Premier League: Chelsea 2 - 0 Blackburn Rovers
Monday, 18 May 09, 06:10 AM · Comments (139)
Match reports
The Guardian, Dominic Fifield: "Guus Hiddink bade farewell to Stamford Bridge with a polite bow to the home support and an end of season stroll from his players though for Roman Abramovich, watching from his executive box on high, there is still plenty to ponder. This game had drifted beyond the hour-mark when the most vocal section of the Matthew Harding stand broke off from their chants of "We want you to stay" aimed at the interim manager to offer their opinion on his potential successor. "You can stick your Ancelotti up your arse" rang out. The message was loud and clear."
Daily Telegraph, Jason Burt: "Hiddink was afforded a guard of honour by the Chelsea players and proceeded to cha-cha down it with 85-year-old Roy Bentley in tow and also did a theatrical bow to the crowd after they chanted “we want you to stay” to him while they also urged Abramovich to “sign him up”."
The Times, Kaveh Solhekol: "“I didn’t expect it,” Hiddink said. “The reaction of the crowd was a big surprise for me. I have had many second thoughts, sometimes third thoughts about leaving. When I see this reaction I feel sad to leave but that’s the reality.”"
The Independent, Glenn Moore: "Throughout the afternoon a banner adorned the Matthew Harding Stand reading "Thanks Guus", sentiments that were echoed in the match programme by John Terry and Bruce Buck. The chairman also wrote that the club hoped to make an announcement about their latest new manager "sooner rather than later"."
Official Chelsea FC Website: "Florent Malouda's sixth league goal of the season and Nicolas Anelka's 18th made it a good afternoon on the pitch as Stamford Bridge said farewell to Guus Hiddink."
The goals
Have a Cigar (The Preamble)
Walking down the Fulham Road to the café had a strange air about it yesterday. Fans seemed to be suffering with a touch of the bi-polar syndrome we’re renowned for, in fact it may have even been tri-polar. For some it was the normal feisty confident display of bravado and blind faith so typical of football fans everywhere, for others the day had a beach feeling about it, with the result meaning little for either team. And for some the day had a slightly funereal feel about it, tinged with sadness at another season of missed chances and the inevitable farewell to Guus Hiddink and the nagging subconscious images of Manchester United picking up their third back to back Premiership trophy.
Still a stiff cup of tea and a large chicken kebab in the hubbub of Chelsea fan talk returned yours truly to the normal pre-match state of nervous excitement and warm glow gleaned from the sense of belonging. It’s always weird to feel the sense of commonality across such a broad spectrum of people, many of whom you probably wouldn’t like, or get on with were it not for the common bond of a love of Chelsea Football Club.
Welcome to the Machine (The Game)
First things first. I like Sam Allardyce. I think he’s much maligned in and out of the game as being some sort of footballing luddite, steeped in Charlie Hughes hoof the ball mentality that so ill served English football for so long. A bit of deeper study and analysis suggest a man prepared to try the latest fitness technologies and training methods, and a man who knows that different styles and the appropriate application of them are what create success. Bolton have become an established team because of Big Sam’s hard work, and Blackburn have survived the drop after the disastrous Paul Ince experiment and the parallels with our own Guus Hiddink stand out for me. Does anyone really think Newcastle would be in the mire if they had kept Big Sam and let him rebuild their Keystone Kops constructed basket case of a club?
Anyway I digress. The crowd tried to create a party atmosphere as the teams trudged onto the field, although the feeling that Blackburn may as well have been wearing Hawaiian shirts, flip flops and swimmers was hard to avoid, especially in light of the rather paltry travelling crowd... 200 maybe?
The team lists produced no surprises, bar the fact that our bench contained four of our kids, all under 21, in Mancienne, Stoch, Di Santo and returning wanderer Scott Sinclair. The fact that none got to actually come on is a tad weird as with 10 minutes remaining it was clear Blackburn were already making sandcastles, paddling hand in hand with partners and enjoying a celebratory drop of Champagne and puffing on the Montecristo cigar of survival.
After an early scare from which arguably Blackburn should have gone ahead, a lightning fast break from us on four minutes resulted in the superb Anelka playing a wonder cross into the box for our most recently (vastly) improved player Malouda to score with a header that was truly magnificent. If the mark of a good coach is getting players to believe in, and unlock their potential then Hiddink has a huge Malouda shaped key somewhere. The game settled a bit after the initial flurry, and by settled I mean Blackburn trying and failing to make any headway against our well marshalled midfield and defence whilst every now and then we would rip through them like the proverbial knife cutting through butter. To say we should have been five or six up by half time is not an understatement with chances going begging including a goal line clearance from Malouda, Lampard hitting the bar, Lampard unable to find his feet with just Robinson to beat and Ashley Cole also coming close. Blackburn also had a couple of attempts on goal, but it’s reasonably fair to say that Cech was rarely troubled. And it was good to see Cech actually favouring the quick throw out rather than the mindless hoof to Drogba. At 1-0 of course, and being a Chelsea fan, you’re always troubled and for me it just seemed to underline the season – apparently we have had more shots than any other team over the campaign. We’ve also converted the fewest in terms of percentages. And as the players went off at half time and Attillio, Tony and myself shared our thoughts over a beer, the sense was one of frustration that we weren’t winning by a country mile. Par for the course these days.
The second half started in much the same way as the first half but it was glaringly obvious that Blackburn were some way below us in terms of tactics and quality. Malouda, Anelka, Lampard and Drogba (now playing wide) seemed to be able to tear through Blackburn with consummate ease. The second goal, was a terrific strike from Anelka who had deserved at least a goal if not more. He was superb wherever he was on the pitch. We continued to have our chances with Blackburn at best mustering the odd half chance. Lampard was guilty of missing arguably the simplest of chances as yet again he seemed to be caught in two minds, on one occasion opting to pass to Anelka when he had a clear shot on goal, and then mystifyingly contriving to miss an open goal through a combination of baby giraffe feet and Chelsea bi-polar syndrome leaving him undecided whether to shoot or try and walk the ball in. All of this happened despite the referee Rob Styles doing a passable impression of a hirsute Tom Henning Ovrebo. On at least three occasions he played an advantage which didn’t come to fruition but didn’t return play to the foul. He booked Bosingwa for diving, which seemed reasonable considering the way he’d been bulldozed off the ball and of course flatly refused any penalty shouts from us.
As the game wore on, Blackburn tired and we knocked the car out of gear and gently cruised towards a routine victory, three points, another clean sheet. Blackburn off to pack their bags, whilst we turn our attention to a tricky or potential dead rubber game against a Sunderland team who may or may not be fighting for survival. Then of course before we can pack the buckets and spades, the hankie hats, roll up our trousers and recline in the deck chair, we have the matter of an FA Cup Final to keep our nerves slightly on edge for just that little longer.
Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Guus Tribute)
Midway through the second half and the Chelsea machine is firmly in cruise control, so the fans turn their attention to some traditional end of season chanting. We had the gallows humour of “We’re staying at home’, the cheeky chirpy Cockney chappy humour of ‘Let’s all laugh at Arsenal’, a few bursts of ‘You can stick Ancelotti up your arse’ but what stood out most of all was the standing chant of ‘We want you to stay, Guus Hiddink, we want you stay’ - Guus responded with a wave and a a bow all around the ground, which just made the singing even more forceful.
There is no doubt that Hiddink has transformed the side from a dispirited and de-motivated rabble under Luiz Felipe ‘Plan A only’ Scolari. We’ve seen Drogba almost back at his former marauding best, Cech has become more reliable (although still needs competition for his place – I hear Ross Turnbull is a target, which would be good) and Malouda has gone from zero to hero in three short months. We’ve looked more solid at the back, more controlled in midfield and more potent up front. All down to Guus. Without his intervention we would have struggled to be in the top four such was the decline in belief and fitness. I still believe we need to remove sentiment and drop some big players from the club, much as Alex Ferguson would do. But if Hiddink were to change his mind, then I would warmly welcome him on board full time. In honour of his Dutch origins, I’d even be prepared to say the word ‘also’ at the end of each sentence. Well done Guus and thanks for restoring the belief in the team and the fans. Whoever takes your place has a tough job living up to you, but you have finally laid the ghost of Mourinho and the new man will at least get the chance to start afresh without the baggage of Mourinho’s success hanging around his neck.
Player Ratings
- Petr Cech – 7/10 – Little to do but looked more comfortable today and happily stopped hoofing.
- Jose Bosingwa – 7/10 – Solid if a little lackadaisical at times.
- Alex – 7.5/10 – Quiet, efficient and frankly worthy of his place. It’s hard to see Carvalho coming back in.
- John Terry – 7.5/10 – Such was the dominance at times he found himself in the midst of our attack. Great, as usual.
- Ashley Cole – 8/10 – A couple of misplaced passes early on were more than made up for by his invention and tigerish tackling. Linked superbly with Malouda.
