Chelsea Set to Dominate European Football
There is a new heavyweight force in European football, they are being bankrolled seemingly by the Russian economy, they mean business, and their name is Chelsea F.C. Chelsea Football Club have always been a decent club in the second strata of English clubs. In London alone Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have invariably been ahead of the Chelsea Blues, even West Ham have often put Chelsea in the shade. But no longer, for in the season 2004-2005, Chelsea won the English Premier League title for the first time in fifty years, their only previous winning season.
But they haven’t stopped there, in the new season 2005-2006 they are already well clear in the title race leaving all their rivals gasping, and now they have set their sights on the pinnacle of all the club trophys, the European Champions League. Chelsea have never won the Champions League, indeed no London club ever has. And it is clear that their charismatic manager Jose Mourinho is intent on winning the Champions League again, he did so with his previous club Porto, of Portugal.
So what of the traditional English giants? Manchester United, often described as the world’s richest football club, have fallen into the hands of the Glazer family of Tampa Bay fame, but they reportedly needed to borrow half a billion pounds to buy United, a debt the club now shoulders. Spending on new players has so far been thin on the ground and United’s brusque Glaswegian manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, has admitted that United, for so long England’s most successful club, cannot compete with Chelsea when it comes to buying players. The hordes of United fans are not amused, the natives are growing restless.
Arsenal, London’s biggest and most successful club, lost their skipper and driving force Patrick Vieira last summer, he moved to Juventus in Italy for £12 million pounds and with their star striker Thierry Henry suffering fitness problems, they picked up some uncharacteristic defeats at unfashionable clubs like West Bromwich Albion and Middlesbrough. This is their last season at their famous old Highbury Stadium before they move to their new purpose built Emirates stadium almost next door. The increased capacity of 60,000 will undoubtedly give their French manager Arsene Wenger more money to spend next year, but of course they have to pay for that new ground too. Far from challenging Chelsea again, it would seem that Arsenal are more likely to fall further behind.
That leaves Liverpool and Newcastle. News comes through just today that the American Kraft Company and family are interested in investing in Liverpool F.C., perhaps even buying the club outright just like Manchester United fifty miles up the road, but that is some way down the line. And they too are seeking to build a brand new stadium on Stanley Park and of course that all costs big money. Despite last year’s freakish win in the Champion’s League, Liverpool’s league form this season has again been patchy, and that included a 4-1 walloping by Chelsea on their own Anfield pitch. The idea that Liverpool might challenge Chelsea for the title remains a far-fetched one. Newcastle, England’s second best supported club are gradually improving, and they have signed England’s centre forward Michael Owen, but they still remain unconvincing at the top level. They haven’t won the title since Noah was seen building his ark, or so it seems, and they aren’t going to do so this season either.
So though it is very popular for foreign investors to snap up the leading English (and Scottish) football clubs, it appears that only Roman Abramovich at Chelsea has the financial muscle to buy the best players around. He is the only one to put unlimited funds on the table. Top class players now command a transfer fee of £40 million each and whereas Manchester United might afford one of them a season, Chelsea’s purse seems bottomless. They have already spent £220+ million and are still in the market to buy again when the transfer window re-opens in January.
They have already achieved success by winning at home, now the European Champion’s League is the Holy Grail for them, a trophy they are now the outright favourites to win with the odds layers. And astonishingly they have achieved their success to date with an array of strikers who haven’t really cut the mustard. Mutu the Romanian, was promptly sacked for drug taking, Crespo the Argentinian, was sent out to Milan on loan last season, and though he is back now he is hardly setting the world afire,or even playing that often, Gudjohnson an Icelander, plays more often than not, the muscular Drogba from the Ivory Coast, seems to have finally claimed the number nine shirt as his own, yet many blues followers still remain unconvinced about him, so it would seem likely that Chelsea may yet be looking for another proven goal scorer come January, especially after a recent rare defeat at Manchester United.
