During the seasons ending 2006 and 2007 When they were celebrating Premier League titles and FA and League Cups in 2006 and 2007, Chelsea fans must have wondered if it could get any better. The short answer would have no.
Chelsea have continued to challenge for titles but, more often than not, they have fallen short and never threatened to be the force they were at the height of Jose Mourinho’s reign. Their continual presence in the top two or three of the league is a testament to the consistency and leadership of senior players such as Jon Terry and Frank Lampard. But in terms of personnel and approach, they have made little progress. While their rivals have evolved, Chelsea have remained plagued, and ultimately shackled, by the same enduring tactical and selection dilemmas.
It may sound like heresy to say, but can these be traced back to the end of Mourinho’s reign?
What defined Chelsea at their peak was a core defensive strength allied with an attack of both clout and stealth, equally adept at striking on the counter or driving through the heart of opponents. The 4-3-3 formation Mourinho adopted was central to this. The Chelsea manager utilised the pace, width and goalscoring potential of Arjen Robben and Damien Duff on the flanks along with the rock-solid centre of Petr Cech, Terry, Claude Makelele and Didier Drogba.
But towards the end of his hugely successful reign, Mourinho made some subtle changes, which curtailed much of their momentum. The sales of Duff in 2006 and Robben – despite a poor season – in 2007 were huge blows to the team. Their replacements, such as Florent Malouda, were inferior ball players and did not offer the same dribbling option and goalscoring threat.
The introduction of Michael Ballack into midfield was another step towards a forceful, functional and direct unit to the detriment of its speed, subtlety and mobility. And at the start of the 2007/08 season, a month before his departure, Mourinho increasingly adopted a 4-4-2 or 4-1-2-1-2 set up with Claudio Pizarro, Andrei Shevchenko or even Salomon Kalou playing up front alongside Drogba. Chelsea were quickly becoming more predictable, narrow in vision and direct in approach.
And their strategy has altered little since. Felipe Scolari attempted to introduce greater movement and tempo to the team but his early success was short-lived. The acquisition of Nicolas Anelka injected much needed pace to their attack and, playing alone up front, he thrived on the counter attack away from home. But the ploy imploded at Stamford Bridge and Drogba returned to bolster the attack. The inevitable lack of width from playing two up front yet still cramming central midfield continues to haunt them.
In post-mortems of significant defeats the same themes emerge with a lack of width (leading to congested central areas and few threatening crosses), dribbling options to create openings, mobility in midfield, movement and tempo in attack making them all too often all too predictable. Which is why Mourinho read them so successfully on his return to Stamford Bridge in the Champions League. He knew the same weaknesses and deficiencies remained.
The Chelsea ‘project’ had lost its momentum before Mourinho’s departure. Obviously it would be false to blame an absent man for their current travails (no doubt he would have found answers had he stayed). But the fact they continue to fight the same problems that were evident at the end of his reign, demonstrates the lack of progress Chelsea have made over the last few years. For this Abramovich, with his sudden cap on spending, and a succession of managers, who have failed to stamp their authority and ideas on the side (with the brief exception of Guus Hiddink) must bare most responsibility.
Wednesday, 24 March 2010
Wednesday, 17 March 2010
How England can beat France in Paris?
The odds are firmly against England on Saturday but, with so much at stake for the French, there is hope for Martin Johnson’s team.
1. Target France’s half-backs
Scrum-half Morgan Parra and fly half Francois Trinh-duc have shown great composure and quality in the championship so far. But at times they have creaked – most notably in the second half against Wales – and in an atmosphere of frenzied expectation England will look to pressurise the young French pair.
For this reason Lewis Moody’s recall was a must. He, along with Danny Care, has the pace and the energy to confront the duo and disrupt the supply to France’s bullocking back row and destructive centres. With no recognised fly-half on the bench, France are relying on Trinh-duc to marshal them home, and if England can disrupt them, they could spoil the party.
2. Kick and chase
France have by far the best counter-attacking unit in Europe. An intuitive back three and an athletic back row make for a devastating combination, and they will rip England apart if the visitors’ kick and chase is of insufficient quality.
Toby Flood must succeed where Jonny Wilkinson has failed by kicking from the hand with purpose and accuracy, and the chase must be aggressive and organised, transferring pressure onto the opponents. If they do this effectively, players such as Clement Poitrenaud can go from asset to liability in an instant.
3. Stealing set-piece possession
The might of the French tight five has been a feature of the championships, and although England are unlikely to gain much ground at the scrum, they will be more optimistic at line-out time.
Imanol Harinordoquy is a supreme line-out operator, but Ireland had some joy in pilfering French possession and Simon Shaw will have to be at his aggressive best at the front of the line, while Steve Borthwick could yet have the final word after so much criticism.
