Fernando Torres must quit Chelsea and return home – to Atletico Madrid

March 24, 2013 by Leave a comment

Much has been written about Chelsea’s Fernando Torres, with the Spain international having to live with a world of abuse from the football community for the last two years. My overwhelming emotion when I look at the Spaniard these days is one of pity. He has lost his pace, confidence and killer instinct, but still has the attributes to play at the highest level. It is now time for both Chelsea and Torres to call for an end to an agonising period at Stamford Bridge for the attacker, and let him return to his homeland.

Let’s not forget who we are talking about; before his misadventures at Chelsea, Fernando Torres was one of the most respected and deadly strikers in world football. With the Spanish national side Torres has won two European Championships and a World Cup, and is his nation’s all-time third top goalscorer currently.

Fernando Torres

With Atletico Madrid and Liverpool, the forward was at times unplayable, and he was awarded third place in the 2008 Ballon d’Or behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. But, there is no denying that the wheels have come off for Torres since his move to London.

He is not the first big-name forward to underachieve at Chelsea – look at Andriy Shevchenko; widely regarded as one of the most lethal hitmen to grace European football in the modern era, the Ukrainian had a similar experience at Stamford Bridge.

Whether it was the astronomical price tag hanging over his head, the constant media scrutiny or just bad luck, Torres must now draw a line under his time at Chelsea and look to get back to his best elsewhere.

And where better than where it all started, at Atletico Madrid. The Vicente Calderon outfit have come on leaps and bounds since Torres donned their red and white strip; they used to be a mid-table side but in the modern day they are looking almost certain to achieve Champions League qualification for next season.

Fernando Torres at Atletico Madrid

One player that has been critical in this has been Colombian marksman Radamel Falcao; but the South American looks likely to leave the Spanish capital for Manchester City, PSG or even Chelsea this summer.  Torres is the ideal replacement.

Coming into a city and club that he knows, with a manager in Diego Simeone who he has played alongside, means there can be the familiarity that breeds comfort. It was at Atletico that he made a name for himself; it is there that he can re-find the player that was once awarded world acclaim.

In terms of Torres’ time in England, we should remember him in his Liverpool days; devastating pace, scoring from impossible angles and torturing defenders, not his nightmare at Stamford Bridge.

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Five players Chelsea should sign this summer

March 16, 2013 by 8 Comments

Chelsea’s recent strategy has been very clear; sign young players from overseas and older, ready made players domestically. They have signed players likes Demba Ba, Fernando Torres and Gary Cahill from other Premier League clubs and a whole raft of young players from overseas as profiled here. Their policy is much less disorganised than is portrayed and the foundations are in place for a sparkling young team. For the purposes of this article I will assume that they want to continue along this policy line and not just parachute in a bunch of big names to block the progress of these starlets.

Gokhan Inler – Napoli

Gokhan Inler

Scout Report Inler is an absolutely rock-solid deep-lying midfielder. His physical and emotional presence in the guts of the team has been vital to transforming Napoli from flaky underachievers to a seriously dangerous team at the top end of Serie A and in Europe. He is a leader by example, making tackles and working hard to drive his team forwards. Inler is a tidy passer and capable of the odd goal. He is one of the elite players in Europe in this role.

Where does he fit? Chelsea don’t have a player of Inler’s ilk, and they need one. Mikel has had his chance but has plateaued and none of the youngsters are the bulldozing type that Inler is. At times this year Chelsea have been swarmed and looked a bit rudderless. Inler would add some much needed bite, snap and urgency in to the heart of the team. He is a little older at 28 but if Frank Lampard is allowed to leave they need a steady head to replace him.

How much? Napoli won’t sell easily, but they can be bought from. Additionally, if selling Inler meant that they could keep Edinson Cavani then they surely would. This would cost about £16m but you buy him, play him and don’t worry about him.

Yohan Cabaye – Newcastle

Yohan Cabaye

Scout Report Cabaye’s form at Newcastle has made the clubs that didn’t want him at just £5m two years ago look thoroughly foolish. He is the absolute key player for Newcastle; everything goes through him when they are playing well. He possesses the full range of passing and is also a ferocious worker and tackler. He is not afraid to put his foot in when necessary and can force opponents into making mistakes. He has started to score and make goals with increased frequency and provides devilish set-piece delivery.

