CHELSEA FC Thread [2005-2006]

[Siawash]

Friday, June 3, 2005
Chelsea open Crespo talks with Milan
AC Milan are ready to step up their bid to sign Argentinian striker Hernan Crespo on a permanent transfer from Chelsea.

Milan's vice president Adriano Galliani, who handles the day-to-day running of the club for owner Silvio Berlusconi, expressed his determination on Friday that Crespo remain an integral part of the Rossoneri squad.

Galliani also revealed Chelsea made a firm approach for Milan striker Andriy Shevchenko last summer.

'After the acquisition of (Johann) Vogel and (Marek) Jankulovski, we will meet (Chelsea chief executive) Peter Kenyon at Milan's headquarters,' he said.

'We will speak about Hernan Crespo, a player that we absolutely want to keep.

'Our aim is to confirm the 11 players (starters) of Istanbul as our base for next season - a group that has nevertheless proved to be the strongest in Europe.

'I am optimistic that we will confirm Crespo because we've always had a good relationship with Chelsea and I believe this will mean that Milan and Chelsea will never have to fight in the transfer market.'

Galliani acknowledges that a Milan player could end up joining Chelsea.

'We have respect for the English club, for the way they have always approached any eventual negotiation,' Galliani said. 'Kenyon is negotiating with (Kakha) Kaladze but he did ask us for permission beforehand.

'(Roman) Abramovich did the same thing not more than a year ago with Sheva (Shevchenko), we gently told him to let it go and he didn't make an offer.

'In any case our summer signing season is almost concluded, we will only make a few alterations.'

However Galliani refused to be drawn on speculation that the Rossoneri are interested in signing Parma striker Albert Gilardino, who is also thought to be a target of Chelsea and Juventus.

'Are you telling me that Peter Kenyon will go to Parma in order to negotiate with an important player? So I'll trip him, I'll commit a penalty foul to block any move,' Galliani joked.

Source: Soccernet

 

[Jimbob]

According to the Spurs website, Chelsea have made an Illegal approach for Frank Arnesen..Naughty naughty...
And this is just after the Ashley Cole saga....

Linkage http://www.spurs.co.uk/index.asp

 

[pede54]

This approach was made both prior to requesting permission and without permission from the Club. Tottenham Hotspur Football Club refused permission for any discussions to take place.

that statement contradicts itself......God knows whats happening though...is this another setup against Chelsea?.........Is Kenyon about to be given the elbow?......i hope so.....

actually this approach was reported to have happened before the Premier League inquiry into the Cole saga.............

 

[Jimbob]

Oh yeah i know Pete mate...I meant its just come out after the Cole saga

 

[pede54]

Jesus am i getting paranoid or is there something nasty going on between all the other clubs versus Chelsea......i cant wait for the outcome of this one........

 

[Jimbob]

Its a conspiracy...Get the rich bastards out!!!

 

[TheBlueBalla]

I heard that Chelsea is after Lyon's Diarra, is it true?

Hadnt heard about that one, but of course, Lyon today said they will hang onto him, among others.

Anyway, im breaking with the ongoing Arnesen situation to rekindle the team thread over this latest news: What the hell is this?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/4616169.stm

Spurs 'will take duo for Arnesen'
Tottenham want Scott Parker and Mikael Forssell in settlement of their dispute over Frank Arnesen's proposed move to Chelsea, according to reports.

Spurs have accused Chelsea of making an illegal approach for their sporting director, but have yet to make a formal complaint to the Premier League.

The Daily Telegraph claims Tottenham suggested signing midfielder Parker and taking striker Forssell on loan.

Neither player figures in Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho's first-team plans.

The £6m-rated Parker remains a transfer target for other Premiership clubs including Everton and Newcastle.

Finland's Forssell spent much of the last two seasons on loan at Birmingham City but returned to Chelsea following a serious knee injury last October.

He has also been in negotiations with Everton over a move to Goodison Park, but the club are reported to have concerns over his long-term fitness.

Chelsea have denied breaching FA Premier League regulations after formally requesting permission from Tottenham to approach Arnesen.

But Spurs maintain the Premiership champions have broken the rules because their letter regarding Arnesen was copied to the Dane.

"By definition, Frank was approached prior to the club having had any chance to refuse permission," said a statement on the club's website.

