CFC Opinion

Time to Catch FA Cup Fever

The last few weeks this blog has gone a little bit crazy with Champions League fever, however for the next two days we are going back to our roots and focusing on the FA Cup.

FamousCFC.com loves the FA Cup and it would mean the world to us to see Roberto Di Matteo lift the trophy on Saturday.

Therefore expect a shed loads of FA Cup memories and preamble over the next day or two as we celebrate a cup run that has helped but a smile back on our faces.

Need an FA Cup fix now, check out the following

Chelsea FA Cup Final Songs

1994 FA Cup Run

1970 FA Cup Final Video

Why Chelsea FC Will Never Love You and Planning For The Future

I love Chelsea Football Club. There, I’ve said it. After my partner and our children, it is the most important thing in my life (and even then, at times, to my eternal shame, the edges get “blurred”).

Chelsea Football Club does not love me. I have a great connection with it, share a common purpose with many of its fans and it is as familiar as an old pair of slippers.

Why then does it not love me back?

Because, although through the CPO, we supporters have the keys to Stamford Bridge, ours is not a Private Members Club. It is a company, a legal entity: it is a business.

I accept this for what it is. Chelsea had a history of sailing close to the wind financially since time immemorial leading up to Roman’s millions pouring in, so no repetition is needed of those well documented facts.

Suffice to say, without him, our Club may not exist. Perhaps we should sing his name more often to show our thanks (which are thinner on the ground for many with the passage of time).

I am concerned though. Very concerned in fact. As we are a business, surely, at some stage, we have to make a profit?

Roman has injected almost a billion pounds into Chelsea on very favourable terms. Terms most businesses can only dream of.

In return, he has seen us win all 3 domestic trophies several times and come within the width of a post of winning the Champions League.

Aside from the memories of silverware (and admittedly the prospect of more this season), Chelsea Football Club continues to burn cash, rather than generate it.

Financial Fair Play was essentially introduced to prevent what Roman did in the “noughties” and the other team in Manchester have been doing of late: building a team capable of delivering success very quickly if not sooner.

Infrastructure spending, such as Cobham, a new stadium (more of that another day) is exempt from FFP.

Also exempt is the cost of hiring and firing. In Accounting terms, it is deemed an exceptional item. Bad news for any new Managers designate but good news for the bean counters.

Our strategy since 2003, particularly in the Jose Mourinho era, was to buy supremely talented players, at or approaching the peak of their powers, for substantial transfer fees, on mega salary packages. For players, read assets.

The lack of resale value for these assets was not an issue pre FFP but for Chelsea, having held on to our ageing crown jewels for longer than is financially ideal, it is now a significant issue.

Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou can leave for nothing in the summer: 100% asset depreciation.

Our over 30s, in today’s transfer market, even those with 2 or more years left on their Contract such as JT, have notional resale value, relative to the cost of replacing them with someone 5 to 7 years younger.

To summarise, our legacy business plan is dead in the water.

Chelsea has to find a way to build a first team squad, without paying inflated transfer fees or excessive wages.

The recent acquisition of Gary Cahill for a relatively modest sum and on a salary package reported to be less than 60% of what our current top earners receive shows that the Board recognises this. However, its not every day that we will find a current International in his mid 20s with less than 6 months to run on his Contract.

Credit where its due, the signings of (for example) Ulises Davila, Romelu Lukaku, Patrick Bamford and Kevin de Bruyne are encouraging, even if the only one that is near the first team at present, Lukaku, is chronically short of game time (fair to say he did not see eye to eye with AVB so this may change under new management).

My strong belief is that the Board needs a short, medium and long-term plan to build the foundations of Chelsea, to deliver sustainable success.

Long-term

Replicate the La Masia academy at Barcelona to ensure we have a production line of talent capable of competing for 1st team places.

We must accept this will take up to 10 years to reach an optimal level of success but it should bear fruit after 5 (given the talent we already have at Youth and Reserve level, maybe sooner but youth development is a marathon, not a sprint).

Medium-term

Buy under 23s wherever possible and develop them.

Put them on minimum 5 year Contracts and give them a sensible amount of game time, according to how they grow. The best of Michael Owen’s football was in his first 24 years.

Be ruthless with those that don’t meet the standard and sell them on, ideally at a profit.

Expect this to take 3 to 5 years to bear fruit.

Short-term

Take a good look at all the players in our current squads, from youth to first team level and evaluate the cost vs benefit of keeping them.

Conduct the same exercise with the entire coaching staff and backroom team.

There must be no sacred cows, regardless of past endeavours.

There is plenty to play for in the final months of this season and everyone starts from nought.