- John Obi Mikel – 8/10 – Imperious, calm and generally very good. Him and Essien have developed a great rapport.
- Michael Essien – 7/10 – Steady and linked with Obi well.
- Frank Lampard – 7/10 – Seems to have a combination of bi-polar syndrome and the yips at the moment. Missed three sitters and took a shocker of a free kick. Everything else was fine though.
- Florent Malouda – 8.5/10 – The single most improved player in the squad. A superb header for the first goal and hard working everywhere else.
- Nicolas Anelka – 9/10 – World class. Great touch and vision, superb assist for first goal and well deserved second. Marvellous.
- Didier Drogba – 7/10 – Very quiet by his standards, maybe feeling a bit chastened by recent experiences. Seems happier to rotate between the central striker role and out wide with Anelka.
- Overall team performance – 8.5/10 – Professional and occasionally ruthless.
Man of the Match
This was tight between Malouda (again) and Anelka, but in the end with a great goal, assist and general overall contribution I am awarding this to Nicolas Anelka. Hopefully Ferguson will rest The Petulant One next weekend against Hull in anticipation of the Euro-Toss Cup final, and maybe Nico can nip in front with a goal against lowly Sunderland to win The Golden Boot.
What Shall We Use to Fill the Empty Spaces?
And so my friends, that ends my last Premier League review for this season. When we play Sunderland I’ll be on the golf course trying to make up for the dismal display of hacking that saw me roundly beaten 6 & 5 this week. It’s also mine, and many others' last visit to Stamford Bridge for three months, although for me that will actually mean September as I’ll hopefully be sunning myself in the South of France for August in its entirety. I’ll do a post season review as a Chelsea Times Special in a few weeks.
Until then we have an FA Cup Final to occupy us and to close the season down properly. It’s a big chance for us to remember what winning feels like and to give us some hope for a more fruitful season next year. After the final we have weeks of speculation, media bollocks talk and of course the inauguration of a new manager. There’s plenty to keep us going with England World Cup qualifiers in June, plus the usual meaningless pre-season games against Hicksville, USA and whoever else might fancy a gentle run about. But it’s not the same is it? Whilst the Scolari days had some of us pleading for the season to end so we could move on, the post Cup Final weeks will still feel like an enormous void in life has opened up. How will the café survive without its matchday clientele? How will I occupy myself when losing at golf and not being able to check the scores on my phone to divert attention from my utter crapness? The season end might be a relief and a chance to draw breath and plan for the next campaign, but I can guarantee within two weeks I’ll be climbing walls of madness pining for the return of football. I’ve already re-bought the season ticket just to make sure I don’t miss out on the heady mixture of ecstasy and heartbreak that surely accompanies every Chelsea fan the world over.
Yesterday had the feel of a barbecue that had been booked on the rainiest day of the year and in true British style we have the damn thing anyway. It’s OK, but not quite the same as if it was sunny. The sun will shine on us again, we’re too good not be champions again one day. Manchester United say they want a fourth title on the bounce to steal a march on New Leeds, but surely we’ll be a sterner test next year, as will Liverpool and possibly even Arsenal. Next season will really be the time that we need to stand up and be counted again.
Keep the Blue Flag Flying High!
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139 Comments · Add yours
Nice one, Tony. Had to make do with MotD2 highlights myself, which just made me wish I was there. Going to miss Guus.
Quick note to say that EPL Talk have included us in their 'Best EPL Blog' award. It's done on votes, which means we'll struggle to keep up with the likes of Arseblog et al whose readership is that much bigger. Still, no harm in heading over to EPL Talk and voting:
LINK
Back to work.
Well done TG, your report certainly gives a flavour of how I thought the day must have felt for those who were there.
I only had the radio as I tramped round Epping Forest (in a vain attempt to lose the children in a “Hansel & Gretel” type scenario. Should have checked the boy’s pockets for breadcrumbs, but the imminent departure of Guus meant I got sloppy and so I had to bring them home again). Saw the highlights on MOTD2.
It really brought home the fact that he’s going and leaving a team that now looks as though it could easily have challenged for the title. Forget Fergie’s “too old” jibe, and those wits who tell us we were in third place when he arrived and we’re still there.
They look fit, focused and very interested. We would have dropped points had he been there all season, but we certainly wouldn’t have dropped as many. We would have coped better with gaps left by injuries because he would have had all the players performing. When you look at how the team picked itself up under Grant and then recovered under Hiddink, there is a metal toughness that has to be preserved by the next man in. Scolari’s biggest error was in losing that cohesion and belief.
You’re so right about the season ending too soon. Some years you’ve had enough by now, but really apart from the first few weeks of the season, it feels like things only just started in February and there’s so much more to come.
But hey ho life goes on.
Reply to chelseablog:
@Nick - Re EPL blog compo
I’m not a man to see conspiracy everywhere, but it is fairly widespread.
With this poll, people will vote purely on team loyalty. Without an independent arbiter (I wont use the word referee for obvious reasons) to judge quality etc. etc. this contest is skewed from the start.
If we agree that Chelsea, like quality Belgian fruit beers, can only be appreciated by the few, while the rest drink cheap chucking lager, then to put up 2 blogs both called Chelsea Blog and only differentiated by the definite article is a blatant attempt to split the vote of a small but elite constituency and perhaps a shameless effort to confuse.
Indeed with us, the Villa, and the Arse having 2 entries this looks like a flagrant attempt to give the Spuds, Citeh or the Barcodes some compensation for a poor season.
Questions must be asked dear boy, questions.
(I trust that being an able sort of chap you have some sort of slush, I mean fighting, fund to ensure we can purchase, I mean persuade, voters as and when necessary).
btw
No Liverpool blogs! Wait 'til they find out.
Hicksville, USA??? C'mon.
Over the course of two weeks, Chelsea play A.C. Milan, Inter Milan, Club America (Mexico), and the Seattle Sounders.
Hardly Hicksville.
Whoever takes your place has a tough job living up to you, but you have finally laid the ghost of Mourinho and the new man will at least get the chance to start afresh without the baggage of Mourinho’s success hanging around his neck.
Very well said!!!!!!
Reply to Elliot:
Seriously Elliot....Club America and Seattle Sounders?
I think Hicksville....if it ever came into existence would be a bigger test than these.....
Who were the big winners on Saturday? Forget the Mancs, it was Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest.
Yes Norway, home of Mr Tom Ovrebo.
Reading this you can see from the reactions to criticism that Eurovision means a lot to them. They would obviously go to great lengths to secure the result they wanted.
LINK
So too would Mr Platini and UEFA.
We start to see what sort of deal may have been struck. We start to understand the pressure bearing down on ol’ Tom. His country expects. A lot is at stake.
A chink of light is suddenly let in on what might have been going on. A Eurovision votes for "looking the other way" scenario. Barcagate is upon us.
I await more from my man deep in the fjords. (very deep and weighted down with concrete shoes if he’s not careful I’ll be bound.)
Dark and destabilising forces are at work my friends, dark and destabilising.
Reply to BlueBayou:
Time to start taking your pills again, I think ;-)
Not much to add on yesterday really - thought it was nice to hear a Stamford Bridge crowd show affection for our manager, I think, for the first time since TSO left.
I see the official website Player of the Year voting closes on Wednesday and I'm struggling even more than last season to decide who to vote for ..
... and finally 39% possession and 0 shots on target at home over 90 minutes - yes this was the "Best Man United Team Ever" @SkySports on Saturday "doing the job" as Andy Gray was quick to explain in their defense - and glossing over all those sparkling 1-0 wins they achieved earlier in the season which were clearly superior to the nasty ground out results we bored everyone with in 04/05 and 05/06.
Nice one TG, worth waiting for... ;-)
Liked what I caught in terms of highlights - great work for the first goal by Malouda and Anelka; looked a very professional work-out in the run up to Wembley - presume Guus will balance the need to rest players where necessary next weekend whilst keeping a degree of continuity for the final as the first choice side is performing so well at the moment.
Hugely impressed with the mighty Guus - think he was genuinely quite touched by how the fans have taken to him and I think had he been a few years younger he might have had second thoughts about moving on. A true professional; tactically shrewd, a great motivator and one of the most diplomatic football managers around.
Would suggest that he hasn't quite laid any ghosts to rest just yet, though; he's certainly the first manager since Mourinho that the fans as a whole have genuinely warmed to - which counts a lot at any club but especially so at Chelsea since Grant and Scolari - and has just given us the kind of confidence we need to move forward which is a great platform for whoever takes over to build on. Ultimately only one thing will truly take us forward and lay the Mourinho ghost to rest - another trophy; if Guus delivers that on May 30 then he'll have done a remarkable job given how little time he's had and the club's situation when he arrived.
