Taking Stock - At the 10th Game Mark

We now find ourselves standing at the cusp of the 10th game mark of the season.

A quarter of the season has gone, and whilst it is still early days, certain things have began shaping up. Arsenal look solid for the title push, so does Liverpool, even if only the power of the SAS (Sturridge and Suarez) seems to have papered over their defensive frailties, whilst City looks the part of the fire-breathing attacking beast with a soft underbelly. As for United, well let's just say I hope the United board gives David Moyes the job for life.

As for us, I am satisfied. Just. Jose seems to have gotten a foundation to build on. After a lot of chopping and changing, he seems to have settled on his preferred first team. Style of playing still doesn't seem to have been fixed yet, but the attack seems to be settled on Hazard, Oscar, Schurrle inter-and-over-lapping behind Fernando Torres who seems to love getting in the over-and-inter-lapping action with them. Very fluid. Very false nine, ten, eleven and seven. 

If there is one thing that still leave me, and many fans, scratching our heads, it would be allowing Lukaku to leave on loan to Everton. Still as sharp, still as physically imposing and still banging in the goals for fun. There is that nagging feeling that perhaps if Mourinho had a bit more faith in him, this beast of a man would be quite the excellent outlet for goals throughout the season. But hey, he's the gaffer, perhaps he saw something in training which fans don't. Perhaps there's a reason for pushing out Lukaku out on loan, perhaps for more experience or perhaps to hone a particular aspect of his game more. Perhaps. But one gets the feeling that should Chelsea falter in its ambitions this season due to lack of goals, winning or otherwise, then such a call may well come back to haunt Mourinho.

The next question mark that has been raised is his aversion to include fan favourite Juan Mata, sometimes from the first team and sometimes from the matchday squad completely. Still a mystery to me, as Mata was the focal point of most of our best plays last season. But once again, he's the gaffer and I'm not. And some things will only be known through hindsight. For now, we can only hope that his decision vindicates itself over the season.

Enough talk for now. Let's just bask in the victory over City and hope we continue to go with guns blazing at every of our rivals. 

2nd place at the quarter point. Things look hopeful.

And Away We Go

So Gameweek 1 of the campaign saw Jose got off to a routine start: 6 points out of 6 to leave him a happy one, but nothing special, considering the manner of victories and strength of opposition (Hull and Villa).

It was certainly a good start as we bagged 2 crucial victories before heading into an early title-decider of a match with United at Old Trafford this week and then a blank gameweek due to European commitments.

However, those anticipating an onslaught of goals or our boys turning up the style felt the victories lacked a certain oomph.

Firstly, the striker conundrum, which has plagued us since The Drog hung up his boots, has yet to be resolved. Pre-season man-on-form Lukaku had to watch from the bench as both Torres and Demba Ba were given a chance to prove their respective cases for being Chelsea’s first choice front men. Both did not convince.

Torres showed better movement and link-up play with the midfield but Ba cut a periphery figure and looked out of place. Both games Lukaku, the one anointed as the Next Drogba, looked dangerous but perhaps not intergrated fully yet with Mourinho’s style.

It’s still early days but one feels that if Mourinho wants to put together a team capable of challenging on all fronts, he needs to solve this last piece of the jigsaw.

Personally, I would go for Lukaku as the first choice. We have talented attack-minded midfielders like Hazard, Oscar, Lamps, Schurrle, De Bruyne, Mata and Moses who can all get involved in the final third and can shoot. A big and strong target man who can hold up play, knock-down aerial balls and tear defences apart with brute strength and speed would be ideal to lead the line. Lukaku can be moulded into that role. Right now, his physique favours such a role but his mindset is in between a predator type striker (Dzeko / Soldado) and all-action front guy (Suarez / Aguero) who wants to be involved in build-up play.

Perhaps the only setback for Lukaku is his work ethic in tracking back and harassing teams who wants to play out from the back. Torres is relatively more hard-working in that sense whilst Ba is an out-and-out striker.

