21 years ago - City stop Chelsea going a season unbeaten

[HelloCity]

Arsenal are the only PL team to go a season unbeaten, however, Chelsea came close the season after but came a cropper when coming up against the City juggernaut.

City 1-0 Chelsea - October 2004

This would be the only game they lost all season.

 

[dickie davies]

The game that spawned the chant "your coat's from Matalan"

We would have beat them away as well if Fowler had buried that sitter in the final moments

 

[ninjamonkey]

Almost kind of wish we hadn't just to shut up those deluded fuckwit arsenal fans that genuinely believe going unbeaten is a better achievement than being centurions.

 

[paulchapo]

Great day that was. Chelsea had just taken off with all the money, got Mourhino as their manager while we were pretty average. We really rode our luck that day and I remember Mourhino constantly waving his arm on the touchline and being mimicked by the crowd behind him. Also the coat from Matalan thread. He finally twigged he was being mimicked and turned around and theatrically waved his arms to ironic cheers.

 

[Ray bloody Purchase]

If I recall, Sibierski was superb……..yes superb that day

 

[mad4city]

If I'm n9t mistaken, we drew 1-1 with them at Stamford Bridge that year too.
David James made an unbelievable save from Lampard at the end of that game. (I was only watching on telly, mind but) it was one of the greatest saves I have ever seen

Maddening how it never gets mentioned when the Sky suckathons, I mean, punditry goes down the road of great Premier League saves

 

[Mr Ed (The Stables)]

I still can't believe it wasn't a red card. More cheating by Sergeant Webb.

 

[stan bowles]

If I recall, Sibierski was superb……..yes superb that day

John Macken worked his socks off too that day.

 

[franksinatra]

Love the buzz and noise around the ground and the deafening whistles at the end.

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

I distinctly remember the James Lawton article on this game, think he was writing for the Times at the time.

Not been able to find it online, if anyone wants to test my memory!

The last paragraph was the part I remember best. It talked of the piss taking of Mourinho by City fans, and went on to observe that the Chelsea manager would never appreciate what we, as a group of supporters, had been through. The article was unquestionably upbeat about our victory.

The same James Lawton who repeatedly stuck the boot in after the takeover.

Don’t miss being patted on the head and told him plucky I am, tbh.

 

[Rhapsody in Blue]

Remember James’ save, was amazing. Was it after this game Chelsea decided to poach SWP and Anelka or am I confusing things?

 

[dickie davies]

Remember James’ save, was amazing. Was it after this game Chelsea decided to poach SWP and Anelka or am I confusing things?

When Chelsea bought SWP, Wayne Bridge was still at Chelsea and his reaction was "thank fuck for that" because he was always rinsed by SWP

Anelka left us for a Turkish club, then came back to England via fat sam and Bolton. That's who Chelsea bought him off

 

[Corky]

If I'm n9t mistaken, we drew 1-1 with them at Stamford Bridge that year too.
David James made an unbelievable save from Lampard at the end of that game. (I was only watching on telly, mind but) it was one of the greatest saves I have ever seen

Maddening how it never gets mentioned when the Sky suckathons, I mean, punditry goes down the road of great Premier League saves

You were mistaken. We didn't concede in the two games.

The first game Sun was doing really well but injured his ACL, however Keegan extended his contract whilst injured. He was playing left midfield but playing like a 2nd left back that game with SWP similar on the other side. It was the season Keegan decided to shut up shop with Mills and Thatcher.

Lampard had about 5 chances and James made 6/7 good saves.

The away 0-0 we only had that Fowler half chance all game, and a few more good saves from James.

Fulham broadway was shut after the game, passed Harrods walking back to central London.

 

[Gray]

Arsenal are the only PL team to go a season unbeaten, however, Chelsea came close the season after but came a cropper when coming up against the City juggernaut.

City 1-0 Chelsea - October 2004

This would be the only game they lost all season.

Good job there was no VAR, the penalty should have been retaken as the keeper was well off his line when Anelka kicked the ball.

 

[Gazza]

Good job there was no VAR, the penalty should have been retaken as the keeper was well off his line when Anelka kicked the ball.

Surely it doesn't matter if the penalty taker scores.

 

[Vienna_70]

Arsenal are the only PL team to go a season unbeaten, however, Chelsea came close the season after but came a cropper when coming up against the City juggernaut.

City 1-0 Chelsea - October 2004

This would be the only game they lost all season.

I watched it in a pub in Stoke. I was probably the only Blue in there.

