Well Played

So the final score against our London rivals, the Spurs, was 1-1.

Would I have preferred a win? Of course, but considering that we played down a goal for nearly 60 minutes, I am pleased with our comeback performance. Now it's true that 6 days of the week, my man Drogba actually converts that penalty kick into a goal and Chelsea go on to win the game, but since he's also the player who tied the game in the 70th minute, I'm not going to harbor any anger.

In other good news, it seems we played a much more aggressive game and made plenty of good chances that forced some fine saves from Gomes, the Spur's keeper. Also, Frankie made his debut and didn't seem noticeably impaired, even coming close to making a header. Yes, we still have some defensive troubles and should take stock of some major mistakes, but I'm going to label drawing (and nearly winning) against a very strong title contender after a streak of losses and draws against weaker teams an improvement!

Keep that blue flag flying high!

Dire Straights

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.

The opening lines to Charles Dickens' iconic work seem an apt way to describe our season performance thus far. The Blues have known highs (the 6-0 thrashing of Wigan) and lows (the 3-0 loss to Sunderland) these past few months, but unfortunately, the highs seem to be long gone and the lows look to be here to stay. In the same game, we have had one half of sheer domination and another of outright timidity and weakness. It is time for this team to regain its consistency.

If I am going to start pointing fingers at who can do more for this team, I am going to start with our forwards. I don't care how many chances you create if no one is going to follow through and see the ball into the back of the netting. Anelka, I need you to pick up your pace. You're easily the slowest moving player on the field at any given time. Kalou, you need to protect that ball and maintain possession just a few seconds more (and stop making bad fouls after you get stripped). Didier, you need to be more selfish.

Also, one thing that I loved about our initial matches this season was that we never stopped looking for the next goal, even if we were up by five. That has changed. Ancelotti needs to stop coaching like Jose Mourinho and go back to what he knows best.