it has been a while since last post. but I have had a creative blank. so apologies.
If nothing else was going to get me to post it would be the - as predicted by moi, back in September - shambolic treatment and departure of Andre Villas Boas from Chelsea.
If I take you, reader, back to AVB's appointment at the Bridge in the summer;
This is my problem with the appointment. I really like Boas. He is a very talented guy. He speaks fluent english, thanks to his english grandmther and his time working under Jose Mourinho but also Sir Bobby Robson, for a time at Ipswich in the early 2000's. He is a great coach. BUT he is a very attacking style of manager, which has put Chelsea in trouble in the past. My concern is that he may score more than concede in the early stages but with a goal shy Fernando Torres of late and a Frank Lampard out of sorts, is there anyone who can really lead the team in the way Villas Boas wants?
smug. mode.
But I take no joy in this. I expected him to last only one season, but for him to not survive the season - let alone for him to be dismissed whilst his charges are still in the Champions League (until Wednesday night at least) is shocking. For me this highlights the desperation of the most fickle man in football, the venerable Roman Abramovich. Whilst Napoli come to west London in midweek, with a two goal advantage, and likely therefore, to progress, there if the slightest chance of a revival under RDM ( as we shall now refer to him, in the acronym age). Chelsea's owner is DESPERATE for glory in the only major competition that eludes him.
But surely he wouldn't resort to murder.? It seems figuratively, he has.....
It's hard to know exactly were AVB went wrong. Mata has been an excellent signing thus far. On paper he and Torres should have linked up superbly well, but only in one game has this been in evidence. The CL game against Genk, where both set up goals for each other, and scored also. Torres' goal drought has been a big factor, yes. But I think the big problem has been that Chelsea have too many offensive centre backs; Luiz, Cahill, Ivanovic (less so) and Bosingwa.
Frequently David Luiz would be found wandering down the pitch wanting to get up into offensive positions whenever possible. When Chelsea's inability to keep clean sheets began to appear, it seemed to seep through the rest of the team, particularly their stalwart Petr Cech, who has been imperious for the last 3-4 seasons, producing many a match winning performance. Then moreso through to the strikers. Torres hasn't looked himself at Chelsea possibly because is under such pressure to perform, as comes with a £50m price tag. This has led the poison that is John Terry and Frank Lampard of the old guard, to reappear and spread, making AVB's tenure terminal.
Regardless to sack him, after just 8 months in charge is ridiculous and shameful. But its just another example of what an unscrupulous man the big bucks Russian is. There is no 'quick fix' let Sir Alex and Arsene tell you that. Who wants the Chelsea job now?
I bloody dont......
Arsenal's season continues to take more twists, turns, highs, lows and upside down moments, than that of any of your popular theme park coasters does.
After effectively ending hopes of another trophyless season, with an abject perfomance, on an abject pitch at the San Siro, on Tuesday night, Arsenal showed the sort of character that has been bereft from the Emirates Stadium pitch this season. Whilst this AC Milan side are - in my view - overrated, and will only progress through to the semi finals with a favourable draw versus APOEL next Friday in Nyon, it was still an admirable perfomance from the Gunners, who aside from finishing in the top four, have little to play for.
Arsenal have been robbed of key players through injury at key stages of the season; Wilshere, Ramsey, Walcott, Vermaelen and Sagna to name a few. Perhaps the biggest loss though, (in evidence) is that of Tomas Rosicky. When Rosicky signed a few days before the start of Germany 06', I was very excited. Very. But in his six years so far in North London he has seen some troubling times. In fact the only games where his presence really stands out pre 2008, is the game away at Hamburg in September 2006, in which he scored his first Arsenal goal in some style with a 30 yard screamer, in a 2-1 win.
When 'little Mozart' signed for Arsenal, there was a question mark over his past injuries. Indeed one particular knee injury occurred in his 5 years in Germany, which ruled him out of an entire season. His past seemed to came back to haunt him as a niggling hamstring tendon injury ruled him out of the entire 2008-09 campaign and kept him out of action out-right for 18 months. He came back but as with long term-injuries there were complications.
It has taken him nearly 3 years to get back to anywhere near his best form. But finally he seems to be coming good again and is showing signs of playmaker best as he was at Dortmund. I noted in a previous post that he had an excellent pre-season in Asia. Rosicky has been increasingly instrumental in games after the Xmas period, often contributing as the midfield engine, in the Fabregas role, occupying a central role, but adept at playing across the front three. These culminated in a outstanding performance against Sp**s ( ;) )
when he scored hi first goal since February 2011 but so much more than that he was fantastic whenever he got the ball.
Tomas really has given Arsenal a much needed fillip in the run in, and hopefully will, in Jack Wilshere's absence as Arsenal fight to retain their top four status. With tough games against Newcastle on Monday and games against City, Chelsea, and Stoke away to come, it will be fascinating to see how he does and where he is deployed in the weeks to come. Injury permitting. Good luck Tomas......
