by Patrick 'Rey' Reynell A championship run can be the result of many factors effectively employed by coach and players. Some coaches are key motivators. Others, tactical savants whose genius becomes the more apparent during a golden run. But the one mitigating factor that no coach, general manager or player has control over is injury. An injury can occur at anytime, in … [Read more...] about 2010 FIFA World Cup: Didier Drogba’s Injury a Lesson in Sports Logistics
Chelsea
Soccer Splinters | July 22, 2009
by Patrick 'Rey' Reynell >Carlo Ancelotti newest Chelsea manager, already seeing transfer strain of EPL financial woes Italian manager Carlo Ancelotti left AC Milan to become the most recent manager at Stamford Bridge. This is Chelsea's fifth manager since hiring Jose Mourinho away from FC Porto in 2004. While Mourinho brought the club two Premier League titles and … [Read more...] about Soccer Splinters | July 22, 2009
The 2009 FA Cup: Battle of the Blues
by Patrick 'Rey' Reynell The 2009 FA Cup, to be played on Saturday May 30 at Wembley Stadium in London, pits a battle of the Blues, Chelsea and Everton. Each makes its return to the final game since its last FA championship. Chelsea returns after a one year absence from its 2007 win over Manchester United. Everton returns to the FA Cup final for the first time since its … [Read more...] about The 2009 FA Cup: Battle of the Blues
Note to Abramovich and Kerr: Don’t Burn Down the Empire
by Patrick 'Rey' Reynell Let me first get this off my chest: I'm a closet Chelsea fan. I started following soccer in 2006 and have somehow morphed into a fan of the Blues. I hate to admit it because, in my opinion, this leaves me in the same category as the thrall of Boston Red Sox fans that suddenly appeared post-2004. I wasn't around during Chelsea's … [Read more...] about Note to Abramovich and Kerr: Don’t Burn Down the Empire
On the Pitch with an American Novice: What’s in a Derby?
Conflict drives a plot forward. But we don’t use the term conflict in sports, we use rivalry. And they don’t use the term rivalry in soccer, they use derby. Although they may use a different name across the pond, the reasons are all the same. A bitter, often belligerent past, like that of the Yankees and Red Sox. Short distances causing territorial conflict, like the eight … [Read more...] about On the Pitch with an American Novice: What’s in a Derby?