Where does he fit? Cabaye would be a like for like replacement for Lampard. If the Englishman leaves, Chelsea will be severely lacking in a tactically and technically mature holding midfielder and this is where Cabaye would fit in. He is experienced in the Premier League and in Europe and at 27 there is still room for him to take his game on to another level at Chelsea.

How much? This could be a bit of a problem. Newcastle will still be annoyed at the way that Chelsea pilfered Demba Ba, but their current strategy involves them selling players for profit. They bought him for £5m so if Chelsea offered up £15m+ it would represent a huge profit for the Magpies.

Mehdi Benatia – Udinese

Mehdi Benatia

Scout Report Benatia is a big, swift and strong centre back who is both tough in the battle and stylish on the ball. He has the tactical versatility to play in a back three or back four. Benatia has developed immensely at Udinese after being plucked from the French second division two years ago.

Where does he fit? The Chelsea central defence is a bit of a muddle. If you asked ten different pundits they would each give a different preferred iteration. David Luiz is talented but inconsistent, Gary Cahill isn’t really up to scratch, Branislav Ivanovic is solid but limited and John Terry seems to be on his last legs. Signing Benatia would fill one of the positions and having someone to hold his hand could bring the best out of David Luiz. Benatia has already shown extraordinary improvement in his three years in Italy, which he could surely continue in England.

How much? Udinese are always open for business. If Chelsea bid in the £12m region they should get him.

Julian Draxler – Schalke

Julian Draxler

Scout Report Draxler is the forgotten wonderkid of this current crop of young German superstars. With all the attention on Mario Gotze, Marco Reus and Mesut Ozil, Draxler has slipped under the international radar. However, he is an idol at Schalke. With his speed, flair and direct running he provides a constant menace. He has improved his end product in terms of goals and assists and is now emerging from out of the shadow of his more famous countrymen.

Where does he fit? Chelsea have been collecting speedy creative forwards over the last couples of years but there is room for Draxler. The buzz is that Oscar is being groomed for a move further back in order to influence games more, and one of the big problems for Chelsea this year has been that they have played the same players every week due to their congested fixture list. If they add Draxler to the returning Kevin de Bruyne they wouldn’t suffer from a drop in quality when they rotate.

How much? Schalke are a strange club to buy from. They do have good resources but will sell if the offer is right. Spurs lifted Lewis Holtby for just £1.5m for example. If Chelsea offer £15m they will be forcing them in to some serious thinking.

Stephan El Shaarawy – AC Milan

Stephan El Shaarawy

Scout Report There is more than a little of Juan Mata in El Shaarawy. At only 20 he has absolutely everything necessary for success. He has a genial inventiveness and can create something from nothing. In his first season as a regular starter he has already scored 16 goals and is emerging as the young face of the new Milan.

Where does he fit? Chelsea need someone other than Juan Mata who can be relied upon to bring goals. This could either be in the form of an orthodox striker or a player like El Shaarawy, who offers goals and all kinds of threat around the box. Adding him in to the forward carousel would make Chelsea quite something to be reckoned with.

How much? Milan showed last summer that they can no longer turn down big offers for their star players. If Chelsea really want to make a statement then spending £20m+ on El Shaarawy would do that and then some.

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Chelsea’s returning starlets will form the nucleus of an exceptional team

March 10, 2013 by 17 Comments

With all the hysteria surrounding Chelsea this season it is easy to forget that they have the core of a young and potentially devastating team. Along with the likes of Juan Mata, Eden Hazard, Oscar and Cesar Azpilicueta, who are already in the first team, they own some of Europe’s top young prospects who are thriving out on loan in various leagues.

So let’s take a look at the best of these starlets who will be coming home in the summer and what their future at the club could look like.

Thibaut Courtois

The Belgian goalkeeper is currently starring for Atletico Madrid in La Liga, and is one of the best goalkeeping prospect in the world. In his two seasons in Spain he has played 84 games, keeping 41 clean sheets, which is an incredibly high ratio. He is an unbelievable shot stopper and has total control of his box and defence.

Thibaut Courtois

I would personally argue that he is already better than Petr Cech and is only going to keep improving if he is given the opportunity to play more first-team football. There have been rumblings that he may just stay out in Spain for a couple more years but he is ready for Premier League action right away. Chelsea have leaked a lot of silly goals this year and Cech is not what he was a few years ago. In two years Courtois could well be considered the best in the world.

