Just think back to the weekend of August 16 and the excitement as Chelsea kicked off against Portsmouth. Scolari was doing his business on the touchline, and optimism was all around us.
Anelka scored a few, and then on the eve of the final whistle, Deco unleashes a forty yard screamer which David James hits into his own net.
4-0, and the season begins.
That’s my first goal of the season. I’m going to look back and pick out the best goals, and why they made the season memorable.
The second goal I’m going to pick is Anelka vs. Sunderland, at Stamford Bridge.
It was the 1001th goal in Chelsea history, and it wasn’t exciting at all. A corner connected by Alex, who sweeped the ball. Fulop knocks it out.
Anelka finishes it uncleanly.
Why this goal? Because it was the moment when I realised Anelka was here for good.
I’d previously laughed him off as a mediocre striker. This was enhanced by the Champions League final penalty miss. Even his few early goals weren’t enough.
Then this goal made me see the error of his ways, that he really was good. And because he smiled. Rare days.
The third goal I’ve picked is Anelka once again (no surprises, as he did win the Golden Boot) against Aston Villa.
It was Guus Hiddink’s first game in charge, and I was psyched. Being Aussie, you can’t help but love Guus after the World Cup 2006 with Australia, against all the odds.
So I knew he was destined for success when he arrived.
Lampard and Anelka’s one two, and classy finish. Birth of a short lived, but much loved era.
The fourth goal is Alex vs. Liverpool. This has no symbolic meaning. I just love it. When he stepped up I laughed, then I remembered last season’s Boro hit.
I texted my friend “Bet you he scores.”
Bamm! Back of the net and Chelsea return the balance of power in the Champions League quarters. And no text message reply!
The fifth goal is none other than the one that would be my all time favourite goal. Except, it’s Essien’s vs. Barcelona. Can you work it out now?
The kings of good football were at SW6, and Essien jumps out hits it on his LEFT foot. God! Best goal, top corner. No chance! What a goal!
But the goal that truly defines our season, and the past two years’, is Andres Iniesta’s.
Essien scores his cracker, and after another eight minutes, Chelsea are surely headed to Rome. Then Essien slides out and misses the ball. The ball rolls tantasingly in front of Iniesta. Despair. Broken at the last minute. Worse than Moscow.
Again, second best. Beaten in the dying seconds.
We were second best in the 07/08 Premier League on the final day. We were second best in the Champions League final in Moscow, pipped at the literal post by John Terry’s fatal last minute slip.
Manchester City stole Robinho from under our noses in the final minutes of deadline day. And Iniesta’s goal in the 93rd minute.
So there you have it. My five goals.
Not necessarily the prettiest, but the goals that made 08/09 so landmark.
There were many commendable recommendations, like Lampard vs. Stoke and Lampard vs. Ipswich. But these are my pick. And the Iniesta goal? For sentimental purposes it’s there.
But let’s forget about it for now and look forward to the 09/10 season, with Carlo at the helm.
And for my number one goal of 08/09, Essien vs. Barcelona. Crap circumstances in the end, but too good to resist.
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