New place, same scenario!

Chelsea's recent successes have indeed elevated the team and Abramovich's empire as a true global brand. Although Di Matteo has done the job last season by achieving the impossible the coach (and players) remain vulnerable to the whims of the owner. This was what we effectively pretended would not happen after becoming European Champions. Our sentiments suggested that he should be given the opportunity to manage the squad with its new, scintillating personnel changes. Truth be told, Di Matteo could meet the same fate as his predecessors once Abramovich's "Nero-esque traits" manifest itself when pressures build up in the boardroom. There is, of course, the tendency, as those attributes would suggest, to go "big". Chelsea officials are said to have offered the ex-Barcelona boss, Guadiola, £11m-a-year and an assurance that there will be no pressure on him to win major trophies in his first two years in charge. I think all the ex-coaching personnel heard that one before.

Chelsea FC: A brief history

From the early days as the butt of a music hall joke for the lack of success, to being 1954 - 55 champions following a revamp. From the glamorous, talented and flamboyant team which emerged in swinging London in the mid- 1960's to put the club on the footballing map for the first time, to the financial and on-pitch woes that almost forced its extinction in the early 1980's. From the rejuvenated side of the mid-1980's that returned it to stability, to the cosmopolitan renaissance of the late 1990's, which saw it challenge for honours again, to a takeover in June 2003 under the leadership of the enigmatic Jose Mourinho which contributed to its current status as one of the dominant teams in the country.

Di Matteo's strategic objectives

We tend to forget what the role of a caretaker coach is which generally entails performing a prescribed level of damage control. It becomes quite evident in the build-up for next Saturday's showpiece event against four-times winners Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena. His statement, "We'll practice different solutions, just in case", further hints at this approach.
His role also expects him to constantly make alternative plans. John Terry and Branislav Ivanovich are both suspended and Luiz and Cahill will remain in a race against time to recover from their hamstring injuries. Right back Bosingwa will be likely to replace one of them with one midfielder possibly having to drop back into defence, such as John Obi Mikel, Michael Essien or even Orial Romeu. This line-up will likely to have a run with the already relegated Blackburn. Defender Sam Hutchinson, who only made one substitute appearance as yet is also expected to start.
The good news, however, is that Di Matteo will jet out to the German Cup Final on Saturday to watch Jupp Heynckes Bayern against Bundesliga Borussia Dortmund in Berlin. He will be analyzing their pattern of play and have seen them play before in the semi-finals.
With Chelsea's resolute spirit, we hope to see the same turnaround against Barcelona. Or did that win come at too high a price?

A surreal performance from the old guard!

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.