Or, powerless in the face of death.
About a minute or two after Frank Lampard scored an officially licensed trademark pinball goal, which took a carom off Michal Ballack in the 94ish minute Saturday against Stoke City my father called.
The fact that my father called isn't a big deal, the fact he was actually watching a Premier League game might be. He was astounded that somehow Chelsea were able to scored two goals in the final six minutes to shatter a would-be Stoke City upset and also pour some cologne on an otherwise stinkbomb of a performance at Stamford Bridge.
My only reply to my father was, "It happens."
Allow me to clarify, even if it's anecdotal evidence. From the time I've seriously paid attention to professional soccer, it tends to happen quite a bit that a favored/powerful team will fall behind against a "minnow" only to find the reserve to score not only the equalizer, but the winner as well in quick succession. (Another variant on this theme was accomplished my Manchester United Saturday, waiting until the 90th minute to break a 0-0 draw with Bolton.)
This next paragraph might come off as another one of my crackpot theories, but hear me out. Sometimes in games like Chelsea/Stoke City, the underdog actually scores too early. Is Stoke boss Tony Pulis going to toss back Rory Delap's surprising mid-second half tally? Of course not, but scoring with more than 30 minutes to play leaves so much time for the favorite to come back. Once down a goal, the Chelsea-type is going to throw everything forward and usually it's only a matter of time before they breakthrough against the packed-in defense.
Saturday Stoke certainly defended well, but all it took was one missed mark on Belletti and Chelsea were level. Then, at 1-1, Stoke nearly clears away a free kick, only for it to land maybe a yard or two away from a player at the top of the box and directly in the path of Lampard.
That's the biggest downside to the 9/10 men-behind-the-ball stratagem. It can be mightily effective, yet it leaves zero margin for error. You can dig in deep for 90 minutes, but in stoppage time one guy leans down for a split second too long, placing his hands on his knees prior to the opposition taking a corner, and, boom -- you're one point is gone.
But back to my original point (assuming there was one). It's funny how once a favorite/power nails the equalizer, how quickly it crushes the spirits of the other team and leaves them open for another goal before the final whistle. One little crack in the damn and the dream of an upset is kaput.
These teams tend to wilt worse than Ralph Kramden under the hot lights.
Or maybe the other teams are just that good.
A little more on Chelsea -- Is it too early, even with Saturday's win, to say Scolari is mailing it in? Instead of getting the coach Norman Dale or Popeye Doyle version of Gene Hackman, Chelsea appears to have gotten the 'Welcome to Mooseport'
The team lost Joe Cole for the season and despite its largess doesn't have a ready-made replacement on the roster. The Blues now have next to zero width on the left side. Does Scolari, who let Wayne Bridge -- a left footer -- go, have anyone in mind to fill the gaps?
Saturday's win does help to dispel some of the backroom unrest, but as soon as the next hint of trouble surfaces, they'll be back.
We probably can't shovel dirt on Chelsea until after February, which includes make-or-break away games with Liverpool and Aston Villa as well as the first leg of the Champions League knockout round match with an in-form Juventus.
The price tag just went up -- In the summer maybe, but as of right now Sir Alex Ferguson can't sell off Carlos Tevez. Carlito basically willed the lone United goal Saturday all by himself.
Theoretically, what could happen is that in June or July United sell Tevez to Inter or Real Madrid or whomever and use that to fund the long-rumored move for Karim Benzema.
Also, Ronaldo must have had too much of the bubbly in Zurich. In the span of 10 minutes Saturday he mucked up two easy squaring balls, which could have resulted in goals.
Just wondering -- Who has the more crooked nose, Owen Wilson or Steve Bruce? And either way does that qualify Bruce for a role in 'Marley and Me 2'?
Just wondering part 2 -- Is Gareth Bale the worst player in the Premier League? Unfair, obviously, but I do believe Spurs haven't won a league match with him featuring. Maybe he ought to consider a new hairdo, shave the sideburns like Don Mattingly, perhaps.
Fantasy team of the week -- Kent Darcy's La Academia edged a few with 53, thanks to captain Frank Lampard.
Consider me excited -- I'm so excited and I just can't hide it about this afternoon's Liverpool/Everton match that I'm probably going to watch at the bar down the street instead of the laptop. I might even post something right after it's over. For some reason if Liverpool is looking up at Manchester United for two weeks with the FA Cup break, it's not going to be good on their psyche.
About a minute or two after Frank Lampard scored an officially licensed trademark pinball goal, which took a carom off Michal Ballack in the 94ish minute Saturday against Stoke City my father called.
The fact that my father called isn't a big deal, the fact he was actually watching a Premier League game might be. He was astounded that somehow Chelsea were able to scored two goals in the final six minutes to shatter a would-be Stoke City upset and also pour some cologne on an otherwise stinkbomb of a performance at Stamford Bridge.
