Are you back to your senses after that defeat last week? Cool it. Let’s treat a friendly like one and give it only what it deserves. In our last pre-season friendly, we meet Brondby on Tuesday evening. In other news, even the new french-beard of Benitez has not impressed Jose, and some bits and pieces in and around the transfer market. Read on.
First up, Robben news. Madrid is still after Arjen. They want him so badly that we’re being offered 20 million pounds now. TimesOnline claims that Arjen wants a six-figure salary at Chelsea and what is being offered is only 90,000 pounds a week. A six-figure salary for a player of Robben’s calibre is not too much nowadays, if and only if, he would play 50+ games for us this season. If he is going to start 20 games and come in as sub in another 10 games and be in bed for the rest of the season, he’s asking for a fortune.
Chelsea is finally applying for Alex’s work permit. The hearing with regulatory authorities would happen very soon. If we have to believe some of the reports, this meeting would end in our favour.
I was very upset to know that Diarra might leave for Arsenal. Now, that’s two bad news in one line. Diarra is just 22 and he has tremendous potential and commitment. I stopped counting his yellow cards half way but he is a good player. I’d never release players like him with no pressing reason. But if he wants to leave, nothing much one can do. He is a very good midfielder at 22, and I’m sure he’s gonna make it big by the time he is 26 or 27. I don’t want to you to completely believe this transfer story. Any news article that starts as ‘XXX understands that . . . ‘, like this skysports articles, should be taken with a pinch of salt. I don’t want to believe until I see anything on official Chelsea website.
Jamie Carragher (I won’t call him Carjacker anymore!) knows more football than his manager. He says that Man Utd may be the Champions but Chelsea are the team to beat. I loved it when he said whoever finishes above Chelsea will win the title. I don’t know if he said this to piss off the mancs but I thought he makes so much sense for someone at Liverpool.
Sometime last week, Jose went on to taunt his bunny Benitez, trying to remind him that he’s been here for 4 seasons now and he needs to lay his hands on premiership trophy, to retain any kind of respect. Here’s a snippet:
I heard something earlier this summer – Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher and John Arne Riise saying it has to be this season. That’s normal, and positive. I cannot complain about that. Everybody wants to achieve it.
We want it too, no problem. But it’s been four years with Benitez and they want the Premiership. They don’t hide it – Benitez, the players, they all speak about winning the title. I think winning nothing last season was frustrating for them, but they’ve got a good squad and good players, so they’ll be better.
Finally, Brondby up next on Tuesday night @ 7:10 pm UK. Who are Brondby? They are a very successful Danish football club, but are in a poor run of form. If you want anything more, see here. There is a natural expectation for all of us to see Chelsea score lots of goals against Brondby. That would set us up nicely for the first silverware of the season.
In the Rangers match, there we played lots of poor passes in the attacking third which not only frustrated us but also led to their counterattacks. It was a case players not reading the ideas and movements of their colleagues. It surely would improve if Jose insists on watching the recording of this match with his whole team.
I won’t be surprised if Jose drops Sheva and plays 4-3-3, with SWP (our best player so far this season!) and Malouda, with Joe Cole, Lampard and Essien in the midfield. If we are looking for a confidence-boosting win, this would be the best bet. Anyone for a 3-0 Chelsea win?
[tags]Chelsea, Man Utd, Jose Mourinho, Rafa Benitez, Liverpool, Carragher, Brondby, Friendly, Alex, Robben, Diarra, Shevchenko, Malouda, Shaun Wright-Phillips[/tags]
P.S: Congrats to Adonis on reaching his century of comments! I know he’s on 97 at the moment but I’d bet my life on him to get it under this post!
Hey what da heck….Am first to comment under this post!
Lets see what happens tomoro nite shall we!
I dnt wanna sound too presumptious but plz guys……gimmme some goals!
im sick and tired of 1:0 results!
Get out those shooting boots!
I was really hoping Sheva…more than anyone else to come good in these warm up matches!!!! It hasn’t been that way thus far! Im now beginning to think that we should pack the midfield and use drogba as a loan striker!
Well atleast try it 4 the first half hr and see how it goes!!!
