Chelsea FC have confirmed the Nicolas Anelka transfer. Papers say it is for £15 million. He joins just in time for the important league match against the Spurs at Stamford Bridge tomorrow. Any bets for a debut goal by ‘le sulk’?
Almost the same set of names are being linked with Chelsea but there are some surprises too. Let me take a quick review by the player names.
Nicolas Anelka – We’ve just signed him. At 29 years, this could be Anelka’s last big stop. He always longed to play in the champions league. Despite doing poorly in the league, I don’t think Bolton can resist the Chelsea money for a player who has already made up his mind to leave. Anelka does have the pace and skill, the experience in the english league but don’t expect too much work rate from him. Think of Hernan Crespo with turbo boots. That’s what he’ll be. Moreover, he is an out and out striker who will not give you too much flexibility in terms of selection and bending the formation. In 2000, he was priced 20 million, 12 million in 2002, 7 million in 2005, 8 million in 2006 and now anything more than 10 million would be way too much. He has never been a fans’ favourite as he has played for 8 clubs in 11 years. Forget loyalty, he would be playing for money and personal glory. I’m not saying this in a negative manner, not that I care, if he can deliver the goods and pack his bags next season.
Franco Di Santo – This 17 year old Argentine striker is believed to have been signed by Chelsea. While that’s what most of the papers say, the official Chelsea FC website does not carry Franco’s name in the list of current Chelsea players. Well, they can be lazy bums as ever (it took them few weeks to replace JM with Avram) but at least the news bit (of three lines or less) should have been there. Franco, who cost us a whopping 7 million pounds would be Grant’s first signing for Chelsea. It’s not entirely official and that’s where it stands.
Branislav Ivanovic – Very similar to the Franco situation, but less secure here. But, I don’t think there would be too much of a problem here. Mostly, whenever Roman wants someone, he gets his man. It is reported that Roman wants Ivanovic for Chelsea and has thwarted the attempts from Man Utd. At 8.9 million pounds, he is more expensive than Boulahrouz was, 18 months back. At hindsight, I feel Boulahrouz was hard done by, to some extent. Remember, he played only for 13 matches for us, of which he had about 3-4 good games including the one where he had a certain Ronaldinho in his wallet. When he returned from injury, he played rather impressively only to get injured again. Bad luck. Hope Ivanovic does better than Boulahrouz.
Royston Drenthe – Real Madrid bought only in the begining of this season for 10 million. Though he scored on his debut he has started only two matches so far. So, his agent has started talking. That’s as far as I can stretch it. I don’t see a 20 year-old, who joined Real Madrid, I mean Real Madrid in Aug 2007, leaving them for Chelsea in Jan 2008. But Real Madrid see him as a surplus player now. Schuster is trimming their whole squad. Look for some more heads to roll. On Drenthe, there was no rumour about the deal being a loan though.
Dimitar Berbatov – Ramos has set the price for Berb. It is 35 million pounds. That means we need to break the British transfer record (our own record . . he . . he) to land this man-in-form, at Stamford Bridge. Does a team like Chelsea, need a 27-year old striker costing 35 million pounds? Are we so goal scarce? Is it true that if we had a top quality striker upfront, we could be seeing Chelsea at No.1 or No.2 in the league? I don’t think so. Of course I’d love to see him in a Chelsea shirt but Man Utd are more interested and more likely to get him.
Tal Ben Haim and Steve Sidwell – They have a lot in common, don’t they? Take this with a pinch of salt. Big Sam is rumoured to have approached Grant to get Tal on loan. Avram has responded to Sam that he would only sell him and not loan him. With some people believing Terry won’t return until the end of the season, Avram has now decided to keep Ben Haim. Blackburn and Sunderland are interested in taking Sidwell on loan. With the kind of options we have in the midfield, also with an open chequebook, Sidwell should rather be sold than leaving on loan.
