Alan Curbishley was put under scrutiny this week when he claimed it would be a travesty if United didn’t win the league. Whilst I don’t entirely agree he deserved the criticism Avram Grant threw in his direction for what he said, I can agree that the timing of the comments, in the week leading up to his side playing United, was poor. However, Curbishley is spot on in what he says.
I am not saying Chelsea don’t deserve to be in the position they are, because that is the brilliant thing about leagues, you have to be consistently good enough. Whilst their football has been largely uninspiring and dull, they have been picking up the points on a weekly basis, and credit to them for that. Before the extra game we played yesterday, they had picked up exactly the same points as us.
However, when we look at the quality of football between United and Chelsea, we can see there is a vast difference, and that is supported by the fantastic goal difference we have over them, which could see us win the league next weekend.
Yesterday’s 4-1 drubbing of West Ham was the 6th time we’ve won a game in the league scoring 4 goals, whilst there have been a further two occasions where we’ve scored more than 4 goals a game in the league. On top of that, we have the 4-0 vs Arsenal in the FA Cup, and the two games in the Champions League where we’ve scored 4 goals.
In the 53 games United have played in the league, FA Cup and European Cup, we have averaged just over two goals a game, scoring 107 in total this season. In the league, we have scored 78 goals in 37 games, again, averaging more than two goals a game. In contrast, Chelsea have scored 62 goals in 36 games, 16 less than United.
Defensively, we have again been superior to our rivals, conceding 22 goals in 37 games, in comparison to Chelsea’s 25 goals in 36 games. In total, our goal difference is 19 better than the blues’.
It certainly begs the question, how on earth are Chelsea even in the running for taking our title off us this season?
United have lost 2 more games than Chelsea this season, with both sides having lost to each other away from home this season. We lost at City, despite dominating possession and shots on goal. We lost at Bolton on a day where one defensive error, made by Gerard Pique filling in for injuries at the back, cost us the three points. We lost 2-1 at West Ham, after Cristiano Ronaldo missed a penalty that would have taken us 2-0 clear. Then there was the derby day defeat at home on the 50th anniversary of the Munich Air Disaster, where the whole occasion seemed to overawe our players. Then most recently, we lost at Stamford Bridge, after an 86th minute penalty was awarded.
Fortunately for United, we have won two more games than Chelsea, whilst they have dropped their points in drawing three more games than we have. However, it is certainly a case of United throwing points away than it is Chelsea convincingly winning them, particularly over recent months, which has left us chasing the title up until the last day of the season.
After victory over West Ham, Owen Hargreaves claimed that it would be a positive thing for the game to see a team who strives to play attacking, exciting football claim the league title. “It would be nice if teams like United who play attacking football and score lots of goals got their reward,” said Hargreaves. “It is very rare at this level to see a team at the top of the table with such a massive goal difference. We are in control of our own destiny, which is what you want, and we need only one win to retain our title. Now we will see how Chelsea get on.”
If we don’t win the league this season, it’s because we don’t deserve to win it, but it would be a struggle to see John Terry get his hands on the trophy again. In the Premiership years, Chelsea would certainly be the worst performing Champions if they were to win it. United once scored just 67 goals in a season where they were crowned Champions, back in the first Premiership season, when Sheffield Wednesday, Norwich and QPR all finished in the top 7. Football has come on a long way since then, although the lowest goal tally since then was the 68 goals of Arsenal in 1998. Still, that is some 6 goals better than Chelsea.
Aside from the statistics and instead just focussing on the football, Chelsea are just pretty boring. The exciting football Roman Abramovich was determined on seeking out just never came, with Avram Grant showing no signs of being able to provide it. The more honest Chelsea fans would be able to admit as much after watching their side play out and cling on to another boring 1-0.
