I’m not happy.
Want to know why? Then I’ll tell you.
On Sunday, I saw my team Chelsea's title hopes go up in smoke due to the brain fade of our star goalkeeper.Let me stress this: Petr Cech is the best keeper in the Premier League, but on Sunday he showed both his good and bad side.
As I was having a beer with my family, watching the game and thinking “we can do this!,” Chelsea gave away a needless corner (and then you know the rest).
No points for effort, no points for style—only points for winning.
You may be asking now: “How come he has written off Chelsea’s title hopes?” or “Why aren’t you showing faith in your team?”
The answer is an easy one. Since the 2004/05' season, the team that has been top of the league at Christmas has always gone on to win the league. Anybody who has followed the EPL will know that before Chelsea achieved this feat in 04'/05', the team at top on Christmas almost never won the league. But when Chelsea did this two years in a row, the other clubs took note.
I’m not sure that Arsenal have the strength in depth to win the league this season. Don’t get me wrong: I like the way they play football—but although they beat Chelsea on Sunday, they were given that win.
Before that chance, they didn’t even have a shot on target as the home team. You can’t judge them on the second half because Chelsea had to chase the game, and in doing so left big holes at the back.
Liverpool...well, let's just say it's their two usual problems, strikers & rotation. As long as Rafa continues to play the wrong striker combinations and not try to stick to a side he thinks can win week in and week out, it's not gonna happen this season, next season, or any seasons after that. They either need to stick to a formation and lineup, or say goodbye to the coach.
As for Chelsea, six points is hard to ask for when you have no Didier Drogba in your side for two months, and nobody to step up to the plate. There’s talk of Nicolas Anelka coming to Stamford Bridge, but I’m not going to rest my season on a striker who’s only ambition is to play for all four top clubs before he’s 30 years old.
Defence wise, Chelsea have John Terry and Riccy Carvalho out for the crucial Christmas period, which doesn’t fare well for the club. So they are out.
Which leave’s Manchester United.
They are finding ways to win games on the road and are winning their home games without any trouble. Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez are playing well as a partnership up front, Midfied looks good, and Anderson is starting to get the groove of Premier League football. We all know about Owen Hargreaves, and the pairing of Ferdinand and Vidic is the best in the country.
It breaks my heart to concede the title to United this early. I only hope that Chelsea can prove me wrong. Up the blues.
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6 months ago
One word for the article:
"Paragraphs".
As for Arsenal being gifted that win, I think the blue tinted spectacles were out when you wrote that...Arsenal played the better football, end of story. They were worked harder, were cleverer, and were running rings round most of Chelsea's midfield, who seemed lazy and unutteringly slow.
Yes losing Drogba is a hit, but Shevchenko (who Chelsea paid enough for) should be up to the job by now.
I'm afraid the wheels are coming off the Chelsea bandwagon, and Liverpool are no better with Rafa's frankly insane tactics in the league.
Two horse race sadly.
from 6 months ago
There is no blue tinted glasses watching this one. Arsenal did play well, but they never even had a shot on target in the first half until the goal. Chelsea created more chances according to Sky TV. That is a fact. Like I said though, the second half is imeterial because Chelsea had to chase the game. Arsenal played well, but did not outfox Chelsea.
from 6 months ago
Fair enough, Shaka. Arsenal didn't outfox Chelsea, but then I've had to watch Chelsea pull that shit on Arsenal for three years, and as Chelsea fans told me when that was happening..."three points is all that matters." I don't care how Arsenal played. They won.
from 6 months ago
"never even had a shot on target in the first half until the goal"
It only takes one good shot on target to score a goal...as opposed to Frank Lampard's average of one goal every fifteen shots. Yes, it is that high an average. The fact that Arsenal can bide their time, have less shots altogether and still score at important times reflects badly on the stats. You can have as many chances as you like, but if they are all off-target (as most of Chelseas shots were), then that stat is immaterial compared to the Arsenal stat: one shot, on target, one goal. Simple as.
Not out-foxed? Just out-played then? The average pass completion rate for an Arsenal player was 85% over the course of the first 90 minutes, whereas the Chelsea average was under 60% (54% in fact). That is a major, major problem: although it can be argued that it is entirely dependent on the styles of the two teams - Arsenal, keeping the ball on the floor, with quick passes, Chelsea, looking for the long ball or cross to a man upfront.
The second half does matter, and normally matters more! How many leads at Half time have we seen destroyed by a team going into the second half with renewed determination? Every week we see at least one team in every division doing just that! Now if Arsenal were 5-0 up you could possibly say that, but at 1-0 up surely any coach in the premiership could make his lads push for the equaliser in the second half? You are essentially saying that because Arsenal were 1-0 up at half-time, that Chelsea were then not going to win, and that is, frankly, a ridiculous suggestion.
The holes at the back in the defense could also be put down to John Terry limping off early on...but Chelsea should by now, after missing Terry for the best part of two months, have a replacement or stop-gap defender ready to come on to replace him when he is injured.
What annoys me is that you have some very salient points in your article (especially regarding Nicholas Anelka), and when it comes to analysing the game, you miss out on the important points. It's very well written, however, now that's better paragraphed (and I thank you for that - easier on the eyes!).
6 months ago
It's a two horse race and i hope it continues like that. THo it will be more intriguing to see all four going for it, it may be risky for United. I wud love United to retain their title and make it 10 for Sir Alex.
