Chelsea FC - Supporters' Rally

[Glen2712]

Originally Posted by JWNY

I like Alves but if he is too expensive, Micah Richards would still be a good choice for us and Glen Johnson should have matured now having played a full season elsewhere.

JWNY

Richards is one impressive young lad, received a call-up to the England squad for a friendly against the Netherlands after playing only 28 professional club matches. He can play in defence or in central midfield, but has become known as a right back who is useful for a goal threat at set-pieces. IMHO, not sure about him being an attacking full back; saw him played a couple of times for Man City and England, decent but that's about it.


His future was initially bleaked @ Man City after his famous bust up; lost his temper with his manager Stuart Pearce in the dugout (Not sure about the current situation though). Now we don't want a player like Richards to give our Special One such headaches, do we?

[Glen2712]

Cheeky Little Boy

[Glen2712]

*ouch*

[Glen2712]

BLUE IS THE COLOUR FOR MALOUDA


Florent Malouda has revealed he has been something of a closet Chelsea fan since his friend Didier Drogba joined the club.


The decision to follow Drogba was not a difficult one. 'The first match I saw in England was at Stamford Bridge when Didier Drogba came. My kids have the shirts, and when I had the opportunity to come I said yes.'


After a lengthy spell of negotiation with Lyon, Malouda is overjoyed to finally be a Chelsea player. 'My mind was on Chelsea and I was waiting for the long process. I had to be patient,' he says.


'When Chelsea came my choice was very simple,' Malouda explains. 'There were many players I already played with, and a lot of friends of mine.'


The Frenchmen jetted into California to meet up with his new team mates on Tuesday, and has quickly settled into the squad, no doubt helped by Drogba, with whom he played at Guingamp, and former Lyon team mate Michael Essien.


'Didier and I don't have to talk to understand each other. Last year he scored a lot of goals without me, but I hope he'll score more with me,' the Frenchman says.


Malouda, who has been capped 30 times by his country, is an admirer of manager José Mourinho, and knows he will need to be on top form to impress the Portuguese.


'If you deserve to play you will play. It doesn't matter about your name or what you did before. You have to win your place on the pitch. That's why I came here to LA, to win my place on the pitch.'


The left sided player began his career with Chateauroux, before joining Drogba at Guingamp for three years and then moving on to Lyon with Essien, where he won the French league title in four consecutive years.


Malouda, given the number 15 shirt, will be hoping to make his Blues debut on Saturday when we meet Mexico's Club América in San José.

[Glen2712]

TAL THE TROUBLESHOOTER


José Mourinho has given Tal Ben-Haim a warm welcome to Chelsea, stressing the importance of having versatility in the squad.


'We need some multifunctional defenders in the squad,' said Mourinho. 'People that can save my skin when I am in trouble. Before it was Terry and Carvalho and nobody else but at this moment we have three central defenders of quality and they will have to compete between them.'


With Ben-Haim comfortable at centre back or either side of defence, he could certainly come in handy in the coming weeks, with Ashley Cole still recovering from surgery, and Wayne Bridge missing from training with a hip injury.


'We don't play a competitive game soon, but at the moment we have no Bridge, no Ashley Cole,' said the manager.


'I can imagine in a hypothetical situation, we have a game tomorrow and I need a left back. I need to choose between Tal, Paulo Ferreira or Glen Johnson. In this moment our two left backs are not in condition, so it's comfortable for a manager to have these kinds of player in the squad.'


Ashley Cole is in the final stages of his recovery, having had ankle surgery at the end of last season, and should be fit to train with the team next week.


'He was very professional in his holidays,' said Mourinho. 'He was working and trying to recover from surgery. We hope Ashley will be more than ready to play the friendly matches in Europe and start the season.


'Bridge has a problem he brings since the last game with the national team. Yesterday he tried but he was not feeling good. He is in the medical department's hands and we have to make a good judgment of his situation.'


The twenty-five-year-old Ben-Haim arrives on a free transfer from Bolton Wanderers, and Mourinho is pleased to finally have his man. 'We tried to have him last January. We were in trouble at the time but it was not possible, as he was an important player for Bolton,' explained the manager.


In three training sessions, the Israeli international has already made quite an impact on his manager, and is keen to get into action for the Blues. 'I am fulfilling the dream of every footballer in the world, to be presented at a massive club like Chelsea,' he said.


'I feel it's the right time to say thanks to those who helped me reach this stage, Bolton Wanderers, Sam Allardyce and José Mourinho, Peter Kenyon and everybody at Chelsea Football Club for the great faith they've shown in me.


'I want to say to the Chelsea fans that I am a hard working man, and committed, and I'll do everything to justify the faith in me.'


Ben-Haim has been given the number 22 shirt, handed over by Mourinho, who joked: 'He wasn't very demanding about the number. He wanted the 26, but I couldn't give him 26, so he's happy with 22!'

[Glen2712]

BEN-HAIM: MY IRRESISTABLE CHALLENGE


For the second time in a week, a close season signing has discussed how the lure of testing his talent at Chelsea's level out-weighed doubts over joining hot competition for team places.


