Chelsea Going Forward

[nine nine nine]

REMEMBER WHEN… CHELSEA TURNED THE TIDE TO LEAVE LIVERPOOL SHELL-SHOCKED

CHELSEA V LIVERPOOL – FA CUP FOURTH ROUND, 1997

Tomorrow is the 23rd anniversary of one of the most thrilling turnarounds in Chelsea’s history, against Liverpool in round four of the 1996/97 FA Cup…
In retrospect it also marked a sea-change in the Blues’ history.

The setting was a 4pm Sunday kick-off at Stamford Bridge, and the BBC Match of the Day Live cameras were present for a match billed (correctly, as it panned out): ‘The Road to Wembley’.

‘In the acres of football that now cover the television landscape,’ enthused the Independent’s Glenn Moore, ‘there occasionally comes a match which justifies all the pre-kick-off hype. This was one of those matches.’

Newspapers had been bemoaning the Mersey club’s inconsistency while at the same time flagging up the danger presented by Chelsea’s recent star signing, Gianfranco Zola.

The Merseysiders’ coach Roy Evans had a cunning plan, though: to deploy veteran former winger John Barnes as a central midfield schemer. When the visitors headed down the tunnel at half-time with a 2-0 lead – which would have been three but for Steve McManaman missing a one-on-one – the scribes were no doubt planning to hail Evans as a genius.

Instead, the final analysis focused on Chelsea boss Ruud Gullit’s perceptive changes, which initiated a stunning second-half turnaround. The Dutchman’s primary concern was to end Barnes’ playmaking, so he redeployed Robbie Di Matteo as a man-marker. So successful was the Italian that the overwhelmed Barnes never played in that position again.

At the same time, Gullit took off Scott Minto and called upon the FA Cup warhorse, Mark Hughes. The striker was to lead by example, charging into challenges and leaving Liverpool shell-shocked.

The Welshman’s impact was immediate. He chiselled out the first Blues goal on the turn after five minutes, and had a hand in the next, stamping a lay-off for Zola to complete. And when Dan Petrescu picked out Gianluca Vialli’s run, Chelsea had turned 0-2 into 3-2 in just a quarter of an hour.

With 15 minutes to go, the seal was put on an extraordinary comeback when Vialli headed past David James from Zola’s set-piece, completing the 4-2 scoreline. At that, the ecstatic crowd reached decibels rarely heard at the Bridge, with the stands a spaghetti of raised fists and flailing arms. The BBC camera captured Reds defender Mark Wright looking like a man who had not only forgotten where he parked his car, but how to drive it.

Liverpool, the statisticians said, had not lost from a two-goal lead since the Beatles topped the charts with ‘I Wanna Hold Your Hand’ in 1964. It was Chelsea, though, who had the ticket to ride… all the way to the final.

One of the best games I ever attended and as the saying goes the rest was history……?

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[nine nine nine]

Chelseaman and Amz, no criticism intended of anyone but have a read of the “Do or Die” thread on the Chelsea site. Cheers 9’s

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[Chelsea.man]

Nine

Yes, I saw it, and I was planning to resume on the Chelsea site on Monday. I know I’m as guilty as others who disappeared. anyway, I will be there on Monday posting once again as usual. and pardon me, these last few weeks have been tough as I become a father for the first time. I was adjusting to my new role and new responsibility. that site has a special place in my heart. I had been a regular contributor until this season. and I will resume my contributions starting next week.

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[nine nine nine]

Chelseaman,good to hear and many congratulations on your new arrival boy or girl? Cheers 9’s

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[nine nine nine]

Poor all over the pitch today imo bar maybe Azpi, Tomori and Kovacic who unfortunately commited the cardinal sin of jumping out of the way you have to stand strong in the wall.

But we’re in the hat for the next Round and that’s all that counts.

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[Chelsea.man]

Nine

A bouncing baby boy. and I’m always thankful to the Lord for this blessing. otherwise we will be together in the Chelsea site starting from Monday.

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[nine nine nine]

Chelseaman indeed God bless the little fella and you and your family.

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[nine nine nine]

Cavani left out of PSG squad v Lille tomorrow?

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[Chelsea.man]

I hope to get him on loan. there is no way we can pay for him over the odds with little time left and his recent injury record is a concern. he is a prolific goalscorer, yes, but his fitness record is a concern to me. and watching Michy play today makes our search for a striker even urgent. I would prefer us to field Giroud if by Tuesday we don’t pull this deal. at least Giroud is an upgrade to Michy.

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[nine nine nine]

We got a punishment in the summer and it is meant to hurt you. We lost one of the biggest players in our history in Eden Hazard. That is the situation. ‘My job is to work every day on the training ground to make the players better. The other part is looking at how we can move forward by bringing in players. ‘We lost ground last summer and we need to make moves now to take us forward. I have a strong feeling of where we can improve personnel-wise to take us forward. ‘So for me it’s clear. The money of it is not my job but I have to be honest and truthful. Short-term recruitment is something we have to get right.’ Frank Lampard 25/01

Let’s hope those that we need to listen have heard Frank.

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[Chelsea1967]

Kepa clearly is afraid to put his body on the line to prevent a goal at all costs. It will be interesting to see where his career goes from here. He needs to toughen up a bit and make more commitment in going out to protect the goal instead of just staying on the goal line hoping to make saves.

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[Anonymous]

Re do or die… why bother with that useless other website? It’s got about three people posting on it. Life moves on…

Everyone has either been banned, locked out by changes or just gave up after the Aggro of logging on or trying to register.

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[nine nine nine]

67, I think Kepa has between now and the end of the season to convince Frank he’s the man for the job or Frank will look elsewhere. He’s a good shot stopper but lacks physicality shades of De Gea’s early days at United but he turned it round hopefully Kepa can do the same???

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[Pagan]

Blimey, reading through the pages and CM has had a baby boy, his next post says he hopes to get him on loan, well I know babies keep you up at night but I thought that’s a bit extreme.

Seriously though congratulations CM, enjoy the ride, just remember, kids are your parents revenge……Pagan

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[Chelsea.man]

Pagan

I was refering to the post of Nine which said Cavani has been left out of the PSG sqaud. there may be some confusion there. anywya thank you i apprrciate.

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[Chelsea.man]

442

Not sure if i agree with your claims there. it may not have the numbers these days. but it is a special place. i will be posting here and there as i used to do before. and i will also encourage you to do so.

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[Pagan]

CM, your posts were very clear, you’ll just have to get used to my sometimes quirky sense of humour…..Pagan

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[Chelsea1967]

Yes Chelseaman, agree with you there. Valuable addition in a different landscape for mine.

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[Chelsea1967]

Yes I had a chuckle there Pagan 🙂

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[Amz]

9, what chelsea site are you referring to? Will have a look

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