Archive for July, 2011

Why CFC Fans Can Be Optimistic Despite Lack Of Signings

There seems to be a great deal of hype that Chelsea have yet to secure a major transfer target in the form of a Luka Modric of Javier Pastore.

If you read certain internet forums, you would be forgiven that Chelsea had already written off the 2011/2012 Premier League season with the two Manchester sides set to duel it out without the Blues in the mix.

This pessimism seems foolish with the squad at our disposal and the fact that the season has not started and the transfer window still open for another month.

Those who doubt the club’s readiness so early in the season need to take a deep breath and relax we have one of the best squads in the league managed by a young manager with pedigree, drive and ambition.

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Thibaut Courtois: The first signing of the Villa-Boas era

Finally, a month after Villas-Boas was appointed as, Chelsea manager, Chelsea have finally enter the market and the first signing of the Villas-Boas era is imminent. Highly-rated Belgian goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois is undergoing a medical as he edges closer to joining the Blues in a five-year deal.

The signing signals Chelsea’s intent to strengthen for the future, and Courtois will most definitely be a signing for the future.

At 6ft 6in, the 19-year-old keeper is seen as an ideal replacement for Petr Cech. However, he won’t be replacing the current number 1 yet. Courtois himself as admitted that he will be a replacement for the giant Czech.

“It won’t happen in one or two years, but in three, four or five years. I can therefore work on my development in peace” says the Belgian, who has also been likened to Edwin Van der Sar.

The Belgian made 40 appearances last season as Genk won the Belgian league. His impressive performances not only persuaded Chelsea to part with a sum rumoured to be £7.9million, but they have also earned the youngster his first call-up to the senior Belgium squad.

After selling David de Gea to Manchester United, rumours are circulating that Athletico Madrid would be interested in taking the youngster on loan. This loan deal may not be just the one season, it may be more. This will give Courtois the experience and guidance he need to compete at the highest level he can.

The Belgian feells that “It is better for me to go to Atletico, I can learn more in Spain than in Belgium.”

However, many Chelsea fans will fee that the rumoured £7.9m price tag is too much for a goalkeeper, and in a sense I would have to agree. But it’s worth reminding that Manchester United paid £18.5million for a young keeper and Chelsea paid a similar amount for a then young Petr Cech and we all saw that the gamble on Cech paid off. So maybe Courtois is worth a gamble. For those who are not convinced check out the video below, which demonstrates why we brought Courtois.

I believe that the signing of Thibaut Courtois will be a good one, providing he is given the best learning opportunities possible. If we give Courtois the time and when Petr Cech decides to retire or leave, I feel that Courtois will be ready and make a fine keeper.

Yossi Benayoun Showboats a Wondergoal

Ok so it is the first game of pre-season but this goal definitely shows that Benayoun has more than a few tricks up his sleeves.

Pre-Season Training Starts Today!

Today marks the start of pre-season training for the players as the build up to the 2011/2012 will now begin in earnest.

The next two or three weeks could be defining for many of the players as Andre Villas Boas analyses his squad, particularly the youth players who will need to convince the new manager that they should be in his first team plans next season.

With few ins and outs so far I expect decisions to be made in the coming weeks of just who needs to come and go based in large part on what the new manager sees in pre-season. In years gone by today would be a very painful day for the players as they started intensive fitness programs to regain their fitness and burn off any excess weight they had put on during their holiday.

In short they would run, run and then run some more in an unpopular and gruelling regime to rebuild fitness. With players now more professional than their predecessors the need for such punishing regimes has subsided as players maintain a higher level of core fitness and Jose Mourinho was among the vanguard that bucked this trend and introduced the ball to training from day one.

The first warm up game is in 10 days time against Portsmouth and it will be interesting to see who is in the squad by the time the tour of Asia given the expected changes in personnel. Just over a month until the new season and I just cant wait!

Information on Pre-Season schedule

Chelsea TV To Show Asia Trophy and Rangers Friendly During Pre-Season

Chelsea finish their pre-season at Ibrox

Pre-season training begins this week as Andre Villas Boas analyses his squad and plans for the new season.

The club’s first official pre-season match will be against Portsmouth FC at Fratton Park on the 16th of July with the club then going on a tour of South East Asia taking part in the Asia Trophy at the end of July.

The final game of the pre-season will be on the 6th of August against Glasgow Rangers.

This will be a tie that both sets of supporters will be looking forward to given the mutual respect and bond that fans have with this club.

 In days gone by these fixtures would have been played with little fanfare with a few thousand hardy spectators seeing the team in action.

Pre-Season On ChelseaTV

However these games have become big business and an opportunity for the club’s global fan base to see the team play from their local stadium as the team tour various continents looking to develop a global appeal.

The coverage on ChelseaTV and advent live internet streaming also mean that even arm chair fans needn’t miss a minute of our pre-season training.

Pre-Season Schedule

Therefore make sure you don’t miss a minute of the action this pre-season