Wayne Bridge leaving Chelsea – This is pure speculation. But the speculation is so widespread that you’d have to take notice of this as something more than transfer nonsense. Wayne Bridge has been brilliant 8 out of 10 times he has played since he returned from loan. He has not only withstood the incoming challenge from Ashley Cole for his position, but also overshadowed him quite frequently. He is a superb player with loads of skill, pace and determination. I don’t want him to leave. I don’t think Avram would release anyone from defence. I don’t think he’ll take that chance. the news around Ivanovic and Drenthe just makes me add a little weight to the Wayne Bridge rumour. There are couple more bad news surrounding Wayne. One is he is valued at just 7 million (which is clearance sale price) and second is, the club rumoured is Liverpool (connect Heinze hijacked and Riise being bollocks). Most disturbing news of the week for me.
Let’s have a poll. Which species should we concentrate now? We seem to be looking for strikers, a defender, a right back, an attacking midfielder etc. Which should be our top priority this month?
73 Responses - Add your comment!
No one will leave chelsea.
and among all those names, I am sure Anelka will join.
Real Madrid won’t let Drenth leave club.
Berbatov will join Manchester Uts. in SUMMER.
Ben Haim will leave Chelsea in Summer, but bridge and Sidwell will stay. Chelsea is very good for sidwell he can learn from Ballack and Lamoard and both of them are over 29 so Sidwell can be a good condidate to fill theri places
By the way, I am afraid Jose join Liverpool . Jose can be very successful in liverpool .
we need wingers…
that’s all we need…
we should keep all of our players…
they are good
Question :
Arteta is suspended against us or not ?
i think so….but its confirm that pienaar will not be playing =)
@californication
i m not an american for one, and m not interested in a debate with a guy who posts half baked scentences and makes his own imaginative assumptions……..hasta la vista dude………………..
According to Sky Sports, Drogba has again been reported saying that he will be leaving Stamford Bridge at the end of the season.
It’s clear to me that by next season, we will be undoubtedly witnessing a new Chelsea team – the definitive end of the Mourinho era. It won’t be completely switched (I think Lamps, JT, Essien and Petr are all going to stay, maybe even Ricky and Paulo) but the wingers and strikers are certainly going to be different.
It’s exciting and frightening at the same time.
Bolton has rejected an initial bid for Anelka. No doubt Bolton want more money than Chelsea offered.
Pienaar is out of Everton’s team tomorrow because he has to report for the Cup of Nations – Moyes aint pleased.
Cahill, Neville and Howard are expected to return.
KTBFFH
Official Chelsea website has announced that discussions with Bolton are in progress regarding Anelka.
KTBFFH
It has been revealed On chelsea official website that we have made an official bid for Nicholas Anelka which is being discussed. And there are reports also stating that Bolton have turned down a 12million pounds offer. Thats ridiculous, I just wish we sort that out as soon as possible. Anelka is not worth more than 10million pounds.
BC, write something about tomorrow’s match. Chelsea – Everton.
Up Blues
Anelka’ll be googd. Will he last though? I think Drogba would definitely leave, maybe Lamps too. Has he signed a new contract? I don’t think. Wayne needs to stay.
i miss JM. i miss the team we had 4-3 years ago. damn i want to relive that time. hopes the replacements are good. i wanna so a english team. not a damn spanish one. i wanna se english fotball as we saw 4 years ago. please let that happen again. dont get fooled by names. sheva was a big name and a big loss for bought chelsea and ac milan.
I think Anelka is a done deal, just minor haggling now over price so Grant can breathe easier.
I expect more players to arrive though, a far cry from last Christmas!
@Bella : I agree with you on Anelka.
It’s good to hear of a defender coming to Chelsea which Man U and Milan were after in Ivanovic. If it comes true, I expect him to help with Ben Haim ineffective and our whole team so injury prone!
i think what we need are creative mid fielders and skillful wingers that can take on deffenders from the flank and deliver a good cross into the box for attackers…
YA vote for WINGERS,…..
thats what we are missing now…
with BALLACK at half and good wingers aside and one waitin for balls(sheva/drogba/ivanovic…..) , it would be nice to see
is no one bidding for SWP?
