After their weekend win over Manchester United, Chelsea is pulling ahead in the Premiership table but don’t go handing the silver to the Blues just yet because while they might have the best side could be dealt a blow by the African Cup of Nations.  This and more from Soccer 365’s Andrew Rogers.

by Andrew Rogers

Carlo Ancelotti is likely to have enjoyed the taste of his rosso wine, listening to Nessun Dorma last night having got the better of Sir Alex Ferguson, in a pulsating game at Stamford Bridge.

John Terry’s header was deserved reward for a controlled display from the Blues that echoed their 2005/6 pomp, and suggested this year’s title could be Chelsea’s to lose.

The critics might argue, Chelsea were playing a weakened United side, and were outplayed for large parts, but it’s goals that count, and the experience running through the home team tells you they were simply looking for the right opportunity.

Having opened up a five point gap at the top of the table, it is difficult to see where Chelsea might slip up in this campaign. They have ample back up across the field, and have the January transfer window to try and put a dent in Roman Abramovich’s wallet.

In previous a column I suggested, Ancelotti would struggle with the nuances of the English league. I did feel pleased with my assessment after Chelsea took a battering at Wigan, but recent victories against Bolton and Blackburn prove I was wide of the mark.

The only cloud on the horizon appears to be the African Cup of Nations. Ancelotti will lose the services of Didier Drogba, Michael Essien, Salomon Kalou, and John Obi Mikel. The absence of the first two is a clear and present danger to Chelsea’s title ambitions.

Jose Mourinho, Avram Grant and Luiz Felipe Scolari were all fallible in their absence, and it was not a coincidence that the West London club’s “resurgence” under Golden Guus Hiddink coincided with their return to form. Kalou’s absence is a minor blow, and Mikel provides adequate cover in front of the back four. 

Another problem with their departure is they do not return the same players. After major tournaments players come back exhausted and require time to recuperate. Even though these players will return home by the beginning of February, it is unlikely they will return to form until March.

Chelsea has learnt to manage without Drogba and Essien in the past but are not as convincing. Anelka is now comfortable leading the line when required, but lacks the same physical presence, and in the absence of Essien and Mikel lack a quality base to their diamond.

If Ancelotti makes the right moves in the January window Manchester United and Arsenal might be struggle to stop Chelsea moving into a new era of success. 

Wilmer Cabrera’s boys can return with pride from Africa

Expectations among fans of the U.S national team tend to exceed the reality of the players’ ability. There is nothing unusual in this the world over, but it is tough on U.S players when they are expected to make it out of the qualifying groups in major tournaments, based on nothing more than imperial bombast.

This is especially the case at youth level. The Bradenton Academy has its critics, but is definitely the way forward for U.S international soccer. By design or otherwise the U.S has its Clairefontaine, and should take great pride and satisfaction from its result and educational values.

After losing their opening game in Nigeria, the U-17 MNT found itself firmly behind the eight ball in their next two games. Irrespective of results during the lead up to the World Cup, Cabrera and his team have no way of recreating the pressures and intensity of the WC environment.

They have to keep going over the fundamentals, and hope the teenagers can react once the tournament starts. The Spain game was understandably slow, but the victories against Malawi and U.A.E highlighted their backbone, courage and footballing ability.

Any mistakes in those games, and the U.S could have been heading home. Getting results in that situation is what World Cup football is all about. Malawi and U.A.E were playing better football coming into the fixtures but had no answers to the U-17’s tactical acumen and mental strength.

Against Italy the U.S should have won. They have the chances but didn’t bring their A game. For the U.S U-17 MNT to reach a point where should be putting away top international sides bodes very well for the future of U.S soccer.

Begrudging respect for Graham Poll

Graham Poll is an anathema in English football. His ego knows no boundaries, and in a soccer culture where the umpire is giving less respect than criminals, Poll leaves a bad taste in a lot of people’s mouths.

It is from this perspective that I approached his latest tome. However, the simple fact is Graham Poll: Geoff Hurst, The Hand of God and the Biggest Rows in World Football, is an amazing read, I tried desperately hard to dismiss him and the book, but to no avail.

It’s an entertaining and reveals an entirely new perspective on the game, Poll has experienced the game and players with an intimacy fans can only dream of. He has witnessed the politics of football teams during the heat of the battle, and seen Zinedine Zidane and Ryan Giggs at close quarters.

Poll covers many of the great footballing controversies from the “Russian” lines man in the 1966 World Cup final, to Diego Maradona’s Hand of God, with an unerring deftness. The book works as a bedtime read or one for the bathroom. Either way any adult with a passing interest in football will enjoy this book. Rating 4/5

In loving memory of Aureen Green you will always be missed. 1923 - 2009

Andrew Rogers can be reached at andrewrogers@optonline.net