Legendary Chelsea winger turned pundit Pat Nevin believes things are coming together for the Blues as we approach the start of the Premier League campaign.
Here is an odd thing, I honestly can't remember one single pre-season game in my entire career. I can vaguely sense that I once played with Chelsea somewhere in north-west England or was it north Wales? Actually I can't be sure. Then later on there was some part time thug from a semi-professional team who nearly broke my leg, but could I tell you his team, the score, or who I was even playing for at the time? No chance.
Ask me about the first league game from each of my seasons however and I could probably recall the score, what kind of game it was and how I played. I am sure you get the point, the season starts now as far as professional footballers are concerned. Everything before this weekend has been about fitness, about shaping the side and getting new players to understand the systems as well as the capabilities of their team-mates.
The string of defeats in those pre-season friendlies, including the Community Shield was not what was desired. In truth even though there was a trophy at stake and it was played at Wembley, what is more important, three points against West Brom or that 3-1 defeat to United?
Right now I have to admit to being more upbeat than most about Chelsea's chances in 2010/2011, in fact I am more positive than I was at this time last season, which turned out to be quite good in the end, I think you will agree. Yes Deco, Ballack and Joe Cole have gone but each was a peripheral influence last time round.
I thought Michael Ballack had a very good end to the season when he played deeper in midfield but with Essien back at last and the likelihood of one stronger midfielder coming in soon I think that area could be stronger than ever. Joe Cole is however a bigger question and not an easy one. For what it is worth, not surprisingly I think Joe is a fine player and he will always be respected by Chelsea fans for what he did for the club, but and there is a big but, there is a question, will he be hugely missed?
In my media work I probably went to see Liverpool last season more than anyone apart from Chelsea and have constantly said that Yossi Benayoun is one the best players in the Premier League and certainly among the most imaginative and visionary. His treatment by Rafa Benitez absolutely confounded me, every time he had a good game, made or scored a goal he would get dropped. I am delighted to say that there was never a complaint or an attitude problem from the Israeli, but I was convinced Yossi was in the right and Rafa in the wrong throughout. So not to put too fine a point on it, I think Chelsea have got the best of the deal, I would always choose Benayoun before Cole, anyone listening to my commentaries would know that I am not just saying this because he has arrived at the Bridge.
So even though players have gone and the pre season has been pretty poor, I am not in any way downcast. This year it is a harder Premier League than ever with Man City, Spurs and Everton all improving, but that was needed, the Chelsea/Man Utd duopoly gets a bit boring for everyone else.
What Chelsea needed in the short term was a 'helpful' opening league program to get the players - especially those who have been at the World Cup - back up to speed. A quick glance at the opening five fixtures and I am sure you will agree, it has fallen into our laps almost perfectly. A convincing defeat of new boys West Brom and it will not be struggling Chelsea in the media, it will be double winners Chelsea...and doesn't that still sound good?
Here is an odd thing, I honestly can't remember one single pre-season game in my entire career. I can vaguely sense that I once played with Chelsea somewhere in north-west England or was it north Wales? Actually I can't be sure. Then later on there was some part time thug from a semi-professional team who nearly broke my leg, but could I tell you his team, the score, or who I was even playing for at the time? No chance.
Ask me about the first league game from each of my seasons however and I could probably recall the score, what kind of game it was and how I played. I am sure you get the point, the season starts now as far as professional footballers are concerned. Everything before this weekend has been about fitness, about shaping the side and getting new players to understand the systems as well as the capabilities of their team-mates.
The string of defeats in those pre-season friendlies, including the Community Shield was not what was desired. In truth even though there was a trophy at stake and it was played at Wembley, what is more important, three points against West Brom or that 3-1 defeat to United?
Right now I have to admit to being more upbeat than most about Chelsea's chances in 2010/2011, in fact I am more positive than I was at this time last season, which turned out to be quite good in the end, I think you will agree. Yes Deco, Ballack and Joe Cole have gone but each was a peripheral influence last time round.
I thought Michael Ballack had a very good end to the season when he played deeper in midfield but with Essien back at last and the likelihood of one stronger midfielder coming in soon I think that area could be stronger than ever. Joe Cole is however a bigger question and not an easy one. For what it is worth, not surprisingly I think Joe is a fine player and he will always be respected by Chelsea fans for what he did for the club, but and there is a big but, there is a question, will he be hugely missed?
In my media work I probably went to see Liverpool last season more than anyone apart from Chelsea and have constantly said that Yossi Benayoun is one the best players in the Premier League and certainly among the most imaginative and visionary. His treatment by Rafa Benitez absolutely confounded me, every time he had a good game, made or scored a goal he would get dropped. I am delighted to say that there was never a complaint or an attitude problem from the Israeli, but I was convinced Yossi was in the right and Rafa in the wrong throughout. So not to put too fine a point on it, I think Chelsea have got the best of the deal, I would always choose Benayoun before Cole, anyone listening to my commentaries would know that I am not just saying this because he has arrived at the Bridge.
So even though players have gone and the pre season has been pretty poor, I am not in any way downcast. This year it is a harder Premier League than ever with Man City, Spurs and Everton all improving, but that was needed, the Chelsea/Man Utd duopoly gets a bit boring for everyone else.
What Chelsea needed in the short term was a 'helpful' opening league program to get the players - especially those who have been at the World Cup - back up to speed. A quick glance at the opening five fixtures and I am sure you will agree, it has fallen into our laps almost perfectly. A convincing defeat of new boys West Brom and it will not be struggling Chelsea in the media, it will be double winners Chelsea...and doesn't that still sound good?
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