Chelsea are efficient and their players are capable of grinding out a result. Between the first game of the year and last weekend’s win against United, Chelsea have won by just 1 goal in 8 of their 12 victories. This doesn’t make them undeserving of their points, but does it make them undeserving of the title? They have shown they are capable of playing good and entertaining football, if the first half against United is anything to go by, but does the fact they can’t sustain these performances mean they would be less worthy league winners? Should the Champions’ job be to entertain and win, or simply just to win?
However, after our recent focus on Chelsea and their performances, next weekend we shouldn’t have to be worrying about what they’re doing against Bolton. Whether they are playing great or boring football, whether they score 5 or no goals shouldn’t make an ounce of difference to us. All that matters from this point on is how we’re playing, and a performance against Wigan like the one against West Ham yesterday should secure us the title, rightly awarding the best team in England this season.
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Amen to that!
certainly with one of the worst starts to the premier league season ever,, we definitely are the better team through the season…
REDS KEEP MARCHIN on!
fantastic goal difference? less than 1 goal more every other game throughout the season does not sound as stunning.
whilst no one can deny united play some great footy, everyone can see (as against chelsea recently and both barca games) that faced with quality oppo, on form, they have very little more to offer.
while you have conceded less than chelsea you have lost more games, also not particularly impressive.
work it out for yourself why chelsea are so close to taking the title, whilst missing many players through injury and ANC during the season, the loss of Jose etc etc.
add it up and you come to the fact that a fully fit chelsea with no upheaval during the season are far superior to united at the moment. thats why we are so close now.
COME ON YOU BLUES!!!!
The thing with Chelsea is they’re resilient. The fact that they got anywhere near you this season is testimony to that – although I agree it’s largely down to you dropping points. But credit where it’s due, they clawed their way into a decent position somehow. It certainly hasn’t been pretty to watch (in fact its been bloody woeful) but these are players with a Mourinho mindset and a manager still making his way through the ‘Tactical Awareness’ manual, so it could’ve been a lot worse – and that really don’t bear thinking about!
Joel – so you think a 19 goal difference isn’t very impressive? Well, in the 15 years of the Prem, that 19 goal difference has only been bettered on two occasions (both by United, obv), with 22 and 23 goals difference between us and the second placed team.
United didnt concede at the Nou Camp and beat them at home. Didn’t Barca beat you at home last season? And you’re not really going to judge United based on that game at Stamford Bridge? Did you see who was playing?
Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic (Hargreaves 14), Silvestre, Fletcher, Carrick, Anderson (O’Shea 65), Nani, Rooney (Ronaldo 63), Giggs. Sorry, but you beat a United team with plenty of players missing courtesy of a late penalty. That says far more about Chelsea than it does us
I won’t address the injury point because you shouldn’t need to be reminded that Chelsea aren’t the only team to suffer injuries this season
Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic (Hargreaves 14), Silvestre, Fletcher, Carrick, Anderson (O’Shea 65), Nani, Rooney (Ronaldo 63), Giggs.
Plenty of players missing. Really, who. That old hack Neville. Thats the one i can think of.
Chelsea should have had 2 penelties. Remember the double ball bounce on Brown’s hand or you dosed off like your old manager. You only scored because our player presented the goal to you. We have beaten your great tribble winning team 5-0 at OT, don’t forget that.
Chelsea might not be the best team in england over the premier league history but we are just a little bit better than you and result in Moscow won’t change that but might reinforce it.
So Vidic played for 14 minutes. Ronaldo played for 27 minutes. Rooney was forced off due to injury with 1/2 hour to play. Scholes, Tevez and Evra didn’t play at all. Put it this way, you think Fletcher, Silvestre and Anderson will be starting against you in the CL final? So no, sadly, we weren’t just without Gary Neville. We made our choice – play our best side against Barca, in which the missing players for the Chelsea game were brought back in to make up our strongest XI.
If you were a little bit better than United, then the title would be in Chelsea’s hands. As it is, the only way Chelsea can win the league is if United screw up. You could win both your remaining games 8-0 and still end up winning nothing – that wouldn’t be the case for the better team. Unlucky.
