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Grant fails to deliver on the big stage.

Chelsea
by mc_blue (U11140783) 25 February 2008
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Even as a Chelsea fan, with a Spurs-supporting brother and stepfather, I have to swallow my pride and say Tottenham fully deserve to be Carling Cup winners this year.

Sadly, Avram Grant’s team selection and poor substitutions contributed to the Blues’ demise. Starting Anelka on the wing was a strange decision to say the least, and the talented striker was rendered useless and was a bystander for most of the game. Alex and Ballack, two players who have been getting a good run of form together, were both left out, and Joe Cole, Chelsea's most consistent player behind Lampard, joined them on the bench.

Shaun Wright-Phillips was lucky to stay on for as long as 72 minutes after a below-par performance, and John Obi Mikel once again made me wonder what all the fuss was about in beating United to sign him. Not one player was on good form.

I think the Chelsea players were expecting an easy ride. Spurs had progressed in the UEFA Cup only three days earlier, somewhat unconvincingly, and it has been widely regarded that Ramos' side are weak at the back. But King and Woodgate were commanding in defence, and Alan Hutton has proved to be another astute signing.

Chelsea, with only Drogba up front, rarely threatened, and the two wingers were far too deep to create anything worth talking about. Grant’s substitutions came too late and there was no real change in momentum until the final 10 minutes of extra time.

And by then it was too late.

Defensively, cracks also started to appear. Cech no longer appears as assured since the days of being rated a £50million goalkeeper by Mourinho, and Belletti's talent going forward was seriously compromised by his poor defensive capabilities.

This all said, I must not take any praise away from Tottenham, who showed such great character in coming from behind to win. And praise must go to Juande Ramos –master of cup competitions – who knew exactly how to frustrate Chelsea. Their disappointing Premier League season will, fortunately for him, be overshadowed by their first trophy in nine years.

I certainly hope it’s not another nine years before we see another trophy at the Bridge…

Latest 10 comments

Read members' comments or add your own

posted Feb 27, 2008

The main problem on Sunday was the inabilility of CFC management to react quickly and change the team formation. Jose would have changed to 4-4-2 like a shot. Avram is far to cautious to produce the promised cavalier football which we all want to see.
Well done Spurs!!!

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posted Feb 27, 2008

Markowire,
lets not get into this money talk again.When JM was here,Chelsea were winning things and instilling fear into the opposition.does it mean they now like money more than they liked it under JM?all sportsmen play for money except if if you play for Havant&Waterlooville

Really,there is no crisis as only the incurable romantics expected Grant to defeat Ramos in a tactical war.They're not in the same class.

At least one thing makes me happy,RA has just discovered his millions alone didnt get those trophies,JM's brain was also very important.
BLUES FOR LIFEok

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posted Feb 27, 2008

I don't mind losing. It is the manner of loss that bothers me. It was not Spurs that were that good, it was Chelsea that were DISGURSTINGLY bad and they have been that way for most part of this season. Let's face it, with a display like sunday's CC final, can we genuinely say the 'reserve' team who sweated water and blood to secure that final spot is any worse than the so-called 'regulars' that we felt we had been missing?
The way it is, CHELSEA IS ONLY AS GOOD AS THOSE BOYS (WHO HAVE HELD THE FORTE ALL THESE WHILE) CAN BE - At least for now. It must be painful to be dropped when it was time to reap the fruit of their labor. I say let them continue and let's relegate the so-called 'regulars' or 'key' players to the bench. PERIOD.

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posted Feb 28, 2008

i think we should have a league 2 mamager for chelsea!!
dag & red manager wants the job and thye shud give it 2 him deffo!!
i support fulham and were still in the title race but losing points thx 2 david beckham

COME ON U BLUES FULHAM!!!

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posted Feb 28, 2008

comment by markowire

You have know idea... clueless. For a start do you honestly think that half the players in the Premiership aren't just playing for money?

Secondly, do you mean the Man United who have Ronaldo in their team who's ambition is to play for Real Madrid, and what about Wes Brown turning down £50,000 a week. Money grabber?

As for Arsenal (the small province in France), they do not even have a player from England in their team let alone London! (Oh sorry ONE Theo Walcot). So of Course they must really feel passionately about Arsenal.

If you are going to make such obscene comments, which are only fuelled by your hate and envy of Chelsea and there success, at least have the decency to back up your comments with some sort of research.

* Just for the record Malouda joined Chelsea because of Mourinho, I know this because I have listened to him in his interview. Its not hard try doing it sometime.

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comment by U11138129

posted Feb 28, 2008

henk ten cate just imagine if that nutter was ur maneger..........steam

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comment by U11138129

posted Feb 28, 2008

henk ten cate just imagine if that nutter was ur maneger..........steam

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comment by tiiga45 (U2150139)

posted Feb 28, 2008

It's always a recipe for disaster when players start having "showdown" talks with the manager about selection. It seems AG tends to give in to the players who do. Wayne Bridge was not happy with not playing and was in the team; JT and Lampard were not happy and were in the team for Carling Cup final game. I don't think Mourinho would have been bullied into selecting any player simply because they were not happy with their playing time. That is the difference between the “Normal One” and the “Special One”

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comment by JamCFC (U10697215)

posted Jun 5, 2008

It wasnt Grant that picked the teams, it was Ambramovich

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