The Official Thread of Chelsea FC

[Norf Tyrone]

Zhirkov signed apparently.

His name has been banded about for some time now. I know little about him, but he sounds like exactly what's needed, and some of the decent posters on the Chelsea forums (Not me or MQP) on other sites have been touting him for ages... based on that, IF he signs it'll be a step in the right direction.

[Minder]

Chelsea embroiled in row on eve of FA Cup Final
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/chelsea/article6391102.ece

[Norf Tyrone]

This must be the worse hangover ever. In pub at 2pm, and left at 2.30am... totally f**ked.

Anyhow. Pretty good final I thought. When Saha scored, I thought that Everton had scored too early, if that's a bad thing. After that Chelsea dominated. Malouda was outstanding, and really took Hibbert to the cleaners. When Jacobsen came on Everton got a foot hold again, but Malouda still had a good second half. Deservedly Ashley Cole got MOTM, but the French man would not have been far behind I'd say, and was robbed of a bit of folklore by the linesman missing his effort that crossed the line. The officials were deemed to have had a good game yesterday which is true, bar the goal that crossed the line, Lampard being denied a penalty and booked for diving and the fact that Everton's goal was offside. At least it was not costly this time.

As I said, Everton had a bit of a foothold until the main man once again pulled something out of the locker with 20 minutes to go. A man for the big occasion is our Frank.


Bed time for me I'd say now...and farewell to Guus. What an impact he had over the 3 or 4 months, and I'll depart with this ditty from yesterday.

We'll drink, a drink, a drink
To Guus Hiddink, Hiddink, Hiddink
The saviour of Chelsea's season
He reinvented Flourent Malouda
Now most creative in every way.

[A Quinn Martin Production]

Hope you're feeling a bit better NT.  Very happy with the win, Chelsea dominated and I thought Everton were poor (though I know they were missing a couple of good players).  Still a bit to go for Everton to compete with the best.

[Gaoth Dobhair Abu]

Carlo Ancholitti (sp) appointed as new Chelski boss, on a side note you have Jeffrey Donaldson as your nuimber one fan! 

[full back]

Former AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti has been appointed Chelsea manager on a three-year deal.

The Italian left the Rossoneri on Sunday after guiding them to a third-place finish in Serie A.

He replaces Russian international coach Guus Hiddink who ended his stint at Stamford Bridge by clinching the FA Cup over the weekend.

"Carlo was the outstanding candidate for the job," read a statement on the Chelsea website.

[Norf Tyrone]

The worse kept secret in football then.

His trophy return (Lack of), and his English (Lack of) would be a big concern, but got to give the fella a chance. However I ain't editing the thread title for a week or two yet.

[A Quinn Martin Production]

Hmmm...wait and see time

[Minder]

The worse kept secret in football then.

His trophy return (Lack of), and his English (Lack of) would be a big concern, but got to give the fella a chance. However I ain't editing the thread title for a week or two yet.

Two European Cups in 4 years ?

[Norf Tyrone]

The worse kept secret in football then.

His trophy return (Lack of), and his English (Lack of) would be a big concern, but got to give the fella a chance. However I ain't editing the thread title for a week or two yet.

Two European Cups in 4 years ?

I know. Cups suggest a good manager. Leagues suggest great ones, and he has only one league title.

[slow corner back]

Did he win that one or was it the bribery one?

[Norf Tyrone]

I notice a lot of posters refering to class, or lack of in the United and Lpool threads. Noted that not one of ye's ungracious lot came on here, and said 'well done' to Chelsea.

I even left it to the boys (and girls) were back at work again too.

[full back]

[Norf Tyrone]

What will it take for football to rank Chelsea star Frank?


By Jeff Powell


One of several theories as to why Vincent Van Gogh cut off his ear is that
this was an insane attempt to draw attention to his unrecognised genius. If
so, it did not work.


Like so many great artists down the years, Van Gogh did not become fully
appreciated until after he died in poverty, in his case by committing
suicide at the age of 37.


It is to be hoped that Frank Lampard does not resort to such measures.


Once again, the brilliance of this young master has gone unrewarded by those
who presume to sit in judgment of his talent.


In a sublime moment of power, grace and inspiration, it was Lampard who won
the 2009 FA Cup final for Chelsea.


Yet the Man of the Match honour went to his team's left back.


This is not to say that Ashley Cole did not play well; he gave a display of
the highest quality. But there was more than one dazzling brush stroke to
Lampard's virtuoso performance on Saturday.


While that decisive goal was a work of art - Lampard turning like Nureyev
and regaining his balance before sweeping a majestic shot high into the net
- the entire Wembley turf was his canvas.


He coloured it with surging runs, gallant tackles and, above all, exquisite
passes, one of which opened the path to Chelsea's first-half equaliser.


Artistry does not always come reinforced by box-to-box work rate, but
Lampard combines those qualities to more profound effect than any other
footballer in this country.


Then, in addition to dictating the play and dominating matches, he scores
more goals from midfield than many a striker. Twenty or more in each of the
past four seasons.


Last year, his 20th came against Manchester United in Europe's Champions
League final. This May, it has come in the FA Cup final against Everton.


As Chelsea's departing caretaker manager Guus Hiddink marvelled: 'He
delivers the turning point in big games so often. This is the trademark of
the world-class player. This was a typical goal from him, not easy, but
perfect and beautiful.'


Yet, when his fellow footballers came to select the PFA team of the year,
not only did they leave him out, they neglected even to nominate him as a
candidate. Shame on them.


Lampard's peers should know better than the fans, better even than the
professional critics who have a tendency to damn him with faint praise, if
not overlook him completely.


Shame, too, on all who booed Lampard when his England managers failed so
unaccountably to devise a system which could accommodate both himself and
Steven Gerrard.


Lampard's response has been to keep playing every match - rotation to him
means getting around every corner of the pitch, not being rested from games
in case he is tired - and keep scoring vital goals.


Good behaviour is rooted in a decent home and it is there that Lampard gets
the appreciation he prizes most.


Just as he dedicated goals to his mother when she died, so he celebrated
this FA Cup winner by imitating the jig round a corner flag performed by his
father, Frank Snr, when he scored the clincher for West Ham in the 1980
semi-final replay.


Everton, the losers on both occasions, could be forgiven for wondering what
they have
done to provoke the Lampards.


Yet manager David Moyes - who has worked wonders of his own on a restricted
budget - praised Frank Jnr as 'a great player who wins big matches - this
one included, even though we talked a lot about trying to contain him'.


Lampard is the envy of other managers. Jose Mourinho makes no secret of
wishing he could have taken with him from Chelsea to Inter Milan 'the best
player in the world'.


Sir Alex Ferguson calls him 'exceptional' and 'outstanding'.


For Chelsea, as Carlo Ancelotti becomes their sixth manager in five years,
the future would offer even less stability without Lampard in his
30-year-old prime.


Yet, while one of football's multimillionaires is neither living in poverty
nor liable to commit suicide, the world at large may not grasp what an
artist they have been  watching until after he has gone. Not even if he cuts
off an ear.

[A Quinn Martin Production]

Guardian reports that Chelsea are trying to buy David Villa and Franck Ribery.  I've always rated Villa and think he has the game for "English" football but for me Ribery has always flattered to deceive.  Any thoughts Norf and others??