Taimur. What the hell Chelski scum is doing here. I can’t believe you are not embarrased to call yourself a supporter. Man if I were you and had to watch that kind of football everyweek I would have shoot myself. You are a supporter of a team without soul and with a toad as your manager. The only reason that you are still in contention is your huge squad. We are far superior team then you will ever be, no matter how this season ends, but I really hope that we get the double and show you that justice always prevails.
SCOTT THE RED:
These players were part of Fergie monumental tactical blunder.
TARON:
sorry mate. I know this will sting but sorry. There is no question that manu will score more goals then chelsea but what happens when the two meet. 3-1, 3-0, 5-0 so on. You are better than us, really.
Take ronaldo out for 3 weeks, 3 games and your team is nothing but a blob of human excrement. Your team is 1 man team. Chelsea can lose 2 strikers, 3 defenders, 3 midfielders, a goal keeper and the greatest manager in the world (sorry fergie your not even close) and still win, and you say no soul. LOL.
No one in this world can match or compare to the HEART, WILL, COURAGE and CHARACTER of CHELSEA FC and that is something money can never buy. Never.
Taimur that’s quite funny with the things that you said. You said that’s something money can’t buy? If roman haven bought over chelsea a few years ago, u seriously believe chelsea is a top 4 teams today? I tell u, not even close! All your heart, will, courage and character are all bought from roman’s money. Chelsea is a one-man team, take away roman and the club can go and die, seriously.
I purposefully put money can’t buy in it because that is something people blame chelsea for.
As long as i’ve been seeing chelsea (1999), we have won FA cup, carling cups, competed in champions league quaterfinal twice ( all pre-abramovich era results). So the club was better than all midtable clubs and was probably 4th best in league. That ain’t that bad with meger resources, while MANU was the richest.
If money brought spirit REAL would have had it. Money doesn’t bring spirit.
Oh and even if you still think we were on our death bed, which was the team that regularly blasted you at OT. Think……..
Taimer – if you insist on posting on a rival blog, at least try and talk some sense. Non-United fans are welcome on here if they can make decent arguments and points. You seemed to be doing alright until the claim United are nothing without Ronaldo…
Ok, take a look at the Premiership’s highest scorer table this season. There are three United players in the top 11 scorers. (and if you were interested, there are no Chelsea players). Funny how people overlook that when saying United are nothing without Ronaldo’s goals…
You probably want to take a look at all the injuries United have had also.
I’m sure you know an awful lot about football, but at the moment, you’re showing yourself up as a bit of an uneducated WUM. I expect better in the next post, if there is to be one, otherwise it’s cheerio…
we shudnt even bother replying to rubbish like taimur . seriously , the guy is cukoo . Fergies not even close to mourinho . What are u , deluded ?
……lets start a ‘DONATE SOME MONEY TO GET TAIMUR A BRAIN’ campaign ,shall we ?
Despite having the ‘best’ home record in the history of top flight English football, it is indeed that record that has cost Chelsea this season. 6 draws at home is not good enough. Last minute goals conceded at home to Everton (Cahill overhead kick), Villa (penalty to make it 4-4) and Wigan (Emile Heskey scored for Christ sake) cost Chelsea 6 points and most likely the title.
United are a very entertaining team with their attacking 3 bagging some 50 odd goals out of the 70 odd I believe the stats were around. Chelsea’s front 3 aren’t quite there yet this season. Drogba has been missing for hefty chunks (making just 15 Premiership starts), J Cole 27 starts and Kalou 24 starts. Kalou isn’t a world class attacker. The replacements when these have been missing are inadequate Pizzaro (fat), Shevchenko (frail), Malouda (soft), SWP (inconsistent) and Anelka (not been utilised fully yet). Next season if this area is strengthened and Drogba/J Cole remain fit then it will inevitably lead to more goals and entertainment.
