Community Shield: Chelsea plan to add a new chapter to the history books

08 August 2009 17:11
Chelsea aim to make more history this season, seeking to dazzle opponents with their new diamond formation, while the record books reveal they deserve more respect. For all their troughs and travails, for all their total of 19 seasons out of the top flight, Chelsea still rank in the top 10 clubs in terms of domestic achievements since the first ball was kicked back when Victoria was a queen not a station. A new analysis of league clubs in domestic competitions from 1872 to 2009, compiled by the respected statistician John Russell by appraising league finishes, FA Cup and League Cup successes, shows that only eight clubs have done better than Chelsea – first-placed Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Everton, Aston Villa, Sunderland, Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton Wanderers. Focusing on more recent history, Chelsea have enjoyed the Premier League's 17 seasons, their amassing of 1,181 points from 658 games leaving them third behind United, whose figures are truly remarkable (1,409 points from 11 titles, three runners-up and a trio of thirds) and Arsenal (1,236 points, including three titles). When attention turns to the quality that pays the rent – goals –Liverpool's 1,069 helps them leapfrog Chelsea (1,045) but still behind second-placed Arsenal (1,116), with Sir Alex Ferguson's prolific United over the horizon. The serial champions average almost two goals per Premier League game (1.96 with 1,288 goals). United have also conceded fewest, 562 (at an average of 0.85 a game), to Arsenal's 584 (0.89), Chelsea's 630 (0.95), and Liverpool's 634 (0.96). So Chelsea's history, particularly over the past decade, is good and Blues fans flocking to Wembley for today's Community Shield against United will hope Carlo Ancelotti can build on Guus Hiddink's impressive salvage job last season. It is sad the Dutchman has left. Hugely popular in the Stamford Bridge dressing-room, Hiddink is better equipped to steer Chelsea in the pace-obsessed Premier League than Ancelotti, who has experience only of the slower Serie A. The Italian needs a strong start as Hiddink may be available by Christmas, depending on Russia's fortunes in qualifying for the World Cup. Ancelotti must still be greeted with goodwill. A past winner of the Champions League as coach and player, Ancelotti was hugely gracious in defeat when Liverpool stunned AC Milan in Istanbul in 2005. He is very much the ideal coach for Roman Abramovich, non-confrontational with bosses, a trait reflected in his relationship with Silvio Berlusconi at Milan, and adroit in Europe where the frustrated Abramovich has unfinished business. Chelsea are ageing but Ancelotti still arrives at a good time. Two mooted transfers, in and out, have worked out well. Offered the keys to Croesus' treasure-chest by Manchester City, John Terry elected to remain at the Bridge and, by amazing coincidence, there is the likelihood of a new, improved deal. Chelsea will be "stronger'' because of Terry's decision, Sir Alex Ferguson observed on Friday. How a situation can improve by the status quo persisting is a moot point but Chelsea, from fans to players, will undoubtedly be buoyed by the news that their leader, talisman and best defender is staying. Andrea Pirlo, by contrast, might have weakened Chelsea. Many respected coaches and observers rave about the Italian but deep-lying, ball-playing midfielders tend to get swamped in the Premier League. Remember Juan Sebastian Veron? Pirlo insists he is sticking with Milan, where he can build moves by taking the ball off the back four. Chelsea are far better working on John Obi Mikel at the base of the diamond. Ancelotti's new-look midfield lacks touchline-hugging width but not excitement. If Mikel learns the holding role, and he could do worse than nip into the video library at Cobham and look under "Claude Makelele'', then Chelsea will have a good stage to perform on. Michael Essien, whose injury at the start of last season was a grievous blow to Luiz Felipe Scolari, will drive down the right while Yuri Zhirkov blends with the overlapping Ashley Cole on the left. This pacey, attack-minded Anglo-Russian partnership should prove hugely productive. If one concern exists it is Frank Lampard's new role, his advanced station effectively in the hole behind the front two (a contrast to his more withdrawn England position). Lampard is more likely to be marked here, picked up by opponents' holding midfielder, and has traditionally exuded most threat when raiding from the deep. He may need to drop closer to Mikel, playing those clever one-twos and then breaking forward. Those who have never understood why Michael Ballack so impresses with Germany but not Chelsea, and who marvelled at negotiating skills that brought him a £130,000-a-week deal, will not grieve unduly at seeing him out of the first-team picture. An engaging, intelligent character by all accounts, Germany's captain has been a disappointment at the Bridge. It was like ordering a gleaming seven series BMW after watching it impress on foreign roads and being delivered a second-hand VW Polo which promptly conked out in the London traffic. Pity. More sympathy must exist for Florent Malouda, who woke up last season, although the flying Frenchman will surely play his part this term. Ditto Joe Cole. Never before has the squad system been so important. When Chelsea look at United's bench this afternoon, they will see a mix of experience and youthful brio, Michael Owen and Federico Macheda, Paul Scholes and Danny Welbeck. All offer goals. Talking of goals, can we have some, please. Last season appeared an eventful one in terms of goalmouth action but, in truth, it was the second poorest in Premier League history. For all the wonder-strikes of Macheda and Glen Johnson, Fernando Torres and Andrei Arshavin, the 380 games produced only 942 goals, an average of 2.48 - 60 goals down on the previous year. Only 2006-07 ranked worse, 931 goals at an average of 2.45. The Premier League's 17-year average is 2.60 (17,407 goals from 6,706 games). After the use of 4-3-3 at the Bridge and Old Trafford, two-forward attacks seem de rigueur. The pairings would arguably be more effective if mixed up. United's Dimitar Berbatov and Wayne Rooney prefer playing as the second striker, while Chelsea's duo of Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba are out-and-out centre-forwards. All will be on display today as Chelsea seek to add another chapter to their history.

Source: Telegraph