Bold Injection of Truths: Reality Check Needed at Stamford Bridge

The year of 2008 started out in not so good fashion. The club seemed to be in never-ending tormoil after the departure of The Special One at the back end of 2007. Avram Grant, who promptly named himself "The Normal One," was given the job.

To everybody's astonishment, he not only steadied the ship after a few demoralising results but he guided the crisis-club to League cup final, Champions league final and nail biting second place finish in the domestic league.

A disappointing, trophy-less season but it had turned out much better than we had anticipated at the beginning of the year.

None-the-less, Grant was shown the door and the charismatic, Brazilian World Cup winner, Luis Felipe Scolari was appointed.

Hopes had risen sky high and Chelsea were linked with all kinds of Brazilian players. Scolari's promise was to deliver the "much sought after but ever elusive" sexy football.

His only signing turned out to be 31 year old Deco from Barcelona. At £8M, this seemed like a real coup and most people had it down as the best signing of the summer.

SIZZLING START TO THE SEASON

Life under Scolari couldn't have started any sweeter. A 4-0 thumping of FA Cup Winners, Portsmouth in the opening match and a debut goal for new signing, Deco.

A good few games into the new season and Chelsea were riping teams apart, scoring goals left, right and centre. Four-Nil and Five-Nil scores were becoming a weekly event.

Life in the Champions League also started with a bang. Another Four-Nil win against French side Bordaux, managed by the legend Laurent Blanc.

Scolari seemed to be the man Abramovic was looking for all along. Sublime touches and beautiful general play was added to the already effective play and a seemingly unstoppable recipe was created.

FIRST TEST

The Brazilian's first major test however, was the visit of English and European champions Manchester United. Chelsea were on a high and scoring goals for fun. United, on the contrasts, were grinding out wins and were yet to hit top form.

The match will be remembered for missed chances at both ends and the 1-1 draw left both sides satisfied.

For the hardcore Chelsea fans, this was the first sign of a major flaw, only to be revealed much later to the general football fan.

Life though, under Scolari was sweet! We were sitting pretty at the top of the league and playing much superiour football to our closest challengers, Liverpool, who themselves had improved immensely from last season.

THAT SUNDAY AFTERNOON

Then crunch time struck. On Sunday 26th October, Liverpool, bouyed by a couple of performances that saw them win games, when they looked dead and buried, came to Stamford Bridge, with the two sides level on points but Chelsea possessing vastly superiour goal difference.

Chelsea lost the game, the 86 game unbeaten home record and top spot.

Although Chelsea regained top spot briefly, Liverpool have more or less remained league leaders ever since.

Flaws were starting to appear in Chelsea's play. Injuries were coming thick and fast. Essien, Drogba, J.Cole, Carvalho, and Ballack the main victims but the likes of Deco and Terry also missed a few games.

Teams were now coming and "parking the bus" in front of the goal. Deco had lost his early season good form, the defence started to look shaky and we struggled for goals.

No better time for a struggling Arsenal side to make their visit to Stamford Bridge. The confused Chelsea side still controlled much of the game but Arsenal saw their chance and took it.

Chelsea lost another game at Stamford Bridge. So much for the Fortress!

Since then, Chelsea have managed to win one home game (vs West Brom).

MAJOR FLAW?

Im sure you remember the way Ranieri selected and played Jokanovic. I can still remember hearing the boos ringing out game after game as he made error after error. Yet Ranieri still picked him and played him.

Then remember Hasselbaink. Yes, he scored some great goals, but in many games he was ineffective and lazy as he walked around moaning. It was like us playing with 10 men in each of those games, yet Ranieri would never sub him.

One of the first things Mourinho did was to ship Hasselbaink out and bring in Drogba and the rest is history.

Why am I mentioning all this? Well, because there are similarities between Ranieri and Scolari.

Scolari brings many attributes to our game, but we need to win and Scolari needs to get a grip on his tactics and subs. Scolari needs to pick the right type of player for the game ahead, and cease giving Deco preferential treatment.

Maybe then Deco will up his game and show us the things he is capable of.

If us fans are getting frustrated by the way Deco keeps giving the ball away, I can tell you, you can bet for sure that his team mates are too. And the guys sitting on the bench watching this happen are not going to be impressed by their coach the longer this goes on as you can bet for sure it will start to breed disharmony in the camp.

One can point towards the departure of assistant coach Steve Clarke as the turning point in our season so far.

He provided the much-needed insight on English football. Although Wilkins does that just fine, what Clarke was doing was highlighting the opposition's strong points and weaknesses. This helped Scolari focus on getting his team playing good, attacking football and the same he was getting all the information needed before each game.

Ray Wilkins more or less acts as a translator and I wouldn't be surprised if all did was convey the message in good English when Scolari struggles to do so.

Scolari needs to identify and execute a plan B. The lack of pace in the side was already a worry and if we fans can see it, why in Gods name, can't Scolari?

I appreciate the fact that we couldn't get Robinho but if Deco isn't going to show the will to put in a respecable effort, then bench him.

He isn't untouchable, nobody is.

SOLUTION

Sit Deco on the bench. Sit Ballack on the bench. Play Scott Sinclair. Sell Malouda because he is about as useless as you can get.

Play Drogba and Anelka together already! Enough of the excuses and put them on the pitch together. I fail to understand why it has to be one or the other, their styles compliment eachother.

Again, if we fans can see it crystal clear, why in Gods name, can't Scolari?