News, Transfers - Written by BlueChampion on Friday, December 21, 2007 12:37 | 4,403 Views | 21 Comments | Add Comment
Franco Di Santo - How do you like the name?
Chelsea has made two important teenage signings in the last couple of weeks. The first one is an attacking midfielder and other, a striker.
Chelsea has signed an 18-year old Argentinian Franco Di Santo for a period of 5 years. He would join the team in January. Interestingly, he has an Italian passport. So he can start playing as a European player. He doesn’t have incredible goal scoring records in the Chilean league (where he plays) but obviously some of the top teams have seen the potential in him. You know what, I absolutely love his name! Franco Di Santo! Franco . . Franco . . . . Franco . . . . . . Ohhh!!!!!!!!! He scores . . . what a goal by Franco Di Santo!
Gideon Baah is other name you need to remember. He is 16 years old (or 20 years, to be accurate!) and is an attacking midfielder. When Michael Essien insists that we sign this kid, that tells you what he is worth. That’s not just because he is also from Ghana, he claims. Essien has monitored him and believes that he would be a world class talent. Gideon himself is hyper-excited that he got to visit Stamford Bridge, train in our training ground and meet the Chelsea players and importantly flattered by the interest and support shown by Michael Essien.
In other transfer news, Avram Grant is confident that his requests would be met by Roman Abramovich:
I have a good relationship with the owner and we speak regularly. I need to do my job and he knows that. If I want a player, as a manager there will be a discussion about it. We talk about everything. I’m looking first for the right players and then we will discuss whether that player is the right one for the owner. I don’t know what happened last year. I don’t know whether they were allowed or not allowed, but you can never sleep as a manager as you always have to make your team better. If there is someone out there who is better you have to look at them.
Of course, we all would also believe that Grant has good relationship with Roman, otherwise you would not have Roman verbally convincing Chelsea fans (after the Mestall game) that Grant is the right man for the job.
Here is Peter Crouch talking about how Mikel over-reacted to his assault on the Nigerian. For the kind of tackle Crouch did, he should be feeling so ashamed that he should stay indoors for 6 weeks. For once someone other than Mikel gets a red card in a tackle that involves Mikel.
Crouch need not have done or said those stupid things. Lampard comes to the rescue of his England team mate. Also he wants the strong tackles to remain in the game, which is fair enough:
The players do not know where they stand and I don’t think they ever will. It is difficult for referees. They have been given directives and in the 100mph game we play nowadays they can sometimes get it slightly wrong. Some tackles are more clear-cut than others and I hope they do not take the strong tackle out of the game because we don’t want that at all. Peter Crouch is a great lad and I think everyone knows that if he made a bad tackle, which it looked, then I’m sure he’ll hold his hands up. There’s no malice in him. He’d never try to hurt someone but there are times when players make rash tackles. We’ve all done it.
Finally, the champions league draw will be made today. The draw would start at 11:00 am GMT. Chelsea has a higher chance of meeting Roma, Olympiakos, Lyon or Fenerbahce. I’d take any team but preferably in this order - Olympiakos, Fenerbahce, Lyon and Roma. Let’s see how it goes!
21 Comments
1. sacha
2. Owonatty
I will prefer Olympiakos.
3. blue_victoryAUS
Peter Crouch is a lanky, ugly hack and I’m embarrased he used to hold a Chelsea season pass.
Dirty scousers.
4. Nubskeh
It’s not comfirmed that we have signed either, really. Chelsea haven’t said anything. However, they both look like great prospects so let’s hope for the best.
5. Nubskeh
In other news -
Celtic v Barcelona
Lyon v Manchester United
Schalke v Porto
Liverpool v Inter Milan
Roma v Real Madrid
Arsenal v AC Milan
Olympiakos v Chelsea
Fenerbahce v Sevilla
Great draw for us. Potentially the best draw possible. No disrespect to Olympiakos, but out of the available teams I am glad we got them. Liverpool and Arsenal have such difficult draws I cannot see them making the next round. Rafa out by February, anyone? Man Utd also have a tough draw, and seeing as though I have a soft spot for Lyon, I see Lyon progressing. I can’t see Celtic going through, either. So, out of the British teams, Chelsea have the highest probability of going through, which is about time seeing as though we always seemed to get Barca or Valencia. In the other games, I see Porto, Real Madrid and Sevilla going through. So, I hope the quarter finals are made of -
Barcelona, Lyon, Porto, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, AC Milan, Chelsea, Sevilla.
That will be one tough round.
