Chelsea Thread - Home of the EPL Champions 04/05

[pede54]

Dont look like Carlo will qualify for a medal....damn shame...he worked so hard for us last season and is one of the reasons we are where we are today.I know the squad love him to death and they too feel thats its unfair to Carlo.Obviously Carlo is not exstatic with the reserve GK place obviously,especially with the fact that he is not getting any younger,but he has said that he has 3 years left on his contract and he would like to honour that.The man is class,on and off the pitch.It must be very frustrating to be a world class GK and not have a first team place.When we sign players now,it is understood that we work as a squad,that a start in the first 11 is not guaranteed every week,players now come to Chelsea understanding that,otherwise they can stay away.When Carlo joined us this was not the case so it is a sign of how big a man he is to accept these terms without much fuss.I totally respect him for that.

 

[ruswilks]

When we sign players now,it is understood that we work as a squad,that a start in the first 11 is not guaranteed every week,players now come to Chelsea understanding that,otherwise they can stay away.When Carlo joined us this was not the case so it is a sign of how big a man he is to accept these terms without much fuss.

We signed Carlo from a club in the Italian 3rd Division (Castel di Sangro???), and when he joined he was 3rd choice after De Goey and Bosnich. So really when he signed he wasnt guaranteed a first team place anyway. (hope that doesnt sound like I'm being fussy )

I've also got great respect for Carlo, he was the best keeper in the Premiership over the last 3 years and has been on the bench all season without complaining. It now even looks like he might stay, with Jose wanting him to sign a new contract. I hope so anyway, lets face it, there isn't a better second choice keeper in the world!

 

[Deisler]

Well he is not better then Peter Chec so he has the option on iether to stay as a first class second choice or eather go be a starter in a middle table team (Most likely Italy).
Or he can move to a 'good' British team. Man U would be a nice option for him since with Ray Carol and Howard they are not exactly set.

As far as Chelseas buy/sell campaign i really think they should ONLY get a certain striker that not only would guaranty 15-20 goals but he should also be a reference point for the fast semi-strikers (Duff, Cole & Robben) Chelsea has.

I see them getting Crounch from the saints. The guy is 6'7'' and has a certain presence in front of other defenses. Other options are: Adriano, Eto'o and Kuranyi.
Yes they need not only a easy scorer but as well a BIG guy. I would trade Drogba with any of these anyday.

 

[Crusad3r]

Well he is not better then Peter Chec so he has the option on iether to stay as a first class second choice or eather go be a starter in a middle table team (Most likely Italy).
Or he can move to a 'good' British team. Man U would be a nice option for him since with Ray Carol and Howard they are not exactly set.

As far as Chelseas buy/sell campaign i really think they should ONLY get a certain striker that not only would guaranty 15-20 goals but he should also be a reference point for the fast semi-strikers (Duff, Cole & Robben) Chelsea has.

I see them getting Crounch from the saints. The guy is 6'7'' and has a certain presence in front of other defenses. Other options are: Adriano, Eto'o and Kuranyi.
Yes they need not only a easy scorer but as well a BIG guy. I would trade Drogba with any of these anyday.

Dont see Etoo leaving Barça. Adriano will be way too expensive

 

[Dreath]

Dont see Etoo leaving Barça. Adriano will be way too expensive

This is chelsea, no-ones too expensive

 

[Deisler]

Adriano will be way too expensive

Too expensive is a phrase that doesn't exist in the Chlesea's dictionary.

 

[TheBlueBalla]

Weren't you guys interested in Maxwell? Even if you wanted to sign him, it would be impossible for him to pass his medical: he tore the cruciate ligament of his right knee so he'll be out until next winter. He'll be a Bosman by next summer and you'll probably have a new LB by that time

The team is linked to so many up and coming players, its impossible to seperate truth from reality. That sucks that maxwell is going to be out that long, and hopefully his development wont be staggered too much when he gets back. He was a name i had seen bandied about by many a chelsea fan, and at one time, he or lahm seemed to be most likely choice assuming bridge would be kept.

