What Goes Around Comes Around!!

Champions, Champions
By 40 Years A Blue
March 26 2006

Just when you thought it was safe to remove your tin hats and re-appear after a week in the trenches whilst dodging, deflecting and diving (oops sorry) world wide criticism from the press, media and opposition fans alike,

Chelsea and in particular Didier Drogba were embroiled in yet more controversy after their comfortable 2-0 win against Man City at Stamford Bridge.

Not only has 'The Drog' got to deal with the admission of handball leading up to the second goal, but he has to come to terms with the fact that the vast majority of Chelsea fans simply do not like him. When the stadium announcer spoke to award Drog as the fans Man of the Match, the choice was greeted by a serious chorus of boos that heavily outweighed the cheers. To add further insult to the Ivory Coast hit man, a spontaneous chorus of 'Osgood, King of Stamford Bridge' broke out.

I know I have been a frustrated critic of the way Drogba plays and conducts himself on the pitch whilst wearing the blue of Chelsea, but his two goals and his all round display warranted his accolade at least for me, anyway.

If Drog's second goal was controversial then his first was sublime and showed the skill and technique that the big man processes and why Chelsea paid all that money out for him when he signed on from Marseille.

After a patient Chelsea build-up the ball found itself at the feet of Eider Gudjohnsen in centre midfield. A cleverly weighted pass found Drogba at the edge of the City area, Drogba turned Sommeil inside out before hitting a hard shot over the oncoming and diving David James. Drogba's second came four minutes later when after a serious episode of ball ping-pong, the ball hit Drogba on the arm, dropped to the floor and Drogba gleefully smashed it into the bottom right hand corner.

What goes around comes around!!

The game's craziest moment came on the half-time whistle. Distin who had been booked for arguing about the second goal, refused to hand the ball to Ref Rob Styles. Styles asked Distin for the ball two or three times. Distin kept hold of the ball but finally released it to Styles after Styles showed Distin a second yellow and then a red. City manager, Stuart Pearce had already made his way back to the dressing room and didn't see what had happened.

What a week and what a day. But the rows, criticism and general hatred of Chelsea look set to continue after 'The Drog' is alleged to have claimed that he cheats whilst on the field of play.

Chelsea and Didier Drogba have issued a statement which reads: "Unfortunately in the emotion of winning the game my comments have come across partly in the wrong way. I want to make clear that I don't dive, this was the intention of my answer."

Oh well chaps, put your tin hats back on and return to the trenches.

40 YEARS A BLUE!