It would take a brave man to back against Chelsea in any competition at the moment. But if you’d like to, you can still have a free $30 dollar bet at Betfair.com by entering the code 6CHE3VPWJ when prompted. But one thing is for sure; no one would be surprised if this time next year the Premier League trophy AND the Champions League trophy were both on display in the Chelsea boardroom. It seems that only the Italian giants Milan and Juventus, and the Spanish top two, Real Madrid, and most especially Barcelona with their Brazilian superstar, surely soon to be the world player of the year, Ronaldinho, might stop the London blues. It really does seem as if we have entered a new era in European and world football, or if you prefer the ridiculous name that no one ever uses, Soccer. Chelsea fans have never had it so good while everyone else is left gasping in their wake, for it is a fact that Chelsea Football Club have raised the bar for everyone else to follow. Time will tell if anyone can.
David Carter’s latest published work is SPLAM! Successful Property Letting And Management. Splam! Contains over 240 pages of hints and tips on how to start your own property business on a limited budget, and how to successfully let residential property. You can view actual extracts of the book at http://www.splam.co.uk and order a download or a hard copy at this site. He also runs a holiday cottage website where you can access over 7,000 holiday cottages, apartments and villas worldwide at http://www.pebblebeachmedia.co.uk.
Showing posts with label Chelsea. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chelsea. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Monday, August 3, 2009
The Chelsea Shirt - One Hundred and Four Years of History
The Chelsea Shirt - One Hundred and Four Years of History
Chelsea Football Club, affectionately nicknamed "The Blues" are a professional football club in England. They play in the elite Premiership and are one of the most successful teams in the history of English football. They have been English League Champions three times and have won the FA cup on four occasions.
Chelsea's home ground is Stamford Bridge in Fulham, West London. They have played there since the team was founded in 1905. On a slightly pedantic note of geographical accuracy, Chelsea are not actually based in the borough of Kensington and Chelsea, rather in Hammersmith and Fulham. Chelsea FC was founded in March 1905 in the Rising Sun pub opposite Stamford Bridge. They occupied Stamford Bridge shortly afterwards, taking over the site from the London Athletics Club which had used the facility for the previous 28 years.
The Chelsea Shirt for home games has always been blue, although it was not always the same dark shade it is today. The strip was finished with white shorts and blue socks. In 1912, royal blue shirts were introduced. The now familiar blue shorts were added by Tommy Docherty in the 1960s. White socks were also added at this time as it was thought that this scheme, not in use by any other club made Chelsea more distinctive. The away kit is typically all yellow or all white, however this has gone through some interesting deviations over the years. The first away shirt comprised black and white stripes. In the 1980s a bizarre mint green kit was sported by the Chelsea players. The 1990s saw the Chelsea shirt for away games at its most distinctive with red and white checks, and a grey and tangerine colour scheme all being tried. Large numbers of sponsors have graced the front of the Chelsea shirt over the years. These have included Gulf Air, Coors and most latterly Samsung.
The club crest attached to the Chelsea shirt has gone through four major iterations during the history of the club. The initial crest design was based around the image of a Chelsea Pensioner. This gave rise to the club's nickname of "The Pensioners". This crest was in use for fifty years when the design was changed as part of a modernization program going on at the club. A temporary solution was to use the C.F.C initials for a year until in 1953 when the new crest of a blue lion locking backwards and holding a staff was introduced. This crest took it's inspiration from the coat of arms of the Borough Of Chelsea. The crest also featured two footballs and three red roses. This was the first crest to appear on the Chelsea shirt, which was unadorned until this time. Another bout of modernisation in 1986 saw the heraldic lion replaced by a more realistic looking lion in yellow standing over the C.F.C initials. The final big design change came in 2004 where the old design was reinstated for the approaching centenary. This design has appeared on the shirts in different colour schemes. such as white and gold.
It is to be hoped that this brief article has given an interesting background into the shirt and crest of one of England's most successful and famous teams.
