Jose's Half-Term Report

Although JM took his Porto side to Champions League, UEFA and Portuguese League titles glories, it was felt throughout the Europe that his Porto team did it without style, flair, panache and entertaining the fans. Entertaining the fans was left to JM himself when he scooted up the Old Trafford touchline like a demented Meercat, when a Porto last minute goal eliminated Man Utd from last season's Champions League. Did SAF NOT like that heheheh!

And so it came to pass. In the Summer of 2004 CR left Chelsea with great dignity and his head held high and in walked the new boy. The 'Special' One, Jose Mourinho.

Once JM made himself comfortable in his new hot seat, he set about transforming Chelsea from also rans into winners. JM is a winner no doubt. All he wants is for his new employers to become winners as well. Players came, players left. Before the first ball was kicked in anger, JM achieved his target of making sure that there were two players for each position - from the Goalkeeper right down to the Centre-Forward and the substitutes.

Instead of creating hostility and discontent within this special group of players, JM set about telling each and every first team squad player that they were special to and made sure that the fringe players were looked after more than the players that JM had in mind to always be in the starting eleven (barring injuries and suspensions).

Such is the quirkiness of the fixture computer, fans up and down the country didn't have to wait long for the eagerly anticipated reunion of SAF and the Premiership's new boy, JM. In fact the two would collide in the very first fixture of the new season at Stamford Bridge. A fixture which saw Chelsea win 1-0 with a solitary Eider Gudjohnsen first half goal. SAF's nemsis had sturck again.

Further victories over Birmingham, Palace and Southampton saw Chelsea riding high with twelve points from four games with only one goal conceded. Whereas the past manager would chop and change and tinker with his side, JM resisted the notion and played virutally the same side with only minimal changes.

Back to back 0-0 draws at Villa Park (where Chelsea were denied a clear cut penalty) and Tottenham 'Parking the team bus in the penalty area' Hotspur saw the press criticise Chelsea for their style of play and it looked that the discontent felt in preseason threatened to explode in spectacular fashion. JM argued that although he was concerned at the lack of goals, his first priority was to set defensive foundations. Not just defenders doing their job, but all the players had to have a defensive mindset on par with their attacking capabilities. Our next two games saw 1-0 victories away at 'Boro and at home to Liverpool. Then came the first setback. Losing at City 1-0

At long last the World got what they wanted. First defeat in eight Premiership games and everybody settled down to see Chelsea do what they normally do. Collapse like a set of well used playing cards. It has to be said that it in no doubt proved that JM is definitely made of different stock. It is well known that JM is meticulous in his planning. JM and his coaching staff produce comprehensive dossiers on every team and every player then distributed amongst the squad in the days leading up to each game.

The next two games against Blackburn, home and WBA, away saw Chelsea yield eight goals and concede only one. Incidentally the transformation of scoring goals came with the return to full fitness of Arjen Robben after being injured against Roma in the pre-season tour of the States. Signed by CR and not by JM, JM did admit that AR was the 'best' present that CR could have left him. With Arjen Robben and Damien Duff in the team, Chelsea started to play with flair, style, brilliant attacking football and scoring wonderful goals. JM resisted the opportunity to play Duff and Robben together immediately, no doubt he wanted to check on Robben's fitness and check on Duff's mental state of mind. The press got hold of a story that JM questioned Duff's mental state, bearing in mind that under CR Duff had unfortunately suffered two discolated shoulders. Obviously JM's mental questioning of Duff's attitude has now born the well deserved fruit. All of the press and so-called football experts said that Duff and Robben couldn't play in the same team. Remember at the beginning of the season, JM worked on ALL of the Chelsea squad's attitude to defensive duties. As well as being prolific in front of goal, both Duff and Robben are doing their bit defensively as well.

The proof is in the pudding when you see Chelsea score on the counter attack, seconds after being in defence. One of the prime examples of this was in the next game against high-flying Everton with a solitary Arjen Robben goal, started from a long ball clearance from Chelsea's defensive duties.

After Everton came the 4-1 drubbing of Fulham at Craven Cottage, again Duff and Robben instrumental with their powerful wing play, running at opponents, switchihg wings, leading all defences a merry dance.

The next sort of blip came against Bolton Wanderers. It was a shock to the system seeing Chelsea throw away a two goal lead, especially at home but fair play to Bolton they were tough enough and got a point for their efforts. Again the footballing world waited for Chelsea's response. Off down to South London and revenge on Charlton was sweet (Last Boxing Day 4-2 reverse) as Chelsea truimphed 4-0.

Newcastle were the next recipients of a four goal drubbing. After holding out for 60 minutes, JM showed his tactical acumen and Chelsea scored four in the last 30 minutes. Once again Robben found himself on the score sheet.

Then came the big one. With Chelsea top of the league and five points clear of the Champions Arsenal, Chelsea travelled to Highbury and fresh in the minds of everybody was Chelsea's stunning 2-1 win the Champions League Quarter-Final and could they do it again. After only a silly amount of seconds once Henry's shot hit the back of the net, it really didn't feel like it could happen again. However credit where credit is due. JM's hard work throughout this season paid dividends when Chelsea fought back first with a John Terry headed equaliser and a start of the second half equaliser from Eider Gudjohnsen. No doubt fortune and luck was on Chelsea's side when Henry skied over a clear opportunity to wrap up the points.

Chelsea left Highbury with a fully deserved point and a growing reputation that they can fight and handle themselves with the best. After all Arsenal are the current Premiership Champions. It was more than a point won, than two points lost. Chelsea remained top of the league and still five points clear of Arsenal.

Back home to Stamford Bridge and two costly mistakes by Norwich defenders put Chelsea in control by half-time. Further goals from Duff and Drogba in the second half meant that for the sixth time in nine Premiership games, Chelsea had scored four goals.

And to complete the round up of the first nineteen league games, Chelsea won by a solitary Duff goal against a detemined and stubborn Villa on Boxing Day.

So there you have it. Played nineteen, Won fourteen, Drawn Four, Lost One, Scoring thirty-eight goals and only conceding eight. Of which there have been thirteen clean sheets.

Halfway there. Only nineteen games to go. Same again please Chelsea and come that day in May, hopefully the 50 year old wait will be over.

Verdict on Mourinho, without forgetting the massive contribution of Claudio Ranieri, well Mourinho is different and is certainly SPECIAL!

Jose's Premiership Record 2004-05

v Man Utd (H) W1-0

v Birmingham City (A) W1-0

v Crystal Palace (A) W2-0

v Southampton (H) W2-1

v Aston Villa (A) D0-0

v Tottenham Hotspur (H) D0-0

v Middlesbrough (A) W1-0

v Liverpool (H) W1-0

v Man City (A) L0-1

v Blackburn Rovers (H) W4-0

v WBA (A) W4-1

v Everton (H) W1-0

v Fulham (A) W4-1

v Bolton Wanderers (H) D2-2

v Charlton Athletic (A) W4-1

v Newcastle United (H) W4-0

v Arsenal (A) D2-2

v Norwich City (H) W4-0

v Aston Villa (H) W1-0

P19 W14 D4 L1 F38 A8 PTS 46