After a game like the one at the weekend, there is no shortage of food for thought for former Chelsea star Pat Nevin to sink his teeth into in this week's column…
Manchester United seem to find great difficulty when they come to Stamford Bridge in the Premier League. Actually that is an understatement. Ten years without a win and on Sunday in the end they may have gone back up the M6 happy, they also only got one point.
Chelsea fans have had a few gripes of late and to some extent they are understandable, but one defeat in 14 now suggests the season of transition isn't a total wipe-out. Once again it was a game without the recognised spine of the side starting with JT on the bench, Frank Lampard on the treatment table, Ashley Cole in the sin bin and Didier Drogba in a different continent. It did however see a few things many of us have been crying out for, for some time.
There was precious little creativity in the first half until Daniel Sturridge decided to play like an old fashioned winger and get to the by-line. That willingness to get down the line and create the first seemed to relax the Blues and it was no surprise when then second goal went in, though I would admit getting the third so soon after was going beyond my wildest dreams. The problem with dreams is that they can become nightmares if you're not careful.
I try to be fair, even when watching the Blues, so I would agree that the first penalty was the right decision. The second however was a disgrace when Welbeck blatantly dived to con the referee. If it was me at the FA, I would be retrospectively looking at that one with a view to banning the United striker. Howard Webb got it wrong, but it was because he was conned by a very sly piece of skulduggery. I am inclined to blame the player more than the referee on this occasion as it was difficult to see at full speed, even if it was blatantly obvious on the slow-motion replays.
As long as players keep getting away with this type of manipulation of the rules then they will keep on doing it. Time for Fifa and then eventually through them the FA to get with the programme, join the 21st century and realise technology can help when used wisely.
That converted penalty led to an understandable nervousness from the Chelsea team as United with their tails up began to believe. To be fair it was an enthralling end to the game and it became abundantly clear just how much a John Terry or a Frank Lampard would have helped to steady the nerves of the lads when the pressure built. There was of course a feeling of disappointment losing a three-goal lead which leaves a sour taste in the mouth and of course things could have been done differently.
Clearly better ball retention would have been helpful in the final quarter of the game and I guess few would argue with that. Even so Juan Mata could have won it with a phenomenal free kick and Gary Cahill was a whisker away as well right at the death.
There were also changes made that in hindsight maybe helped United, with Sturridge's pace going forward being badly missed when he went off. On the other hand Danny had given away a penalty and he wasn't going to remember to track back every single time. In that moment the tactical thinking coming from the Chelsea bench made perfect sense from the respect of any coaching manual. The bottom line is that Alex Ferguson was able to go for (as they say in the NFL) the Hail Mary plays. 3-0 down and what have you got to lose really other than three points? So throw on the forwards, be cavalier at the back and hope for the best. It certainly worked for him as it did for the neutrals watching on TV all over the world.
It was yet another game that lived up to the hype this season. Over the years how many times have these crunch games turned out to be stale, dull, tense, over-tactical affairs. This year the glamour games have been living up to their billing more often than not and isn't it nice to feel you are getting your money's worth on something these days?
In last week's quiz I asked what was the score the last time Chelsea met Swansea City? Can I be honest here and let you into a little secret? Now and again I set a question that I don't know the answer to myself. This was one such occasion that I knew that I could look up the right answer a little later when I had a bit more time. So I was actually surprised to find that it was a very long time ago that this last fixture took place.
In fact it was in the 1983/84 season. There was a home and away game, which confused a few of you, the scores were 3-1 on 22nd November 1983 at the Vetch but the one I was looking for was 6-1 on 6th December 1983 at the Bridge. Paul Canoville got a hat trick, Kerry Dixon (obviously scored) alongside John Bumstead. Apparently some other random bloke also scored that night as well for the Blues (pictured below).
The winner also random this week is Olivier Samouilhan, our first ever winner from the delightful little Island in the Indian Ocean, Mauritius. Well done and the Fernando-signed book is on its way. This time the question I would like you to answer to have a chance of winning a copy of the Blue is the Collar book signed by Fernando Torres, is another one I do not (yet) know the answer to. Could you tell me what the score will be on Saturday against my other old team, Everton, and who will score the first goal for Chelsea? Answers as ever to pat.nevin@chelseafc.com