Romelu Lukaku

The Belgian striker is having a big season in the Premier League for West Brom. He has already scored 13 goals despite Steve Clarke’s bizarrely infrequent use of him. He is scoring at a rate of a goal every 106 minutes in a team where he isn’t surrounded by the likes of Hazard and Mata creating chances for him. Incredibly to look at him, he’s only 19. The comparison to Didier Drogba is not just because he plays for Chelsea but because he does play like Drogba when he first arrived in England.

Romelu Lukaku

His combination of pace and strength is ridiculous and his finishing is calm and composed. Look at his goal at Anfield where Daniel Agger bounced off him before he calmly slotted home. Chelsea have been criticised for loaning him out but it was the right decision. How much would a 19-year-old scoring in the Premier League at near enough a goal a game cost to buy? Something astronomical. But Chelsea will have him ready to lead the line for next year. He’ll be better than Demba Ba once settled in, and I won’t bother comparing him to Fernando Torres.

Kevin de Bruyne

The third Belgian, but probably the least known. However, he could well turn out to be the best of the bunch. The 21-year-old attacking midfielder combines express pace with trickery and goals. Think Hazard and you won’t go far wrong.

Kevin De Bruyne

In the Bundesliga at Werder Bremen this year he already has eight goals and six assists in a team where he is always going to be the main focus for opposition defences. Imagine the damage he could cause with Mata and Hazard distracting defences. He will be ready to play for the first team next year.

Nathaniel Chalobah

An Englishman for a change, 18-year- old deep-lying passer Chalobah is having an outstanding season in the Championship with Watford. With an almost frightening calmness on the ball and supreme balance and elegance, Chalobah glides around the midfield a bit like a Paul Scholes or Mousa Dembele, and has the full range of passing to match.

Nathaniel Chalobah

He has also started to pop up with more goals recently to add to his armoury. He isn’t quite ready for the Chelsea first team, but a year on loan in the Premier League would do the trick. Gianfranco Zola says he is the future of Chelsea’s midfield.

There are also the likes of defender Jeffrey Bruma and midfielders Josh McEachran and Lucas Piazon, who should all have a future in the first team picture with another season or two of football. Not forgetting Ryan Bertrand who seems to be being readied to take over at left back from Ashley Cole.

In a couple of years time they could have this; Courtois, Azpilicueta, Luiz, Bruma, Bertrand; Oscar, Chalobah; Hazard, Mata, de Bruyne; Lukaku.

The future is potentially very bright for Chelsea but it depends entirely on how they manage the situation. They need to have patience and faith in these youngsters and give them the opportunity they deserve. This would be best done by investing in and believing in a manager who has experience with such a project.

The ideal man to get would be Jurgen Klopp but a Michael Laudrup or even Jupp Heynckes would be good choices. If they do things properly and add a few other players elsewhere, then they could build a team to play the beautiful winning football that Roman Abramovich dreams of.

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Who will the next Chelsea manager be?

March 8, 2013 by Leave a comment

Abramovich continues search for the right man

With Rafael Benitez confirming last week that he would not be at Chelsea past the end of the season, the hunt is on once again to find a manager that can bring Roman Abramovich the success and style of football that he craves. Here we look at the main contenders for the job and a few of the outsiders.

Jose Mourinho

Undoubtedly the fans’ favourite for the job. The self-proclaimed special one is having a tough time in Madrid with his team currently 13 points behind Barcelona in La Liga.  Recent victories over Barcelona in league and cup, plus continued progression in the Champions League, means that the pressure has relented a little.  It is clear though that Mourinho does not have a good relationship with the Madrid board and his constant quotes that his next job will be in England shows that the time may be right for a return.

Jose Mourinho

The only question is whether Chelsea will be his destination. With Roberto Mancini’s position at Manchester City looking increasingly unstable, it may need Abramovich’s personal intervention to stop Mourinho being lured by Sheikh Mansour’s billions.

Fabio Capello

Rumours have already begun that Capello is disillusioned with life as Russia manager. Having spent a number of years now as an international manager,  the Italian may well be looking for one last challenge as a club manager before retirement. Abramovich has shown interest in appointing Capello in the past and with his close ties to the Russian national team he may well find it easy to negotiate a way out of the coach’s contract.