About Carlo, i love the guy for being, as pede and rus said, so damn capable and yet so willing to sit behind Cech. I was gutted when he got that red card in the FA cup disaster at SJP a few months ago, meaning he would miss out on the CC final and with it, the culmination of what he had been working toward this whole year. He is a great keeper, not as good as Cech, but a chelsea original, and he has been celebrating with the team as one of the team, not throwing a fit in the corner cause he couldnt get games. I wish some of those 4-0 wins back in december and january had seen him come in as a sub to get that medal he so deserves. Yet his work in previous seasons for Chelsea will never be forgotten. I will be almost glad to see him go (definately not to an english team, Deisler ) because he deserves a first team spot: I hope he can find that in italy or wherever, and I wish him the best. Definately the best backup in the world, and one of the best penalty stoppers ive yet seen. Thanks, Carlo

As for the matter of a striker, well, this is the topic of the most contention about Chelsea at the moment. I would rather the team wait and see, as people were ready to throw all 31 million of Kezman and Drogba off a bridge after that game at Anfield. I think thats a joke: both have the obvious ability to be excellent, and given time, i think they will be. As far as Deislers options go

-Adriano would be too expensive right now, even for Chelsea, as paying 70+ million for him would be something even Roman would scoff at

-Crouch is, in my mind, a less skilled drogba who gives more effort

-Kuranyi is intresting, but im not so sure the team have intrest, being that he is one of the 78 players worldwide Chelsea havent been tipped for intrest in

-and Samuel "the boy who cried wolf" Eto'o? Even if this wretch wanted to leave Barca, i would vomit if i ever saw him in a Chelsea shirt. He was going to "punish" chelsea for not buying him in the CL tie? I guess something was lost in translation, as all he did was get one goal from Maxi Lopez's work, and miss a host of chances. Then, when he loses, he cries racism, just as it was becoming a hot button issue in football again. Maybe, just maybe he had a point, but being that he never again brought it up, and Chelsea were exhonerated, im guessing it was a whole lot of sour grapes. Xavi though, I wouldnt mind :fool: If the team had to get a striker, i would have Kezza sent back to PSV, or wherever, as he seems to want an exit, and then id like to give Fernando Torres a shot: maybe another Athletico forward will come good for Chelsea

 

[Rob]

Get Benni McCarthy.

The guy is class and loyal to Mourinho, so he won't bitch about being benched.

And he will only cost 6million.

 

[Lampard]

No thanks on Benny McCarthy, who's going to play when that African Cup of Nations rolls around? Adriano is too expensive, even for Chelsea, and he strikes me as a bit of a selfish primadonna. I haven't seen much of Torres, so I can't comment on him, but I think that the guy we want is Dean Ashton. English, proven premiership goalscorer, young, and I think he'd be content with being behind Guddy, Drogba, and Forssell in the pecking order for a little while, as long as he gets some games. Guddy, Drogba, Forssell, Ashton is a much improved strikeforce.

Wayne Bridge is the player I want at left back, but we need a backup. Kaladze would be a good choice. A Cole, Del Horno, or Zambrotta wouldn't be bought to sit on the bench.

 

[peacex]

congrats chelsea!
#1 for EPL 04/05! YAY : )
absolutely love jose and this team!

i wouldnt want to see eto in chelsea. not adriano as well. although we need another striker, its good to get someone tall like crouch since we have good ball crosses, we would want someone to get at the end of it yeah?

i want bridge back at the left back. true enough we need a left back but i thought gallas will do just fine. however he dont seem happy there. actually do you guys prefer having terry-huth/terry-gallas/terry-carvalho at the center back positions? i think we have really got sufficient central defenders

i think we need another winger. its obvious chelsea's form dipped after duff and robben got injured one after another.joe cole is a good substitute thou. i would like to see chelsea buying rafael van der vaart. im sure he is on sale since he is not very happy at ajax.

comments anyone?

 

[theo]

Drogba suffering from first-season Blues

In an interview with French sports daily l'Equipe, a "homesick" Didier Drogba weighs up his first season at Premiership champions Chelsea. If the €40m frontman hopes to remain with the Blues next year, he has nevertheless refused to rule out a possible return to Marseille one day.