With regards to this myth that Chelsea have only been up in the right part of the league since Roman came along – the last time we finished outside of the top 6 was the 1995/1996 season. 1998/1999 season we finished 4 points off United’s title having lost the hugely influentially Poyet to injury and then mananging to lose at home to West Ham, a gutting home draw thanks to O’Neill’s (always a thorn in our side) Leicester and Guppy’s curling effort and drawing the last 2 away games at Tottenham and Wednesday. A fantastically entertaining team including Premiership stars such as Zola, Desailly, Leboeuf, Petrescu, Poyet and Di Matteo.
Thanks for all the concern ANANT. Please do start the campaign and collect money for me.
So brainless that i am, JOSE has defeated fergie in almost every tactical battle that they have fought. Even with porto that is. He has achived more in his 5 year managerial career what fergie achived in 9 years and iam not counting UCL. Till his (fergie) age, we would have won atleast 2-3 worldcups, euro championships, Allah knows how many league etc etc.
SCOT THE RED:
I did not blame manu for having a phenomenal talent like ronaldo but your top ten stat sort of proves my point that CFC are a more allround team. No one is indespensible unlike ronaldo for manu.
Your start of season sucked because he used his skull rather than his brain and got suspended. He has had a great season and has actually made the rest of team look better around them,
I have no interest in manu blogs but this blog link was at CHELSEANEWS.com and title was so rubbish that it caught my attention. You have made an excuse for almost every failing of manu in your piece.
Plus it will really benefit me now if all you manu fans will follow ANANT’s call and make a donation for me. Thanks again
more all roud team?
you have scored less goals
concedded more goals
and have accumlated less points
do me a favour rent boy and stop talking utter shyte
Sorry Taimur – you blew it. The fact that United have two other players who are in the top 11 scorers in the league this season completely disproves your point about Ronaldo being indispensible to our team.
Before Ronaldo’s suspension, we’d drawn 2 games. After his suspension, we lost one and won two of the games he was missing for.
I did give you a warning man, but you continued spouting inaccurate nonsense, so no more posts. Toodle oo.
fcuk off rent boy
you remind me of jose or wenger clutching at straws
your “anit football” style of play deserves no silverwear
this year
watch and weep as a quality side playing quality football takes the spoils
Comment by Taimur on May 4, 2008 21:02
We have beaten your great tribble winning team 5-0 at OT, don’t forget that.
You did beat our great TREBLE(not ‘tribble’) winning team 5-0 back on October 3rd 1999, but it was at Stamford Bridge, and Nicky Butt was sent of in the 23rd minute with the score at 2-0.
The closest Chelsea came to that score at Old Trafford was on December 1st 2001 when the game ended 3-0. United did however return the favour in the return fixture to win 3-0 at the Bridge.
Please get your facts right.
I am pleased that the goal difference we have will be a lesson, should we win the title, that no matter who you own and how much money you have it doesn’t make a difference if the team doesn’t play with quality and style.
We have been solid and very threatening this season and Chelsea whilst being consistant will hopefully live to regret that philosophy of grinding out low scoring results on a genral basis.
No disrespect to their current position, but this is why United deserve the title. I’d be happy if I were a Chelsea supporter, then again I wouldn’t have a brain.
So if the manager of the oppostion to Chelsea i.e. Keegan today said “I hope Chelsea win the league” Man U fans would be quite happy with that?
yeah taimur…..dont worry….we will collect the money….by sending a petition to ur Russian oil merchant . honestly , by accepting my call for donation u have proved what cheap asses all u rent boys are . go grovel in front of anyone who throws a penny before you . shameless , characterless , spineless….yes taimur , your pride along with that of the your fellow chelski supporters is definitely something that money can buy . ROT IN HELL (MOSCOW) !
p.s. – i never knew i could hate a rent boy ore than a scouser!
