Thierry Henry is reportedly attempting to lure former Arsenal teammate Robert Pires to Major League Soccer.Pires, 37, was released from Villarreal in May 2010.
He was signed by Gerard Houllier for Premier League club Aston Villa on a six-month deal in November, but has only made four starts and seven substitute appearances in all competitions.
With Houllier’s future in doubt due to health concerns, it seems unlikely that veteran Pires will be offered a new contract at Villa Park.
Henry has apparently tried to tempt his former France and Arsenal teammate into a move to the US and possibly the New York Red Bull.
But Pires insists he is yet to receive any formal approaches for his services.
“Thierry has phoned me,” Pires said.
“He called me up and said ‘come over and play with me’ but there are no real offers yet.”
“For the moment there is nothing else, because the league is not finished. I will wait until it is finished. I am relaxed about it. I still feel fit enough to play.”
Pires won two Premier League titles and three FA Cups during his time at Arsenal.
He also collected World Cup and European Championship winners’ medals with France.
I think everyone was pleased when Fulham announced the return of Martin Jol to the Premier League as their manager last week, after his rather disrespectful exit from Tottenham Hotspur. The Dutchman though will no doubt not want fans’, pundits’ and newspapers’ reminding him of his exit from White Hart Lane as he looks to begin his own quest to go down in Fulham’s history. The former Ajax manager has taken over a club very much on the up with a supportive chairman and good ‘solid’ foundations, and with Jol looking to make his own ‘mark’ on the Fulham squad there is definitely a case that the former Tottenham man should return to North London for a few ‘bargains’.
Fulham are lacking a striker who can consistently get them 15-20 goals a season, Bobby Zamora and Moussa Dembele are their main attacking outlets and both players’ do offer attacking flair in the final third but the two forwards, in my opinion, will not be setting the goalscoring charts alight any time soon, which why a cut price move for Lilywhites striker Robbie Keane would be an ideal signing. The Irishman has continually proven himself as a clinical finisher in the Premier League, and despite a disappointing campaign this season, which has culminated in Harry Redknapp stating that Keane doesn’t feature in his plans, the former Inter Milan forward could be a huge success at Craven Cottage with just a little bit of TLC.
The Cottagers lack that spark in midfield, that player that can unlock a defence or win you a match but if Jol were to sign Niko Kranjcar all those problems would be solved. Many Spurs fans rate the former Portsmouth player highly and were left baffled when he didn’t start the Champions League first leg against Real Madrid after Aaron Lennon pulled out. It is moments like that which have led to the Croatian international stating he wants to leave White Hart Lane and with Redknapp clearly lacking faith in Kranjcar, he could be available for next to nothing.
The third and final addition that I believe the new Fulham boss should make from White Hart Lane is Jermaine Jenas (don’t shoot me down just yet). Fulham will be a bit light in midfield with both Clint Dempsey and Zoltan Gera more than likely on the move in this transfer window, and Danny Murphy isn’t getting any younger (even though his performances have gotten better with age if anything), so the signing of the former Newcastle United player would help re-energise the middle of the park for Fulham. The England international doesn’t have too many admirers in the beautiful game but on his day the former Nottingham Forest player can be a real influence at the heart of the midfield.
Think these are shocking suggestions? Let me know at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Daniel-T-Blazer/185495024836102
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England Under-21 manager Stuart Pearce has been rewarded for his efforts with a new two-year contract.The 49-year-old has led the England Under-21 national side to three successive European Championships, including a runner-up finish in 2009 and a semi-final appearance in 2007.
But their 2011 campaign ended in disappointment, with England unable to make it past the group stages in Denmark last month.
Regardless, Pearce has been slated for another two years in the job, where he works alongside England manager Fabio Capello to bring the nation’s best young talent to the fore.
He has already mentored the likes of Joe Hart, James Milner, Ashley Young, Adam Johnson and Theo Walcott during his time with the national set-up.
Football Association chairman David Bernstein backed Pearce to rebound from the lacklustre showing in Denmark when qualifying for the 2013 championships gets underway in September.
“Continuity is vital as we continue to build our club ethos, and Stuart is an important member of the England coaching structure,” Bernstein said.
