Archive for November, 2010

eChelseaFC’s Favourite Chelsea Shirt’s of All Time

Chelsea have had over a hundred different shirt designs in our history, but which one is your favourite? 

Could it be the iconic 97 away shirt ala, Zola and Vialli, the Commodore vintages of Wise, Peacock or even the Championship winning shirts of 1955, 2005 or 2006 or 2010?

The eChelseaFC favourite shirts both come from the same year 1997, with the club winning the FA Cup for the first time in 27 years they did it looking stylish in two of the most iconic Chelsea shirts in my time at the club.

Below is the 1997 home shirt, but which of the club’s shirts was your favourite?

CFC Video – A Tonic For A Bad Week To Be Blue

With two defeats and the news that John Terry and Alex are out injured for 6-8 weeks, I feel now is the time to revive our spirits with two amazing video by Feroze Ali

Will Jeffrey Bruma Replace the Injured Terry and Alex for Chelsea?

It is now clear that both Alex and John Terry will be unavailable due to injury for the most crucial part of our season with Branislav Ivanovic the only fully fit recognised centre back, leaving a major selection headache for Carlo Ancelotti as the decisive festive period approaches.

With Paulo Ferreria not up to the job in the centre of defence(as proved against Sunderland) it is now time for Jeffrey Bruma to be given his chance in the team.

After impressing in the FA Youth Cup and in his hanful of first team appearances he is the natural successor, confident and mature for his age, he is a full Dutch international and this is the opportunity that allows him to prove to the footballing world what the Chelsea set up already know,  that he will be a world class defender.

Able to play at right back and full back he is versatile and I hope Ancelotti has the confidence in him to put him in the starting XI.

Other Options

Michael Essien

Having filled in at centre back in times of need before, he could at a stretch repeat this feat, however with Chelsea short on numbers in the midfield as well it is likely that even if on Ancelotti’s mind this would be a non-starter.

Michael Mancienne

On loan to Wolves a club he joined in the summer, the England u21 player may be the solution if Chelsea can find a loophole to retrieve him from his Wolves loan spell. With Premier League experience with Wolves and Chelsea he would be desperate to prove that the early hype in his career was justified and that his future lies at Stamford Bridge after a nomadic few seasons on loan.

Ray Wilkins CFC History & Tribute – Thanks For Your Loyalty and Service You Will be Missed

When I interviewed Ray Wilkins two years ago, I found him an interesting, intelligent and likeable individual. He, more than any other person I have talked with since starting out in the world of Journalism, has had the most profound influence on the way I work. His words of advice are still with me every time I write and report:

“Don’t worry about not being liked in this business. If you write with truth, you will make far more friends than enemies.”

Playing Career

Starting his Chelsea career in 1973, Wilkins was just too young to have played in Chelsea’s FA Cup winning side in 1970 and missed out on the Cup Winners’ Cup triumph the following year.

However, it didn’t stop him becoming a hero with supporters. After just two years in the first team he was given the captaincy, taking the armband from Ron Harris at the age of just 18.

But the 1970s were a time of austerity for the West London club. The building of the East Stand in 1974 (amongst other things) led to debts spiralling out of control and the need to sell off top assets. Wilkins was sold to Manchester United for £825,000 in 1979 following Chelsea’s relegation to the second division.

From there he went on to captain England on ten occasions, and his performances were so impressive at United that A.C Milan paid £1.5 million for his services in 1984. Three seasons in Italy didn’t bring the major silverware he craved, but cemented him as one of England’s great players.

Spells with various other clubs followed, including an ill fated time in France with Paris St. Germain, two years with Rangers in Scotland and time as player-manager of Queens Park Rangers.

Coaching Career

After managing Fulham for a year, Wilkins returned to Chelsea in 1998 as assistant to Gianluca Vialli. The two formed a superb bond on the sidelines, putting together a team which came close to winning the title and did win both domestic cup competitions, the Cup Winners’ Cup and UEFA Super Cup. The pair eventually led Chelsea to the Champions League for the first time in their history.

He left the club with Vialli in 2000, following the Italian to Watford where they shared less success.

After several years working in the media and enjoying the odd glass of wine, ‘Butch’ was back in the Chelsea dugout, this time with Luis Felipe Scolari as manager. It was felt that Wilkins was the perfect person to help the Brazilian coach settle in London and get to grips with English football.

When Scolari left after just five months, many thought Wilkins would follow, but ‘interim coach’ Guus Hiddink decided to keep him on and for good reason. Chelsea went on a fine run of form, eventually missing out on the Champions League final by mere seconds, and going on to win the FA Cup for a then fifth time in their history.

Yet another boss came in, but Wilkins remained. This time it was Carlo Ancelotti and the result couldn’t have been sweeter. A league and cup double at the first time of asking took the club to new heights, even higher than during Jose Mourinho’s whirlwind time as coach.

Ancelotti attributed a huge amount of the team’s success to his assistant, who used his fluent Italian to guide Ancelotti through what could have been a difficult time in his first season managing outside of Italy.

This season, the club found themselves five points clear of their nearest challengers in the league, having qualified for the knockout phase in the Champions League with four wins out of four (the club’s best record in the competition since the 2004/5 season).

It seems, however, that the club’s hierarchy wants to take a new direction and a man who has been a Chelsea supporter his whole life was dismissed from his number two spot. A strange decision with the balance and atmosphere at the club seemingly perfect from the outside.

Mr. Wilkins is not one to start talking to the press about his sacking as he is unlikely to start a war. Well liked by the media and all those who come into contact with him, it is clear that he is the perfect gentleman.

And as the saying goes; ‘a gentleman never tells’.

Follow me on twitter@ twitter.com/rfrench1988

Why Chelsea’s Premiership Will Be Won or Lost in December

In recent years it is not very often that Chelsea will lose twice in one week, with two enormously below par away performances sandwiched between a workmanlike home win against local rivals Fulham.

Obviously losing is never enjoyable, particularly when like Chelsea it is such an infrequent occurrence, yet now is not the time to panic. 

For Chelsea the title will largely be decided in December as we face our toughest fixtures of the season. 

Everton – 4^th Dec 

Always raise their game against the blues and have derailed previous title challenges securing draws at the Bridge.

Spurs – 12^th Dec 

White Hart Lane used to be one of our most lucrative grounds, but in the last couple of seasons Tottenham have held their ground and put a stop to the ‘Three Point Lane’ moniker. 

Man Utd – 19^th Dec

 No explanation needed, they are our biggest long term title threat

 Arsenal – 27^th December

 A trip to the soulless Emirates stadium, where Arsenal are slowly building a title challenge as Chelsea and Manchester United falter, this must be tamed in this game.

 Bolton – 29^th December

 On fine form this season and are another side who have managed to get something from the Bridge to halt a previous title charge. 

It seems no one really wants to win the Premier League this season as all the top sides struggle to gain solid momentum in the race for the title.

If Chelsea were to go unbeaten in December and pick up wins against Manchester United and Arsenal then the title would be firmly on its way back to the Bridge, should we have a poor festive period we will be forced to chase one of the above.

 So in reality, Chelsea have to prove from now until Christmas that they have the desire and talent to win the title.