Chelsea vs Sunderland: The First One Without JoMo 2.0

Man Love

And here we are again ….

Obviously it’s impossible to say we didn’t see this coming - the end of JoMo 2.0. Of course, the chancers who were constantly speculating week in and week out claiming that *this* game or *that* game was definitely going to be Jose Mourinho’s final one helped - or hurt depending on how you look at it. Either way, we all knew our time together was coming to a dramatic and disappointing end.

At whatever point this season you accepted it had become a matter of when and not if, Chelsea’s conscious uncoupling with Jose Mourinho felt horrendous. I cannot confirm nor deny some of us cried like babies and skipped their company Christmas dos. It was like Michael Emenalo and co. had ruined Christmas — and then some.

SAFC v CFC: The One Where Chelsea Remembered It Was November

Black Friday Sale on Cahills!

Off the back of two outstanding performances, West Brom and Schalke for those of you who's memories are fragile from a night out in Newcastle, the Sunderland match was anything but. It wasn't fun. It wasn't a tactical masterclass. It wasn't a win. But it wasn't really  the worst result.

Chelsea v Sunderland: When Football Goes Pinball

"Maybe this jumper was a mistake"

As expected, this was never going to be a very attractive game. And Paolo Di Canio ensured that with that dodgy vest he opted to sport for his Sunderland debut. Knowing that all eyes would be on this game, that vest can be considered no less than an act of aggression by the Italian.

Of course no one was more pleased at Di Canio's appointment ahead of this fixture than the Interim One. Benitez assumed that having an admitted fascist at Stamford Bridge Sunday would somehow take the target off his back and give those Eastern European bloggers someone else to 'slander'. Obviously deluded sentiment, but in his enthusiasm, he forgot to separate Mata, Hazard, and Oscar. Not getting too carried away of course he did sit Lampard and ensured Terry could remain close to Di Canio. But regrettably, I do have to give him credit for the trio behind Demba Ba. I will not be giving credit for the lad behind me who tried to rhyme Di Canio with Nazio.*