The 3-0 win against Sheffield United over the weekend gave hope to the Blues fans that the boys are finally getting back on track. After weeks of being in poor form, that victory seemed to have provided the pedestal and confidence very much needed for the FA Cup Quarter Final replay against Tottenham Spur at White Hart Lane.
The excitement could not be contained for this defining moment for either of the two London teams. First, this game could have ended Chelsea's sweet run for their second silverware of the season. Second, a tough 3-3 draw at Stamford Bridge could have meant another 2-1 victory for Spurs at their stadium, just like what happened in November when the Blues lost. Finally, it was a time for revenge on the side of Chelsea for that reason, but so was it for Spurs who deceived themselves capable of winning at Stamford Bridge, even without Keane, Robbo and Defoe. Remember that at half-time last March 17, Spurs were leading by 2 goals, 3-1. But the resilience of the Blues became evident as they answered back with 2 more goals to end the game with a draw after usual 2nd half catch-up. Spurs went home disappointed with the promise to win it at their home stadium. After all, Keane, Robbo, and Defoe would already be there. Unfortunately, for Spurs fans, that was still not quite what happened.
Kevin McCarra of The Guardian writes, "If the first meeting had been enthrallingly spectacular, the replay of this FA Cup quarter-final intrigued with its element of surprise. No one could have anticipated the finish with which Andriy Shevchenko opened the scoring or the volley from Shaun Wright-Phillips that doubled Chelsea’s lead." Indeed. If there was anything sweeter than the victory itself, that would be the 2 simply and undeniably magnificent goals from Andriy Shevchenko and Shaun Wright-Phillips. Shevchenko's goal in the 53rd minute was so good Mourinho hugged him after he was brought out to rest in the 81st minute of the game. That kick, which left Paul Robinson motionless proved to have been a boost to the already strong Chelsea side that SWP's equally brilliant goal came in just 7 minutes after. Perhaps we have just seen competitors for FA Cup Goal of the Season. It would've been less special if it didn't come from Shevchenko. What's the big deal that every time he scores people talk about it? Because people like continuously thinking that he's a flop signing. Therefore, every goal of him is a celebration.
With him scoring more and more goals as the season wears out, people will start to see the GBP30 million who was once the shining AC Milan striker; he is on his way to becoming THE Chelsea FC striker. As ChelseaFC.com's Neil Barnett writes, Welcome to England, Sheva! In the same manner, many Chelsea fans wanted SWP to be taken out of the squad. Today, he proved why he needed to be part of the starting XI. Not only did he play a great midfield role, he also gave us our second and winning goal for the day, courtesy of a chest pass from Didier Drogba. Just like Shevchenko, we are starting to see why we paid so much money for these 2 players. Again as Barnett says, Welcome to West London, Wrighty! Furthermore, SWP's outshining Aaron Lennon will prove to be crucial and threatening to the latter in the selection of a central midfielder for England's upcoming Euro 2008 Qualifier game against Israel.
Now that we are through to the semi-finals, with Blackburn Rovers as the next opponent, we can smell the brand new and wonderful that is Wembley. I can sense a classic match between the best and second best teams in England, Chelsea and Manchester United, respectively. Despite the Devils winning through controversial penalties lately, we have just got to accept it for fear that we win the FA Cup, our second silverware, so easily. I am expecting some United thrashing of Watford in the semi-finals but to give all my respect to the Rovers, I will not say it will be an easy one for us. After all, they beat one of the top (but struggling) teams, Arsenal. The only thing we can do is wait and expect for a win.
This will not be complete without mentioning the controversial mad Spurs fan who attempted to punch Lampard on the face. It was good he caught the madman on time. As for the allegations that Drogba incessantly stomped on the fan's ankle with the intention to break it, well, I only heard it from Spurs fans. But I am keeping my eyes open for whatever comes out of the investigation. However, I think this is the worst kind of fanaticism.
Spurs fans should be ashamed of this incident, let alone not mimic what was done. One, we didn't win by a controversial penalty, like the Red Devils did. Two, what was wrong with celebrating on the pitch? Wouldn't Spurs have done the same if they won the first match? At least I know Blues fans won't be running to Berbatov, Lennon, Keane or Defoe to punch any of them. (The worst we were once able to do was throw celery. Now, it is even banned. Nothing else is left of us but passion.) Therefore, what was the point of wanting to harm the opponent's players? Passion is not to be blurred and overpowered by emotions. Devotion to a team does not mean willingness to resort to violence and cheap shots, especially in cases of defeats. It is very well appreciated that the club (Spurs) took immediate action to give a lifetime ban to the madman from matches at White Hart Lane.
