When interviewed, in the aftermath of Chelsea’s draw with Reading Benitez said Chelsea paid the price for not killing off the game. That could make sense, but considering Manchester United have earned 6points from 2 matches, against Southampton and Fulham, matches they have won by a margin of one goal, I disagree with Rafael Benitez and I think the whole idea, is due to tactical inefficiencies and poor decision making, both by the board, sporting director and in most cases, the coach.
Picture this for instance, and I saw a friend post this on a social page and I found it hilarious. Well, we are away to Swansea, we are badly in need of a goal and as usual time is clicking. It’s tough out there, a tough place to play, even their ball boys know it too well, but then Benitez thinks, yeah we need a goal. Two actually, so as we can take this to extra time. Let me now make a change. Let me bring in a right back!!! “Cesar, Por favor, calendar” That’s Spanish for “please warm up’!
We are playing Reading away. A two goal lead is good enough. Then Reading brings in Le Forndre, and he scores. With a few minutes to go, added time actually Benitez thinks, we are two goals to one up, I think we need to defend this. I have to make another change. Time to bring in a striker!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now, at the moment Bertrand is playing in midfield. He is not a winger, but “we lack squad depth” and as such he has played more matches for Chelsea than Marko Marin. Why do we lack squad depth when 23 of our players are playing elsewhere? If anyone watched El Classico on Wednesday then you will realize that Essien played so well. We have Romeu out injured for the whole season, we knew Mikel would be away for AFCON and still saw the need to let Essien go out on loan, even when Chelsea had the opportunity to recall him in January. Against Newcastle, if we had Essien, then he would have taken care of the physically threatening Moussa Sissoko by simply slotting him in the holding role position, then push Ramires to the right and Oscar to the left and ensure Bertrand sits on the bench, to do what he was meant to do, the role of having to deputize for Ashley Cole. I am still wondering.
That brings me to the next question; did Rafael Benitez know we would lose both Mikel and Moses for up to a month? Did he know Romeu would never play again for CFC again this season?
In 2006, when Jose Mourihno realized he would lose both Mikel and Essien he did two things. One of them was to introduce Eidur Gudjohnsen to a more unfamiliar role of midfield and the other move was to bring Nuno Ricardo de Oliveira Ribeiro on loan from Dynamo Moscow. If recalling Essien was such a big deal, why couldn’t Benitez get someone on loan temporarily like Mourinho did?
Now, we are from being serious title contenders, we are now targeting top four, and are only a point ahead of Tottenham with Everton, Arsenal and Liverpool both in the horizon. And with some tough matches, like away to Manchester City, away to Liverpool and away to United still coming, I think even our top four target is under threat. What am I saying, Benitez is in charge and that means all matches are tough matches! Come on Brentford!!!!!!!!!!!!
All in all, KeepHopeAlive and KTBFFH!!
Ps. If none of you saw Nuno Ricardo de Oliveira Ribeiro play for Chelsea, please note he wore shirt number 7 and the name printed on it was Maniche
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