By Since66
April 27 2008

Is the miracle really about to happen? Is the miracle really on? I said a very long time ago after 'The Special One' left the club - or was he pushed? That it would take a miracle for Chelsea to win anything this season. Now after beating the Champions at a sun-drenched Stamford Bridge yesterday lunchtime, Chelsea sit joint top of the Premiership table on 81 points with just 2 games to go.

More importantly for me the unbeaten League record remains intact.

Chelsea are now unbeaten in 81 games of which they have won 61 and drawn 20. In that time 166 goals have been scored and 41 conceded and 201 points won. Come on Chelsea get to 100.

Although Michael Ballack received all the plaudits for his two-goal salvo, my man of the match was Michael Essien.

He ran and ran and ran all afternoon. The man has a tremendous energy and a engine of a purring Bentley. Essien got off to a fast start and could have had two goals with half-chances within the first five minutes.

Who would have thought there would be comical situation between Ballack and Drogba in the second-half when in first-half injury time, Drogba picked up the ball danced around the Utd defence and sent a delicious cross in the Utd penalty area for Ballack to head the ball past a diving Van Der Saar.

Prior to that Chelsea peppered the Utd goal and Joe Cole came very close to opening the scoring when from a rebound his vicious shot rattled the post and crossbar.

Utd's equaliser cam from a mistake from 'Mr Reliable' Carvalho who has been simply outstanding this season.

Drogba won a free-kick near the half-way line. Carvalho was pointing at Ferreira, Ferriera raced towards the ball and passed it to Carvalho who obviously wasn't expecting the pass. In panic Carvalho passed the ball back without noticing Rooney behind him.

Rooney said thank you very much and raced on towards Chelsea's goal and despatched a shot past Cech down to his right. The ball hit the post before going into the net.

Minutes later Rooney was off with a leg injury - Utd had already lost Vidic to concussion and a tooth through his bottom lip when his face met the kneecap of Drogba's in an accidental collision.

In fairness to Drogba he tried to get the game stopped. Thanks to Ashley Cole for saving Chelsea with a well-timed tackle after an Utd break.

Chelsea's winner came four minutes from time. Drogba was crunched by a tackle from Silvestre and no-one would have complained had a free-kick been given, instead the ball broke free and Essien fizzed over a cross which hit Carrick on the arm and the Assistant signalled for a penalty. What drama.

I don't care what SAF says it was a clear penalty and a penalty everyday of the week. Personally I think had Utd got a penalty when Ballack twice, three times blocked off Ronaldo, SAF wouldn't have moaned!!

Whereas we had the falling out between Drogba and Ballack over that free-kick which Drogba finally took and forced Van Der Saar into a flying save, there was no argument when Ballack stepped up and dispatched a fierce shot into the net. As everybody has been saying 'What is it with Germans and penalties?'

Back to that falling out. JT won a free-kick just outside the area and Ballack and Drogba were first on the scene. What happened next you couldn't believe your eyes.

Two grown men fighting over the ball. "I wanna take it," "No you aint, its my ball," "Its my ball," "Its mine," and so forth. Michael Essien was so taken aback with what was going on he hid his head in his shirt.

There was still more drama to come. Utd had two efforts cleared off the line. The first by Ashley Cole from a Ronaldo shot and the second by Sheva from a Fletcher header. Oh what drama.

Finally the whistle went in the sixth minute of injury time and The Bridge erupted, serving notice to what Liverpool will get on Wednesday night.

For the first time this season we had 'fans' inside the Bridge, real fans, real singers and real supporters. The atmosphere was terrific and the atmosphere has to continue or be bettered to help the boys get to Moscow on Wednesday night.

For me this was Chelsea's best performance of the season. Forget the 6-0 against Man City, forget the 6-1 against Derby, the 4-4's against Villa and Tottenham, forget the 2-1 against Arsenal.

This was the performance of the season. Loads of energy, commitment, passion, determination, heart and pride plus playing for the Chelsea badge - something we haven't seen for quite a long time.

Ballack and Drogba: The Fall-Out Boys

Discussion started by 50 Years Over 100 Years , 27/04/2008 16:39

50 Years Over 100 Years
27/04/2008 16:39

Ballack and Drogba: The Fall-Out Boys

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dixon9
27/04/2008 17:00

Enjoyed that report.

