Quickly –> Tonight at 8.05pm EST (7.05pm GMT) Amy MacDonald has a gig on air in my favourite radio station. You can read more about it (in Polish) here. I do really hope you will find some spare time tonight and listen to it; I absolutely recommend it for everyone!
I have always been dreaming about writing books. Although, this post is not related to my future plans, once I did read an article how to write novels, make them interesting for readers and critics. It was mentioned to keep the chronicle order is not essential. Let’s use it now and leave the Sunderland trip and the Derby home game behind. At least, for a while!
It was an amazing evening in north London on Wednesday, 19th March. Whatever you support Chelsea or Spurs, you must support football, pardone buddies! soccer to purely enjoy it. No matter what I did, do or will say about Avraham Grant, he does make an entertainment, oh yes! It is not the point if we win anything serious or not this season, at least people enjoy watching our team. He is not being employed by Chelsea F.C. to bring success, trophies and glory. It will come with a new boss in June this year, when Grant’s buffering mission will be completed and a proper manager will come. And in the meantime, (I really like this line, just like the one of my favourites Phyllis Nelson used to sing, we have showtime! Like one team once in the past!
Fast, competing, strong – an example of English game we all love. Some people even said it was the game of the season, although I reckon those from Christmas-New Year’s time were a bit better: Chelsea-Aston Villa and Spurs-Reading. Unsurprisingly, the Blues and Tottenham are involved in the most attractive games so far. To score more than to lose, sounds good for football fans and much different from what José Mourinho and Martin Jol used to say about main purposes in the game. However, that change has already brought glory and progress at the Lanes, while at the Bridge is getting worse and worse. Optimistically, ain’t it?
Forgive me please the fact I didn’t post here few notes, my target of two thousands miles in two weeks has been met and combining it with the educational duties; I hardly could find time to write something additional at my blog.
Nevertheless, I have not forgotten about it, and would be pleased if you would like to read my short (just like my memory) note about the Tegan and Sara’s concert in Concorde 2 (Brighton) venue.
It did not start optimistically though. The Canadian duo seemed to be a bit lost on the stage and their relation with the audience in the first couple of songs was weak. Personally, I though then, it would be the next “boring” gig of quite famous band, which came, gave the show and gone. Just like that.
Happily, I was wrong and the impression came simply from the shyness and natural nervousness of sisters, what vanished when the songs moved on. Both Tegan and Sara were really honest, easy-going and straightforward without beating about the bush. Despite hundreds of people around, you could have really felt like on the personal rendez-vous with girls, very special indeed.
Just a quick post, I have just found apparently quite interesting website and an article on it. Since my first trip over the Pond to Boston and the MLS game I attended, I have been wondering how difficult it is to be a sports supporter in the USA.
It seems to have been a better idea not to post here a note straight after the Carling Cup final I attended. Our performances since 24th February are far better than on that cold Sunday at Wembley.Generally speaking, that was one of the worst Chelsea days every. Probably not only in my memory, but also those who follow the Chels for years. It is an another factor behind my decision not to write my thoughts to early. Let emotions fall down.
Coming back to the Carling Cup final game, I was expecting a very good day out. I got colours, camera and a piece of paper with places where I wanted to go before the kick-off; all planned with details and a lot of optimism. Basically, I managed to do it all, including some drinks at Bond Street in London and in South Kenton. Moreover, I took quite few pictures (some of them can be found at my facebook profile) and really enjoyed short conversations with many Chelsea fans.
My place at the Wembley Stadium was not to bad, either. Right on the top, it gave me an opportunity to stand for entire game. Such a pity, not all Chelsea supporters did have that chance, hence most of them were sitting from the KO till very final whistle. I still believe it is possible to sit and sing, although the Chelsea End in that unlucky day did not give me any new arguments. It was embarrassingly quiet, without any atmosphere, or a support for players and staff down there at the pitch. From the beginning of the match, Tottenham players were much more focused on the win, and motivated to achieve it. So were their supporters.
The truth about the final is: they did not win it - we simply lost it. Right at the beginning or maybe even earlier. Many others (including even objective journalists) wrote a lot about man-management, chosen tactics, motivation during the game, I do agree with them all and looking forward to find a “right person for the right place”, as José Mourinho once said, however I do not remember its context now.
After the final whistle blew, as soon as possible I left the ground. It is an ancient saying, we spend defeats alone, and so I did that night. However, at the end of the day it would be interesting and nice to see one team’s fans celebrating the Carling Cup trophy as like as winning the World Cup. Chelsea won so many competitions in the last four years, while it was first major (major?!) trophy for Tottenham in nine years.
A week later they got beaten heavily against Birmingham City, mainly thanks to excellent performance of Mikael Forssell, former Chelsea starlet, and one of my favourites. The same day we beat West Ham United away with four-goal difference and playing ten against eleven. Last night we booked our place in the last eight stage of the UEFA Champions’ League winning three-nil to Greek champions, Olympiakos. That few thousands of Chelsea followers who saw both games must have enjoyed it and I really wish I could have been there.
I do hope players will keep the level they play on now, because within next two weeks I will follow the Chels literally all over England, mile after mile..
Fri 7th – Aston Villa Youth at the Bridge (approx. 120 miles return)
Sat 8th – Barnsley at Oakwell (approx. 500 miles return via Doncaster)
Wed 12th – Derby at the Bridge (approx. 120 miles return)
Sat 15th – Sunderland at Stadium of Light (approx. 700 miles return [sic!])
Wed 23rd – Tottenham at White Hart Lane (approx. 140 miles return)
According to the Google Maps, I may do approximately 1600 miles. Day-trip to Bruges, Belgium on Tuesday 22nd (300 miles return) sounds like nothing. It is going to be the Blue marathon!
However, I still believe I will do that!
Coming back to the main subject of this note; let it be my small piece of the Lamps’ appreciation, his commitment and effort he did put into the Club. Last Saturday, he did a milestone step scoring goals #100 and #101 for Chelsea (literally, see picture). Moreover, the quality of football he played in this game was absolutely outstanding. Without any doubts, he deserves a place in the Chelsea’s hall (or walk) of fame to be immortalized in our memories for good, even if he decides to leave the Club at some point of his further career (in what I obviously doubt).
Although the Chelsea manager decided to leave him and JT on the bench for the Olympiakos game, it is only to frustrate them (with the sport meaning of this expression) before the Carling Cup final on Sunday. I will be there and I do really believe (because it is more than a hope!), I will see the Chelsea players lifting the Cup. I have already seen two defeats in the Community Shield, and as we often say – “third time lucky!”
I simply cannot wait to be there at Wembley singing “Super, Super Frank” and celebrating the win with Chelsea boys over archrivals from North London. For the second successive year we are already the last team in Europe to fight on the four fronts and after Sunday we can make a step closer to come our dreams true.
¡Qué será, será! Whatever will be, will be, we are going to Wembley!
The true is I had not heard about her before I decided to buy a ticket for the Tegan and Sara's gig in Concorde 2. I Saw her concert info, youtubed it and bought tickets for both gigs in the same time. Simply as that!
We all know that games against Liverpool are always tough and difficult, but why recently they are so boring and awful too? Today’s nil-nil draw against Scousers left me disappointment and somehow bitter. Away team did not play anything special either, that is why I am surprised to hear: “If we play like we did here then we will win a lot of games between now and the end of the season” from their manager. Whatever.