@ 17 i was thinkin the same why is no one after SWP lol u know y, becos his form has been very inconsistant. defoe has been to ld he can leave, instead of berba y not defoe for half the price, still 25 and if hes played for sure he will score goals, hes a natural goal scorrer. anyone thinks the same apart from me ???
yeah defoe could b it. but the poor bloke is bent on staying on and proving his coach wrong (bad choice though). why not get a new club and prove him wrong there. I still think SWP should go. he has had all the time to prove his worth with the blues. No wonder no one is after him. Get me Quaresma anyday. Quaresma in Chelsea would give opposing teams the shivers. No one wants to tackle him and get disgraced. Get the fella Grant. If not in January then perhaps in the summer. Go Chels!!!
Next up Benzema in the summer
Well Lyon has rejected a 20 milliion bid from Man Utd for the new french sensation striker Benzema according to tribalfootball, god knows if there is any truth, well if Man utd are willing to splash the cash KARIM BENZEMA cud be on his way to old trafford and he could be lethal, at 20 yrs old, he could be deadly and hes sort of power player who can brush pass the defence and score goals, why ant chelsea going for someone young, always relying on old guns for hefty money all the time. get someone who will stay for atleast 4 or 5 years and worth the money we spend.
Too much delay for induction in our striking armour…
avram has said he hopes to have anelka at chelsea by saturday for hi m to be available for the spurs game
I’d rather see Defoe in than Anelka. Younger, cheaper and more likely to fit in with the players already here.
@ Bluewinner :
Defoe and Anelka are not comperable , Anelka is a pure world class player but Defoe is a shaky player.
WHY anelka?
better we look for young talents.
BC belated new year wishes.
Hope you remember me.
BC the above message was from me.
After the chance that Defoe missed at ‘Corporate’ Stadium last nite, and that haircut, let him stay at Tottingham!!!
Chelsea have till 5pm UK time Friday to get Anelka signed so he can play against Tottingham on Saturday.
I cant believe this bloke hasnt been signed yet. Chelsea should have gone for him on the 1st Jan not the 7th………….
KTBFFH
@Maysam
I realize there is a gulf in class but Defoe will mesh better with Drogba. When Drogba returns what becomes of Anelka? Both are point men, both are used to having the ball delivered to them and both play a similar style. Defoe would be free to run off Drogba and do what he does best, score goals created by others.
Hey Zubinj9 – Of course, I rememeber. Old timer eh! Haven’t seen you around in a while! Welcome back!
Guardian reporting that Chelsea will abandon pursuit of Anelka. Apparently Bolton will not come down from the original asking price and Chelsea will not rise to meet it. Thank God for small blessings.
ya BC i was busy with my studies…
now i am back…
the site has been improved . Good. keep it up
chelsea should sell shevchenko and buy kaka instead of him .
If Chelsea pay more than 1o mil for anelka, and give him more than a 3 year contract its a bad deal…Of course if he finishes the year with 20 goals than its a different story, but his not worth that much. On the other hand Huntelaar is worth 20mil easy. Only 24 proven goal scorer internationally for holland, in europe and of course in holland. And as he is very quick and physical he would suit to the premiership very easily, altought he isnt as quick as anelka and hasnt got the premiership experience i still think he would be a legend in the blue shirt….You need a powerful centre forward in the premiership….Ex Drogba…and guys Torres!!! i allways knew he would succeed in the league coz his a powerful and skilful lad…
Go Chelsea!!! do some good scouting and stop throwing money out of the window…
yeah i would like to se huntelaar. its weird why chelsea isnt going after him. what is ten cate good fot? man utd wants huntelaar and made a bid for 11.
looks like the anelka deal is falling apart. huntelaar is chased by man utd and they will get him. berbatov is 35m. defoe wants to stay with spurs.
what we do we now? play only with great talents like shevchenko, kalou, pizarro etc. what a pity!!!!
btw the Anelka deal will be done in the next 6-10 hours so he will be available for the spurs game mark my words this will happen.
