Terrace Talk: Chelsea - Being liked is over-rated

Seems many pundits and papers have already announced this coming season’s league winners without a ball even being kicked. Apparently Arsenal have run away with it.

The rest of us may as well not even bother it seems. In fact, many have been spouting off to anyone who cares to listen that Wenger now “has the measure” of Mourinho – all this from a very narrow win at Wembley.

The Charity Shield (it will always be the Charity Shield to me) did tell us a few interesting things. Firstly, that Mourinho was absolutely right to try and veto Cech’s move to Arsenal and that Abramovich should keep out of team matters.

It wasn’t even the saves that Cech made – all pretty standard for almost any Premier League keeper – it was the visible confidence that flowed through the team just by his presence. I imagine he does his bit in the dressing room too – a proven winner who has played for a significant number of seasons under a serial winner will always have something to say and anyone with half a brain will listen.

We may pay a high price for Roman’s benevolence.

Another thing that we learned from the Charity Shield was that it’s only called “parking the bus” when Chelsea do it. When Wenger does it, it’s a “masterclass”. It demonstrates his “superior tactical acumen” and shows that he has finally broken the Mourinho hoodoo – yeh, OK then.

The last thing we learned from the Charity Shield is that WE NEED ANOTHER STRIKER!!!

At the very least.

Remy (or “Offside” as many are beginning to call him) is not a viable alternative to Costa, Falcao is as yet an unknown quantity, and Costa worryingly looks like he may spend as much time laid up as he will suspended. I can’t lie, I’m more than a little worried.

During United’s virtual stranglehold on the Premiership title, one thing they did every year was strengthen – even if they had won at a canter. You could always guarantee they would buy one or two quality players to add to the squad. We seem to operate more on a feast or famine buying strategy, which is hardly condusive to a winning philosophy.

Speaking of United, seems they really are leading the way in refreshing their stocks of first class players – Van Gaal is not mucking about and the board are putting their money behind the Dutchman 100%.

Of course we can’t complain in terms of Roman cash-splashing over the last ten years – but he does seem to have the odd foot-stamp every season, presumably to remind everyone who really is boss – and I think the Cech sale was such a statement demonstrating (should proof be needed) whose football we are all playing with.

Some have seen this as a possible prelude to another fall-out and subsequent parting between Mourinho and Ambrovich – not me though; however much Jose may be seething underneath, it still has to be less interference than he experienced in Spain and even Italy. That said, Roman too should have learnt some lessons from their last spat and just leave the football managing to the football manager.

I don’t really understand some of the comings and goings if I’m honest. Keeping Cuadrado, allowing Luis to go, keeping Remy, allowing Cech to go – not addressing some ongoing issues. How will that affect us in the coming season?

Many have looked at our relative inertia during the transfer period so far and then at our pre-season results and have already started clanging the bells of doom. The loss to Arsenal in the Charity Shield made those bells emergency wails in some quarters. Me – I’m pretty laid back. I have issues with the squad, but ultimately I trust Mourinho – I think.

The thing is we weren’t even really at our best last season and we still won it at a bit of a canter in the end. Jose will need to pull more rabbits out of his special over-coat this time around but anyone who doubts him needs their head seeing to.

What will be interesting to see is Jose’s priorities this season. Last year it was all about the Premier league – he “had” to win it apparently – and he duly obliged. But what is expected this year? The double? The Champions League? All of the above? We clearly have not reinforced enough to make a challenge on all fronts, so retaining the title would be an achievement in itself. Not that perhaps the owner holds such sensible ambitions.

What can be guaranteed is that we will once again be the pariahs of the game – the team that everyone loves to hate. Well bring it on, give us your best shot. Being liked is over-rated. Would we rather win a popularity contest or the Premier League? We answered that one last season – and with any luck, we’ll answer it the same way this season too.