League Cup: Chelsea 2 - 1 Everton

1. Shaun's best performance in Blue since his two-goal show at Upton Park last year. Our man of a match by a wide margin.

2. I have to disagree with your inclusion of Carvalho in the good. While I agree that we'd be insane to let him go in the summer (and he is our best defender in my eyes), I thought he struggled a bit today. But for the fact that he missed McFadden with that two-footed tackle, he'd have seen red. Our best defender for sure but not tonight. Bridge and Beletti, however, were great.

3. According to the match commentators, Anelka would NOT be cup tied. And that's good news.

Wherever you may be...

Although Shaun Wright-Phillips did have an extremely impressive performance in the centre (he should stay there permanently; we need a new winger!), Ballack's quick-thinking chip for our winning goal was simply astounding for me. Since his return from injury, he has been simply unstoppable, making massive contributions to every game in which he has played since the epic 4-4 draw against Villa, just when we need him most. Tonight was no exception.

It looks like we're finally seeing the player we had such high expectations for in the summer of 2006. If he keeps this up this form, he's definitely going to get my vote for Player of the Season.

According to Avram Grant, we will also have Anelka secured for Saturday.

The only way is up at the moment!

Lescott's arm across Belletti in the area was pretty similiar to Arteta's supposed assault on Fabregas. Nice to see Belletti just picked himself up and didn't roll around for ten minutes like Fabregas.

Is Anelka really coming in on Saturday against the Spurs? I thought Bolton rejected the bid.

Pizarro, he's simply pathetic. Selling him is the only way.

I don't know why everyone is saying we have to sell Pizarro. I can't understand anyone wanting to borrow him for a game of cards, let alone buy him off us to score goals.

I need to find out what SWP had for breakfast. He's much better in midfield because he doesn't have to cross the ball.

I thought Malouda played really well. A few groans from the crowd when he passed back instead of forward but he made some decent runs forward; and he can take a corner.

Pizarro was better and moved from an average rating of 1 to a 3. His work rate and involvement were better.

Overall a top performance. Aside from 10 minutes after the sending off we dominated and you could see the team were really up for it, as were the crowd.

Are you sure Mikel will be able to use up his ban whilst he's away? I thought you had to be available (excluding injury) for a game to count.

Great result and a superb game; we've possibly become a little too blase about semi-finals in recent years (especially league cup ones)but that was a cracker. I couldn't do anything but laugh when SWP was climbing up onto Lescott's shoulders to see where the ball was...

Not sure about Mikel's ban (how many of his red cards with us have actually been deserved, by the way?). Now the one footed sliding tackle seems to have been outlawed too; knee-jerk nonsense from the officials? But as Peter Crouch said, you wouldn't catch English players rolling around like tarts - presumably there was something else wrong with Phil Neville as Mikel didn't even make contact as far as I could see.

Ballack superb again - he and Mikel had the midfield sewn up until the red. Everton looked like a team who hadn't been in a semi for a decade or so; we negated their threat almost completely but it was surprising how anonymous the likes of Cahill, Johnson and Yakubu were in general. think they'll be less nervous for the return leg with Goodison behind them. Arteta will make a difference if he is back, I'd imagine. Can't wait - should be an excellent game.

What do people think about the idea that if we had still had Jose that he would of shut up shop after the red card/equaliser?
Is Avram Grant starting to show that he is willing to always play attacking football?

In agreement with SWP as man of the match, although Ballack also deserves a mention, I thought he patrolled midfield superbly all game.

The fact that half our team cant tackle is a worry, and will continue to haunt us. Whether the red card was warranted or not, it was an awful (attempt at a) challenge. Stupidly, I kind of expect people earning £50k+ a week to be able to perform something as simple as a tackle. Not sure what goes through Carvalho's head when he's in those last-man-50/50 situations, other than 'I'm going to jump on him...'.

At times, it looked like we played with 10 men before the sending-off. Pizarro had little impact on the game at all, apart from a glaring toe-punt when put expertly through by SWP. Not sure what Sinclair has done to go from starter in the FA Cup to not in last nights squad unless he was injured ??

Hilario is exceptional and abysmal in equal measures. Flap-tastically nowhere when coming to punch for Yakubu's goal, made up for it with his save at the death from Lescott. Nowhere near staking a claim as our number 2. With both him and Cudicini ageing, is it time to look at a younger back-up keeper ??

Once Mikel had gone, it looked like Chelsea from days of old (well, JM's time anyway). Backs-to-the-wall stuff, performing in the face of adversity.

Overall, a deserved win. Even with Arteta's return, I think we'll be too strong at Goodison, and they'll be missing their main goal threat in Yakubu, and their best CB in Yobo.

And lastly. Regular blog readers will be aware of my scary obsession with trying to sign David Villa. In their most recent game, Valencia plumbed to a new depth by drawing 0-0 at home with Levante who are bottom of La Liga. For the love of God, save him from this new low at the Mestalla.

Rob...

JM could still have attacked despite being 1-man down...(west ham @ the bridge last season i think)...

I think the guys were sharper both in passing and attacking yesterday...more like purposeful football...The decision to bring in ferreira for pizzaro paid off...Belletti joined the attack fully and SWP moved into the middle...I think that was sharp thinking from the bench...

Pizzaro did let us down, but good thing we won...Good to see SWP flourishing, hope he sustains this form...Was a beautiful thing seeing the team play yesterday...heart n all...

Some of us forget that most teams coming to the bridge dont require any motivation to play...the fact that they could put their name on the records as the 'last team to beat chelsea @ bridge' is enough motivation for teams so they give it a shot whenever they can...For the team to still hold their own and sustain the record is no mean feat...

Let the striker(s) come in fast...so we can show others that blue is still the colour....

Always Blue!

Obi got sent off because he's Obi. You could almost see the poor lad thinking "don't go in two-footed, don't go in two footed..." so he goes in one-footed, Neville Minor takes a flying leap and off he goes. Yes, according to all reports he can serve the ban while in Ghana.

@Stowe -- matter of opinion of course but I thought Riccy was absolutely outstanding. For me he was the key to making a good team look pretty ordinary, until the sending off.

Arteta's missed both of Everton's games at our place so far (thanks Cesc Fabregas for getting him sent off the other week!). They had no one to pull strings in midfield and were completely dominated there. If he's back, we'll need a proper defensive midfielder for the return leg -- hope Maka is fit and on form. But without Yakubu and Yobo they will be *much* weaker than they were last night, and injuries permitting we should be as strong or stronger. I think we'll squeeze through.

@ Rob -- interesting. I'm pretty sure José would have tightened up and accepted 1-1. But I'm not sure AG was doing anything different -- taking Joe off and putting in Sidwell, then taking Pizzarro off and putting in Paulo, with SWP of all people shoved up front as a lone striker -- surely that's an entirely defensive formation, hoping to use SWP's speed to nick one on the breakaway?

What may be true is that the players clearly felt happy to keep on attacking right to the end, even with ten men, and under José they might have felt they didn't have that license. So, yes, perhaps a sign that AG has changed the basic attitude, if not the tactical thinking.