Reply to blueboydave:
Ashley or Frank as player of the year for me just in terms of their overall consistency, especially in such a turbulent season; Anelka has done well, JT ever impressive and Malouda's post-Scolari renaissance has been quite something.
Isn't there a 'vote for Guus' option...?!
Lampard is the only serious contender for player of the season this year surely? I'd go:
Lampard
Anelka
Cole (A)
with honourable mentions to Mikel and Alex.
POTY since Guus would be tougher.
Lampard again I think, but Malouda, Drogba and Ballack have all been, in the main, excellent.
Reply to blueboydave:
I think we might have just seen the dress rehearsal for the upcoming CL final.
The first year under Jose, that team would have wrapped this years title up before Xmas. Wait a minute we did, didn't we? ;-)
'I think we might have just seen the dress rehearsal for the upcoming CL final.'
Sorry Clive, according to UEFA and our beloved media, it has to be referred to as 'the upcoming DREAM CL final' (presumably because they've all been asleep and so not actually had to watch United play at all this season.)
As the Fergie media love in comes to a head so to speak.....Some interesting stats from FIFA:
% win rate since start of managerial careers up to 17th May 2009
Arsene Wenger: 53.09
Rafael Benitez: 55.04
Guus Hiddink: 56.26
Carlo Ancelotti: 56.66
Alex Ferguson: 57.16
Jose Mourinho: 68.01
And only one mangager with any one team has got above 70% win ration ..twice (i.e. with two different teams to be exact)
Does anyone know which manager.....answers on a postcard....:)
Reply to Dio:
Did they not list the 100% record of one Mr Wilkins R.? A shocking oversight and an insult to a fine servant of the game.
Capello?
Capello stats are 56.76 so is second behind Mourinho although with England he has a 70.1% win ratio not with clubs though....No, the only manager to win over 70% win ration with two different teams and also in two different countries is........Jose .......of course......silly!!!! Who else......!! In fact even with Man-u, ALex Ferguson has only just won over 50% of his games his entire career at old trafford. When you think of the status of the club, players available, and money over 23 years....that is decidedly average..maybe Allardyce, Harry, Hughes, O'neill might well have made it as many wins as Ferguson...you wont hear those or the above stats printed anywhere in the UK,s football establishment media i'll bet.....Hypocrites
First of all, I love this blog and have been reading its insightful and intelligent posts for some time now. Secondly, I am a yank and fellow supporter of CFC.
But I take offense to your "Hicksville, USA" jab which has an air of condescension directed towards us citizens across the pond. Ok, I'm not happy about our sub-standard footy programs and support base but there are a ton of us, civil and some bordering on non-civil, that wish we were as globally competitive and supportive. So when you generalize us over here as hicks (even if you directed it towards specific teams CFC is playing against this summer), that's pretty annoying.
Especially when you all have your fair share of chavs, pikeys, thugs, and hooligans that can't even be seated next to each other w/o trying to kill each other (Yes, I went to a Manc City/Blackburn match once and saw the police force and seat-netting to thwart fighting).
So there I said my piece. Now inevitably comments will follow to tell me to sod/piss off, bullocks to me, and go stick it up my arse son of a whore.
'Now inevitably comments will follow to tell me to sod/piss off, bullocks to me, and go stick it up my arse son of a whore.'
Lovely use of English slang G. You forgot 'wanker'. Don't take anything Tony says too seriously, but is 'hick' that much of an insult? It just means country bumpkin over here, not analogous to 'chav' or 'pikey' at all.
PeteW - You're right. Shouldn't take too much offense. I take it back...
The use of hick or redneck is primarily offensive to Southerners over here to which I belong. Yeah, it denotes country bumpkin which associates to slow and ignorant. True, not analogous to chavs/pikeys at all.
We have another word/term exclusive to our version of chavs.
Although, anyone is still free to sling any English vitriol towards my way. There are a couple of Liverpool factions here that I would like to have some new ammo for on Saturday/Sunday mornings down at the pub.
Reply to ChelseaTony:
You could claim that Seattle is "Hicksville", I guess. They are a new and relatively untested team in the MLS...but they've started off brilliantly this year.
And, honestly, do you know anything about Club America? They are one of the most successful teams outside of Europe and they recently played Barcelona to a 4-4 draw.
I imagine, though, you won't give either of these side any credit. Euro-centric football is certainly the norm.
But, here's to Chelsea putting on a good show in Hicksville. I'll be watching in the stands for at least two of those games.
Reply to G:
G
You should treat the wording of Tony's description of our upcoming tour, as a term of endearment. :-)
Welcome to the blog by the way.
I am not speaking for Tony here, as he is more than capable of answering for himself. But there is another point to take into account regarding the trend in pre season games that is perhaps embedded in what TG is saying. Chelsea no longer have a pre-season in the UK to talk of. Last year we were off playing Chinese Chemists, Russian Railway Workers and glad-handing bemused celebs in LA.
This is all fine and dandy as the EPL bids for world domination. There is also an argument for saying that loyal fans around the world deserve something. We have numerous contributors on here from all 4 corners who bring an extra dimension to proceedings. Indeed our brethren in the US are part of the fabric of the Blog.
However, tradition was that the pre-season was spent wandering around some of the smaller teams from lower leagues, giving our fans a chance to see the team build up and, as we grew in stature in recent years, their fans got a chance to see some stars. It helped the small clubs financially, the players could concentrate on getting fit and all was well with the world. There might also be a mini tournament or testimonial game involving some European clubs.
The worry is that with end of season tours half way across the world followed by pre-season tours half way across the world, replete with all the meet & greet etc etc. we are not preparing our players in the best way for the upcoming season.
I agree they’re well paid for all this work, but there comes a point where you can’t shoehorn it all in.
So I interpreted Tony’s remark as a jibe not at football in the US per se, but at the brand building at the cost of steady pre-season work; travelling miles to make more money for ourselves when we used to add to the trickle down to the grassroots by a local pre-season.
But I could be wrong. And perhaps Tony needs reminding we lost a big chunk of Empire before by not paying attention to local feeling….. ;-)
Reply to G:
I think that SurAlF has just given you enough ammo to hurl at your poo-sympathisers for a few days at least.
And on that victory for football:
It was a testament to team brilliance and attacking football that the record equalling squad sought to entertain a 74,000+ home crowd with a riveting nil-nil.
This was despite the challenge of having six points in hand and a last game against Hull, currently fourth from bottom.
But they stuck to their footballing principles and delivered 90 mins of total nil-nilness.
What champs!
Although let's not forget Arse, for those other beautiful gamers played their part in ensuring that there wouldn't be any slip ups that might thwart the wonderful nil-nilliness of the day.
However Arse just aren't in the same league and almost ruined the nil-nilathon by scoring late on. But for some stout defending by the brave United goal post, the nil-nil might not have been achieved.
That post deserves to go into the Busby hall of fame, no-one should complained about their wooden defending again.
Even the ref contributed to the wonderful nil-nilfest by not awarding Myth United their customary penalty.
I guess though, that they would've needed to get someone into, or at least near, the Arse-box for that to happen.
Reply to G:
G - the term Hicksville was merely a poke at the US and it's rather odd view of 'soccer', and the fact that it's still seen as a minor sport, rather than the truly global game it is in comparison to..........well....any American sport to be honest.It was not meant as an insult.
If I insult you then you'll definitely know about it ;-)
As for insults for you to propagate onto scousers.............I'm not sure the comments box is big enougb for all of them
You are a most welcome addition to this fine little resting place for disturbed Chelsea souls.
Reply to Elliot:
Do I see a volunteer for a post (or two) from afar with news of the summer spectaculars?
Reply to Elliot:
Honestly it wasn't there to upset people! I have my doubts that Club America drew with a full strength Barcelona, and as we all know even if it was there is a huge difference in the commitment and desire levels from a pre-season friendly to perhaps Champions League semi-final.
Believe me we have far worse names for teams and areas here, and I'm a tad surprised that our American friends are so sensitive, especially in light of America's rather devalued reputation globally.
What next, Scousers complaining about me calling them New Leeds? Will I have streams of people from just down the road bemoaning my calling them North Putney?
Seriously guys, just chill.
Last year we played some chemists from China, and the equivalent of Bob Crowe and cronies in Russia. We used to play teams like Kingstonian and other smaller teams, which gave us a chance to see the boys pre-season, and also lend a helping hand to those less affluent. Now we seem to be flying across the world to build the 'brand'. I understand why, but it's not something I agree with. I was half expecting to play some New Zealand sheep shearers and Canadian Lumberjacks this year.
Altogether now......
He's a lumberjack, and he's okay.
He sleeps all night and he works all day.
I cut down trees. I wear high heels,
Suspendirs, and a bra.
I wish I'd been a girlie,
Just like my dear Papa.
Clive - Thanks and well said.