“I know he was as disappointed as anyone at the Under-21s’ most recent tournament results at the European Championships in Denmark, but we mustn’t forget the team had an excellent qualifying campaign and continues to produce young players ready and prepared for senior team experience.”
Pearce added: “I am delighted to have signed my new contract and to be able to continue in a role I very much enjoy.”
“In my time with the England Under-21s we have experienced an excellent record and my aim now is to qualify for Israel in 2013 and hopefully go on to secure silverware with another exciting group of young players.”
European Club Association chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has hit out at FIFA and called for the 200 clubs in his organisation to protest.The Bayern Munich chief executive officer spoke in the wake of the lifetime ban handed to ex-Asian Football Confederation chief Mohamed Bin Hammam on July 23, after the Qatari was found guilty of bribery accusations.
Former Germany international Rummenigge also targeted FIFA president Sepp Blatter, despite his pledge to rid the game’s governing body of corruption.
“Sepp Blatter is saying (that he’s cleaning up the game) but the fact that no one believes him tells you everything you need to know,” Rummenigge told The Guardian.
“I’m not optimistic because they believe the system is working perfectly as it is. It’s a money machine, World Cup after World Cup, and, for them, that’s more important than serious and clean governance.”
“It is a nice game but (it) is decided by people who are corrupt. I am not ready to accept the system as it is and I am not alone. I am asking for transparency, balance and democracy in governing bodies like FIFA and UEFA. “
“I don’t accept any longer that we (should be) guided by people who are not serious and clean. Now is the moment to intervene, because knowing something is wrong is an obligation to change.”
Rummenigge has long been an opponent of international friendlies, and again touched on the subject.
“European clubs provided 75 percent of the players for the 2010 World Cup, and each club lost at least 10 million euros but we accepted it as a favour to the players, and now we find dates have been given for international friendlies,” he said.
“When I won the European Championship (with West Germany in 1980), there were eight teams in the finals. That figure will triple by 2016. In the World Cup, it used to be 16 teams, now it’s 32.”
“The clubs pay the players but are not part of the decision-making process. We are not treated respectfully.”
In recent months we have seen a number of clubs clashing with their local councils. Tottenham are one side who have had trouble with their local council, Haringey. After coming up with an ambitious plan to redevelop White Hart Lane and the surrounding area, they have faced numerous objections and obstacles which have hampered the development. The council at first embraced the idea, but seemed to not provide the support and constructive help along the way to get the project off the ground. The project has the potential to develop and regenerate local commerce and habitation in a long neglected area, bringing in more business on match days and creating more jobs. Spurs are an important aspect of Haringey and a vital source of revenue for the council so should the council be willing to do more to help?
Due to the problems Spurs have been forced to look elsewhere, and could still leave the Haringey area altogether. They were in the running for the Olympic stadium, but lost out to West Ham. When they announced they were interested in moving to the Olympic stadium, Haringey council quickly objected to the plans, so it seems Spurs can’t win with the council neither supporting their bid to stay and regenerate, or the option of them moving away.
Liverpool are another who have run up against obstacles in their development of a new stadium. They have faced ongoing problems for the last 10 years. Their project faces continued delays, as the council obstructed plans for a redeveloped Anfield due to legislation which means that you cannot build in an area which blocks natural light getting into peoples homes, which is understandable as it a legal requirement. However, the council has been less than supportive through the process in helping Liverpool to get their plans off the ground. Considering the opportunity to regenerate the whole of north Liverpool, should the council have done more to help out with certain conditions, making it easier for the club to get the finances it requires? The council have now forced Liverpool into a deadline which means they can’t explore either the option of regeneration, or moving to Stanley Park fully. They have forced Liverpool into a corner, with the people set to lose out being fans and local residents. Of course the delays aren’t only the councils fault, the plans were originally put back because of the clubs previous owners as well. However, it seems as if the council is unwilling to do more to help Liverpool out.
Stockport County, are another side, currently struggling with their local council. There is controversy over whether or not they should be given money by the local council to sort out their ailing finances. On the one hand, the side are a vital aspect of the community, putting the area on the map, and bringing in vital business for the local area. However, we are in a recession and with cuts by the local council to schools and health budgets, it does seem difficult to justify the argument that the local council should be helping out County more. A football club is a business like any other, so it should be able to stand on its own two feet, rather than relying on the council and taxpayers money.
