Between The Devil and The Deep Blue chelSEA

So…we’re at that point in the season when tickets go up…alongside blood pressures, bets are fierce and the relegation battles enter the fifth gear, and unlike the last 2 million seasons, this time, it’s actually looking like a four horse race. Of course we still have the regulars, but a couple of newbies have decided to join up in the title race, and by doing so have brought an unpredictable aura to the English Premiership. The last couple of weeks have been everything but boring, Allardyce and Hughton have both gotten the axe, one a shocker, the other a polite necessity after the seven goal error at Old Trafford, and of course there’s that tale of a certain team from the bridge having the blues, and that under performing team from Stretford End leading the table. This season has by all means been the definition of exciting, the twists and turns, the Rooney-to-go-or-no-to-go scandal, the Tevez transfer request skirmish, and even the referees haven’t been left out, with bizarre decisions to even more bizarre indecisions, this has been one huge cauldron of sorts.

And finally we arrive at the grand finale (well not really the finale), but the boiling point of this already stewing season – Chelsea FC versus Manchester United. Any bookie would scream United, I mean why not? They’re topping the league, winning games, and are unbeaten in the Premiership, the Blues on the other side, haven’t won in over 5 games, and have been on the receiving end of a lot of jabs from sports writers and analysts. The turnaround has been a bad one for the Billionaires from London, from banging in an average of 4 goals per game, to having a less than average goal difference after three straight defeats. The truth is Manchester United and Chelsea have both played very similar patterns of footie this season, the difference? Luck and the final third, where Chelsea fumbles and crashes, United holds firm, but that doesn’t take away the suspiciousness of the Red’s defence or the lack of hunger in the attack.

Eventually, Saturday’s game is going to be one that hinges entirely on pride and a quest to be relevant, adorable football will not be played, cautiousness will be key, and if Ancelotti’s exit rumours are anything to go by, the Italian boss will be looking not to join his Newcastle and Blackburn friends. My prediction? Well, an explosive match in the making, but costly errors and midfield dominance will be deciding factors, Rooney vs Drogba and an atmosphere more charged than a cloud packed with lightning, it’ll only be right to keep my lips sealed on this one…Julian Assange  or not..

Kaelo