The Ivory Coast striker has experienced a mixed first season at Chelsea, winning both the Championship and League Cup, but missing out in the Champions League and suffering a hip injury which sidelined him for two months.

Drogba admits that his switch from France's Ligue 1 has been far from plain-sailing as he struggles to adapt to both the English game and the change in culture.

"I'm a bit homesick to be honest," he told l'Equipe on Wednesday. "Life in England is not straight forward. You need to put your back into it, which I have yet to do. You know, it's so different, and your morale can take a knock."

Asked to confirm whether or not he was unhappy at the London club, Drogba replied rather enigmatically. "Unhappy is not really the correct word," he declared. "Let's just say that I haven't exactly always been happy."

Despite the striker's relatively tame return of 16 goals in 41 games, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has kept confidence in the club's record signing. The player is both aware and grateful of the faith shown by his manager.

MOURINHO'S A DROG ADDICT

"The coach has total confidence in me, and he has shown that throughout the season. When I haven't been injured, I have always been in the starting line-up.

"Mourinho has always supported me," Drogba underlines. "He knows better than anyone what I can bring to the team. He knows that I have always given 100% to Chelsea. He is grateful for what I have done, I'm sure of it, and he knows also, I believe, that I will better next season once I have, at last, had a proper break."

The former Marseille hitman, who scored 31 goals in 55 appearances for the French club in 2003/4, could only take 12 days rest over the summer.

One reason Drogba gives for his apparent timidity in front of goal this term is the different role he has been asked to employ by his new club, particularly over the second half of the campaign.

"The plan was to just hit long-balls towards me, whereas I always prefer playing football, having the ball at my feet."

"I SACRIFICED MYSELF"

Drogba admits that this change in tactics had a lot to do with injuries suffered by the two wingers Arjen Robben and Damien Duff, as well as the two wing-backs Wayne Bridge and Paolo Ferreira, but claims that his role has been underestimated at the club.

"I made others like Frank [Lampard] and Joe [Cole] shine. I sacrificed myself for the interests of Chelsea," he claimed, before hastily adding, "But it's important to say that I regret nothing."

Drogba admits that he has yet to voice his concerns to manager Jose Mourinho, but underlines that "there will be quite frankly no problem. I have as much confidence in him as he has in me."

ADRIANO IN, DROGBA OUT?

If the papers are to be believed, Drogba will be on his way out of Stamford Bridge in a squad shake-up which will see Inter's Brazilian forward Adriano, who has recently insured his left foot for a staggering &euro15m, assume his mantle.

"Nobody's talked to me about these rumours," Drogba claims. "Like everybody, I read the papers and have learnt of Chelsea's supposed interest in Adriano. But I'd like to repeat that I'm at Chelsea, and I'll still be here in August.

"If Adriano or another big-name striker arrives, we'll see. We'll see, in particular, if he's ready to defend like a madman for the best of the team, like I have done this season. Honestly, I'd be pretty curious to see that. I don't fear anyone."

MARSEILLE MAN

That would seemingly rule out the return to France's Ligue 1 which the French press has been getting so excited about.

Pushed on whether or not a move back to Marseille was a possibility Drogba opened up about his love for the club, but reiterated his opinion that now is not the right time for a return.

"L'OM [Olympique Marseille] is in my heart. I said that when I left Marseille and I have not changed my opinion over the last months. I do not have to go into my love for the club.

"I am a champion in England and one day I want to be a champion in France, at l'OM of course.

"But I would only return to l'OM of the team was capable of playing for the title, and today, that is just not the case. With, or without me.

Drogba concluded by stating that "in my mind, there is no doubt that I will be at Chelsea next season."

 

[edison_yu]

Drogba may stay this season,he should learn to cooperate with others like a team

Really looking forward to see the new kits for the new season

Sumsung and Adidas

 

[Rob]

We are with Umbro next season, and then we switch to Adidas.

 

[bianconeri6]

del horno all but done??
http://skysports.planetfootball.com...+Horno's+cash+admission&channel=Football_Home

 

[Virgo]

want to be a Chelsea player?

http://www.skyone.co.uk/programme/pgefeature.aspx?pid=42&fid=87