4. Brutal but bright defence
There will be plenty of hard and direct running from the French, and England will have to make some big hits, but they’ll also need to defend cleverly. France used the spectre of Yannick Jauzion and David Marty against Italy to create massive chasms in the Italian defence, which was then exploited by wingers Julien Malzieu and Marc Andreu to devastating effect. With Mike Tindall at outside centre, England will be more confident of contending with France’s midfield threat and have some useful experience to marshal the defence.
France will also be anxious to test the competence of Northampton pair Ben Foden and Chris Ashton under the high ball and with the ball behind them, and they’ll need support when the inevitable barrage of high balls begins. If they can hold their own, they might just be able to stifle the French attacking threat.
5. Expose chinks in French armour
Identifying weaknesses in France’s defence is an unenviable task, but Italy’s two tries last Sunday prove that it is not impregnable. England will struggle to find a fluid, off-loading game overnight – despite the inclusion of Flood who is superior to Wilkinson in this facet of the game – and so they may be left relying on individual brilliance to break the line.
France have a massive back row but they are not always the nimblest. Care, who will be confident of confronting scrum half Parra physically, could use his quick feet to good effect around the rucks and mauls if England can tie-in the French back row by committing numbers to the breakdown. The hot-stepping from Riki Flutey and the injection of pure pace from Foden and Ashton against the potentially cumbersome Jauzion and Mathieu Bastareaud, could also be among England’s most potent weapons, and if England run with pace at the French defence, they might just get some joy.
1. Target France’s half-backs
Scrum-half Morgan Parra and fly half Francois Trinh-duc have shown great composure and quality in the championship so far. But at times they have creaked – most notably in the second half against Wales – and in an atmosphere of frenzied expectation England will look to pressurise the young French pair.
For this reason Lewis Moody’s recall was a must. He, along with Danny Care, has the pace and the energy to confront the duo and disrupt the supply to France’s bullocking back row and destructive centres. With no recognised fly-half on the bench, France are relying on Trinh-duc to marshal them home, and if England can disrupt them, they could spoil the party.
2. Kick and chase
France have by far the best counter-attacking unit in Europe. An intuitive back three and an athletic back row make for a devastating combination, and they will rip England apart if the visitors’ kick and chase is of insufficient quality.
Toby Flood must succeed where Jonny Wilkinson has failed by kicking from the hand with purpose and accuracy, and the chase must be aggressive and organised, transferring pressure onto the opponents. If they do this effectively, players such as Clement Poitrenaud can go from asset to liability in an instant.
3. Stealing set-piece possession
The might of the French tight five has been a feature of the championships, and although England are unlikely to gain much ground at the scrum, they will be more optimistic at line-out time.
Imanol Harinordoquy is a supreme line-out operator, but Ireland had some joy in pilfering French possession and Simon Shaw will have to be at his aggressive best at the front of the line, while Steve Borthwick could yet have the final word after so much criticism.
4. Brutal but bright defence
There will be plenty of hard and direct running from the French, and England will have to make some big hits, but they’ll also need to defend cleverly. France used the spectre of Yannick Jauzion and David Marty against Italy to create massive chasms in the Italian defence, which was then exploited by wingers Julien Malzieu and Marc Andreu to devastating effect. With Mike Tindall at outside centre, England will be more confident of contending with France’s midfield threat and have some useful experience to marshal the defence.
France will also be anxious to test the competence of Northampton pair Ben Foden and Chris Ashton under the high ball and with the ball behind them, and they’ll need support when the inevitable barrage of high balls begins. If they can hold their own, they might just be able to stifle the French attacking threat.
5. Expose chinks in French armour
Identifying weaknesses in France’s defence is an unenviable task, but Italy’s two tries last Sunday prove that it is not impregnable. England will struggle to find a fluid, off-loading game overnight – despite the inclusion of Flood who is superior to Wilkinson in this facet of the game – and so they may be left relying on individual brilliance to break the line.
France have a massive back row but they are not always the nimblest. Care, who will be confident of confronting scrum half Parra physically, could use his quick feet to good effect around the rucks and mauls if England can tie-in the French back row by committing numbers to the breakdown. The hot-stepping from Riki Flutey and the injection of pure pace from Foden and Ashton against the potentially cumbersome Jauzion and Mathieu Bastareaud, could also be among England’s most potent weapons, and if England run with pace at the French defence, they might just get some joy.
Tuesday, 2 March 2010
Could public humiliation have a terminal affect on John Terry and England?
The initial explanation was distraction. But what if its more? Could John Terry’s decline in form be down to an erosion of confidence and authority that defines his game? Could the humiliating experience have a terminal affect on Terry’s game and England’s chances at the World Cup?