Chelsea were recently handed heavy fines and a suspended three-point deduction after being found guilty by a Premier League commission of "tapping up" Arsenal defender Ashley Cole.

However, the suspended penalty would only be activated by a repeat offence of Rule K3 which concerns players.

This has all taken a turn for the bizarre. This may "buy them off" for the moment, but at what price? In my eyes, theyre holding two players virtual hostages in exchange for compensation alone. Who knows if they want diciplinary action taken after that

No no no and no a thousand times more. Its not just that id like Parker and Forssell to feature next year, its also principle. That alone should be enough to reject this. The prospect of giving two Chelsea boys to Spurs is revolting

 

[Rob]

The prospect of dominating the transfer market with the links FA has is good though.

 

[Rob]

I know it is only Millwall, but god, I hate the FA, UEFA, FIFA, The Premier League, etc etc.

From The Times:

FA shown in poor light by hardline tactics against vunerable Millwall
By Rod Liddle

THE FA is expected to deliver its verdict today on what to do with Millwall. We’re in the dock again, this time awaiting sentence. The FA has already found us guilty, although quite how, or why, is anyone’s guess. The club fear a large fine and maybe closure of the ground — either of which could push us over the edge.

Like most clubs outside the Barclays Premiership, we’re perennially in debt. We don’t do much tapping up of famous players. The fans get tapped up for the occasional donation, that’s about it.

The circumstances of Millwall’s conviction are bizarre. But we’re dealing here with the monumental arrogance and partisanship of the FA and its eagerness to score cheap political points. For those in Soho Square, there are teams that matter — the Premiership teams — and those that don’t — the rest. What’s happening to Millwall could have happened to any small club, from Tranmere Rovers to Brighton & Hove Albion.

Last October, Millwall played Liverpool in a Carling Cup game and got well and truly stuffed. There was quite a lot of violence at the game — all of it from the Liverpool fans. Some 68 seats were ripped out of the away end, coins were hurled at home supporters and a disabled Liverpool fan was injured by his comrades in the mêlée. Three Liverpool fans were arrested and convicted: no Millwall fans were arrested.

Quite rightly, the FA decided to investigate and in March this year, under its new chief executive, Brian Barwick (a Liverpool fan), pronounced Millwall guilty. Liverpool, meanwhile, seem to have been exonerated.

The FA decided that Millwall fans, and therefore the club, were guilty of racist chanting directed at Liverpool’s black defender, Djimi Traoré. They came to this conclusion despite neither the player nor Liverpool officials making any such complaint. Nor, during or directly after the game, did Liverpool supporters make a complaint of racism. Further, the Millwall stewards, who evict racists peremptorily, heard no racist chanting and neither did the Metropolitan Police.

That’s what they told the FA, too. Just to confirm this, I spoke to the police yesterday: they insisted that at no time were any complaints received; that they heard no racist chanting and that no Millwall fans were evicted for racist chanting. Rick Parry, the Liverpool chief executive, is believed also to have told the FA there was no allegation of racist chanting.

I was there, too. I heard Traoré being roundly jeered by the Millwall contingent — but that was because he had clattered Marvin Elliott, the Millwall midfield player (who is, with wholly predictable irony, black). The FA says it thought the jeering took the form of monkey noises, but I’m not sure what sort of monkeys they’ve been mixing with. It sounded to me — and to everybody else — like “boooo!” There was some pretty unpleasant chanting about the Hillsborough disaster, which may be what inflamed the Liverpool fans. But that wasn’t on the charge sheet.

Once an inquiry had been called, a handful of Liverpool fans retrospectively decided that Millwall’s antipathy to Traoré had been provoked by the colour of his skin and — astonishingly — the FA agreed, despite testimonies to the contrary from the police, Liverpool, the player and Millwall. So we face crippling costs from the threat of an unspecified number of games behind closed doors while the FA continues its sterling efforts to get Liverpool admitted to next season’s Champions League.

As I say, there are clubs that matter and clubs that don’t matter. Never mind the evidence, never mind the ripped-out seats and the hurled coins, never mind the proven incidences of racism at other Premiership clubs this past year, about which the FA did, well, FA. Stick the boot into a small club who have neither the clout nor the influential lobby to hit back. It doesn’t matter if it scuppers their season or, indeed, their existence: it’s only Millwall. Or Tranmere, or Brighton. Or any of the rest.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

[TheBlueBalla]

I know it is only Millwall, but god, I hate the FA, UEFA, FIFA, The Premier League, etc etc.