Tony - Thanks for responding. Like I said to PeteW, Southerners get jumpy when they hear hick/redneck/hill-billy. No offense taken.
Incidentally, my wife is from a town in New York (Long Island specifically) called "Hicksville"!
Onto the summer, I am attending one of these American hosted matches - CFC v TSO and Inter Milan in LA. Third row right smack dab in midfield. First time to see the Blues live and hopefully not my last.
As I don't have my own Internet right now, I haven't been able to see even the highlights. I'm only dissappointed that the kids didn't come on. But it seems Guus is more interested in keeping the team clicking for the final. Can't say I disagree with that.
As for "Hicksville", I too can understand the sensitivity, and I was also a bit miffed. The only Chelsea game I've been to was in the USA. I'd love to change it, but that's how it is. My local game in Baltimore against AC Milan sold out almost immediately. Mostly it is that we Americans who take football seriosly take it very seriosly (for instance that timmy the tooth character is an American btw), and we want the other footballing nations to see us that way as well.
The sounders are something of a team- they sell out all of their games to the tune of 30k in the stadium. They play in a NFL stadium and only open the bottom tier. My hope is that they allow full sellouts next year, as it is the loudest stadium in the US. A real footballing experience.
Reply to ChelseaTony:
Dear Sir
I wish to protest in the strongest possible terms at the suggestionthat lumberjacks are in some way synonymous with transvestitism. I myself am a lumberjack and own very few items of women's clothing which is worn only
Cont p. 94
There is doubting Tony's credentials as some sort of UN negotiator. He's nearly caused an "International Incident" by sort of insulting our American cousins.
But he's quite happy to continue in bashing our cross dressing/sheep farming Commonwealth friends.
TG for Prime Minister I say.
I'm a lumberjack and I'm okay,
I sleep all night and I work all day.
Reply to Clive:
And I haven't even started on the West Country yet.
Or our tractor driving friends in the East.
*pauses Bernard Manning dvd*
Reply to KaiserJonny_II:
I have also been known to lumber the odd jack and lets face it, there's nothing quite like the feel of a stocking held in place by a suspender when chopping down a piece of......ahem.....wood.
Reply to ChelseaTony:
Ah, undoubtedly we are too sensitive about it. Of course, being considered a footballing backwater will make it all the sweeter when we win our first World Cup...
In other news, the MOTD of the game looked quite good. Other than allowing a few chances that we can expect Everton to convert, we look quite good. Malouda looks excellent. We'd be insane to sell him now. He's found his form, he wants to play for Chelsea, why get rid of him?
And in other news, the Ancelotti saga rumbles on, especially now that Van Basten is in the mix. They need to win their next game to end this whole charade.
My opinion of Joachim Loew is extremely... well... low at this point. Asking Ballack to not play in the FA cup final because you want to go on a German World tour in order to play... China and Dubai? I thought the response from Chelsea was perfect- he doesn't leave, because it isn't a match on the established International calendar. How big does a match need to be for Loew to not need Ballack there to play the footballing powerhouse of China? Would he ask him to miss the Champions League Final?
Not only is it insulting to Ballack "hey, why don't you skip out on the chance to win some silverware at Wembley to play in a stupid 11 substitution international", but it also costs us an automatic penalty conversion. That I will not tolerate.
And yes, I know I just insulted the Chinese and their footballing after being insulted for being called a hick- I'm a hypocrite, I'll admit it. That said, I do worry about a nation of one billion people fielding a fearsome side once they put their minds to it.
I see 'Ranners' is available again after getting punted at Juventus.......
Anyone else feel that if we are going to get an Italian that can't speak the language and hasn't won the league for a number of years, we may as well get the one that we like!
Not going to happen, in a million years though.
If you do get the Italian it could be like Phil Scolari again. I mean some of the problems was the language barrie and Big Phil did not like some of the players and played them out of formation etc. I have heard in an interview Hiddink has told Chelsea board and all of Chelsea to sell some of their old players and buy future and young stars now. Old players won't do now at Chelsea if they are to win the league or FA Cup or Champions League again. I believe you should go for an English manager like David Moyes, Martin O'Neil, etc. Give them a try instead sacking and hiring. Give the managers more time. What do you Chelsea fans think if David Moyes took over or Martin O Neil took over and was given time do you think they would do a good job?
Reply to Evo87:
I think you'll find I've been a long time advocate of Moyes, who I believe has all the attributes to be the next Ferguson. Quite a few others contributing to the blog would also be happy to see Moyes patrolling the dugout.
O' Neill has blotted his copybook a bit for me because of his disrespect for the UEFA Cup and the fielding of a reserve side basically in order to get knocked out. Funny then that they, like Spurs, are now stressing the importance of European football next year.
I am nursing the mother of all Coors-related hangovers after a whole days drinking yesterday (I managed to escape redundancy and am still employed - yay for me!).
Was disappointed the youngsters didn't get a game, particularly as at 2-0 Rovers were almost packing their suitcases. Swapping the front 3 for Sinclair, Di Santo and Stoch would have given us a look at what the future holds.
Have started to wonder if we'll look at another temporary appointment, given that Guus will be available after next years World Cup. Although, with only 5 qualifiers to play, why can't he do both jobs next season as he has done so well this time?
As the Bridge sang on Sunday "You can stick your Ancelotti up your arse"......
Does Essien's lack of creativity worry(/annoy) another? What's versatility ever won?
So-much-ado-about-nothing really! And look at what defining roles btwn Ballack&Frank has done to everybody else(even Malouda!). What a fair prophet one is!
Reply to Fiftee:
Well done on avoiding the chop, Fiftee - reassuring in the current climate, I'm sure.
Have to say we're not really doing ourselves any favours with the youngsters; maybe if we didn't have a cup final and continuity was less important, a couple would have appeared. But I suppose altering the team (which is playing very well at present) at such a crucial time might not be on Guus's agenda.
Reply to Fiftee:
Echo KJ's sentiments. Although it's a tough environment to work in when you're safe but know others that aren't. I fear we may be about to under yet another hatchet job as well. Apparently £4.2bn of profit is not seen as good in a recession, whcih begs so may questions, its for another blog methinks.
Reply to Greenlight:
Maybe Ranieri should return as Ancelotti's interpreter?
KJ / Tony - thanks. It's mighty relieving for me, but also disappointing as there are so many going.
For those of you who, like I, line Rupert Murdochs pockets for the privilege of watching live footy, our game at Sunderland is live on Sky Sports 3 via the red button at 4 on Sunday.
I'm feeling like a lone voice in the wilderness just now, but here goes:
Guus has done great work, but he's 62, looking to retire and the cracks are already starting to show.
With a fairly basic error of judgement in the CL semi which allowed 10 men the initiative with one of the lamest of substitutions possible, there must be doubts about Guus continuing, even if he wanted to.
At 2-0 and 30 mins to play, what was the point in leaving all our (presumably) Cup Final players out there?
How will the new manager know who to keep or sell when he hasn't seen half the squad in action?
And if someone does sustain an injury, how will Guus know who to play instead?
And why so anti Ancelotti?
Naturally the Scolari factor still weighs heavily but Carlo is a solid manager who has shown a willingness to stay with his teams and work with what's available.
And Adebayor:
Anyone who's fallen out with ArseWhinge's attempts at re-defining what football is 'supposed' to look like, is OK with me.
At 25 he's got plenty of time to prove that he's no five minute wonder, and if one of our forwards really wants to go North, then a swap like the Gallas/Cole deal might be perfect.
Would you guys ever like to see Gianlucca Vialli and Ruud Guillit back at Chelsea managing again?
Reply to Evo87:
Vialli has done little since, which is a shame. I don't see him getting a look in.
Gullitt has also failed to cover himself in glory, but if he were appointed and had the right team of coaches then I would have no problem with it.
He, along with Souness, is one of the best pundits around and I know for a fact that he considers Chelsea as (in his words) 'unfinished business' . In realityit won't happen. Roman seems surrounded by advisors who are footballing fuckwits, who may be good businessmen but seem to know little about the game. Fans views are often derided, but it's surprising how often there fears turn out to be right. Most thought Grant would not be the man and we were proved right, despitre his closeness to glory. A lot were dismayed at Scolari being chosen and we're spot on with our fears. Similar stories occur across the league.
Whilst democracy is a nice idea, in reality it could never work, which is why i'd like to know if the next man is a choice influenced by Guus. In which case if it is Ancelotti then maybe my furrowed brow will be soothed.
Reply to Evo87:
Not really, maybe you can give them a job when ArseWhinge leaves for RM.
Moyes for manager with a 10-year contract and time to build his empire would do for me. But as was pointed out by TG, most of Roman's advisers seem to know sod all about football, and those that do are usually have some sort of 'interest' in the outcome.
