Clayton Beerman reflects back on a very enjoyable and successful season for Chelsea in his season review…
Don’t you just love it when the graphic on the League tables changes to Chelsea (C)? Wasn’t Sunday great, I didn’t make the parade, I was just very happy to be in attendance when the pot was handed over? The season’s reviews have been winging about so thought I would add mine.
It’s been a strange season in many respects but ultimately a superbly successful one. We have led the league from start to finish yet again we do not appear to have received the massive kudos we deserve. We lost 2 meaningful matches in the league and remained the only team of the 92 to go unbeaten at home.
Over the last couple of months though it’s only been about how boring we are. Really? Like all things in life you have to look at the bigger picture. Some of our performances at the start of the season were some of the best football I’ve ever seen in the Premier League. The one touch stuff between Hazard Fabregas and Oscar was stunning and had it been Xavi Iniesta and Messi we wouldn’t have heard the end of it.
The simple truth is no team plays like that the whole season. There are injuries, suspensions loss of form and the opposition wising up which inevitably puts pay to that. In addition some of our football in the second half of the season was equally good but that doesn’t make for good reading.
Once again though the main difference between us and the rest of the teams was not Eden, JT, Thibaut, Cesar or Matic it was Jose. He would have won the league with Citeh Arsenal and come close with Man U. The man is a genius and without tempting fate seems very settled but more importantly so does Roman.
Many decrie
d our limp exit from the Champions league. In my opinion it was not part of Jose’s master plan. He knew we were becoming depleted and prioritised the league. Would we have got the results against QPR Man U and Arsenal over Easter had we been playing against Barcelona in a 2 legged tie in between I very much doubt it. He will beef up the squad and when he wants the Champions League he will get it (this of course subject to UEFA not screwing us again).
So on to my awards.
Player of the Year
I voted for JT. To do what he has done this year has been amazing. The FSW just showed the difference between a good manager and a spiteful tw@t. Irrespective of how much you dislike someone you have to be a group and make sacrifices for the team.
All that being said, would we have won the league with Eden Hazard? The simple answer is no. He is simply our best outfield player in terms of skill and durability since Zola. Some of the things I have seen him do this year have been breath taking. The reason why I go to football is to see magic like this and it is why the opposition have chosen to kick the sh*te out him. The most fouled player and yet he has started every game. Quite extraordinary and long may he wear the blue of Chelsea.
So I’m sorry my buttocks are planted firmly in the middle of that fence, I can not split those two.
Save of the Season
No contest, Petr’s save from Lukaku against Everton at home. There was not much time left 0-0 we’d already been denied two clear penalties again and had the bulk of possession. The ball is played in Lukaku is unmarked 6 yards out and Petr makes the save. Had it gone in we’d have probably lost or at best dropped points. I believe City were still in it then and Willian’s last minute winner would have done a lot of damage mentally when they thought we were only getting a point.
To play in goal for a team that is normally completely dominant is much more difficult than playing for a lousy team. The concentration required is immense. Potentially 85 minutes of dealing with a few back passes or the occasional shot and then being able to produce a save like that, stunning.
Also a mention for Thibaut’s performance against Liverpool in the league cup, both home and away. He was very special and probably kept us in the cup.
Goal of the Season
Schurrle against Burnley. Had that been Barca or Arsenal, it would have won goal of the season but because it’s us it didn’t even make the final 10. The whole move was pure poetry.
Other great goals were in no particular order, Ray Mears at Burnley, Costa at home to Arsenal, Fabregas at Palace, Costa at Hull, Oscar against QPR, Diego’s wonderful hat trick against Swansea and of course any goal against THem.
Most “Enjoyable” Match
Taking my son to Wembley and beating THem. It wasn’t pretty but who cares. I was too young for 67 but was there in 2008, the thought of losing to THem again 
in a final was too much to even contemplate and thankfully it didn’t happen. In terms of sheer drama and downright brilliance the away game to Everton takes some beating. Only the third game in as well.