Agree with JD -- really good game, good atmosphere, lots of positive vibes. After some sluggish performances let's hope this gets the team going (just the point Joe was making about the Carling Cup in his interview).

I think Mikel has gained himself an unfair reputation with officials these days,they don't even hesitate to show the red to him. I'm all for ex players perhaps sitting on appeals panels to see if tackles deserve reds.
Alan Smith in the commentary thought it was harsh, so did Peter Reid in the studio. You could even see the Everton players reaction, that they didn't see it as a malicious tackle, they were showing some sympathy towards him.

That's the third sending off for the lad on the trot, which most pundits felt certainly warranted yellows as opposed to reds, perhaps he has got to learn the difference between a 50/50 ball, and a lost cause.

And I think we certainly need a different option up front whether it's Anelka or someone else, but Pizzaro isn't going to get us important goals in big games.

Impressed with Chelsea. Their first half performance was terrific and could have scored a few more then (Ballack's free kick, for example), and even after we went down to 10 men and Everton equalised, we never stopped pressurizing, and deserved that last-minute winner. Putting SWP up front by himself was a good call.

Pizarro's still crap, though.

Maybe some of the changes didnt reflect an attact formation, but there have been many times when I've felt that we have defended far too deep towards the ends of games (especially when 1 nil up) but it was nice to see the guys, even with one man down, trying to get the win, even with another 90 minutes to go.

Excellent game and superb performance. Few comments on individual players.

Mikel - feel sorry for him. He makes the odd silly tackle but has received four red cards, three of them (including yesterday) that could be described as very, very harsh. If we outlaw the straight legged, sliding, controlled, one-footed challenge, with the foot raised to block the ball, we are going to see a lot of tacklers get injured - it is not dangerous to the recipient in the slightest and cannot be compared to the sort of two footed leaps we've seen from Crouch and Carvalho, or the one-footed stamps from Eboue and Adeyboyer. Joe Cole has commited more dangerous tackles than Mikel in the last two years but gets away with it; Carsley and Neville both commited more dangerous and more cynical tackles last night and got away with it. The problem with a reputation is that they are very easy to make and very difficult to shake.

Pizarro - Leading the line in a 4-3-3 where you're acting as part decoy and part battering ram is a thankless task and I thought Pizarro made a decent fist of it. He makes things difficult for the opposition and creates space for others. What he doesn't have is a goal threat. But he's overly criticised. He's our fourth-choice striker without much match practice in an unfamiliar role and we're still getting results, so he must be doing something right. See also: Sidwell. These are bit part players who are still adapting to a new club - remember how long it took Bridge to realise that at Chelsea you had to control and pass the ball rather than just hoof it: it's a different climate. Give them support.

SWP - absolutely superb in the middle. He seems to make the right decisions when he's playing there, buzzes around brilliantly and almost reminds me of Dennis Wise! Cracking game and thoroughly deserved his goals (well, goal and a half).

Malouda - looked like Everton were targetting him on his comeback, but he took their punishment and thrived. Despite the whinges, he's a tough cookie, a clever footballer and gave a really strong performance. Like Ballack, he's come back just at the right time. Let's hope he can keep the form up, cos we're going to need him in the next few weeks.

Really chuffed with yesterday. Well done all.

At least Sidwell got his studs with body weight into Carsley, who certainly felt it.
For this "tackle" I think Sidwell should be removed from "The Bad" column, as a gesture of our appreciation!

Malouda for me was the one that made me happiest - for all his chitter chatter about England and moaning about the lifestyle he showed committment last night. He ran and ran and ran and having been out for over a month it showed where his heart is - he is a great player and when he is match fit again he will be a force on the left.

SWP was simply awesome - he should be given a bonus before the game and everytime he crosses the ball he loses money from it. When he does the dart like runs and one twos he is almost unplayable.

Ballack - the big German had me wanting to stand up and sing 'Das Lied der Deutschen' - i love this man and i love him more for the way he has come back when all seemed to doubt and criticise him.

I agree about carvalho - but all Chelsea defenders are that way - le boeuf - chopper etc. Its the hurt them mentality. Personally it makes me proud.

Oh and seriously how the f**k does someone like pizzarro get paid to play football!!

He is quite simply useless - a chocolate tea pot if ever there was one.

Glad anelka will be blue come saturday.

@Munkeyfeet

I don't think you can compare Lebeefs tackling to Chopper!

Do you like to go in with both Munkeyfeet?

Mark you are right chopper was just a class above - carvalho at times shows glimpses of his brilliance.

No i dont like to go in with both - well it depends on what i am doing obviously :) - but i love the fact they see themselves as warriors and get that bit over hyped. Its that - you might get past me but if you do at least one of your legs will be missing.......pure class.

Now that is one lucky man this Avram Grant... Lucky man he is...

But like they say...you create your luck...imagine SWP having an influence in a high goal scored....

Any chance of Cech, Lamps, Maka or Shev coming back for Saturday? Kudos to the boys for keeping Malouda's return under wraps.

Peter,

Lamps is the most unlikely to be back, think he's supposed to be out until the end of the month.

Not sure about the others, although there was talk Cech had an outside chance of being back last night so I dont think he's far off returning.

Don't know about the rest, but with Malouda's surprise return last night, I guess anything could happen.

We may even have some new players available for the Spuds game.

On another note...

Former Chelsea striker Mateja Kezman has revealed he wants to become a monk. He says he spends as much time thinking about God as he can and claims that his only vice is tattoos, but is becoming less obsessed with them thanks to the Lord's help. (The Sun)

He certainly didn't display a vice for goal scoring while he was here...

I can think of a number of occassions where we went down to 10 men under Mourinho and then subsequently scored.

Barcelona at the Bridge (our last defeat there ). West Ham a couple of years ago. 1-0 down and Maniche sent off. 4-1 win. 1-1 at the Emirates last season.

Nevertheless, it was a great performance last night and we fully deserved the win especially after playing most of the second half 10 v. 12. It seemed like someone thought that it was unfair thatwe were so much better than Everton and that things needed evening up!

Come back later when i have more time but a couple of quick points.....

Hell of atmosphere there last night. Sat behind the goal in MHL away from my usual spot in west lower and stood the entire match. i'm sure we sucked that last minute goal in; for me i'm convinced SWP made contact with the ball.

Referee was total crap.

as was Pizarro and sidwell when he came on. agree with general views on bridge and belletti, particularly in the 2nd half when they never stopped running. also SWP; and ballack looked imperious.

everton looked average at best, like the prem game but they 'stole' a draw in that. even down to ten we carried the game to them.

