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Scolari’s Beautiful Game is sacrificing results
It was Claudio Ranieri who first got the kind of results that made Europe sit up
and take notice of Chelsea, on Wednesday he was busy masterminding
fallen-giants Juventus to a remarkable second defeat of Real Madrid at the
Bernabeu... Chelsea however, fell to a very average Roma squad- so where has
their grit of yesteryear disappeared to?
Gianluca Vialli was the first to spot the difference- though not an overly
successful coach, a man who captained the last Juve side to Champions
’ League glory not so long ago, he knows a thing or two about Chelsea having left
the Turin giants to become a part of the Blues
’ revolution. He points to their lack of consistency- seemingly being unplayable
one week to rather ordinary the next, but I fear the problem goes far deeper
than that.
It is true that injuries have not helped- no less than nine first-team players
including Didier Drogba, the two Michaels- Ballack and Essien, Ashley Cole,
Ricardo Carvalho, Deco, Joe Cole, John Terry and Petr Cech having been
unavailable and fighting for fitness at various points already this season.
However, could it be that the winning-at-all-costs mentality drilled into them
by Ranieri, Mourinho and the yes-man Avram Grant is now being cast aside in
favour of looking good?
The defence are the best example of this- at several points against Roma and in
particular Vucinic
’s second, the defence seemed reserved and afraid to make a challenge and
clearances seem to be abandoned in favor of crisp and intelligent playing out
of trouble. Luckily for Big Phil, all the Big 3 are not having it all their own
way- Man. Utd having made their customary bad start, Arsenal losing thrice to
lower opposition and Liverpool
’s luck running out at Tottenham, but if there are fundamental errors, they must
be stamped out now to have any chance of emulating Mourinho
’s success.
EPL Week 10 Results
Everton 1-0 Fulham Chriso said 1-0 (3 points)
The Toffees are starting to pick up vital points, Fulham can’t buy a win these days... apart from against Arsenal.
Chelsea 5-0 Sunderland Chriso said 2-1 (1 point)
Chelsea put their ghosts to rest with Win#1 at The Bridge but woeful Sunderland
can
’t expect to play like that and survive in EPL.
Manchester United 3-2 Hull City Chriso said 1-1 (0 points)
United were given a real game of it and as I predicted, play at them and you
might just sneak something- unlucky Hull.
Middlesbrough 1-1 West Ham United Chriso said 2-0 (0 points)
Fair result really and The Hammers in particular will be grateful.
Portsmouth 1-2 Wigan Athletic Chriso said 1-2 (3 points)
I had a feeling Pompey would lose this one as Wigan have been very unlucky
lately- morale can
’t be great down at Fratton Park.
Stoke City 2-1 Arsenal Chriso said 0-4 (0 points)
Another poor result for the Young Guns who just weren’t as up for the scrap. Brilliant result and fairly done, whatever Wenger says.
West Brom 2-2 Blackburn Rovers Chriso said 0-0 (1 point)
Appalling refeering was lucky to leave this game even.
Tottenham 2-1 Liverpool Chriso said 3-2 (1 point)
Smash and grab for Harry Houdini, Spurs fans must be pinching themselves to what
he can do in January.
Bolton Wanderers 2-0 Manchester City Chriso said 0-2 (0 points)
Dr Jekyl City turn up and are beaten by plucky Bolton- an invaluable three
points for Bolton and Megson.
Newcastle United 2-0 Aston Villa Chriso said 3-3 (0 points)
The Kinnear Revival continues, a thoroughly deserved win and a loss for
over-rated Villa.
Total- 9/30
(c) ChrisOnline.biz 2008