The only drawback would be the negative fans reaction as Capello’s time in charge of England is mostly remembered for the disastrous 2010 World Cup campaign. Abramovich has shown though he does not take much notice of the fans view with the sacking of Roberto Di Matteo and the subsequent appointment of Benitez.

Guus Hiddink

A favourite of the Chelsea board and the fans, Hiddink would be a popular choice. A successful short stint as Chelsea boss in 2009 culminated in an FA Cup victory, a runners-up spot in the Premiership and being seconds away from the Champions League final.

A close friend and advisor to Abramovich makes Hiddink one of the outstanding candidates for the role. Despite the fact that the Dutchman has announced his retirement at the end of this season once his contract with Anzhi Makhachkala ends, a plea from his good friend may be enough to persuade him.

David Moyes

Currently third favourite with a few bookmakers, will the Everton manager finally get his reward for the outstanding job he has done at Goodison Park? At Everton he has built a team which is solid at the back and one that attacks with pace and variation. He has done this on a limited budget and has a good track record with signings as shown by the likes of Leighton Baines, Marouane Fellaini, Steven Pienaar, Phil Jagielka and Tim Howard.

David Moyes

With the vast resources on offer at Stamford Bridge he should be able to unearth even more talent. The only question mark over this appointment would be the apparent reluctance of Abramovich to appoint a British manager and whether Moyes is a big enough name for him.

The Outsiders

There are also a number of other candidates that may come into the reckoning. Gus Poyet and Gianfranco Zola would also be popular choices among the fans for obvious reasons. Both have proved their worth in the Championship this season with Brighton and Watford as two of the most attractive passing teams to watch and both may be celebrating promotion to the Premiership come May.

Michael Laudrup has certainly come into the frame since Swansea’s first major cup triumph a couple of weeks ago. Their possession football would certainly appeal to Abramovich, who craves to watch his team play like Barcelona, and his ability in the transfer market is unquestionable with the signings of Michu, Pablo Hernandez and Jonathan De Guzman prime examples.

Jurgen Klopp may also be under consideration after his stunning performance with Dortmund in the last few years. Despite his constant reassurance to Dortmund supporters that he is not going anywhere, the imminent sale of star striker Robert Lewandowski and undoubted interest in the likes of Mario Gotze, Marco Reus and Mats Hummels may make him re-think his position if the board do not back him.

By Chris Newman

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The Chelsea Conundrum: Ifs, buts and maybes

March 1, 2013 by Leave a comment

For a team who – for a few more months at least – can call themselves champions of Europe, Chelsea are in something of a mess. Only, the word mess doesn’t quite cover it.

Current interim manager Rafael Benitez’s recent comments only add to the pile of inauspicious headlines that are growing almost as quickly as the interest on Roman Abramovich’s finances.

And yet, the club are just one good decision away from recreating the sustained success they enjoyed under Jose Mourinho.

The problem is…they haven’t made a good decision for a very long time.

Rafael Benitez

Of their poor decisions – which could be argued stretch back some seven years – the most recent has something to do with Benitez. Although whether it was appointing him in the first place or branding him a stop-gap is open to discussion.

Quite simply the Spaniard’s appointment hasn’t worked. And as much as hindsight makes experts of us all, it was never going to. Not just because of his time as Liverpool manager, and the ill-feeling that followed controversial results and heat-of-the-moment comments. But because he was replacing the one man who had succeeded where all else had failed – Roberto Di Matteo.

The Italian left with Chelsea just four points off top-spot in the Premier League. Today, they are 19 points adrift.

He left with a win percentage of 61.9%. Benitez’s is currently 10% less.

And most importantly he left with the Champions League trophy and FA Cup residing at Stamford Bridge.

There is no way of knowing where the club would be if Di Matteo was still in charge. But they would be unified; just as they were when they overcame Barcelona and Bayern Munich to secure their owner’s Holy Grail.

Instead there are rumours of disagreements between captain and manager; the same manager who – bold as he was in condemning his job title – made the cardinal sin of attacking the fans. If you really can’t hold your tongue, some things are best saved for the exit speech.

Analysing the Chelsea of today is in part an act of hypothesis. If Di Matteo was still in charge the fans would probably be happy, as would the players. But then you could say the same thing regarding Guus Hiddink – another Abramovich mistake not in the appointment, but in its branding as “temporary”.