The gravy train has stopped and its time for every Chelsea player to do his talking on the pitch, rather than to his mates in the press.

One last thing, a special request to Roman: The elite orchestras reach extraordinary levels of out-performance against their peers with the same conductor in post for a decade or so.

Try it with the Chelsea Manager, you might like it.

Carefree.

Follow Chris Davies on Twitter: @chrisdaviescfc

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Chelsea Squad Review – Who Should Stay & Who Should Go?

Good news abounds. What a difference a month makes. Robbie Di Matteo has managed to get 7 good tunes and 1 average one out of 9 old fiddles. A trip to Wembley beckons, (hopefully 2) and just for a change, a Champions League Semi-Final against Barcelona.

Although the win against Benfica was achieved the hard way (or as I prefer to call it, the Chelsea way), a win is a win. They don’t put pictures on scorecards (fortunately for Stoke City).

So what’s the bad news? 7 Premier League games to go and we probably need to win them all to achieve a top 4 finish. Both Arsenal and Spurs have a history of choking but their run ins are theoretically easier than ours. Let’s hope the gap is closed appreciably by the end of the Easter weekend.

The Premier League is arguably the best barometer of a club’s true performance over the course of a season (ask the last 2 winners of the Carling Cup). Over 38 games over 10 different months, a club’s squad is given a thorough examination.

31 games into the season, in points terms, we are closer to 15th than 2nd. Regardless of what we achieve in the next few weeks, its time to look at who to keep and who to release from our current 24 man first team squad at the end of the season. (I’ve assumed all loan players apart from Benayoun will come back into the first team squad for next season).

I’ve shown the player’s age in brackets after their name. For me, the average age of our playing squad must come down if we are to once again compete in all competitions over 60 odd games next season (and beyond).

This is not a popularity contest nor for the myopic with blue tinted specs I’m afraid.

GOALKEEPERS

Petr Cech (30)

Last year’s player of the season, Cech has had a mixed season. Some outstanding saves have been mixed with an increasing number of mistakes. Most goalkeepers get better as they get older. I’m not sure that’s true of Cech. He’s been number 1 for 8 seasons and owes us nothing but needs stiffer competition to prove he deserves to stay there.

Keep or Release: Keep

Ross Turnbull (27)

Aside from a penchant for saving penalties, I’ve never quite understood why we signed him. His kicking is erratic, he’s not great on crosses and really just makes up the numbers. This is a no brainer.

Keep or Release: Release

Henrique Hilario (36)

Capable of the sublime and the ridiculous simultaneously. 1 year contract extension just signed so he’s clearly staying but I don’t expect him to play (my ‘A’ position, given his stellar performances for Atletico Madrid is Thibaut Courtois comes into serious contention alongside Cech).

Keep or Release: Keep (reluctantly)

DEFENDERS

Branislav Ivanovic (28)

A right back who is terrific in the air, who can also play centre back and scores a few really important goals. Whilst not flawless, one of our steadier performers this season and definitely one for the Keep net.

Keep or Release: Keep

Ashley Cole (31)

Like a comfortable pair of slippers, its hard to say goodbye but its time to do so. A chronic ankle problem and the ageing process has seen a dip in performance that is proliferative. Benfica on Wednesday shows he still has ambitions to be offensively creative but such incursions are fewer in number and less potent. With Ryan Bertrand and Patrick Van Aanholt as cover, the fat lady can clear her throat. Thanks for the memories.

Keep or Release: Release

David Luiz (25)

A poor showing against his old side at The Bridge can not detract from his increasing importance. There is still the odd gaffe (Napoli away sticks in the memory) but even his harshest critics would not argue he has turned in several Man of the Match performances in the first quarter of 2012. His surges forward are better timed and he has retained an eye for a goal but most importantly, he has stopped lunging in and taken a more safety first approach at the back. I want curly hair too.

Keep or Release: Keep

Jose Bosingwa (29)

Great strike against Norwich. Er that’s it. He has never been the strongest defensively but has been found wanting too many times and his positional sense is appalling. Use the recent 1 year contract extension to generate a transfer fee but Micah Richards or Cesar Azpilicueta he is not. Start the car.

Keep or Release: Release

Paulo Ferreira (33)

Away cameos against Spurs and Benfica are a fitting swansong for a loyal servant.

Keep or Release: Release

Gary Cahill (26)

I’ll give him the benefit of my continuing doubt as he’s still finding his feet. Needs his pace to overcome poor positioning and for me, remains a squad player. Has a goal in him but so do Terry and Luiz. Next season will be seminal.

