Jermaine Beckford equalised late on for Everton

The increasing pressure on Carlo Ancelotti has reached new heights after Chelsea dropped two more points against a stubborn Everton side. It was the fourth Premier League game without a win for the reigning champions, and just their fifth point from a possible 18 in recent weeks,  but with Ancelotti’s side stuttering, could the Italian find himself out of a job in the not so distant future?

If Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has any sense, then the answer is no. While Ancelotti is having a tough time of things at the moment, his previous success should have plenty of weight and it would be ludicrous for Chelsea to sack him.

But football is a sport where bizarre decisions are made on a frequent basis, and we shouldn’t be surprised if Ancelotti finds himself on the way out of Stamford Bridge. The departure of Ray Wilkins has revealed some real internal problems at Chelsea and Ancelotti appears to have been disturbed by these issues.

 This is having an impact on Chelsea’s performances, and with the Premier League ultra competitive this year, they really can’t afford to keep dropping points. Anybody from five teams could theoretically challenge for the title this season, and the successful side will be one that is most consistent, so Chelsea need to solve their problems.

If Ancelotti can’t do this in the next couple of the weeks, he will be gone, because as we have seen in the past, Abramovich isn’t afraid to make bold decisions. After spending vast sums of money to lure Luiz Felipe Scolari to Stamford Bridge, the Russian was quick to send him packing when results tailed off, and Ancelotti isn’t immune from similar treatment.

Things don’t get any easier for Ancelotti when you look at Chelsea’s fixtures in the next few weeks. Next weekend’s trip to Tottenham is followed by games against Manchester United and Arsenal. If there isn’t a drastic improvement in results in those three games then in my opinion Chelsea will be looking for a new manager in the New Year.

That might sound drastic, but given the demands for success, Ancelotti can’t afford to fall off the pace in the title race. Last season he set the standard high, and unfortunately he might now be suffering because of last terms achievements.

October ended with Chelsea looking imperious and pulling away from the chasing pack at the top of the Premiership. The side seemed to playing with such verve and spirit that I simply couldn’t see where any worthy challenge could come from. Manchester United were struggling to hit any real form, but continued to pick up points other sides would lose. Arsenal being Arsenal, looked amazing one week and then lost a game from nowhere. Manchester City continued to play as if expression was something to be feared.

Liverpool and Aston Villa were struggling to cope with the hangovers from summers of upheaval and Tottenham are still getting used to being involved at this end of the table. Then from nowhere, Chelsea hit the skids and suddenly, we have a title race again. November has been a hellish month for the Blues, with the Wilkins situation, Lampard’s continued absence, Terry and Alex both struggling, Essien suspended and Drogba’s illness sapping him of his strength and power. Then from nowhere Frank Arnesen announces his departure and you begin to think just what is going on at Stamford Bridge.

Crucially though Chelsea seemed to have no luck both on and off the pitch in the last four weeks. The game against Birmingham was one of the most one sides defeats I’ve seen in years. Chelsea absolutely battered Birmingham but couldn’t make the crucial breakthrough to score. When you play that well and the ball simply will not go in, then you really think things are conspiring against you. It’s unfortunate when 5 of your top stars all get sidelined for various reasons and most sides would struggle to cope with that level of disruption to their first team squad.

The Wilkins situation has, regardless of what the clubs hierarchy have said, had an effect on the dressing room and been a contributing factor. Tactical mistakes too have played their part, as the defeat to Sunderland had a lot to do with playing 3 right backs in a back four left them unbalanced and positionally unsure when defending. By not playing a recognised centre back, the impetus was offered to Steve Bruce’s side and they took full advantage playing with pomp and prowess.

The additional pain of being dislodged from the top of the table on Saturday was not only had Manchester United pulled two points clear, but by thrashing Blackburn Rovers so convincingly, goal difference had been drawn level. All of the advantages that Chelsea had, coming up to a tough December had been eaten away by a series of unfortunate injuries, suspensions and tactics.

Now Chelsea face 5 tough matches in the league, 4 against the current top 6. Visits to Tottenham and Arsenal, coupled with home games against Everton, Bolton and of course, Manchester United. At least it seems Terry and Lampard will return in the next week or so, but Alex faces a lay off for an operation and the front line is still struggling for goals. The old adage in English football is the title is usually decided at Easter, but Christmas could come early for Chelsea’s rivals if their dreadful month continues in to December. The club need to make sure that regardless of the off field problems, things need to get back to normal on the pitch.

