Kings of England Premiership Champions Review

Champions, Champions
By Since66
May 24 2010

After the disappointing 'Corrupt Cup' exit to the eventual winners Inter Milan, the depressing draw at Ewood Park a few days later, where we played Rovers off the park only to finish 1-1, you would be forgiven to think that Chelsea's season could spiral into decline. After all, if you think about it, Chelsea have crashed and burned many times throughout our colourful 105 years of history.

Instead Chelsea won seven out of their last eight games including victories at Old Trafford and Anfield scoring an incredible 33 goals which included hammerings for Aston Villa 7-1, Stoke City 7-0 and Wigan Ahletic 8-0 all at Stamford Bridge. Away from home, relegated Portsmouth and our cup final opponents were put to the sword, 5-0.

The only 'blip' in the run-in was the 2-1 away day defeat at Tottenham during the ash cloud crisis, which prevented yours truly, departing for a fortnight break in the sunshine state of Florida.

With Chelsea changing their managers at an alarning rate - Avram Grant, Big Phil Scolari, (won game) Ray Wilkins and HUSS Hiddink from February 2009, Chelsea during that Summer settled and secured the services of AC Milan's Carlo Ancelotti who had the pedigree of an European Champion, winning the Champions League, both as player and a coach.

Ancelotti got off to the perfect start, winning his first six matches in charge, two of which (Hull City and Stoke City) producing the perfect scenarios of Chelsea scoring last minute winners through Drogba and Malouda respectively.

Chelsea then lost two successive matches away. The first at the DW Stadium as Wigan prevailed 3-1 and Chelsea's cause was not helped with the first-half sending off of 'keeper Petr Cech.

Aston Villa became Chelsea's next failure as the Blues went down 2-1 at Villa Park. In between though, Chelsea recorded their first of six victories over the 'so-called' top four, beating Liverpool at the Bridge 2-0.

The history making 'doubles' over Arsenal, Liverpool and Man Utd would be crucial in Chelsea's chase for the Premiership as the season wore on.

The next five games produced five wins without Chelsea conceding a goal as Chelsea scored SEVENTEEN. Victories over Man Utd (1-0) at The Bridge and Arsenal (3-0) at The Emirates increased Chelsea's tally over the 'top-four' to three victories, still without a goal being conceded.

December proved to be an extremely difficult month with Chelsea only winning two from six. Victories over Portsmouth and Fulham couldn't compensate for the draws against Everton, West Ham and Birmingham City and the loss to money-bags City at Eastlands.

Out of all of December's results, Everton was probably the most disapponting as Chelsea threw away the lead three times and Everton got 'lucky' three times with their equalisers although it has to be recognised with Everton's overall performance their 'luck' was warranted.

Three league matches in January produced three wins. Sunderland fell 7-2, Birmingham, who were on a very long unbeaten run, fell 3-0 and Chelsea travelled to Turf Moor and beat Burnley 2-1.

February produced two wins, two defeats and a draw. At least the best result of the sequence was the beating of Arsenal at The Bridge, taking the 'top-four' sequence to four wins. The 'spectacular' defeat came at the hands of Money Citeh who did the 'double' over Chelsea 4-2 at The Bndge.

I was reminded of the fact that Citeh did the Chelsea 'double' by a Man City fan accompanying his Chelsea supporting wife to the FA Cup Final.

Chelsea came 'unstuck' against The Toffeemen at Goodison Park losing 2-1 and Chelsea could only scrape a 1-1 draw at relegated Hull City.

The revelations about legend and captain JTs private life didn't help matters and Ancelotti tried to weather the storm Mourinho-esque style by saying, 'I don't care who my players sleep with.'

A remark taken in context that all footballers in Italy are well known for sleeping around as part of their professional culture.r

West Ham were beaten at The Bridge 4-1 at the start of March, before the Inter 'Corrupt Cup' exit and the dismal League draw at Blackkburn.

Chelsea held a 'clear the air' meeting and the rest as they say is history.

On the final day of the season, Chelsea were in the driving seat. All Chelsea had to do was to match or better Man Utd's result at Old Trafford and Chelsea did it in some style crashing eight past Wigan, who were giving it large during the build-up.

Fans Player of the Year and Golden Boot winner Didier Drogba, scored a 2nd half hat-trick.

Golden Gloves winner Petr Cech kept his 17 clean sheet of the League season.

Chelsea's Goal of the Season winner, Ashley Cole volleyed in his fourth league goal of the season and Players Player of the year Florent Malouda also got on the scoresheet.

When you consider that Chelsea had 'lost' Kalou, Mikel, Drogba and Essien to the African Cup of Nations in January and then due to an ACN training injury to Essien, for the rest of the season, Chelsea's acheivement in winning the League for the first time since 2006 was even more remarkable.

Kings of England Premiership Champions Review

Posted by: 50 Years Over 100 Years (IP Logged)

Date: 24/05/2010 17:45

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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2010:06:02:10:44:52 by Since 66.

CHAMPIONS 2009/10

Posted by: Since 66 (IP Logged)

Date: 10/05/2010 20:07

The following photos were taken using an Olympus E420 (14-42mm lens).

I am quite proud of them considering I am still getting used to the camera