LINK We will always have the most rock solid defense in the league! UP BLUES

As usual I pretty much agree with the post and consensus of the comments, my emphases are that Mikel's tackle wasn't a two-footed lunge like Crouch's, and if that was a red, then Lescott's challenge on Belleti was a penalty. I'm not so sure of the substitutions, as a defender(Ferreira) was brought on for an attacker (Pizarro) before the second goal, which suggests the management were going to settle for the draw. Have to admit to being a Ballack fan-in-waiting since the 02 World Cup, but he has been phenomenal considering the lay-off he's had. Agree with Peter's comment above too that getting behind the 'squad' players is more likely to help them rather than having the monkey on their back, so that they're tryimg too hard not too make a mistake, rather than relaxing a bit, being creative, and confidence is an exponential thing. Excellent through pass from Malouda for SWP's nicely taken goal, and it seemed justice that Lescott was in part at fault for the second goal after his 'foul' on, and subequent handbags with Belleti. Good effort. A deserved win. Hopefully there'll be more firepower up front for the second leg, and yes, I wish it woul be in the form of David Villa too =)

JD i saw that...

tried to think of one moment of glory for na na na na na(etc) kezmannnnn but all i could remember was him scoring a penalty against newcastle in 04 season maybe- after jose yelled out for kezman to take it in an attempt to find him some form... hopefully he has better luck finding god...

memories are hazy as i was in amsterdam-sure the chelsea faithful will correct me if need be...

That's one of them Dylbo... he did bag one in the League Cup final against the Scousers which makes him a little more fondly remembered than some of our errant 'goalscorers'...

yeah, but i've been to liverpool and came to the conclusion that just about anyone can score up there (or was it my aussie accent?)... except for us in the champs league of course..

good luck to kezman, i dont mind seeing a player not work out for us, i just dislike negative attitudes...

one thing i would like to know- what is the mood like in the dressing room when droggles comes out with his claims that he wants to leave...

surely its a bit unsettling for everyone.. having said that, its clear he is a sound chap, given his moves to unify his home country- im sure he is well liked at the bridge by the players...

i would love to be a fly on the wall when mr grant gives him a tactic that he disapproves of..

Whilst I try and get behind most squad players, like Sidwell who at least tries, and Hilario who doesn't do a Lehman and cry to the press every time he's relegated back to 3rd choice I can't do it for Pizzaro.

A clunker is a clunker and that's it. Pizzaro is a clunker of the highest order If being bad was an Olympic discipline then Pizzaro is gold medal material. Sorry Peter and David I've seen enough for me to state clearly that Pizzaro isn't good enough for anyone in the EPL, let alone us.

Tony - dont apologise - he is beyond a clunker - i really cant stand him either and i am one of the first int he stands to defend a squad player.

Its like being 16 and getting your first game in the senior team - you shite yourself and everything abandons you!

Saw this on another site which made me laugh

in theory it's 12 vs 9

ref + everton vs the 9 of chelsea (pizarro is so useless he doesn't count as a player)

Fair enough Tony, I'd rather give somebody a bit more time than half-a-dozen starts and a handful of 15-minute substitute appearances. Especially when he's been injured and is playing in a new league in an unfamiliar formation.

I thought his performance yesterday was fine, nothing more, nothing less, but it seems there has to be a boo boy at Stamford Bridge these days.

LINK

Interesting comments from Bundesliga-watchers on here.

@ Peter - I don't need or want a boo-boy at Stamford bridge, but I refuse to quietly and blindly to the club line on players who I believe aren't fir to play for us. Pizzaro has contributed next to nothing on the field and off the field is picking up some derogatory nicknames from his team mates, such is his all round lack of capability.

I am willing to admit he might knock a hat trick against Spurs but it'll take a bloody big change in intelligence, pace and capability for that to happen. Lest we forget, he hasn't come with a reputation like Sheva, who despite his issues has NEVER shown the level of apathy or disinterest that Pizzaro has. It wasn't like anyone else was queueing up for him was it? If we were that desperate then why not stick with Sahar and Sinclair as backup strikers......even you have to admit they couldn't have done much worse than Pizzaro. And adaptation time is not a good enough excuse either. He's had plenty of games lately and shown NO improvement at all. For an alleged pro I think he's not even in the same league as Chris Sutton.

Tony - dont you be knocking the Sutton!! My word him and Flo - that brings back memories - we do kill the odd striker dont we - Casiraghi springs to mind!!

Pizarro though i agree totally 20 odd games and 1 goal!

Sahar couldn't even get into the team at QPR.

Tony, I don't think you appreciate how difficult it is to play the centre-forward position in a 4-3-3 formation. Drogba is perhaps the only player in the world who can do the donkey work required AND get the goals and he was still slammed by Chelsea fans who couldn't see the work he was putting in until we switched to 4-4-2 and suddenly the goals started to flood.

As I said before, Pizarro has no goal threat, but his linking and all-round play is more than adequate. He was not 'apathetic' in the slightest last night - the whole team worked their socks off.

Personally, I was much more concerned with another pisspoor performance from Joe Cole, who really doesn't have any excuses.

True Peter - joe has been underperforming but then we took him from West Ham as a good centre midfielder and JM turned him into a winger. if we could play him in a more central role he would be better but then with SWP playing well in the middle and all those to come back i dont know how we can accommodate them all!!

Even if Pizzaro knocks in a hat trick against the spuds, would it be enough?

Keep in mind that away goals count double - see rule 13.5 LINK

I was fairly impressed with Pizarro during pre-season and the first few games of the season proper - he even made it into "The good" section against Liverpool and Reading:

"Claudio Pizarro. Looks very much the quintessential Premier League striker. Based on what we’ve seen of him so far, we need not worry quite so much about Didier Drogba’s participation in next year’s African Cup of Nations."

I think he's suffering from a lack of confidence more than anything. I remember the look on his face when he was introduced in place of Joe Cole against Newcastle: for a brief second he looked genuinely shocked when the boos rang out.

Drogba's first touch during his first season at the Bridge was equally as bad, and Drogba was booed at the time, which I don't think he's ever forgotten.

Hopefully Pizarro will improve a bit on his last few appearances, though the arrival of Anelka will probably limit his playing time again.

I agree with Peter that Joe Cole has been average of late - he nearly made it into the bad section. He's not a patch on the Joe Cole of two seasons ago.

Whilst some have thrived under Avram, Joe Cole seems to be going backwards; for all the stick Jose gave him, he made him a far better (and more disciplined) player.

I thought Pizarro did OK last night; it was notable how quickly the ball came back at us when he went off as he was holding play up pretty well. Shooting is down to confidence; his Bundesliga record was decent (1 every other game or so) and he was rarely first choice.

@Nick Benfield

I agree with you regarding Pizzaro, he could have not his game
he was very very efficient when in Bayern, ok he is not showing the pedigree yet, but he is one of those players that needs to be motivated,remember ballack?? he was a shadow of his talent but since FL is out he plays better.
malouda played better and he is another one that needs motivation like so many of the chelsea players, but is something that AG lacks, but makes it out for the luck that he has( i.e. another own goal).
I liked parts of the match and i was there, end to end attacking football, the substitution was a repeat of a game against WestHam of last season,( maybe SC asked AG to do it) so I am not too impressed with that, though everybody knows the original position of Belletti was at midfield, so to take out Pizza and replace him with ferreira, BTW in my opinion when in form he is the best RB in europe, so what the substitution tells me is that AG was going for the draw, but again the luck, of the man, stoke again. SWP i always liked him since his days in ManCity.
I think it is going to be another final between Chelsea and Arsenal a repeat of last year.
Now I am going to ring AG and have a chat he loves me to bi6ts that b0i.

