Archive for August, 2010

Chelsea Transfer Deadline and Transfer Window Summary

Well after 3 months of rumours, speculation and drama the transfer window slammed shut at six o’clock UK time. In the window Chelsea lost some former heroes and gained some young talent and a proven Premiership performer.

Here is how the transfer window panned out

Players In:

Yossi Benayoun – £5m* (Midfield):

The first Chelsea transfer of the season, he is an experienced Premier League performer having featured for both West Ham and Liverpool. An impact substitute in his final months at Anfield, it is expected that he will provide back up for Florent Malouda, Frank Lampard or Michael Essien offering a different tactical dimension to Carlo Ancelotti’s options.

Ramires (Midfield)

After weeks of speculation Chelsea finally secured the signature of the talented midfielder Ramires who was one of 3 players that eChelseaFC identified at the start of the season as good potential signings.

Also - Tomas Kalas – Defender -Sigma Olumouc

Players Out

Joe Cole – Released/Liverpool

After contract negotiations broke down, the club announced that Joe Cole was being released that led to numerous claims and counter claims some of which bordered on the ridiculous. Whatever happened Chelsea lost a very talented footballer and only time will tell if it was the right decision.

Michael Ballack – Released/Bayer Leverkusen

His time at the club never delivered on the expectations when he arrived from Bayern Munich, however he offered alot to the club and had a few fantastic periods of form at the club.

Many expected he would get a contract extension, but obviously Carlo Ancelotti and the club felt that they could do without the German international with eyes probably already on the signing of Ramires.

Juliano Belletti – Free/Fluminese

The cult hero of the last few years, he had reached the end of his contract and Chelsea career, with both parties sharing a mutual understanding that it was time for Juliano to find a new club.

Deco – Free/Fluminese

Despite arriving on a crest of a wave, he seemed to only be able to perform during the summer or spring months, becoming anonymus with the first sign of summer.

Played his part in our title last year and this should not be easily forgotten.

Ricardo Carvalho – £6.7m Real Madrid

Probably the most technically gifted defender at the club for long periods of his stay, age was starting to catch up with the Portuguese international and Chelsea got a good price for a 32 year old.

Thank you for your service and contribution to 3 Championship medals Riccy.

Franco Di Santo – £2.5m – Wigan

After signing he was lauded as a future Chelsea star, however this never translated into results struggling in his performances both at the club on loan. £2.5m represents great value for Chelsea based on his current potential.

ALSO

Scott Sinclair, Liam Bridcutt (Brighton and Hove Albion), Sam Hutchinson (retired due to injury)

Out On Loan

Nemanja Matic (Vitesse), Rhys Taylor (Crewe), Michael Mancienne (Wolves), Metej Delac (Vitesse), Ryan Bertrand (Nottingham Forest),  Ben Gordon (Kilmarnock), Tomas Kalas (Sigma Olumouc), Slobodan Rajkovic (Vitesse), Jack Cork (Burnley), Danny Phillishirk (Oxford United)

The Nearly Men: Neymar, Begovic, Demechelis, Ramos and countless others

Transfer Deadline Day- Will Chelsea FC Be Buying or Selling?

There is only one place to find out if Chelsea will be buying or selling before the window shuts at 18:00 hours tonight

Picture of the Week – Goal Machine Malouda!

Florent Malouda celebrates another goal for Chelsea, with the opener against Stoke, the Frenchman cannot stop scoring at the moment, with four goals in three games.

FLORENT MALOUDA LOUDA, LOUDA, FLORENT MALOUDA WHOOP WHOOP!

Chelsea FC v Stoke City – Review & Match Ratings

Frank Lampard is consoled by Didier Drogba after his penalty miss

Chelsea produced a better performance but fewer goals than their previous two games with a 2-0 victory over Stoke City.

Despite an early Frank Lampard penalty miss goals from Florent Malouda and Didier Drogba sealed victory and maintained Chelsea’s 100% start to the season.

Chelsea started with a sharpness that had been lacking in the opening two games and it was little surprise when Florent Malouda was brought down inside the area and a penalty was awarded. Frank Lampard stepped up as usual but his effort focussed on placement instead of power and Thomas Sorenson guessed the right way to make a relatively simple save.