Patrick Attlee writes about all aspects of the Beautiful Game with a particular emphasis on the histories of the big English clubs. You can find out more about the Chelsea Shirt at http://www.chelsea-shirt.com
Chelsea Football Club, affectionately nicknamed "The Blues" are a professional football club in England. They play in the elite Premiership and are one of the most successful teams in the history of English football. They have been English League Champions three times and have won the FA cup on four occasions.
Chelsea's home ground is Stamford Bridge in Fulham, West London. They have played there since the team was founded in 1905. On a slightly pedantic note of geographical accuracy, Chelsea are not actually based in the borough of Kensington and Chelsea, rather in Hammersmith and Fulham. Chelsea FC was founded in March 1905 in the Rising Sun pub opposite Stamford Bridge. They occupied Stamford Bridge shortly afterwards, taking over the site from the London Athletics Club which had used the facility for the previous 28 years.
The Chelsea Shirt for home games has always been blue, although it was not always the same dark shade it is today. The strip was finished with white shorts and blue socks. In 1912, royal blue shirts were introduced. The now familiar blue shorts were added by Tommy Docherty in the 1960s. White socks were also added at this time as it was thought that this scheme, not in use by any other club made Chelsea more distinctive. The away kit is typically all yellow or all white, however this has gone through some interesting deviations over the years. The first away shirt comprised black and white stripes. In the 1980s a bizarre mint green kit was sported by the Chelsea players. The 1990s saw the Chelsea shirt for away games at its most distinctive with red and white checks, and a grey and tangerine colour scheme all being tried. Large numbers of sponsors have graced the front of the Chelsea shirt over the years. These have included Gulf Air, Coors and most latterly Samsung.
The club crest attached to the Chelsea shirt has gone through four major iterations during the history of the club. The initial crest design was based around the image of a Chelsea Pensioner. This gave rise to the club's nickname of "The Pensioners". This crest was in use for fifty years when the design was changed as part of a modernization program going on at the club. A temporary solution was to use the C.F.C initials for a year until in 1953 when the new crest of a blue lion locking backwards and holding a staff was introduced. This crest took it's inspiration from the coat of arms of the Borough Of Chelsea. The crest also featured two footballs and three red roses. This was the first crest to appear on the Chelsea shirt, which was unadorned until this time. Another bout of modernisation in 1986 saw the heraldic lion replaced by a more realistic looking lion in yellow standing over the C.F.C initials. The final big design change came in 2004 where the old design was reinstated for the approaching centenary. This design has appeared on the shirts in different colour schemes. such as white and gold.
It is to be hoped that this brief article has given an interesting background into the shirt and crest of one of England's most successful and famous teams.
Patrick Attlee writes about all aspects of the Beautiful Game with a particular emphasis on the histories of the big English clubs. You can find out more about the Chelsea Shirt at http://www.chelsea-shirt.com
Friday, July 24, 2009
finals of the FA between Everton and Chelsea
An epic season reached its climax on Saturday
A national epic season reached its climax on Saturday with the finals of the FA between Everton and Chelsea. The buyers of Chelsea index for the propagation of a priori from the start of the tournament will be pleased that the spread from the outset to 89-91 points (100 points for the winner, 70 points for the runner-up), and love to Hiddink rewarded them with a victory on his part, the Blues on the season. Chelsea with a game spread index 16-17.5 points (25 points won the game, 10 points for the pressure) and Everton is just 6-7.5 points, the players are on the left no doubt in the team, which is the darling of the game. Buyer for Everton's victory spread index will be absolutely delighted that Steven Pienaar and Phil Neville were both in the form, while the buyer of the spread like Chelsea see Frank Lampard and sat back in the team.
Buyer and seller, the U.S. spread is 0.7-0.9 for Chelsea, should remember that only two of the last ten finalists were of sanctions, although the two have been over the last four years (2005 and 2006). Supremacy spreading weather also that since 1999, a goal or less separate teams of seven of the last ten finalists. The higher profit at the moment is three goals in 2004 the biggest ever victory margin in an FA Cup final, four gates. Seller, the U.S. expansion may know, is the result of this flight - no less than Chelsea against Manchester United in 1994.