From The Times:

FA shown in poor light by hardline tactics against vunerable Millwall
By Rod Liddle

THE FA is expected to deliver its verdict today on what to do with Millwall. We’re in the dock again, this time awaiting sentence. The FA has already found us guilty, although quite how, or why, is anyone’s guess. The club fear a large fine and maybe closure of the ground — either of which could push us over the edge.

Like most clubs outside the Barclays Premiership, we’re perennially in debt. We don’t do much tapping up of famous players. The fans get tapped up for the occasional donation, that’s about it.

The circumstances of Millwall’s conviction are bizarre. But we’re dealing here with the monumental arrogance and partisanship of the FA and its eagerness to score cheap political points. For those in Soho Square, there are teams that matter — the Premiership teams — and those that don’t — the rest. What’s happening to Millwall could have happened to any small club, from Tranmere Rovers to Brighton & Hove Albion.

Last October, Millwall played Liverpool in a Carling Cup game and got well and truly stuffed. There was quite a lot of violence at the game — all of it from the Liverpool fans. Some 68 seats were ripped out of the away end, coins were hurled at home supporters and a disabled Liverpool fan was injured by his comrades in the mêlée. Three Liverpool fans were arrested and convicted: no Millwall fans were arrested.

Quite rightly, the FA decided to investigate and in March this year, under its new chief executive, Brian Barwick (a Liverpool fan), pronounced Millwall guilty. Liverpool, meanwhile, seem to have been exonerated.

The FA decided that Millwall fans, and therefore the club, were guilty of racist chanting directed at Liverpool’s black defender, Djimi Traoré. They came to this conclusion despite neither the player nor Liverpool officials making any such complaint. Nor, during or directly after the game, did Liverpool supporters make a complaint of racism. Further, the Millwall stewards, who evict racists peremptorily, heard no racist chanting and neither did the Metropolitan Police.

That’s what they told the FA, too. Just to confirm this, I spoke to the police yesterday: they insisted that at no time were any complaints received; that they heard no racist chanting and that no Millwall fans were evicted for racist chanting. Rick Parry, the Liverpool chief executive, is believed also to have told the FA there was no allegation of racist chanting.

I was there, too. I heard Traoré being roundly jeered by the Millwall contingent — but that was because he had clattered Marvin Elliott, the Millwall midfield player (who is, with wholly predictable irony, black). The FA says it thought the jeering took the form of monkey noises, but I’m not sure what sort of monkeys they’ve been mixing with. It sounded to me — and to everybody else — like “boooo!” There was some pretty unpleasant chanting about the Hillsborough disaster, which may be what inflamed the Liverpool fans. But that wasn’t on the charge sheet.

Once an inquiry had been called, a handful of Liverpool fans retrospectively decided that Millwall’s antipathy to Traoré had been provoked by the colour of his skin and — astonishingly — the FA agreed, despite testimonies to the contrary from the police, Liverpool, the player and Millwall. So we face crippling costs from the threat of an unspecified number of games behind closed doors while the FA continues its sterling efforts to get Liverpool admitted to next season’s Champions League.

As I say, there are clubs that matter and clubs that don’t matter. Never mind the evidence, never mind the ripped-out seats and the hurled coins, never mind the proven incidences of racism at other Premiership clubs this past year, about which the FA did, well, FA. Stick the boot into a small club who have neither the clout nor the influential lobby to hit back. It doesn’t matter if it scuppers their season or, indeed, their existence: it’s only Millwall. Or Tranmere, or Brighton. Or any of the rest.

I know Millwall has a well deserved reputation, but thats frankly pathetic. No evidence and they deal a blow like that to a club who needs gate revenues to survive. This is the same FA that is too gutless or whatever, objectively, to stick chelsea with more than a fine for these numerous inicidents of shadiness that have gone on in the past two years. I remember this match, and reading in the post match that Liverpool fans claimed, originally, taunting over Hillsbourough which sparked their violence. Still, it doesnt excuse a psuedo riot. Nice one FA.