I remember us being under the cosh for large periods of the game, but the feeling of elation at the final whistle was fantastic.

Of course, all PEG could do was moan about refereeing decisions.

 

[.db.]

Almost kind of wish we hadn't just to shut up those deluded fuckwit arsenal fans that genuinely believe going unbeaten is a better achievement than being centurions.

Arsenal’s unbeaten season isn’t even in the top fifteen best top-flight seasons of all-time:

City 100 pts 2017-18
Liverpool 99 pts 2019-20
City 98 pts 2018-19
Liverpool 98 pts (when 2 pts for a win is changed to 3 pts for a win) 1978-79
Liverpool 97 pts 2018-19
Chelsea 95 pts 2004-05
City 93 pts 2021-22
Chelsea 93 pts 2016-17
Liverpool 92 pts 2021-22
United 92 pts (when 2 pts for a win is changed to 3 pts for a win) 1956-57
United 92 pts 1993-94
City 91 pts 2023-24
Chelsea 91 pts 2005-06
United 91 pts 1999-00
United 90 pts 2008-09
…all the way down to 16th; Arsenal 90 pts 2003-04

Comparing the records of City’s Centurions season and Arsenal’s unbeaten season, it’s stark…

City 2017-18:
P38 W32 D4 L2 F106 A27 GD+79 Pts100

Arsenal 2003-04:
P38 W26 D12 L0 F73 A26 GD+47 Pts90

Arsenal in 2023-24 actually won more games and scored more goals in getting 89 pts (but finishing 2nd) than their unbeaten season in 2003-04.

Arsenal also lost more games in their so-called unbeaten season in all competitions (6) than City did in 2023-24 (5).

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

Arsenal’s unbeaten season isn’t even in the top fifteen best top-flight seasons of all-time:

City 100 pts 2017-18
Liverpool 99 pts 2019-20
City 98 pts 2018-19
Liverpool 98 pts (when 2 pts for a win is changed to 3 pts for a win) 1978-79
Liverpool 97 pts 2018-19
Chelsea 95 pts 2004-05
City 93 pts 2021-22
Chelsea 93 pts 2016-17
Liverpool 92 pts 2021-22
United 92 pts (when 2 pts for a win is changed to 3 pts for a win) 1956-57
United 92 pts 1993-94
City 91 pts 2023-24
Chelsea 91 pts 2005-06
United 91 pts 1999-00
United 90 pts 2008-09
…all the way down to 16th; Arsenal 90 pts 2003-04

Strange that the greatest team in the history of football, United’s Treble winning team of 1998-99 doesn’t make that list…

 

[Corky]

Arsenal’s unbeaten season isn’t even in the top fifteen best top-flight seasons of all-time:

City 100 pts 2017-18
Liverpool 99 pts 2019-20
City 98 pts 2018-19
Liverpool 98 pts (when 2 pts for a win is changed to 3 pts for a win) 1978-79
Liverpool 97 pts 2018-19
Chelsea 95 pts 2004-05
City 93 pts 2021-22
Chelsea 93 pts 2016-17
Liverpool 92 pts 2021-22
United 92 pts (when 2 pts for a win is changed to 3 pts for a win) 1956-57
United 92 pts 1993-94
City 91 pts 2023-24
Chelsea 91 pts 2005-06
United 91 pts 1999-00
United 90 pts 2008-09
…all the way down to 16th; Arsenal 90 pts 2003-04

Comparing the records of City’s Centurions season and Arsenal’s unbeaten season, it’s stark…

City 2017-18:
P38 W32 D4 L2 F106 A27 GD+79 Pts100

Arsenal 2003-04:
P38 W26 D12 L0 F73 A26 GD+47 Pts90

Arsenal in 2023-24 actually won more games and scored more goals in getting 89 pts (but finishing 2nd) than their unbeaten season in 2003-04.

Arsenal also lost more games in their so-called unbeaten season in all competitions (6) than City did in 2023-24 (5).

90 points in 38 is close to 99.5 in 42 and you have at 3 x 42 games seasons in that list with less points, and if you are level on points with a better GD you wouldn't rank it below.

From that list Arsenal's was the best season at the time.

However Preston would be 100.2 points compared to a 38 game 3 points season, and also unbeaten, but missed off the list.

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

Almost kind of wish we hadn't just to shut up those deluded fuckwit arsenal fans that genuinely believe going unbeaten is a better achievement than being centurions.

Going unbeaten tries to imply yer've won every game, but it's the paupers' version of thirty eight wins.