, things would be looking healthier.
Hartlepool away was just an awful day for Albion - the injury to Lua Lua, Liam Bridcutt’s straight red, and taking nothing back home apart from a first league defeat since August. To lose Bridcutt for three games was a blow, and he was certainly missed. Then at home to Bristol Rovers, Chris Wood’s debut goal from the penalty spot seemed to ensure the three points were in the bag, but an injury time own goal meant two points dropped. Then Chris Wood had the opportunity to repeat his heroics against Southampton - but this time Southampton keeper Kelvin Davis was the hero. Another missed penalty in the cup forced an unwanted replay at Gigg Lane, in which thankfully Brighton triumphed. So convert penalty misses into goals, and goal concession into goal prevention, and Albion would be 8 points clear and going into this Saturday’s game without the efforts of Wednesday night’s FA Cup replay.
Of course all teams concede late goals, get players sent off, and miss penalties, but Albion seem to do it a lot! I don’t really understand why Ashley Barnes didn’t take the penalty at home to FC United. Elliott Bennett took it, and missed. It isn’t clear who the number one penalty taker is, and this could prove a costly mistake. Look at Frank Lampard at Chelsea: if they get a penalty and he’s on the pitch, he will undoubtedly take it, and probably score.
As a football fan, you want everything to be perfect, and if it isn’t perfect, you complain. That is the nature of the beast. But it is worth noting where Brighton were at this point last season - 17 points from 18 matches. From the same number of games this season, double last year’s total at this stage and add a couple more: 36 points. I don’t think anyone expected that. The fact that they’ve had a poor run, yet are still 4 points clear at the top, highlights the unpredictable nature of this league. It’s similar to the Premier League in that respect: no-one has lost more home games than Arsenal this season, but they’re still top. If that was Brighton’s bad patch, consider it a good bad patch, if that makes any sense. Last season at this stage, Leeds were top with 45 points, so it’s certainly positive that no other team in the league has shown that they are real favourites.
Because of last Saturday’s postponement, it’s been over two weeks since Albion’s last league game, and a welcome break from the pressure that comes with being top. Tomorrow will be a big test - away at Huddersfield, who, like most teams in the division, have a split personality. They haven’t drawn a game in the league since the beginning of September, so expect a winner. A victory at the Galpharm would remind the rest of the league why Albion are top, and could end the bad patch. Poyet has no plans to change the way his team play anytime soon, and why would he? Win or lose tomorrow, they’ll still be in top spot with a highly winnable home match against Notts County to follow, and the opportunity to go into the new year as league leaders. What’s there to moan about?
Huddersfield vs Brighton & Hove Albion - Saturday 11th December, 3pm
Sports Saturday with Ben Holt 2-6pm, Brighton's Juice 107.2, juicebrighton.com
You could say that it hasn’t been the best four and a bit weeks for Albion; four FA cup ties against two non-league clubs, a defeat and two draws in the league, and a serious injury to one of their keys talents - on loan winger Kazenga Lua Lua. But if the Seagulls get at least 3 points out of Huddersfield and Notts County in the next seven days, Gus Poyet’s team will be top at Christmas - a perfect present to wake up to on Christmas morning.
It’s been a fabulous season - exceeding expectations by a long way, and, considering Albion’s position at the top of League One, it is completely inexcusable that the fans can boo their team at half time if they have failed to impress. One could argue that you pay the price for the ticket, and therefore can respond how you wish to what you are watching. I disagree. You watch a football match to support your team, and I will only boo if I see lack of effort and genuinely poor performances, on a consistent basis. To boo a side who are top of the division, and have earned 21 points out of a possible 27 at the Withdean, is quite frankly ludicrous.
The “boo boys” obviously want to share their frustration during this rough patch, and it’s an understandable frustration. The goals aren’t flowing as freely as they once were; perhaps there is a worry that they have been found out by the opposition. Perhaps Brighton without Lua Lua is Brighton without that extra option, the ‘something out of nothing’ player. All this may contribute, but if it wasn’t for missed penalties, sending offs, and late equalisers, things would be looking healthier.
Hartlepool away was just an awful day for Albion - the injury to Lua Lua, Liam Bridcutt’s straight red, and taking nothing back home apart from a first league defeat since August. To lose Bridcutt for three games was a blow, and he was certainly missed. Then at home to Bristol Rovers, Chris Wood’s debut goal from the penalty spot seemed to ensure the three points were in the bag, but an injury time own goal meant two points dropped. Then Chris Wood had the opportunity to repeat his heroics against Southampton - but this time Southampton keeper Kelvin Davis was the hero. Another missed penalty in the cup forced an unwanted replay at Gigg Lane, in which thankfully Brighton triumphed. So convert penalty misses into goals, and goal concession into goal prevention, and Albion would be 8 points clear and going into this Saturday’s game without the efforts of Wednesday night’s FA Cup replay.
Of course all teams concede late goals, get players sent off, and miss penalties, but Albion seem to do it a lot! I don’t really understand why Ashley Barnes didn’t take the penalty at home to FC United. Elliott Bennett took it, and missed. It isn’t clear who the number one penalty taker is, and this could prove a costly mistake. Look at Frank Lampard at Chelsea: if they get a penalty and he’s on the pitch, he will undoubtedly take it, and probably score.
