Its been a while, but writing about Chelsea comes so natural for an obsessed fan, that I just could'nt help but post another piece on those posh West Londoners.
This season has been riveting from a blues perspective in so many ways.
Every goal, every pass,every tackle, even the errors(Villa game anybody!) are just perfect. Its a sonata that Carlos Ancelotti is conducting with pitch perfection. But by no means is old Carlos the only composer of this piece.
Ranieri,Mourinho,Grant,Hiddink,Scolari and even good ol'Stevie Clarke( his departure was the key to Scolari's decline at the Bridge) have had their parts to play in sketching this sonata. And trust me, metaphors and similes are just piling up in the right hand side of my brain and the reason is simple; this Chelsea side has been 6 years in the making and is now really starting to shine.
People have criticised the constant chopping and changing of managers.But my counterpoint is that except the timing of some of the departures, each one's exit was justified.
Ranieri made the right kind of signings, but lacked the tactical nous to win big.
Jose had the biggest effect.He changed the mentality and the tactical quality of the team. Made people like JT, Lampard, Drogba, Essien etc champions.But his policy of win above all, completely contradicted Mr. Abramovich's vision of sexy footy.There was always going to be only one winner in that battle.
Grant was walking the plank from day one. But if anything, all his contributions were positive. His docile and understated approach helped a segmented squad to integrate. People like Ballack and Anelka became better players for the club in his reign. No tactical genius, but no fool either.But was not the answer in the long term.
Scolari in his initial 4 months wowed us with great football unseen by the Shed End faithful since the late 90's. But Steve Clarke's departure and hollow tactics meant that a team used to winning, match in match out, were hopelessly struggling by the end of his reign. Echoes of his firing were felt this season, when Kenyon was given his marching orders for hiring for him.
Hiddink reconciled the team and spruced up the tactical make up of the squad. Almost mirroring Jose's reign in his style, the players were rejuvenated and his look alike successor Ancelotti had an easier job at hand, upon his arrival.
Carlos has definitely made us much more tactically flexible. There is a definite clockwork like approach to our gameplay.The defensive discipline of Jose's era is yet to be achieved. But an offensive understanding and creative glow has been seeped in. This team can defend, we know that from Nou Camp last season. The question was whether we could attack ? And boy! we are answering that emphatically.
I would like to point out at this juncture that by no means am I saying that we will win all and destroy everyone in our path this season. But looking at quality of the competition domestically and even continentally(except perhaps them wankers from Catalonia!), I will be extremely disappointed if we do'nt win this season. Things like luck do play a role, its a part and parcel of sports. But I would be ecstatic if we win the big cups come April/May '010.
And not only because I am a Chelsea fan, but more so because each one of these players who have been there as their sonata has been written, deserve it. These are best gents that have worn the blue shirt in our history and have played their parts with the effort, subtlety and quality of virtuosos.
"Like Don Revie's Leeds, with whom this Chelsea side share so much – from frightening physical and mental toughness to inexplicably frequent second-place finishes – their collective strength has the capacity to transcend everything else, be it context, opposition, or even tactics."
Rob Smyth in the Guardian
But win or lose, I am smitten by this team and the way they are playing this season. The unbridled joy of watching us play, despite losing 2-0 to Villa; well thats the kind of feeling every fan wishes for.
Up the chels..
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