Oh, and, I can't see what would be wrong a Kalou/Adebayore swap either. They are equally good/bad and both young with room to develop potential under a new manager. Our style would probably suit the big man more than Arsene's pointless balletics, and vice versa with Kalou, who seems to love running around pointlessly.
There is a reported hold-up in the talks with Ancelotti concerning the retention of Butch and Clements as coaches. He wants to bring in his 'team'. This sounds like the sort of pure press speculation that a Sports desk with not much to write about on the story might come up with. But the point is salient. Another inrush of backroom staff with the resulting ousting of current members is not desirable. This seems to me to be as important an issue as who the new manager is.
Is it me or does this guy bear a certain resemblance to our Guus?
LINK
Reply to dannybrod:
"There is a reported hold-up in the talks with Ancelotti concerning the retention of Butch and Clements as coaches. He wants to bring in his 'team'."
That's sad indeed, if true.
The one big lesson we should've learned from Scolari was that continuity behind the scenes can be as important as any changes up front.
The only reason that Avram came so close to success was by continuing with a successful formula.
I hope the story's crap because given the number of coaching staff teams use these days, it's hard to see why they can't keep a few familiar faces around, especially given the potential language issues.
That said, if Ancelotti's going to bring his 'experts in keeping oldies going' along then that would be great news for Frank & Co.
Reply to fansincethesixties:
That said, if Ancelotti's going to bring his 'experts in keeping oldies going' along then that would be great news for Frank & Co.
Better living through chemistry, if the rumours are to be believed...
*cough*
Fair points about Guus - I think the substitutions (or lack thereof) in the Barca game at the Bridge are probably one of the only blots on his copybook, but given that we weren't really expecting much after Scolari's departure Guus has certainly exceeded expectations - whether he'd carry on next season is another matter and his reluctance to take the job full time does suggest that he knows when to bow out.
Also.
Much as I admire what Moyes has done, it's hard to see how he would cope with the sort of players we have and at the level that we expect play at.
Everton play the most turgid football imaginable. Fair enough on their resources, but there's not much in Moyes that makes me think he can step up. Did you watch their semi against United? Given the weakness of their opposition, they should have done a lot more than they did.
Reply to PeteW:
Same for MoN.
Always thought he was a cut above the rest, but he seems to lack that really special something that the highest level demands.
He may have more to offer than Moyes, but still not enough methinks.
We're going to miss u Guus.
However, in terms of consistency and form all through the season (Scolari+Guus), i'd say Mikel Obi & Ballack are the best. Lampard has been extra intelligent. Jt was affected by Scolari's confusion.
Just been having a quick look at the online megastore at the new kit. One thing that susprises me is that it's advertised as the 09/10 home shirt, which means it'll last a mere one season before being replaced.
Add to that both the away and third kits currently available are 08/09, they'll both be replaced at some stage soon.
That's absolutely shocking. And I dont mean how the new home kit looks, but that three strips were 'the now' for just one season.
Glad I kept my red and white diamond Commodore-sponsored away kit from 15-odd years ago....
Totally agree about Moyes who plays some of the worst football in the league. Well done for getting so far with his meagre resources but he's in the Harry Redknapp mould where he's suited to scrambling around with little money and if given a crop of quality footballers he'll be baffled. I've always wondered why Harry has never got anywhere near the England job and even though the bungs and backhanders may have worked against him i feel that some see Harry (and Moyes in my opinion) as an A- manager, just not quite good enough for the top level. I also think he'd be confused if Roman gave him £50m to spend in the transfer market and i could never imagine Moyes finding a Drogba or Essien.
As for O'Neill - well i've never rated him. His long ball football really is awful and he's always been reliant on a big front man - Heskey, Hartson, Carew, Heskey again... and when it comes to tactics i think he's pretty laughable. Milner at right back? Still picking Agbonlahor when he plainly can't finish? I just think O'Neill has been a little overhyped.
And then Ancelotti. I feel as if i have to stand up for him as i simply don't understand why some fans are so against him? He's a brilliant tactician and man manager who may have gained the reputation as being an OAP lover who can only manage old players but when you're given so few resources by your chairman, then what else can you expect? And anyone who can scout a Kaka or Pato has obviously got a good eye for a young player. The English barrier does worry me but everything else seems great and he's definitely not Scolari mk. 2. He's tactically astute and young (enough) and not as stubborn as Scolari meaning he won't thrust some pointless Samba football onto a club who are characterised by power, pace and passion. Scolari mk.2 would be Rijkaard, whose ultra relaxed training, tactics and dressing room standards would prove disasterous. And if Roman wants to buy some great players for Carlo then why not embrace our new coach?
From the Desk of Professor Bayou - Head Curator CFC Museum (Unoffical)
Do I display it in Design Classics or Comedy Classics?
Reply to Fiftee:
From the Desk of Professor Bayou - Head Curator CFC Museum (Unoffical)
Do I display it in Design Classics or Comedy Classics?
Reply to haberdashers:
"And if Roman wants to buy some great players for Carlo then why not embrace our new coach?"
That could be the key.
Scolari struck me as being a Kenyon initiative that went disastrously wrong and he quickly fell out of favour with his employer.
Roman's affection for Carlo is well documented and if he's prepared to bring him in and support him properly, then that could be what's been missing since Jose's early days.
Or am I just being way too optimistic?
Reply to BlueBayou:
New home shirt - Comedy Classic. Seriously, it's like a cross between Robocops body armour and all the padding American 'Footballers' wear.
My red and white diamond away kit is, clearly, a design classic. Only bettered by the charcoal and orange away jobby (I think sponsored by Coors) which has to be one of THE best kits ever. In the post match coverage Sunday, the Sky camera picked out someone who was wearing one, just as Roy Bentley started jigging his way all round the pitch. Reports of the two being link are, so far, unconfirmed.....
Reply to Fiftee:
There's definitely something Gladitorial and Russell Crowish (alone, bloodied yet unbowed in the dust of the arena)about the new kit. With it's sculpting of the athlete's frame and an emphasis on sheer physicality it can only go further in portraying us as a club built on power, speed and, dare I say it, intimidation.
I would even go so far as to predict that UEFA will question the wearing of such a kit as being an excercise in negativity and brutality, especially when compared with their darlings at Barcelona who will play the most of next season in some sort of flouncy Laura Asheley number to accentuate their artistic and sensitive approach to the beautiful game.
Combined with soft focus on the camera lens this look will enhance the dreamlike quality to their games in direct contrast to ours, which will be broadcast with particularly harsh lighting and intense colouring to further suggest the unerringly base and animal nature of proceedings at the Bridge.
Anyway must dash I've got to go and cover a the unveiling of Chanel's latest collection for Vogue and some simply divine new lipstick shades from Clinique.
Laters
I can't say I agree that Moyes's teams play boring football. They were neat, effective and well-organised when they came and got their 0-0 at the Bridge. The right back with the Scandinavian name really caught the eye linking with midfield, and they have plenty of ball-players even with Arteta out injured. What Moyes has done with them reminds me of José's particular gift: getting the maximum out of your players and getting them all to play in a way that suits the nature of his team.
I'm going to stick in the anti-Ancelotti camp. No doubt he's a good enough manager, although given the quality of players he's had at Milan, they really ought to be doing much better than they are -- and I'm disturbed by the fact that he not only accepted Beckham (which presumably was forced on him because Berlusconi thought it meant he'd get to ogle Posh on a regular basis) but actually seems to have voluntarily selected him.
But if there's one clear lesson from this season, it's that being a successful manager depends totally on having an effective bond with the players. It just won't wash to say that Scolari never got the team playing well. The home win against Aston Villa was easily the best performance I've seen first hand, easily. His problem was that he didn't have the players with him. Unless Ancelotti can overcome basic communication problems, I'd expect him to founder on the same rock.
And the other, bigger problem I have with Ancelotti is that his brief will be to win everything. He won't -- there's absolutely no reason to think that we'll dominate next season -- and so he'll be fired.
In fact I'll stick my neck out and say that if he's appointed, as seems increasingly certain, he won't be our manager in August 2010. So we'll all be having the same discussion a year from now.
I have to stand up for the Moyes camp here. Turgid, yes occasionally, but effective when considering the budget. Arteta is an example of a player who would fit in and add something to us, as would Cahill. But I'm not after them. I just think that good young British managers are being overlooked because of a subjective track record. As someone once said here, past performance is no guarantee of future returns.
Moyes is young, hungry and seems ot be of the dynasty building mode rather than revolution. We've had the revolution and arguably paid the price since the architect of that left. How does young British talent succeed if no-one gives them the chance? Are we saying that they have to abroad to gain success? Which teams do they get over there then? Barca? Real Madrid? Juventus? Or is it more likely to be Twente Enschede? What if say...McClaren won the Dutch league, then a UEFA Cup, then went to Spain..say Valencia and won them a trophy or two......would that qualify him for us because that seems to be the argument here? Or would he have to coach Barcelona or similar to CL success before getting a sniff at a top EPL club?