We are losing the ball to much in the final third!!!!
That final pass is really missing!
i havent heard of Bronby and while I respect every opponent…..anything less than an outright 3:0 is unnaceptable at this point!
Whether its pre-season or not!
We’ve played enuff matches already for us to be scoring 3 goals easily against such teams!
Com on Chelsea!!!!!!!
blue champion, since you have been providing us with good videos of players and the goals of our beloved cfc, i thought i shud share sum of my collections with u, so if u are interested in sum new videos drop me a line at aayaqub@yahoo.co.uk
Chelsea will win it handsomely. They will up the tempo after seeing the seriousness with which Feyenoord and rangers played against us. I still maintain that we are better off with the new 4-4-2. lamp has been poor so far. Jose must develop the courage to start resting him instead of letting him feel he has an automatic place. Joe Cole and Mikel for now could really fight to take his place. Sheva will come good. Am sorry to say this but the kind of through balls Sheva used to get from Pirlo, Gatuso and Kaka have been lacking since he arrived here largely thro our overreliance last season on long balls and lamps’ love for shooting at every opportunity instead of putting balls in space for sheva to latch on. Drogba I must say, has not been most supportive of Sheva as well. He benefitted far more from Sheva than Sheva did from him. Drogs and Lamps hold the key to sheva’s fortunes. Sheva will find confidence once he starts finding the net more and more.
I cannot tell you how much am excited about the imminent arrival of Alex. That boy will be a solid addition to our squad. watch out guys for I bet he is going to be huge for us. I feel it in the blood already.
Mour well said about the Sheva situation, I agree fully. I wish we have a player like Kaka or Pirlo in our midfield, those tremendous passers that break the defense down. That’s what Sheva needs, hopefully though he can feed off the crosses and the wing play which will be flourishing this year.
Oh man, I’m dying to see Alex in blue… he is an absolute monster.
BC, good starting line-up… but Mikel instead of Lampard.
Anyone know if this game is airing in the US?
this line up is my favorite , just change Malouda with Robben , and that’s perfect.
I think this season is last season for Benitez , I feel so.
3-0 I don’t think so , 2-0 maybe.first goal Lamaprd , second goal SWP. i have no idea about the opponent though.
Alex, well I watched him in Copa america , he is good but he won’t play many games in chelsea. he is not better than Terry and Carvaliho , his level is the same as Ben Hiem .
Diarra, well . I don’t believe this news. I think this season he has chance to play more than last season, not as a DM , as a RB . Johnsen is not jose’s favorite RB .
Ferreira is not solid , well Dirra has chance this season. if he goes to Arsenal . His future will probably the same as Gallas.
I think He won’t go .
SWP was impressive in friendly games. frankly, he is not my favortie . but he is proving himself.
chelsea should not lose Diarra . at least they must loan him to Arsenal. They must not sell him.
Maluoda can adapt well with our team and just to prove that, he score his 1st goal at his first game. As for robben,I think that we should keep him to varify any tactical changes. He got issue with injury but I think he can be best during his peak. SWP is not among the favourites but I respect him for his determination just to prove that he is worth to the team. He is improving himself and starting to impress the fans and team based on his last season perfomance.
BC ,,, good formation, if we are in a attacking mood. everyone has talked about the different attacking options, but i strongly belive we have a problem inda midfield, we hav an array of talents in the midfield in the likes of mikel, diarra, essien, sidwell, lampard, ballack, etc, but whom wud u play ? if we see the first 2 season wid JM wen we won the titiles we had some one called makalele(holding midfielder) who jus sits there and tackles and tackles, i think we hav missed his service a lot last season, i hav to agree hes into his final stage of carrer,,,i think mikel, essien and lamps/ ballack wud be a good midfield trio … we have too many attacking minded players , who are a bit selfish at times,, if lamps or ballack could be a bit more creative and essien wid his engine power ,, mikel to do the dirty work,, and with out attackin options upfront and widee,, we could destroy any team,,,
hey mourosfame , lol ,i m not talkin abt ur grandads years dude , m talkin abt wat we wld remember as Chelsea fans and football maniacs , we wld remember wat we see not wat history books write dude………………….