This just got to come out

@ Marco

I liked parts of the match and i was there, end to end attacking football, the substitution was a repeat of a game against WestHam of last season,( maybe SC asked AG to do it)

I am going to ignore your statements from now onwards because they are filled with anti-Grant sentiments...

No credit with Good and all faults with the bad...piss poor if you ask me...

@To the rest (excluding Marco)

We should release Sidwell. I can not believe JM released Diarra and acquired Sidwell... That is the biggest hole in our team.

Free Free Free let us give him out for free...how much are we paying this block????

At least Pizza gets involved in the attack build ups but all this guy knows how to play is to play the ball back...No confidence no skill... Please release this player while we still can...

I think the reason Joe Cole has under performed recently with Avram, is probably he's been told to be more inventive and creative with our so called new sexy football. That equals one thing in Joe Cole's mind, party tricks and show boating... yes JD he was a much improved player under JM's dictatorship.

I agree Clive - if you have been told for 3 years Dont do this, Do this, Dont do that, then someone says just go out and play - it takes time to "free your mind" from the constraints that have become habit!!

Give him time and we will see a J Cole that is a blend of AG / JM and that will be great!

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls.... It's official!!!
Claudio Pizzaro is the worst player ever played for Chelsea.

Now about the game. I thought it was very exciting. I kinda expect that it was going to be cagey and... you know, being Everton and all I thought they were gonna make it very defensive but the way SWP scored the first goal just summed up our dominance of the game. By the way, that SWP's first half goal was genius. I bet my bottom dollar that if it's C.Ronaldo or Rooney or Fabregas that scored that goal, the entire press are gonna go on and on of how beautiful it was and how genius it was - "Another show of class and talent of a true football genius" - that sort of headlines. But because it's a Chelsea player, nothing. No praise whatsoever. Remember Lampard's goal against Barcelona at Nou Camp last season? If it was the other way around, say... a certain Ronaldinho that scored that goal, my God... we'll never hear the end of it.
Anyway, we are one match away from the final. I can smell Wembley now!

Go Chelsea!!

@ Peter - I appreciate it fully, but he failed in a 4-4-2 as well when we tried it. I'll stick with my view that he simply isn't good enough. You have your view and I have mine. We'll have to agree to differ because only a remarkable turn around in his contribution will persuade me and that looks as likely as Kylie having my baby and Bill Gates giving me all his money.

And just so you know...I have been a 100% Drogba fan from the days he was at Marseille and wanted him before JM came on the scene. There is a huge gulf in capability between Drogba and Pizzaro, whatever the formation.

Oh..and marco....you simply can't compare the respective pedigrees of Pizzaro and Ballack. ballack has performed at the highest level domestically and internationally. Whatever you may think World Class Peruvian strikers are as abundant as World Class Scottish goalkeepers and World Class German Comedians.

Oh dear Tony now you want Kylie, whatever has happened to that poor girl Jennifer Anniston? First Brad Pitt and now you, poor girl, I know your type!! you give men a bad name ;-)

Allardyce has been sacked - no chance of offloading Ben Haim now. Damn. :-)

Clive, if it's female and has a pulse.....that's just about my only criteria! if you see jen, please don't tell her I'm off with Kylie!

BTW Peter - Sahar might not have got in at QPR, but does that really stop us giving him the experience in games like last nights? I hate to say Arsenal seem to have the right idea for this competition, but they do. They use it a chance to see what the youngsters can do and to give them experience. We give ours 10 minutes at the end of a game we're already winning. What do you think provides the most value to the youngsters? It's hardly the most high priority competition is it? I'd rather try and get a run with some newbies and fall at the semi's than persevere with the likes of Pizzaro.

Good old Newcastle....guaranteed to make our board look the height of professionalism. I like Sam and don't think he has had a chance there. The players attitude didn't help either. When will clubs like theirs and ours learn about the value of continuity?

Watch them plummet now.

Well if Liverpoo sack clueless Raffa and appoint big Sam we should have them playing in that fizzy drink league with a bit of luck.

Allardyce was probably on shaky ground from the start because apparently he wasn't Mike Ashley's choice.

8 of 20 Premier League managers have lost their job this season, which is crazy. The two best teams have the longest serving managers - it's not rocket science.

I'd like to think Nick that we're also one of the best teams in the league, but yes you're quite right it isn't rocket science

@ Jose Musumba

Thank God 4 that the only good think when you write in this blog is your first name.

> Marco...

Sounds like you are just disappointed 'AGAIN' that the boys had such a very good game with AG 'in charge'...Your bias is very very transparent...take a look at the various posts up here and you'll see that even those who have 'issues' with AG's appointment still provided some balanced, objective comments...

You dont have to take a swipe at the guy when there's no need to...just be patient a little, he's bound to lose 1 or 2 games sometime (though i dont know how soon), then you can come out with your daggers drawn...but for now, oblige him some compliment 'cos wether you like it or not, he's doing well...The results (given the circumstances) speak for themselves...

Looking forward to another 3 points from spuds...

Always Blue!

Not exactly leaping to Pizzarro's defence but the people who are trying to be fair to him had some justification yesterday. His first touch seemed much better (i.e. he didn't lose possession 100% of the time) and he managed to hold the ball up okay and do the odd nifty bit of possession work in an advanced midfield position.

What he doesn't seem to be able to do is take a shot, or muscle off defenders in the box ... striker stuff. I don't think he's not trying. He just seems way way off the pace and muscularity of the Premiership (or even the Carling Cup). I'd also rather see Sahar in there.

But as for the worst player ever at Chelsea... he's not even the worst player in the team now! Stand up and take a bow, Mr. Steven Sidwell!

As Pizarro seems to be the whipping boy around here, I will join. Far from being "not pacy" he is just plain old slow. Sheva may have lost a step but there are still times when he is faster than the man marking him. Not so with Pizarro, who seems mired in quicksand as he makes his jogs forward.

The team in general, on the other hand, seems energetic and aggressive. Ballack has been nothing short of amazing since his return and he really seems to help Mikel. Carvalho is in great form but seems bound and determined to cripple an opposing player before the season is over. I only ask that he waits until C. Ronaldo is in his sights before he unleashes the two footed leap he seems to have been practicing.

Ok then, time for less of the arguing. How about we all (try to) get along while we discuss: The worst Chelsea signing!

Come on guys, were all missing a player who, until this summer, we were still paying 60k a week for: juan seb veron. The only comparable awfulness in recent times has been ambrosio. Me shudders

Max...worse than Bogarde? Jokanovic?

Speaking of rubbish forwards, David Mitchell has been given the job as manager of Perth Glory (no, honest) in the A-League. He got sent from the touchline recently for hoofing a water bottle twenty yards onto the pitch when the ref made a bad decision.

On whatever the ESPN channel on Sky is last night, they re-ran us v the Spuds from 1994.

We won 4 - 3 (similar result Saturday please), with a last minute Mark Stein penalty after Dmitri Kharine saved an earlier Andy Gray effort, but what came flooding back to me were the memories of.....the actual goals.

