Saturday 14 July 2012

The 'Heptuple'?

After what was probably the most dramatic turnaround in Chelsea history, a team that finished sixth in the Barclay's Premier League, a team that was trailing by a goal with two minutes to go in the Champions League final managed to pull off an extraordinary FA Cup and UEFA Champions League double, to cap what was an extraordinarily roller coaster ride.

After having sacked flamboyant, young and charismatic manager Andre Villas Boas after tasting a 1-0 defeat at the hands of over-achieving West Bromwich Albion, the reins of the club were handed to Assistant manager Roberto Di Matteo, a former Chelsea legend, and ironically sacked by West Brom themselves the previous year(and not mention an uncanny similarity to Dragon Ball Z character Krillin).
Roberto Di Matteo (top); Krillin (bottom)

He stuck to the tried and tested big guns, and based on an uncharacteristically dogged and rigid defending managed to pull of one of European Football's greatest coups by beating the mighty Barcelona and an in form Bayern Munich (who themselves had vanquished La Liga Champions Real Madrid) on the way to the final.

The lasting memory of that wonderful night on May 19 is the entire Chelsea team along-with Roman Abramovich celebrating with the trophy. Fans and spectators of the beautiful game thought that this was it. The capping of Chelsea's glorious reign under Abramovich's ownership with a trophy he has desired from the very start.

Yet this is just the beginning. That singular victory has opened up a frontier which could see Chelsea go down as the greatest ever football club in just one season. It could vanquish the amazing six-trophies-in-a-season record set by Barcelona by going one better. This is because the FA Cup double and Champions League title means Chelsea will battle it out for seven trophies this season. A Heptuple.


  1. UEFA Super Cup (vs. Atletico Madrid) (Champions League Winner vs. Europa League Winner)
  2. FA Community Shield (vs. Manchester City) (FA Cup Winner vs. Premier League Winner)
  3. Club World Cup (Champions League Winner against Champions from other continents)
  4. Barclays Premier League
  5. UEFA Champions League (Qualified via Defending Champion Rule)
  6. FA Cup
  7. League Cup
2012-2013 Possible Trophy Cabinet?









Chelsea's Pre Season Review- Goalkeepers

Goalkeepers


After what has already been an extremely exciting transfer window so far with multiple teams making multiple changes. Chelsea itself have been involved in a couple of big deals already and a few more in the pipeline. Yet, despite all this activity what will be carried on from last season will be the Goalkeepers.


1. Petr Cech


After having a not-so-very impressive first half of the season, the new Year really brought some good old fashioned no-nonsense Petr Cech magic. Strong reflexes, acrobatic saves and a number of shutouts really emphasized the point as to why he is Chelsea's current no.1 goalkeeper.
Cech appeared to have been faltering under Villas Boas' reign and a dubious statement by Chelsea owned Atletico Madrid keeper Thibaut Courtois made it sound like Cech would hang up his boots. Yet Cech has persevered and was a critical factor which helped in deliver an unprecedented FA Cup, Champions League Double.

With Courtois returning to Atletico Madrid for another year on loan and young exciting youth keeper Rhys Taylor released there seems to be  non-existent competition for Cech.


Expected Forecast:
Premier league appearances: ~35
Champions League (considering only Group Stage): ~4
FA Cup and League Cup: Later stages only.
Club World Cup: ~1




2.Ross Turnbull


An ever present feature on the Chelsea bench, the only competition he has is with Hilario for that spot on the bench. Last year his only achievement was being promoted to the No.2 spot for a majority of the season. A player who has made only 4 premier league appearances since joining the club in 2009 and a handfull of Cup appearances, there seems to be no future at Chelsea for Turnbull. Yet he has been persisted with. The logical option would be to sell him or send him out on loan, given that he is not exactly Premier league material. Or just to liven things up a bit he could be given a chance against weaker teams like Reading,Southampton, Wigan etc.

Expected Forecast:
Premier League Appearances: 1 or 2
Other Competitions : ~3






3.Henrique Hilario


Not that I'm being rude or anything, but the fact that Hilario seems to keep getting one year extensions continues to bewilder and puzzle me. A decent understudy to Cudicini and Cech when he arrived in 2006. He has made 20 premier league appearances since then and about 20 other Cup appearances. Like his fellow keeper Turnbull Hilario too has not played a single game this year(2012) in any competition for Chelsea and Cech spectacular form doesn't seem to inspire hope for any more games either. Apart from a few pre-season friendlies or a couple of league cup games, I don't see Hilario getting any more games this season too. I'd reckon this is probably his last year in a Chelsea shirt.

Expected Forecast:
Total Games : 0






Upcoming Youngsters


Sam Walker  and Matej Delac


Sam walker the 6ft6in giant shot-stopper is probably the brightest academy prospect at the Bridge. An integral member of the 2009 FA youth Cup winning team, Walker has considerable lower league experience a Barnet, Northampton and Yeovil Town.








Matej Delac, the Croatian Goalie is another exciting youth prospect. Having been signed from Inter Zapresic in 2010 he has made few appearances but his skill level saw him made third choice keeper for the Croatian national side at the 2010 world cup qualifiers against Belarus and England.(He is yet to appear for the national side.)
 A couple of senior team appearances would definitely do their confidence and skills a world of good.