To rid myself of disgust of the Spurs fan, I just tell myself, Wembley, here we come.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Friday, March 16, 2007
This. Better. Be. Fuckin. True: Chelsea to the CA of the US of A.
CARSON, California: David Beckham's debut for the Los Angeles Galaxy could be against Chelsea in one of two friendlies in July.
AEG president and chief executive officer Tim Leiweke said on Friday that the possibility was "really good" that Beckham will make his Galaxy debut against Chelsea.
"I think you can pretty well assume that when we scheduled this tournament, the Beckham camp was aware of what we were doing," said Leiweke, head of the organization that runs the Galaxy. "We still have to work through him finishing his term at Real Madrid.
"And I'm fairly certain we can get David comfortable and playing with this team in time for Chelsea. We haven't gotten that commitment yet, we haven't gotten that far with him. But I think it's reasonable to assume that the Chelsea game in particular will be one where we see Mr. Beckham."
Chelsea will play South Korea's Suwon Bluewings and Galaxy mees Mexico's Tigres on July 17 in Carson, then four days later the Galaxy face Chelsea, and the Bluewings will play the Tigres.
The 31-year-old Beckham was sidelined with an injured ligament in his right knee and wasn't expected to be able to play for Real Madrid for about a month. Beckham, who agreed in January to a five-year contract with the Galaxy worth about $27.5 million (€21 million) in base salary, initially wasn't expected to join the Major League Soccer team until August. His contract with Real Madrid ends on June 30.
If he does play against Chelsea, he will be going against a former English Premier League rival from his days at Manchester United — which leads the Blues by nine points.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said in a taped interview that he was pleased that Chelsea would be playing in the United States for the fourth summer in a row.
"I think this summer will be even a little more special because we will have a tournament with a team (the Galaxy) that we have a special relationship with and the fact that David Beckham is there will give something extra to that tournament," Mourinho said. "And I get the chance to wish him success in the States because I think it will be very important for soccer."
-International Herald Tribune, March 9, 07
AEG president and chief executive officer Tim Leiweke said on Friday that the possibility was "really good" that Beckham will make his Galaxy debut against Chelsea.
"I think you can pretty well assume that when we scheduled this tournament, the Beckham camp was aware of what we were doing," said Leiweke, head of the organization that runs the Galaxy. "We still have to work through him finishing his term at Real Madrid.
"And I'm fairly certain we can get David comfortable and playing with this team in time for Chelsea. We haven't gotten that commitment yet, we haven't gotten that far with him. But I think it's reasonable to assume that the Chelsea game in particular will be one where we see Mr. Beckham."
Chelsea will play South Korea's Suwon Bluewings and Galaxy mees Mexico's Tigres on July 17 in Carson, then four days later the Galaxy face Chelsea, and the Bluewings will play the Tigres.
The 31-year-old Beckham was sidelined with an injured ligament in his right knee and wasn't expected to be able to play for Real Madrid for about a month. Beckham, who agreed in January to a five-year contract with the Galaxy worth about $27.5 million (€21 million) in base salary, initially wasn't expected to join the Major League Soccer team until August. His contract with Real Madrid ends on June 30.
If he does play against Chelsea, he will be going against a former English Premier League rival from his days at Manchester United — which leads the Blues by nine points.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said in a taped interview that he was pleased that Chelsea would be playing in the United States for the fourth summer in a row.
"I think this summer will be even a little more special because we will have a tournament with a team (the Galaxy) that we have a special relationship with and the fact that David Beckham is there will give something extra to that tournament," Mourinho said. "And I get the chance to wish him success in the States because I think it will be very important for soccer."
-International Herald Tribune, March 9, 07
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
We are Supermen.
History would have been made in the quarter finals of the FA Cup battle between Chelsea and Spurs. Our three-year unbeaten home record would've come to an end, we would've been out of the FA Cup, which means one less silverware out of the 4, and we, the fans, would have been horribly disappointed. To be down 3-1 at half-time, with such a poor defense, and an in top-form Spurs, scoring 4 goals against Fulham, Bolton, and West Ham days before the match, many of us thought the game was over for us. Had we lost, we would've been ridiculed and received some heavy bashing. I would've sung in my head, tuned after Five for Fighting's famous song Superman, It may sound absurd, but don't be naive, even heroes have the right to bleed. We may be disturbed but we won't concede, even heroes have the right to dream. It's not easy to be Chelsea. What all of us, especially the Spurs fans, didn't know was, we were up for some wild surprises.