Since the need to have the posts holding the net at the back, I'd completely forgotten the Bridge used to have the best goals ever. They resembled over-sized, 5-a-side goals. It's all coming back now.....

Mitchell is the worst player I have ever seen on the football pitch. I hated Zenden and Panucci - now there were players who didn't give a toss - and thought Ambrossetti was a different kind of clueless. But when it comes to overpriced awfulness, you can't beat a bit of Sharon Dickens. My god, he stank.

Nobody we've had in the last four years come close: even Boulahrouz had a cracking game on his debut.

Fifty - didn't Stein's penalty come back out the goal from the back of the stanchion? For a split second I thought it had the post - then, bedlam!

Been trying to think of my favourite victory over Spurs and I still can't get past the 3-2 at the Bridge in 89 when they turned up 15 minutes later cos their coach got clamped and Lineker put a penalty into the North Stand. Hilarious!

Peter,

Yeah, he absolutley smashed it top corner, but due to the frame of the goals, it hit the stanchion and came straight out, the net didn't move.

Ian Walker's just sitting in a heap in the middle of the goal, close to tears. Priceless.

Personal favourite is December 1997. 1 - 1 at half time at White Hart Lane, then Tore Andre Flo decides he's a bit bored and hammers in a hat-trick. IIRC even Mark Nicholls scored. We won 6 - 1. Happy Days.

The 6-1 was funny, but they were so bad at the time and we didn't actually play all that well. I loved Durie's first game against us at WHL when we won 3-1. Great atmosphere - Durie never crossed the half-line he was bricking himself so badly.

I see the Emirates didn't sell out last night. If I was a three-year-old I'd be on the Arsenal boards taking the piss. The most beautiful team on God's green earth not selling out a North London derby semi-final - dearie me!

In all seriousness, if the economy does take a nosedive, both Arse and Chels will have to look at their admission prices very carefully.

You shouldn't let the fact that you're not three stop you Peter. If it happened to us I'm sure that they'd be letting us know their views.

The Anelka transfer has gone fairly quiet as well, we'll be cutting it a bit fine if they want him to play against Rottenham Saturday.

Can you beat Spurs too often?

Hasselbaink's "perfect" hat-trick against Spurs back in 2002.

Still love the Billy Gallas last minute winner against Spuds; after the Peter Osgood tribute, it just felt like we would win somehow. Celebration was absolute chaos; bruises on my legs didn't go down for weeks...

That 'Can You Beat Spurs Too Often' article was one of the first things I read on here, an absolute cracker.

But the comments from the Spurs fans afterwards might be even better. Wind 'em up and watch 'em go!

Anelka story picking up again.

An article in another blog
so good LOL LOL

January 10th, 2008 8:21 am THE GRANT SECRET from vital football
Writer: Lindy
Date: Wednesday January 9 2008
Time: 4:31PM

I have suspected it quite a while now. At the end of the Everton game I was convinced. I have finally figured out the secret of Avram Grant as person and as manager.

It is luck.

He is simply one of those rare persons that brings with him luck. The charm of the Irish or what the saying is, though he is hardly Irish. Pure simple luck. A most needed quality.

Don`t knock this. I am really serious. (Mostly). I do happen to seriously think that luck might be the most important weapon in a manager`s arsenal. Of course the great managers don`t need it. But I can give several examples of managers that have built a career where the main quality is luck. I will take one close to heart, the national manager of Sweden. I happen to think he is a nincompoop. He has very ordinary skills as manager, can`t coach a team during games, he has a very set mind on tactics and dare not take risks. He awards players for long time service instead of playing the best at the time. Picking the Swedish national team is the easiest thing in the world, just use carbon paper of the last team he fielded.

He does however have the greatest luck in the world when it comes to draws before and in tournaments. The only time it looked on paper that he had bad luck we drew England and Argentina in the World Cup 2002, it was the death group of that tournament, before it started. Both countries were arrogant or totally underestimated Sweden, and paid the price for it. Thanks to good draws Sweden has qualified for all national tournaments in the last 10 years and we do usually move on from group play. (Probably not in Euro08 as I think we have a weaker team this time).

Grant has luck. Like no other Chelsea manager I can remember.

Some might make an argument that he can not be lucky considering the number of injuries we had. Wrong. Totally wrong. Other managers have had half the number of injuries and it cost them many valuable points. Grant doesn`t lose even with half his team in the rehab facility.

If that is not luck what is? Grant`s management skills? Even when he subs a target player for a right back we go on and win the game thanks to a 166cm tall player outjumping one of the better headers in England! In overtime and with only ten men on the pitch. That will not ever happen again. Hence it is pure dumb luck, and I love it.

Grant, an obscure, totally unknown manager without any real merits and qualifications, gets to play with one of the best teams in the world. If that is not luck, I don`t know what luck is. Wish I had a tiny, tiny bit of it sometime.

He gets all kind of support no other manager ever gotten in our club for showing not much of anything, except not losing. A four year contract and the people he wants around him. I would call that luck. He lies openly about our play and nobody cares. Other managers have been fired for the same behaviour. Or at least risk a media storm.

He also showed his luck in the Champion`s League draw. The former manager drew Barcelona and Liverpool with predictable frequency. Grant draws Olympiakos. There is a difference, at least on paper, in opponents there. Again I calll it luck.

Our results during the holidays are excellent. With several late goals that very easily could be called lucky. The Villa game an exception, but after the first half when they outplayed us who did even believe in a draw?

We went through in the FA Cup with a weird goal. Some might even call that lucky,

Don`t knock luck. It is a very important part of the game. And our manager with the sad eyes has it in abundance. Keep it up.

(Do you think he will buy me a lottery ticket if I send him the money?)