It barely comes more formidable than John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho as rivals for a starting place, but just like Steve Sidwell when he looked at Chelsea's existing midfield stock, Tal Ben-Haim felt the challenge a spur rather than a deterrent.


'It was a hard choice,' the former Bolton defender acknowledged of his decision to choose this option. 'But I want to play for a top team. Chelsea is one of the top teams in the world so I'm happy to be here.


'If I want to play in the high level, it was the only decision. I had to come here and play for Chelsea with the players and staff we have in the squad.


'When I think about it now, it has to be the best decision. Here I have trained with really top players, so I think if everyone gives his quality, we can do good here. Hopefully it will be a good year with many games.'


Bolton's hope of Champions League qualification that was on-going when last January's transfer window was open scuppered Chelsea's move for Ben-Haim back then. Fortunately for the player, José Mourinho's eye was not distracted from his original target before it re-opened again this summer.


As Mourinho has already made clear, his new defender's value is not just as a centre-back. Ability to play both right- and left-back will increase the Israeli's chance of getting games.


'I like to do everything for the team so if José asked me to be on the right side or the left side, of course I give my 100 per cent, like I gave in Bolton. But José knows my favourite position is in the middle.

[Glen2712]

Chelsea Goalkeeper Shirt 2007/08

[Glen2712]

Chelsea Away Shirt 2007/08

[Glen2712]

JOSE: SHEVA SETTLED AND LOOKING GOOD





José Mourinho has dismissed out of hand reports that Andriy Shevchenko might return to Italy before the start of the season and that his former club AC Milan are targeting the player.


Asked directly if the Ukraine striker will still be at Chelsea when the season kicks-off, Mourinho answered:


'Sheva? Why not? I don't know what these stories are. He's working very well and he's playing against Club América.'


'He looks very, very good. He's said nothing to me.'


Shevchenko himself has spoken about how much the hernia operation he underwent in the closing weeks of last season has helped his condition. He has been in full training since pre-season preparations started in America on Tuesday.

[Glen2712]

SURGERY SOLUTION TO BRIDGE INJURY


Wayne Bridge has undergone an operation in the United States on a hip injury.



The left-back began the Chelsea squad's pre-season training programme in Los Angeles but was still troubled by a problem that had first materialised when on England duty at the end of last season.



Alex Nieper, one of the Chelsea team doctors, confirmed the news, speaking to Chelsea TV at the team's American base.



'Wayne Bridge has been struggling with a right hip problem for the last few weeks,' he confirmed. 'We decided while we were out here for him to see a world-renowned hip surgeon who agreed he did need hip surgery due to a cartilage defect.



'The operation was carried out this week and a piece of bone was removed which was the source of the problem. Wayne is not on crutches and should be back in two to three months.'



Nieper also confirmed that back in Europe, it has been decided that Michael Ballack will not rejoin the rest of the squad until after the return from the United States.



'Michael is recovering from a second ankle operation and he went back to Germany to see the surgeon again who is happy with the wound. Michael is back in London, getting his stitches removed and this week he is starting running again so fingers-crossed, he will be set for the first Premier League match.'



Speaking after the win over Club América, José Mourinho stated that he would be without Ashley Cole for a few more weeks. He indicated that Tal Ben-Haim was currently his favoured choice in the absence of the two England left-backs.



John Mikel Obi and Paulo Ferreira both missed the Club América win with short-term problems. Both have since been involved in training.

[no_faith]

Jose drops Ballack hint
Jose Mourinho has hinted Michael Ballack will not be an automatic selection for Chelsea this season.

The Germany international star was expected to light up the Premier League in his debut campaign following
a free transfer switch from Bayern Munich.

However, the midfield schemer struggled to make an impact and Mourinho has conceded
the 30-year-old found it hard to adapt to English football.

With competition fierce for midfield roles, the Portuguese tactician has challenged Ballack to show his true form and
fight for his place.

"What I can say is that he's a player I like," said Mourinho. "I like him very much, but life is not easy.

"Like for the other people, life is not easy. We have a lot of good players.

"I'm not the kind of coach that gives places to people just because they are faces or names.

"Everybody has to fight for his place but I think they have a difficult task because the squad is really good."

finally issue warning to shake him up.
dun be a lost sheep on the pitch.
where is the ballack we suppose to have who is so commanding in Bayern.

[Theme1]

Football: Bridge to miss start of season
Daily Post (Liverpool)

CHELSEA left-back Wayne Bridge will miss the start of the Premier League season after undergoing hip surgery in the USA.

The Londoners are on tour in America and after training alongside his teammates in Los Angeles, Bridge was referred to a specialist who recommended an operation.

With Ashley Cole also out injured, summer signing Tal Ben Haim is expected to deputise on the left side of defence. Club doctor Alex Nieper said: "Wayne Bridge has been struggling with a right hip problem for the last few weeks.