There has been yet more off-field drama at Stamford Bridge with the announcement that Chelsea’s director of football Frank Arnesen will leave the club at the end of the season. That makes it two big name departures from the Chelsea backroom team in a matter of weeks, following the sacking of assistant manager Ray Wilkins earlier this month. It really does beg the question of what is going on behind the scenes at Stamford Bridge?

Unlike Wilkins, Arnesen has opted to leave the club, but it is still a strange departure. The Dutchman has been a big part of the setup at Chelsea since his arrival in 2005. At the time it was estimated that the three-time Premier League winners had paid up to £8 million to his former club Tottenham in compensation, but five years on Arnesen doesn’t seem so keen to work for the club.

There is plenty of speculation as to why the Dutchman has chose leave, but it does appear that there is real lack of harmony in the club. If Chelsea are to have success this season they need to resolve these issues as quick possible, because as shown with their defeats to Sunderland and Birmingham, this lack of harmony can have a real impact on results.

I’m not going to say the defeats were purely down to the off-field problems at Stamford Bridge, but they have certainly not helped, and really increased the pressure on Carlo Ancelotti ahead of today’s trip to Newcastle

 In normal circumstances, a trip to Newcastle would be nothing more than a tough mid-season trip for Chelsea, but after back-to-back Premier League defeats, today’s game is vital. During the opening weeks of the campaign everything was going well for Ancelotti’s side. Chelsea were scoring goals for fun, and looked like they could cruise to their forth Premier League title.

As is so common with football though, things haven’t really followed the script, and the Chelsea side now looks a million miles away from the Chelsea side that started the season.  As this was meant to be the year when they really pushed on for honours, but right now that looks questionable and you have to feel that unless the club can unite together they will be disappointed come May.

What do you think? Are the off-field problems at Chelsea damaging their chances of success  this season?

Sunderland’s shock win at Stamford Bridge has sent shockwaves rippling through English football. How could a side that are a usually so brutally clinical be out-played and out-classed in their own backyard?

In many ways it would be unfair to be overly critical of Chelsea’s display because it would take the shine of a Sunderland performance which was arguably their best ever in the Premier League. Steve Bruce’s side were nothing but superb, not only in their effort and application but their ruthlessness too.

But as good as Sunderland were, Chelsea were equally poor. Carlo Ancelotti will put the blame at injuries to the likes of John Terry, Frank Lampard and Alex, as well as the suspension of influential midfielder Michael Essien.

In years gone by though a Chelsea squad would have easily been able to cope with an injury crisis, and you have to question the clubs decision to constantly let players go without replacing them? Yes they are trying to cut costs, but is it worth seeing the team suffer?

The Chelsea squad is drastically ageing, and in the next few years they will need to invest heavily in their playing squad if they are to remain competitive with the likes of Manchester City, because if they don’t Roman Abramovich’s dream of a Chelsea empire will rapidly slip away.

When the Russian arrived in West London there was an intense period of investment in to the playing squad, but this slowly decreased and over the last few seasons the incomings transfers at Stamford Bridge have been few and far between.

Deco, Michael Ballack, Joe Cole and Ricardo Carvalho were the big name departures from Stamford Bridge in the summer, and no matter how strong the squad that won the double was last season was, no side can lose that sort of talent and expect to be as strong.

The Chelsea bench on Sunday demonstrated Ancelotti’s problem with only Salomon Kalou boasting any real experience in the Premier League. While the Italian must be praised for bringing through young players and giving them a chance, it is highly unlikely that this will bring the success that Abramovich demands.

Personally I still think Chelsea will win the league this season, because their first team is so strong, but if they continue to have bad luck with injuries there may be plenty more shock results to come. Chelsea were once the team with best squad in the league, this simply isn’t the case anymore.

Nine games in to the 2010/11 Premier League season and Chelsea have opened up a five point lead at the top of the Premier League. Gameweek nine always promised to be a prosperous one for Chelsea with title rivals Manchester City and Arsenal going head-to-head, but Arsenal’s victory was the perfect result for Carlo Ancelotti’s side who have now some breathing space.

