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| Difficult to tell if Terry or Ivanovic is more excited here |
Like quickly tearing off a plaster, let's get this bit of the match done and over with … Michael Essien had a bit of a 'mare on Sunday. Not only did he forget that the match had actually started as he assisted Southampton's opening (and only) goal, but then only went and got himself booked for diving. The ridiculous dive was an obvious attempt to help everyone of the Chelsea faithful forget the initial 13 seconds. To be fair to the Bison, with the match that Michael Oliver had, he may well have called it as a fouled.
Now that's over, we shall never speak of Essien's performance against Southampton again. Ever.
Stop thinking about it!
You still are -- the *only* thing you need to think about from this game really and truly is Juan Mata's pass. You know the one. I'll be taking that pass out for dinner this weekend. Don't wait up. Phwoar.
Not to leave that pass and talk about anything else, but ...
With the formidable defence that Southampton impose, Chelsea were going to need all the creativity in attack that they could muster -- who else to bring it but Juan Mata alongside Eden Hazard and Oscar. Reunited and it felt so good. So good that Oscar couldn't handle that much excitement and only went and took himself out of the game by kicking his own ankle. So Chelsea supporters will be forced to wait a bit longer for that particular triumvirate to get back into full flow together.
However the Little Juan and his partner in crime soldiered on playing brilliantly off each other and Fernando Torres who got his clippers back from Jose to remove the last remaining hairs from his head. As deserving of a goal as any of them were (and they were), it was Gary Cahill who popped up for the equaliser. And by popped up I really mean his head was very much in the right place at the right time as it ricocheted off and in beside the Holy Goalie. Boruc had injured himself by trying to save the shot the goalpost had already stopped -- the post won both battles.
Just minutes later, the captain on his 400th league appearance, popped up for what was technically the winner. Who needs strikers when you have centrebacks? A tribute to his revitalisation under Jose Mourinho. Not that anyone of the 40 000 there ever doubted Terry. But the little black cloud that floated in the technical area last season really put things on hold for John Terry.
Mourinho once again masterminded substitutions that turned the game on its head. Some may have questioned what
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| Jose's mini-me has been moved and promoted to assistant |
kind of shape that group of players were going to keep let alone make. Some shouldn't worry themselves with such things and sit back and enjoy the magic. Whatever it was came together and worked flawlessly. The Southampton fans singing 'you're not special any more' must have felt a bit silly. Not as much as the embarrassing home 'support' who had the cheek to boo at the half. Were you lost on your way to the Emirates? Save the boos until it's actually worth it.
Although I've given praise, and his newly moved 'little assistant' to their tactics, anyone who was at the game knows who really changed things for Chelsea -- John Payton. This was the man who masterminded the win. Once he, thankfully, took the microphone from Barnett and called out for the 'Chelsea Roar' he assured fans the win was coming their way despite being a goal down. He then went down the tunnel and gave the team a blocking.* And if anyone from the club is reading this and would like to offer him Neil's job, you'd likely get people in their seats a lot quicker before games.
With a win behind them for the first of their S-Club party, Chelsea are on their way to a Merry Christmas -- because there ain't no party like an S-Club party.
jb x
*this may or may not have actually happened, but the man had a lot to say and wasn't leaving there without a win
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