Chelsea FC: Past, present, and future

The Past

So lets start with the past. Napoli 3 Crapoli 1. Not the worst result as Chelsea were able to score (Re: were gifted) the all important away goal. But, the performance wasn’t great. Shaky defending was at the forefront again. Nothing as bad as the goal the Blues gave Birmingham last weekend (seriously, it was a classic FA Cup goal, just like watching Dagenham & Redbridge or Barnet defend against a Premier League side. Except it was Chelsea at the Bridge against a Championship team) but it was all pretty careless with different culprits all three times. The front four didn’t really create much either. Although the stats show we had one less attempt at target than Napoli, there weren’t any of real note, and nothing like the attempts Cavani had early on and Pandev had towards the end. And then there is the midfield. The midfield consisting of Meireles and Ramires, for me, aren’t ball winners. And maybe they don’t have to be, but going to Napoli and playing a side with the skilled players they have, I would have liked to see Essien, or Romeu, or even Mikel in front of the defence (especially the new partnership of Cahil and Geez Luiz) to win some tackles and provide some cover. Meireles and Ramires did not do this, but they shouldn’t have been chosen to do this. If AVB picked this starting XI to send a message, I think it backfired. A win, or draw, would have sent a much more convincing message, a potential message of unity.

The Present

I guess the Blues start to prepare for Bolton on Saturday and hope that this fixture will be the win it should be and kickstart the second half of the season (at the end of Feb). They will be doing so knowing there is no JT for two months, no Bosingwa, no confidence and low team moral. Suck it up AVB, mend those fences and pick the right team for Saturday. How about this for the starting XI: Cech, Essien (at right back, that’s right, take a page out of Mourinho’s book), Ivanovic, Cahill, Cole, Romeu, Lampard, Ramires, Kalou, Torres, Drogba. Why not, what’s the worst that could happen? Give the old guard a go, maybe even put in Paulo at right back and Essien in the holding role. Send the right message this time, and maybe we’ll get a win.

The Future

As I said in The Past, 3-1 is not the worst result. A 2-nil home victory would see the Blues through. In previous years this result wouldn’t be a concern and I would have happily bet on a 2 nil home victory and advancement into the quarter finals. But with the way the defence is shipping in goals, and with the way Cavani and Lavezzi are playing, I think I will hold on to my money. As for the future beyond that, we’ll have to wait another two and a half years to see the culmination of The Project. What I wouldn’t give for an advance screening.