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As well as the bigger teams, smaller grass roots teams are also struggling, many like Tower Hamlets have had their funding cut by local councils, and are now struggling to survive. Too many councils have sat by as their community clubs have died. The benefits of a local side in the community cannot be understated, they promote the neighbourhood, and provide employment and enjoyment for all.
There are some councils who have done more to help out their local clubs. Oldham Athletic, Stevenage and Tranmere are just a few who have received the full support and backing of their local councils. It seems not all local councils are unwilling to go the extra mile to help their local side, when they see what they bring to the area.
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It’s tough to weigh up whether councils should do more to help. On the one hand a football club is likely to be the biggest source of revenue for the council, as well as a centre of community life. However, in the harsh economic climate we are in, it is difficult to see what more local councils can do without sacrificing vital services elsewhere. Local councils have a duty to their residents as well as to their football clubs and that is something they have to balance.
Let me know your thoughts below or follow me on Twitter @LaurenRutter
Newcastle United is reportedly looking to ban players and staff from tweeting, in light of Joey Barton’s recent outburst. Alan Pardew did hint that there could still be a future for Barton at St James Park next season and that he could well be restored to the first team training set-up in the coming week.
In the papers this morning there have been a mixed bag of stories that include Sven hits out at Manchester City grumblers; Capello set to call up Phil Jones to the England set-up, while Peter Kenyon awaits call for breakaway league.
*
Newcastle issue legal warning after Barton tweets – Guardian
Sven: City’s grumblers are there for work not holidays – Independent
Gunners snub new Cesc bid from Barca – Mirror
We want £12m for Samba! Blackburn want to keep defender at Ewood Park – Daily Mail
Capello to call-up Jones against Holland – Guardian
Kenyon awaits call for breakaway league – Guardian
Stoke join Spurs and Chelsea in £8m chase for West Ham midfielder Parker – Daily Mail
Newcastle weigh up move for unsettled United winger Obertan – Daily Mail
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The 31st of August. Just another day in the football calendar, albeit one without any actual football, but distinguished slightly by the ending of the time period allotted to register new players. Little more than a necessary logistical failsafe, to cross the i’s and dot the t’s and generally make sure all the cumbersome bureaucratic paper work is completed before we exit the first month of the season. Right? WRONG Bitches! For this is Super Awesome Magic Transfer Deadline Day! Woooo! Only the wickedest frickin’ day of the year! Like Christmas mixed with New Year, sprinkled with Easter, only with Jim White – That’s right, JIM WHITE!!! – That bloke you might recognize off Sky Sports News if you watch it enough, PLUS that one who’s going out with Ant & Dec. OMG!!!
Yes, Transfer Deadline Day indeed. The one day of the year when Sky Sports News’ anchors get to pretend they’re rock stars in their own heads whilst shivering, terrified reporters stand around in car parks like idiot beacons, attracting only the dimmest and ugliest people from around the country to swarm around them doing silly things while they report that something’s probably happening in a building quite nearby.
Sky have always been hyperbole whores of course. Never ones to shun bombast for understated subtlety and perspective, but I’d forgotten just how important they considered themselves in the scheme of all this. Very early on it became apparent that this wasn’t going to be as exciting or headline grabbing as last January’s window, with Luka Modric in Malta, Wesley Snejider in Holland, and Manchester City revealing their main interest of the day was making sure Owen Hargreaves reached their medical facility in one piece. This wasn’t going to stop Sky Sports News from making it exciting though. Hell no. Even if this solely involved telling us how exciting it was every 5 minutes.
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At some point between the great Robinho & Berbatov window of ‘08 and the infamous Torres & Carroll Christmas of ’11, Sky Sports decided their own reporting of the transfers was almost as important as the transfers themselves. And so gradually the reporting of Deadline Day became less a standard rolling news item and more a one off, high-end entertainment event, complete with its own headline act superstar – Jim White. Yes, THE Jim White (well no, not actually, he plays snooker) who we were told at regular intervals was “on his way” or “in the building” whilst inter-cut with promo cards advertising his evening anchorship featuring his ominous, pouting visage along side Natalie Sawyer. This was even more disconcerting as they were done in the style of a boxing promo card, with both protagonists on either side of the screen between big lettering of their names, which made it look just a little bit like Jim White was going to fight Natalie Sawyer at 8pm, which at least might have gone some way to explaining why they were all treating him like such a big shot.
