++ [ originally posted by chxta ] ++
Tim Webber, a ManU fan sent this out to Goal.com
Chelsea are soon to be victims of a familiar theme to the Premiership. They are about to be struck down by a mystery and debilitating virus that amongst others has already afflicted Newcastle United and Arsenal.
Many had thought that a remedy had been discovered in varying London boroughs, but alas the relentless nature, and overpowering inevitability of things looks as though it is about to return.
Manchester United have smelt blood, they have stirred themselves over the last few months and are now hotly in pursuit of Chelsea. The title race is well and truly back on, and nobody can afford to overlook Ferguson’s men.
This particular tale certainly has a familiar theme. Manchester United have been written off before, time and time again. In fact it appears to be a favourite past time of a foolish number in the football establishment. The team that comes forward to challenge them become the media darlings of the day, we had Keegan’s Newcastle, Wenger’s, ahem.. unbeatables and now of course Chelsea.
All have strode to the top of the league, confidently, full of self-esteem and grasping an apparently unassailable lead. No-one can foresee a single defeat for them, let alone enough for anybody to close the gap. How many times will people say teams look unbeatable, look as though they won’t drop any points, are they aiming to look foolish? All it takes is one draw, an injured player and the whole thing can go look decidedly shaky.
Let’s face it Arsenal are gone, it is decidedly a two horse race now. But not from an even start. It is Manchester United chasing Chelsea and that’s what really makes it interesting. On an even keel, as at the start of the season United don’t seem to rouse themselves, it’s almost as though they like the hunt, the pursuit, the chase. All that is needed is a few good results and things start to snow-ball.
Chelsea are stuttering. Robben is injured, and while not as vital to a team as has been made out, his absence is important. Gone are the 4-0, 4-0, 4-1, scorelines of pre-Christmas, Chelsea have started trotting out the 1-0 wins again, and that is when Robben’s ability on the ball would have made the difference.
Mourinho didn’t want Duff near his side at the beginning of the season, he wanted two up with Cole fulfilling a Deco style role in behind. There have already been calls for a formation change. “Mr Mourinho, a phone call for you, it’s self-doubt.”
Wishful thinking some might say, but it isn’t. A lucky 1-0 against Blackburn, when Makelele should have been sent off (something he incidentally got away with following a kick on Ronaldo in the Carling Cup), followed by a 0-0 with the ‘massive’ Manchester City, when Fowler should clearly have scored with a header just before half time; all spells struggle for Chelsea.
United on the other hand are purring. Witness the ease with which Birmingham are beaten - they didn’t muster a shot on target. A win with 10 men at Anfield, without ever being threatened. And of course the win at Highbury.
The killer blow to Wenger and his men. 4-2, this wasn’t just a win this was a thrashing. Again down to ten, after Silvestre lost his remarkably big head, but the result was never in doubt. We went toe to toe with them and came out winners. Even John O’Shea scored.
If this all sounds a little too smug for words, then quite simply it’s because it is. United are winners, we know what winning is about and we are about to do it again. Ferguson has at last written off a whole portion of the squad and is playing those who deserve it, those who can do and will do the business. This is all with out Van Nistelrooy of course, so things can only get better.
We’ve been here we’ve done it. ’96, Cantona inspired, Newcastle cracked. ’03, things clicked into gear, Arsenal crumbled. Chelsea will do the same. Their demise will not be on the same scale as others, and I actually think that they’ll put up more of a fight. It will be a real battle. The key weeks are in April, when Chelsea travel to Old Trafford, and host Arsenal at Stamford Bridge, if they took 6 points there they would win it. But they won’t.
The nature of the leader-chaser scenario is what adds to the excitement. Once the lead begins to fall away it is almost inevitable. You know it is happening, you peddle the excuses to friends and colleagues but there is no getting away from it. We have been there too, Leeds ’92, and Arsenal ’98. It’s horrible. So to Chelsea: welcome to hell. You’re going to have to wait even longer for that first title for 50 odd years.