The truth is Abramovich dismisses successes and disappointments with equal ruthlessness.  And it is the same for the ones who lay somewhere in between, like Andre Villas-Boas, who is showing at Tottenham what patience can do for a football club.

Perhaps Benitez truly thought he could win over the fans and ultimately cross out the “interim” on his job description. But having realised he was doomed in both endeavours, Wednesday’s words point to a man who may be pondering a few ifs, buts and maybes of his own.

Reports this week suggest Jose Mourinho could return to the chair so abruptly pulled from under him in 2007; although he gives the impression of being smarter than that.

But the simple fact, for Chelsea fans and staff alike, is this:

If their owner appoints the right man but gives him time (measured in seasons not games), then maybe Chelsea will challenge consistently again.

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Chelsea must be regretting replacing Roberto Di Matteo with Rafa Benitez

February 9, 2013 by 1 Comment

With 13 games to go in the Premier League season, Chelsea’s campaign hangs in the balance. The standout event of 2012-13 is, and surely will be come the end of the season, the sacking of Roberto Di Matteo. With the unpopular Rafa Benitez brought in on a temporary deal until the end of the season and the consequent mediocre form that has followed, the powers that be at Stamford Bridge must now be regretting the decision.

Di Matteo’s heroics of turning the club’s fortunes round last season to win the FA Cup and Champions League are well-documented. The Italian coach then had to suffer the indignity of waiting around until Roman Abramovich has approached Pep Guardiola and a handful of other European coaches to fill the role permanently before apprehensively conceding defeat and giving Di Matteo a full-time chance. Admittedly Chelsea’s form in Europe had not be blistering in a tough group when Di Matteo was sacked, but surely his domestic form was good enough to keep him in a job.

Rafa Benitez

Di Matteo had won seven of the club’s 12 Premier League games before being given the axe, drawing three and losing only twice. Compare this to Rafa Benitez’s record; 13 matches played, six won, four drawn and three lost. This gives Di Matteo an average of 2.0 points per game; Benitez is down at 1.69 points per game.

The Chelsea fans have made their distaste for the former Liverpool boss known, and Abramovich must now regret the hasty and irrational decision to bring the Spaniard to West London. Although elimination from the Champions League was largely Di Matteo’s doing, Benitez has managed to fluff a chance to win the Club World Cup, been eliminated from the League Cup and is lucky to still be in the FA Cup after a close scare against Brentford; he is now one of the favourites to lose his Premier League job next with http://bwinbetting.com.

Chelsea are currently 16 points behind top side Manchester United, and out of the title race. The best Benitez can hope for is to salvage third, or at a push second, and this surely will not be good enough to satisfy the club’s Russian owner.

It is stated in the press that Abramovich is an avid follower of the game, however the decision to sack Di Matteo was an impulse and petulant move, made by someone who does not fully understand the intricacies of the sport. He, unfortunately along with the Stamford Bridge faithful, is now being punished as Chelsea suffer a mediocre season at best.

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Didier Drogba 2011-2012: The good, the bad, and the ugly

May 27, 2012 by 3 Comments

Didier Drogba has finished his Chelsea career on a high after their historic victory in the Champions League final against Bavarian giants Bayern Munich. However, as well as experiencing extreme highs, the African legend’s last season with the Blues has also seen its lows.

The AVB regime

Just a few games into the 2011-12 season you could already see that the arrival of Portuguese manager Andre Villas-Boas had caused an upset amongst the old guard at Chelsea. His micromanagement of the west London outfit was heavily criticised; there were even reports that he would stand and watch players who were coming in late at the Blues’ training ground in Cobham. Along with this, his handling of the players came under the microscope after failing to restore £50m Fernando Torres to his former self, and leaving Chelsea legend, Frank Lampard, out of the starting line-up on numerous occasions.

Many will see Chelsea’s 1-1 draw with Championship side, Birmingham City, as one of the biggest turning points in AVB’s sacking. After not only failing to beat Chris Hughton’s side on their own turf, a media uproar was caused by a supposed Didier Drogba half-time team talk, that Villas-Boas rashly denied. As well as this, the 3-1 loss at the hands of Napoli, and a 1-0 defeat to mediocre West Bromwich Albion, tipped the balances and forced Roman Abramovich to make the bold and brave decision that paid off massively.