At one particular high point, SSN even returned from an advert break with footage of Jim walking into the building on his phone, which could have been a brilliant, sophisticated parody of the endlessly recycled unenlightening footage of players wandering in and out of places on their phones they play on Sky hourly, but which I’m pretty sure was merely an actual desperate bit of cannibalized reporting. Sky had gone meta. They were now reporting on their own reporters turning up to do some reporting. When they weren’t trying to hawk us their new mobile SkyGo service that is.
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So excited were they all getting at their own excitement that Georgie Thompson – preceding the mighty White and sporting the hair of a Lion, – on noticing that there weren’t nearly enough local idiots wandering outside of Eastlands annoying Vinny O’Connor like there were at Melwood and the Britannia, began to actually encourage people watching to “get down to Eastlands and support him.” Yes, support a reporter. Perhaps with an I Heart Vinny banner? Or maybe she was imagining swarms of diehards trotting down in solidarity to thank Ol’ Vin for his years of top class reporting. “I was there back in ’03 when you covered the signing of Robbie Fowler. Fantastic reporting that, I just want you to know how much that meant to me, lad. Can you sign this?”
The madness of Queen Georgie continued as an hour later she casually, and possibly accidentally, dropped the bombshell that she was “for sale, but it’ll cost you.” Which was presumably received with relish by the multi-millionaire footballers watching (whose tweets telling us they were watching were being read out frequently to boost Sky’s already bulging self importance and fill the gap in lieu of any actual news) but probably came as quite a surprise to Ant and/or Dec.
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Eventually, at about nine, after around eighteen hours of telling us exciting things were happening, some exciting things started actually happening. These were not, unfortunately, of the record breaking exciting variety, and focused mainly on how long it would take Peter Crouch to pass a medical test designed for a normal man, what number Craig Bellamy would wear in his second stint at Liverpool and whether Arteta and Benayoun would make it in time to complete their last minute (read last couple of hours) deals at Arsenal. They obviously would, but Sky’d be damned if this would dampen the hyperbole.
At one point earlier in the day we’d been promised “exciting news if you’re a Manchester United fan after the break” which was then bafflingly never returned to ever again, and as the day drew to a close someone desperately made up a rumor about Kaka to Spurs, which gave us a good forty minutes of excited discussion about how crazy this all was, and typical of crazy ol’ deadline day, before Harry Redknapp, who’d only left his car once in 36 hours and only then to go to the loo, appeared from his car window (naturally) to laugh it off. Before presumably driving out of shot and kicking himself for not thinking of it first.
As we finally reached the tortuous end of this ridiculous day, the drama having been wrenched up even higher in the final hours by intermittent shots of Big Ben coupled with Sky’s mandatory serving of inappropriately aggressive music, the camera cut to black and fireworks – yes, f***ing FIREWORKS! – filled the screen to announce the end of the window.
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Flying ninja Jesus on a bicycle. If there was ever a good argument for scrapping the Transfer Window it’s Sky’s coverage of it’s own coverage of Deadline Day. You know they’d have this on pay-per-view if they could get the figures.
I’m off to sit at my desk in a suit pretending to be Jim White. Beats playing football.
You can follow Oscar on Twitter here, Twitter/oscarpyejeary or you can follow him around in real life, but don’t expect him to buy you a pint.
With 9-mintues to go before full-time he trudged off the Anfield turf, looking forlorn. He couldn’t believe his number – the iconic number-7 – was being held aloft again, calling an early end to his game. A clap of appreciation towards the Kop was accompanied by a mutter as he headed towards his replacement on the side-line. A handshake and a quick hug was afforded the club captain, but not the man who’s decision it was to withdraw him from the fray with Liverpool 2-1 up, but far from convincing. There was no hiding Luis Suarez’s displeasure as he passed Kenny Dalglish without making eye contact, head still shaking before taking his frustration out on a water bottle, then slouching down in his seat on the bench. He had scored the winner, but there was also disappointment.
