In the midst of all the anger and disgust in the manner in which Carlo Ancelotti was sacked, it’s about time we looked underneath the surface and see what may be the reasons behind his sacking. It was hardly a surprising sacking, even though everybody wanted him to see out his contract, deep down this was what everyone had feared, albeit the manner did shock everyone. So let’s recap how…
So Who Is Villas-Boas?
A young, charismatic football manager is about to join a top premier league side after an outstanding season with Porto, sounds familiar? That must be the only comparison that is made with Andre Villas-Boas and the ‘special one’, Jose Mourinho. There’s no doubt to Chelsea fans, Mourinho was the most successful manager ever to have graced Stamford Bridge and his legacy is somewhat still part of the team now. However,…
The Southbank Show
One of the plus points to the 24/7 society we are now living in is that the gnawing tedium of Sundays that most of us endured as children has ended. When I was young in the 70s and early 80s, Sunday consisted of going to Mass, dinner (not lunch, this was Birmingham) – often cooked by my father if Old Mother Baby was at work as a nurse at the…
Academy Adapts To (Yet Another) New Manager
For the fifth time in slightly under five years, Chelsea have a new manager. Andre Villas-Boas returns to Stamford Bridge having departed with Jose Mourinho in September of 2007, and he returns as one of the hottest commodities in the game, a 33 year-old academic who smashed records with FC Porto last season. For Chelsea’s academy, however, things are about to change again as they will embark upon yet another…
…Or Is It Villas-Boas?
The Chelsea managerial merry-go-round continues to spin, but news this morning suggests it may be slowing down ready to stop. Major sources in Portugal are reporting that FC Porto manager André Villas-Boas is headed to London after Blues owner Roman Abramovich agreed to pay his release clause, believed to be in the region of €15m. The 33 year-old, who has previous experience at Stamford Bridge working as a scout for…
Bruma to Hamburg: A Good Move
When Jeffrey Bruma returns from his holidays later next week, he will complete the formalities in a deal to join German outfit Hamburg on a two-year loan. The reaction to the news has been mixed amongst Chelsea supporters, with some suggesting that the young Dutch defender will never be capable of holding down a regular place in the Blues’ lineup, whilst others have vented their anger at Frank Arnesen for…
My End Of Season Awards
Well, we’ve now long past the end of a season which, although rich in promise at the outset has ended as a damp squib, particularly with Carlo’s departure, which although not unexpected was shocking in its suddenness. I strongly suspect that the most disappointed amongst our fan base will be those under 25, who have grown up seeing Chelsea as an established Premier League force and for whom a season…
No, Boys. There’s Two U’s In Guus
In case you don’t recognize the quote, it’s from one of the best films to come out of the 1980’s: Top Gun. I did change the spelling from “Goose” to “Guus,” for many Chelsea supporters’ favorite Dutch manager: Guus Hiddink. Right about now, the speculation is swirling that Guus will be the new Chelsea manager. News has even come out from the Turkish FA that they are powerless to stop…
Internationals – A Look Back
International fixtures and friendlies especially, in most people’s eyes, are normally seen as a disruption to the ever growing number of games that players have to play in a calendar season. However, as one season comes to an end and preparation for the next season begins, for Chelsea, it could turn out to be a very important week. Daniel Sturridge scored after 9 minutes for England’s under 21’s in this…
Töre Joins Hamburg Exodus
After Michael Mancienne and Jacopo Sala, Turkish winger Gökhan Töre has become the third Chelsea player to join German club Hamburger SV, signing a three-year deal this evening. The 19 year-old returned from international duty, where he had been with the senior Turkish squad under Guus Hiddink, to his native Germany in Cologne before travelling to Hamburg for a medical examination today. Chelsea are believed to have received in the…