"The Merchants of Dreams"....

                  It has all boiled down to the same! Manchester United host Chelsea in a Title-decider on Sunday, that will define their respective seasons.It's been the same last year,and the year before last, in fact straight back from 2003! Ever since Roman Abramovich took over Chelsea that year, the Blues have installed themselves as the firm challengers to United's long run of success.

Finally it had to come to this....the "English Classico" will decide who rules England!

            

Chelsea vs United : Five things we learned...

             Okay.This is not an attempt just to celebrate Chelsea's win over Manchester United on Tuesday night,nor it's just another platform to defend the team or the refereeing decisions after all the controversies.I'll try my best to remain impartial here.But,then you have to take one stand on some matters,even at the risk of refuting others.So forgive me,if I have strong opinions on few things,but here are Five big things I noticed after the Showdown at Stamford Bridge.

1. Fergie may be a Genius,But we shouldn't bother much about his Post-match comments :
     It was almost comical,Ferguson calling for the referee's head,just 2 days after his Right hand man publicly said "We should not interfere too much with refereeing,and let the Powers that be take the control of the game." Yes,David Luiz deserved to be sent off for that tackle on Rooney,but Ferguson had no moral right to talk about it,after shamelessly defending Rooney's antics vs Wigan.And whatever he calls the Penalty decision,from 'Soft' to 'Simulation',It WAS a penalty.Smalling was unlucky there,with the ball ricocheting off Zhirkov after he had successfully intercepted Lampard's pass,but he did clash with Zhirkov,causing him to go down.I know he can't just vanish from there,but that's not an excuse to deny Zhirkov a run towards the goal.Even Ball-handling BY MISTAKE results in penalties,and referee had no choice but to point to the spot.But then Fergie knows all this too well.He has done it for years,taking the focus away from his team's defeat.And guess what,most of the times,It's worked.Will it work even this time vs Liverpool,we will find out by Sunday.

2. David Luiz: A Legend in the making,but he needs to control himself :
          David Luiz was outstanding versus Manchester United,apart from one moment of madness.That could've cost him and his team the match,but, it didn't.Just one month into the EPL,and the guy has looked terrific from the beginning,solid in defence,with brilliant Ball-playing qualities,and an amazing finishing technique too,as we witnessed on Tuesday.I guess the Brazilians are just born with it.But the lad should've got red-carded,after the late challenge on Rooney.It was cleverly disguised,and yeah it seemed totally intentional.Luck will not favour him always in future,but he deserves some appreciation for a brilliant performance versus the League leaders.

David Luiz already looks a future Superstar

3. The Old Guard still has Life left in them :
          This is not just about Chelsea,but also for United.Van der Sar showed his class with that superb triple-save to deny Ivanovic in first half.Scholes was the orchestrator again in the first half,as United dominated the Opening period.John O'shea looked comfortable too on the right,as Malouda failed to trouble him much.As far as Chelsea were concerned,Terry was fantastic alongside young Luiz, Drogba was menacing ever since he came on,and Frank Lamapard showed why he's still so vital in that Chelsea set-up,with Ice-cold nerves to slot the wining penalty.You just don't save those.Well,not unless you are daring enough to just stand in the middle,and prepared to look utterly foolish,if the taker shoots even two inches to either side.

4. Come May,the Title is heading to Old Trafford :
           Now,this looks a strange conclusion to draw,after watching them falter in the Second half.Bu,still there were signs that United were returning to the deadly form they have missed so far this season.Honestly,United have almost played pathetic at times this season,but they still lead so comfortably because others have been even more pathetic.But,United did show flashes of the brilliance we all know they posses.Rooney is getting back among goals,which is a massive bad news to EPL defenders.And don't forget, they were playing versus a team fighting to save their season.All teams will not offer the same intensity,nor the kind of quality that Chelsea posses.So even though,it's a setback for ManUnited,anyone still willing to bet on the "Barcelona-beating-Birmingham-losing" unpredictable Gunners?