Arsenal are our closest contenders, and it's tough to rule them out still. Let's see whether Wenger can do it widout ange and experience
from 6 months ago
This is why I'm giving the title to United already. Arsenal play some great football, but I feel that the strength in depth is lacking to sustain challenge for the whole season.
from 6 months ago
Arsenal's kids still top the table. Read that carefully and realize how inept United are.
Sir Alex won't make it 10 this season and he will be a year closer to retirement and still dubbed a failure. Why a failure? After all he has won the little domestic league 9 time you say. But what of Europe? The biggest, richest and most glorious stage in club football. A measly 1 final in 20 years for old Fergie. Benitez one it his first season and made 2 finals in 3 years. That is one final more in 17 years less than Fergie the Failure.
from 6 months ago
First of all....United are inept? Are u out of ur mind?
We gifted them the first posiition and don't ask me how..use ur brain to judge that if u have any. If we are inep, according to u, then Liverpool must be at the nadir of the ineptitude, coz they are bloody loosers and so scousers. WE are gonna win the Treble this year any way, so no arguments on that.
United hasn't gone for Europe all these years and mind u they even did it in their Treble winning season until the Final game against Bayern. When United go for sth, they achieve it.
Why don't u take this...Liverpool wont win the EPL by any means until SAF retires and he's not gonna relax for the next 4 yrs or so at least
6 months ago
Strength in dept I find this term bandied about way too much Rafa has strength in dept but doesn't know how to use it. Chelsea had strength in dept last year and where did it get them. Do you recall which team Chelsea just about managed to beat in the carling cup last year? Yes the Arsenal reserves the same reserves that make up half this years first team and what about the replacements for the reserves that have made the transition to the first team yes you guessed it, there making a charge in the carling Cup again this season the very same reserves that Arsene Wenger believes strong enough to play in Europe.
So what I’m asking you Shaka is do you feel that Jens Lehmann German international isn’t a strong enough to be called into replace Almunia. Is Philippe Senderos not a worthy replacement for Gallas. What about Gilberto Silva, he’s good enough for world champions Brazil. Theo Walcott the great English promise. What about 8 million pound man Eduardo da Silva. Abou Diaby, Bacary sagna both capped twice by France. Diarra capped 9 times by France. Or indeed Johan Djourou the Swiss international at Birmingham.
I feel Shaka maybe you were a bit rash in making such a bold statement as you did, especially on the basis of being on top on Christmas. As the saying goes it’s a funny old game, were any thing can happen as so proven by the result of the Arsenal and Chelsea game You did write yourself that you had more shots etc but didn’t get the result and I believe that’s what makes the premiership such an enjoyable and popular league and Is probably indicative of the league as a whole.
6 months ago
Anyone who says Arsenal doesn't have strength in depth truly baffles me! As said above, Arsenal's kiddies were within 10mins of beating Chelsea's full strength team in last season's Carling Cup final. And they played Blackburn's first team off the park at Ewood in the first half of their Carling Cup game this past Tuesday, before beating Blackburn during extra time WITH ONE MAN DOWN (the talented Denilson for that matter).
As for Arsenal not having a shot at Chelsea, that was one game. Wasn't the same against ManU last month, or Liverpool before that. So you can't draw conclusions from a single game. You forget we trailed ManU twice even to the last minute of the game but we kept going. Plus, our midfield core of Hleb-Flamini-Cesc had just resumed first team soccer and especially Cesc was slow and off-color. Van Persie didn't play till late, blah, blah, blah....
Anyway, by the commentary at the start of the season, weren't we meant to be 6th or &th by Xmas due to lack of depth? Behind Spurs, Blackburn, Everton.... I'm still baffled by all the sceptics but dazzled watching my team every single weekend!
6 months ago
arsenal reserves casualties over the last 2 yrs reads like this blackburn 1st squad, outplayed and defeated. Newcastle 1st squad, Outplayed and defeated, Spurs 1st squad outplayed and defeated over 2 legs, Liverpool (though admittedly with 2 or 3 1st team players not only outplayed and defeated but they were humiliated 6-3, chelsea with 10 mins to go turned the final around and we matched the then defending championsa with our kids. we have exceptional depth no other team is capable of putting 2 teams in the premiership that can compete ARSENAL?? well we can easily
6 months ago
Arsenal have been the best team so far. simple. you can rule out wenger and the kids, but do so at your risk. Wenger has proved before he can win. 3 years without a title. i doubt that will become 4. However I will make no sectret that I would settle for 17th position if we won the champs league.
from 6 months ago
Very confident are we Mr Syret? Lol ;)
from 6 months ago
I am, i wasn't 2 months ago, but they are proving every1 wrong, even 2nd would be a great acheivment coz Arsenal have been nowhere near the top 2 for a few seasons now, but we r bak!!! Nd this time we have FABREGAS!!!!
6 months ago
since the premier league began its been pretty much man utd and arsenal, obviously with the occasional exception. chelsea have just been a little blue fly in a predominantly red ointmant. it will go to wire and depending on injuries and signings, i have to say i think it'll be utd again, great football all round though!
as for cech's bad side, if van der sar does what he did against liverpool again uniteds title push will be undone by their own doings.
6 months ago
Unfortunately Shaka, you have got it the wrong way round. Come may and it will be Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea in the race. Remember once Ronaldo is injured, which I have a feeling he is going to be, United cannot win even against the likes of Bolton and Coventry City.
from 6 months ago
LOOK WHAT THIS LUNATIC AND PATHETIC FAN HAS TO SAY....LOOLLL
GET A LIFE LOOSER!
3 months ago
manchester united is the hottest team in the universe,hands down!!
2 months ago
Good time to bump this article..the race has come close...
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