Most fans wld remeber it this way…………..
1.90′s era
Manure————-playing the most attractive football ,winning all titles possible , and a team of all time legends like Cantona , Becks , Scholes etc
envy of rivals and pride of football
Arsey—————Wenger comes in and creates a new Arsenal , playing wonder football , and we see the start of of some legendary careers Overmars , Bergkamp etc
L’pool—————A team in the background , except for upcoming wonder boys Fowler and Owen in the late 90′s
Chelsea————-Zola , Zola and only Zola
2.00′s era
Manure————-loosen their grip on the title a bit , win it in the first 3 , then this year again , still play that oozing and drooling wonderful football , with new wonder stars Ronaldo and Rooney
Arsey—————rise of legends as Henry , Viera , Pires , Campbell etc come up and destroy every team in their way , with stunning football all over the field one of the most amazing title wins ever , then slump as the stars start leaving
L’pool—————Owen blasts everything in his way as they win 5 titles in 1 season , Rafa takes over , win the CL in THE greatest match ever , and then the FA cup with awe-striking fightback to the end
Chelsea————Zola , Zola in the first few seasons again , impressive but still not imposive , Jose comes along with Roman who changes CFC’s face , splashing cash in every direction on any player , whatever the asking prize , win title in firts season under new coach and again in the next with a very low level of football and then loose out in the third season , no big CL runs , no finals
3 signs a team is on the decline——
1.The players cant score
2.Any attack can bang in goals agnst them
3.Every such result is discarded as of no value or importance by the managers and fans alike
hey guys does anyone know what is going on about Robben.?? He will leave or stay??
Dunno Alby , i hav always maintained that the lad has no respect for the club and has neither signed a new contract nor has declared any such intention , infact his hipocrite dad said he wld sign and now says Real r interested!!!!
Come no chelsea!the game against bronby is vital.now the team needs to get it togetha i mean how long can we continue the excuses? Goals we need goals
1 0 long ball football is boring!
it is very difficult to replace a guy like Robben any day. Incase Mourinho wants to play 4-3-3, he cannot even do that without Robben. Robben should stay, he has creativity and pace at the front.
Is this the last friendly game for chelsea?
Any ideas on the how many chelsea players are sick??? There are talks on Gaurdian about Jose having difficult times with the injuries
Hey you guys, love the site and the refreshing banter i read!! to all the mourinho haters, I bet in a couple of months you are gonna be kissing his arse when we start cleaning up teams!!! Mourinho is not stupid, he realises we need more goals and i bet he conveys to the players the importance thereof!
If you have played football, defending is alot more taxing on the body and we did alot of defending last year to protect our 1 goal advantages. additionally with fatigue comes injury and i bet this contributed to our injury list!!
alex will be on his way, Im pretty sure of it, and that will ensure a solid defense for the season!! I am a little worried about the right back situation, hopefully Diarra will stay with us otherwise I see someone else coming in before the 31 of August!!
About the pre-season games guys, remember it is differcult to get motivated for these games, so dont look too much into them!!
Have any of you guys read Lampards autobiography, bloody good, take a look if you can!!!
Agreed about Alex. The guy is a BEAST. With JT finally looking as though the painkilling injections catching up with him, I think Alex will have more games than expected.
Jose’s headache list at the moment………..
1.Wayne Bridge———-out for upto 3 months
2.Ashley Cole————-is carrying a niggling injury
3.Arjen Robben———-they hav him back in his bed
4.Michael Ballack——–had some injury , not upto match fitness
5.Lassana Diarra——–Arsey r trying their level best to get him
6.John Terry————-is carrying some foot injury
7.Alex——————–some issues with work permit
8.Makelele—————attracting interest from many clubs
and if u really think that blueboss that after a few months we wld want to kiss Jose’s arse u r kidding urself dude , i just wanna kick it!!!LOL!!!!
As per vitalfootball:), real are ready to pay 27mp for Ballack & as per sun :) Deco wants to work with Jose again.
For time being lets assume that both news are true(which is almost impossible), wont it be in the best interest of all parties involved ( all parties = Deco, Chelsea, Real. i m not counting on Barca here)
I know this is rubbish, but Deco to chelsea is so exciting to me that i hope sun is right on this.