The pre-season favourites have had nothing short of a superb start to the season. While they suffered a blip in their visit to Eastlands, their general performances have suggested that they could quite easily stroll to their forth Premier League crown.

What has made Chelsea so effective since Ancelotti took over has been their ability to cruise past the lesser sides in the league. Under the irrepressible Jose Mourinho this was considered the norm, but under the likes of Luiz Felipe Scolari so often they dropped points in games that they really should have cruised through.

But ever since Ancelotti took over the helm at Stamford Bridge, comfortable wins against the so called ‘weaker sides’ has been almost guaranteed. So much so that nobody could have really expected anything less than a comfortable Chelsea win over Wolves at the weekend.

This is no disrespect to Mick McCarthy’s side, and is just a frank assessment of where Chelsea stand in relation to other sides this season. They are a cut above everybody, and this includes the likes of Manchester City and Manchester United.

A five point lead after nine games is a massive gap, and in many ways I can only see this getting bigger as the rest of the Premier League struggle to cope with Chelsea much superior first eleven. However one saving grace for the rest of the league challengers could be if injuries hit the Blues.

In comparison with the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea just don’t have the same strength in depth, and if injuries hit, it won’t be long before Ancelotti is forced to turn to untested youngsters. This fact is quite unbelievable when you consider the depth of the Chelsea side five years ago, but is hardy surprising considering the lack of incoming transfers, compared to the amount of players that have been shown the exit door at Stamford Bridge.

But if Chelsea can survive the season without an injury crisis, I can’t see anything other than a one-horse race. I hope I’m wrong because we all like to see the title going down to the wire, but unfortunately the Blues are just too strong for the rest of the league.

Another weekend in the Premier League brings another mouth watering clash as London big boys Arsenal and Chelsea meet at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. A Chelsea win would see the Champions go seven points clear of Arsenal in the first week of October, a comfortable distance early on. While the two teams stand in third and first respectively, the tantalizing early season test for Arsenal away from home could prove daunting.

While Arsenal have played some fine football through the first few weeks of the season, they’ll hope last weekend’s shock home loss to West Brom won’t set the tone for the encounter, a much tougher test. Arsenal rebounded midweek with a 3-1 win away to Partizan Belgrade in the Champions League, hoping momentum from the match will carry over to the league.

Chelsea too are coming off of a loss in the league, like Arsenal, their first of the season. As Chelsea rebounded also in the Champions League v Marseille, they’ll want nothing but three points to prove their strength, having lost their first real test of the season last weekend. Vulnerability is a dish best not served.

Although it’s debatable that Carlo Ancelotti got his formation and tactics wrong at Eastlands last gameweek, Chelsea’s impotence at creating numerous clear cut chances in the match may have been a direct result of Manchester City’s competence. While the 4-3-3- that blitzed everything in its path through the first five weeks was missing Frank Lampard, and while Lampard looks set to miss Sunday’s match as well, Chelsea remain favorites in the league because of their experience and ability to score goals.

Chelsea gained all six points on offer last year with a combined 5-0 scoreline. While neither team has changed enough over the summer to warrant a major turn in the likely outcome, the addition of Marouane Chamakh up front for Arsenal will look to test John Terry and Alex in the air. The emerging talent of Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere, should he play a part, makes him one to watch.

The Chelsea starting XI, minus last week, embodies a fluid attack. Through Florent Malouda, Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka as a forward three, they’ll look to press Arsenal high up the pitch and test a back four who conceded three goals last league match against a newly promoted side. Chelsea’s midfield will likely be made up of Mikel, Essien and possibly Yuri Zhirkov in to replace Ramires who looked off the place at Eastlands.

Zhirkov seems to have had a tough time settling into life as a Chelsea player and gaining regular first team football. He’s battled fitness and form over the last year, but he’s a decent enough left winger (who can also play left back), skilled and quick. Chelsea’s back line of Cole, Terry, Alex and Ivanovic (Cech in goal) has been incredibly solid this year conceding only two goals in six league matches.

Arsenal will have to meet Chelsea still without some key players. Theo Walcott, Cesc Fabregas, Robin van Persie and Nicklas Bendtner will all miss with injury, while the in form Samir Nasri, Chamakh and Jack Wilshere will lead the attack. Defending against Chelsea’s capable attack will prove most challenging for Arsenal’s back line of Bacary Sagna, Sebastien Squillaci, Laurent Koscielny and Gael Clichy. Arsenal have let in seven goals this campaign to Chelsea’s two. The up and down Alex Song, Abou Diaby and Andrei Arshavin could occupy the remaining midfield and attacking roles.

