CALM DOWN DEARS! FROM CHELSEA MAG, DEC 2008

THAT WAS THE YEAR THAT WAS FOR CHELSEA FC. NOT THE BEST YEAR IN TERMS OF TROPHIES – but one of the best in terms of evolution. One of the saddest sights of 2008 for Blues fans had to be John Terry trooping up for his Champions League losing finalist’s medal after his fated penalty miss against Manchester United. But at least the Blues made it to Moscow – that in itself presents progress, yes, evolution. Let’s also remember they made it there without a manager. Okay, in figurehead terms Avram Grant was in the dressing room, but no one’s kidding themselves that he was actually responsible for the run to the final. It was the first time I personally can recall a players’ co-op – led by the formidable Terry and equally impressive Frankie Lampard – managing themselves. Big John was the boss, FL his assistant…both off and on the pitch. And they achieved something even Jose could not in getting to the CL final, didn’t they?
A word about Grant before I transgress. For all his lack of charisma and tactical nous, I did like the man. He possesses a certain humility and compassion that deserves a pat on the back. He clearly cared for the men in the team and his treatment of Frank after the tragic death of his mother was simply admirable. He is a good guy and could well do a job at somewhere like his old club Pompey – where I am far convinced of the credentials of Tony Adams to cope in the top-flight. But he just wasn’t good enough to manage a top outfit like Chelsea and I believe Roman Abramovich was spot on to dispense with his services. Especially when you consider the talent and merits of the man he brought in to replace the so-called Moderate One. Yes, Big Phil – top man and top manager. A brilliant choice. World Cup winner in 2002 with Brazil and the man who turned Portugal into serious contenders in Euro 2004 and World Cup 2006. When he arrived in Lisbon in 2003 he inherited a disheartened, demoralised squad of underachievers who had flopped a year earlier in the same World Cup he had won. When he left Portugal in 2008 a country’s football followers mourned his passing. Yes, he had done a truly wonderful job and brought through gems like Cristiano Ronaldo and Deco. The latter was probably his major legacy to the Portuguese nation. He had been forced to overcome opposition from within the camp led by the mighty Luis Figo to convince the country that Deco, a Brazilian, should be allowed to play because he had Portuguese grandparents. But Big Phil stuck to his guns and dismissed the mutiny, even warning Figo that he could quit the squad if he didn’t like the idea. This was a strong man; a man who would do things his way, a man of supreme self-belief backed up by an extraordinary record of success on different Continents. In South America, the Middle East, Japan and now Europe. And the real Christmas gift for Chelsea fans came early in 2008…on July 1, in fact, when the legend that is Big Phil Scolari walked into Stamford Bridge to work his magic. A genus yet a man with a rare humility, he is the character this club has been yearning for since it hit the heights with those two Premiership titles under Jose. Even though the reality of life at the Bridge has been slightly different than the brochure promised, he has kept his cool and not moaned – when others surely would have. Promised riches to buy whoever he wanted, the Big Man has had to make do and mend with the squad he inherited (which was admittedly a rather fine one) and one reasonably priced buy in the brilliant Deco. And wasn’t that £8million well spent? When everyone and their dog had written off the little Brazilian as yesterday’s man, he showed he has a cunning and skill in abundance. Remarkably, he has dovetailed perfectly with Frank Lampard – indeed I would contend he has been one of the reasons why Frankie boy has been enjoying his best ever season at any club and at any level. Sure, it was a big disappointment to Big Phil and Chelsea fans when another little Brazilian genius, Robinho, landed at Manchester City instead of Chelsea. It was also a loss: he would have provided another element of the unexpected and bolstered the squad considerably with his own particular brand of magic. I believe the board at the Bridge were wrong to let him slip out of their hands when it was clear he really wanted to play for Scolari. But again Big Phil didn’t moan loudly, okay, maybe, he was a little grumpy! And even when the Chelsea board warned him he wouldn’t have the fortune he had expected to spend in the January transfer window, he shrugged his shoulders and got on with the job of managing. Can you imagine the likes of Kevin Keegan doing that? Or would the Blues now be without a manager? There are genuine areas of the team that need strengthening – I am not particularly convinced by Malouda or Kalou – but you can be sure Scolari will do what’s best and bring in the right people if he gets the necessary backing. He won’t walk away: he is on a mission at the Bridge. A mission to prove he can cut it at the top in European club football, just as he did at the top in European international football with Portugal. Only a fool would bet against him accomplishing that mission – and I bet John Terry and Frankie Lampard are glad they can just concentrate on playing again now, rather than also having to manage the club they love.
As for those fans worried about Chelsea’s recent stumble (this was written after the 2-1 home loss to Arsenal), let’s bring in the catchphrase of that old rascal Michael Winner – ‘Calm down, dears!’ It is a temporary blip, nothing to panic about, let alone turn into a full-blown crisis. Scolari will deliver again – and he has already delivered. It is best to get the blip that all teams have over a season out of the way now. The team are second in the Prem, one point behind Liverpool, who never last the distance, and ahead of main rivals Man United. And that is without Drogba, Joe Cole and Carvalho. Look how Liverpool struggled against West Ham at home last night without Torres! When the big man is away they cannot cut it. So imagine how they would have been without Gerrard, too – which is what Chelsea have been like without the brilliant Michael Essien ALL SEASON.
No, calm down, dears – at least it might persuade Abramovich to spend in the January transfer window, in other words…the blip might be a blessing.