"We decided while we were out here for him to see a world-renowned hip surgeon who agreed he did need hip surgery due to a cartilage defect. The operation was carried out this week and a piece of bone was removed which was the source of the problem. Wayne is not on crutches and should be back in two to three months."

Meanwhile, there was more hopeful news on injured Germany midfielder Michael Ballack.

Nieper added: "Michael is recovering from a second ankle operation and he went back to Germany to see the surgeon who is happy with the wound.

"Michael is back in London, getting his stitches removed and this week he is starting running again so fingers crossed, he will be set for the first Premier League match."

[Theme1]

Football: HAT-TRICK DEMAND FOR JOSE
JOHN CROSS in Los Angeles

UNITED ON TOUR: Fans go wild as Fergie and his men arrive in the Far East

CHELSEA chairman Bruce Buck has written off last season as a "disappointment" - and told Jose Mourinho he wants the next THREE Premiership titles.

Roman Abramovich's right-hand man made it clear the Blues are determined to put last season's troubles behind them as he spelt out the support for manager Mourinho.

Owner Abramovich and American lawyer Buck met Mourinho for clear-the-air talks, revealing they had a "happy meeting" where they discussed their expectations.

And that includes emulating Manchester United by winning three Premiership titles in a row - and that two domestic cups last season was not enough. Buck said: "There was a sense of disappointment last season because we have high expectations.

"We are looking to win at least a couple of cups and from day one we are looking to win every trophy.

"We were in the semi-finals of the Champions League, two cups and second in the league. That's very successful but other clubs have won the title three times in a row and we want to do that. We will give Manchester United a run for their money this year. We want to win everything."

Buck reckons the arrival of £13.5million winger Florent Malouda will herald a return to the attacking play which featured wingers in Mourinho's first two seasons in charge. The chairman said: "Jose wants us to be a little more exciting and to use our wingers."

Buck also revealed there is "no rush" to give new contracts to captain John Terry, Frank Lampard and Arjen Robben, saying: "All three have two years left so I don't see there's a great rush. They should be done properly."

[Glen2712]

CHELSEA ROCKED BY FRESH TERRY 'INJURY'


John Terry has reportedly suffered a broken toe during Chelsea's 1-0 win against the Suwon Bluewings in California.



The Chelsea and England captain is said to have played on after picking up the injury and came off at half-time in the match against the Korean side at the Home Depot Center in Carson.


His substitution at the interval appeared to have been planned as manager Jose Mourinho used 22 players during the game in order to give them all 45 minutes each.


But, according to reports, the 26-year-old had a painkilling injection and underwent scans and will be looking to return for the game against the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday in which David Beckham could make his American debut.


Terry has suffered a number of injuries this year and his back injury at the turn of the year was key as Chelsea lost ground on Manchester United in the Premier League title race.


England manager Steve McClaren will be keeping an eye on Terry's progress ahead of the Euro 2008 qualifiers this autumn.


Meanwhile, Terry is reportedly on the brink of agreeing a new contract with the Stamford Bridge club.


He had yesterday said he was confident an agreement could be reached despite negotiations supposedly having stalled over the central defender's wage demands.


However, it has been reported today that a deal has been reached which would make Terry the highest paid player in England.

[Theme1]

ROBBEN SET TO SNUB MADRID AND SIGN NEW CHELSEA DEAL; EXCLUSIVE FROM NEIL ASHTON IN LOS ANGELES

ARJEN ROBBEN is expected to end nearly six months of speculation about his future by signing a new five-year contract at Chelsea worth £80,000 a week.

Sportsmail can reveal the Holland winger is on the verge of committing himself to the club after agreeing the figures with Chelsea chief executive

Peter Kenyon. Robben, 23, has been the subject of intense interest from Real Madrid for the past six months and despite posturing from the Spanish champions, Chelsea have yet to receive an offer.

The left winger is one of three Chelsea players who have been offered new contracts -- John Terry and Frank Lampard are also in negotiations -- but Robben has told friends he wants to stay at Stamford Bridge.

Real still believe they can capture Robben, but Chelsea chief Jose Mourinho has no intention of allowing him to leave. Mourinho has already confirmed that he intends to play with wingers next season and although Florent Malouda has made a big impact, Robben remains the best wide midfielder at the club. Although Robben has struggled with injury in the past -- he rarely plays unless he believes he is 100 per cent fit -- Mourinho believes he can get the best out of him.

The former PSV Eindhoven wingerwas concerned that Malouda's arrival would force him out of the door, but he has been reassured by the management about his role in the team.

The club will also continue negotiations with Terry and Lampard, but these are unlikely to be resolved before they return to England on Saturday evening.

Captain Terry is in talks with Kenyon over a longterm contract, but he has yet to agree terms and will not commit his future to Chelsea until some issues have been finalised. The England captain suffered a hairline fracture of the little toe on his right foot during the 1-0 win over Suwon Bluewings on Wednesday and will decide tomorrow whether he will play in Chelsea's final match of their U.S. tour against LA Galaxy.