The Di Matteo turn-around

When Andre Villas-Boas’ assistant manager, Roberto Di Matteo, was announced as caretaker for the rest of the season, no one would have thought that they would be holding the Champions League trophy, for the first time in their history, a few months later. The former Chelsea midfielder started off by picking up from where his ex-colleague left off, with a 2-0 away win over Birmingham City in the FA Cup. Almost a week later, Robbie was in charge of turning around a 3-1 deficit against Napoli in the last sixteen of the Champions League, and he delivered with an astonishing 4-1 home win, including an opening goal from Didier Drogba.

The re-ignition of the golden oldies and the new-found harmony in the dressing room was crucial to the 41 year-old Italian’s success and led him on to do an unprecedented double, winning both the FA Cup, with a 2-1 defeat of Liverpool in the final, and the Champions League, after getting through both Barcelona and Bayern Munich – yet again the Ivorian talisman getting on the score sheet for each of those games.

Drogba’s impact

Forever will Didier Drogba be known as the best performer on the big stage after scoring the winning goal in the FA Cup Final against Liverpool and heading in an 88th minute equaliser in the Champions League Final, not to mention finishing the game with the winning penalty. At the age of 34-years-old, there is no doubt the African powerhouse is still a magnificent player and many will say he is the best in the world at what he does. In both the Champions League semi-final and the final, Chelsea were playing with their backs against the wall, and if there is one man you want to boot it up the field to and bring it down under control, it is Didier Drogba.

The ‘nine goals in nine cup finals’ hero will always be remembered as a Chelsea legend, and his humble exit will be have a bittersweet effect on the fans, who will be somewhat disappointed he was not offered a new contract. For many supporters, it is an end that has come too soon and there is no doubt that fans will be devastated that he’s going, but the monumental symbolism of his last kick of the ball for the Blues will stay in the hearts of Chelsea fans forever.

By Jacob Tucker

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Chelsea’s Champions League triumph – written in the stars?

May 21, 2012 by Leave a comment

When Roman Abramovich bought Chelsea in July 2003 his main target was to see his side lift the Champions League. After Saturday’s dramatic final in Munich, the Russian billionaire’s dream has finally come true.

Many people will say that Chelsea were lucky to win the trophy; Bayern Munich completely dominated this final. The statistics in this case do not lie; the Germans had 35 shots compared to Chelsea’s nine and had 20 corners compared to just one from the west London outfit. This is where Bayern have only themselves to blame for not winning this final. They looked nervous in front of goal, particularly Mario Gomez, who wasted three golden chances in the first half and from those 20 corners they created very little mainly due to the poor delivery from Arjen Robben. Compare this to Chelsea however, whose one corner came in the 88th minute, and Juan Mata’s floated delivery was met by Didier Drogba, who showed great intent to win the ball ahead of the Munich defence.

If Chelsea had been beaten then there may well have been questions as to whether Roberto Di Matteo got his tactics right. His decision to start with Ryan Bertrand at left midfield would have been most under the microscope. The Italian trainer clearly did this to try and combat the threat of Robben and Lahm down that wing, but it seemingly backfired when Robben spent much of the first half controlling the game from the middle of the pitch and the opposite wing. Chelsea looked far better balanced when Malouda came on for Bertrand as a more natural left-sided midfielder.

The biggest tactical mistake of the night though may have come from Bayern boss Jupp Heynckes. As soon as Thomas Muller had put Bayern ahead in the 83rd minute, the Bundesliga team’s coach took him off and replaced him with the more defensive Daniel Van Buyten. This caused a major reshuffle for Bayern with the breaking up of Boateng and Tymoshchuk at centre back, who had both dealt well with Drogba, to allow Van Buyten into defence. This invited pressure onto the Bayern defence for the first time in the game and allowed Chelsea more of the ball for the final ten minutes.

There is a belief in football that sometimes a team’s name is already destined to be on a trophy before the final outcome has been reached. This was also spoken about when Liverpool won the tournament in 2005. Certainly there were instances along Chelsea’s route to glory that made you believe it was destiny for them to win it. Ashley Cole’s goal line clearance late on against Napoli that prevented them from falling 4-1 behind, the numerous Barcelona chances missed at Stamford Bridge in the semi-final and then missed penalties by two of the biggest names in world football, Messi and Robben, in the semi and the final.