6. TrueBlueInd
hi guys,
I saw few videos of Di santo on youtube…Good towering presence..decent skills..good awareness..decent pace..All in all a decent package
No info avaliable on Gideon Baah..Hope hes good
The CL draw got over..
Celtic v Barcelona
Lyon v Manchester United
Schalke v Porto
Liverpool v Internazionale
Roma v Real Madrid
Arsenal v Milan
Olympiakos v Chelsea
Fenerbahce v Sevilla
Lady luck smiling on us:)..I wouldnt take Olympiakos lightly..but definitely easier than Lyon:)…I would have preffered we face Fenerbahce though
I believe SAF is interested in Benzema..Hes also trying to get back Henrik Larsson..
Its 21st dec already.why isnt the club making any nose about transfers..maybe AG wants to surprise all of us on Jan 1st:)..we know RA n AG are great buddies..hope AG spends well to get in players that can make an impact in the EPL
Any news abut Modric???..are we chasing any Rb or Cb??..wat about Anelka??
Go Blues
7. Den
There are romours this morning that chelsea are ready to launch a 25million uero offer for van der vaart in january, modric maybe aswell and then o go out on loan to psv for rest of season. we really need a playmaker, i dont see lampard able to fuill thois role.
8. Den
Chelsea Looking For Van Der Vaart’s Creativity
A report in the Daily Telegraph this morning claims that Chelsea are ready to splash out on Hamburger SV playmaker Rafael van der Vaart.
zoom - galleria The lack of a playmaker seems to be sticking out like a sore thumb from Chelsea’s recent displays, and Avram Grant is determined to put that right.
Frank Lampard - undoubtedly one of the best box to box midfielders in the world - is hardly the man for that role, which has left all the creative burden on the shoulders of the wide men.
With Didier Drogba set to be out for at least two months for a variety of reasons, the direct brand of football is pretty much out of the window, and Chelsea need to get their passing game right.
Grant, charged with playing some attractive football, is convinced that a natural number 10 is what the team seems to be missing, with much of the plan under Mourinho involving finding Drogba with long balls and taking it from there.
The number one choice - particularly for Roman Abramovich - seems to be Ronaldinho, but Barcelona will only sell the at the end of the season.
The Blues have now singled out Hamburg’s Rafael van der Vaart, who has been in red hot form once again this season, spearheading the North German club’s Uefa Cup and Bundesliga challenge.
The Dutchman - who moved from Ajax for a paltry 5.5 million euros two-and-a-half years ago years ago - is rated very highly by compatriot, Director of Football and Chief Scout Frank Arnesen, and an offer in the region of 25 million euros could be enough to convince Hamburg to sell.
It is also believed that his inclusion in the team will bring out the best in Andriy Shevchenko, who played some of his best football when he had Kaka behind him, and has since struggled with the Blues’ direct approach.
Grant is keen to settle on an attacking 4-3-3 with a creative midfielder/forward in a roaming wide role, much like Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi or Robinho seem to be working for their respective clubs.
9. Nihongo Blue
anyways lampard and drogba are definitely going next season. carvalio might be all our first team squad depends on where jose lands..
very good CL draw for us.. bring on the quarter finals..
10. Adonis
I doubt that Lampard and Drogba will both leave, and I want them both to stay, honestly.
About Van Der Vaart, I really enjoy watching him play. The Bundesliga isn’t the best league around but it’s always had a few good teams, and a few special players. This year, it’s been Ribery making the big splash on the sexy football front, but Van Der Vaart has done it for a couple of seasons now. He’s performed with the Netherlands as well(12 goals from 50 caps), and is a wizard. He scores from everywhere and is terrific on dead-balls. Very, very good signing, if we get him.
And he’s in hot form as well. 10 goals in 12 matches for Hamburg. From a midfielder. Are you kidding me?!
Sacha, about Villa. I assure you, he’s one of the best players in La Liga. He’s supremely talented and super-fast. He’s similar to Tevez but more Spanish. Spanisher. 
He more than makes up for his physical presence with his footballing mind and wicked control. I would consider him a replacement for Drogba; I’d agree that we need a big forward that has power and speed. But I see Villa as the perfect compliment to such a striker. They can be the deadliest of one-two punches.
I heard rumors of a 15 million pound bid for Anelka. He’s be a good signing for now but I don’t see where he’ll fit in with a healthy Drogba.
11. Asa
Yeah.. what a good name he is.. hoping he would become our second popular Greatest Franco at Stamford Bridge.. Franco Zola vs Franco Santo !!
