The Harding Perspective: Arsenal

December 24, 2010

With the United match now on the back-burner until March, the focus switches to another of this seasons title contenders; Arsenal. Fabianski’s return in goal should be a welcome sight for Chelsea fans. His presence in goal this season has made a shaky central pairing look even more fragile, as Vermaelen’s loss is felt with each passing game. Fabianski possesses an inability to claim crosses and is a man with…

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The Harding Perspective: Man United

December 16, 2010

This series of articles will hopefully look to address the tactical nuances that will face the Blues before every game. What better way to start then to address our biggest rivals for the title: MANCHESTER UNITED (H) 19/12/10. The biggest tactical dilemma that Carlo will face is simply how to counteract United’s expected shape. United will surely line up very similar to the formation below, with Nani and Park possibly…

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Signs Of Improvement Despite Draw

December 13, 2010

We went into the match hoping for a good performance and three points. We got the former, but sadly not the latter. A Pavlyuchenko opener for Spurs deflated Chelsea early on, yet a Didier Drogba goal courtesy of a rubbish save by Gomes sealed a point at least, yet a penalty in injury time that wasn’t converted by Didier meant we had to settle for the one, rather than all…

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Vote Your MOTM: Tottenham

December 12, 2010

An absorbing match at White Hart lane saw Chelsea come away with a point, yet had it not been for a late Didier Drogba penalty miss, we could have won the match. The goal came courtesy of Drogba, and poor keeping by Gomes, and Chelsea on the whole looked better than in recent weeks. You voted the man of the match for Tottenham as John Terry. Thanks for voting. VOTING…

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Will The Real Chelsea FC Please Stand Up?

December 12, 2010

This afternoon Chelsea face Spurs at White Hart Lane, in what begins a run of matches that could shape the destiny of our domestic campaign. After Spurs, our two following matches are against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge then Arsenal at the Cameldome. If November felt bad, December could end a lot worse. Tottenham have been in good form recently and have surprised almost everyone with the Champions League performances…

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Marseilles Defeat Extends Poor Run

December 9, 2010

Chelsea travelled to Marseilles hoping to break the winless run in the league and thereby becoming the first English club to win every game in group phases of the Champions League. But, as our recent form suggested, this was going to be no easy task, and so the case prove to be, as Olympique de Marseilles registered a 1-0 win through a late Brandao strike. Carlo Ancelotti stated in his…

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Vote Your MOTM: Marseilles

December 8, 2010

So another match and another defeat, thankfully in a match where nothing other than a record was at stake. We’re through to the next round as group winners, but qualification does little to mask the problems on the pitch at present. Despite this, who did you think was the best player on the day? You voted the man of the match for Marseilles as Josh McEachran. Thanks for voting. VOTING…

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In Search Of Positivity

December 8, 2010

It’s not often that a dead rubber ends up as one of the most important matches of the season. For Chelsea, however, the trip to Marseille to round off the Champions League Group Stages presents the chance to right some recent wrongs and pick up a first win since beating MSK Zilina in late November. With both teams already through to the last sixteen, neither can change position, and the…

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Terry & Essien Return Yet Blues Still Slip

December 5, 2010

We wanted John Terry back, we got it; we wanted Michael Essien back, we got it. Yet sadly the thing that we wanted the most, three points, eluded us on a day when a win would have taken us to the top of the league. Everton hadn’t beaten us at Stamford Bridge for 16 years, but this didn’t highlight the fact that we haven’t got three points against them on…

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Vote Your MOTM: Everton

December 4, 2010

So the blip continues with two dropped points at home to Everton this afternoon. We’d had the lead courtesy of a Drogba penalty, as well as dominating the first half, however the second half was another story, with Everton rampant and Chelsea on the back foot. Despite the setback, who did you think performed the best in a blue shirt? You voted the man of the match for Everton as…

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