Speaking of Millwall, is Wise now out of contract??? Id love to see him as an assistant when his playing days are done

 

[Vazza]

He quit Millwall a month ago...Southampton want to sign him on a playing contract apparently.

 

[pede54]

The FA and the Premier League have no use for such a thing as evidence.They work through heresay and conjecture.Even the outcome of the Cole inquiry was not consistant with its findings.They admitted that Cole and his agent Barnett made all the first approaches towards chelsea,but Chelsea got fined more than Cole.So that proves that justice is not a word in their vocabulary.How much did Gerrard Houllier get fined for doing the same thing to Christian Ziegler?........Absolutely NOTHING.How much did the club get fined?........£20,000.Theres consistancy for you.They hit us hard because they do not like the fact that we are one of the big boys now,if not the biggest.If the FA and the PL dislike a club,as they do Millwall,they will act without evidence by just saying, "well,it sounds like the sort of thing they would do".The same logic they, and a lot of other people,including this forum,make about Chelsea whenever anyone wants to accuse us of anything at all.

 

[Voltaic Borusse]

http://www.fcdynamo.ru/phpeng/content.php?group=13&id=215

Dynamo Moscow Plan Re-match Against Chelsea 60 Years on

Dynamo Moscow plan an international tournament later this year to commemorate the 60th anniversary of their post-war trip to Britain, the Russian premier league club was quoted as saying by Reuters on Wednesday.

In 1945, Dynamo became the first Soviet team to tour Britain after the end of World War Two. They played four games, drawing 3-3 with Chelsea, beating Arsenal 4-3, crushing Cardiff City 10-1 and drawing 2-2 with Rangers in Glasgow.

The match against Chelsea was played in front of a crowd estimated to number up to 100,000 people, such was the appetite for football in England in the immediate post-war period.

This time they plan to invite English Premier League leaders Chelsea, French club Monaco and one of the Russian premier league sides to a four-team tournament in Moscow in mid-summer.

The London club are one of the most followed foreign teams in the country since Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich bought them in 2003, while Monaco, last year’s Champions League finalists, are sponsored in part by Dynamo owner Alexei Fedorychev.

Russian businessman Fedorychev, whose company Fedcominvest are Monaco’s shirt sponsors, has been transforming Dynamo into one of the top Russian sides since acquiring 51 percent of the Moscow club last September.

Dynamo finished in 13th place last year after battling relegation for much of the season.

 

[TheBlueBalla]

He quit Millwall a month ago...Southampton want to sign him on a playing contract apparently.

Good luck to him then, but I hope there is a job waiting for him, like with Clarke, when he is finished for good. Speaking of Southampton, I wonder what LeSaux is going to do with himself? Surely he is good enough for some top-flighter's LB position if he wants it

The FA and the Premier League have no use for such a thing as evidence.They work through heresay and conjecture.Even the outcome of the Cole inquiry was not consistant with its findings.They admitted that Cole and his agent Barnett made all the first approaches towards chelsea,but Chelsea got fined more than Cole.So that proves that justice is not a word in their vocabulary.How much did Gerrard Houllier get fined for doing the same thing to Christian Ziegler?........Absolutely NOTHING.How much did the club get fined?........£20,000.Theres consistancy for you.They hit us hard because they do not like the fact that we are one of the big boys now,if not the biggest.If the FA and the PL dislike a club,as they do Millwall,they will act without evidence by just saying, "well,it sounds like the sort of thing they would do".The same logic they, and a lot of other people,including this forum,make about Chelsea whenever anyone wants to accuse us of anything at all.

Too right, Pede. Alot like UEFA: once the reputation is there, right and wrong in a situation matter for very little. This is akin to the evil of racial profiling Alright, well, that might be getting out of control, but the end of the article says it best: clubs that matter and clubs that dont, and its clear to me that, though Chelsea's ascendency in England and Europe has, despite the claims of Cruyff and others, good for football financially (spreading the wealth) and competitively, that doesnt matter because somehow theyre too threatening, or whatever it is. The club has been in the wrong, no doubt, but if UEFA had their way, Chelsea wouldve been flayed alive for passing notes in the dugout. Anyway, life is unfair. If anyone wants, ill post an online petition in millwall's defense (yah, I know theyre useless)



Great news about the friendly with Dinamo. Does anyone have a picture of the crowd packed in that day? What was it, 106 thousand, or something like that?