Unlike other media outlets, I am not suggesting for one second that Suarez is unhappy with life at Anfield, or that this act of histrionics imply something similar – I’ll leave that to the trouble-causing tabloids and the likes of Talk Sport. This is about whether it is correct for the manager to take what seems to be an over-protective approach of a player who has been Liverpool’s best performer and most dangerous player since joining the club in January.
Of the eight league and cup games Liverpool have played so far this season, Suarez has started all bar one (away to Arsenal). However, he has completed 90-minutes just once. Indeed, his 81st minute showing versus Wolves on Saturday represented his longest period on the pitch this season, normally being ‘given a rest’ from around the 60th-75th minute. It’s no wonder his frustration is beginning to show. If his performance levels were well below par, then this would be a mute point, and the player could have little to complain about. But his form this season has drawn rave reviews and is of a consistently high-level – especially when compared to certain other players on the pitch, who are nowhere near the Uruguayan’s level, performance or effort-wise.
Far from appearing to be a prima donna, what adds to this is his burning desire to play the game and improve the clubs level. Uruguayan’s are renowned for their courage, and never-say-die attitude – an unquenchable will to win. Marrying this ferocious work-ethic to his sublime technical ability equates to being the oppositions worst nightmare – they are relieved to see the back of him, whilst he wants to play every minute. His own ‘tweet’ after the game stating: ‘I felt really sad and sorry because I always want to help my team to win the match!! Thanks for your support!’ and the man who made the decision to replace him, Kenny Dalglish also admitting as much: ‘He wants to be involved all the time. He wants to play for as many minutes as he can and he wants to score. The fans take to him because he is so genuine and 100 per cent committed’.
So is Dalglish right to protect him? Let us not forget, Liverpool’s ‘star’ players of recent years have been dogged by consistent injury problems. Indeed, Suarez was replaced by one, as Steven Gerrard made his latest return from injury. The man Suarez himself replaced at Anfield, Fernando Torres, was also no stranger to the treatment table, and without him in the side (before his last season) Liverpool struggled. Is Dalglish just ensuring the same mistakes are not made with Liverpool’s latest diamond? Lest we forget, Suarez is also coming into this season without a full break in two years. His summer of 2010 was taken up by the World Cup, whilst last summer he helped fire Uruguay to victory in the Copa America. The fear of his early burn-out must weigh heavily on Liverpool’s coaching staff. If Suarez was to suffer injury which could be avoided (Liverpool now have more quality cover upfront) then Dalglish would be held accountable.
A similar parallel is running down at Tottenham Hotspur. The enigmatic Rafael van der Vaart is also a player who’s found himself making-way more often than not, before 90-minutes is up. It has led to speculation that he is unhappy with the managers handling of his career, even though the player has a poor injury record and consistency issues. The Dutchman has even been quoted by a colleague inferring that he has a contract ‘which states that you are only allowed to play 70 minutes in each match’, a clear dig at Harry Redknapp’s substitution policy.
So, do fans think managers are right to ‘protect’ their better players in fear of burn-out or injury? Or is it simply over-protection, and these players should be left on the pitch whilst fit and performing, to cause as much havoc as possible?
If you want to read more from myself including news, thoughts and views you can follow me on Twitter @fantasista1077 thanks!
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Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has backed Jonjo Shelvey to succeed whilst on loan at Blackpool, and has stated the midfielder is in his future plans.
The 19-year-old former Charlton man has found first-team opportunities difficult to come by since moving to Anfield, with a number of more senior players ahead of him in the pecking order.
Shelvey scored on his debut for The Seasiders in a 5-0 win over Bristol City, and Dalglish feels the loan move will benefit him in the long run.
I”t’s helpful to everybody. Jonjo’s a very promising player for us but the difficulty for us is to get him a game,” Dalglish told the club’s official website.
“He needs games and it’s a fantastic opportunity for Jonjo to do that.
“It’s educational for us because we’ll get to see him play and it’ll also be educational for Jonjo because he’s playing at a good level with a good club.
“It is important for us to use as many opportunities as we can to develop the players and if we can’t give them games here then we’ve got to look to get them playing somewhere else.
“It’s a chance for Jonjo to develop and push harder for a first-team spot here. We’ve put him out because we want him educated and to see him develop, not because we want to see him go. It’s purely progress for him,” the Scot continued.