Yep, Chelsea have confirmed that Chelsea and Bolton have reached an agreement on the terms of the transfer of Nicolas Anelka. BBC say its a £15m fee.
Guys! It’s official. The Official Chelsea Website says:
Quoting Blue Champion
thanks for your kind information BC.
Guys now lets welcome him to our family, and lets think positive. who knows?
it might be through his GOAL we wins the first ever champions league.
so think positive.
Wishing him all the best and hope every chelsea player proves the critics wrong.
CHELSEA keep winning….
and cladio pizarro ? !! it is said that he is going to rome ….!! ( he should play behind the striker is this case anelka !!)
it was evident that he will join . and I am sure he will be successful in chelsea.
It doesn’t matter which striker we buy, Anelka, Berbatov, D.Villa or all of them together. If we want to see Chelsea which is really capable of winning the Champions League and regularly keeping pace in the league with Arsenal and Man Utd we need to buy creative midfielders like C.Ronaldo, Fabregas, Kaka and Pirlo. Until then we will remain only as a big force, nothing more.
15 million. What an absurd amount to spend for Anelka.
Question? will david villa join chelsea
Chlesea only needs luck to win CL . We only need to have all lads NOT injured.
I am very happy Anelka joint Chelsea . Anelka has experienced most big clubs so he is not looking for a bigger club like Drogba so we can count on him for years.
Now we can kick Drogba our of chelsea.
15 million? That’s a bit much isn’t it?? Let’s hope he’s worth every penny!
15 Million for Anelka…men,thats too damm much….i heard he signed a 4 year deal which means he would be 33 by the time is contract runs out….i hope he’s a good buy anyway and i hope he scores on his debut…he’s now part of the family so we have to love him….but i am hating on Gramt thou….keeps whinning about the ANC and all…
@BC
Nice to see that you don’t want to discuss mourinho…………that’s the whole point…………….when i thrash mourinho…….you defend like anything……………….when others glorify mourinho with the chants of glory glory and avram sucks……..etc…………….you don’t have words ………….do you for asking them to stop discussing mourinho………….my hatred for that man grows with each piss-poor comment passed in here
Ok TBF.
Let’s discuss Mourinho. Does that make you happy? See you admit that you have a hatred for the man. That’s very silly and unfortunate. There are lot of personalities in football that I don’t like but that doesn’t mean I need to have hatred for them!
You say that I defend Mourinho and I don’t defend Avram. You very well who would I choose between Jose and Avram. I admire Jose Mourinho and I don’t admire Avram Grant. Is that simple enough? I never claimed that I’m unbiased and I would treat Jose and Avram alike!
And if you think you’re thrashing Jose, that’s a joke. Anyway, I don’t simply care about what you feel about Mourinho. Why should I?
@TBF: When Grant has demonstrated the ability to win something, you can mention him alongside Mourinho. How many times did the Bridge sing “You don’t know what you’re doing” to TSO? So far Grant has proven that he is incredibly lucky, nothing more. Even Steve McLaren won the odd game of football, it didn’t make him good. Given the amount of talent Grant has at his disposal, he should be winning. When we wins two Premiership titles, we can talk. Until then, accept that he is unproven as anything more than a stand-in.
Bluewinner @ 49
You pretty much summed up what most of us feel!
@TBF: please dont compare AG with Mourinho or those who are at higher levels like Fergi, Wenger.
AG has to prove a lot.
AS bluewinner told that we can talk when AG wins two epl title.
there is a 90% chance for this squad to do it under any circumstances( even under AG).so AG has a great chance of doing it.
But i dont think he can spot on when we are trailin by 2 or 3 goals or kill the game when you are in the lead as our JM used to do.
Sorry TBF you have wrong assumptions on JM.