LOL LOL LOL LOL ha aha ajha aha aha aha aha

Another one in the same blog LOL LOL LOL

@ 24 - CFC

Let me tell you something about your 20 years of watching football.
JM has always since he started as a full manager, not as an assitant/translator been an attacking football manager. When he was in Benfica the first 3 months Benfica was running away with the title, and the best team then was Porto, he left benfica for the same reason he left Chelsea, he does not like owners/presidents to interfere with his work and how he sees it. When he left Benfica he was supposed to join Sporting of Lisbon, but has he was presented to the fans of Sporting of Lisbon, he was booed so badly, that he did not join, the reason Sporting fans booed him, it is very simple, everyone in Portugal knows that he is a benfica fan and because he managed Benfica the sporting Ffans didnt want him, hence the reason that JM still hates and always rubbishes Sporting of L. He then left and went to managed a provincial team that had just been promoted from the 2nd portuguese division and he took them to 3rd place in that league. Then he joined Porto, Porto was struggling that season and he told the press, with 3 more players I will win the championship and he did. Porto did very well in the CL but did not qualified for the knock out games went to the UEFA and won. The Porto president gave him some more money and he bought 4 more players, and he won the CL title, now watch the games of Porto v Manu, Porto v Liver, Porto v Milan and tell me if they were defensive play. We can not have winning teams with oinly a defence, the forwards and midfielders also score goals. Now he is an impressive tactician, the same school as the brasilians and italians, and he believes that matches are won with a solid defence and midfield, if the midfield players are good than the forwards score. Regarding last year compared to this year, there is not much difference, last year even with more injuries than this year he kept MU on sight and managed to finish 2nd in the league, what I believe is that he lost some passion when RA refused him money to buy new players.
Now the players he bought:
Ricardo carvalho and Paulo ferreira since the european cup of 2004 where always in the team selected by the french newspaper L’Equipe, and all the spanish and italian newspapers, Paulo Ferreira and R Carvalho when they came to chelsea where considered the best defenders on at RB the other CD together with Jorge andrade 9now in juventus). Regarding DD, Essein ans SWP, that RA paid lots of money, well DD, Essein no point to comment, you only have to watch them, about SWP he was the most talented right forward in the UK THEN, it is not his fault that RA paid about £21MM to ManCity, we all know that when chelsea wants a players the price inflates, just like anelka now, though I think he is a damn good player.
So use your analysis without bias; unlike me that I am complete bias against AG, he maybe a nice guy but the way he was promoted makes me sick, thats all.
Yes chelsea maybe was practicing a bit DULL football style in the last months of JM rein, but never defensive because they were still winning the games, and no OWN goals, no luck involved, and had JM stayed you can be sure that Chelsea would win the CL, I have no doubt at all.
About the money that RA spent, well it is his money,it is his toy/hobby but he maybe a very successful business man but he showed some naivity (stupidity?). Because he has so much money has he got the right to interfere with the work of an expert? would RA allow JM to interfere in his oil business?? c’mon he got rid of JM only because JM wouldnt allow his interference in the selecting the team,i.e. Sheva brought against the will of JM, but if you read the teams JM field him for many many games, even when everybody could see he was past.
Regarding AG people slate him because of his comments, the man brought into himself the criticism, he tried to convince people that he knew better and just after a few games i recall him saying that NOW chelsea was playing a much better football, the guy is a talentless idiot, has no experience, he a lucky guy, not to mention his substitutions and tactics, again he very lucky to have Steve Clark and ten Cate maybe he can learn something specially from Steve Clark.
So CFC I hope that your 20 years of football can give you a better understanding/ analysis of his skills.
Just to finish, to be a good tactician in football, sometimes it may look that a team is playing defensivelly, but in fact is studying the opposition in order to score when they attack. I rather have 5/6 chances of goal and score 3 than have 20 and score the same goals. A good tactician and manager studies the opposition and make sure the probabilities of scoring are higher when they attack, like going forward like headless chickens.
I go furthher there is no merit at all in the gamse that Chelsea are winning under AG, luck, own goals and fantastic, intelligent substitutions.
Buy the DVDs of his managerial time with the Israel team and tell me if he is lucky or if he is lucky, and look at his defensive team.
C’mon.

LINK

Cech's back in training, so may be available Saturday.

No mention of any of the other injured players being available though.

The problem is at the minute AG is working with the same players that JM left him with. After this transfer period we will begin to see if AG has anything about him and he is without doubt going to be given at least the rest of the season to prove his worth.
At the moment however I have no problem with the football we're playing, it may leave us a little exposed at the back but we appear more confident going forward and are creating bucket loads of chances. On the negative side his substitutions sometimes leave me bewildered, but if they pay off in the long run then who are we to criticise the guy.
Give him to the end of the season an lets see where we are, it is pretty obvious that the club at the minute is going through a stage of transition - brought about by RA's stubborness - but if the fans stick behind the team we can do a lot to steady the ship until we get a bit of stability back.

If AG is achieves success by luck I'm not complaining. I'll happily put him on a chain and wear him round my neck if it helps

@Mark
But was it luck that AG promissed the fans?

Can't remember where the quote comes from (not a football one)but...

"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity."

Whatever Avram is or isn't, he certainly ain't acheiving it all through lucky breaks; the odd bit here and there maybe but last minute winners etc. are generally as a result of graft and determination. Had SWP been 10 feet away and not arsed to run for Ballack's hopeful ball, the 'luck' wouldn't have occurred.

'The harder I work, the luckier I get.'

Funny how the successful teams and managers are always also the lucky ones...

You all know my feelings on Grant and how he got the job. But for now, let's just wait and see what happens. Personally, he can buy anyone he wants but he wont beat Man-U to the title this season and we wont lose the Prem with just three points either or be in all Four competitions up to the last month. Neither will we beat Inter Milan or Madrid if we meet them in the CL. Whose knows on the night? But I doubt it. For the moment, I am happy to support the squad and the club I have supported since I saw Osgood in the early 70's in the real Shed then! I'm going to give Grant the chance but let's not all fight each other over what we all know about why he was given the job etc etc etc. Let's just wait and see as i've said. Personally, I dont think we;ll get past Everton, or Man-U/Liverpool in the FA Cup. Arsenal yes since I am not convinced about their strengh in depth. So that just leaves the league!! I dont think we will have to wait to MAY. By the end of Feb, not only will we know were we will finish but if we will even be playing in the Champions league next year. I have a funny feeling in my stomach we may be pipped to that either by Everton, Tottenham (I know it may not seem right now!) and Man-city as an outsider? My last comment is this, if Grant can get the money and get us something then this year then great!, I;ll back him for the sake of the club, but i'll never take to him, even if we win the CL and I like 99% of Chelsea fans on here and out of this blog want someone else simple as that. For now though, lets cheer the team on since I cant stand the Arsenal and Man-U gloating already. I'd rather Newcastle win the league!!!!

Dio,

We beat an almost full-strength Everton (only missing Arteta) with a team of our squad players, down to 10 men for over 35 minutes. How can you not think we'll beat them ???

And league wise, there's no way we wont finish in the Champs League places. Everton and Tottenham above us ?? Give me a break.

@ fifty,
I hope so, I really do! Otherwise, all the fanbase we have gathered over the last three years wont be there, believe me, that is what happens when you dont win things. I saw loads of young kids with Chelsea kits on over the last couple of years which as a long term fan is brilliant because that is how we will challenge the bigger clubs in the UK and Europe, not buy coming 2nd, 3rd or 4th! We are building (at least were)a bigger more glorious history which i and many fans want to continue, but not if we dont win leagues or trophies. Nevertless, I hope you are right. In any case, I want the League again and again just like Man-U which is why they are seen as the most powerfull and succesfull club over the last 20 years. Do you think we will do that with a manager like Grant? or a Capello, Lippi, Ferguson, Wenger or even a certain Portugeezer?

@ DIO

I dont agree there, but I think we will finish in 3rd in the league, as I can not see Everton or Man City passing us far too many points adrift .
Regarding the cups I think chelsea will win the carlsberg cup, (apparently AG loves beer, it reaches the nets that other clubs can not reach) the FA cup I also think we will win it, ManU and Arse too commited in the league.

