Re: Chelsea FC thread
I think you people have to stop crying about this. If you're looking for excuses, first of all look at your own team.
We have always been a top side. The joke, however, has always been about which Chelsea team would turn up. This was always our downfall in the past. A bad mentality towards certain games, only wanting to play in big games, and losing ground on the title as the season came to an end. Mourinho has brought the right mentality to the squad, which was a our biggest flaw, make no doubt about it. With him, we have realised our potential. We've had our slice of misfortune and our fair share of good fortune, which if you're challenging for a title, you hope to get.
Again this season, our most influential players have been Terry and Lampard. I'd also argue Gudjohnsen and Makelele as well. Robben's albeit brief roles have certainly helped, but he's not been part of the equation for a while now, and won't be, yet we are still pushing on. Mourinho has also worked wonders with Joe Cole, something which i'm personally pleased about. Ranieri who bought him, didn't even play him. Again this Mourinho realising people's potential. I think the guy would have the same effect on any squad, even if we still had Gronkjaer instead of Duff. Smertin instead of Makelele, Huth instead of Carvalho, Forssell instead of Drogba, Cudicini instaed of Cech, Johnson instead of Ferreira, Parker instead of Tiago. not to mention, Terry, Lampard, Gallas, Gudjohnsen etc....