Scolari seems to know that we’re not very strong at home this season and believes that the away record makes up for it. This is what Scolari says about the away record and how to fills in for the home slip-ups:
"I don’t think about the record. We need to recover those three points. We try to win one more game to follow the other clubs in the best position. The players don’t think about records. They’re thinking about finishing first or getting into finals. If we win 20 games away and lose 10 games at home, there’s a record away from home, but it’s all about arriving at the main objective."
In fact, he’s got a point. Though we are not even in the top half of the table in the home league, as long as Chelsea gets more points at the end of the season than any other club, his job is done. Whether you get that from home matches or away matches may not quite matter to him. I’m with him here. That is, as long as he ends on top of the table. Here is an alternative view. Let us swap this season’s home and away statistics. Suppose we have played 8 home games and won them all; played 8 away games with 3 wins, 3 draws and 2 defeats. This is a bit more acceptable, isn’t it? I’m not saying it is ideal but this looks better. After all, this is the same away record Man Utd has this season - 3 wins, 3 draws and 2 defeats. Bolton, our weekend opponents, have scored more away points than our home points in the same number of matches!!
Even if we were to lose points heavily against the top teams, if we are consistent in away matches and in matches where we are favourites to win, we should be there or therabouts. But the thing with Chelsea is, if we don’t end up champions, we see that as a failure.
That’s not being a bitch. Lots and lots of millions have gone into the re-building of this club. The managers are paid a fortune. It’s only fair on Roman’s part to expect the returns. Scolari has already started getting his 6m in paychecks. He is not made to wait until he wins the titles to earn his money. Why should Roman wait for three seasons for a transformation that results in titles. The way competitive football is being run, this has become a norm.
If you ever think that I’m calling for Scolari’ head or something, you’re completely wrong. I never meant anything near that. All I care is that Scolari is aware of the problems and more importantly he is working towards resolving them. To sack a manager mid-season is crazy. We need to give time to see anything work. There are very few people that can bring instant success and we sacked one of them too. Also, the situation now is not something that warrants any such talk. We’re just one point below the table leader. And the table leader here is Liverpool. Remember, Fernando Torres is out for four weeks and Robbie Keane lost his scoring boots.
Talking about today’s match, team selection is fairly easy. Scolari has his stock of eleven players. Don’t expect one change in the list. There will be Anelka. He will score a goal or two against Bolton. He will grin so well that you can count his teeth. The odds for his golden boot will change. You lot will slag me for losing faith on Anelka. These are near certainties. It is certainly not a coincidence that Anelka goes AWOL in the matches that matter and comes back with a bang against Boltons and Blackburns. Oh well, I don’t take Bolton lightly. They are rather doing well of late.
Expect a regulation 2-0 win with Anelka in it. At least we are winning away matches. If we stop winning away matches too, it would be very dangerous for our chances. We’ll have no cards left to play. I hope our away run continues at least until we pick up form at Stamford Bridge.
Sources: http://bluechampions.com/2008/12/06/bolton-vs-chelsea-06-dec-08-1500-uk/
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