Talking Points

[James 5,143]

It’s quite apt what they say; points do indeed mean prizes.

In this sense, that particular prize is the Premier League trophy; something that has evaded Chelsea since the departure of José Mourinho in 2007. There have been a couple of near misses since; Mourinho’s last season saw Chelsea come second fiddle to Manchester United, and Avram Grant’s side were only two points behind United a season later.

Last season, there was plenty of promise. Chelsea were top for much of the first half of the season, but a lack of consistency and confidence soon cost the team the title, and an experienced World Cup-winning coach. True, the renaissance the team enjoyed under Guus Hiddink would eventually become the blueprint for Carlo Ancelotti’s pop at the elusive trophy, but there was still a lot of disappointment in SW6 come May.

2009 seemed the year this would change; that for the first time since a 3-0 demolition of United at Stamford Bridge on April 29, 2006 – some 364 days after the Blues’ historic 2-0 victory at Bolton – the trophy would be held aloft by a Chelsea captain. Only two captains have hoisted the league championship trophy for Chelsea – Roy Bentley, and John Terry.

Terry – as we all know – has come under massive scrutiny following allegations of his private life. However, this could be a year of great promise for the Chelsea and England captain (though the latter position may not be one he holds much longer). A defence of the FA Cup seems likely, with United, Arsenal and Liverpool already knocked out in the previous rounds, a Champions League last sixteen date with Inter Milan (romantically, the side that Mourinho now coaches), and a table-topping Chelsea side sit two points clear of their great northern rivals from Manchester.

Yet, there is unrest at the club.

The January transfer window came and passed without event for Chelsea Football Club. With the side’s transfer ban suspended, it was likely that Ancelotti would raid Europe for some of the world’s greatest footballing talent; proven or potential. Names like Sergio Aguero and Adam Johnson were linked with the club, but instead, there has been no activity whatsoever.

Incidentally, that very same January was a month where Chelsea would be without top marksman Didier Drogba, key midfielders Michael Essien and John Mikel Obi, and winger Salomon Kalou. People said Chelsea would struggle. Five wins from as many matches, with twenty-one goals scored (seven of which against Sunderland in that game) and just four conceded, said otherwise.

Come February, and the return of Drogba, Chelsea drop points. To call this ironic would be an understatement. People will say; ‘Chelsea should have beaten Hull.’ But in truth, the Tigers were as tenacious and as combative as any team has performed against the Blues this season.

Hull warranted their point. Many would argue that Burnley did as well, the previous Saturday. John Terry’s header papered over the cracks of a below-par team performance, but with fresh revelations about Terry’s alleged affair with the former girlfriend of Manchester City’s Wayne Bridge, the team’s mentality seems to have been affected.

Ancelotti had refuted this, saying his captain’s personal life has not created a negative vibe within the dressing room. It is coincidental, therefore, that two shaky performances have ensued since the publication of this particular incident.

However, Chelsea fans should keep the faith. Some will argue the above point; that it was only Hull. On reflection, however, there are many positives to take from the game.

The performance of Drogba, for instance. It was highly unlikely the Chelsea forward would be able to switch instantaneously from Ivory Coast mode to his Premier League setting, but the twenty-nine degree temperature shift from Angola to Hull seems not to have affected the club’s leading goalscorer. Goal number twenty of a remarkable season came in the player’s twenty-fifth game. And it was quite a special one as well; bending the ball beyond Boaz Myhill.

Deco was impressive in his new role as a defensive midfielder in the wake of injures to Juliano Belletti and Michael Essien, also. Full-backs Yuri Zhirkov and the ever-reliable Branislav Ivanovic were involved with everything good about Chelsea’s performance.

A draw may seem disappointing on paper, but Hull must be given credit. They produced one of the best team performances of the season, thwarting Chelsea time and time again with manful defending. Myhill was in inspired form – he had put in a match-winning performance at White Hart Lane just a few weeks earlier, and it was clear that the young Welsh goalkeeper was in confident mood.

The result means Chelsea have taken four points away from two very, very tough away games. When you consider that Arsenal could only draw at Turf Moor, that Everton and Manchester United were both beaten there, and that Hull have been beaten only three times at home this season, you’ll find these to be two very positive results.

A missed opportunity? Yes, in retrospect. Perhaps Chelsea should have won. But games in hand are not as important as having points on the scoreboard. Chelsea need to push on and learn from their lesson. It would seem to Blues fans that at every opportunity they get to extend their lead; they blow it. What they should recall, however, is that any lead is a good lead in this competition.

This has been arguably the most keenly-contested and competitive edition of the Premier League since its inception. In theory, any of Chelsea, United, Arsenal or Manchester City could lift the trophy come May. Realistically, though, its between the Blues and their closest challengers; United. The Red Devils thrashed Arsenal in their own back yard at the weekend. Chelsea need a repeat of their superb performance at the Emirates in November to indicate they are back on track.

The Blues got over a difficult December. Only Portsmouth and Fulham failed to avoid defeat against Ancelotti’s side that month, yet Chelsea remained top of the pile. Now Drogba and company have returned, there cannot be any further slip ups.

And there won’t be. Starting with the Arsenal game.

Keep the faith.

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