Chelsea FC - Supporters' Rally - Page 21

no_faith · #**301** 04-06-2007, 07:51 PM

Name: Claudio Miguel Pizarro Bosio
DOB: 3rd October, 1978
POB: Callao, Peru
Height: 1.86m
Position: Striker
Jersey no: 15

Name: Steven James Sidwell
DOB: 14th December, 1982
POB: Wandsworth, England
Height: 1.78m
Position: Midfielder
Jersey no: 17

welcome them to the the squad.

JWNY · #**302** 05-06-2007, 12:53 PM

The antithesis of the Abramovich era

From the $64 million man to the $1 dollar man; Chelsea's summer spending has taken a turn that, 12 months ago, was utterly unexpected. Admittedly, Andriy Shevchenko's British record transfer does not quite equate to $64 million, but the cost of bringing PSV's Brazilian defender Alex to Stamford Bridge will be only a single dollar.

Strictly speaking, a closer comparison with Shevchenko is Claudio Pizarro, a possible partner or potential replacement, who has arrived on a free transfer. So, too, has midfielder Steve Sidwell. The last of the big spenders are now the surprise spendthrifts. It is as though Imelda Marcos suddenly renounced shoes, and parsimony does not suit Chelsea.

The perversity of Chelsea is that when all others are paying more, they are spending less. Even if the wages of their trio of recruits will be sizeable and a considerable fee was paid for Alex before he was farmed out on loan to PSV Eindhoven, it will be three new faces in the squad for $1. It is tempting to suggest that little more than 50p should be required to secure a better central defender than Khalid Boulahrouz.

Yet this comes when Manchester United's expenditure is around £50 million, even before the addition of a striker, and Liverpool's could be in the same bracket, if Rick Parry can actually secure Rafael Benitez's chosen targets. It is also at a time when the upwardly mobile Tottenham, Aston Villa and West Ham seem intent on speculating to accumulate.

Chelsea's transfer policy, once noted for blank cheques, is now greeted with blank looks. Last year, besides Shevchenko and Michael Ballack's arrival on a Bosman, £16million was committed for John Obi Mikel, £8million paid for Salomon Kalou and, including William Gallas in part-exchange, £5million for Ashley Cole. And, in many respects, that represented an average summer for Chelsea.

Now they are set to have three players for $1. Then factor in Glen Johnson, returning from a season's loan and Portsmouth, and Tal Ben Haim, the January target whose contract at Bolton expires in the summer, and it could be five newcomers at an average cost of 10p. Twelve months after Chelsea's costliest signing was Shevchenko, now it is Danny Philliskirk, the £200,000 teenager from Oldham who, it is to be presumed, will not be in first-team contention just yet.

But Chelsea's expenditure in the January transfer market was non-existent. Roman Abramovich insists his commitment to Chelsea has not lessened, but the money granted to Jose Mourinho appears to have done.

The sheer scale of his wealth suggests the Russian is an astute businessman. Chelsea have long declared their ambition to break even by 2009. Two years ahead of schedule, they should make a profit on their transfer dealings this summer if, say, any of Boulahrouz, Paulo Ferreira, Shaun Wright-Phillips or even Shevchenko are sold.

Besides their minimal cost, the newcomers have another thing in common: none are African. With Mourinho set to lose Mikel, Kalou, Didier Drogba and Michael Essien for a month of next season due to the African Nations Cup, that seemed a priority.

Moreover, after their flirtation with superstars, in the shape of Shevchenko and Ballack, an evident failure of last summer, it is a reversion to the lower-profile signings Mourinho seems to prefer. Nonetheless, at least one bigger buy was anticipated - perhaps Carlos Tevez or David Villa - to lessen the goal-scoring load on Drogba. Chelsea may still require more inspiration in attack, but a fully fit Joe Cole and Arjen Robben may provide that anyway.

If Drogba appears the epitome of a Mourinho signing - criticised initially for his price tag and his behaviour, followed later by Essien and, to a lesser extent, Ricardo Carvalho - the manager was vindicated by the Ivorian's excellence last season.

Could Pizarro emulate him? At 28, his age upon arrival is nearer to that of Shevchenko and Ballack than Drogba and Essien, who had more time to acclimatise. He arrives, at least, with a proven goalscoring record, albeit with a reputation as a reserve.