A point to make here is Guardiola. No experience of management at all, but seemingly hungry and savvy enough to make a good team even better or arguably a very good team, even showing a degree of ruthlessness in letting some dead wood go (Deco to us!)
I'm actually in the Rijkaard camp primarily BUT if Moyes or Sparky turned up, or maybe even the slightly discredited MoN (via his UEFA cup vs 4th place disaster) then I wouldn't be too unhappy. No-one can say the latter 3 aren't Premiership experienced.
And wouldn't we rather get that title back before the CL?
Reply to Fiftee:
"...and all the padding American 'Footballers' wear. "
Stop with the US stuff already! Do you want a full scale invasion?
Not only are poo owned by Hicks we've got hicks complaining about being ribbed for living in Hicksvilla, (this isn't meant to be serious btw) as long as it's still OK to knock ManUSA for being owned by, well, Americans.
Reply to ChelseaTony:
Yes.
Those names remind me of Howard Kendall who never did much outside his first stint at Everton, but during that spell formed one of the best sides in Europe.
Proving that anyone with an affinity with the club and players can achieve plenty.
It's just a case of getting that combination.
Some managers are able to do it more than once and they're the ones that owners and fans seek.
But they're a very rare breed.
Reply to ChelseaTony:
Tony, your Guardiola point isn't entirely accurate. He spent the previous season managing the Barcelona B team. As a nearly direct comparison, it would be like John Terry, once retired, managing the Chelsea Reserves before making the step up to the first teamers. The advantage there, as many people tell me, is that the playing mentality of FC Barcelona remains consistent. You don't have managers establishing a mentality of strength and discipline, being fired/forced to leave, then eventually replaced by wing backs and samba stylings.
Reply to fansincethesixties:
Obviously we need a manager who clicks with the team. That is much more important than a "big name" to me. Is that Ancelotti? Who knows.
Perhaps this is heresy- but would you take three years of no league titles and no other cup wins to win the Champions League once under Ancelotti? To get it off of our back, to finally be a team that has won everything? My thought is that I would. I can't imagine that the league would be unwinnable over that span as well, but I think I'd take it.
With Ancelotti, I think it is very hard to know anything at this point. Maybe he's the guy, maybe he isn't. Maybe he brings Kaka, maybe he doesn't. In a week or so we'll know more.
As for other managers, I can't say that I'm too hyped on Moyes. Yes, he does well. Yes, his team is in the FA cup final. Yes, his players will die for him. But Everton don't seem completely devoid of talent, in fact I rate Cahill, Feliani and Arteta quite highly. They have had some serious striker injury issues- but they also have one of the best keepers in the Premier league in Howard. That edge gets you through tough games.
My thought (and this is a popular thought) is that he is biding his time for the Man U job. From a managerial perspective, it is the plum job in the league, if not Europe. They have enough money to buy any player, they have a stable of talent, and a great youth program, plus managerial stability. Nothing you don't want there.
Afterward, it is a tossup- us and Arsenal. Do you want tons of money for you and players, or do you want less money, more stability, and a better youth system? If Arsene leaves for Real (unlikely), then this may be a real question.
I like Marty O'Neil a lot, but I don't think he's for us. Maybe he's working within a price range, and perhaps his players at Celtic were far inferior to Jose's at Porto. But as we say in Hicksville, MoN got his ass handed to him by Jose. That doesn't do it for me.
Reply to radicalevan:
Barcelona B, with all due respect isn't close to managing Everton A in the PL.
Guardiola was given the Barca job without having managed at any real top level.
Moyes is substantially more experienced than Guardiola and yet people will still detract from him a as good choice in favour of the, in my view, proven track record bollocks.
Everyone would love Zola, but is he ready? We'd all love to have Clarke back.
Rijkaard- he just doesn't do it for me. No control over the players. Barca went to pieces under him- we clearly need a manager with a firm hand. The Scolari experiment showed that.
Is Brendan Rodgers ready? I'm sure he'd want the job. Hard to tell with the players he has whether he'd be ready for the big time.
'arry Rednap- Lamps would be the focal point and the chosen one, but he already is. But he isn't the manager of the future, that's for sure.
Perhaps we just need a quality seatwarmer until Zola feels he is ready? How long is his contract with Hammers? 3 years under Ancelotti, and then Zola Time?
Reply to radicalevan:
Sorry Radicalevan, maybe I'm not being clear, but the Guardiola situation actually adds weight to the Moyes argument in some ways. Neither having managed at the highest level.......but then again who does unless given the chance?
Reply to Be_Champions:
I hear Brendan Rodgers is being tipped to replace Coppell at Reading.
Rikard will not be able to handle the Chelsea stars. Look what he did at Barcelona no disipline from them. Now look what Pep has done. Hes instilled discipline and sold the bad boys and party boys like Deco and Ronaldinho and they are playing much better without Deco,Rikard and Ronaldinho. Do you think Chelsea should now sell their old players and keep Lampard and Terry and bring in some new blood? Is Chelsea really going for David Villa to replace Drogba?
Brendan Rogers looks to be on the way up, but he'll never be manager of Chelsea because he won't help sell replica shirts in Malaysia. (Although the appointment of Grant undermines that argument, I admit -- I *still* have no idea what they were thinking.) The suits need A Big Name, and I don't mean "Venegoor of Hesselink" ...
LINK
This is pure and utter comedy stuff. Proper laugh out loud 'journalism' (in the loosest sense of the word).
Ashley to Barca for £20m and Riccy C going to Benfica.
Right-o......
I've just caught the goals Sunderland conceded on Monday v Portsmouth on one of those ads down the side of newspaper links.
If there was any logic in football you'd think Anelka is nailed on to clinch the Golden Boot award on Sunday.
Sadly as we all know from bitter experience you can be sure Sunderland will defend like demons and if the Winker is given the day off by Old PurpleNose the Dubious Goals panel will suddenly find an excuse to remove one of Anelka's current tally so that the beautiful game is seen to triumph again ;-)
Ash to Barca is indeed funny. Journalists under pressure to fill space. But this LINK on the other hand, has the feel of cultivated leaking of ongoing negotiations. Not sure about Matt Hughes track record of accuracy, but it all sounds reasonable.
Though I think Roman by now understands the wisdom of continuity, and of keeping proper Chelsea people in place for the long term, the courting of Ancelotti seems to me to be one last attempt to win the Champions League with this generation of players. Having invested so much without that critical pay off is driving this, I think. If you look at the ages of the key players in the Squad (Terry, Lamps, Drogs, Ballack, Czech, Ash) he probably reckons that there's about another two or three years left for them to deliver as a group. That means next season and the one after in all reality. Then the game changes, with a serious break up of this Squad and the introduction a new spine (with some of the players already here of course: Essien, Obi etc).
This makes me feel sick and even angrier about the whole episode. They used this against Mourinho's Chelsea and still use it against us and the media in this country being as much anti Chelsea as this wanker say nothing.....Why is Chelsea Football club not asking for clarification as to his words to show it is unnacceptable to openly take sides thereby influencing the mindset of officials such as refs....I hope someone smacks this fucker in the mouth one day and I dont really agree in Violence in sport but this really takes the biscuit. I really hope as much as it pains me to say that Man-U totally embarrass them 4 or 5-0!!! HOW CAN IT BE ALLOWED FOR THE HEAD OF AN ORGANISATION TO COME OUT AND BE SO openly biased and nothing gets done or said. by his very words he sends out signals to his officials and to me at least this is manipulation leading to general conspiracy against one party....not just Chelsea but all English clubs....I am starting to really dislike this guy whatever kind of footballer he was...
...LINK
and just to add, this is the Real FUCKING DISGRACE...Drogba was right and this is proof.....
LINK
things just dont seem right in modern day football
from bettting scandals to open biasness by officials,who is fooling who
Gotta love Platini :
"I believe players should be protected until they are 18, more for moral reasons than economic ones."
So nothing wrong with snatching a young Leo Messi from Argentina, smack him up on growth hormones through his formative years then parading him as the new wunder-kid?
Still, if Platini gets his way, Arsehole Whinger will be well and truly redundant when he realises he can't pinch other clubs kids.
No, you've got it all wrong, you chaps - there is no bias towards one team at all; we're just paranoid Chelsea fans that think the world is out to get them, aren't we?
It could of course b sh*t-stirring media following the "Barcelona - beautiful" narrative, but I hope Ferguson rips into them in a timely manner just before the final. It's not a common emotion for me, but I sincerely hope United rip those overrated Catalan twats a new arsehole next week.
Reply to Dio:
An utter disgace if true.
really, he won't last long if he keeps spouting these views. The other European clubs will surely have enough power to dislodge him.
Reply to dannybrod:
For once I hope that a piece of journalism about us actually is true.