Who knows, Mourinho may just have given Torres and Ba their final chance to impress, all the while knowing that he will pen Lukaku’s name down on the team sheet at Old Trafford. One can hope.

Style-wise, Chelsea still hasn’t settled on a particular one yet. The strains of Mourinho DNA still linger in the Chelsea team, especially the defence. Terry, Cole, Lamps and Cech seem very comfortable hunkering down to play defensive, counterattacking, solid containment style football. However, the new boys with their rapid one-two’s, flicks into space and creative probing game shows glimpses that Chelsea may be evolving into a slightly more open and attack-minded nature.

Mourinho must quickly settle on a style: either go back to Chelsea of 2004-2006 or alchemise the old ways with the new personnel into a new system.

Personally, I feel going back to the past is not the way to go. Chelsea of back then played that way due to the personnel he had and the way the Premier League played at that time. The Chelsea of today would be wasting the ball skills of its current crop of dribblers and attacking wizards if it were to revert to its standard issue.

Mourinho must somehow forge steel and silk to create a team who can attack with flair yet “do a Stoke” when necessary.

Also, defence looks a bit lacking in depth when the calendar busies itself up. Centrebacks of Terry (old, injury-prone these days), Cahill (solid but naïve when it comes to tiki-takaish teams), Ivanovic (very solid, attacking but sometimes prone to mistakes) and Luiz (swashbuckling ball-player with leadership qualities but prone to gross indiscipline) would just barely make it once we start fighting on 4 fronts (league, FA Cup, Carling Cup and Europe). That is why Mourinho cannot afford to let Luiz go (to Barcelona, if rumours are to be believed). And he still needs another cover. An utility type player who could play across the back 4. We need him by the next January transfer window.

Well, those are the only problem areas I foresee. Midfield looks abundant with talent and there has not been much chopping and changing with the main team throughout summer, which bodes well for team fluidity.

Season really starts this weekend with the clash at Old Trafford. Let us hope we can put 3 points (essentially 6 in a title-fight) between us in our favour.

Normal Service Resumes

Oh, what a summer it has been.

Weekends will be quiet no more as English football resumes today with the Community Shield. And so, once more after months of inactivity, this blog comes back to resume full service to coincide with the beginning of English Premier League season 2012 / 2014. 

It has been a brilliant close season, if you're a Chelsea fan. Couldn't have asked for more with the return of the prodigal son aka Jose Mourinho aka Special One. One would hope that Roman has realised the folly of his ways and comes full circle with the re-appointment of the man who created the Chelsea team of today. With much trepidation, one would hope that the managerial musical chair has truly stopped and that Jose would be given the comfort of job security to truly re-start the Chelsea dynasty. 

There could be no more a better time to start a dynasty than now. Let's examine the competition.

The best manager in the world (and arguably of all time) Sir Alex Ferguson has finally called it quits after 20 odd years of dominance. Manchester United have failed to strengthen and looks to be reliant on peaked Robin Van Persie, the man who literally and single-handedly won the title for them last season. The Devils would be hoping that players like Nani, Ashley Young, Valencia and Kagawa can shake off the horrible / patchy form of last season to help service the predatory RVP. The Devils are also hoping wonderkid Zaha would live up to the usual English press hype of being the next wonderkid. Finally, the Devils are hoping that new manager David Moyes (who has not won a proper silverware at the top flight before) can translate his shoestring budget management of Everton to taking charge of arguably the most popular franchise in the world. 

As you can see, United are going through a phase of great transition. They may click, they may not. My personal opinion is that they need at least 1 season of Moyes being in charge before any judgment can be passed. This season would be a time for him to stamp his mark, mould the team in his image and try to win over the fans and players that he is top managerial level. I suspect silverware is not really his main priority (at least for this season), but he would be careful not to fall out of the top 4 or face the ire of global mocking. Prediction: United 3rd place, possibly Carling or FA Cup finalist.

