Chelsea v Everton Preview

Focus should be on player management and chemistry

If AVB rejects the notion of tweaking Chelsea’s style to suit Torres and return on investment remains abysmal collective efforts should ignite a belief in any title hopes.  Player management obviously entails identifying “out of form” players and using  those minimal performance levels to create a more effective unit.

Needless to say, less pressure would be on the hapless Torres who continues to blunder sitters in the box. Mid-field movement and quality possession should improve and create the right spaces for Torres to manipulate and exploit.  Besides Ferguson mastered the art of making an average looking team seem invincible.

More than two points dropped

Yet another emotionally charged contest took place between these two football enmities and the dust is yet to settle.  Should this be viewed as a fair result?  That obviously depends on how objective this spectacle between these leviathans can possibly be examined.  Personally, we simply cannot be reduced to blaming alleged biased refereeing as this encounter should be considered at all costs a battle between two capable strategists, although AVB appears more cavalier than the seasoned Ferguson.  It would be suggesting that the game’s result and probably the fate of all matches of this prestige will be affected by the whims of a careless referee.  In all honesty, a series of awarded penalties should be attributed to quality ball possession by Man United.  The attack obviously reached enough momentum to breach the penalty box area.  Irrespective of whether those penalties were worthy to be awarded or not, AVB’s abilities remain questionable and poor player management remains detrimental to all title hopes.  The result seems like a victory to Ferguson I’m afraid.

Vintage Vinnie Jones

Victory at the Bridge boosts confidence!

10 December 2006

Essien scored a stunning late equaliser at home against Arsenal, as the game was going to end Chelsea's long unbeaten run!

Bringing success, glamour and trophies back to the Bridge

The legendary Ruud Gullit joined Glenn Hoddle's Chelsea on a free transfer from Serie A Sampdoria in July 1995 and went on to play 64 times for the Blues, scoring seven goals. At the end of his debut season in the Premiership he was offered the player/manager's job after Hoddle agreed to take charge of England. Chelsea, under new leadership, beat Middlesborough 2-0 in the 1997 FA CUP final becoming the first foreigner to win the title. The Blues then subsequently reached another high of ending the next season in second place and the quarter finals in two cup competitions. According to speculation, Gullit was sacked in February 1998 the following due to a possible contract dispute.

15 August 2009

Drogba scores the winner against Hull City after expertly chipping the ball over Myhill. He was then shown the yellow card for taking his shirt off while celebrating his goal.

Top Ten worst signings

1) Andriy Schevchenko (AC Milan)
2) Robert Fleck (Norwich)
3) Juan Sebastian Veron (Manchester United)
4) Chris Sutton (Blackburn)
5) Winston Bogarde (Barcelona)
6) Brian Laudrup (Rangers)
7) Scott Parker (Charlton)
8) Adrian Mutu (Parma)
9) Shaun Wright-Phillips (Manchester City)
10) Yuri Zhirkov (CSKA Moscow)

Is Fernando Torres bound to breach the Top Ten? We hope not!

The Winston Bogarde transfer flop

Although a player of immense physical strength and comfortable as a central defender and left back he received almost no playing time for Chelsea.  In fact, no Premier League appearances in his last three seasons combined.  Only weeks after signing his contract, newly appointed manager Ranieri wanted him to leave.  Bogarde demanded that his contract at Chelsea be respected due to his diminishing prospects elsewhere.  He only appeared 11 times during his four year contract, earning himself 40 000 pounds a week during this period.   Chelsea won a domestic trophy during his tenure and a bonus payment was due as was the agreement in his contract, despite Bogarde not featuring at all for Chelsea that season.  His contract ended in 2004.