The move for Sidwell, targeted by many of the Premiership's ambitious middle class, at least secures a proven performer in England, though he has a solitary season in the top flight. Yet Alex, on the basis of his defensive dominance for PSV and Chelsea's desperate requirement for cover for Carvalho and John Terry, appears to be the best. Nonetheless, it is highly possible that none will figure in Mourinho's first-choice team, and especially unlikely Sidwell will do.

There is an element of opportunism in capitalising on the Bosman ruling and it is plausible that Mourinho, ever keen to foster a siege mentality, would relish succeeding on a limited budget; yet, while Manchester United look for the long-term successors to Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs, Chelsea seem short-termist in their approach.

That, in itself, suggests instability is not at an end, even if Mourinho's suggestion that the age of his key players, Claude Makelele apart, means he need not think about replacements yet. An alternative explanation is that it is easier to forge a team without the super-sized egos of the superannuated.

Nonetheless, while it was conceivable that Arsenal could endure a summer without spending, few imagined Chelsea could. In many respects, it is the antithesis of their approach in the Abramovich era. It would also confound the orthodoxy of the football transfer market if the best buys were free. Jose Mourinho certainly hopes that his will be.

qbdp · #**303** 06-06-2007, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JWNY

got lah!!! New jersey...but Lamps is not going to be part of advert (maybe he is leaving?)

bor no_faith any snapshot of new kit?

JWNY

Quote:

Originally Posted by no_faith

new kit? i also wan to see. release liao?

no_faith · #**304** 06-06-2007, 12:27 PM

wa, the colour so striking. more like use to direct traffic.
i suppose this is away kit bah?
dun take the colour blue away.

no_faith · #**305** 06-06-2007, 02:53 PM

ok, we also must keep the thread alive.

rumours, rumours....

Chelsea are going to part exchange deal
Robben for Ricardo Quaresma

Robben plagued by injuries last season and is not in regular starting lineup even he is healthy. He complains here and there. He wans to play regularly. His unhappiness has attracted clubs from europe to tempt him to leave stamford bridge.

On the other hand, Ricardo Quaresma has emerged as a rising star. His performance in FC Porto and Portugal has never gone unnoticed.

Chelsea may coax him that his future is in Stamford Bridge with the big money offer. Chelsea hope to get his signature before Europe or else his price may rise sky high.
Although we have money but this season we have to be misery because our transfer budget has gone to his ex wife pocket.

Sheva and Robben for KAKA

Chelsea is considering swapping Sheva and Roben for KAKA.
Chelsea has identified KAKA is the ONE.
The deal might seduce the AC Milan. Should they not tempted at all, Chelsea will throw in lampard to get the ONE.
With KAKA impressive records, he is the ONE we have been searching for to lift the team on the pitch.

JM :"why not? After so much money wasted, surely we can spend again to get KAKA. Or maybe add lampard, 3 for 1 is a pretty good deal. We shall see what happen next.

source frm no faith, R&R(rumours and rubbish) ltd.

JWNY · #**306** 10-06-2007, 03:40 PM

bro no_faith...my birthday coming soon...and i wish Anderson play like Diego Forlan and Nani play like Hugo Vianna...

and Kaka come to the Bridge....

JWNY

no_faith · #**307** 10-06-2007, 04:02 PM

Happy Birthday lah bro JWNY
sora aoi for u and celebrate @ our home, Stamford Bridge

Your wish will come true.

no_faith · #**308** 14-06-2007, 03:14 AM

Shane taunts JM
JM @ WWE RAW

interview wif JM

hardcore chelsea fan who do up tis clip

top chelsea goals

alex18122003 · #**309** 14-06-2007, 03:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JWNY

bro no_faith...my birthday coming soon...and i wish Anderson play like Diego Forlan and Nani play like Hugo Vianna...

and Kaka come to the Bridge...

JWNY

Bro Jwmy, wishing u " HAPPY BIRTHDAY "
Gd news to heard that Kaka coming to Chelsea...CHEERS
For M.U

if Anderson play like Diego Forlan....then should be very worry liao...

JWNY · #**310** 14-06-2007, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alex18122003

Bro Jwmy, wishing u " HAPPY BIRTHDAY "

Thank you bro...don't worry, Man U & Chelsea will fight for top 2...that for sure bro

JWNY

alex18122003 · #**311** 14-06-2007, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JWNY

Thank you bro...don't worry, Man U & Chelsea will fight for top 2...that for sure bro

JWNY

Gd morning, Bro JWMY

U must include TOP teams like Asenal, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Everton
& Bolton Wanderers. Then got more chanllage mah...
Or else alway Chelsea & MU only also very sian....