Manchester City, too, are another team with a new manager in the form of Manuel Pellegrini. He is an astute tactician, no nonsense fella who knows his stuff, but has no experience in the English game and still an untested quantity outside of Spanish football. He is a different proposition from the flamboyant Mancini, and plays a more solid but direct attacking game compared to his predecessor's erratic tinkering and defensive style. However, City have recruited well in the summer. Strike force has been bolstered by the hardworking and deadly Jovetic together with a top marksman in the form of Negredo to combine with Aguero and Dzeko (who seems to have found favour with his new manager). Supplying the frontline will be new boy Jesus Navas, arguably one of the last few quality, traditional sideline-hugging wingers of our time, David Silva (who will be hoping to put a woeful last season behind him and return to his vintage 2011/2012 season form) and the unpredictable yet brilliant (when the mood strikes) Samir Nasri. City have also bolstered the centre of the park with the acquisition of Fernandinho, a quality centre midfielder who would certainly be able to allow Yaya Toure freedom to bomb forward and do some bombing up on his own. 

City seems very strong and a true title contender. Very solid if they can click (which is highly probable given that they are not dismantling or rebuilding but instead just bolstering their weak spots). Prediction: City probably 2nd place if not title winners.  

Other worthy challengers could be Arsenal and Spurs. The Gunners could be a worthy challenger if they can land Suarez. They have a creative and flair squad with Cazorla, Wilshere, Rosicky, Arteta, Walcott and Ramsey playing their own brand of English tiki-taka but lack penetration with Giroud, Podolski and Gervinho lacking the killer instinct. Suarez would be the last piece of the jigsaw. They seem a bit threadbare in the heart of defence too, so if they can land someone in the mould of Ashley Williams, they would have much needed depth in that department. Prediction: Arsenal 2nd or 3rd place.

As for Spurs, it appears that AVB's geekery is finally taking shape. With the right personnel to execute his philosophy of fast tempo, pressing, high defence and mobile but direct attacks, AVB's Spurs seem solid. The landing of Soldado without much fanfare or attention may be a masterstroke signing. The directness and fox-in-the-box predatory finishing of the Spaniard is what Spurs has been lacking the past few years. However, much of Spurs' hopes depends on whether Madrid lands Bale. Without Bale, they would still be top 4 challengers. But if they can pull of a miracle by convincing Bale to stay, Spurs may even push for the title. Prediction: 3rd or 4th.  

Which leaves one last prediction to be done: the fate of our boys in Blue.

Call me optimistic because I am a huge fan of JM, but I think this is our season for the taking. Anything less than winning the title would be an underachievement given the relative calm summer we have had compared to the other rivals. We have bolstered the depth with the return from loans of Kevin De Bruyne, Michael Essien and my personal favourite Romelu Lukaku, the acquisitions of high potential Van Ginkel and Andre Schurlle, and the safe hands of experienced Mark Schwarzzer. 

Add all that to the maturing of the Hazard, Mata and Oscar combo, with Luiz, Terry, Ivanovic, Cahill, Cole and Azpili providing a solid defence with shield in the form of Ramires, Lamps and Mikel, we finally look like genuine title favourites.

As for Rooney? Well, he will be nice to have, but I don't think this particular squad needs him. Mour needs to turn Lukaku into the new Drogba that he is destined to be, and ensure that our creative players feed this monster constantly, and we would be the team to beat.

I am rarely that optimistic about chances, especially before the season begins, but here's my prediction: Chelsea to win the title and perhaps 1 or 2 cups (UEFA would be nice).   

With great powers (and squad) comes great responsibility. Mourinho has no reason or excuses if he falters. 

Let the season begin. 

And What A Season It Has Been

Finally, after what seems like an eternity, the long and winding road reaches its destination.

Goodbye season 2012 / 2013. What a season it has been.

