The Official Thread of Chelsea FC

[A Quinn Martin Production]

Unfortunately Senor Fabregas, like his boss,  is well down Dickhead Road.  Shame, as he is a very talented footballer.

[Norf Tyrone]

Strangely strong side tonight. Ancellotti must be determined not to collect 3 defeats on the bounce. Let's hope there are no injuries or yellow cards.

At a glance I'd of given JT a rest for Bruma.

Chelsea: Turnbull, Belletti, Terry, Carvalho, Zhirkov, Mikel, Essien, Joe Cole, Kakuta, Malouda, Drogba.
Subs: Hilario, Ivanovic, Lampard, Anelka, Bruma, Borini, Philliskirk.

[AFS]

Chelsea face compensation claim from Dean Ashton for Shaun Wright-Phillips challenge

Dean Ashton is considering suing Chelsea and Shaun Wright-Phillips following the challenge in August 2006 which, he will claim, has ended his football career.

The 26-year-old West Ham United striker is, according to club sources, expected to announce his retirement from football today having failed to recover from the injury sustained during a training session while on England duty.

In an apparently ground-breaking case, Ashton is believed to be investigating whether both Wright-Phillips and his employers at the time, Chelsea, can be the subject of legal action. It may be argued that Chelsea face what is termed a vicarious liability even though the winger was on international duty.

Such a case would undoubtedly be challenged by Chelsea, who would argue that they cannot be held responsible for something that happened while their former player — who is now at Manchester City – was with England and, therefore, under the care of the Football Association. They will, it can be expected, argue that it did not take place during the course of his employment by Chelsea.

At the same time West Ham are to launch a £7 million compensation claim against the FA, which covers the amount Ashton is understood to have been insured for and equates to the fee they initially paid to sign him from Norwich City in January that year. That, too, will undoubtedly be challenged.

Ashton himself, who is just 26, will also receive a pay-off from West Ham of about a year's salary, thought to be £3 million.

Player-on-player claims are a complex area of the law with some insurers refusing to cover clubs for such eventualities. But all such previous cases appear only to have involved players taking part in matches for their clubs.

For example, only last week former Charlton Athletic midfielder Matty Holmes accepted £250,000 in damages following a tackle by Wolves defender Kevin Muscat in 1998.

The biggest award so far to cite the vicarious liability argument was the £909,000 received by Bradford City's Gordon Watson, who had a leg broken in two places in a challenge by Huddersfield Town defender Kevin Gray in 1997.

The injury to Ashton happened at Manchester United's training ground, Carrington, prior to a friendly against Greece when he was due to start for the first time. Indeed the striker had been earmarked by the then head coach, Steve McClaren, as a key figure in England's plans to try to qualify for euro 2008.

The decision for Ashton to retire had been trailed last month, but marks a personal tragedy for a striker whom England manager Fabio Capello had also hoped to include in his squad. The Italian had watched Ashton carefully, in the hope that he would recover, and he even managed to gain an international cap, featuring in the friendly away to Trinidad and Tobago.

However, it will be argued that although Ashton did make a comeback of sorts and played 35 games for West Ham, scoring 11 goals, he never recovered from the original injury.

It ruled him out for 11 months and he has now suffered such degenerative damage that he has no option but to retire from football even though he only signed a five-year contract last year. The key to the success of the expected claims by Ashton — and West Ham — is if they can prove that he never recovered from the ankle problem.

Ashton has not played a senior match in 15 months, after breaking down soon after Gianfranco Zola was appointed manager. Although he is physically fit, he cannot twist or turn or take any impact on the left ankle because the injury is chronic. It is believed he has even been warned he may end up not being able to walk properly unless he retires.

Discussions between Ashton and West Ham have been going on for some time while both parties have been examining the medical reports of the Dutch surgeon, Niek van Dyke, who originally operated on the player and has been fully involved in his attempts to regain fitness. Final tests have taken place in the last few weeks.

An added complication is that the FA beefed up its insurance cover after a dispute with Newcastle United following Michael Owen's injury in the last World Cup but, it is believed, the Ashton claim will be dealt with by the previous company.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/chelsea/6782923/Chelsea-face-compensation-claim-from-Dean-Ashton-for-Shaun-Wright-Phillips-challenge.html

[Norf Tyrone]

Can't see it happening. Surely he should sue Man U too, as it happened on their property?

[Carmen Stateside]

3-3 great game so far. 

[ross4life]

have just watched the highlights of the everton game! & they got three of the luckest goals your ever likely to see chelsea should be 5 points clear tonight

[The Real Laoislad]

Wouldn't say luck had all to do with it,shocking defending played just as big a part in them goals

[Norf Tyrone]

Wouldn't say luck had all to do with it,shocking defending played just as big a part in them goals

It was a bit of both. All three goals were incredibley fortunate, but those things tend to happen when the defence and more importantly the keeper are nervey. I think it's time to get Hilario ot Turnball in for a while. However they too are not 100% reliable.

However for all talk of a 'crisis' that's 1 defeat in 13 for Chelsea, and the lead stretched.

And I'll say it again, I think Drogba is the best player in the world at the minute.

[ross4life]

Wouldn't say luck had all to do with it,shocking defending played just as big a part in them goals

It was a bit of both. All three goals were incredibley fortunate, but those things tend to happen when the defence and more importantly the keeper are nervey. I think it's time to get Hilario ot Turnball in for a while. However they too are not 100% reliable.

However for all talk of a 'crisis' that's 1 defeat in 13 for Chelsea, and the lead stretched.

And I'll say it again, I think Drogba is the best player in the world at the minute.

not sure about the best in the world but he's the best player in the premiership at the moment Chelsea will need him to continue this form if they want to win the league

but make no mistake Chelsea are on a bad run now, how can they stop the rot? Answer.......... play Portsmouth at home

[Minder]

Carnlough man Brendan Rogers sacked by Reading.

[wallyman]

Drawing 1 all at the minute.

[Puckoon]

3-1 chelsea.

[AFS]

Awful penalty decision, but they probably should've had one in the first half. Don't fancy West Ham to hold out.

[Dinny Breen]

How is it West Ham can put it up to the Arse or Chelsea and roll over for Man U 

Never seen a penalty taken 3 times, Frank is one cool customer...although never a penalty in the 1st place and both sides had legitimate claims for penalties turned down as well.....Essien's absence is been felt I think and their form has dipped since he was injured...

[Archie Mitchell]

I don't see the sense in re-taking the penalty if it has been scored. Would be different if keeper saved it and one of the players who encroached in the box followed up to clear the ball or score.

Diamanti for West Ham is a good player.