The one glaring question that remains for Arsenal is goalkeeper. Besides saving a Chris Brunt penalty last weekend, Manuel Almunia had an outright stinker as he was directly responsible for a few goals. Lukasz Fabianski replaced Almunia during midweek with a fine performance having also saved a penalty. Time will tell whether or not Arsene Wenger will drop Almunia for the game v Chelsea, while if it’s not this weekend, it should be soon. Yet many Arsenal fans still debate that there’s a viable replacement currently at Arsenal that can do the job. Surely the North London side approaches January with the intent of securing another top keeper. Almunia’s form cost Arsenal at least a point in the game against West Brom, the kind of home matches they need to win if they’re to challenge for the title.

That form and those errors simply aren’t good enough for a top Premier League side who has realistic ambitions of capturing silverware. However, we’ve known this for some time. What we haven’t yet figured out is why Arsenal, specifically Wenger, elects to stick with Almunia while points slip away.

While both teams look to recover from a loss in the league last time out, the stage is set for a dramatic showdown on Sunday. On current form and results, Chelsea should be favored. Their ability to attack, both down the left and down the center through multiple avenues make them dangerous in possession and on the counter. As previously stated, or until they start leaking goals, they boast the best defense in the league.

To overlook Arsenal would be slightly silly. Arsenal, more than ever, are a team looking to prove themselves, win silverware and shed this tag they have of a team with no heart or the ability to get stuck in when it counts. Sunday’s match has the potential to be a coming out for Arsenal players like Marouane Chamakh, Jack Wilshere and the furthering of Samir Nasri’s evolution as a Premier League-caliber footballer.

Arsenal and Chelsea fans, feel free to leave your predictions, picks for starting XI’s and potential star performers in the comments section below.

Chelsea may have dropped their first points of the Premier League season at the weekend, but the result will have taken little away from a supremely impressive start to their defence of the Premier League.

One man who has been crucial to Carlo Ancelotti’s sides start has been Florent Malouda whose individual performances have very much mirrored Chelsea’s improvement under the Italian.

After arriving from Lyon in the summer of 2007 big things were expected from the winger. But unfortunately for Malouda he was expected to be the man to replace Arjen Robben, a task which was never going to be easy.

It didn’t help one bit that Jose Mourinho, the manager who brought him to the club, left soon after Malouda’s arrival. The Frenchman struggled to adapt to the demands of the Premier League, and looked set to be another expensive flop at Stamford Bridge.

But over time Malouda would gradually settle in and ever since the arrival of Ancelotti, he looks a snip at £13 million. He scored 12 times last season as Chelsea regained the title, and has started this season in an even more prolific manor, scoring 6 times already.

Malouda himself feels that the arrival of Ancelotti has helped his game: “Every single player at the club is having a lot of fun playing under him. I think our manager is one of the most proven managers there is.”

Personally I feel that Malouda’s emergence in to one of the world’s best wingers sums up the success Ancelotti has had at Chelsea. He has got players playing with confidence and freedom, none more so then Malouda, and the results have been nothing short of sensational.

Malouda has come a long way from the winger we first saw arrive in England, and his progression reflects a real reward for him sticking with English football after tough start. He is currently the Premier League’s joint top scorer, and if he can continue his excellent form, it wouldn’t surprise me to see him picking up a golden boot come May. Even if he doesn’t he has certainly replaced Robben now and easily surpassed him.

Despite their excellent start to their campaign the pressure is on Chelsea ahead of their Champions League opener tonight. Carlo Ancelotti’s men travel to MSK Zilina and the general consensus amongst the footballing world is that they need to succeed to in Europe this season.

While last year saw Chelsea return to the domestic heights of the Jose Mourinho days, their capitulation against Mourinho’s Inter Milan would have no doubt infuriated owner Roman Abramovich in his quest to complete a clean sweep of trophies.

The Champions League is the only trophy to elude Abramovich during his time in West London and you can bet that urge for success in Europe is bigger than ever for the Russian, whether the urge will be satisfied is another question.