Like a wounded animal backed into a corner, Terry’s initial reaction was to bare his teeth. When much anticipated rumours of his private life were brought to the public's attention over a month ago, Terry strode out on to the pitch with cock-sure defiance. He thundered home the winning goal against Burnley and celebrated in booming silence. His authority, seemingly, untainted.
But since then the Chelsea skipper has endured a long and vicious public flogging. Stripped of the England captaincy in 12 minutes, chased across the world as he tried to save his marriage, shunned by Wayne Bridge in the ‘fake-shake’ at Stamford Bridge and derided for his antics by agitator-in-chief Craig Bellamy. That’s not to mention the on-going trial by tabloid and radio phone-in.
There is no doubt his form has subsided drastically - even if you take into account the extra scrutiny with which he has been watched. From Everton to Inter Milan and Manchester City, he has looked more awkward with every game. But what if it is not just short-term distraction that is wrecking his form? The pitch should be the best place to find focus from outside issues and the ideal setting to lance any demons. What if the humiliation is eroding the self-certainty that underpins and defines his game?
On the pitch Terry is a leader and robust defender. His authority as a leader relies on the respect of his teammates and deference of his opponents. His influence as a player relies on the self-certainty of his decision-making and forcefulness of his tackling. A crisis of confidence could undermine, not only his form, but also his game.
Parallels can be drawn with another sporting star whose reputation has fallen to earth and landed firmly in the gutter. Tiger Woods’ country-club confession and public apology, after his private life became very public, left the question of his return to golf unanswered. But it also prompted the question of whether he will be the same golfer when he is back. Woods has pledged to reform his ways. This includes behaving more like a gentleman on the course and less like a ruthless title-obsessed champion.
Will this change in demeanour and attitude erode the very elements that made him such a champion? Will he induce the same fear in opponents? Will he sink the same nerve-shredding putts with such conviction? Will he wear red on the final day? For now no-one knows.
And no-one knows how Terry will react in the long-term. With Rio Ferdinand struggling for fitness and form, England can ill-afford a timid Terry haunted by self-doubt. Terry’s leadership and authority remain integral to England’s chances in South Africa, even without the armband. Without his forceful tackling and decisive heading, the defender can appear a laden-foot, dare we say liability, of a centre-half.
Terry, and England, must resolve this concern before it becomes a crisis. For this reason, is it is time for England fans to distinguish themselves from the rest of the gossip-led nation by showing their support to the players and team?
Like a wounded animal backed into a corner, Terry’s initial reaction was to bare his teeth. When much anticipated rumours of his private life were brought to the public's attention over a month ago, Terry strode out on to the pitch with cock-sure defiance. He thundered home the winning goal against Burnley and celebrated in booming silence. His authority, seemingly, untainted.
But since then the Chelsea skipper has endured a long and vicious public flogging. Stripped of the England captaincy in 12 minutes, chased across the world as he tried to save his marriage, shunned by Wayne Bridge in the ‘fake-shake’ at Stamford Bridge and derided for his antics by agitator-in-chief Craig Bellamy. That’s not to mention the on-going trial by tabloid and radio phone-in.
There is no doubt his form has subsided drastically - even if you take into account the extra scrutiny with which he has been watched. From Everton to Inter Milan and Manchester City, he has looked more awkward with every game. But what if it is not just short-term distraction that is wrecking his form? The pitch should be the best place to find focus from outside issues and the ideal setting to lance any demons. What if the humiliation is eroding the self-certainty that underpins and defines his game?
On the pitch Terry is a leader and robust defender. His authority as a leader relies on the respect of his teammates and deference of his opponents. His influence as a player relies on the self-certainty of his decision-making and forcefulness of his tackling. A crisis of confidence could undermine, not only his form, but also his game.
Parallels can be drawn with another sporting star whose reputation has fallen to earth and landed firmly in the gutter. Tiger Woods’ country-club confession and public apology, after his private life became very public, left the question of his return to golf unanswered. But it also prompted the question of whether he will be the same golfer when he is back. Woods has pledged to reform his ways. This includes behaving more like a gentleman on the course and less like a ruthless title-obsessed champion.
Will this change in demeanour and attitude erode the very elements that made him such a champion? Will he induce the same fear in opponents? Will he sink the same nerve-shredding putts with such conviction? Will he wear red on the final day? For now no-one knows.
And no-one knows how Terry will react in the long-term. With Rio Ferdinand struggling for fitness and form, England can ill-afford a timid Terry haunted by self-doubt. Terry’s leadership and authority remain integral to England’s chances in South Africa, even without the armband. Without his forceful tackling and decisive heading, the defender can appear a laden-foot, dare we say liability, of a centre-half.
Terry, and England, must resolve this concern before it becomes a crisis. For this reason, is it is time for England fans to distinguish themselves from the rest of the gossip-led nation by showing their support to the players and team?
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