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01/19/2009 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - There are a lot of teams in England that would love to trade places with Chelsea.
The team is in the thick of the Premiership title race, owns a spot in the knockout round of the Champions League and has advanced to the fourth round of the FA Cup.
However, as Saturday's last-gasp win over lowly Stoke City at Stamford Bridge illustrated, this is not the Chelsea team that we have become accustomed to.
The old Chelsea would have clinically taken apart the Potters with a surgeon's precision, while this year's edition needed two goals in the dying minutes to scrape by a team that is destined to battle relegation this season.
Frank Lampard's goal four minutes into stoppage time provided a thrilling ending to the match, and the star midfielder is hoping the game will provide a turning point in Chelsea's season.
"There are pivotal moments in seasons where you think 'Will this change something?' Today could be a turning point as long as we follow through with it and be a bit more ruthless in front of goal," Lampard said after his team's win on Saturday.
While it's true that these kinds of wins have a way of turning around a team's fortunes, this is a club that will not be one of them.
The win on Saturday was Chelsea's second in six games in the league, and the team has too many other issues to deal with to mount a serious title charge over the remaining four months.
Last season, the club took a step back by failing to win a single trophy, and this year it will be more of the same.
The manager is always the first to take the blame for a team's shortcomings, and in this case, Luiz Felipe Scolari is no exception.
The Brazilian took over for Avram Grant after last season, and he promised a more attractive, attacking side.
After an impressive 4-0 win over Portsmouth it looked like he was going to deliver, but nothing has come easily for Scolari since that time.
He watched the club's 86-game home unbeaten streak in league play come to a halt in October with a 1-0 defeat to Liverpool, while the team was bounced from the Carling Cup by Burnley on penalties in November.
A second home defeat to London rivals Arsenal followed, while the club was hammered 3-0 at Old Trafford by Manchester United and needed a replay to get past League One side Southend in the FA Cup.
Rumors surfaced about a possible firing if the team failed to beat Southend in that replay, and although the coach may have survived, his seat has certainly not cooled with Saturday's performance.
Chelsea has suffered a few key injuries this season that haven't helped, mainly the loss of midfielder Michael Essien in early September with a knee injury. Missed time by Didier Drogba and Joe Cole also hasn't benefited the squad.
Essien's rugged play in the middle of the field has been missed to be sure, while Drogba hasn't gotten going since missing a large part of the early season due to injury and suspension.
Cole went down for the remainder of the year in the win over Southend with a knee problem of his own, which leads to another of Chelsea's issues - a lack of quality depth.
Franco Di Santo and Miroslav Stoch may both become first-team regulars for the club, but when they are being asked to come off the bench and rescue a game in the late stages, it seems like a bit of a stretch.
Both played well on Saturday, marking the first time a Scolari substitution has had an impact all season, but if they are asked to play an important role in the team's current campaign, there will be no new additions to the trophy case.
Deco was signed from Barcelona over the summer and played well in his first month, but he has been a non-factor since.
Others that need to pick up their play include Salomon Kalou, Florent Malouda and Michael Ballack, while the team's strike partnership of Drogba and Nicolas Anelka is another story.
Anelka is currently leading the league with 14 goals, but Drogba has been the team's top strike option for the past couple of seasons.
The Frenchman has become a player known for failing to score when it matters most. Meanwhile, Drogba's play on the field has been disappointing, and his conduct off it has been rumored to be just as bad.
Scolari has refused to pair the two up top, preferring to go with one striker, and at this point, it might be wise for that striker to be Anelka.
Drogba was not even named in the team for Chelsea's last two games, and for the right price, you have to think Chelsea would be willing to part ways with a player that has just one goal in 10 league appearances this season.
Even the one thing that has been a constant at the club in recent years - the money of billionaire owner Roman Abramovich - is taking a hit.
Abramovich, the richest man in English football over the past couple of years, slipped to third in an annual list published by FourFourTwo magazine.
The Chelsea owner has lost a reported $4 billion in the economic downturn, and he is now worth less than half of what Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al Nahyan is worth.
In years past Abramovich would have thrown some money at the problem and brought in reinforcements, but now (like the rest of us) he is watching his spending a bit closer.
It would appear that the only way Chelsea will make a new signing is by selling off one of their own first, but what ever happened to the $17 million that City paid for defender Wayne Bridge?
The reluctance of Abramovich to spend, combined with Chelsea's current form, adds up to another year without silverware.
And for Chelsea, that is a big problem.
<< Phantoms' Ross wins AHL Player of the Week
Springfield, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Philadelphia Phantoms center Jared Ross has
been named the American Hockey League's Player of the Week for the period
ending Sunday, it was announced on Monday.
Ross racked up six goals and three assis
<< Phantoms' Ross win AHL Player of the Week
Springfield, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Philadelphia Phantoms center Jared Ross has
been named the American Hockey League's Player of the Week for the period
ending Sunday, it was announced on Monday.
Ross racked up six goals and three assis
<< Giants name Sheridan new defensive coordinator
East Rutherford, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Giants wasted little time
in filling the need for a defensive coordinator, elevating linebackers coach
Bill Sheridan to the position just two days after Steve Spagnuolo left to take
the hea
<< M's avoid arbitration with P Hernandez
Seattle, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Seattle Mariners avoided arbitration with
pitcher Felix Hernandez on Monday, signing the bulky right-hander to a one-
year deal.
A report on Mlb.com places the figure at $3.8 million, a substantial ra
Dolphins ink CFL standout LB Wake >>
Miami, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Miami Dolphins signed a pair of free agent
defenders on Monday including two-time Canadian Football League Most
Outstanding Defensive Player, linebacker Cameron Wake.
Wake garnered the defensiv
Coyotes reassign Schlemko to San Antonio >>
Glendale, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Phoenix Coyotes reassigned defenseman
David Schlemko to their American Hockey League affiliate, the San Antonio
Rampage, it was announced on Monday.
The 21-year-old Schlemko has scored four goals
Ravens RB McGahee released from hospital >>
Owings Mills, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ravens running back Willis McGahee was
released from a Pittsburgh hospital Monday morning, one day after he suffered
a frightening blow to the head during Baltimore's 23-14 loss to the Pittsburgh
Steeler
Orioles, Red Sox swap pitchers >>
Baltimore, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Baltimore Orioles acquired pitcher David
Pauley from the Boston Red Sox for pitcher Randor Bierd on Monday.
Pauley, 25, went 0-1 with an 11.68 ERA in six games (two starts) for the Red
Sox in 2008. He
BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES
It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.
BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES
All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.
COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES
Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.
TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES
Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.
RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.
PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.
JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.
SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.
VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES
Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.
DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES
Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.
SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES
I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.
BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES
Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.
BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES
Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.
RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES
A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.
PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers
Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting.
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