Keep or Release: Keep (but must kick on)

John Terry (31)

Captain, Leader, Legend and all that. Not at his best in the early part of the season and at Christmas I thought his time was up. Remains lion hearted though and we look much better organised at the back with him there. Expect him to play less next season as his playing career winds down.

Keep or Release: Keep

Ryan Bertrand (23)

Time for the boy to become a man. Has looked accomplished when he’s had his chances and should have started against Man Utd at The Bridge.

Keep or Release: Keep

MIDFIELDERS

Michael Essien (29)

Injuries have taken their toll and he can’t get from box to box with his trademark driving runs anymore. His distribution is not strong enough to play the holding role. Terrific player at his best but time to move on.

Keep or Release: Release

Oriol Romeu (20)

Has fallen out of favour since a sub par performance against Man Utd at home but his performances earlier in the season indicated he has what it takes to be a regular next season.

Keep or Release: Keep

Ramires (25)

A tale of 2 halves. Terrific in 2011 and discovered a goal scoring fluency, his performances have subsided somewhat in 2012. Does not look to have fully recovered from injury as his lung busting runs are fewer and further between but I’m expecting great things of him next year.

Keep or Release: Keep

Frank Lampard (34)

“Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn”. There are so many superlatives used in relation to Lamps and rightly so. His very public spat with AVB bordered on odious (at worst) and was petulant (at best). Can no longer play twice a week and penalties aside, the goals are drying up. Caught in possession more now and distribution waning. I know many fans believe he deserves another season to try and break Bobby Tambling’s record but I don’t buy it. If we aspire to be the best and are really honest with ourselves, Lamps should have gone last summer.

Keep or Release: Release (cue the backlash)

Florent Malouda (32)

No pace, no vision, no future. Has had a truly horrible season. Easiest decision of all. Allez.

Keep or Release: Release

Raul Meireles (29)

Has interspersed some terrific goals with some truly lame performances. His goals against Birmingham and Benfica sandwiched an unforgettable display against Man City that was memorable solely for its paucity of quality. Clearly upset by AVB’s departure he may seek pastures new in the summer. If he doesn’t, he’ll have to accept a role as a squad player.

Keep or Release: Keep (squad player)

John Mikel Obi (25)

Much maligned, not least by me. I’ve never quite “got” Mikel and when Romeu was rolling out solid performances built around 2 touch football, this was exaggerated. I still think he wants too many touches but his tackling has improved and we need some steel in midfield. One more season.

Keep or Release:

Keep (though I’ll probably regret it)

STRIKERS

Fernando Torres (28)

A stop/start season. The red card against Swansea (after a run of goals and games) derailed him for several months, particularly during Drogba’s absence at the AFCON. His general level of performance has improved and his work rate, apart from competing in the air, is good. We have still not delivered the type of ball he thrives on regularly enough but slowly the goals and particularly assists are coming. His star is slowly rising again. We must give him more ammunition next year and he must deliver at least 20 goals in return.

Keep or Release: Keep

Didier Drogba (34)

Rolled back the years at home to Valencia to take us to the last 16 but AFCON, injury (a sickening clash with Jon Ruddy against Norwich) and age have made for a below par season. His contract saga has been protracted and dull. Like Lamps, a Chelsea legend but in decline and I wish him all the best in his next home (and the continued success of his foundation).

Keep or Release: Release

Romelu Lukaku (19)

A chronic lack of game time and should have gone out on loan this season. Despite his physique, needs to work on his physicality, especially when challenging for balls in the air.
Keep or Release: Release (season long loan)

Salomon Kalou (27)

There is a reason why players rack up so many substitute appearances. Good when he doesn’t have time to think, inept when he does. No manager has trusted him to start regularly and he should now be at his peak. Move on.

Keep or Release: Release

Daniel Sturridge (22)

After a legacy suspension, a free scoring start to the season when he started to fulfil the club’s faith. Let’s be clear: he is not a Centre Forward and probably never will be. Moaning about playing on the right and wanting a pay rise has not endeared and most frustratingly of all, his decision making on when to pass or shoot is poor. A talent that should blossom next season if he let’s his football do the talking.

Keep or Release: Keep

Juan Mata (24)

Has adapted well in his first season in English football and his left foot has been at the heart of most of our progressive football. His lack of a right foot is glaring and he has dipped slightly as the season has progressed to the business end probably through overuse. Needs to shift his shooting radar by a few inches to stop hitting wood but his future’s bright.

Keep or Release: Keep

It may seem radical to be showing the door to almost half the current squad but if we aspire to remain at the top table of English and European football, an overdue recycling of our first team squad is needed.

