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The title race is back on! OK, so it was only a few days ago that Carlo Ancelotti was stating that Chelsea had it in the bag (well, that we had been the best side this season, and would continue to be), but with this weeks' topsy-turvy action, it seems that the Premiership will go down to the wire. It's not going to be as easy as we thought!
Actually, it could all be that easy, if only we re-discover the art of defending. Against teams like Everton (and Bolton, Blackburn, Burnley, etc) we're never going to be threatened in open play, but they will be competitive from the set-pieces, when they can load the box (Eeek! I'm starting to sound American) with their big centre-backs and hope that they can poke the ball home amidst the chaos that prevails.
We know that they are going to do this, which is why defending corners against such teams needs practising. Anelka and Drogba (both great headers of the ball) need to get back and help out, and JT needs to become the leader we know and love.
On Saturday that didn't quite happen, with our defence and team, getting caught out again and again. And it could have cost us.
Thankfully, Manchester United are no longer the force they once were. Whilst they used to be able to count on Cristiano Ronaldo pulling a goal out of nowhere from the right-wing, his place has been taken by Antonio Valencia, who refuses to shoot even when he gets a chance to. Ronaldo would have scored against Villa - Valencia had chances but didn't take any of them. United wouldhave gone level on points with us at the top of the Prem had they won at home, and we just have to be thankful that Villa played them off the park.
Arsenal are now coming up on the outside, after a solid though not unexpected win over Liverpool, and are now just three points behind United, with a game in hand.
We still have our advantage, but we need to build a solid run of form up over the Christmas period. We have a chance to do that - our games until February read quite nicely: Portsmouth, West Ham, Birmingham, Fulham, Hull, Sunderland, Birmingham and Burnley. 24 points from these 8 games would be enough to get us the title.
Comments
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Posted by christopher on 12/15/2009
villa played man u off the park??! must not have been following the same game. rooney hit the bar, and several balls were cleared off the goal line, including a few amazing saves from friedel. how about stating that villa scored against the run of play and was fortunate to hang on? reality check needed..
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Posted by Jo-Jo Gazakid on 12/15/2009
The Premier league title is heading to Stamford Bridge this year (without a doubt). Though we will have major losses in January (Drogba, Mikel, Essien & Kalou) we still have excellent players. January will be the perfect time for Joe Cole to find his excellent form as I am sure he will be starting every game because Deco is on leave.
Maybe we will even see Gael Kakuta's first Premier League goal in January.
Hopefully, Joe Cole, Lampard & Anelka can build an excellent partnership and score a multitude of goals.
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Posted by emeka richard uba on 12/16/2009
pls.chelsea should try to buy some good players in jan. transfer window plsssssssssssssssssssssss.i will like them to buy AGUERO,PATO AND A good midfieled e.t.c b/c some of our players will be going on nations cup.pls. ancelotti and our owner should pls do something about this.pls i want to win this cup this seasion.
RICHARD from nigeria
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Posted by femmy solar on 12/16/2009
hmm, im persuaded chelsea av d charisma and potential to be the champion of the premier league dis season wit their excellent start of d season coupled wit spectacular form of didier drogba despite d fact d prolific goal scorer is heading to africa in january..i want to bliv nicolas anelka can do d damage wit d likes of lampard, joe cole and ballack who can score goals from d mid field....i tink peter czech's confidence should be reinstated as well, its not goin to be easy cos there are alot of contenders and its becoming more competitive wit chelsea losing to manchester city and drawing at home to everton, had they av won dis 2 matches they would av gone 8 points clear which would av suppress d pressure of d likes of man. utd and arsenal, but nevertheless i still see them bowing to d diamond tactics of chelsea and carlo ancelloti's reignition....femmy..........germany.
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Posted by Pedro Fleming on 12/17/2009
Chelsea need a strong back up/replacement keeper in a hurry and it's time to play more of the young players they have been buying at considerable expense over the last few years like Arsenal and Man U do often ,do they have a big striker in the bunch that's not out to loan all season,any forward planning at the bridge for the loss of Drogba ?
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Posted by Sylvester Palmer on 12/17/2009
I WISH CHELSEA THE BEST AND I BELEIVE GOD ALMIGHTY WILL SEE US THROUGH THIS SEASON SO THAT WE CAN WIN BOTH THE PREMIER AND CHAMPIONS LEAUGE
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Posted by danish on 12/18/2009
Chelsea will use back up player to play with west ham at Upton park or not? would Chelsea serious in this match?Gentlemen, please advice with your processional opinion..