The script of this final was clearly written for Didier Drogba also. In possibly his last game for Chelsea he came up with the stunning header for the equaliser. When Chelsea lost the final in 2008 to Manchester United, Drogba was sent off so was unable to take the decisive fifth penalty in that final which John Terry took and missed. This time though the Ivory Coast international was on the pitch and showed great coolness and composure in front of the Bayern fans to give his team the greatest prize in European club football.

What next for these two clubs though? Chelsea still do not have a permanent manager, but Di Matteo could not have done any more to put his name forward. But is he a big enough name and is the style of football that he has used good enough to satisfy Roman Abramovich? As for Bayern, major questions may now be asked of Heynckes. A few months ago they would have been eyeing up three trophies. Dortmund though have blown them away in the league through sheer consistency and then beat them for the fifth time in a row to win the domestic cup in Germany. Add to that losing on Saturday in front of their own fans and the board may decide it’s time for a change in Munich.

By Chris Newman

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Manchester United, Liverpool and the biggest Premier League losers of 2011-12

May 14, 2012 by Leave a comment

Despite a fantastically entertaining season with a raft of Premier League winners this term, it has been a campaign to forget for some teams and individuals. Euro 2012, the Olympics and the summer transfer window are approaching, and for some 2011-12 could not come to an end quick enough. Here are Ninety Minutes Online’s biggest losers of 2011/12.

Liverpool

Despite lifting the Carling Cup with victory over Cardiff, 2011/12 has been the worst campaign for Liverpool for quite some time. The Anfield outfit’s fans expected their side to be challenging for a top four berth, but a eighth place finish, 17 points adrift of Tottenham in fourth, has been a massive disappointment.

From Fenway Sports Group’s ill-fated home-grown transfer policy, to Luis Suarez’s racism ban, defeat in the FA Cup final to embarrassing home defeats to some of the division’s lesser lights, Liverpool fans will want to forget 2011/12.

Andre Villas Boas

After leading Porto to an unbeaten league title and lifting the Europa League in 2010/11, Andre Villas Boas was heralded as the next Jose Mourinho and the man to lead Chelsea back to the summit of the Premier League. However, an at times bullish squad rotation system saw the senior players at the club alienated, the Blues floundering outside of the top four and Villas Boas given Roman Abramovich’s axe.

The £13 million Chelsea paid Porto for AVB’s services was not rewarded, and the young trainer is still out of work after seeing his stock drop in west London.

Wolves

Wolves have been in a fight to stay in the Premier League over the last number of seasons, but Mick McCarthy has led them to survival and commanded the respect of the squad. Steve Morgan’s decision to sack McCarthy, despite a poor run of form, was an ill-sighted one, and the appointment of assistant Terry Connor a disaster.

The Molineux club reportedly interviewed the likes of Alan Curbishley and Steve Bruce for the role, but were reluctant to offer the experienced pair long-term contracts. The appointment of Connor has backfired, with the club finishing bottom with a woeful five wins all season.

Sir Alex Ferguson

2011/12 will be a season to forget for Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United. The Old Trafford outfit are known for their will to win and mental toughness at the business end of the season, but the relinquishing of an eight-point lead is sure to give the legendary Scottish manager nightmares for years to come.

A lame Champions League exit in the group stages, a 6-1 hammering from City at Old Trafford and FA Cup elimination to Liverpool have been hard to take for the defending champions’ fans.

Alex McLeish and Aston Villa

Alex McLeish was a shock appointment at Villa Park last summer given his links to rivals Birmingham City, and the club’s supporters have not warmed to the Scot since. A toothless tally of seven wins, weak defending, a lack of creativity and the division’s second-lowest goal tally have had the Villa fans with their heads in their hands.

McLeish’s position as Villa manager must come under scrutiny this summer, but Randy Lerner must also invest in new players if the team are to have a better 2012/13 – Stewart Downing and Ashley Young have simply not been replaced.