My only reply to my father was, "It happens."
Allow me to clarify, even if it's anecdotal evidence. From the time I've seriously paid attention to professional soccer, it tends to happen quite a bit that a favored/powerful team will fall behind against a "minnow" only to find the reserve to score not only the equalizer, but the winner as well in quick succession. (Another variant on this theme was accomplished my Manchester United Saturday, waiting until the 90th minute to break a 0-0 draw with Bolton.)
This next paragraph might come off as another one of my crackpot theories, but hear me out. Sometimes in games like Chelsea/Stoke City, the underdog actually scores too early. Is Stoke boss Tony Pulis going to toss back Rory Delap's surprising mid-second half tally? Of course not, but scoring with more than 30 minutes to play leaves so much time for the favorite to come back. Once down a goal, the Chelsea-type is going to throw everything forward and usually it's only a matter of time before they breakthrough against the packed-in defense.
Saturday Stoke certainly defended well, but all it took was one missed mark on Belletti and Chelsea were level. Then, at 1-1, Stoke nearly clears away a free kick, only for it to land maybe a yard or two away from a player at the top of the box and directly in the path of Lampard.
That's the biggest downside to the 9/10 men-behind-the-ball stratagem. It can be mightily effective, yet it leaves zero margin for error. You can dig in deep for 90 minutes, but in stoppage time one guy leans down for a split second too long, placing his hands on his knees prior to the opposition taking a corner, and, boom -- you're one point is gone.
But back to my original point (assuming there was one). It's funny how once a favorite/power nails the equalizer, how quickly it crushes the spirits of the other team and leaves them open for another goal before the final whistle. One little crack in the damn and the dream of an upset is kaput.
These teams tend to wilt worse than Ralph Kramden under the hot lights.
Or maybe the other teams are just that good.
A little more on Chelsea -- Is it too early, even with Saturday's win, to say Scolari is mailing it in? Instead of getting the coach Norman Dale or Popeye Doyle version of Gene Hackman, Chelsea appears to have gotten the 'Welcome to Mooseport'
The team lost Joe Cole for the season and despite its largess doesn't have a ready-made replacement on the roster. The Blues now have next to zero width on the left side. Does Scolari, who let Wayne Bridge -- a left footer -- go, have anyone in mind to fill the gaps?
Saturday's win does help to dispel some of the backroom unrest, but as soon as the next hint of trouble surfaces, they'll be back.
We probably can't shovel dirt on Chelsea until after February, which includes make-or-break away games with Liverpool and Aston Villa as well as the first leg of the Champions League knockout round match with an in-form Juventus.
The price tag just went up -- In the summer maybe, but as of right now Sir Alex Ferguson can't sell off Carlos Tevez. Carlito basically willed the lone United goal Saturday all by himself.
Theoretically, what could happen is that in June or July United sell Tevez to Inter or Real Madrid or whomever and use that to fund the long-rumored move for Karim Benzema.
Also, Ronaldo must have had too much of the bubbly in Zurich. In the span of 10 minutes Saturday he mucked up two easy squaring balls, which could have resulted in goals.
Just wondering -- Who has the more crooked nose, Owen Wilson or Steve Bruce? And either way does that qualify Bruce for a role in 'Marley and Me 2'?
Just wondering part 2 -- Is Gareth Bale the worst player in the Premier League? Unfair, obviously, but I do believe Spurs haven't won a league match with him featuring. Maybe he ought to consider a new hairdo, shave the sideburns like Don Mattingly, perhaps.
Fantasy team of the week -- Kent Darcy's La Academia edged a few with 53, thanks to captain Frank Lampard.
Consider me excited -- I'm so excited and I just can't hide it about this afternoon's Liverpool/Everton match that I'm probably going to watch at the bar down the street instead of the laptop. I might even post something right after it's over. For some reason if Liverpool is looking up at Manchester United for two weeks with the FA Cup break, it's not going to be good on their psyche.
Labels: Monday recaps, Premier League, Soccer
Me thinks Utd will wrap up a deal for Tevez this summer after they sell Ronaldo to Real.
Just a thought, but they just bought Tosic, and are constantly linked with Valencia and Palacios from Wigan. Why else would they be trying to bolster there already strong midfield?
Man Utd can't sell Tevez to Real or Inter or anyone but not because he's scoring important goals. Man Utd doesn't own Carlitos. Kia Joorabchian and his group do even though that was what got West Ham into trouble in the first place. Tevez is only on loan at Man Utd.
Tosic/Valencia won't be replacements for Ronaldo but replacements for the incredibly inconsistent Nani and the no longer a winger Giggs. With the addition of those two United will go back to having their usual 4 wingers in Ronaldo, Tosic, Valencia and Park. Palacios is going/has gone to Spurs in the January window.