Anyway, a bit of news, and dour news at that

Dont blink because Forssell (http://soccernet.espn.go.com/headlinenews?id=335290&cc=5901) and, if their website is to be believed (www.nufc.com) Scotty Parker have both left the club

Honestly, I dont get why Ranieri's purchases were dismissed so lightly by Jose. Mutu couldve been saved, in my opinion. Parker was good last year in a very talented squad, and yet now he too is history, despite never being a bust at all. Mikael is perhaps most tragic: brought back to the club this year, recovers, and sits behind Kezman and Drogba while they waste time getting cheap fouls. I know Jose knows football better than I know my own dong, but this is just wasteful and insulting to the talents these guys possess. Frankly, I thought Scotty at least could be excellent for Chelsea one day. Now nobody will ever know.

Anyone with some thoughts?

Here are the articles for the lazier of you

Forssell completes familiar trip to Brum


Mikael Forssell has set his sights on taking Birmingham into Europe after re-joining the club in a £3million move from Chelsea.

Forssell: Former City loan star. (LawrenceGriffiths/GettyImages)

Forssell has signed an initial three-year deal although there is also a two-year option on top of that for the Finnish international.


Blues manager Steve Bruce revealed that he had beaten off the interest of eight other Premiership clubs to bring Forssell back to St Andrews.

The player spent the 2003/04 campaign on loan from Chelsea and scored 19 goals, including 17 in the Premiership.

The 25-year-old agreed to then spend another season with Birmingham but was laid low from September with a knee problem which sidelined him for six months.

But Forssell insists he is now 100% fit and looking to reproduce his form of two years ago.

He said: 'The season I had two years ago with Birmingham was a big influence on my decision to come back.

'I had a great time here and this feels a bit like coming home.

'I have great respect for the manager and spoke to him a week ago and he was the one that persuaded me to come. It is very easy for me to settle back into things here.

'I believe that Birmingham is a club which is going forward and the football has improved a lot in the time I have been away from here.

'Hopefully, through my goals, I can help them to become even better. It is about doing things one step at a time but hopefully I can help get them into Europe.'

Forssell admitted: 'Everton were interested in me and we had some talks with them but I decided to come here because this is the right move at this stage of my career.

'I've been fit for the past two to three months. I thought I wasn't going to play at all last season but I got back quicker than I thought.

'I owe a big vote of thanks to Chelsea's physios and medical team and everything is fine now.

'It has been a very hard six months for me, not being able to play, but mentally I feel a lot stronger for the experience.'

Bruce admitted: 'There were eight other Premiership clubs after his services. But Birmingham was good for Mikael and the reason so many clubs wanted him was because of what he did with us the season before last.
'When I knew he was available, we had to act. He is the type of footballer everyone wants at their club - not just because of his ability but because of the way he conducts himself on and off the pitch.

'We've beaten off a few clubs, we have paid the fee wanted and have satisfied the player's personal demands.
'There is no doubt we missed him last season after he got injured and I had been looking forward to linking him up with Emile Heskey. We hope that can happen now.'

Scott set for Scot
Magpies boss Graeme Souness may soon get the breakthrough in the transfer market that his Tyneside career may well depend on, as the saga of Scott Parker nears completion - in our favour.

It's understood that a fee has now been agreed with Chelsea and personal terms have also been accepted by the 24 year-old midfielder.

And crucially, the player himself does apparently fancy the gig - dashing the hopes of three other Premiership clubs who were happy to meet the asking price.
Precisely when the announcement that the deal has been concluded will be is unclear - whether it'll come before Monday's 5pm season ticket deadline remains to be seen.

Oh, and if rumors are to be belived, Torres now looks like he could be Bridge-bound. Along with Owen the midget

 

[w0lfwood]

i guess since Forssell is the striker thats transferred out, Kezman is not transferring out! i hope he gets more playing time this season wit alot...ALOT more goals

 

[Dreath]

God Spurs are such a bunch of spineless sh*ts. I mean they're trying to bargain with you after accusing you of cheating. If they accuse they should take it to the F.A. not try to get money or players out of Chelsea. Lowlife scum they are.