They say a picture says more than a 1000 words and those of Ballack and Drogba show a happy ending and the real feeling between the two after their little "Who´s going to take the free-kick" argument.

Great performance and possibly our best first half performance this season. We really took the game to the Mancs and got our just deserts in the end.

Felt a bit sorry for Carvalho - an uncharacterisitc error by him although I´m at a loss as to why Ferreira was in such a hurry to take the free-kick?

My man of the match was Ashley Cole - Essien and Ballack close 2nds.

Alas, despite my normal optimistic outlook the title is still doubtful - I can only see our chances increasing if Barcelona do the Mancs at OT - that might be enough to really affect their confidence for the remaining two matches - BUT we still have to beat Newcastle away...





.



"It is born out of hypocrisy and fundamental insecurity. There have been two kids on the block for the past 12 years. Suddenly, there is a third and that one is threatening to be more successful than the others and they don’t like it." P Kenyon.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:04:27:17:37:46 by dixon9.

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Since 66
27/04/2008 17:23

Barca lost at Deportivo last night 2-0

and



cheers Dixon

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dixon9
27/04/2008 17:31

Barcelona did a the normal Liverpool thing which was a surprise - they left nearly thier whole team behind because they aren´t in the running for the league.

They´ll be well rested for the Mancs.




.



"It is born out of hypocrisy and fundamental insecurity. There have been two kids on the block for the past 12 years. Suddenly, there is a third and that one is threatening to be more successful than the others and they don’t like it." P Kenyon.

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Since 66
27/04/2008 17:33

We dont play Newcastle till Monday 5th at 4pm

At least we know what we have to do because Man Utd play West Ham on Saturday - hopefully the West Ham 'bogey' on Man Utd keeps on going.

Going back to yesterday I am at a loss why we cannot deliver the 'quality' ball from a set-piece but from open play we can deliver the best ball in the world and Andy Gray in commentary said why is Ballack taking free-kicks when he should be in the middle - this was realised when Ballack scored his first at the end of the first half.

Point taken!!

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dixon9
27/04/2008 17:40

Ballack is very good with his head isn´t he?! Trouble is he´s also very good at free-kicks.

If Frank´s around on Wednesday it will interesting to see what happens although I´d like to seee Ballack (and even Shevchenko!) up in the picking order in future.




.



"It is born out of hypocrisy and fundamental insecurity. There have been two kids on the block for the past 12 years. Suddenly, there is a third and that one is threatening to be more successful than the others and they don’t like it." P Kenyon.

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Since 66
27/04/2008 17:44

What a quality clearance off the line from Sheva - and didn't he celebrate.

Whilst Ferdinand was kicking off with Mikel

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dixon9
27/04/2008 17:47

If we DO the win the league it would have been worth the 30M!




Seriously though, ironically Sheva is probabaly champing at the bit to get involved and was in good form before his injury - just not been able to break back into the first team.



.



"It is born out of hypocrisy and fundamental insecurity. There have been two kids on the block for the past 12 years. Suddenly, there is a third and that one is threatening to be more successful than the others and they don’t like it." P Kenyon.

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Since 66
27/04/2008 18:04

Amazing isnt it?

Sheva had his best game for us in the 4-4 against Villa on Boxing Day and fell off the earth

At least he got twenty minutes yesterday.

Or was it a Grant inspired substitution?

LOL LOL

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dixon9
27/04/2008 18:56

Sheva in midfield?!!! By that time I´d given up tyring to guess what formation we were supposed to be playing - an oscillating rhombus as one Chelsea fan once said!




.



"It is born out of hypocrisy and fundamental insecurity. There have been two kids on the block for the past 12 years. Suddenly, there is a third and that one is threatening to be more successful than the others and they don’t like it." P Kenyon.

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Since 66
27/04/2008 19:03

I have given up guessing since Grant took over!

Don't Gamble, Bet Risk Free

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abdellah hannoun
24/05/2008 19:46

ballack i'love you ballack you play hay classe and exetra ordiner i'm abdellah hannoun i'leve morocco

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