As a football fan, you want everything to be perfect, and if it isn’t perfect, you complain. That is the nature of the beast. But it is worth noting where Brighton were at this point last season - 17 points from 18 matches. From the same number of games this season, double last year’s total at this stage and add a couple more: 36 points. I don’t think anyone expected that. The fact that they’ve had a poor run, yet are still 4 points clear at the top, highlights the unpredictable nature of this league. It’s similar to the Premier League in that respect: no-one has lost more home games than Arsenal this season, but they’re still top. If that was Brighton’s bad patch, consider it a good bad patch, if that makes any sense. Last season at this stage, Leeds were top with 45 points, so it’s certainly positive that no other team in the league has shown that they are real favourites.
Because of last Saturday’s postponement, it’s been over two weeks since Albion’s last league game, and a welcome break from the pressure that comes with being top. Tomorrow will be a big test - away at Huddersfield, who, like most teams in the division, have a split personality. They haven’t drawn a game in the league since the beginning of September, so expect a winner. A victory at the Galpharm would remind the rest of the league why Albion are top, and could end the bad patch. Poyet has no plans to change the way his team play anytime soon, and why would he? Win or lose tomorrow, they’ll still be in top spot with a highly winnable home match against Notts County to follow, and the opportunity to go into the new year as league leaders. What’s there to moan about?
Huddersfield vs Brighton & Hove Albion - Saturday 11th December, 3pm
Sports Saturday with Ben Holt 2-6pm, Brighton's Juice 107.2, juicebrighton.com
Monday 6 December 2010
Ancelotti's eyebrow rises a bit more, as his side once again fail to show up...
THE CHAMPIONS…
I wonder how many people were guilty of thinking Chelsea would ease their way to 1st place once again. Oh the way they were putting teams to the sword - a joy to watch - Messrs Drogba, Malouda, Lampard, Essien, and Anelka, cruising, almost showing off.
The 19th of September - Chelsea beat Blackpool 4-0 at Stamford Bridge - and I don’t care that they haven’t played any of the big sides yet, Chelsea HAVE ALREADY won the title. In September. Who thought that? I thought that.
A slip up away to Man City - it happens. Back to business against the Gunners. Chelsea WILL win the league, because unlike Arsenal, they are clinical. And so we go on through October.
NOVEMBER…
Just another month. A bit colder than October, but that’s no problem, just whack a snood on and all will be well. Hold on, defeat against Liverpool? Well, I suppose that’s ok, just pretend it’s the mid 90’s. Fowler and Barnes with the goals. Move on.
And then Sunderland, Birmingham, Newcastle, and Everton. And TWO points. Oh dear.
And not just that, looking like a very average side. Ok they’ve been without Lampard and Terry, Essien likes tackling with two feet sometimes, and Alex kicks the ball so hard, he needs a knee op; no excuse I’m afraid Signor Eyebrow.
December comes along, JT’s back, but they could and possibly should have lost against David Moyes’ Everton. And who’s on the bench? Ferreira, Bruma, Ramires, McEachran, Sturridge, and Kakuta. Chelsea fans must be sending “Miss You” cards to Cole, Ballack, Deco etc…
Next up, Spurs at the Lane.
If they had their best XI every match, they would win the league. But that is an impossibility. Chelsea WILL NOT win the league with this squad. But they can strengthen. January is just around the corner, like a welcome friend. And Mr Drogba might get good again. Don’t write them off.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXFYEa_4RMw&feature=related
I wonder how many people were guilty of thinking Chelsea would ease their way to 1st place once again. Oh the way they were putting teams to the sword - a joy to watch - Messrs Drogba, Malouda, Lampard, Essien, and Anelka, cruising, almost showing off.
The 19th of September - Chelsea beat Blackpool 4-0 at Stamford Bridge - and I don’t care that they haven’t played any of the big sides yet, Chelsea HAVE ALREADY won the title. In September. Who thought that? I thought that.
A slip up away to Man City - it happens. Back to business against the Gunners. Chelsea WILL win the league, because unlike Arsenal, they are clinical. And so we go on through October.
NOVEMBER…
Just another month. A bit colder than October, but that’s no problem, just whack a snood on and all will be well. Hold on, defeat against Liverpool? Well, I suppose that’s ok, just pretend it’s the mid 90’s. Fowler and Barnes with the goals. Move on.
And then Sunderland, Birmingham, Newcastle, and Everton. And TWO points. Oh dear.
And not just that, looking like a very average side. Ok they’ve been without Lampard and Terry, Essien likes tackling with two feet sometimes, and Alex kicks the ball so hard, he needs a knee op; no excuse I’m afraid Signor Eyebrow.
December comes along, JT’s back, but they could and possibly should have lost against David Moyes’ Everton. And who’s on the bench? Ferreira, Bruma, Ramires, McEachran, Sturridge, and Kakuta. Chelsea fans must be sending “Miss You” cards to Cole, Ballack, Deco etc…
Next up, Spurs at the Lane.
If they had their best XI every match, they would win the league. But that is an impossibility. Chelsea WILL NOT win the league with this squad. But they can strengthen. January is just around the corner, like a welcome friend. And Mr Drogba might get good again. Don’t write them off.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXFYEa_4RMw&feature=related
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