http://carefree-chelseafc.blogspot.co.uk/

 

Here we are at Christmas time, 11 points behind Manchester United, 4 points behind Manchester City, a game in hand and a slowly but surely improving side.

If you had asked me in early August how I thought the season would go I would be miles off how it has actually panned out. 4 months, a premature sacking and a winter slump later I find myself typing this, reflecting on how the season has gone so far. In some ways it's been positive, and in some ways negative. Welcome to the soap opera that is Chelsea FC.

Let's look a bit further back, and go to the 19th May 2012 in Munich. An ageing side who wanted to take (for many of them) their last chance to win the Champions League before their careers at Chelsea ended. Never have I seen so much fight in a Chelsea team, and deservedly, we won it. The ultimate prize in World Football. The old guys left, and new ones were brought in. It was an extremely promising transfer window, with the likes of Eden Hazard and Oscar being bought and implemented into our new attacking style of play. When your club brings in players of their quality, potential and talent it's impossible to not get excited.

The season began on a low point with a 3-2 defeat to City in the Community Shield. Admittedly it's not the most important of trophies but it's always something that you'd want to win. However we bounced back and got a comfortable 2-0 win over Wigan at the DW stadium on the first PL match of the 2012-13 season. Hazard stole the show and had an incredible first few games for us. He bagged two assists against Wigan, three assists in a 4-2 win over Reading and then an assist and a goal in a 2-0 win over Newcastle. A very bright start for the £32 million playmaker and the whole of the team, taking 9 points from a possible 9.

 

We were well and truly battered by Athletico Madrid in the Super Cup due to Falcao's quality, which was followed by two disappointing draws to QPR and Juventus. However, Oscar scored two great goals, one being one of the goals of the season with a spectacular shot from outside the box that curled over Buffon. We responded with a 1-0 win over Stoke City and then a 6-0 battering of Wolves in the Capital one Cup.

We continued our good run of form, including a 2-1 win over Arsenal at the Emirates and then a 4-2 win over Tottenham at Three Point Lane. Mata proved himself again with a superb individual performance, including 2 goals and an assist against Tottenham with Hazard and Oscar again proving their worth. Mata also scored the winning free-kick at Arsenal and yet again Oscar and Hazard played brilliantly. As a Chelsea fan you couldn't have asked for much more.

 

We continued our unbeaten run from the QPR game to an unfortunate and out of character 2-1 defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk at the Donbass Arena in the Champions League, and then we were robbed of a fantastic comeback against Manchester United due to the officiating, with Torres and Ivanovic sent off followed by an offside goal proving to be the decider. Our grip at the top of the table slipped following draws with Swansea, Liverpool, Man City and Fulham along with defeats to West Ham and West Brom which had a bad effect on our season as we dropped to 3rd in the Premier League table.

We were also knocked out of the Champions  League on away goals and then we lost the Club World Cup Final 1-0 to Corinthians. A 3-0 defeat away at Juventus in the Champions League saw Roberto Di Matteo sacked, the man who won us the Champions league 6 months ago, and then Rafael Benitez hired as Interim Manager, effectively a symbol of hate to all Chelsea fans. It was a low time. Many called for Benitez to be sacked and lots of criticism was understandably hurled at Roman and the board. The fans made their voices heard.

 

However, in recent weeks, life as a Chelsea fan has been looking up. 3 straight wins in the Premier League has boosted our form and this includes an 8-0 hammering of Aston Villa as well as a 1-0 win over Norwich at Carrow Road, which has proved to be a tough place to go in recent months with Arsenal and Man United leaving empty handed. Mata has been on superb form and so has Hazard. A 5-1 win over long time rivals Leeds at Elland Road has been a massive confidence boost for the players and an ego boost for the fans.

Now that I look back our season has very much a rollercoaster ride, and not a fun one. For some fans it was the lowest they had ever felt. But times had been worse, and it seems we are finally picking up our form again. A clash with Everton at Goodison Park looms and it is a big chance for us to get back in to the title race, a win putting us just one point behind Manchester City in 2nd place. Historically Everton away has been a tough fixture for us but the absence of Fellaini might just be the decider.

In the January transfer window we should look to sign a new striker as although Torres has been scoring goals recently they have been insignificant as far as scorelines go, for example the 5th goal in the 5-1 win over Leeds. Most Chelsea fans also think it is madness to let Frank and Ashley go so the club should definitely offer them both new contracts as their leadership on and off the pitch is too valuable for any transfer fee to pay.

To sum up what I have said, a fantastic start has been let down by a drop in form and we can't be written off yet. If we sign a top class striker in January we'll be a force to be reckoned with. Mata, Hazard and Oscar create chances for fun but we just need someone to get on the end of them. Exciting times ahead!

 

Let me know what you think-it's my first blog entry!

Edited December 28, 201213 yr by omnidroid70

Good summation

Agree! ... though I think a midfield hardman/fighter/cool head (all in one!) would be invaluable, even though we have plenty of midfielders, and it might be that Luiz turns into this figure.

Edited December 28, 201213 yr by superdan

I sense a 2nd spot finish. Manure are as spawny as ever with their weak midfield and leaky defence but will probably eke their way to top spot at season end with nutcase Ferguson at the helm. City lack consistency but I sense some consistency emerging in our team. Some have belittled the Norwich win at the weekend, however, Utd and Arsenal lost there but we played out a cool win despite my fears. Everton at the weekend will be another good indicator of our 2nd spot pedigree.