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The Red Devils!
By Toyin | January 11, 2009
What a total domination! I would never have betted against Chelsea getting at a least a draw from Old Trafford. Over the years, they‘ve been the only team to have gotten the most out of that side from their grand home.
However, today, that was not to be as the Red Devils set the tone from the onset that it wasn’t going to be a picnic for the Blues. And in front of 76,000 fans, the team from the red side of Manchester decided to run riot. What made this more compelling is the fact that Manchester United won this match with more to spare.
They have now gone eight matches without conceding a goal. What never seizes to amaze me is that they seem to always find strength and momentum in the second half of the league irrespective of their start. As a matter of fact, they‘ve ended as Champions in six out of the eleven league titles they‘ve won so far when they have had a lackluster first half. Will this be the seventh one?
The defense is solid even without Rio Ferdinand. They have the luxury of keeping Carlos Tervez, not by any means an average player on the bench! I’d pardon you if you’ve forgotten that Owen Hargreeves, Wes Brown, Anderson and Nani are Manchester United players! Please don’t forget old ‘war horse’ Paul Scholes and John Oshea; two players that can walk into any team in Europe and pick jerseys on merit.
This is the extent of the quality of the bench at the disposal of Sir Alex Ferguson and they look like they are just warming up! The only threat to their ascendancy is Arsenal! And please don’t laugh at this. For every Goliath, there is always a David.
The implication of the damaging defear suffered today by Chelsea is even more compelling taking into consideration the fact that for the first time this season, they had Joe Cole, Michael Ballack, John Terry, Didier Drogba and Ricardo Cavalho together for a premiership match and yet they suffered their most humiliating defeat in years to Sir Ferguson’s side! Is this a benchmark to the ultimate outcome of the Premiership? Hard to say but it is surely a marker.
After the compelling encounter, my friends that supports Chelsea called for the head of the coach claiming that he was only good for national team management! I don’t understand what that means. I thought a good coach is a good coach irrespective of the side he manages.
The concentration of Manchester United players for the duration of the encounter especially in the defense was legendary. While their counterparts from Chelsea were busy conceding soft goals, they defended like Trojans faced with Greek invasion!
Chelsea lacked communication and it was obvious that something is broken in the team. What it is I can’t pinpoint but it is glaring that the winning mentality is gone. That extra edge that made them a Premiership force for the last four years is gone. What is to blame? Inconsistent club signals and too much believe in monetary importance are surely culprits.
And some already believe that Chelsea has peaked! When push comes to shove, men must stand and this is what the Blues need at this time. Irrespective of other opinions, I strongly believe that this team has a lot going for it and all they need to do is to rediscover themselves! Sacking Scolari won’t be the solution and definitely not the cure to a tiring side that needs just a shot of spark and confidence.
Meanwhile, congratulations to all United fans. I hope ‘am off the hook of accusations that I don’t talk about you guys-This is for you and your team.
Topics: Crazy Fans, Premiership, The Gaffer, Who Will Win |
January 12th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
Toyin, thanks for this.
1. I think you should not have trivialised your article by bringing up Arsenal. Forget about David and Goliath, it has no bearing in this analysis. Apart from what most christians believe about the unseen force that gave David victory over Goliath. It is also clear that David had a clear strategy. Arsenal and is Arsene Weinger(notice differene) have no strategy this season. They are just going as it comes and mark my prediction, They will not finish in the top 5. There are a lot more serious teams just beneath them and I predict that they will be extremely lucky to be 6th this season.
2. As for Chelsea, my greatest joy was to realise that they got trounced in the presence of their erstwhile coach Jose Mourinho. I have never liked Chelsea as a team because I think they just take money and buy talents and do no more that pay fat salaries. They are not contributing anything to the game of football. But the greatest injustice of 2007 was the sack of Mourinho. Where on earth do you sack someone who is doing well on his Job. Chelsea did not have a lot under Mourinho, but they certainly had pride; They would NEVER have been beaten as they were yesterday without a fight. To be honest, for a long time, I felt that if I had been a subsctitue of the chelsea bench yesterday, I would have come out as the star of the match. There were many things they could have done to at least redeem their image.
3. Finally, MU is reaping the benefit of consistency. When a coach has spent almots 30 years in one team, there is something you cannot take away from that team. I wish them luck.
Thanks
January 12th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
welldone.a nice piece…
January 12th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
Well said Jonah. I however don’t believe Arsenal will finish in 6th place. When push come to shove, only the team with the most confidence will get that fourth Champions League place and that will be the Gunners!
January 12th, 2009 at 10:03 pm
Nice article!
What happened yesterday was a total humiliation of Chelsea by Manchester United. I expected a loss but not a disgrace for the blues; this is because the determination and the strong will to survive against all odds has gradually departed Chelsea (the team I admire so much).
Toyin, as for the fourth Champions League place, please don’t even think about the Gunners with the way they are going. They lack the so called “confidence” required. They may not even play in the UEFA Cup if care is not taken.
For the Blues, they’ll surely bounce back.
January 13th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
Nice piece, I would say that was the reward for consistency and hard work which I expect the players to carry on to the next match.