Rooney is getting back to his devasting form

5. Carlo is here to stay :

        People may find it foolish to talk such things just on one big performance.But the reasons for which I make this statement are much deeper.Carlo Ancelloti dared to keep the Dynamic Didier Drogba (Triple D,we can say!) on the bench for arguably club's biggest game of the season,and He did not suffer any backlash.It's quite an achievement at a Club like Chelsea."Big Phil" Scolari was sacked because he tried to sideline the Big Stars at Chelsea like Drogba and Ballack(I suspect the horrific results under him were also a reason!!) .Even the "Special One" Jose Mourinho fell out with the Chelsea hierarchy over his treatment of the then record signing, Andriy Shevchenko.When Scolari kept Drogba on the bench, he looked totally uninterested even after coming on as substitute.That was Scolari's downfall.After coming on versus United on Tuesday, Drogba looked as hungry as ever,as he virtually threw Nemanja Vidic into submission late in the game.Finally,Chelsea seemed to have found a man, unafraid to take bold decisions,and still having his team's full support behind him.After 3 months of utter craziness,finally it seems, exciting times are nearer for Chelsea.

The Bridge is Falling....

               Come May,Chelsea will not be lifting the Barclays Premier League Title.Period. Now, some cynics (Read United Fans) may even say it was always likely to happen with the "Old" Squad and Chelsea are now not good enough to even finish in Top 4,while some may think it's just a tragic reaction to a Dip in form.Well,it's not.It's just the hard cold reality.Just go and check the recordbooks.Champions don't lose to Sunderland 0-3 at home,Champions don't dominate the whole games versus the likes of Newcastles and Birminghams and Wolves,and still manage to lose.And the Champions most certainly don't play Paulo Ferreira and Ramires,when they have the talented Brumas and Sturridges,in absolutely must-win games.True,there might still be a fightback,I am almost sure there will be a late surge to derail United's title charge,but well,It's just not gonna be good enough.

Dejected Chelsea players after another Defeat

               Having said that,it's not that United are playing so well to lead the League so easily,they are nowhere near the "Invincible" tag they are trying to claim.Go and watch their game vs WestBrom.They were all over the place.Westbrom dominated almost the entire game,should have had a penalty and red card to Neville,which they didn't get (Even Fergie accepted that.Now how many are ready to bet that a 10-men ,dejected United would come back from 1-2 down against an inform West Brom team.But,after that,Baggies did get a Penalty,which they just fluffed away.Now,you just don't do it against United.It was clear from that point,that United would make them cry.And they did.That's where they are so good,United,winning the games even after playing badly for the large chunks of the game.And that's what Chelsea have precisely lacked in last 3 months.United were outplayed at West Brom,and even Wolves,and still got the maximum points.Chelsea,on the other hand,wasted needless points at Birmingham and Newcastle,and Aston Villa.That's the reason that while United are way clear at the Top,while Chelsea languish in the Fifth place,even below City and Spurs.
               There are calls already to sack the Manager,the same one who was hailed as "One of the Best-Ever" after leading Chelsea to a Historic Double.The So-called "Football Pundits" are already claiming Chelsea won't even finish in Top 4.Nonsense. The same people were writing United off at the start of the season,after Chelsea had driven into a 5-point lead at the top.Now,suddenly,Chelsea are No-goers,right? Yes,there have been some Self-destructing decisions,like sacking Ray Wilkins,or not investing in New players to cover up for those who were drafted out.But,let's not forget they have missed their Big players big time.Injuries to Drogba,Lampard (that guy was out for 3 months,for God's sake,the World's best scoring Midfielder.You're bound to miss him,right? ) and Terry,not to mention the long-term layoffs of Alex,Benayoun,Zhirkov have all hurt Chelsea's cause.
                And then there is the problem of in fact HAVING players like Ferreira and Ramires.What it does is that it dents the chances of youngsters like McEachran and Bruma and Sturridge.Just imagine,Vidic and Ferdinand getting injured for United,and Johnny Evans will automatically come in to fill,Ferguson won't try to put Neville or Carrick in that role.But at Chelsea,there will be long discussions about whether to trust Bruma,or to put the "Experienced" Ferreira in that role.In the end,Ferreira will be picked to play in a position he just can't play,Chelsea will get drubbed (remember 0-3 vs Sunderland, don't you?) ,and after all this tragedy,next time similar injury crisis happens,Bruma will be given the task,as if he's being done a huge favour! And after all this,that 18-year old kid is still expected to go and play like John Terry!
Same thing with Ramires.Well,we were trying to cut the costs.So,we let all the Ballacks and Decos and Joe Coles ( don't you think anyone of them would have come in handy in these times?) were all allowed to leave for Free. Apparently,this decreased Chelsea's wage bill by 20 millions.And then they go and spend 18 millions on Ramires.Not a very smart piece of business,is it? When he arrived,we all were made to believe he is the Future of Brazil.That guy is supposed to be a Midfield-enforcer.But,seriously,he can't keep the ball himself,Forget winning it from the Oppositions.I just can't get why Carlo played Ramires and Ferreira vs Aston Villa,when he had Sturridge and Bosingwa.Don't tell me he "Rested" them.You just can't do that in such situations.It's like being stuck in a House on Fire,and saying "oh no,we're tired now.We'll have some rest first,and then try to get out".
               Chelsea's midfield has never looked so fragile.Few years ago,they could claim to have the Best Midfield Unit in the World.Free scoring Lampard,German captain Ballack,the African Superstar in Essien,the Invincible Makelele,all backed up by Deco and Joe Cole.Look at the situation now,with Lampard and Benayoun gone,we're straight into Mikel and Ramires,and there's this thing as well with Young McEachran not being trusted enough.They say he has the talents to match the Messis and Ronaldos,and still fear to put him against Aston Villa!
               But,even having had so many problems,it's still ridiculous to say they won't finish in Top 4.They still have the team to beat Uniteds and Arsenals.The big players are starting to return,The Blues will rise again,with same personnel,I still believe.For they are the men with Courage,the Terrys and Lampards and the Drogbas, they are the team who got heartbroken in Moscow in Champions League Final,and they still returned to win the Premier League in 2 years time,breaking all kinds of records on the way.