After half an hour of banging on the door with little threat from Stoke it took a surging run from defence by captain John Terry and a deft pass to play in Florent Malouda who did not need a second invitation to  break the deadlock.

Almost immediately Ashley Cole restated his worth to the team with a ferocious effort that combined power and technique to rattle the crossbar from a Didier Drogba through ball.

Chelsea continued to threaten until the half time whistle looking great value for their lead, with the performances of Alex, Ashley Cole and John Terry standing out from the crowd, the latter of which was treated like a hero for his contribution to the opening goal.

After half time Chelsea did not have quite the same penetration and Stoke were slightly more threatening. As in previous games John Obi Mikel almost squandered all of his good work in the game by being caught in possession in the build up to Stoke’s best chance of the game, a 25 yard drive by Glenn Whelan that rattled the cross bar.

Frank Lampard had been subpar throughout the game even is you discount the penalty miss the England midfielder did not look his usual self, which is explained by both his withdrawal as the first substitute of the game and the subsequent announcement that he is injured and will undergo a hernia operation next week.

Despite not matching the performance levels of the first half Chelsea looked threatening and when Nicholas Anelka beat Thomas Sorenson to a through ball just inside the Stoke penalty area, the Dane had little chance to get out of the way and the resulting contact led to the second penalty of the game.

With Lampard off the field, Didier Drogba stepped up and made no mistake to make the score 2-0 and end any hopes of a Stoke revival.

This allowed for the introduction of Daniel Sturridge and for the final few minutes the arrival of Ramires for his Chelsea debut.

Match Analysis

Overall this was a more pleasing victory over tougher opponents than the previous two games games, as Stoke really tried to make an impact in the game.

The slight downturn in the second half should not detract from another clean sheet and excellent start to the season for the blues, now we head to the international break and I hope that Chelsea will not lose anymore players after the announcement that Frank Lampard and John Terry are suffering from injury.

Player Ratings

Petr Cech – 7 – Still not much to do, however he looked strong in the air and back to his best.

Paulo Ferreria – 6 – A better performance that the opening day but still not infallible at the back, a worthy third choice right back though.

John Terry – 9 – His best performance for Chelsea in a long time, calm assured and confident he also showed some amazing touches and positional awareness as well as providing the impetus and assist for the first goal.

Alex – 8 – A perfect partnership with John Terry and some superbly timed last ditch tackles to protect an impressive clean sheet record

Ashley Cole – 8 – Another fantastic performance, that so nearly ended in an amazing goal, good going forward and solid at the back, undoubtedly the best left back in the world.

Mikel – 7 – One of his better performances with Ramires waiting in the wings, still looks prone to mistakes in possession, one of which nearly led to a Stoke goal.

Frank Lampard – 5 – A missed penalty and poor performance from the normally dependable Lampard which may be explained by a hernia injury that led to his withdrawal

Michael Essien – 7 – Another solid performance from the Ghanaian

Florent Malouda – 8 – Amazing start to the season for the Frenchman who now has 4 goals in just 3 games.

Nicholas Anelka – 8 – Always threatening and won the penalty that Didier Drogba converted

Didier Drogba – 8 – Another game another goal, imperious display from the Ivorian

Substitutes

Solomon Kalou – 6 – Short cameo but should have scored after a wasteful shot after doing all the hardwork.

Ramires – 6 –  Made his debut but little time to offer anything more than an introduction

Daniel Sturridge – 6 – Little time to make an impact

Chelsea vs Stoke – Preview

Nice and short this preview as there is little controversy around a relatively settled Chelsea line up, the only possible change will be the introduction of Ramires for Mikel however with fitness still something that may need to be brought up to English standards for the Brazilian this may not happen straight away.

Otherwise I expect an unchanged side as follows

Cech, Ivanovic, Terry, Alex, Cole, Essien, Mikel/Ramires, Lampard, Malouda, Anelka, Drogba

Stats:

Last 2 fixtures v Stoke: 1-2 (Drogba 45+2 and Malouda 90+4) 7 -0 (too many goalscorers to mention)

Expected Match Attendance: SELL OUT crowd

Key Men for Stoke: Rory Delap (pesky long throws), Matt Etherington and Kenwyne Jones (if fit)

What is your score prediction?