An aura of invincibility returns to Chelsea

YOU always know you’re dealing with losers when opposition fans start to chant the names of rival teams in an attempt to wind you up.

Step forward the Smog Monsters from Teesside who became the latest group of supporters to start the “Yoo-ni-ted” mantra at Stamford Bridge, bracketing themselves with the likes of, errr, Wycombe as purveyors of terrace repartee and back chat.

From that moment, Chelsea supporters stifled a collective yawn, and began wondering which pub to make for after the game with three points stuffed into the back pocket.

That’s the last Premiership match until March, 3 when we’re away to Portsmouth with FA Cup, Champions League and a Carling Cup final to be dealt with before then.

The win against Boro was comfortable despite their stubborn first-half defending. Although there were a couple of poor individual performances, we are beginning to get back our rhythm as a team. A strong and brave flying header from John Terry, in the first 10 minutes, showed he was picking up exactly where he left off. Ferdinand and Woodgate for England? You’re having a laugh.

The Boro canter concluded a quiet week in terms of media attention. The papers were far more interested in rich Americans making fools of themselves up in Merseyside — talking about buying “franchises” and watching the “Hotspurs” play. Let’s hope that these billionaires don’t start throwing their money around — that will never do.

I can’t wait to see what the new Liverpool ground is going to be called, especially as the new owners have virtually announced that they will prostitute themselves to the highest bidder.

You have to forgive me a little chuckle as the Liverpool fans have been telling me, ever since Abramovich took over, that they would never sell their soul to a rich foreign investor. Didn’t take too long, did it?

As I have said before, I’m very pleased that another club will have at least the same financial muscle as we have, if not more.

After all it was only because we had the most money that we did. I shall put on my bet now.

While my poison pen is out, it would seem churlish not to comment on Arsenal’s Sunday display against relegation fodder Wigan.

Gooners always make a big deal about the “class” that they perceive they have in buckets. So how do they explain their sullen, spoilt and classless behaviour of the team and especially chief protagonist Henry?

That worryingly-long man-hug with Walcott prior to kick off would have been better done privately, while the sly elbow shows what kind of individual Henry is — as does the gesture of offering the ball to a distraught Kirkland immediately after the equaliser, and taunting the keeper before he had a chance to get up off the floor.

Should it also be mentioned that they managed to rack up six bookings in this game, won by scoring two offside goals and that Wigan were denied a penalty which would have also seen Arsenal down to ten men?

Back in SW6, where all we care about is winning and not myth-making, the biggest debate in the pubs is whether United will drop points, and if so, where. As you know, I’m a “glass half-empty” kind of girl and although I can foresee them dropping the odd point, I think seven is a tad unrealistic.

With the return of Cech and Terry to our side there’s a chance that the aura of invincibility will return, particularly if we do well in the next three cup games. Robben, too, is fit again (although for how long is anyone’s guess) and he does give us another dimension. There is nothing we can do now except win our games and hope for the best elsewhere.

Chelsea and Peter Kenyon are never ones to watch a possible marketing opportunity slip by, and it was with this in mind that the big wigs at Chelsea decided to invite the Chinese Olympic team to London as guests of the club, allowing them to train at Cobham, arrange a game against a Chelsea XI as well as a few other teams.

Did it backfire or what? The Chinese moaned about the weather, the fact that they were asked to use the ladies’ changing rooms at Cobham and the scuffle against the Chelsea XI was a precursor to a full-on punch up with a QPR reserve side. I have to say that it made for excellent viewing — sort of Jackie Chan meets Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrels. Seven of the Chinese players have been sent home in disgrace — one with a broken jaw. Well done to all concerned for livening up the week.

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