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Posted by Felix nigeria on 12/19/2009
Am very sure chelsea is on the race,as ancelotti say if we can clear,dis games portmouth west ham birmingham,fulham,hull,sunderland and burnley before feb 24points is enough for us to get the title.For the champions leauge we need prayer against our former coache morinho of inter milian,God is our straingt.Felix frm Nigeria
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Posted by mugarura boaz on 12/19/2009
actually since this season began, chelsea has played well as it should be supposed to be playing despite that some teams won it in the english premier league making it to loose some points, but i will take the trophy this season because all players are now putting in more effort.people say that drogba, esien,kaluo are all going in january but that one can not make it fail to defeat other teams ok, am confartable and i hope chelsea shall take the premiership trophy this season. Boaz kiu w-campus
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Posted by reallyone on 12/22/2009
PREMIERSHIP,CHAMPIONS LEAGUE,FA CUP all is for CHELSEA this season,up blues,up chelsea.Pls ancelotti we want our defender to be putting more effort so that will can achieve good result at the end of each game....I WISH BEST IN ALL THE LEAGUE..
REALLYONE FRM NIGERIA
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Posted by ghostnaija on 12/23/2009
the only thing chelsea need rs a good holding midfielder for jan. as long as they dont have to track back for the ball, chelsea will score. they always do. every game thus far. no easy feat. against westham, the midfiled found its rythym with mikel's introduction in the 2nd half. all the other midfielders are attack minded, gola luvin. we need our holding midfield who remembers the backdoor even while bombing forward. maybe Carvalho getting tested in that role? maybe?
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Posted by jermaine on 12/23/2009
with anelka now out i think we should really buy a good striker. Kakuta is good and also Sturridge but we need some one with experience and we should have got Tevez and Villa is now open lets make a bid. Has anyone seen Eljero Elia of the Netherlands, chlesea should be looking at this kid.
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Posted by vela on 12/24/2009
No doubt Anelka is good, Chelsea still needs another good striker who can partner Drogba or play solo in front....someone who is talented, young and fast. Too much reliance on Drogba at the moment. Or Maluoda & Joe Cole has to buck up & show their greatness to support the attacking. Ribery makes a good midfielder on side with Lampard. Deco and Ballack doesnt seems to fit in nicely. Ribery is fast and skillfull. Chelsea needs players who have pace cuz I see them struggling with teams who have better pace than them. With Essien injured, Chelsea needs a good holding midfielder. I miss Makele. Ashley and Ivanovic are great. JT, Carvalho and Cech often has misunderstanding and lack of confidence lately. I wonder why. I hope Chelsea pull through during these internationals and injury period. Best Of Luck.
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Posted by Fadzly, Malaysia on 12/25/2009
Chelsea will be champs by the end of the season with the set of players that they already have..the chemistry of the team is uperb, even with the african nations getting closer, note that other will also loose their african superstars..Chelsea has many good players that can stand in for the absence of the cup tied players..
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Posted by Kailyn on 12/26/2009
Personally, I think our offense will be fine. Drogba leaving will hurt us, but won't kill us. We could USE another striker, but what we really need is to kick our defense in gear. Its quite laughable at the minute - almost comparable to Real Madrid's defense.
I agree with you in saying that those two - Anelka and Drogba - should track back to head the ball in, but one of them leaves for the Cup of the Nations. We really need heighth more than anything.
I always thought Luca Toni would be an interesting addition stylistically. Or Christoph Metzelder. Both have the heighth and the defensive skills. I mentioned Toni first because of his position as a striker, and the fact I cannot see the latter happening.
Never underestimate the power behind those "once mighty" clubs. No match is guaranteed, nor is there any such thing as an "easy match". With the way this season has gone thus far, nothing surprises me anymore.
COME ON YOU BLUES!
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Posted by chelsea fan on 12/28/2009
I think ancelotti should buy new players such as gourcuff,pastore for midfielder,aguero,benzema for the striker and for the defensive midfielder he should try rodwell. This young players are really good.But the main things is the teamwork of all the player in the team. ALL THE BEST...............
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Posted by Mr Lover on 12/29/2009
Please all chelsea play do to make us proud this season we need the premiership and the champion legueas so you guys should all your possible best to make us the fans happi i love blue and i will always remain to be blues fans thanks i hope and that you guys will reall make us pround this season
Posted by ody on 12/30/2009
we re going to win all that we set out for at the begining of the season....champions league,premiership and fa cup
we ve already played the consession game with the carling cup which i didnt really borther.....ody from nigeria
Posted by AZRI on 12/31/2009
CHELSEA WE CAN WIN JUST TO EXTRA TOP FORM AND BUY SOME STRICKER LIKE AGUERO OR RONALDINHO....
Posted by igwe on 01/03/2010
i think chelsea can hold our point tight this january.and all we need is to streingten our deffensive line and also to control the midfield for each game we are going to play,is very important.i beleive j.cole and anelka will always give us goals,up chelsea
udensi from china
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About
Phil Lythell is a Chelsea season ticket holder and lifelong Blues supporter stretching back to the sepia-tinted days of Kerry Dixon and Pat Nevin. Author of Chelsea-centric blog ShoutyandSpitty.com, Phil has spent his entire life living within a 20 minute walk of Stamford Bridge which has cost him a fortune but has also kept him from those interminable queues outside Fulham Broadway Station giving him more time in the pub to discuss the latest glorious/calamitous/insipid match.
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