In our most recent games, perhaps the first thing fans looked for before games start was John Terry. He wasn't there; Carvalho and Essien started at centre-back, while Ferreira and Cole were on the sides. Forget about first half. There was just so much to forget about it. As it's been said many times, it looks like a habit for the Blues to do poorly in the first half. After 45 minutes, I knew I had to rely on the second half, hoping for at least a draw. I knew that to ask for a win, while being down by 2 goals was asking for a miracle. How often have the Blues come back after being down by 2 goals anyway? More importantly, how many times have we conceded that many goals at home? Four years ago, against Arsenal during another Cup match, when we were still under Ranieri.
The first half had one of the worst defending I've seen. For Bulgarian Dimitar Berbatov to score a wonderful goal could only mean some poor defending from our side; otherwise, it would've simply been a lucky goal. Admittedly, we conceded early goals, too during the tie against Porto and Arsenal, but to concede in the 5th minute was just too early. Add to that the 28th minute own-goal by one of the best players of the Blues, Michael Essien. For a player to defend poorly is one story; for him to score an own goal is another. Watching on replay, that was completely avoidable. When Frank Lampard scored an equaliser to Berbatov's 5th minute goal, I thought we were back on track to winning. Yet when Essien horrendously came after the ball, while seeing Cech right in front of him, ready to grab the ball, and he extended his leg out to kick it, it was just a complete disaster. Another equaliser was expected from the Blues; we don't give up easily. Yet when another strike from the other camp came in 7 minutes later from Hossam Ghaly, with a clear view of the Blues' absence at the back to stop the Egyptian midfielder, Stamford Bridge almost collapsed. That was moment for panic, at least for me. Every time Berbatov and Lennon came close to our goal, the tension just kept going up. A draw was all I asked for.
The Special One Jose Mourinho felt the worries of us fans. Three substitutions had to be made. First, Shaun Wright-Philips came in for Ferreira for a wider midfield, while narrowing down the already weak defense. We trusted JM. Second, Lasanna Diarra came out for Khalid Boulahrouz to go back to the starting form, making the defense stronger once again. Finally, a move to 3-3-4 was made, as the Special One felt the need for more strikers in front. Sure enough, the tactics of JM worked as Salomon Kalou contributed a very special equalising goal in the 85th minute to level up the game to 3-3. Hearts beating faster, cheers growing louder, and tension getting higher, fans were on the edge of their seats. Will the Blues exit the FA Cup? Will their three-year unbeaten home record come to an end tonight? Will they give it all up?
Not quite. It was a bad game for the Blues but it wasn't as bad as we would've expected. Losing 3-2, with one own goal from one of our best players, would be unbearable. The own goal would've scarred and haunted me for a long time. But while Liverpool sings "You'll never walk alone," we sing, "We're gonna make it a Blue Day." Certainly, we did that. No matter how poorly we do in the first half, we're always known to create threats during the second. Even Spurs manager Martin Jol had to say they needed to score 4-1 to make sure they run away with the ticket to the semi-finals; after all, 4 seemed to be their lucky number. He believed in what the Blues can do. To be 2 goals down and come back to draw against a tough team takes a lot of Blues passion and spirit. We certainly had that. Lampard's second goal for the day in the 70th minute kept the spirit alive. Had Essien's attempt in the 81st minute been successful, he would've made up for his mistake earlier. It had not been. Salomon Kalou saved the day with a goal 5 minutes from time. The fans were once again alive. We were once again alive.
Many fans thought that with Robbie Keane and Paul Robinson out, the game would be a bit easier, albeit it would still be tough. Lampard's first goal didn't seem planned, more than it was instinctive. To score 2 more goals to end the match with a draw against an in top-form Spurs was a big achievement. To get such result without John Terry and Joe Cole playing, without Didier Drogba scoring, and with Jermaine Defoe's shot during stoppage time hitting the top bar, people might say, we were once again lucky to be staying alive. Maybe we were lucky to have earned a replay at White Hart Lane, and we might continue being so. But considering Manchester United's situation- great play of football, in top-form players, Henrik Larsson for 10 weeks, and League leaders, alongside our situation- injured top defender, heavily criticized summer signing world-class striker, close to a season-long injured world-class midfielder, plus our race to the top of the table, it is just fair we get some luck on our side.
I am still singing Superman. We are the men in the shiny blue kits, digging for more silverware for our team. We are the men in the shiny blue kits, along with the Special One beside our team. It's not easy to be Chelsea. Indeed it is not- to be 2 goals down and come back to end with a draw, nothing else could be more heroic.
