Water Under the Bridge: Do Chelsea Need to Start Again?

Before I start I must apologize for such a long absence (if anyone noticed!).

My time in the wilderness has given me the opportunity to reflect on life in my favourite corner of South West London, and what exactly has happened to Chelsea.

My first thought was to go up and down the Fulham Road with posters screaming "Wanted: Our solid defence and reliable goalkeeper back. A goal scorer would be nice as well. Reward for safe return."

Maybe this is harsh, but in our last two "big" games, Manchester United and Liverpool, we have looked both fragile at the back and toothless up front.

I hate to keep bringing up the past but in the days of Mourinho, such performances tended to be one-offs. Stray weeds within a garden littered with roses and trophies.

Suddenly it seems everyone has turned their eyes to the dugout, and the questions are not being asked of the superstar players and their inflated wage packets, but of the coach.

Scolari has, in recent weeks cast a bemused figure on the touchline, a look of confused concern furrowed on his brow. He has apparently lamented the players and become more authoritarian in an attempt to quash any discontent within the ranks.

It hasn’t worked. The last convincing performance I remember was away at West Brom. That was November 15.

Since then we have won games but it’s not been with the same reliable 1-0 every week, it’s been erratic and sometimes downright lucky.

But maybe the club can turn a corner post transfer window. The loan signing of Ricardo Quaresma was a nice deadline day gift from Jose Mourinho. Its almost as if the Portuguese thought, “bless em, maybe I should help out.”

We now have a replacement for Joe Cole, and a winger he is keen to take people on and have a go at goal. He may have been labeled a poor man’s Ronaldo, but lets be honest, I think we’d all settle for that.

Michael Essien is close to a return and this could mean the end of Deco and Mikel’s run in the team. About time in my opinion, Mikel has been simply awful recently, becoming impressively effective in breaking down our own advances and setting the opposition on the counter attack.

Scolari now has a group of players he knows very well from his days as Portugal coach. There’s no doubt the Quaresma singing would’ve given everyone a little boost, it shows Scolari does still care.

Now let’s hope Chelsea can be reborn against Hull this weekend, it’s an ideal opportunity against a side that have lost six of their last seven. Good luck and welcome Ricardo.

Wow, its good to be back…