With players including Josh McEachran, Thibaut Courtois, Kevin de Bruyne and Willian to come into the squad, with further strengthening, the future is bright. A word of warning though: next season will be transitional too. Don’t shoot the messenger!

Carefree.

Follow Chris Davies on Twitter: @chrisdaviescfc

A Tribute To Branislav Ivanovic

Branislav Ivanovic joined us in the January transfer window of 2008 for around £9.7 million and although he didn’t make a single appearance for the rest of the season he has gone on to become one of our most consistent and reliable performers.

Early Chelsea Career

Under both Avram Grant and Luiz Scolari Ivanovic was a peripheral figure and this didn’t change under Guus Hiddink but it was under the Dutchman’s tenure that one of the most important games of the Serb’s career occurred.

Anfield Heriocs

At Anfield on 8^th April 2009 trailing to a 6^th minute Fernando Torres goal Ivanovic scored two headed goals either side of half time as we went on to come back and win 3-1 and to earn himself a place in Chelsea fans’ hearts forever.

From there onwards things have only got better and better for Ivanovic and he was named in the PFA Team of the Year at right back for the 2009-2010 season and he is now considered one of the most important players in the current Stamford Bridge set up. Whilst others around him have faltered he has remained solid and an inspiration to team mates.

Recognition

For a centre back to be named as right back of the year is quite something and is a testimony to how hard Ivanovic works and his versatility. He has added a number of key attributes to his game such as pace, crossing and his long throw. With the loss of form of Jose Boswinga Ivanovic has become our first choice right back and if we were to buy a new right back in the summer he would then provide very stiff competition to Gary Cahill and David Luiz for the position alongside John Terry.

Looking Forward

Going on recent games, especially the Napoli home tie, the Serbian has to be our first choice alongside the skipper and it should be him that Cahill and Luiz are working towards because although both of these are clearly talented players they need to try and emulate his consistency. There can be no denying the fact that this season has been a disappointing one for us as we’ve fallen behind the Manchester clubs but we can certainly catch the two teams from North London.

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RDM knows the importance of a squad

Barcelona beckons. Messi, Iniesta, Xavi et al await us in the semi-finals of the Champions League and there can be no doubting that we are going to have to be at our very best to take out the champions of Europe.

As well as this test we also face Spurs in the FA Cup and of course we are constantly in the race for Champions League football next season. We face the prospect of 6 games in 15 days and it is at this stage of the season that the importance of the squad comes into play for the big teams.

Squad Depth

One of the things that has always been a point in Chelsea’s squads has been our impressive strength in depth. This may not be the strongest squad that we have been used to at times over the last few years but nevertheless this season our squad could come under even more pressure than ever before.

Rotation is the key to the next few weeks as games will be coming thick and fast. RDM realises this and he has started to rotate his first XI to keep everyone fresh.

Rotation Strategy

I think everyone understands the key core of our first team; who they are and the formation that they can best be used in but the key decisions that RDM will have to make over the next few weeks is who he leaves out in games against Wigan, Fulham and QPR in preparation for clashes with Spurs, Barca, Arsenal and Newcastle. It would be foolish to try and play our best XI in every game and as such RDM has to decide when he is going to rest players like Mata, JT and Lamps. Hence the importance of a squad.

If Chelsea announced the departure of Salomon Kalou tomorrow I would be the first to offer to drive him to the airport. When he joined in 2006 I, like everyone else was eager to see this young talent, the winner of the Johan Cruijff award in 2005 grow into his full potential with us. It just hasn’t happened Kalou has a number of flaws despite his speed and dribbling and he needs to be part of the clear out in summer.

Regardless of this he is until the end of the season at least and he needs to be utilised as do players such as John Obi Mikel and Florent Malouda. Mikel is perhaps the only one out of the three who deserves to stay past summer but they can provide relief for Ramires, Essien, Mata and Sturridge. Gary Cahill, Jose Boswinga and even Paulo Ferreira also need to be given games in order to allow Branislav Ivanovic and the captain time to rest.

Admittedly I would like to see squad players such as Joe Cole, Michael Ballack and Juliano Belletti but we must take what we have.

April and May

April and May will be two of the toughest months this club will have faced for a while and I know this squad is up for it.

The key words to this period are rest, rotation and ruthlessness. We cannot afford any slip ups and we cannot afford to allow any team to have a chance against us.

Every game must be entered with 100% focus and commitment but with the right team management we can still have success this season. Don’t count out the squad players; they still have a part to play in our campaign.

Keep The Blue Flag Flying High with this ultimate app for any Blues fan.

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