Christmas comes early as Blues show bottle

LAST week I was very morose (in case you hadn’t noticed). I was being haunted by the Chelsea Ghost of Christmas Past.

For most people, the festive season is a time of frivolity and cheer — for Chelsea fans the arrival of the mince pies and tinsel always saw us nose dive in the table, the inevitability of it all was depressing, but just as in the original Dickens, those old days were fun too, and just so Chelsea.

Little did we know then what was in store — the Chelsea Ghost of Christmas Present has seen a reversal in fortune of titanic proportion and the spectre has shown us only success, and the festive seasons have seen us tighten our grip on the Premiership trophy. We have not had it all our own way this season but I am enjoying the sparring in a stomach-churning sort of way.

We are halfway through the season and we are still not playing very well, bloody awful for large parts of many games to be honest.

However despite my “we’re doomed” witterings last week, José has managed to almost breach the points chasm and now we are looking at a battle of nerve above anything else. He was, indeed, right. The nine points United advantage was “a fake table”.

When Lampard’s stunning shot hit the back of the net on Sunday at Goodison there was no “phew, at least it’s a point” feeling amongst the blue faithful. There was a real sense the game was there for the taking, if we had the bottle to go for it. So we took it, and how! Drogba’s goal was worthy of winning any game.

My “Drogba is sh*t” stance of last season is now so far off the mark I just don’t know what to make of him anymore. He is beginning to look like the most lethal striker in the world. But was the last campaign the anomaly or is it this one?

The Drog’s resurgence has been timely as we are certainly carrying some passengers this season. But the same could be said of United, so it’s game on in every sense of the word. Both clubs have world-class players not playing to their full potential. Both have players who are not really good enough for their respective teams and both have managers that regard second place as total failure.

However, United lost with arguably their strongest side to West Ham, who are in dire straits. Whereas we won, after having been a goal down twice in the game, missing our inspirational captain and using our third-choice keeper. This is the time that José and the boys should start turning the screw and if there are mind games to be played, Jose should be as we speak, donning his pantomime villain costume.

Which brings us neatly onto the Chelsea Ghost of Christmas Future. Where will we be in 12 months time? Will we be champions? Will José still be with us? Will we be seeing any of our outstanding youngsters playing first team football? Who knows? In the original “Christmas Carol”, Scrooge was master of his own destiny and made the right choices for a fulfilling and happy life.

Of course we have the antithesis of “Scrooge” in Roman Abramovich — a man whose generosity knows no bounds at Chelsea — but his decisions, or those of the men he has put in charge will also govern our destiny as a club. I think some people in the upper echelons would do well to listen to any advice given by those concerned with the soul of the club, rather than the brand — and we’re not talking Christmas spirits here — I’m speaking about the fans. There’s no point creating the best club in the world, if no one can afford to watch them is there? Sorry not to let this one go, but it’s astonishing how John Terry can face an FA charge for daring to speak out about the incompetent Poll, yet Saint Rooney can tell a referee to go forth and multiply countless times in a single game and not even pick up a booking. Yet the powers-that-be insist all clubs are equal. Clearly Orwell had the makings of an FA suit...it’s obvious some are more equal than others.

It only remains for me to wish everyone a merry Christmas and to thank all of those who have mailed their musings. Some have been complimentary and flattering. Many have been rude and downright unpleasant — but I welcome them all. Football thrives on argument and opinions.

So may you all enjoy the festive season, and get what you wished for. Unless you are red and have written to Santa for the Premiership trophy. That, I am afraid, is reserved.

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