The whole tone and content of that link suggests that lessons have been learned and that some serious work is under way to secure the best deal possible for all concerned.
Forgot to add:
Platini must go.
Before we get the inevitable 'yet another manager' tripe dished up by our esteemed media experts, it's interesting to look at our continuity as a team.
I see no less than 7 players still around from the 2004-5 season. Compared to 6 in Manu and Arse and only 4 at poo (I think, don't know their squads that well).
Of our seven (three are out through injury).
Of these only Paulo F is unlikely to play these days.
Even if they don't start every game, both Riccy and Joey are important squad members.
My point is that despite switching managers and losing some big name players, we've kept a far more stable team than our rivals which is why we've stayed competitive during these changes.
I know that age is starting to be a factor but if we can continue to bring only good players in and develop some youngsters, then we're absolutely on the right track.
Reply to KaiserJonny_II:
It's swung me even more behind the Mancs than before. I thought I might sit this one out in a kind of objective don't-really-care-who-wins-but-slightly-favouring-the Mancs stylee, but not any more. I can't wait to hear from Ol' Purple Nose now. This could be a fun build up and an a truly fun final.
Reply to dannybrod:
Personally my 'dream final' would be a rout of the Reds with some very dodgy reffing to make things worse.
Maybe then the EPL would get motivated to address what's going on.
I'd also enjoy seeing how bad decisions by the ref would suddenly become matters of national importance.
Well that's a different way to look at it ...a proper stitch of the Mancs would probably lead to a more robust defence of the English game than the establishment are likely to mount in defence of Chelsea.
I'll stick with my preferred outcome, but enjoy watching the fallout if the Reds are cheated out of it.
Decent article in the Guardian alert!
LINK
Reply to PeteW:
Was a great season, that; happy memories of Goldbaek's goal at the Lane but hideous nightmares about Guppy's equaliser at the Bridge which ultimately finished us off. We should have won it that year - terrific side.
Yep, it was three really good teams playing very good football, never seen the like before or since. Nice to see our role in it acknowledged because we came that close.
75. Evo87
Rijkaard brought great players to Barcelona, that made them successful : he sold the old ones and bought Deco, Giuly, Eto ...he also promoted Xavi,Iniesta and Valdes from the youth system, so Rijkaard really knows how to provide the team with great young players.
I don't like his character, but better him than Ancelotti...
I would really like Moyes or O'Neill to come...maybe Bilic, but he doesn't have enough experience... Unfortunately, Roman and Kenyon want some high profile, overrated coach such as Ancelotti ...or Rijkaard, but I still respect Rijkaard in some crazy way.
Of course a title is lost over a season but oh that Leicester game. Seemed like the Gods were exacting their revenge for Erland's "stumble" in the FA Cup a season or two before.
But as someone says in the comments section it does show Chelsea were on an upswing before RA arrived.
One can also get misty eyed at the compliments being handed out to Chelsea. After nearly 10 years that team is talked of with respect. However dry the tears 'cause at the time we were getting it in the neck for the number of foreign players, money spent on transfer fees blah blah blah.
The fact that Manure and the Arse were at each other's throats meant we weren't in the spotlight as much but the negativity was still there.
Sorry to be bitter but I'm not Murphy
So true BB. I remember having a huge row with a friend of mine (a Wimbledon fan before the split) who insisted that we were underachieving bunch of mercenaries, which was the media narrative at the time.
To change your mind as a result of reasoned argument is said to be a sign of an educated man. What follows demonstrates that there is an exception to every rule.
I have started to move from a position of anti-Ancelotti (AA) to maybe Ancelotti (MA) as a result of reading some of the posts on here, various links and engaging in deep thought.
As a man who loves the smell of creosote I’m never happier than when sitting on a fence and this is where I can now be found.
The positives for Ancelotti, which speak for themselves, are his experience and success as a coach at the top level. His teams are both defensively sound and creative. He appears to control the dressing room and in working for Berlusconi must be possessed of some level of political (with a small “p” ) nous.
I think it’s only right that he would want to bring some staff with him and, if the Matt Hughes article is correct, the ideal solution is to have a good English speaker as his right hand man, while retaining continuity with the existing staff. JM had his people but also worked with Steve Clarke and that seemed to function well. Indeed I would be concerned if, as a long-term appointment, he turned up on his own. Strangely in Ray Wilkins he has an ex-Rossinero (Italian speakers feel free to correct me). A quick check on dates seemed to indicate CA arriving as a player just as RW was leaving.
I do wonder whether the fact he’s not bringing a big team with him is an indication that the “does he run the first team or the whole football bit?” might have been settled in Arnesen’s favour with his elevation to the board. Or a la Scolari, will CA get a directorship? As long as it’s clear from the start, so we don’t get the internal strife we had in JM’s reign when he clearly felt that he should be (or was promised the) running of the whole football side.
It was on a bus to Camberwell and got quite heated.
Creosote and Ancelotti part 2
He is the same age and height as me, which is always a good thing. He is only 4 or 5 years older than Ferguson when he took the helm at the Mancs. So he is young enough to build a dynasty. Being positive, you could look at his longevity at Milan as a good thing. There’s always the nagging worry that a JM type won’t stay anywhere long enough to build.
Perhaps he should have won more titles with Milan, but the pressure at the Bridge wont be anything he hasn’t experienced before.
I am a little concerned with the rumours of lotions, potions and extreme longevity in some of Milan’s players. But then they don’t tend to spend their non-footballing hours drinking their body weight in alcohol so who knows?
A final thought is that there is some sort of “Alec Baldwin but with greyer hair and a different face” thing going on with Ancelotti. I can’t put my finger on it at the moment, but I feel it is a good thing despite the fate of the last manager to strongly resemble a Hollywood actor.
(Warning: Should Ancelotti be appointed and end in disaster there is a built in logarithm, which will ensure this post self-destructs so I can engage in “I told you so” type nonsense.)
Reply to PeteW:
I think you'll find the man on the Clapham Omnibus is always a more reasonable character
A word for our sponsor:
If Scolari was a committee decision.
Roman came, saw what was going on, then kicked him out (and brought in his own man).
Then I'm giving RA the benefit of my many doubts on what looks like his next appointment.
It's also easy to forget that Carlo spent a couple of seasons at Juve almost winning so he's been able to move on and succeed before.
Anyway, as with many of us who have experienced Corporate non-decision making, I'm falling into the 'just pick someone and get on with it' camp.
I'm pretty sanguine about Ancelotti, largely because I don't think there's one single obvious candidate and I'm all for coming back here next summer to have this discussion all over again.
I sense I may have gone out where the buses don't turn and left you all behind with the Alec Baldwin thing...
But have a look and you'll agree there's something. It's not a "separated at birth" or "looky - leeky" situation, just a certain masculine jowly thing going on
Ancelotti
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Baldwin
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(sigh) Its going to be a long summer at this rate
Although pro-Moyes and Rijkaard, I'm also suffering from Buttockus Splinterus from adopting a relaxed position on my rather fetching garden fence with regard Ancelotti. I do have doubts over the fact that he's not shown any previous ambition outside of italy, but then Moyes hasn't shown any outside of England... a fault that does seem to affect English managers more than any other......and even players. beckham aside, who from England plays abroad for any half decent side?
I do think we, as a nation, in general suffer from Little Englander syndrome, being the worst at having any form of second language capability other than fluent bollocks, especially when ... ahem...tired and emotional.
I'm also dubious about the lack of English, but Capello, Ranieri, Zola and Vialli are all great examples of Italians ability to pick up a second language with relative ease. But in other respects he does fit the bill. Success in Europe (which to my mind reduce the chances of success again), relative success in italy, the discovery of exciting players, the ability to handle pressure, the ability to be Machiavellian enough to survive under the tyrannical and plainly mad Berlusconi (after which RA would seem a pussycat) and the ability to cope with a hostile press. So some plus points and some negative points. Show me any candidate that doesn't have similar plusses and minusses.
I hereby state that my hostility is more down to ignorance than any dislike of the man. If he is the next choice then at 49, maybe he has hope of being with us for some time to build something long term. So, I'm in the 'tbd' category as we like to say at work.....
The best English/British players always used to play abroad, but now the money/competition in the Prem is far superior to anything on offer elsewhere so I can see why people want to stay here, especially given the squad system.
Would love it if some of Arsenal's young English players (Wilshire et al) buggered off to Spain because they're being kept out of the team by Wenger's French African fetish (can I say that?).
Has Mr Platini told us who we should support out of Shaktar Donetsk and Werder Bremen tonight?
I'd be worried if he caught me backing the forces of general darkness and anti-football twice in a month.
Shaktar are known as the Miners (this is Wiki info so...) Donetsk is twinned with Sheffield.
Bremen play in green (which is always nice I think) but don't appear to be twinned with an English town, although somewhere near Bremen is twinned with Baldock in Hertfordshire.