Liverpool have also sent fringe players Joe Cole and Alberto Aquilani out on loan to Lille and AC Milan respectively, but but both may still have a future on Merseyside.
“They’re not forgotten. We keep monitoring them so we know where we’re going.
“For Alberto it’s an opportunity for him to go back home and if he does well then they’ll purchase him.
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“For Joe Cole it was a fantastic opportunity for him to go and play Champions League football and also in France, which is a league that I think will suit Joe down to the ground and he’s done really well since he’s gone there,” he concluded.
They say the table doesn’t lie and even if it can be misleading, few will be fooled into thinking that Chelsea are the strongest side in the Premier League at the moment.
It seems preposterous to think that a club that have shelled out close to £600m on almost 70 different players since 2003 are lacking in terms of first team and squad quality but that is the reality facing Chelsea fans as they ponder how and if their team can overturn a nine point deficit between themselves and league leaders Manchester City.
Add further millions to the kitty for managerial recruitment and compensation payments, plus untold sums on their largely fruitless academy and it is no wonder that there is limited opposition to Roman Abramovich’s overlord reign at Stamford Bridge.
Perhaps the most damning indictment of the Chelsea policy is to put into perspective where they were and where they are. Just over five years ago Jose Mourinho’s men swept all before them en route to a second successive title and were undoubtedly the prominent powerhouse of English football.
The obituaries were being written for the rest as the Blues swept all before them winning 21 of their first 23 league games of 2005/06 with a team packed with players in their pomp. Now, barring Petr Cech and Juan Mata and more disputably Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard, the current crop seem devoid of the top class personnel playing at their peak which is needed to challenge for the top honours. This amounts to the most expensively assembled downgrading in football history.
In Andre Villas-Boas Chelsea now have the right man at the right age to lead the club through a transitionary period to re-establish themselves at the top. However, the notion that they should require a transitionary period given the resource they have sifted through only further highlights the chronic mismanagement at all levels which has proven so self-debilitating to the cause.
Aside from Mata and Raul Meireles the rest of AVB’s summer signings were made with more than half an eye on the future and his acceptance to leave out the established order of John Terry, Lampard and Didier Drogba suggests the Portuguese coach is indeed preparing for a cultural shift in west London.
When the ex-Porto boss was recruited into the very hot Chelsea hot-seat in the summer, it was expected the squad would undergo seismic change but that never materialised. The main protagonists largely remained in place but given their deficiencies this season a more extensive reshaping could soon be on the agenda.
Of the old guard, Jose Bosingwa, Florent Malouda, Nicolas Anelka and Drogba are almost certainly likely to be dispatched next summer along with players like John Obi Mikel and Salomon Kalou who are ordering a tipple from the last chance saloon.
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But once again, the practicalities of being able to construct a squad to challenge are being hamstrung by the failings of previous confused and ill-thought out transfer dealings.
Chelsea have regularly invested in players in their prime for premium sums. Drogba, Anelka and Malouda to name but three of many were signings made knowing there would be little or no re-sale value and this will prove to be the case as and when these players become surplus to requirements.
And when they do so they will find themselves in very esteemed company. Chelsea outlaid huge sums to procure Messrs. Veron, Crespo, Shevchenko, Deco, Belletti, Ballack and Cole, but received not a penny when these lauded world performers were moved on after indifferent contributions.
Such losses epitomise the reckless nature of Chelsea’s transfer ethos which has not only resulted in them reclining as a team, but also makes a mockery of the suggestions brashly made by Peter Kenyon that they would be self-sufficient three years ago.
Kenyon’s visions came and went without coming close to coming off, and given the way Chelsea do business it was hardly surprising. For such a shrewd businessman, it has taken Mr Abramovich an awful lot of time and money to understand the vagaries of what makes a successful football team and club.
The cash-happy approach to buying players has to be replaced by a more cerebral thinking whereby Chelsea recruit players which best fit into a plan, rather than fitting the best players being shoehorned into a plan of sorts.
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The responsibility to now right the wrongs of many men does not lie with Andre Villas-Boas, instead, it still lies with Roman Abramovich to run the club along with thought and application along the lines of one of his many succesful businesses, and not like the weekend pursuit owning succesful businesses allows.