Carlo Ancelotii with Malouda in happier times,after winning the Premier League

                 I'll will leave you by refreshing our memories to a similar situation 2 years ago.Chelsea were playing badly( eve worse than they are now),people said they won't finish in Champions League places.Well we all remember what they did,winning the FA Cup,and even though they were beaten in Champions League semis,Don't you remember how they made the Mighty Barcelona,the Best footballing team ever and all that, look like an Impotent Unit at Stamford Bridge?

"Month from Hell"??

Another agonising game to watch,playing just one-half of good Football, well,and then just giving up in the second,Chelsea fans aren't really used to this....But,really these troubled times make you understand what Arsenal and Liverpool fans have to suffer week in week out!!! From 5 points clear at the top,the Champions have plunged downwards in November,seeing Blackpool's home record,we can consider ourselves 4 points off the pace already,and the December fixture list doesn't make it any easier.Tottenham,Manutd,Arsenal all lined up alongside resurgent Bolton Wanderers,Chelsea couldn't have chosen worse times to have got the Lampards and Terrys and Benayouns injured,could they??

Watching the Everton game on Saturday,I couldn't really believe how light-weight Chelsea's midfield looked.Essien looked rusty from injury,Mikel was wasteful,and why Malouda is trying to play in the Centre-midfield more when he excels so well on the wings???

If there was one area,that Chelsea could boast of as being arguably the"World's Best",till last year,it would be their midfield.Lampard,Ballack,Essien,not to mention Makelele,these guys would get into any team in the World,and then we had Joe Coles and Decos and Mikels as cover-ups,couldn't get any better,could it? And suddenly this season,it's all collapsed!! Mikel looks a lost man,the creative force of Benayoun was lost to injury,and Ramires hasn't managed to settle in English Football yet.Chelsea are missing Lampard like hell!!! He gets them those 20-25 invaluable goals each season from Midfield,but its not just the goals,but his forward drive,his ability to get into shooting positions.Watching Mikel and Ramires on Saturday,I really missed Lamps there! Of course,Chelsea wouldn't have missed him so much last season,when Michael Ballack could fill that role efficiently,But this season,with Benayoun out inured,Chelsea have lost that authority in midfield.It was same vs Everton,same vs Sunderland,and same vs Birmingham.They just put the extra guys in midfield,and Mikel and Ramires were simply overwhelmed,Malouda tried to bridge the gap by getting more Central,and it took out Chelsea's sting on that left flank! At the moment,there looks to be no solution other than getting Lampard back as quickly as possible,and with the quality of the teams they're about to face,they have got to do it fast!!!

Manchester Utd are getting back to their normal Fiery "Christmas period form"(not taking into account that dreadful 0-4 to West Ham,of course!!!),Arsenal also look strong,and Spurs seem to be in great spirits following their adventures in European Football,but all the talk of Chelsea's title challenge falling apart still seems far-fetched.Your title challenges are not wiped out in November,guys,well,not unless you are Liverpool fans! But,for the rest of the normal World,it takes April or May for the title challenge to fade off.So let this "Month from Hell" be upon us,we won't give up Hope.

December,here WE come !!!