I hate being obvious, and I know ya’ll be expecting full on Chelsea gushing this week, but this column is short so only have enough space to put in the top line stories.
And let’s be frank here, Chelsea are the story of the moment.
Since the 3-0 annihilation at the Emirates — and thanks for that all you Gooners out there — the Blues have been unstoppable.
Not just a few wins, we’re talking about some proper big results against top-end sides. I say thanks because the embarrassment of getting done by Arsenal like that prompted Antonio Conte to abandon his Premier League-inspired 4-2-3-1 formation and install his tried-and-tested back three which — so far — has been unbreakable.
Of course following Middlesbrough in two weeks, the Blues host Spurs and then travel to Eastlands, which’ll be huge.
But even if some points are dropped, Chelsea will still be sitting neatly at the top end of the table.
What’s more interesting is looking forward to the all-important “Christmas period”.
The time of year that separates the “has” and “has not got” what it takes to secure a top 4 finish.
Here’s Conte’s next five over December: West Brom (H), Sunderland (A), Crystal Palace (A), Bournemouth (H), Stoke (H) – not the most frightening of line-ups!
Anyway, a quick word on Saturday’s massacre at the Bridge, and I tell you what, I went into that game hoping we’d edge the result.
Ronald Koeman has got to be considered one of the best coaches around, I have a lot of respect for him.
Everton have dropped off in form since a good start to the campaign, but never get run over.
Were Chelsea that good, or were Everton so poor?
We’ll all have our opinions on that, but the correct one is – hahaha – Chelsea were that good!
That was the best team performance I’ve seen from anyone this season, even better than the 4-0 spanking we gave United.
It was total football, creative, quick, solid at the back, at some stage I thought I was watching Barcelona.
Only criticism – despite him scoring – is that Marcos Alonso is a weak link, he just ain’t Chelsea quality, gets roasted by quick, tricky wingers, too tall and slow in that position.
I hope Conte invests in that wing-back position in January. A David Alaba or Fabio Coentrao should wrap up the title.
Of course there’s other developing big stories, Liverpool were magic again on Sunday, battering Watford at Anfield and United, with a number of changes making light work of Swansea.
Michael Carrick and Phil Jones added a bit of the old United feel, but only by name, they looked like a fat pair of Sunday league potato heads.
For the second game on the trot, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba put in good work and between them are starting to get something ticking.
We saw that last week when United murdered Burnley, well, all but the points.
As for Spurs and Arsenal, there was something a bit gutless about both performances in the derby.
Some of my Gooner mates were cussing at the lack of forward movement and “want” as the game moved into the last 20 minutes, the time Arsenal normally ramp up a gear.
Unfortunately we hit another international break this weekend, but there’s a massive one the following Saturday as Jose Mourinho hosts Arsene Wenger at Old Trafford!
Can’t wait