@49…”Even Steve McLaren won the odd game of football, it didn’t make him good.”…I don’t think one can use this analogy vis a vis grant….I guess he has 19 wins from 25 matches….surely a hugely impressive record as compared to Mclaren….
“when we win two Premiership titles, we can talk”….very true…but then we should also follow this rule regarding criticising him…..once he is unable to show up anything all are welcome to pounce on his neck…till then we should not come up with SILLY and BIASED excuses like LUCK,already a strong team etc…..
I personally think he is not a Chelsea material but there is something called ‘time’…one Mr Alex Ferguson didn’t turn up with anything for first three years at ManU,still they gave him time….rest as they call is history…Grant has every right to ask for time to deliver and as a DEMOCRATIC person I am willing,infact bound, to grant him every bit of time he demands….
and all this as if Chelsea is somewhere mid-table, really surprising isn’t…..
problem of missing players this time is more aggravated than last season and still same people who were supporting Mourinho over the issue are baying for Grant’s blood…a grand spector of hypocrisy….surely support the manager you like but then follow same yardsticks for every manager…I will certainly compare two by number of trophies and time hasn’t come up for that…
Manish
Of course we are willing to give Grant the time but that does not mean we have to put up with his stupid tactics, substitutions and brainless post match comments. He has given me a strong feeling that he has not at all contributed to the good things that have happened to Chelsea since he became the manager. He is not even pulling the strings.
Reminds me of some fiascos in democracy like Rabri Devi becoming the chief minister, if you know something about the Indian politics! For those who don’t know about Rabri Devi, read this and find parallels with Avram Grant.
Well said, Manish. Finally somebody who shares a very similar view to mine, phew!
@54…..you accept that we need to give him time but then you jump back to same hate campaign and compare him with Rabri Devi…wait for a while dear….jury is still out….everyone was happy with Mourinho because he ultimately ended up with trophies no matter what his path was..so how can you criticise Grant straighaway when time for counting trophies hasn’t come…when it comes and he is found wanting blast him right , left and centre…till then atleast don’t demean him if you can’t support him….
@Blue Champion
See jose didn’t won anything in 3-4 months did he??????????could jose have delivered anythin better than what avram has delivered right now…….ask yourself………………………as for his comments on positive footy………..there are various changes in our gameplay,though minor and only noticeable if you watch chelsea on match to match basis and you are not carryin a grudge against grant
1.we pass the ball on ground instead of air……………
2.we try to orchestrate attacks instead of over relying on counter attack
3.fullbacks attack on a much more regular basis
4.we attack[atleast try] for 90+min……………even if are sub’in a striker for defender…………….we don’t shut off the game……………………..
and as for my hatin jose please go read my intro…………………..admirin someone doesn’t mean we try to protect “the admired” for his faults………………………..i support australia instead of india but it doesn’t mean i am happy with how the kangaroos behaved in sydney match.
the problem lies in the fact that i support cfc and try to be as unbiased as possible………….maybe avram didn’t deserved the job,but i don’t think anyone more deservin would have done better job than what avram has managed…………….jose got his lucky break at benfica then at porto after gettin the sack[the biggest clubs of portugal] without any experience at lesser clubs………………..if avram is performin then why not avram………………….manager’s qualification doesn’t require him to be smooth talker or 39\8th sexiest man on planet………………………atleast give the chap some decent amount of time before thrashin him day in and out.
even your post in one form in one way or another try to point to the fact that jose could have done the same what avram has done……………then what’s the problem
TBF – You’re never going to agree with me. I liked the football Jose’s Chelsea played. It was attacking and brilliant football for me. All those points you mentioned were already there in Chelsea’s playing style. It’s just that people tend to have short and selective memories.
If you have any doubts, don’t even go for his vintage days, watch last few matches before Jose was sacked. The download is available in Chelsea Online of all Chelsea matches, each of the highlights being 30 to 40 MB. Watch them and come back and tell me your honest feedback.