@Jonathan Dyer

"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity"

That was said by Seneca a philosopher in the roman times ( by roman i dont mean RA),
That quote was in relation to the wars that Rome was suffering and was addressed to the soldiers, so not in relation to a GAME or sport.
He also quoted:
"Be silent as to services you have rendered, but speak of favours you have received and be grateful" this quote is EVER so appropriated to AG.

@Peter
"The harder I work, the luckier I get"
That was a guy called Goldwin if I recall, however is a variant of the Seneca quote.

All these quotes are marvellous but they are directed to people that take action,what i mean is people that with their actions wether delegated or not can change the course of an event, in the metaphor in here , players not managers as they delegate and oversee the "workers" so in this case I go along with the analysis of Linda regarding "luck".

Yes I agree with Mark if luck help us to regain the EPL, and bring another 1 or 2 cups, all the better.
But I cant forget that AG promissed us flair, sexy, attacking football and has he said in his 1st or 2nd interview, to put Chelsea where it belongs at the top.
@DIO
Tottenham and everton hmmmmmmm dont think so, Everton has not enough strenth in depth.
tottenham not this year but Juande ramos is a brilliant manager and if he gets his players Tottenham will be a force to reckon next year.
So this year i think it will be Arseholes 1st, Manureholes 2nd and Chelsea 3rd.
CL, chelsea will qualify easily against olympiakos, just hope they do not meet Liverpool next, as it will be the only competition that Rafa can save his skin.
regarding the CL I dont know if it is next season or the season after that only 2 will qualify immediately and the 3rd place has to play qualification matches.
Yeap i agree with Dio , lets cheer the players, but I wont take to AG either.

before i go
@Peter

"Funny how the successful teams and managers are always also the lucky ones…"

I hardly find AF or AW lucky, how long have they been in their respective clubs, building a successful team, 20, 10 years, geee that a long time to find luck, specially against AG in 3/4 months time.

During the African Cup, we have Portsmouth away, Liverpoo at home and Spuds away (among others). One can imagine points dropped there, but then I started thinking about it.

Portsmouth are more substantially weakened by the ANC than we are, and I assume we'll be bringing a couple of players in -- Anelka's obviously coming, it's just a question of how big a hole he burns in Abramovich's exquisitely tailored trousers.

Spuds away is the weekend of the Carling Cup final, so there's a decent chance of that being postponed due to either us or them (or both) being involved. By the time the game is rescheduled the tournament in Ghana should be over.

A draw at home against Liverpoo would be a decent result in terms of the table -- losing no ground to our main competitors for 3rd/4th place.

So in fact the ANC may turn out not to be too terrible for us, providing we don't screw up stuff like Birmingham away and Reading at home. There are two FA Cup weekends during the tournament also, and with a friendly draw in round 5 (assuming we get past Titus Bramble) that might not be too bad either.

Putting on my tragic anorak, I can also reveal that on Feb 3rd either Essien, Obi, or Drogba/Kalou will be knocked out of the competition, thus enabling whichever it is to play Liverpoo on the 9th!

You can work it out for yourself on LINK No really, it's fun! You can even borrow the anorak.

When the guys played poorly...some said its because AG cannot command the respect of the players or cannot motivate them...

When the guys played well...they said its the JM spirit and the professionalism in them...

When the guys drew or lost...AG had no tactical depth, he couldnt read a match or make the right substitutions...

When the guys won...AG is just damn LUCKY (even against an everton side that didnt venture out to play until we were 1 man down, and had conceded that fortutious goal by yakubu)...

Some point earlier in the season, we were not scoring and JM was growing more grey hairs...they said it was 'cos DD and Lamps (our goal scorers) were not playing...Both players are not playing now, yet we are getting results...they say its LUCK!

Watch very well people...the team is improving in its play and creating more chances...once a prolific striker comes in, the goals are bound to flow...

Some of us 'experts' wrote ballack off a few months ago...but look at the guy now, showing us how a real midfield general should operate...

Before now, the norm was for the media to bash us and throw all sorts of thrash around, while we hold our own on this blog as a unit (not 100%, but almost 1 voice and 1 spirit)...but these days the bulk of the skeptism is right here on this blog...and one would think that our fortunes are worse than those of loserpool and oldcastle, but its not...

Lets give AG his chance, he has lost only 2 out of about 18/20? matches, winning most of the rest...

Most would agree that Chelsea should always come first before anything else, and so long as there's no crisis (at least none yet), we should support the team, which includes the players and management!

Always Blue!

I recommed that we sign Fred from Olpique Lyonais, as he is set to leave there we could get him for as little a £5m! He has a appearence/goal record of 207/124
Always Blue!

Alex, you putted it pretty well in to words. AG can in reality almost make no influence besides a negative one, simply because he DOESN'T KNOW WHAT HE IS DOING. Being this almost public knowledge there only one decent thing for RA to do, that is ending is pitiful carrier as Chelsea’s coach.

Note: this one sided opinion may have been influenced by my irrational dislike of AG :-)

I think the 2 russians are at Lokomotive of Moscow, well one I think is serbian. £8.9million
go there:

LINK

@limetree

that's good news.

>Deep Blue

Read with both eyes my friend...i'm saying AG's done no wrong yet to warrant some of the venom being poured out here by 'fans'...to the contrary, he's done well (if not better) in adversity compared to JM...result-wise!

Dont bark just because you dont like the man...bark based on PERFORMANCE...and on that ground, he has not failed...yet!

Always Blue!

@ alex
totally agree with you.

as for the squad issue - we MAY need a striker, although i am against getting anelka- he's a sulky, spoiled has been. not for us.
i believe that we should take more care of our defense. we couldn't keep a clean sheet on more than half matches we played, and if we did - we'd be above arsenal.

I'd take Ramos over Grant without a second thought.

Re: the ANC - at the start of the season I always felt the impact the tournament would have on us was over-stated by opposition fans because a) we have relatively easy games while it is ongoing; b) we have a remarkably strong squad.

Unfortunately, I didn't count on the likes of Cech, Lampard, Maka and Shev being injured at this critical juncture.

Last time out we lost three players and I don't think we even noticed.

LINK

We give 'em Boulahrouz and Alves's price goes up - who'd a thunk it?

Things are looking up.

As I said yesterday Cech's back in full training and may be back tomorrow. Apparently Lamps started training yesterday. The Spuds game is too soon but he may be back for the Birmingham game.

So that leaves Sheva, Maka and JT as the other casualties from what I remember.

Not good to hear Man Utd stepping up their interest in Huntelaar this morning. I thought Henk Top Cat's Dutch connections may have helped us persuade him to come here.

Marco - impressive knowledge of philosophers, Roman or otherwise but the point does rather stand whether the quotes were made about football or not - you make your own luck, and Grant is doing just that, however he may be achieving it. The 'flair football' comments haven't really done him any favours, but that (as I'm sure he realises now) won't be achieved overnight. I don't think he's ever going to hit JM's heights (very few will), but the guy has to be given some credit for what he's done thus far.

Yes he'll be judged ultimately on results and trophies won, but so far so good. Whether it's luck, skill or a combination of both, he's doing fine so far. Wasn't it Tiger Woods who said... "The more I practice, the luckier I get"

Well Avram is certainly getting enough practice at running a top club and team, so perhaps he just might surprise us all, it's that old adage "lets just wait and see"

Strong rumours that Anelka's signed.