12. MourofEssien
This is to wish all you wonderful royal blueblooded fellows the best of the yuletide season.
Since it is a season of goodwill to all mankind, I extend my goodwill to Avram grant whom I dislike with a passion by making a promise to lay off him as long as he keeps off making funny remarks about Jose and about playing some beautiful football.
13. Blues_Godson
Van Der Vaart’s would be the perfect signing for us as well as Franco Di Santo…although i think the possibility of Franco Di Santo coming is more likely bugt i would want the two of them coming in as well as queresma…i want the good and beautiful football everybody seems to be clamouring for and i hope i get it with some good winning spirit too..
14. Michael Mariens
Chelsea should try their best to get a sqaud of 26 ELITE players becasue they’re are out there!
Now I’m happy my team is atleast trying their best to head into the right direction.
15. Mikey
I’m relishing the prospect of signing Modric.
But not the prospect of having to choose between Lampard, Makelele, Essien, Ballack, Obi Mikel, Sidwell, AND Modric…
16. Mikey
Substitute Van der Vaart for Modric in the above post if it suits you.
Also, Benzema the (also Algerian-born) Zidane look-a-like, seems quite promising.
To quote one of my favorite blogs, here is TheOffside.com talking about Benzema in comparison to Zidane:
“It’s the natural way they [Zidane/Benzema] handle the ball, as if they’re more comfortable with it at their feet than without it. Their composure in front of the goal. Their sixth sense about where their teammates are on the field and what, exactly, they need to do to get the ball to them. Karim is a straight striker, not a midfielder. But on a broader level, with his ability to make things happen on the field, I fully expect him to carry on Zidane’s legacy for France.”
17. ARI
Di santo es bueno…, jugo en audax italiano en la liga de Chile…, destaco bastante aparte de aparecer en el pasado mundial de canada x la seleccion Argentina.
Me parece un buen fichaje, veremos k tal es
18. VIC
HI I AM VIC WHAT TIME DROGBA HE WIL
19. CaLiFoRNiCaTioN
plz. don’t over rate this player….
he is okay…
and that’s all…. I saw him playing in the southamerican cup….
there were a lot of better players than him….
for example…..
RAYMOND MANCO>>>>
A colombian strikier…. DONKING KON
or a paraguayan STriker….carlitos SAcada
20. CaLiFoRNiCaTioN
the following list are names that i think chelsea should consider: from south america
Luiz Marcelo Morais dos Reis (born April 10, 1990), as known as Lulinha, is a Brazilian footballer currently on the books of Sport Club Corinthians Paulista.
AKA LULIHNA 
he is pretty good.
Reimond Manco (born August 23, 1990 in Lima, Peru) is a Peruvian football forward/Attacking midfielder who plays for Alianza Lima of the Peruvian Football League. He has proven to be one of Peru’s most promising prospects for the national team in the near future after his showing in the 2007 South American Under 17 Football Championship, in which he was selected as player of the tournament[2]. He was instrumental in Peru’s qualification for the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup played in South Korea.
Cristian NazarithCristian was rumored to be going to europe after the World Cup (Udinese was the likely destination) but America de Cali decided to hold on to him to raise his value at least till the sub 20 World Cup. He is currently a starter and scored 2 goals in his first 3 games. Even at a young age the current NT coach Pinto has put his eye on this young promising striker and invited him to the training camp in October to train with the National team that would start off qualifers at home with Brasil.
this guys scored at least 15 goals in 6 games in a south america cup tournament.\\
21. Olusola
it’s high time we began to see football at its best with few brazillian touches, watch out for santo and Rob. . . . . . .
The talent of the moment is Benzema from Lyon, he just turned 20 and the guy is very powerful, fast, has lots of skill. Even Samir Nasri from Marseille whi is also a bright talent recons Benzema is the best of the new french generation.
I have only one point to make if Drogba was to leave at the end of the season it would be a huge blow for chelsea.
| Quote This Comment | Add Comment | Go To Top | Back To Home | Gravatar | BC Shout | BBC Radio | Refresh |The main citeria that i judge a striker nowadays as good or not is mainly on power and speed being strong on the ball is very important specially in england. That is people like our drogba, Crespo, Ibrhimovich, huntelaar, Berbatov etc are all the best strikers of the moment. And if you open your eyes even more most of all the best players of all time were very physical and strong on the ball…..
Thats when i hear David Villa being linked to Chelsea it pisses me off!!!!!
Hope we can get 3 points back from the 2 leaders this Wend