Tim Webber, a ManU fan sent this out to Goal.com
Chelsea are soon to be victims of a familiar theme to the Premiership. They are about to be struck down by a mystery and debilitating virus that amongst others has already afflicted Newcastle United and Arsenal.
Many had thought that a remedy had been discovered in varying London boroughs, but alas the relentless nature, and overpowering inevitability of things looks as though it is about to return.
Manchester United have smelt blood, they have stirred themselves over the last few months and are now hotly in pursuit of Chelsea. The title race is well and truly back on, and nobody can afford to overlook Ferguson’s men.
This particular tale certainly has a familiar theme. Manchester United have been written off before, time and time again. In fact it appears to be a favourite past time of a foolish number in the football establishment. The team that comes forward to challenge them become the media darlings of the day, we had Keegan’s Newcastle, Wenger’s, ahem.. unbeatables and now of course Chelsea.
All have strode to the top of the league, confidently, full of self-esteem and grasping an apparently unassailable lead. No-one can foresee a single defeat for them, let alone enough for anybody to close the gap. How many times will people say teams look unbeatable, look as though they won’t drop any points, are they aiming to look foolish? All it takes is one draw, an injured player and the whole thing can go look decidedly shaky.
Let’s face it Arsenal are gone, it is decidedly a two horse race now. But not from an even start. It is Manchester United chasing Chelsea and that’s what really makes it interesting. On an even keel, as at the start of the season United don’t seem to rouse themselves, it’s almost as though they like the hunt, the pursuit, the chase. All that is needed is a few good results and things start to snow-ball.
Chelsea are stuttering. Robben is injured, and while not as vital to a team as has been made out, his absence is important. Gone are the 4-0, 4-0, 4-1, scorelines of pre-Christmas, Chelsea have started trotting out the 1-0 wins again, and that is when Robben’s ability on the ball would have made the difference.
Mourinho didn’t want Duff near his side at the beginning of the season, he wanted two up with Cole fulfilling a Deco style role in behind. There have already been calls for a formation change. “Mr Mourinho, a phone call for you, it’s self-doubt.”
Wishful thinking some might say, but it isn’t. A lucky 1-0 against Blackburn, when Makelele should have been sent off (something he incidentally got away with following a kick on Ronaldo in the Carling Cup), followed by a 0-0 with the ‘massive’ Manchester City, when Fowler should clearly have scored with a header just before half time; all spells struggle for Chelsea.
United on the other hand are purring. Witness the ease with which Birmingham are beaten - they didn’t muster a shot on target. A win with 10 men at Anfield, without ever being threatened. And of course the win at Highbury.
The killer blow to Wenger and his men. 4-2, this wasn’t just a win this was a thrashing. Again down to ten, after Silvestre lost his remarkably big head, but the result was never in doubt. We went toe to toe with them and came out winners. Even John O’Shea scored.
If this all sounds a little too smug for words, then quite simply it’s because it is. United are winners, we know what winning is about and we are about to do it again. Ferguson has at last written off a whole portion of the squad and is playing those who deserve it, those who can do and will do the business. This is all with out Van Nistelrooy of course, so things can only get better.
We’ve been here we’ve done it. ’96, Cantona inspired, Newcastle cracked. ’03, things clicked into gear, Arsenal crumbled. Chelsea will do the same. Their demise will not be on the same scale as others, and I actually think that they’ll put up more of a fight. It will be a real battle. The key weeks are in April, when Chelsea travel to Old Trafford, and host Arsenal at Stamford Bridge, if they took 6 points there they would win it. But they won’t.
The nature of the leader-chaser scenario is what adds to the excitement. Once the lead begins to fall away it is almost inevitable. You know it is happening, you peddle the excuses to friends and colleagues but there is no getting away from it. We have been there too, Leeds ’92, and Arsenal ’98. It’s horrible. So to Chelsea: welcome to hell. You’re going to have to wait even longer for that first title for 50 odd years.
