Here’s a festive Christmas XI: Goalkeeper Shay (time for) Given – <groan>. sorry – terrible way to start. Defenders Àngel Rangel – to lead the way. (St) Nicholas Shorey – The famous early Greek bishop who became a Christmas icon and now a bit of an icon at Reading. David Partridge – Okay, we were struggling a bit for defenders, then we found Thurrock’s Welshman tucked away in the...
With Di Matteo’s sacking and the installation of Rafa Benitez, we have to ask, Is this one change too far by Roman Abramovich? Everyone knows Benitez is the 9th Chelsea manager in 8 years, but all the other changes which the Chelsea chairman has made appear to have had some basis of sense. But Benitez? Really? It was sad Mourinho left but we understand why, and even Avram Grant,...
What Chelsea need to do in the New Year: Keep AVB. It’s ridiculous to start saying he should be sacked. He’s only just arrived, Abramovic paid Porto £13m to release him and he has inheritted a team which needs refreshing. He will come good. But they also need to… … Get the dressing room behind the manager. At the same time, the Chelsea dressing room has to get behind...
Okay, let’s make ourselves unpopular and, no doubt, later in the year, show how completely wrong we were, but here goes for the Who’s-Getting-Relegated-From-the-Premier-League Predictions: Most Likely ↓ Blackburn Rovers. Yes, I know they are have got 4 points out of the last 6, but I still can’t see them staying up. Steve Kean has shown great dignity and doesn’t deserve any of the Rovers’ fans’ vitriol, but his...
As good a player as Gary Cahill is, he is not the answer to Chelsea’s current defensive concerns. John Terry may well need a more permanent central partner than he has had this season, but that is only a short-term solution. And sadly, as usual, the Blues seem to be looking at the short-term instead of planning further for the future. Why is this an issue? Because JT himself...
