Hot on the heels of Monday's top five moments of Chelsea's 08/09 season (take a look at that list here), it's time to briefly abandon positivity. Here's bridgeviews' top five disappointments of 08/09.
5) The unbeaten home record coming to an end
All records come to an end, but at times during Chelsea's 86 game unbeaten run it felt almost impossible that we'd lose at home. Of course, the first defeat in four seasons of football would have to come against Liverpool - and a deflected goal at that - but the performance itself probably didn't warrant a loss.
4) Tickets
It promised so much. Back in June 2008, season ticket holders received a shiny new card in the post, complete with the technology for fans to scan their own card to get through the turnstiles. The big hope was that there was now a chance more time might be spent watching the game than queing to get through the three tiny gates at the centre of the Matthew Harding Lower. Net result: longer queues, more staff to get fans through turnstiles. Nice one Chels.
3) Michael Essien and Joe Cole's injuries
A lot has been said about Essien's injury - which saw him miss most of the season - and rightly so. On his return he scored two goals, one in each of his first two games, and his energy and dynamism was a pivotal part of the side's rejuvenation under Hiddink. Less is said about Joe Cole's injury however, but I would argue that his availability would have been just as vital as the Ghanain's in the closing months of the season. It's not just about Joe's quality - he also brings something to the side that was otherwise lacking: a different ball, run or trick to add another dimension to the side's play. With both Essien and Cole fit for longer periods, the premiership could have looked very different.
2) Man Utd 3 Chelsea 0
Chelsea hadn't played well for a while, but going into the game there was a realistic hope that our players were good enough to potentially pull off a win that could inspire a renewal of the club's title challenge. Unfortunately, Scolari's side put on one of their worst performances of the season, and Chelsea stumbled to a humiliating three nil loss with a limp display.
1) Ovrebo
I could talk about that Iniesta goal, which is undoubtedly the most heart-breaking moment in football I can remember in recent years. But I'd rather focus on the referee himself, whose performance was so shambolic it caused pandemonium both on the pitch and in the stands after the game. Potentially even more disappointing is UEFA's refusal once again to hold a referee publically accountable for their errors. Strangely quiet on that one, Plantini...
Ugh. Painful.
Posted by: Pete | 12 June 2009 at 21:08
Yes - very. But I guess they say you have to experience the lows to truly appreciate the highs.... Not sure I believe that. Did make the FA cup win sweeter though
Posted by: Russell Saunders | 12 June 2009 at 23:06
The Barca game still hurts now. The lows where your team don't play well, don't deserve a victory are one thing - lows where rightful victory is denied by outside factors you can't control are another.
Posted by: KD | 13 June 2009 at 19:58
yeah, platini did keep quiet on that one.
still gutted about that, it hurts to think about it but are chelsea never destined to win the champions league?
nahh, its gonna happen one day!
UP THE CHELS!
Posted by: Dan Tomlinson | 23 June 2009 at 13:06
Dan - thanks for your comment and welcome to the blog.
Fingers crossed it'll happen one day. But it's a knock-out competition - you never quite know if your chance will come round again....
Posted by: Russell Saunders | 26 June 2009 at 12:22