Why do you talk about what JM won in 3-4 months? I never said that Grant should have shown any difference in 3-4 months. Also I never said that Avram qualification for a manager should have been smooth talker or a sexiest man etc. I never said these things.
You’re asking me “that what’s the problem”. That’s what even I’m asking you!!! What’s the problem now? WHY ARE WE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION??? May be you want me to say somethings so that you’ll have a nice spicy argument with me. Sorry, I’m too old for that!
I’m ending the dialogue with you on this topic here as we are not getting anywhere.
Calm down guys,
Jose is the past, let us move on.
If the crossing wind was about 0.0005 miles per hour stronger Beletti wouldn’t have scored.
If the Totenham’s defender would have crossed his legs sooner by 0.000001 of a second ,SWP wouldn’t have scored !
With this luck JM would have won everything and anything .Was he unlucky or what?
AG is so stupid.He takes a natural winger like SWP and make him play in the center of midfield.JM ,the great tactician would never have done such an idiotic move.
When one compare Chelsea of last season and the begining of this season to
Chelsea of today one wonder if this is the same team !
Has something have changed ?
Regards
What a Joke
hope anelka feels at home at cfc coz if not hell be uncomfortable and distracted an not perform well enough..lampard to stay at cfc FOREVER!!
60- Lucky AG Shut the F*uck up you tosser, wehy do you have to be so negative? And SWP suits that role, it seems you dont know anythingg
@ Manish and TBF
This has nothing to do with democracy, it has to do with a football club. None of us are bound to give Grant anything. He has come in and inherited a club built by someone else and only paid lip service to changing tactics. His biggest move? SWP to the centre (a good one, by the way). Don’t act as if he has done something else though. Most of the time he is slow witted, dull and remarkably unincisive and is bailed out by having some of the best players in the world on his side. He wins with defence, same as Mourinho did.
lucky AG 60
fool the bottom line is CHELSEA 2-0 TOTTENHAM
u cannot change it
the wind didnt blow and the defender did not come u cant change this either
all u can say is bellitti’s shot was pin point perfect and swp’s shot was good vision to slot the ball in the bottom corner
if anelka would have scored on the turn ( which cerny saved ) and the ball had gone in of the cross bar u would have written something else
i am kingsley, my email address talicool1@yahoo.com
i prefer a midfider, a ball holder for that matter. why not go to the brazilian league and see some small boy who want to make name in a big club like my lovely chelsea.i prefer
“Of course we are willing to give Grant the time but that does not mean we have to put up with his stupid tactics, substitutions and brainless post match comments.” – This is a Joke
If he is winning games and improving the team position in the league how can you say his tactics and substitutions are stupid? Unconventional maybe, but stupid? As for tactics, he has been told to change to team’s style of play to a more ‘attractive’ style, so of course things are going to be a little different, and tactics may sway from the norm. However as long as we keep improving and most importantly keep winning Grant with have my full support.
Post match comment’s that will come with experience.
Guys! Reports say that Chelsea is chasing Valencia’s Miguel! Does that mean Belletti would be second choice? Does that mean that my Dani Alves dreams should be over?
I don’t rate Miguel that highly and this Belletti has been a revelation this season. I would be very disapointed to see him dropped to the bench.
Given the form Belletti’s been in this season and how quickly he’s adapted to the English game, I, too, would find it extremely harsh to see him dropped to the bench. It is important to keep in mind that he’s 31, so he’s not a long-term solution, but I don’t think he should be made second choice anytime soon (unless we get Dani Alves, but even then I’d like to see Belletti get some starts on the right hand side of midfield).
All Chelsea fan$ want the club 2 win the europe title we first sell sheva for 6.5 to 10 million and pizzaro for 8 million and then we have 3 strikers we should buy david villa for 22 millon and ronaldinho for 70 million and a talent player 4 the future
come on chelsea dudes chelsea sucks man u rocks ya
Sheva should stay! go get a girlfriend muhammad mukaddam!
Ronaldinho for 70 million? are you fucking crazy?