If ever there has been a decisive moment under AVB’s reign then this surely is it. We sit a massive 12 points behind the Manchester clubs and 7 points behind Tottenham.
There are rumours that Mourinho is seeking a return to the Chelsea managerial post. Fernando Torres is being written off after a 1000 minutes without a goal. John Terry is once again being treated incredibly poorly by the FA and the sensationalistic English media. The transfer window has slammed shut. And we welcome Man United to Stamford Bridge. A reckoning is upon all the blue faithful.
A reckoning is a bill for an amount due, and this reckoning will be decided upon what we owe. Shakespeare was wrong the question isn’t to be or not be, but rather what do Chelsea owe? Can our Captain Fantastic once again show tremendous character under the crushing weight of judgement from the peanut gallery? Will Andre’ Villas-Boas prove he is the man to lead our beloved club forward? Can Ryan Bertrand be given an opportunity to show his worth and then seize it with both hands? Will we see the best English centre-back pairing start?
Can Fernando Torres be a decisive factor in the game, be it through an assist or (dare I say it) a goal? Will Stamford Bridge be quieter than a library or will we see boisterous support? Can the squad repay the trust of AVB in his not dipping heavily into the transfer market? Are we unbeaten this year? Or are we winless in two? Is the glass half full? Or is the glass half empty? It is in these questions that the answers for our blue reckoning will be found.
After Mourinho left he said we would miss him even more after we started losing games at home. I hope this Sunday’s game doesn’t see us missing our “Special One”. Andre’ Villas-Boas is faced with a challenge which I’m sure he can overcome, even if I’m not sure exactly how. He probably will persist with Torres leading the line, instead of gambling on the promising Lukaku, in the continued absence of Drogba on African Cup of Nations duty. A year on after his much maligned move from mersyeside could mean Torres has paid enough for the massive transfer fee he didn’t set? Sturridge and Mata either side of Torres have a big ask. Mata will find much of the burden for creativity upon his shoulders again, and I’m sure more will be expected of Sturridge than he showed in the reverse fixture earlier in the season.
In midfield it is anyone guess, but Chelsea will definitely be without Ramires through injury, who has arguably been our best player so far this season. In defence we are without the suspended Ashley Cole, but our recent defensive record has been good. Cahill appears unlikely to make his Chelsea debut. I wonder if Bertrand will deputise for Cole at left-back or if in a pessimistic move Bosingwa will be moved to the left. AVB faces a daunting task in his team selection and a true tactical test against the experienced Sir Alex. Expect many condescending remarks about AVB’s age, despite the fact that he has placed the onus on the group and not individuals since the start of his Chelsea reign.
The continued persecution of John Terry is baffling, and I think the English FA will have no one to blame but themselves when they fail once again at a major tournament in the summer. John Terry is not a racist and I think everyone at Chelsea knows this as surely as I do. Just once I’d like to see John Terry decide not to shake someone’s hand, but the English leader is too decent to contemplate such a thing. It is sad that his international career has been the subject of bureaucratic meddling, stupidity and the attention whoring of journeyman strikers who need not be named.
When, not if, JT is acquitted of these racism charges, a certain F(erdinand) is going to owe him an apology. Instead of being celebrated as the finest defender of his generation Terry has fallen victim to the twitter age and the twats or tweets that come with it. Is the older Ferdinand going to shake Terry’s hand the press will scream between now and Sunday’s kickoff.
A blue reckoning is upon all the blue faithful, but I believe Chelsea are capable of providing what is due. What do you think the outcome will be this Sunday? Sunday may traditionally be the day of rest, but this Sunday sees AVB’s Chelsea meet it’s greatest test. In Chelsea we trust…
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