yeah taimur…..dont worry….we will collect the money….by sending a petition to ur Russian oil merchant . honestly , by accepting my call for donation u have proved what cheap asses all u rent boys are . go grovel in front of anyone who throws a penny before you . shameless , characterless , spineless….yes taimur , your pride along with that of the your fellow chelski supporters is definitely something that money can buy . ROT IN HELL (MOSCOW) !
p.s. – i never knew i could hate a rent boy more than a scouser!
oh and lets see where your ‘special one’ stands at the end of his career as compared to SAF . i’m willing to bet he’ll never win as much nor spend as much time at any club as fergie has with us .
When mourinho was at porto he was lucky when he beat us . I clearly remember costinhas last minute strike . cruel . When he arrived at chelski he already had a quality squad to which he added players worth some 200m . won 2 league titles , realised he was at a rubbish club and left .
Lets compare this with fergie .
early career with st.mirren , east stirling etc , followed by a hugely successful career at aberdeen – he decimated the annual dominance of the old firm . would mourinho have accomplished as much on a shoe string budget . i think not .
arrived at old trafford to a poor squad plagued by a drinking culture and with funds nowhere near the type mourinho had at his disposal . its safe to say he needed time to mould the way the club ran to his style. held on to his job in 89 with the cup victory . after that the premier league started . since then – 9 league titles, 1 UCL , 5 FA cups , 1 cup winners cup . no major big money signings till van nistelrooy in 01 i think (thats if you dont count andy cole and dwight yorke as big money!). All the honours have come via hard work and determination . If we can afford to spend big now its all due to the amount of money we saved developing the youth team that made it big (. yes , fergie’s fledglings .) unlike shite clubs like yours having russian sugar daddies .
alex ferguson – knighted in 99 . recepient
of titles like c.b.e. etc.
head of the LMA . most respected coach by fellow managers
.
jose mourinho – self proclaimed – ‘ the special one”
seriously , how can anyone even compare that insolent , self obsessed , potty mouth portuguese commoner to this great man ?!!!
He is just jealous dont mind the chelsea fan , they will never have a ronaldo/messi type unless they are past their best like schevchenko
Taimur you shitty stick..Id like to see you come back and post anything when United rape Chelsea in the UCL finals!!
COME ON YOU REDS!!
SAF got a job jose doesnt hahahahahhh
compare that B.I.T.C.H.E.S Taimur is brainless
Glory glory man united
Ronaldo is best in the world.
and it doesnt mean he carries our team
OK Taimur , you’ve made it personal . high time i made 3 POINTS like you ,’ my friend’ did -
1) you’ll know that the difference is THOSE GOALS when we retain a 10th premiership title n your lot is left ‘CRIMSON FACED’ in THE SEWERS!!
2) what is the time frame of your stats of chelsea against united ? in the last 3 years its been even in the league between the 2 teams . a home win for either side , followed by 2 draws last year , followed by a home win each again this year . if you want to bring in the all time head to head record let me update you-
played 132 , united won 55 , chelsea 37 with 40 draws .
PLEASE dont draw up an arbitrary time frame . i’m pretty sure even i can find a period in the clubs history when we absolutely flogged your ass for 5 straight years .
OVER THE PAST FEW SEASONS ITS BEEN EVEN.
and if you wanna quote the FA cup final when you supposedly beat us , let me remind you , if it had’nt been for a blind linesman giggs would have scored before drogba.
3) Dont even get me started on MOURINHO vs SAF . your view is myopic at best . Agreed , statisically mourinho got the better of fergie but that is not a measure of fergie’s achievements , by comparing him against 1 manager . Mourinho is but an infant in world football , he has had success handed to him on a silver platter while SAF has had to work hard for what he has achieved .
Over the course of his career im confident mourinho will get found out when the going gets tough .
