BlueFlagFlyingHigh

For the second midweek game in a row, we have dropped points. For most teams, thats hardly the end of the world. But when you are major title contenders and your are in the real business end of the season, its fixtures like this which will haunt you come May.

Don’t get me wrong, I knew Everton away would be tricky, and even Hull away would require a fight, especially with them now scraping for every point they can get. But you cannot afford to only be taking 1 point away from those 2 fixtures.

One wasted beer and a change of pub later, me and fellow blogger Hicksy (BLOG), had found a pub showing the game. The first 30mins were proper scrappy, with neither team really taking control. Both teams had a few chances, but nothing real clearcut. It was until Malouda smashed home a Drogba flick on, did the game really pick up. It was a fantastic finish. Im not going to lie, as we celebrate that goal, it came with great relief.

I generally thought to myself…’Nothing can go wrong from here’. Error.

After the goal we enjoyed so much of the ball. We were knocking it around for fun and Everton weren’t touching us. But we didn’t create anything with all the possession, which soon came to bite us. Just when we thought we had  got over our set-piece problems, we go on to concede another. This time isnt a lot harder to be pointing the finger. It was a brilliant ball into the box meet with a Saha header into the back of net. It was a great run from him in the box, just getting a few yards on John Terry. The second half ended in fairly scrappy manor. Everton did also get themselves a penalty when Carvalho left a leg hanging out in the box, but a fairly average penalty by Saha was saved by Cech.

Into the second half and possibly one of the worst 20 mins i’ve seen from us this season. We couldn’t string any passes together and without doubt in the first 10 mins of the half Everton were far better than us. Then just when we started to work ourselves back into the game, a long ball towards the Chelsea box, which was meant to by a terribly misstimed jump from Terry to clear, instead loop straight over him and into the feet of Saha who lashed the ball home.

10mins to go, and Chelsea try and go looking for that goal. But we simply couldnt break them down. Our passing was poor and we didnt create any shots. Nothing at all to really note from those last 10 mins apart from a Drogba header which hit the bar. 3 points dropped.

The blow of losing is soften by the fact Man Utd only picked up 1 point, so we stay 1 point clear at the top. Before the game we knew Everton would be bring long ball and good set pieces, so to concede from both of those is really disappointing. After 3 brilliant performances from JT, we got a bit of a naff one tonight, with the blame from both goals pointing slightly in his direction. Maybe he plays better with the negative headlines.

Looking forward, we’ve got a lunchtime kick off with Cardiff in the cup. No excuses there, just need to get the job done. Hopefully Sturridge will start, plus some of the other younger boys mixed in with the experienced players. Looks like we could be without John Terry at the weekend, but Alex should slot in just fine. Hopefully Terry will get a few things sorted out while he’s away and we can get on with the football. Then its back to the league. Its all got very tight at the top very quickly. Lets also not forget the Champions league in only a few weeks now. Time to say hello to Jose….excited much?

Keep The Blue Flag Flying High!

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I felt a bit suspicious about tonight’s game. Mainly because we were the only team playing tonight, almost felt a bit spooky. But with Drogba back in the team and no other injuries to worry about, I felt confident for a win, as I sat down to watch it in my Manc supporting Surrey based pub.

First half they closed us down really well in midfield and it really stopped us from playing the ball around. Our passing was also a bit sloppy and we failed to get the ball to either Drogba or Anelka to really create some decent chances. To Hulls credit, they kept our wingers hushed and we barely got a cross in either, in the first first half. Once again we let ourselves down by conceding from a set piece. Marking could of been better, but, it was also a great header.

With 15mins left of the first half  we created a few half chances before Drogba got himself a free kick just outside the box. Being my normal pessimistic self when it comes to Chelsea freekicks,

I offered up a bet that it would hit the wall…seconds later, Drogba slams it into the bottom right.

Second half Hull really stopped us playing in midfield once again. Not even the introduction of the 2 Coles and Sturridge (aka, Dizzee Rascal) could help us create decent chances (All 3 of our subs were English I would like to add).  In the last 10mins when we should of been pressing, we were giving the ball away so easily.