Yep - breaking news on SSN now; £15m, 4 and a half year deal...

"Chelsea Football Club and Bolton Wanderers can confirm that terms have been agreed between the clubs for the transfer of Nicolas Anelka."

Wooooohooooo - thats our piss poor finishing gone - we may actually only need 5 chances to score now :)

@Jonathan Dyer

There is no doubt that if you have the resources you can surround yourself with the most brilliant minds of whatever subject and rip the rewards.
thats the case with AG.
Lets see Anelka just signed and he is a proven goal scorer.

Apparantley, Klinsmann has taken definatley agreed to take over at Bayern from the end of the season.!

and.....Liverpool have confirmed the signing of Slovakian international defender Martin Skrtel from Zenit St Petersburg on a four-and-a-half-year contract.
The established centre-half has 15 caps for his country. So in other words, even less attack than they have from now on....typicall benitez. this is the proof he only knows how to play one way. After all, they need to be scoring I would have thought!

fifty i am with you on that - i would love huntelaar to be with us - esp if DD is going in the summer.

Also i agree AG needs time - he has done well and to say he wont hit the heights of JM isnt fair - if he brings us silverware and does it with style then he will have supassed him. I do agree its unlikely but then Hen ten cate is the man credited with Barca's success and not FR!! So we will have to see.

To those saying reap rewards by just surrounding yourself with the best is rubbish - the BEST managers in any industry surround themselves with better people - the poor ones dont want to get shown up - its then how you manage them and be the general that matters.

question is this. For the future, why are'nt we chasing people like Lita, Doyle, kitson and others from lesser clubs who might sell them for some money now who would love the opportunity like CFC and groom them as future Drogbas. Why not take a chance on a few? They have shown more than enough. British too so no ANC problems for example. I know they are all from Reading but I'm using them as an example only. Why are'nt our scouts getting these players with great potential just before they become bigger names and then cost the earth?

@Munkeyfeet

"To those saying reap rewards by just surrounding yourself with the best is rubbish - the BEST managers in any industry surround themselves with better people - the poor ones dont want to get shown up - its then how you manage them and be the general that matters".
You quite right managers surround themselves with BETTER people. If a fact of business life.
Anelka just signed. I bet AG is going to field him next match, and he is going to score, and AG will come to the TV and says:
"yes he is a good player, but he is more focused in playing attack football and scoring goals NOW than BEFORE" LOL

According to Official Chelsea Football Club Website:

Fri, 11th Jan 2008
Chelsea Football Club and Bolton Wanderers can confirm that terms have been agreed between the clubs for the transfer of Nicolas Anelka.


at last!

The important question is : will he be available tomorrow ?? I need to know for my Fantasy Football team.

I dont think anyone can be disappointed that the club is prepared to do whatever's necessary to address the lack of players due to ACN / injury. We would all be upset if RA or Kenyon / Buck came out and said 'AG has to carry on with what he's got' so the club deserves some credit.

Personally, I still think there's an element of 'firefighting' in signing Anelka - doing it because we had to - being re-active rather than pro-active, and stepping back, I'd prefer we looked at the longer term options of Villa, Huntelaar etc. However, there's nothing to say that's the end of the spending.

He is available tomorrow - unveiled at 4pm today i believe.

I totally agree Fifty - there is but i still feel although a knee jerk signing that he will be an inspired one!!

Huntelaar would be ace - villa i still feel is slightly over rated - not saying he isnt good but is he great - i know you love him - i think you would marry him if you could :)

Anelka's on his way - I saw him in the Kentucky Fried at the Watford Gap service on the M1. He had his boots so I think he'll be playing.

With Shev/Pizzaro not being up to scratch and Drogba moving in the summer, there will be plenty of options for: a) Anelka over the next two seasons; b) Chelsea to sign two other strikers in the summer.

Well lets hope he can hit the ground running. We know he's an established goal scorer, I wonder how long he'll be allowed to settle into the team, before he starts doing what they're paying him for.

And I wonder what chance to goal ratio is acceptable, before we see him as a viable alternative to Drogba.

Munkeyfeet,

I'm a fond admirer of him, and a fan of him as a professional footballer. But thats it. Unless my continual insistence of us signing him leads to some sort of commission payment.

Besides, Mrs Fifty wouldn't be happy having to compete for my affections. She says football gets enough of my time as it is......

@ Fifty

Mate..I'm with you in the David Villa fan club stakes. I think he'd be as good if not better than Torres and with Anelka, Sheva (in the Sparky role) and Villa, a developing Kalou and Ballack coming into some sensational form we'd be a real force for the future. The thought of it is making me drool in a completely non-sexual manner! If we can add one or two more then I will start to think AG is a good choice and happily eat humble pie.

Why no Drogba mentioned here...because in all our hearts we know he's off to wherever JM ends up and so we should let him come back, play to the end of the season, thank him and shake his hand and wish him the best...because we do have class!

@ Tony

Did you just mention Kalou in your list????

Wonders never end... Good one there...

@ Jose....whatever I think of Kalou now, I have never questioned his potential...it's just that right now he is a long way off being the finished article, which includes the football brain/intelligence needed to become World Class"

Remember when Anelka was at Arsenal? Very similar frustrations amongst the Gooners about Anelka until the season he came good and then left!

I always wondered whether Mark Nichols would fulfil his potential one day...

Tony,

We're getting lost in the realms of proper fantasy football now, but a move to a 4-1-2-3 would bring some real excitement to the Bridge.

Cech back to his best, with Belletti, JT, Riccy C and Ashley at the back. Essien in front of them, then Lamps and Ballack, with Villa, Sheva and Anelka up front.

Whatever way you look at it, something all sleek, slender and narrow has to be more attractive than something carrying a bit of width. (I'm sorry, that is possibly the worst football-formation-to-female-form analogy ever).

@ Fifty LOL

I agree though and I dont understand why we dont play belletti more - he is fantastic going forward.

I am hoping Drogba does go to Milan where JM will end up - he is having italian lessons and milan are 14th! and then Kaka can come back this way :)

Alexandre Pato is making his debut for Milan this weekend...pity he's not here to make his debut against Spurs.

@ Munkeyfeet....Jesus could you imagine Anelka, Villa and Kaka in a team with Essien, Ballack, Lamps, J Cole and JT? I'm scared just writing about it!

Anelka strikes me as being one of those signings no other club in the world could make. 15 million at this stage of the season for a 28-year old, a very good player but clearly coming in to be a stopgap and (in the longer term) a squad player? We can do it because money's no object. No time to wait and see if Pizzarro will come good, so solve the problem with shedloads of cash.

He'll never lead the line like Drogs but I can see him being a good signing, getting on the through balls from Frank or Ballack, and with good enough technique to click with the wingers. In the longer term I'm not sure it's such a clever move, but despite what the suits will say, this wasn't done for the longer term.

People......the review has been written and submitted to Nick, so get your comment pens ready!

A good day out!