Please dont kill me for this.
1st of all, thks BC for aprroving me.
in my humble opinion, if JM opted for the 4-3-3 formation our foward+midfiled would be playing more free flow footie.
cant wait to watch the brondby game!
cheers mates!
We need to play fluent beautifull football and ditch that long ball style of play it sucks .people will hardly remember us because of this style .people will remember manu and assenal because they play attractive soccer.thats what football is all about
There’s nothing wrong with our gameplay, we play efficient football with a good result, people (especially the rival fans) just keep saying that we play boring or unattractive football becoz they were feed with rubbish media report… every succes will cost you something, people will not remember the team that finish second or third which play beautiful football but does not win anything.
Just to make my point clear, do you remember the team that finish second in 95/96 season? we do have our great moment, who can forget the barca-chelsea saga? i think I was born lucky just to watch those great matches,,
Regarding to Alex, i just can’t wait for him to wear our blue jersey. Btw can u imagine if we got Adriano at front, it’s like we got wrestler tag team at front and back…
DIARRA MUST STAY!!! FLOOD THE CHELSEA BLOG!!!! only joking but iv left my opinion on there!!!
not only can we loose his talent and potential but we cant fuel the arseholes!!!!giving them might give them a midfield playing with the likes of gilberto!!!! he must stay!!!
I remember the dutch team with cruyff and their total football it was brilliant! with the amount of money we have(abramovichs endless pockets) and the amount of money we have spent we should be playin beta!come no you blues lets get our prem back!
Joe, I think you are downplaying some of the success that we have had under JM. You cite Liverpool and Arsenal as great but they haven’t won the EPL a recently as we have nor have they won it twice recently. I know you can’t stand the man but give him some credit. He has spolied you with winning football to the point that two trophies and a second place last year are not good enough for you.
Can someone confirm time of match for me- GMT pls.
once again u speak without any sense fwembt , read my comments in earlier posts , and please then respond , i cant keep a board with me all the time saying…….. ‘hey Jose has done a lot for Chelsea’ , i hav admitted that several times dude!!!
please fast forward to the present mate!!!
oh and guys Real r offering 17 mn pounds for Ballack , with Roman reluctant to spend heavy in da market imagine the money boost by selling a dud and making a profit of 17 mn pounds , unreal , i mean completely ‘Real’ lol!!!
Hahaha, fwembt… “spoiled you with winning football” well said mate.
Joe, about your headache list, Ashley can play, Ballack had left ankle surgery but is recovering, JT’s injury is just a scratch, Alex will most likely get a permit, and Mikel is a young and able Makelele. The list isn’t as large as you think :)
Joe, if we sell him who are we going to replace him with??? Who’s young, good, and
essien and sheva arent even in the subs. anyone know why?
How do you think maybe Chelsea should sell Sheva!?
He doesn’t fit the squad formation at all/
Snotz82,
Of course we (I) remember the team the team that finished second in 95/96 season. It was Newcastle which played brilliant piece of footy.
The whole world remember the 70′S Dutch national team with Cruyff who won nothing.
Sack Mourinho.
Snotz82,
Of course we (I) remember the team that finished second in 95/96 season. It was Newcastle which played brilliant piece of footy.
The whole world remember the 70′S Dutch national team with Cruyff who won nothing.
Sack Mourinho.
M_D what do you want in order to support JM?
M_D – you’re exposing yourself mate. newcastle did NOT play more brilliant than the winner. History does not remember runner-ups. you can always go back and search in all the website and come back and say ‘of course i remember blah blah blah’. you just want to stick to your point and prove it at any cost. i’m a true fan. i was there when we were shit. i will be there even if we’re gonna be shit. i wish chelsea does not win anything at al next two seasons and we can weed those glory hunting new bandwagoners and we’ll be left only with true fans.
Mourinho needs to go ur right md.our football is just unattractive.mourinho has spent what 150 to 200 million far more that liverpool , arsenal and manure but we continue to play this crap band of soccer. 200million!long balls make me sick!
:)