A Damp Squib

Given the fact that Chelsea had lost their previous two home matches to the red and white stripes of Sunderland and Atletico Madrid, perhaps a point and a clean sheet at home to humble Norwich City represents progress! Obviously Stamford Bridge has ceased to be a fortress. Maybe the team's toothless efforts are a fitting conclusion to a season which has produced no silverware.

Quite frankly, the Chelsea manager cannot complain at Norwich's determination to cling on to a 0-0 draw as his team unashamedly did likewise at the Calderon. Chelsea have to come to terms with lesser teams visiting west London and trying to sabotage our puny attempts at obtaining maximum points.

It is the easiest thing in the world to point out the apparent deficiencies in our attack, but it might be a lot nearer the truth to suggest that Chelsea have become devoid of creativity. What has become of the team that won the admiration of the media luvvies when we won 4-2 at Three Points Lane, with the 'three amigos' of Hazard, Mata, and Oscar tormenting Tottensham? Well, Mata has become surplus to requirements, while the promising Oscar has also experienced a dip in form in recent months. Well, Mourinho and Chelsea are now at a crossroads as the management contemplate their summer re-shuffle.

A number of naïve people have been purring at how Chelsea will improve next season when we have boosted our squad with our summer acquisitions. Well, do you think that the terrible twins of Manchester and the Wannabes of norf London will be standing still while we rebuild our playing staff? No, the reality is that all the major players in the English Premiership (and Europe) will be drafting in fresh reinforcements in an attempt to move their team on to the 'next level' not least the fast-improving Liverfools.

It's really weird but the unfortunate Avram Grant took the Premiership race to the last match and guided the team to the Champions League final and he was subsequently dismissed. Jose. Mourinho has 'achieved' less on his return but, on account of his Chelsea successes from a decade ago, he will be granted a twelve month stay of execution. Of course the Portuguese maestro has repeatedly suggested that his team are undergoing "an evolution". Well, that's as may be, but I would like to point out that in the aftermath of their unbeaten league season of 2004, Arsenic went into a 'transition' every year for the next ten years. One needs to be careful that a transition year doesn't 'evolve' into a transition decade. I must admit that I was amused when the condescending Benitez once scoffed at Arse-nil for their insistence that they were building a team for the future. Well that great future never quite appeared. Instead, Arse-nil have effectively become a feeder club for the more powerful Manchester Mercenaries.

Even the Mourinho 'spin' about Chelsea being a little horse competing on an uneven playing field against the more nourished Manchester Wannabes has been totally undermined by the fact that Liverpoo have flourished in recent months in spite of possessing less strength in depth than their two Premiership rivals. The large majority of the Chelsea faithful might feel that they owe it to the legendary Mourinho to grant him the benefit of the doubt, but patience will gradually subside if the excuses start wearing thin. Besides, Roman Abramovich is the archetypal foreign owner who demands almost instant success in return for his multi-million funding of 'his' club. He will expect a major step forward by Chelsea next season, or else the Abramovich-Mourinho axis will end in tears, or more precisely a massive payout for the departing manager.

I think that Chelsea followers should feel cautious when the manager is imitating politicians by promising 'jam tomorrow'. Sometimes the great promises of football managers are realised, but more often they are not. Our clever manager may be an expert at blunting powerful opponents, but until he constructs a creative and dynamic unit, then more under-achievement and stale performances beckon next season too.