Whilst it was always going to be an anti-climatic one due to the magnificent season before (which only comes once in a light blue moon no doubt), the recently concluded season did contain its moments. 

Amongst many, the ones that stood out for me was the unearthing of an unlikely goal-poacher called Michu, the former Gunner who scored when he wants for his new employers the Devils (and bagged the Golden Boot yet again, that cheeky Robin), Fellaini showing more than just shielding abilities to bulge nets as well, the great escape by Villa of Wigan-proportions from relegation at the expense of, err Wigan, the rise and rise and further rise of Gareth Bale, the swashbuckling Saints, the resolute and plucky Hammers, the hapless freefall of the expensive flops of QPR and of course, THAT bite from Suarez. 

All that and I haven't even begun talkin' bout Chelsea yet. Ahh, good stuff. 

As for us, thankfully the season didn't end in a complete disaster. 3rd place finish and crowned champions of Europa League. Some would even call it a good season. However, after winning the Champions League last season, strengthening with Hazard, Oscar, Moses, Azipili and later on Demba Ba, and having both United and City not playing at their blistering best, one may be forgiven for thinking that this ought to have been the season for us to have a serious go at it. 

But alas, the tinkering, not of Rafa, but Roman, saw us going through yet another season in transition. Once again, we didn't go through an entire season with just 1 manager. 

Now the rebuilding begins. Rafa is as sure as gone. Jose Mourinho, if the Spanish press are to be believed, is as sure as already back. New boy Moyes steps into the shoes worn by Fergie for 26 years. Out goes Mancini and in steps Pellegrini to shape City into a title contenders once more. Spurs, still smarting from their closest of shaves away from the promised land of Champions League, will surely come back stronger with a bale-storm of a vengeance, as will Liverpool and their brand of tiki-taka brought by Rodgers. As for Arsenal, well ... they'll always be there. Always short of becoming the real thing.

So what beckons for us this summer?

Well, simple really. On the assumption that someone from upper management of the club reads blogs, here's what we simply MUST do over summer:

(1) BRING BACK LUKAKU

I said it before last season began and what did I get? A big fat opportunity to shout I TOLD YOU SO. As predicted, Lukaku grew into the beast he was always destined to be and fired his loan-club West Brom into relative respectability. With increased speed, bigger frame, better ball control and another season of English football to acclimatize the man-mountain, it is time to bring him back to be Drogba version 2. 

Forget about getting a world-class striker. Contrary to popular belief, we do not need another striker. Lukaku, Ba and Torres are enough to propel us through another season. Torres has grown into an Europe striker, so perhaps keep him there. And the odd big game or two. Let Lukaku and Ba duke it out for Premier League and FA Cup minutes as our battering ram. 

(2) SHIFT DAVID LUIZ TO MIDFIELD 

The few times when Sideshow Bob was asked to patrol the back four and start attacking forays from the deep, he never disappointed. Perhaps that is his natural position. If he was playing perhaps 30 years ago, he would have suited the libero role in a sweeper formation like a glove. This is the closest to that position that would maximise his abilities. Makes sense for us too since we do currently do not have an enforcer in the engine room. 

(3) GET CLASSY DISTRIBUTOR TO PARTNER LUIZ; LEAVE WAVES OF ATTACK "HAZMATCAR"

Thank goodness common sense prevailed and Frank Lampard has been given an extension to his contract. However, even he himself should know the waning of his attacking abilities. It is time for him to adapt or get dropped. Gone are his box-to-box midfielder days. He should now play the cool, calm, classy distributor who can partner the enforcer in midfield to spray passes to our attackers. Which brings me to my next point.

If the demands of Europe may prove too harsh on the worn out legs of Fat Frankie, then perhaps getting a cover in that mould would be priority. Xabi Alonso would be a great acquisition. In any given game, 2 out of 3 of Luiz, Lamps & Xavi would play (depending on opposition). 