The problem that Ancelotti now faces is that it is really last chance saloon for this squad. I know we criticise Chelsea’s ageing squad year in and year out but now you really do feel that this is the last year when this squad could achieve any success in Europe.

But what worries is me is that I can see Abramovich putting the blame on Ancelotti for any failure, rather than seeing the common sense argument that the squad needs some investment in some younger players.

You can’t help but feel that Premier League success won’t be enough for Ancelotti this season. He himself admits a challenge for all four trophies is what he wants, saying:  “The normal step is to want to do better in the Champions League. We went out too early and want to do better this season.

“Our aim is to improve, to do better and stay involved in all the competitions until the end of the season, to give continuity to the victory of last season. I’m not under pressure but I will put myself under pressure.”

From that statement you do get the sense of added importance in Europe for Chelsea this season. My personal feeling is that if Ancelotti doesn’t deliver the Champions League trophy at the end of this campaign then Abramovich will wield his ill-timed axe once again.

Although Chelsea will take on a West Ham side that are rock-bottom of the Premier League on Saturday, the trip to Upton Park represents Ancelotti’s toughest task so far this season, and Chelsea will have to up their game to continue their stunning start to the season.

Chelsea have had nothing short of seamless start. Comprehensive 6-0 thrashings of both West Brom and Wigan set alarm bells ringing around title rivals. But against Stoke things were not so easy, and although Ancelotti’s side picked up a 2-0 win to continue their 100% record, the Potters were more than competitive for most of the game.

Having said that though you have to admit that Chelsea have had a supremely impressive start to the campaign, they playing with the fluidity and confidence that hasn’t been seen since the days of a certain Mr Mourinho.

But what made Mourinho so successful was his ability to go to places like West Ham and win. Anything other than a win on Saturday would somewhat diminish Chelsea’s emphatic start and that is the sort of pressure that comes with been reigning champions.

West Ham themselves need for the points for completely different reasons. A trip to Upton Park is never easy, but with West Ham still looking for their first points of the season a result for the Hammers is more important than ever. Couple that with Avram Grant taking on his former club and we have a game that will prove very difficult for the champions.

The Hammers start has been bitterly disappointing but they shouldn’t panic just yet.  Carlton Cole remains at Upton Park after constantly been linked away with a move, and in fairness opening away trips to Aston Villa and Manchester United were always going to be difficult for the Hammers.

But it was the home defeat to Bolton that has lead to worry beginning to spread around East London, but in fairness West Ham should of picked something up from that game, and there is no need for mass panic just yet.

There shouldn’t be mass panic even if Chelsea pick up three points on Saturday.  But personally I can see West Ham getting a much needed point to kick start their season and a result that installs hope around the league that Chelsea aren’t invincible after all.

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti has today claimed that he wants to emulate the success of Sir Alex Ferguson and have a prolonged stay in the English game. The Chelsea boss has also suggested he may even wish to manage England some time down the line. But could the Italian really fuflill his claims?

The thought of Chelsea sticking with a manager for twenty plus years is quite frankly ludicrous. You always feel as if the manager at Stamford Bridge is one bad month away from the chop with the impatience of the board clearly apparent.

It does strike you as if Ancelotti has managed to satisfy the board for the moment. His first season in the English game was nothing short of sensational and his start to this season has been just as emphatic.

Second season syndrome is something that is common in football but with Ancelotti you get the sense that he may have just managed to reignite some of the qualities that Jose Mourinho instilled in the squad following his arrival from Porto.

Perhaps this is because he is of a similar tactical bread to the current Real Madrid boss. Both have obvious methods which make their team hard to beat but oh so clinical at the other end, although Ancelotti’s side have been a lot more clinical of late.

However the main difference between the two successful managers is the personality and it is Ancelotti’s personality that in my opinion may see him create an even greater legacy then that of Mourinho’s at Stamford Bridge.

Although it was the personality of Mourinho that endeared him to the Chelsea fans and the British public, it was his personality that ultimately lead to his downfall at Chelsea.  But with Ancelotti you can’t see his personality causing any problems. He is level headed and intelligent.

I expect Chelsea to dominate the Premier League this season but over the coming years this Chelsea squad will age, and that is when we will see the real talent of the Italian. But if results ever slip I have no doubt that Ancelotti will be shown the exit door. The question is can Ancelotti prevent results slipping?