 

[pede54]

Well i am very dissapointed that Jose has sold Scotty and Mikel.I wouldn't mind if they were crap players,but Scott in my opinion,with a little more playing time was one of our best midfield players.Much better than a couple of midfielders that Jose obviously has a soft spot for,and has retained.Same goes for Mikel,a much better and settled striker than one or two of our first choice strikers.He and Eidur would have been fantastic together.If Kezman still cant cut it next season,we are gonna be sorry that Jose flogged Mikel.Two very bad decisions in my opinion,and I dont care how good Jose is,i cannot agree that selling them is a good thing for us,especially at the give away prices.Three Mill for Mikel ,that is a joke.
Regarding Dennis Wise ...He has nothing to offer us anymore.Played well most of the time when he was a Chelsea boy but he is and always will be a thug...nuff said about him.

Dreath.....a double blow huh?....not only will they not put Chelsea in the s.h.i.t,but they might make some money out of the episode too.....yup i can see why you might be dissapointed mate.......... :funny:

 

[Vazza]

Speaking of Southampton, I wonder what LeSaux is going to do with himself? Surely he is good enough for some top-flighter's LB position if he wants it

He's retired from football to focus on commentating on games...to be honest I don't think he would've been able to keep up with the pace in the Premiership because last season he was given a rough ride nearly every week but I thought he would've stayed at the Saints for another year to help them win promotion from the Championship.

 

[TheBlueBalla]

Well i am very dissapointed that Jose has sold Scotty and Mikel.I wouldn't mind if they were crap players,but Scott in my opinion,with a little more playing time was one of our best midfield players.Much better than a couple of midfielders that Jose obviously has a soft spot for,and has retained.Same goes for Mikel,a much better and settled striker than one or two of our first choice strikers.He and Eidur would have been fantastic together.If Kezman still cant cut it next season,we are gonna be sorry that Jose flogged Mikel.Two very bad decisions in my opinion,and I dont care how good Jose is,i cannot agree that selling them is a good thing for us,especially at the give away prices.Three Mill for Mikel ,that is a joke.

Hear Hear. Honestly, Forssell doesnt bother me as much, simply because Striker is an area of crisis for this club at present, and I believe theyre going to spend large this summer to rectify their issues. As such, if he was going to be relegated to the fourth spot again, I cant see why he wouldnt want to move clubs, so good luck to Forssell at Brum, albeit with regret at losing him. But on the brightside, well, maybe its a brightside, as wolfwood points out it could mean another chance for Kezman. If he is given the opportunity this year, after everyone left him for dead, he could just find it.

Parker, however, has the chance to be great and to learn from some of the best in the world, and yet hes being pushed out before his time. Like you say, Jose knows his stuff, but this does make you wonder. I also hope the same favoritism towards his portugeezers (ahem, Tiago) doesnt cause Billy Gallas to leave, as is the hot rumor these days, with Riccy Carvalho being picked over him. Anyway, I just hope this doesnt spell a 30 million pound bid for Essien, or something like that, because Im not convinced the guy is all he is cracked up to be, and lets face facts, Chelsea can pip any offer for him next summer.

Also, Dreathie makes a good point: Spurs have quashed more than a bit over this issue of Arnesen. Its as if they wanted chelsea's balls on a platter when they made the allegation, and then when the possibility of getting parker came up they were willing to worm it under the table. Id rather not see Scotty mature in a spurs uniform, because the young guys they have developing will be deadly in a few years, but if they want to work it out without a big fuss, so be it.

Oh, and thanks Vazza for the info

 

[TheBlueBalla]

Damnit

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/4077990.stm

I guess it was an inevitability, but Scotty Parker is gone for good. 6.5 million p isnt bad, considering he was purchased for 10 (at least, thats not bad in the world of Chelseanomics) but im damn disappointed to see him go like this.

Now, a place is open for Rosicky. Get it done Jose

Who do you lads see coming in now? I know another mid was going to be purchased, but does this now mean two are needed? Was Jose factoring in Parker's departure all along?

All I have to say is please, no Essien. His price tag is so inflated right now, and if Chelsea dont buy him this year, he will stay at Lyon, so passing this summer is win win. Hate to say it, but he might just be a bust, but thats highly unlikely. Its too bad Maniche has already moved....and that Xavi extended.