Injury - Overpaid Overplayed Millionaires?

Chelsea manage to secure top spot in their Champions League group last night by beating whipping boys Zilina 2-1. Not the scoreline i expected, although Carlo did ring a few changes with few youngsters given the chance, i do think whoever start for Chelsea we should have beaten Zilina by a more bigger margin and keeping clean sheet. But considering the problems the club face the pass few weeks and the recent poor result in the league, it was still a good win. A much needed victory to build back the confidence.

Missing big players through injury for me was the main reason for the sudden dip of form. I cant recall any other season that we miss so many players due to injuries. An injury crisis that doesn't look to end soon, every week there seem to be a player out. Chelsea with a high average age of players might be a factor that we've had one of the most huge injury list among the other BPL clubs, but that wasnt the case at all. It seems that other team had a few injury problem as well. Rooney, v.Persie, Gerrard, Vermalaen, Fabregas, Torres, v.Der Vaart are just few names from the bigger clubs that had or still have injury concerns this season and its only November, not even halfway through the season.

I don't think its a coincident that the injury trouble facing clubs early this season is due to the summer World Cup in Africa. After a long hard season last term, players then join their respective country for training and a month long of competition. Though they did have their holiday and much needed rest after the tournament, most of them reported back to their clubs late meaning a short pre season to gain full fitness. This raise the issue, are the players overplayed? The early season schedule also not too kind to the players. League matches on weekends, domestic cups, Europeans games and useless international friendlies adding to the hectic list of matches.

Some would say that the players are paid millions a year and ought to be playing as much games as they could whether for their club of country. But certainly if this injuries situation continue and  the summer international tournament proven to be the cause, something should be done at least for the season after the World Cup or Euro. A delayed start to the season, cup competition or abolish the useless international friendlies which i think anyone would agree and can do without. We want to see the best players play every week, the injuries will be a lost to the club as well as the fans. Something to think about. ktbffh

v. Birmingham - Blame it on bad luck

Worrying times for Chelsea Football Club. Another defeat, the second in as many games has blown the tittle race wide open. After a very good start to the season, Chelsea form has dip drastically securing only 3 points from a possible 12 and scoring only once in the four games.

Yesterday performance was a better one compared to the Sunderland game, but still we couldnt break down the opponent who only manage to get one shot on target the whole game and still won. Chelsea on the other side have 16 corners, 32 goal attempts, 9 shots on target and was in control for much of the game. Bad luck and great goalkeeping from B'ham keeper Ben Foster was the different and turning point of the match. It was a defeat that is hard to take, a bitter pill to swollow for all those related to the club.

There are few fans that suggest the dismissal of assistant manager Ray Wilkins was the factor of the poor performance the past couple of weeks, but i hope it wasnt the case. For me, the injury crisis that see a few of our big players missing was the main reason for the blips. Certainly we miss the influence of JT, the creativity of FL, the strentgh and determination of ME. It will be a testing moments for the rest of Chelsea players the next few games, with the big guns still not available, its up to them to step up and perform to their max. And lets hope with a bit of luck we could put our season back on track. After a poor run of result the pass couple of weeks, we still sit top of the league, so not all was lost this weekend. KTBFFH.

Biggest miss in football history

Fahad Kalfan, take a bow son. You've done asian football proud. The biggest miss in footballing history for me, cant recall any worst then that. It seems that it is easier to score than to miss from his position, well at least we have something to remember and laught about.

Owhhh... its from the 2010 Asian Games quarterfinal match between Qatar and Uzbekistan. Fahad will be ruing his miss as the Uzbeks went on to win the match 0-1 in extra time.

v Sunderland - Awful and Dreadful

Whoever turn up against Sunderland at the Bridge yesterday, it wasnt the Champions. A very awful and dreadful performance by Chelsea see them beaten convincingly, conceding 3 and unable to score or evan creating clear cut chances, one of the worst football i seem them played at home. There was so much wrong in the game, i dont know where to start. Only goalkeeper Petr Cech can held his head up and certainly doesnt deserve to be on the losing side, if not for him, it could be worst, maybe it would have been a drubbing 5,6 goals defeat.

The backfour of Bosingwa, Ferreira, Ivanovic and Cole didnt look comfortable. It was a patch up centre back pairing with both Alex and Terry out, but playing a fullback in the centre of defence is clearly a mistake and maybe if Carlo have more faith in young Jeffry Bruma it could have been difference. As good as him going forward, Bosingwa defensive qualities was always a question mark and clearly his defensive game was asked for last night with a weakened cetreback pairing and he doesnt turn up. Cole made the blunder for Sunderland 3rd goal, but the game was already lost by that time. Clearly not the defending that see us recorded 9 clean sheet consecutively at the Bridge before the game.