Claudio Pizarro (a Chelsea leg end) is on loan at Werder.
So no real pointers there.
KJII we look to you for guidance. Do your Teutonic propensities say it should be the boys from Bremen that we get behind (as it were)?
Reply to BlueBayou:
Afternoon BB
I shall be behind the boys from Bremen, but I fear it might be in vain. Great cup form this season but Diego is suspended which is a big - no, huge - loss for them. But as you say, they have our goal monster Pizarro...
Should be a decent game though - neither team is that great defensively so the old onion bag could see some action tonight (sounds like a good euphemism actually...)
Reply to PeteW:
Can you mention Arsen's 'other side'?
I think that you just did!
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A rather funny, and rose-colored glasses look at how Liverpool lost the league by a Liverpool supporter at the Times.
"Clearly" they were the better side, and it comes down to *gasp* that they don't have the money to compete with United.
Never mind how he dismisses the wins over Chelsea as foregone conclusions- yes, that Red against Frank must have been totally uncontroversial. Also, no, Liverpool don't get an inordinate number of penalties at Anfield. That couldn't possibly boost their league standing.
Meanwhile, against a full-strength Chelsea side Liverpool were shown to easily be second best.
But no, it must be the money. It can't be that "Luckypool" are only so lucky- it won't carry them to a title.
And on that money issue...
Liverpool are a big club, are they not?
Do they win titles? Not recently.
Do they have enough money to compete with the big boys? Apparently not.
So what is it that makes them "big"?
Just as well I bagged a few mins on the old PC - completely forgot the UEFA extravaganza was tonight.
I'll be cheering Claudio who looked rather good in the earlier ties that I did manage to remember to watch.
Plus a little nod to the other team who're OK too.
Don't want to get it wrong and upset M Platini, now, do I?
Reply to Be_Champions:
That Anfield thing is really funny.
Every time the ball rises more than a foot off the ground within 5 yards of an opposition defender they all scream "Handball", it's like synchronized shouting or some such similar stupidity.
Seems to impress the odd ref, though.
Watched some of the Shaktar-Bremen game, disinterestedly. Seemed that a lot of people were falling over a lot. Still, Bremen seemed a bit hard done by. The Frings card mystifies me- no contact means a yellow?
I'm trying to write something on refereeing- I'm a touch busy now, but I'll try to get it done soon.
And, here is something to make everyone here really angry-
Chelsea is the new Leeds.
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Discuss.
Watched the game but kinda lost interest as it went on.
Wonder if it'll be like that next week.
Reply to Be_Champions:
As insults go, that's pretty low.
Roll on Wembley, another chance to shine.
Reply to Be_Champions:
I thought Shankhtar Donetsk deserved it. Pizza boy seemed clueless without Diego. As much as I hate them, I hope Manchester United win the Platini-Ovrebo Memorial shield which I hope to miss.
And that cunt Platini still had that constipated look.
I dont know if it's the 'laissez faire' approach of the French, or the simple fact he's a scruffy, lazy bastard, but for someone who's the 'head' of football for the continent I wish someone would show Platini how to do his fucking top button up. Every time I see him, he's wearing a tie and he can't even do a shirt up properly!
Away from my feelings on summer fashion, another day, another Express 'tale':
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Riccy C and Mikel to Inter for £21m. Personally, I'd give it consideration were it true. Alex has deputised well for Riccy, we've got Branko and Mancienne to come in as well.
As for Mikel, Essien is possibly wasted there, but does the job all the same. If it's a case of needing to sell to buy, I think it'd be one to ponder.
Reply to Fiftee:
Re. Pratini: The word slob seems to fit quite well.
Yes, there should be plenty of transfer shenanigans to keep us entertained for the summer months.
Talking transfers:
The Metro's got a really scary story about Tevez and Torres joining up at poo.
Just what we don't need.
I've got some sympathy for that Liverpool article because I think it's true, for most of the season Liverpool were by far the better team (to beat as and Utd home and away is a magnificent achievement), but United are able to bring players off the bench to turn games because they have a monumental squad at present. (the dodgy penalties and red cards to opponents even themselves out through the course of the season, by which I mean Liverpool and United get about the same amount each and the rest of us just have to accept it.)
But I think a lot of LIverpool fans are worried that if they can play that well without winning the league, they're not going to win it for a long time yet. Can they improve on such an excellent season?
It's interesting, though. We came a lot closer to beating United last season than Liverpool did this one, but I don't recall loads of articles by journalists arguing that we were the better team.
Is this because we lack class or something?
Reply to PeteW:
Think it has been a generally poor Premiership season overall; United have been far from the all-conquering attacking machine that they are generally accepted to be, while both Liverpool (and us, even at times under Scolari until meeting top 4 opposition) have looked far better, but like you say the bench options are far and away the best (probably in Europe at the moment).
Next season is likely to be a real bun fight - our challenge is much dependent on summer arrivals, both coach and player, but the Liverpool v Man U '19' ruck could be very entertaining. Can't help feeling that Benitez will do far better if he just keeps his trap shut. And doesn't sell Alonso.
Benitez's hatred of Ferguson could be his undoing and he'll start doing silly things.
The scary thing is that poor as the Premiership teams are, they are still head and shoulders above the rest of Europe. Barca would be battling us for third if they played over here, Inter and Bordeaux wouldn't be top five.
Reply to PeteW:
Benitez's hatred of Ferguson could be his undoing and he'll start doing silly things.
I'd possibly put slinging a big pile of cash at Tevez in that category. Good player and all, but is he really the missing link - best I rephrase that - the final piece of the jigsaw for them? Can't see it myself.
Yep, that's what I was thinking.
Just had to blog - "Good player and all, but is he really the missing link - best I rephrase that " made me laugh out loud (I don't LOL for anyone).
Chelsea since '63 - choice between Chelsea and Spuds when asked in the playground. How did I know that I would be choosing between bi-polar and masochism.
Must say that most of you chaps have an enviable writing style and even the abuse is poetic (utter cuntery - as Gary Oldman says in Fifth Element - my favorite).
I see Tevez and Torres as a dynamite combo.
A hard-working and quick, selfless, supplier who can also score, beside a consummate finisher is what poo were always about back when they were what they were.
Long time ago, but...
Reply to PreacherBlue:
Welcome, there's some admirable longevity around these parts.
Not the ages but the continued support despite all that Chelsea FC has thrown at us over the years.
Reply to PeteW:
I tend to disagree with that Inter point. I reckon with Jose and the squad they have (MILES Better than that of Villa or Everton) They should oust a certain Red team from London North. As for Barcelona Fighting for third, I reckon they would DESTROY the Smaller teams and hold out nicely against The top 6 sides that like to attack more and maybe pull some more performances like that against Real.
For me next season I am not too sure if Chelsea will be back to the best.
I see a few websites are reporting there'll be an announcement on Ancelottis future on Monday.
Hopefully it'll be a "he's signed a 14 year extension to his AC Milan contract" type announcement.
Reply to Fiftee:
..to be followed by Kenyon popping up claiming "our first choice for new manager was always Rijkaard/Mancini/Uncle Avram/Uncle Tom Cobbly...."
Bugger. Another one we've missed out on... Suppose we'll have to settle for Ancelotti now.
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Reply to fansincethesixties:
Thanks fansincethesixties or can I call you fsts.
Reply to blueboydave:
Don't knock uncle Tom Cobbly, he does a great job, been around for years...
Reply to PreacherBlue:
fsts please: I didn't really think it through when choosing that username, was even worse before we got the reply thingy.
I might get a chance to se a blue star in halmstad or Göteborg? not sure yet in which of this places england will play in the U21 Euro.
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Reply to fansincethesixties:
For shaktar-werder, I generally don't think teams deserve to win on gk errors. But, this is also why I wish franks freekicks would miss inside the post, not out. Gk can't bundle a shot off target.
I worry about tevez at pool. He might just be he missing link for them. If they keep xabi, they will be very good. He's too much to spend for us though, and where is that money going?
I will be fascinated by monday's events. We could have a crazy transfer summer.
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Can't resist it. I have to post this link...
ANyway, I agree... it will be crazy transfer summer.
Deco is one of the biggest flop in the PL , together with Scolari and I can see Roman and Kenyon, doing the similiar mistake again...for example, appointing Ancelotti , for me, is a bad thing.
The good stuff is Edin Dzeko. We are the leading in the race to land Dzeko, BUT he expressed his desire to play...take one guess...No, no Spain. ITALY. The most boring league for the two years in the row...
However, I am optimistic about him and think we will buy him in summer.
A big congrats to JT, Essien, Ashley and Frank on their awards at the annual Chelsea bash tonight. Along with Cech they form the world class backbone of the side and i was especially glad to see Ashley get the players' player of the year award. A second FA Cup medal for him and he'll finally feel at home at Chelsea me thinks.