Honourable mentions

  • Venkys – With Blackburn relegated this term, Steve Kean has received most of the flack from the media and the club’s fans. However, the Lancashire outfit’s Indian owners Venkys have not given the Scottish coach any funds to spend, and the side are now reportedly in financial trouble.
  • John Terry – Due to stand a court case in July for reportedly racially abusing Anton Ferdinand, the Chelsea skipper has lost the captaincy of his country and there is a train of thought that Terry may be excluded completely from Euro 2012. Add to this a sending off against Barcelona in the Champions League semi-finals for petulantly kneeing Alexis Sanchez, and Terry has had better years.
  • Jermain Defoe – The diminutive striker has proved time and again that he can score goals at the top level, but has simply not been given enough time on the pitch this season. Harry Redknapp’s preference for Emmanuel Adebayor and Rafael van der Vaart could cost Defoe a place at Euro 2012.
  • Jack Wilshere – The talented Arsenal midfielder has not seen one minute of action this season, with consecutive knee cruciate injuries keeping him on the sidelines throughout. Wilshere will also miss Euro 2012 due to injury.
  • Joey Barton – Barton is no doubt talented and able when in the correct mindframe, but stupidity, ill-discipline and a terrible attitude have continued to blight his career. A red card against Manchester City on Sunday cost his team the game and his constant abusive and opinionated Twitter comments should see Mark Hughes ditch his troubled ‘captain’ this summer.

Published – Soccerlens

Filed under Aston Villa, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Wolves Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Chelsea to splash the cash this summer: All change in the Roman empire

May 11, 2012 by 10 Comments

A win against Bayern Munich in the Champions League final will be vital in deciding who Chelsea will attract when the transfer window reopens, but what does the summer look like for the west London club?

Out with the old

Didier Drogba

For the fans at Stamford Bridge, seeing 34-year-old Didier Drogba leave the club will be devastating, as they saw him lead the Chelsea front-line to victory in the FA Cup final. The Ivorian veteran is still a world-class striker, using his physical strength and experience to get those vital goals needed to win trophies. Since joining in 2004 from French side Marseille, Drogba has scored 156 goals for the club and is the highest-scoring foreign player ever to have played for Chelsea. There is no doubt the African target man will be a key part of the Blues’ season-defining game against Bavarian giants Bayern Munich, but after refusing to sign a new deal at the club, his future is doubtful.

Florent Malouda

The French winger has been a great asset for the west London side over the past few years but the 2011-2012 season has seen a rapid decline in playing time and quality for Florent Malouda. With his contract expiring in the summer, a departure from England seems very likely. The 31 year-old has been on the bench for the majority of the campaign, under both Chelsea exile Andre Villas-Boas and interim first coach hero Roberto Di Matteo, but has been particularly of use when resting the first-team before two important Champions League games. If there is one place that Chelsea are lacking, it is deadly wingers – so making space for new blood out wide, will be a priority for Abramovich.

In with the new

Kevin De Bruyne

The 20-year-old attacking midfielder looks a bright prospect for Premier League football and after signing from Belgium champions Racing Genk, Chelsea fans are optimistic that De Bruyne will add that vital creativity and wing play that the Blues really need at the moment. The Belgium international plays predominantly on the left of midfield and looks talented and creative, bemusing defenders with his dribbling skills and has a good eye for goal.

Marko Marin

Nicknamed the German Messi, Marko Marin has suffered a shaky season with German side Werder Bremen, but a £6.5m move to Chelsea could jump-start his career. Much like Belgium counter-part De Bruyne, the 23 year-old German plays predominantly out wide or as an attacking midfielder using his speed, agility, and skill to bring the individual quality that every Premier League side needs. Although scoring few goals for his team, Marin creates chances and has never recorded less than ten assists in a Bundesliga season.

Transfer targets

Willian

Although not as famous as other players linked with a move to Stamford Bridge, Willian is a player of extreme quality and skill. Spending the last five years playing for Ukrainian side, Shakhtar Donetsk, the young Brazilian has come out of obscurity after increasing rumours over a move to the west London club. His dribbling skills are superb and he will hope to form a partnership, if joining Chelsea, with Brazilian comrades Ramires, David Luiz, and youth superstar Lucas Piazon.

Edinson Cavani

The Uruguayan hitman has been quite the star for the last number of seasons at the San Paolo, and at the age of only 25 the future looks bright for a player who has shone not only in Italy but also in the Champions League. A player who dominates not only in the air but also on the ground, Edinson Cavani could be described as an all-round striker – able to keep the ball, play the ball, and most importantly, score goals. Napoli’s 25 year-old forward could be a perfect replacement for departing Drogba, but whether he would adept to the Premier League is hard to tell.

By Jacob Tucker

Filed under Chelsea Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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