Chelsea v Marseille – Youth Is The Way
Here at eChelseaFC we are trying to avoid fixating on the problems that seem to have descended upon Stamford Bridge and look ahead to tomorrow’s game against Marseille.
Categories: Youth Team Tags: Gael Kakuta
Chelsea v West Ham (A) Player Ratings
Following our 3-1 victory over the Hammers, here are the eChelseaFC player ratings, let us know if you agree?
Petr Cech – 7
Did not do a lot wrong and was unlucky that his punched clearance landed at the feet of Scott Parker for the West Ham goal.
Paulo Ferreria – 8
Comfortable game for Paulo, who has improved every game this season and provided the assist for the third goal
Branislav Ivanovic – 7
Rare start in the centre of defence and after a slow start he looked at ease for most of the game.
John Terry – 7
Despite conceding their first goal of the season Chelsea looked in control defensively for most of the match, including our former West Ham trainee captain.
Ashley Cole – 8
Mr Consistency, excellent again today
Ramires -7
On his full Chelsea debut Ramires showed he was fully fit with a full 90 minute shift in which he showed signs that the Chelsea transfer policy this season even if at times it was clear he had alot to learn against physically strong English opponents.
Michael Essien – 9
Two goals and a colossal performance from the Ghanaian who scored two goals to show that he is back from his injury and ready to show what he can do in the Premier League once more.
Mikel – 8
One of his best performances in blue, showing that despite the midfield competition he can do a job for the blues having started all four games of the season so far.
Nicholas Anelka -7
No goals but plenty of movement from the Frenchman, continuing to be a real asset in the development of attacks from deep.
Didier Drogba – 6.5
Not his best game of the season, with little service and a slightly selfish attitude, most likely a slight blip on what will be another gargantuan season for the Ivorian.
Soloman Kalou -7
Bizarre goal which sums up why we love the Ivorian despite his sometimes frustrating wastage, otherwise average display.
Star Sub: Gael Kakuta – 7
15 exciting minutes from the young Frenchman who excites with every time he appears for the first team.
Categories: Uncategorized Tags: Chelsea player ratings, Chelsea v West Ham, Gael Kakuta
Focus on Youth – Player #1 Gael Kakuta
There are not many 18 year-old footballers who have received as much media attention as Gael Kakuta has, still only a fledgling talent, the acrimony over his move from Lens garnered the club and football plenty of negative attention and threaten to derail Kakuta’s career with a lengthy ban.
Fortunately sense prevailed and the transfer and playing bans imposed were overturned on appeal, during the furore the youngster also made his first team debut.
Fast with quick feet, he is undoutably an exciting player and his perfomances at youth and low key senior level have been thrilling to watch.
With an ageing squad and a policy of sustainable transfer development, it is important to the fans and the club that talents such as Gael have every chance to succeed at the club and break the prolonged cycle of youth failure that the club endured.
Hopefully this will be the year when we read about the coming of age of Gael Kakuta and a host of other fledgling Chelsea starlets.
Categories: Youth Team Tags: Chelsea FC youth, chelsea transfer ban, Chelsea youth, Gael Kakuta, will gael kakuta play for Chelsea
Seven Seasons Since Russian Revolution – Now It Is Time For Evolution
Revolution: a sudden, complete or marked change in something
In what have been the most successful seven seasons in the history of Chelsea Football Club, Roman Abramovich has turned the Blues from a relatively big English team to a worldwide franchise competing for Football’s top prizes every year. Based on the definition above, the takeover of Chelsea was certainly a definitive revolution.
Three Premier League titles, three FA Cup triumphs and two League Cups have been the result of the huge investment pumped into the West London club by the Russian billionaire who has become synonymous with Chelsea.
There can be no doubt that without him the club would still be trailing the wake of Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool. He has made Chelsea one of the biggest clubs in Europe and has done so not only by investment in playing staff.
His roubles have touched everything at the club, from the hand driers in the stadium toilets to the wonderful training facilities at Cobham. Yes, the Russian who made Chelsea his plaything in 2003 has certainly laid the foundations for success.
Of course, the players who have put on the Blue shirts at Stamford Bridge each week have been the integral part of the glory. Without Drogbas and Carvalhos the Chelsea side would never be able to compete for major silverware each season, and this is only possible because of the Russian’s cash.
- Abramovich has brought unprecidented success to West London, Only two (Lampard and Terry) of the Chelsea team from the FA Cup final in May are pre-Abramovich, with vast sums being spent on players from all corners of the planet. The transfer market has been impacted by his seemingly bottomless pit of money with price tags going up 100% after his takeover. It has meant that money has become the only way to win in English football.
The current Blues squad has its problems. A lack of creativity and the need for another back up goalkeeper are not the only issues facing Chelsea in 2010. The fact is, the team must start to evolve into an Abramovich ‘second generation’ side, as the players who have been so effective for the Londoners in recent years are coming towards the end of their playing days.
Frank Lampard, John Terry, Didier Drogba and Ashley Cole are considered perhaps the spine of the Chelsea team, but all are heading towards the twilight of their careers. Terry and Cole have four years left at the top, but Lampard and Drogba are now 32 and cannot be expected to carry the side after next season. Without goals from them both Chelsea would not have won the league and cup last time out.
Evolution: a gradual change in something/ the gradual development of plants, animals, etc. over many years as they adapt to changes in their environment
Therefore there needs to be a change in SW6, a gradual development of a new squad, or one could say Evolution. Of course, this has already started with Michael Ballack and Juliano Belletti leaving the club this summer and Ricardo Carvalho having one season left at the most.
The signings which the chequebook will be opened for must be youthful and shrewd. There must also be a more active role in the first team for the youth players who have done so well at junior level, and promised so much when shown a glimpse of the first team.
Gael Kakuta, Michael Mancienne, Sam Huchinson, Jeffry Bruma and Fabio Borini could be the next batch of players whose names grace the replica shirts in the stands and in parks, but only if they have the opportunity to learn and grow. For the team to evolve there must be a gradual inclusion of these young players as the old guard are faded out. This is the only way that the word success can become as synonymous with Chelsea Football club as Abramovich has.
Players such as the Brazilians Ramires and Neymar would be fantastic for the future of the team, blending them into a new Chelsea, a second generation just as Ferguson and Wenger have done at United and Arsenal.
Chelsea have one of the best coaches in the game today, with an outstanding record. However, it may be the club’s driving ambition to win the Champions League which hampers the progress of Ancelotti. If he is given three years to rebuild this squad, there could be tremendous rewards for those who had the patience to allow him to do so.
The irony is, however, that it is the man who has taken Chelsea this far who may hinder the transitional phase which faces his club in its near future. Winning the Champions League has always been the dream for Abramovich, but some patience now and building a new squad properly will reap huge rewards in the long term.
On the other hand, impatience and sacking the coach for the failure to win the coveted prize instantly will only delay the day that the European Cup can be added to the ever growing list of Chelsea honours.