The midfield is worst, maybe the main cause of the defeat. Mikel, Zhirkov, and Ramires clearly lost the battle in the middle of the park. The trio for me is too lightweight and doesnt make enough impact going forward. No penetrating run forward, no penetrating pass (only sideways and backward), too casual, no creativity, and cannot threat the Sunderland goal with long range effort. Certainly Essien and Lampard was miss, we need them back ASAP.

The forward just doesnt turn up and largly dissapointing. Drogba doesnt look himself, maybe not 100% fit yet, but too see him apologising and picking up opponent defender during the game clearly not the Drog i used to see who is strong, a menace in terrorising his opponent. The sub that come in, doesnt make any different and maybe some of the youngster is not ready to step up yet.

There are so many thing crossing my mind right now, lots of wrong in the performance, strategies and attitude of both the manager and players yesterday. i should stop now (cant bare the pain). Hope for better days next weekend. KTBFFH

v Liverpool - El Nino strike twice

Fernando Torres scored 2 well taken goals in the first half to ensure Liverpool revival continue after a very bad start to the season. Chelsea on the other hand suffered their second defeat in the league and was largly dissapointing especially in the first half. The Anfield crowd was magnificent, certainly the twelve man on the pitch. The atmosphere lifted the home side, the players respond showing their hunger and determination that wasnt visible in their previous matches.

A good manager he is, but i think Carlo made a very huge mistake yesterday by leaving Didier Drogba on the bench and starting with Malouda, Anelka, Kalou up front. Surely complacency was there in the Chelsea camp, the team was second best through out the first half and Liverpool showed that they want it more than the Chelsea players. With Essien missing due to injury, the Blues midfield and forward was lightweight and losing the 50-50 ball eventually the midfield battle. Only when DD came on in the second half, we've manage to get hold of the ball and threatening the Liverpool goal. Unfortunately for us, the Liverpool defend was tight and goalkeeper Reina was at his best.

Different from the defeat at Man City, Liverpool clearly deserve all 3 points considering the poor performance shown by Chelsea in the first half which i think where the game has been lost and Liverpool players manage to lift their performance for the game. The only positive i can think of right now is we have only 3 days to dwell on the defeat and poor performance. Midweek game against London rival Fulham coming up and i expect the team to bounce back with a good result and performance. KTBFFH



Case #2 : Nani's goal, Man Utd v Tottenham (2010/2011)



Nani scored a controversial goal at Old Trafford and helping his team to record a 2-0 win against a fast improving Tottenham side. United were leading 1-0 before Nani secure the 3 points with the goal which Spurs manager Harry Redknapp describe as scandalous.

In the 84th mins of the game, Nani chase a looping pass from Wes Brown before falling down and then handling the ball bearing he was fouled thus hoping for a penalty to be given for United. The referee for the game Mark Clattenburg waves play on and no penalty. Gomes then pick up the ball before rolling it infront of him when Nani gets up run to the ball and pass it to the empty net.

Personally for me and considering all the rules of the game, the goal scored by Nani was good. The play and ball was active since the referee didnt blew the whistle and play doesnt stop. But Mr. Clattenburg should and could handle the situation better, he should blew his whistle either for a foul on Nani consequently awarding a penalty to United or if he think the contact was minimal/no contact he should have blew for a handball. A deserving and good victory for United overshadow by the incident. What do you guys think? You be the Judge

v Blackburn - Mark of a Champion?

Chelsea maintained the 5 points lead at the top with a 2-1 victory against Blackburn Rover at Ewood Park. Blackburn took a deservledy lead through Benjani before Anelka equalise after a neet set up by Drogba. 6 mins from time, Ivanovic broke the rovers heart heading the winning goal to secure a hard fought 3 points.

It wasnt a pretty game of football with Chelsea struggling to dictate play and to be honest i think we were lucky to bag all 3 points, Rovers has done a good job preventing us from playing our usual passing football with them closing us down quickly and being physical especially in the first half with them threatening our goals a couple of time.

But playing away to the likes of Rovers of this world and winning is where i think titles are won and lost. Grinding out result when we obviously didnt play well is a true mark of a Champion and i hope we will be there comes May. The other positives we can take from the game is the character we've showed to come back from a goal down and showing title rivals that Chelsea can mix it up, not only playing neet and pretty football. Individual performance, got to gives credit to goalkeeper Cech who looks really good the pass couple of matches and showing sign of getting back to his old form. Zhirkov is a revelation this season and getting his confidence back after a poor start to his Chelsea career and i hope he will be better proving the 18mil we spent on him is not a waste. A valuable and massive 3 points considering we're not at our best but still manage to get through. KTBFFH