In our most recent games, perhaps the first thing fans looked for before games start was John Terry. He wasn't there; Carvalho and Essien started at centre-back, while Ferreira and Cole were on the sides. Forget about first half. There was just so much to forget about it. As it's been said many times, it looks like a habit for the Blues to do poorly in the first half. After 45 minutes, I knew I had to rely on the second half, hoping for at least a draw. I knew that to ask for a win, while being down by 2 goals was asking for a miracle. How often have the Blues come back after being down by 2 goals anyway? More importantly, how many times have we conceded that many goals at home? Four years ago, against Arsenal during another Cup match, when we were still under Ranieri.
The first half had one of the worst defending I've seen. For Bulgarian Dimitar Berbatov to score a wonderful goal could only mean some poor defending from our side; otherwise, it would've simply been a lucky goal. Admittedly, we conceded early goals, too during the tie against Porto and Arsenal, but to concede in the 5th minute was just too early. Add to that the 28th minute own-goal by one of the best players of the Blues, Michael Essien. For a player to defend poorly is one story; for him to score an own goal is another. Watching on replay, that was completely avoidable. When Frank Lampard scored an equaliser to Berbatov's 5th minute goal, I thought we were back on track to winning. Yet when Essien horrendously came after the ball, while seeing Cech right in front of him, ready to grab the ball, and he extended his leg out to kick it, it was just a complete disaster. Another equaliser was expected from the Blues; we don't give up easily. Yet when another strike from the other camp came in 7 minutes later from Hossam Ghaly, with a clear view of the Blues' absence at the back to stop the Egyptian midfielder, Stamford Bridge almost collapsed. That was moment for panic, at least for me. Every time Berbatov and Lennon came close to our goal, the tension just kept going up. A draw was all I asked for.
The Special One Jose Mourinho felt the worries of us fans. Three substitutions had to be made. First, Shaun Wright-Philips came in for Ferreira for a wider midfield, while narrowing down the already weak defense. We trusted JM. Second, Lasanna Diarra came out for Khalid Boulahrouz to go back to the starting form, making the defense stronger once again. Finally, a move to 3-3-4 was made, as the Special One felt the need for more strikers in front. Sure enough, the tactics of JM worked as Salomon Kalou contributed a very special equalising goal in the 85th minute to level up the game to 3-3. Hearts beating faster, cheers growing louder, and tension getting higher, fans were on the edge of their seats. Will the Blues exit the FA Cup? Will their three-year unbeaten home record come to an end tonight? Will they give it all up?
Not quite. It was a bad game for the Blues but it wasn't as bad as we would've expected. Losing 3-2, with one own goal from one of our best players, would be unbearable. The own goal would've scarred and haunted me for a long time. But while Liverpool sings "You'll never walk alone," we sing, "We're gonna make it a Blue Day." Certainly, we did that. No matter how poorly we do in the first half, we're always known to create threats during the second. Even Spurs manager Martin Jol had to say they needed to score 4-1 to make sure they run away with the ticket to the semi-finals; after all, 4 seemed to be their lucky number. He believed in what the Blues can do. To be 2 goals down and come back to draw against a tough team takes a lot of Blues passion and spirit. We certainly had that. Lampard's second goal for the day in the 70th minute kept the spirit alive. Had Essien's attempt in the 81st minute been successful, he would've made up for his mistake earlier. It had not been. Salomon Kalou saved the day with a goal 5 minutes from time. The fans were once again alive. We were once again alive.
Many fans thought that with Robbie Keane and Paul Robinson out, the game would be a bit easier, albeit it would still be tough. Lampard's first goal didn't seem planned, more than it was instinctive. To score 2 more goals to end the match with a draw against an in top-form Spurs was a big achievement. To get such result without John Terry and Joe Cole playing, without Didier Drogba scoring, and with Jermaine Defoe's shot during stoppage time hitting the top bar, people might say, we were once again lucky to be staying alive. Maybe we were lucky to have earned a replay at White Hart Lane, and we might continue being so. But considering Manchester United's situation- great play of football, in top-form players, Henrik Larsson for 10 weeks, and League leaders, alongside our situation- injured top defender, heavily criticized summer signing world-class striker, close to a season-long injured world-class midfielder, plus our race to the top of the table, it is just fair we get some luck on our side.
I am still singing Superman. We are the men in the shiny blue kits, digging for more silverware for our team. We are the men in the shiny blue kits, along with the Special One beside our team. It's not easy to be Chelsea. Indeed it is not- to be 2 goals down and come back to end with a draw, nothing else could be more heroic.
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
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