Second Place!

Firstly, I would like to ask you all to join me on a trip down memory lane. Cast your mind back to last season...

Now, this season we have won several games which we would have drawn or lost in previous seasons. Let's take a look at some of our results this season and compare them with 12 months ago.

This season: Charlton 2 Chelsea 3. Last season: Charlton 2 Chelsea 1. In both of these games, Chelsea scored late equalisers. Last year though, it was Charlton who would grab a late winner- a different story to this seasons game!

This season: Chelsea 2 Man Utd 2. Last season: Chelsea 0 Man Utd 3. A completely different story to last season when United destroyed us. This time round Chelsea were exhilirating and unlucky not to win.

This season: Blackburn 2 Chelsea 3. Last season: Blackburn 0 Chelsea 0. Blues showed good attacking ability in this game, something distinctly lacking from the previous season's Chelsea, who drew far too many away games 0-0.

This season: Man City 0 Chelsea 3. Last season: N/A. I know, City weren't around last season, but it reminded me of so many away games. We were dominated by City but grabbed 3 late goals on the break. I can safely say that last season's Chelsea would not have won this game.

This season: Everton 1 Chelsea 3. Last season: Everton 0 Chelsea 0. Last season's match was a drab encounter in miserable conditions. The conditions were poor again yesterday, yet Chelsea and Everton put on a magnificent game of football. Perhaps we were lucky to get all 3 points but all good sides ride their luck.

Raring To Go!

So you see, the results back of the talk of a new Chelsea. We are in second place and, as Steve said to me yesterday, we still have a lot in reserve. Remember, Eidur Gudjohnsen has been mainly used as a sub this season and, when the legs are getting tired, he will be raring to go in a few months time.

And let's not forget Mikael Forssell, out since April. I sense that he will have a big part to play in the New Year. Then there's John Terry. He has played very little football this season and, should Desailly or Gallas get injured, we have a worthy replacement there. Boudewijn Zenden, out since October, is another who cannot wait to be back.

This is setting up nicely for Chelsea but we will find out the true character of this Chelsea side once we are past January. After that, it is hard to envisage too many slip ups in our fixtures. And this Chelsea fan is dreaming of a last day showdown with Liverpool at the Bridge for the title...