In view of the experience in the finals of the FA Cup, The Toffee have an impressive 12 appearances against Chelsea eight pages to the start of the tournament. Chelsea won the last two years ago, and sellers with all the objectives of the dissemination, 2.1 can remember that they did not win the trophy in extra time, after the usual opening times of arrival, without a goal. The same spread sellers are happy to know that Chelsea and Everton two meetings of the league this season were the two goalless, but the buyer of the need not to spread panic - the last time they met in the FA Cup for the fourth game in Stamford Bridge, the result was 4:1 for Chelsea. This spread players trying to get in the objectives of the internal market should also note, the highest game ever Show in 1953, where the Blackpool defeated Bolton 4-3.
Over the past ten finalists of the FA Cup, there were a total of 19 goals in general, with an average of 1.9 goals per game, what should be the total sales targets for the spread of weather. But perhaps, that the buyers are impressed by the fact that only two finalists did not manage a goal and the most goals in six, in this extraordinary finals three years ago when Steven Gerrard has injuries on time with West Ham 3-3 . Interest for the transfer of football betting spread target looks totally minutes 108-118 for the Saturday draw, the final goal minutes Constitution 2006 was a decrease in jaw 291. Sporting Index traders were still disturbed that the Hammers' manager Alan Pardew and.
A national epic season reached its climax on Saturday with the finals of the FA between Everton and Chelsea. The buyers of Chelsea index for the propagation of a priori from the start of the tournament will be pleased that the spread from the outset to 89-91 points (100 points for the winner, 70 points for the runner-up), and love to Hiddink rewarded them with a victory on his part, the Blues on the season. Chelsea with a game spread index 16-17.5 points (25 points won the game, 10 points for the pressure) and Everton is just 6-7.5 points, the players are on the left no doubt in the team, which is the darling of the game. Buyer for Everton's victory spread index will be absolutely delighted that Steven Pienaar and Phil Neville were both in the form, while the buyer of the spread like Chelsea see Frank Lampard and sat back in the team.
Buyer and seller, the U.S. spread is 0.7-0.9 for Chelsea, should remember that only two of the last ten finalists were of sanctions, although the two have been over the last four years (2005 and 2006). Supremacy spreading weather also that since 1999, a goal or less separate teams of seven of the last ten finalists. The higher profit at the moment is three goals in 2004 the biggest ever victory margin in an FA Cup final, four gates. Seller, the U.S. expansion may know, is the result of this flight - no less than Chelsea against Manchester United in 1994.
In view of the experience in the finals of the FA Cup, The Toffee have an impressive 12 appearances against Chelsea eight pages to the start of the tournament. Chelsea won the last two years ago, and sellers with all the objectives of the dissemination, 2.1 can remember that they did not win the trophy in extra time, after the usual opening times of arrival, without a goal. The same spread sellers are happy to know that Chelsea and Everton two meetings of the league this season were the two goalless, but the buyer of the need not to spread panic - the last time they met in the FA Cup for the fourth game in Stamford Bridge, the result was 4:1 for Chelsea. This spread players trying to get in the objectives of the internal market should also note, the highest game ever Show in 1953, where the Blackpool defeated Bolton 4-3.
Over the past ten finalists of the FA Cup, there were a total of 19 goals in general, with an average of 1.9 goals per game, what should be the total sales targets for the spread of weather. But perhaps, that the buyers are impressed by the fact that only two finalists did not manage a goal and the most goals in six, in this extraordinary finals three years ago when Steven Gerrard has injuries on time with West Ham 3-3 . Interest for the transfer of football betting spread target looks totally minutes 108-118 for the Saturday draw, the final goal minutes Constitution 2006 was a decrease in jaw 291. Sporting Index traders were still disturbed that the Hammers' manager Alan Pardew and.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Overview- chelsea football club
Overview
Chelsea will be desperate to regain the Premier League crown after finishing second to Manchester United in the last two seasons. Former manager Jose Mourinho, bankrolled by owner Roman Abromovich's millions, brought the first title to Stamford Bridge for 50 years when the Blues lifted the trophy in 2005. Chelsea became only the second team to win back-to-back Premier League titles when they clinched it a year later. Mourinho left the club by mutual consent in September 2007.