Young Player of the Year
This has to be Thibaut. People tend to forget that he is just 23. He is in a new league, new country and has displaced a Chelsea legend. Granted he’s made a few errors but these are highlighted more with keepers. At just 23 he is at least 5 years off of his prime as a keeper and he looks pretty amazing now. Let’s hope he’s here for the same length of time as Petr.
Pivotal Moment of the Season
For me the whole debacle at WHL on New Year ’s Day but one particular moment and that was JT’s 87th minute goal to make it 5-3 and keep us on top of the league. Had Citeh gone above us that day I think psychologically that may have harmed us and given them a major boost, thankfully we’ll never know. The game and performance changed the whole team structure to be more pragmatic subject to my comments above and definitely guaranteed we wouldn’t lose to THem in the League Cup Final.
Low Point of the Season
Losing to Them, no question. The production of that pathetic little badge together with all the crowing until their 80th minute fire drill at Wembley. You could add Bradford and PSG to that but I addressed the Paris game above and thankfully was ill and missed the Bradford debacle so suffered less, in a way!
Best Opponent.
Verratti of PSG, undoubtedly a filthy little sh*t who ran the show at the Bridge. He looks a great player, who I’d like here. Thought Fraser Foster was outstanding at the Bridge and Southampton probably our most difficult opponent generally. I thought Cabella for Newcastle was excellent and Wilfred Saha looked decent for Palace. I also thought Luke Shaw played well for Man U and I am too petty to mention the Harrykane.
Biggest disappointment
It would be quite churlish to be disappointed about any of our season. Like most I do not think we’ve seen the best of Oscar but I cannot say he didn’t contribute and I certainly do not want him going anywhere. I was sad to see Schurrle go. I have a hunch he may come back but we’ll see.
On a general note it would be quite interesting to see how many points we could have won the league by had we got many of the penalties we were denied. Off the 
top of my head , Everton home and away, Burnley home and away, THem away, Southampton away, Newcastle home Man U away. The ridiculous lack of protection for Hazard meant the worst refereeing performances in my lifetime of watching football but none capped more than Atkinson at home to Burnley and the pathetically weak reaction of the FA that followed. Generally castigated by all Ashley Barnes and the Ginger throat lozenge will not be missed.
Biggest fuss about nothing
The fuss about Frank Lampard stealing the Premiership from us. A quite unseemly affair with lots of truths and half-truths flying about. Bottom line is the guy is still a legend and every one could have done without it. Good luck Frank you’re welcome back any time and as for the guy with the placard…
And finally…
Highlight of the Seas
on
No question, the final whistle against Crystal Palace at home. Our 4th premier League in 11 years.
I have to laugh when I listen to the news and they say after a long 5 year wait Chelsea are champions again. Without sounding like the old git that I am try telling anyone who watched us get doubled by Rotherham in 1982 that 5 years is a long wait!
This has been my first full season of blogging. Thanks to all who have read commented and shared and to the Chelsea Fancast and Lord Chidge for promoting my ramblings.
Clayton Beerman (c)
Follow Clayton on twitter: @goalie59
Chelsea should go for porto striker jackson matinez or lyon striker lacarzett those shouldn’t be too expensive and salla should come back we expect atleast 3 or 4 of the youth to progress to the premiership even if they will be sub the likes of Dominic solanke, Bamford,Reuben Loftus cheek ‘ ,what happen to the likes of Lucas piazon,and this new guy should be @ U21’ this new addition from Brazil Nate, Culdrado should go & Mikel Oscar should Ups his game & Remires it falcao want to be In premiership he should get 50% or 60% pay cut or better still We Should forget him as for defense Philip lius is still good Just that he need enough playing time Mor Mor should work on the rotation Policies this time Around not all Players should play premiership Match &fa Cup & Capital one he should rotate them that is my advices thank You