Category Archives: Local derbies

Who’s Chelsea’s Number One Rival?

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There’s been much discussion about who Chelsea’s biggest rival is. Andy Jacobs on TalkSPORT reckoned it was currently Liverpool, in view of their recent acrimony with Rafa Benitez and the Champions League encounters. The local rival is, of course, Fulham, but that’s a one-way hatred, Fulham not having inflicted many stings to spoil Chelsea’s picnic over the years. Then there’s Leeds – “Wash your mouth out, son” and all that – but again, it’s more Leeds hating Chelsea than Chelsea hating Leeds, Chelsea having won that spiteful Cup Final in 1970, and you suspect that a large proportion of Chelsea fans under the age of 25 might not realise that their club have ever even played Leeds.

These recent years of success under the Abramovich regime will have thrown up a few on-field rivals, such as Man United, Liverpool and Arsenal, but these are rivalries based mainly on competition for the big prizes. Real football rivalry is about much more than that, and when it comes to that inborn acrimony that lingers in the blood, regardless of form or fortune, the one that has history on and off the pitch, Chelsea’s number one rival has to be Spurs.

Especially after last night’s kaning.

Are we right? Or are we right?

Manchester United Win

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So, a goal to United, thanks to David De Gea. What a difference six months makes. Back in March it was David Moyes under the cosh as his United flops went down 3-0 at home to Liverpool, handing out penalties like U2 giving away albums. This time it was Brendan Rodgers getting the “Sacked in the morning…” treatment, as Old Trafford found its voice again, with one particular old fave from the Thatcher era to the tune of You’ll Never Walk Alone.

Now the focus turns from the North-West to the North-East, with Newcastle v Sunderland being dished up with next Sunday’s lunch. Which is the bigger club? The Magpies are currently seven points and seven places higher than their local rivals and narrowly edge the all-time record with 53 victories to Sunderland’s 50, but the Mackems have made a habit of winning this one 3-0 in recent years.

Jack Colback will be the centre of attention, having crossed the divide from Sunderland to Newcastle in the summer and joining a surprisingly long list of players who’ve played for both sides. That move alone was 1-0 to the Geordies but if Sunderland can make it three 3-0s in a row, they’ll be claiming that goal back and more besides.

So where does the balance of power really lie in the North-East? You tell us.

Newcastle 100 Sunderland 0
Sunderland 100 Newcastle 0

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