Although Chelsea reached the FA Cup final in 1994, they hardly set the world alight in their early Premier League days. Ruud Gullit became manager in 1996 and steered the Blues to an FA Cup triumph in 1997, while his successor Gianluca Vialli guided the team to victory in the League Cup and European Cup Winners' Cup in 1998.
Shortly after, he led the team to the UEFA Super Cup after a 1-0 win over Real Madrid. The FA Cup followed in 2000. Vialli was replaced by Claudio Ranieri in 2000 and he led Chelsea to another FA Cup final appearance in 2002.
Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich bought the Blues for £140m. After a trophyless season, he appointed Mourinho as new Chelsea manager and there was instant success. In 2005, Chelsea won the Barclays Premiership and League Cup, along with a Champions League semi-final appearance.
And Mourinho retained the Barclays Premiership crown the year after, equalling the club's own Premier League record of 29 wins set the previous season. They were league runners-up in 2006/07 and also claimed the FA Cup and League Cup double.
They were also runners-up in the 2007/08 campaign, but by this time Mourinho had left the club. He was replaced by Avram Grant who led the Blues to the final of the Champions League and Carling Cup.
Grant left Stamford Bridge at the end of the season and was replaced by Luiz Felipe Scolari who will be charged with bringing the title back to the club. However he was sacked in February 2009 and replaced by Guus Hiddink who agreed to take charge until the end of the campaign while continuing to coach the Russian national side.
Club Heritage
Chelsea were formed in 1905 and were elected into the Second Division of the Football League. They just missed out on silverware 10 years later with an FA Cup final defeat. The Blues had to wait for their first major trophy in 1955, when under manager Ted Drake, they won the league title. Chelsea claimed the League Cup for the first time in 1965 and were defeated in the FA Cup final two years later.
Featuring the likes of Ron 'Chopper' Harris, Ian Hutchison and Peter Osgood, Chelsea overcame Leeds to win the FA Cup in 1970. In the following season, they clinched the European Cup Winners' Cup with a replay victory over Real Madrid.
Financial problems meant the Stamford Bridge club dropped into the Second Division, and at one point they were close to falling to the Third Division.
They eventually won their place back in the top flight in 1984, but their stay only lasted four seasons. They clawed their way back to the First Division again as Second Division champions in 1989 and have remained there ever since.
Premier League History
1992/93 - Inaugural members of the Premier League
1993/94 - Lose FA Cup final
1996/97 - Ruud Gullit appointed player-manger
1996/97 - Win FA Cup
1997/98 - Gianluca Vialli becomes manager
1997/98 - Win League Cup, Cup Winners' Cup and UEFA Super Cup
1999/00 - FA Cup winners
2000/01 - Claudio Ranieri becomes manager
2001/02 - Lose FA Cup final
2003/04 - Chairman Ken Bates sells Chelsea to Roman Abramovich
2000/05 - Jose Mourinho takes over as manager
2004/05 - Chelsea win Barclays Premiership and League Cup
2005/06 - Chelsea win Barclays Premiership
2006/07 - Win FA Cup and League Cup
2007/08 - Jose Mourinho leaves the club to be replaced by Avram Grant. Runners up in the Carling Cup, Barclays Premier League and Champions League. Part company with Grant. Luiz Felipe Scolari appointed manager in June.