John Terry got another lovely reception from the Hull fans. Though lets be honest, thats the last of his problems right now.

Points dropped, but we are still top!

Keep The Blue Flag Flying High!

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I’ll warn you, before you starting reading this blog, it has no real point to it. Apart from outlining just a couple of reasons why I hate Man Utd. And if you do read on, i’m sorry, but you wont be getting the 5mins back.

I entered my local pub tonight for some midweek football, to be greeted by about 40 Man Utd fans. In SURREY. What does that tell you about Man Utd fans? To make it worse, after Wayne Rooney snatched victory over Man City tonight, they played ‘Glory, Glory, Man Utd’ over the pubs speakers. In a pub, in SURREY.

I could literally go on for days listing things I hate about Man Utd. The fans just have the worst footballing tunnel vision around. I don’t think i’v ever heard a Man Utd fan compliment any other football team in my life.

And this has nothing to do with them beating us in Moscow…Or winning the league the last 3 years. No, not to do with that at all.

And don’t even get me started on Fergie…

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So after months of hype that we would be missing Drogba for large part of January, it turns out, he’ll only actually miss 3, possibly 4 games due to Ivory Coasts early exit in the African Nations. 2 of which have been against teams outside of the premiership. We also scored 14 goals in those 3 games. So much for a Chelsea collapse during the African Nations…

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Right, time to write my first blog for Football United. In fact, the first football blog iv written. Actually, the first blog iv ever written!

Firstly, bit of background as to why i followed the Chels. The blue blood has been passed down for a couple of generations, so when at the age of 6, I was taken to the Bridge for the first time with my older brother and Dad, it was clear than this was going to become my new way of life. I cant remember where I sat, who we played, or even what the score is, but I do remember Graeme Le Saux playing. Strange thing to remember.

I also remember in 2003, a few seasons before the Russian Revolution at the bridge, after 2 games of the season, going top of the league. We sang ‘We are top the league, say we are top the league’, knowing full well this would be our only chance to sing this for the rest of the season as we had a difficult away trip to Newcastle which would see us almost certainly drop points and put as back where we blog. Somewhere between 8th – 5th place in the league.

So 6 years on, we have had about 19 different managers, some more successful then others. We have reached a champions league final despite UEFA’s best efforts to stop us getting there. We were only denied but UEFA’s crafty moving turf that they installed secretly into the pitch seconds before JT stuck his penalty. Some people don’t know about that, but its the only circumstance that I am willing to admit.  Then last year, again cheated out of a a Champs Final appearance, but im not going to dwell on that either. im not bitter. Honest.

Now a bit of a season recap to bring us up to date. Its been a bit of strange 1st half of the season with no one really taking command at the top. Without getting the fact book out, we have pretty much been top all season, but never really creating any distances over United or Arsenal. Though we have definately looked like a better team then them. You cant complain about still being in all 3 major trophies at this stage of the season. Without getting cocky, the FA Cup almost seems like ours to throw away with all the other ‘top 4 teams’ out, as long as we avoid Leeds, I hope we will be on our way to Wembley again. Champs League going strong, but its tough the rest of the way now. Iv alway said that to get to the final, you HAVE to ride your luck at some point. Lets hope we get that bit of luck. For me, the priority has to be the Champions League, because it has been so painful the last 5 years, also coming close but never getting our hands on it. To win it after all the years of coming close, it will most certainly be our sweetest achievement.

So lets hope we keep pushing for the rest of the season. JT continues to risk life an limb for that clean sheet, Ashley Cole continues to dominate that left wing, Lamps continues to dominate the midfield and bringing the goals in the big games, and the Drogba stops whinging and stays on his feet. Well, we can dream.

Finally, unlike some fans of other top teams, or even other Chelsea fans, im aware how lucky we are to be in this situation. If we never win anything again, ill still be happy, just to lift the Prem once, is once more than I thought 5 years ago.

Keep The Blue Flag Flying High!

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