When you talk about great managers you think immediately of Matt Busby, Jock stein , Brian Clough and now Alex Ferguson. Can you honestly place mourinho in that category? . i have nothing more to add in this regard.
that was all in response to your comments , now its my turn .
A) no matter what you say , attacking football will always be appreciated over chelskis dull brand . If you asked any neutrals they would tell you how much they want united to win the double over chelsea this year .
B) Chelsea is a club with NO history , NO world class stadium , NO attacking football on display . it makes me wonder , if it wasnt for the money and if you werent a local , what would attract you towards the club ? another case of jumping on the bandwagon i’m afraid .
I would sooner become a supporter of Newcastle , or Spurs . cant fathom why people choose chelsea!!
C) Whay dont you spend more time worrying about your own team than bitching about united?!!
AS FOR MOSCOW – U SAY MAY THE BEST TEAM WIN FROM WHICH I CONCUR YOU’VE ALREADY HANDED US THE VICTORY BECAUSE DEEP DOWN EVEN YOU KNOW WE ARE BETTER!
Anant a few points I disagree with.
It seems largely overlooked with the whole Mourinho – shoe string budget theory just what he achieved with Porto. In his first full season there he won the league (by a record number of points), a domestic trophy and the UEFA cup. The following season he won the title again and the Champions League. With a team like Porto that is a fantastic achievement given the resources available to him.
Chelsea is a club with massive history. We haven’t won as many trophies as other clubs, but that isn’t a measure of ‘history’. Notts County are the oldest professional football team in this country. They haven’t won a single top division title. Yet by your history measure they have none! That makes absolutely no sense. With regards to Chelsea’s ground we have been playing there for 103 years. Because of our historic location (the ground has been around longer than Old Trafford!) it is likely unable to expand further under the current safety regulations. In previous years, along with Old Trafford, it has hosted prestigious FA Cup finals. At the end of World War 2 Chelsea hosted Dynamo Moscow in front of a conservative estimate of 100,000 fans!
Finally. I can’t fathom why people ‘choose’ to support any team. You support the team your dad takes you to when you are young – that he was taken to when he was young etc.
thank you scott for making articles like this. legend.
and showing how dense some people can actually be.
I live in ISLAMABAD ASNANT. I have never been to england, i still support chelsea long before roman came.
Most manu fans in asia became manu supporters becoz u had DAVID BECKs. Thats why. When you ask them about 4 years back, which is your fav club, they’ll say oh the one for which Becks players.
This article by scott was full of excuses and distortions, thats why i made my point but filth started flowing so i couldn’t quit (bit like my team).
People can say what they want, but the end result in Moscow will do all the talking. I’m a chelsea fan and I know I won’t make an excuses if Man U end up winning in Moscow. Boith squads will be 100% and neither will have a home field advantage, beautiful. The real question is, to all the Man U fans, if Chelsea end up taking the glory, will you have the honor to keep your mouths shut and accept defeat?
thank you Blue , you have enlightened me about some facts i wasnt aware of .
as far as ‘choosing’ teams is concerned , i’m a first generation football fan . hence i had to pick one . to be honest i came pretty close to picking leeds .
TAM – great to see someone from the same geographical region . i’m from new delhi . yes , i was influenced by the becks factor . in fact the first united jersey i bought had becks’ name on the back . unfortunately he got transferred to madrid the very next day . but never did the thought of swapping loyalties cross my mind . i have supported united thru 3 unsuccessful seasons and plan to continue for the rest of my life .
also , i was a massive admirer of the chelsea team you refer to – the one with zola , petit , hasselbaink etc.
i hope all you chelsea fans understand that my previous comments were just in response to taimur whose rants contained glaring inaccuracies .
—–peace——–
i sit next to a “proper” bitter, utd hating scouser in my office at work. even he admits were the best in england at the mo, and deserve to win the prem.
enough said chelsea.
some of your own fans will admit this no doubt, but i wouldnt be able to back that up with any evidence, im just assuming your not all deluded.