TheChels.net – Spotlight
The challenge of becoming a professional footballer is fraught with peril. The dream of becoming a first team player with a top-flight side is even more precarious. Every year children as young as eight join club academies and work their way up through the age levels until a decision has to be made by academy staff as to whether they will make it to the 16+ group – in other…
A busy international double-header is set to be packed into the next ten or so days and, as you might expect of a leading club, Chelsea have more than their fair share of players representing their countries across all age groups. Here’s a rundown of who’s going to be where. Senior Internationals Gary Cahill, Frank Lampard, and Ashley Cole will be a part of the England squad which travels to…
On June 14, 2001, Chelsea signed the then 22 year old, Frank Lampard. I remember the day quite clearly, as it had been reported on Sky Sports News that we were set to sign a West Ham midfielder and the rumours doing the rounds were that it was indeed Frank that we were buying. In my haste and excitement, I emailed Sky Sports News for them to come back to…
There are some players that are synonymous with certain moments, a moment of brilliance, bravery, stupidity, madness or just something Proper Chels. These are moments are etched into the memory of every Chelsea fan and their story will be told for generations to come. Some players have acquired cult status due to their loyalty and longevity. Others have made a short yet sudden impact (and not always positive). Below are…
Whilst it might appear to be a futile exercise from the outside at least, it appears to be possible to at least make an educated projection as to the likely contenders for the Chelsea job. It goes without saying that it would be a catastrophe of even grander proportions were Rafael Benitez to get the gig full-time, but for the sake of this exercise and our sanity, we shall presume…
There are problems, and there are so-called ‘first world problems’. You know the drill; which latest technological advancement to purchase, what to do when your wireless internet drops for five seconds, that sort of thing. At Chelsea Football Club, they too face decisions of this nature now and then, and chief amongst them is what to do about their goalkeeping situation. They’re blessed to find themselves in the luxurious position…
Since Roman Abramovich took over Chelsea FC in the summer of 2003, with reports claiming the club was just days away from bankruptcy, he has enjoyed the virtually uncritical adoration of the Stamford Bridge faithful. That’s not to say that there haven’t been periodic rumblings of discontent. Jose Mourinho’s departure in September 2007 was the subject of some, albeit muted, criticism. Before, during and since the infamous CPO EGM in…
Already reeling from the departure of Robbie Di Matteo, the suits at Chelsea FC inflicted a further blow on the club’s supporters last night with their appointment of the almost universally-despised former Liverpool boss, Rafael Benitez, until the end of the season. Let’s take a look at some of his pearls of wisdom on CFC whilst he was in charge at Anfield:- “Drogba is a coward, a diver and a…
The news that Roberto di Matteo has been sacked as manager of Chelsea, just five months into a two year contract, has come as a huge and unwelcome shock to most fans. During an early season edition of The Chelsea Fancast, the presenters and benches were of the opinion that if Robbie failed to deliver silverware, he would probably be out of a job at the end of the season….
Before Tuesday night’s League Cup outing, Oriol Romeu had not featured in a Chelsea shirt since April, when he was in the team which played away to Arsenal. He was absent from the club’s pre-season stateside and the only real indication he still existed before this midweek was a token place amongst the substitutes in the odd game so far this season. Yet on the day after celebrating his 21st…