Amongst the few points I was happy about this season is seeing the maturing and bedding of the machine called the Hazmatcar. Hazard, Mata and Oscar, in long. 3 creative, flair and unpredictable little wizards who has now learnt to blend with each other into a dangerous attacking wave. In any given game, 2 out of 3 of our attackers must be from Hazmatcar. Ramires, Moses & Mikel would play understudies.

(4) GARETH BALE

There would be no better attacker to play behind our lone striker than Gareth Bale. He is as good in creating as he is as good at finishing chances on his own. Imagine what a devastating force we would be if we had David Luiz-Lampard/Xabi Alonso as anchors, Mata & Hazard/Oscar on the flanks and Bale playing through the middle tucked behind Torres/Lukaku/Ba. 

Unbelievable. 

Roman, if you're going to break the bank, do it for Bale.

(5) COVER AT THE BACK

With Luiz pushed up in front, our back four looks likely to consist of Cole/Bertrand on the left, Cahill/Ivanovic/Terry in the centre, and Azpilicueta/Ivanovic/Ferreira on the right. This group is not strong enough, especially if we are going all out in both Europe and the league. For all his leadership and aura, Terry must realise that he is on the downward curve. He will (or should) only play approx 50-60% of all games next season, even if fully fit. Cahill-Ivanovic pairing seems the safest at the moment, but may not have the tactical nous to face the top clubs in Europe.

To remedy this, we probably need 1 versatile utility player (who can use both feet if possible) to act as cover for any of the back four and 1 solid centreback who has the temerity and calmness to lead from the back (with European background if possible).

Well, still quite a long way till season kicks off again, so until then, let's say goodbye to yet another great season of footie. 

 

Give Him A Contract!

One of the most popular Chelsea chants this season, in addition to those taking the piss out of Rafa, would be the "give him a contract" aimed at Roman in relation to Lampard's out-of-contract status this summer. 

For those not in the loop, our longest-serving and loyal deputy Captain Frank Lampard runs out of contract at the end of this season. Rumour has it that the upper echelons of the club are refusing to grant him a new contract. Excuses range from him getting too old, putting on a bit, losing his pace and being part of a passing generation of Chelsea stars. 

Yesterday night, Fat Frankie scored a brace to ensure Chelsea's qualification into next season's Champions League and at the same time, broke Chelsea's all-time goalscoring record previously held by Bobby Tambling (202 goals).

With 203 goals registered in his name in a Chelsea shirt, the feat is even more impressive considering the fact that Frank is a box-to-box midfielder and one who has never really been well known for possessing silky skills or great star quality. What Frankie possess, which had been extensively analysed in a previous post, is a great determination, machine-like consistency and uncanny ability to be at the right place at the right time. In short, he possess an excellent football mind coupled with great character and work ethic.

Maldini and Zanetti have shown that you can still play at the highest level well past the 35-year mark by keeping yourself fit and healthy. Giggs have shown that this can be done in the English Premier League. Compared to some of the games geriatrics, Lamps is still a spring chicken at 34. Perhaps he may not be able to put in a full shift every single weekend anymore, but he certainly can be the calm, experienced leader who can be called upon every once in a while to provide guidance, leadership and importantly, crucial goals, when the club needs them.

Lamps may not be a guaranteed first-team starter next season, but the team can ill-afford not to have their all-time goalscorer not in the squad anymore. Therefore, to echo the millions of disillusioned and frustrated Blues out there, GIVE HIM A FUCKING CONTRACT PLEASE!!

End of An Era - An Open Farewell to the Greatest Manager of All Time

Dear Alex,

Ever since I first started watching the English Premier League, you've always been the gaffer at Old Trafford. For decades you've built teams, you've broken up teams and won shitloads of trophies and cups in the process. I've hated and admired you in equal measures. I've cursed your teams and tactics, but only because they were that bloody effective and good.