2008/09 - Scolari is sacked in February 2009 and replaced by Russian national coach Guus Hiddink who will combine both roles until the end of the season. Carlo Ancelotti named new manager in June 2009
Chelsea will be desperate to regain the Premier League crown after finishing second to Manchester United in the last two seasons. Former manager Jose Mourinho, bankrolled by owner Roman Abromovich's millions, brought the first title to Stamford Bridge for 50 years when the Blues lifted the trophy in 2005. Chelsea became only the second team to win back-to-back Premier League titles when they clinched it a year later. Mourinho left the club by mutual consent in September 2007.
Although Chelsea reached the FA Cup final in 1994, they hardly set the world alight in their early Premier League days. Ruud Gullit became manager in 1996 and steered the Blues to an FA Cup triumph in 1997, while his successor Gianluca Vialli guided the team to victory in the League Cup and European Cup Winners' Cup in 1998.
Shortly after, he led the team to the UEFA Super Cup after a 1-0 win over Real Madrid. The FA Cup followed in 2000. Vialli was replaced by Claudio Ranieri in 2000 and he led Chelsea to another FA Cup final appearance in 2002.
Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich bought the Blues for £140m. After a trophyless season, he appointed Mourinho as new Chelsea manager and there was instant success. In 2005, Chelsea won the Barclays Premiership and League Cup, along with a Champions League semi-final appearance.
And Mourinho retained the Barclays Premiership crown the year after, equalling the club's own Premier League record of 29 wins set the previous season. They were league runners-up in 2006/07 and also claimed the FA Cup and League Cup double.
They were also runners-up in the 2007/08 campaign, but by this time Mourinho had left the club. He was replaced by Avram Grant who led the Blues to the final of the Champions League and Carling Cup.
Grant left Stamford Bridge at the end of the season and was replaced by Luiz Felipe Scolari who will be charged with bringing the title back to the club. However he was sacked in February 2009 and replaced by Guus Hiddink who agreed to take charge until the end of the campaign while continuing to coach the Russian national side.
Club Heritage
Chelsea were formed in 1905 and were elected into the Second Division of the Football League. They just missed out on silverware 10 years later with an FA Cup final defeat. The Blues had to wait for their first major trophy in 1955, when under manager Ted Drake, they won the league title. Chelsea claimed the League Cup for the first time in 1965 and were defeated in the FA Cup final two years later.
Featuring the likes of Ron 'Chopper' Harris, Ian Hutchison and Peter Osgood, Chelsea overcame Leeds to win the FA Cup in 1970. In the following season, they clinched the European Cup Winners' Cup with a replay victory over Real Madrid.
Financial problems meant the Stamford Bridge club dropped into the Second Division, and at one point they were close to falling to the Third Division.
They eventually won their place back in the top flight in 1984, but their stay only lasted four seasons. They clawed their way back to the First Division again as Second Division champions in 1989 and have remained there ever since.
Premier League History
1992/93 - Inaugural members of the Premier League
1993/94 - Lose FA Cup final
1996/97 - Ruud Gullit appointed player-manger
1996/97 - Win FA Cup
1997/98 - Gianluca Vialli becomes manager
1997/98 - Win League Cup, Cup Winners' Cup and UEFA Super Cup
1999/00 - FA Cup winners
2000/01 - Claudio Ranieri becomes manager
2001/02 - Lose FA Cup final
2003/04 - Chairman Ken Bates sells Chelsea to Roman Abramovich
2000/05 - Jose Mourinho takes over as manager
2004/05 - Chelsea win Barclays Premiership and League Cup
2005/06 - Chelsea win Barclays Premiership
2006/07 - Win FA Cup and League Cup
2007/08 - Jose Mourinho leaves the club to be replaced by Avram Grant. Runners up in the Carling Cup, Barclays Premier League and Champions League. Part company with Grant. Luiz Felipe Scolari appointed manager in June.
2008/09 - Scolari is sacked in February 2009 and replaced by Russian national coach Guus Hiddink who will combine both roles until the end of the season. Carlo Ancelotti named new manager in June 2009
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