For years I've been waiting for your dynasty to crumble, for you to lose that magic touch and for your teams to f**kin' stop making those Hollywood-style comebacks that irritated the shit out of any non-United fan - I've been waiting till now and still those wishes of mine are nowhere near to coming through.

You brought an interesting concept of "time" to the English game - "squeaky bum time" and "Fergie time" being one of your more famous contributions. You've seen off many, many challengers to the managerial throne and your teams are a constant favourite for the title almost every season.

As you walked out of tunnel to the sea of red at the Theatre of Dreams, passed by the guard of honour and lapped up the bittersweet attention of millions and millions of teary-eyed fans all around the globe, I felt a sense of sadness that this would be your last ever home game as manager of Man United. It would certainly be a strange new feeling not seeing you in that familiar seat next season.

Thank you for all that you've done for the game, from the bottom of my heart. You truly have been and will be (for a long time more, I think) the greatest ever manager to have graced the beautiful game, across all leagues, all countries, all eras and all generations.

You will be deeply missed. And not just by United fans, I can assure you.

The only (slight) consolation for me is that I am not a United fan at this point in time.



   

The Last Sprint

And so we come to the final lap of the Barclay's Premier League, edition 2012/2013.

What started as a hopeful season of rebuilding (new young flair players like Hazard, Oscar, Marin and young, progressive manager in RDM) briefly turned into an over-performing promise of glory when we got off to an explosive start and played with the sort of swagger that oozed class. Heck, at one point near the beginning, even Torres was getting in amongst the goals and proving his perennial "class-is-permanent-he-just-needs-a-bit-more-time" fans (like yours truly) right.

But when the wheels come off, they do so spectacularly. A couple of bad results is all it took for the Chelsea bandwagon to fall off. Before you could finish saying Roman Abramovich, newly crowned Champions League winning manager and fan's favourite RDM was unceremoniously booted. We then sunk to lower depths with the appointment of "interim manager" Rafa "Fat Spanish Waiter" Benitez ("FSW"), whom the fans never really took to (no doubt for his links, affiliations and comments made about Chelsea as Liverpool manager). 

Ever since FSW took ever, the club has been in a limbo. Capable of putting together momentary moments of brilliance (the 8-0 humbling of Aston Villa and flashes of heroics in the Cup competitions), the team was also prone to erratic and unexplainable bad patches that was horrendous and shocking. 

And so, with 4 games left, we find ourselves neck-deep in a tussle with Arsenal and Spurs for the last 2 slots left for Champions League qualification (with United having wrapped up top spot and City most likely secured with 2nd place). From a fixture point of view, both the Gunners and Spurs look to have an easier run-in to the close of the season. This is compounded further by us still being in the running for the Europa League (after having secured a 2-1 win against Basel on Thursday) which inevitably stretches the endurance and stamina of the players further.

There's no rest for us now, and FSW has the monumental task of keeping our fight for top 4 alive whilst refreshing the squad just enough to mount a realistic attempt to snag the Europa League. 

If we manage to pull it off (top 4 and Europa League), it would at least represent a consolation of sorts for an otherwise under-performing and erratic season. If we don't achieve either objective, or worse, neither of them, then one would suspect many heads would roll.

Which leaves the fans with quite the conundrum. On one hand, a massive summer clear-out and starting afresh would be good. We wipe the slate clean and rebuild for next season (and the next and the next). On the other hand, there are many gems in the current mixed bag that may become collateral damage should we end up with nothing this season. The likes of Hazard, Mata, Luiz may be tempted to seek greener pastures if there is no Champions League football next season. And that is why it would also be good if we could snag top 4 and win the Europa League as well. 

Whichever the way the wind blows, one thing's for certain is that winds of change would be blowing in strongly come next season. But that's still more than a month away. For now, every game is a Cup final as we cheer on the boys in Blue to muster that last ounce of strength or 2nd wind for the final lap of the season.

Stay glued to your seats then.