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Kante In, Fabregas Out at Chelsea?

By TransfersNo Comments

With a new manager at the helm, there is pressure for Chelsea to start rebuilding and this could include some tough decisions. With N’Golo Kante looking likely to make the journey to Stamford Bridge, one decision could be to decide that Cesc Fabregas is a luxury that they do not need and look to sell the Spanish midfielder.

In the last 18 months, the Premier League has become more competitive. Teams moving the ball forward faster having more success than those employing a more methodical build up ith possession less important than in previous years. Creative midfielders like Fabregas are finding themselves bypassed during fast paced counter attacks that expose slow defensive units.

Time and time again last season the Blues midfield was bypassed with ease by quick counter attacking play, whilst Chelsea were unable to penetrate defences with slow measured build up play that created few clear cut chances.

Selling Fabregas would give Antonio Conte the money and space in the squad to adapt. Bringing in talent focused on moving the ball faster and providing support in attack and defence.

Fabregas A Chelsea Success?

Selling Fabregas would split Chelsea fans as the Spaniard is still extremely popular in some parts for his role in the 2014/2015 title win.

That season he contributed 18 Premier League assists and was so popular the song Chelsea fans sang about him and his magic hat rang around Stamford Bridge every time he touched the ball.

Last season things changed, Chelsea’s form dropped off a cliff and Fabregas became the scapegoat for a lack of attacking chances being created and Jose Mourinho leaving. Whilst his form improved slightly towards the end of the season he was unable to make a dent on the Blues league position.

The Premier League Future Of Cesc

Antonio Conte has yet to comment on his player recruitment and retention strategy for next season, yet there is a large group of Chelsea fans that feel in the modern Premier League Cesc Fabregas is an unnecessary luxury. With the midfield under pressure due to tactics used by teams like Leicester, there is a need for a more versatile player that can balance the need for defensive steel and attacking flair.

This gives Chelsea the option of either moving Fabregas further forward or replacing him with more powerful and mobile options like Kante. This could also include Chelsea starlet Ruben Loftus-Cheek who is being held back due to Fabregas’ presence in the side.

If Chelsea change their way of playing then Fabregas becoming a squad player or impact substitute, that would not be an effective use of his talents. Making his departure during the transfer window the best option for the player and the club.

Antonio Conte Chelsea Manager

Pre-Season Can Begin For Antonio Conte & Chelsea!

By Chelsea NewsNo Comments

They say that football is a game where 22 men run around for up to 120 minutes and then the Germans win on penalties. The defeat of Italy means that Antonio Conte will say goodbye to the Azzurri and the real business of the summer begins as he looks to make his mark at Chelsea.

Antonio Conte comes with a pedigree but so have countless other managers before him like Felipe Scolari and Andre Villas Boas, to succeed he will need to make an impact and make it quickly.

Plenty of Work For Antonio Conte

He has plenty of work to do, there are problems to solve up and down the pitch to make the Blues competitive in a league where the standard has bumped up a notch in the last 18 months. During his time in charge of Italy our new coach has impressed with his tactical knowledge and passion, two things that Chelsea need in spades to turn things around.

The Blues need to close the leaks defensively whilst adding a more direct and attacking style of play that does not rely on making 100 passes before finally thinking about shooting on goal. In midfield the Blues need to add some solidity far too often last season teams would simply blast through the middle in one or two passes and create a chance that would take endless build up for Chelsea to create.

We are likely to see some changes in personnel and players that have been evergreen during the last 2-5 years may suddenly find their positions under threat unless they can step up to the plate.

It sounds simple doesn’t it concede less and score more, maybe this is why our level of tactical knowledge is restricted to posts on a fan site rather than managing the team ourselves.

We look forward to seeing what the first steps he takes are to move Chelsea forwards

 

 

What We Will Remember From Euro 2016

By Chelsea NewsNo Comments
The start of Euro 2016 highlighted the negative elements within the football supporter community, the violence and the hate of a small minority of fans. 
There were undoubtedly some English and Welsh fans looking for a fight, but they were nothing compared to the level of militaristic discipline and barbarism of the Russians who did not distinguish between casual fans and those looking for trouble. Something UK hooligans do, after all where is the pride and challenge in beating up people who are not looking for a fight that are unprepared.
You knew that things had gone up a notch when the Welsh and English fans band together to take on Russians in Lille.

Fans Having The Time Of Their Lives!

The fighting made the headlines, but as the tournament went on it was soon forgotten. Eclipsed by the camaraderie and sense of fun that dominated once the focus became on the football and a temporary break from the usual routine of life to watch the football.
 
We had Irish fans singing lullabies, fixing cars and dancing in the streets with Swedish fans. German players admitting that Will Grigg had their defence terrified
 
Plucky Icelanders with a clapping chant that reminds us more of Vikings than football. Iceland came to this tournament written off but kept believing and having fun, and they left with the respect of an entire tournament. 
 
Now just one home nation team is left and it is not Scotland so we will be cheering them on for all it is worth, yes they may never let us forget it should they win, but at least we beat them, something we can say about nobody else in the tournament.
 
When I remember Euro 2016, it is the stories of the fans, not the games we will remember, but this may just be because so far we have been unsuccessful in finding a Welsh descendant that allows us to claim glory!

CFC Squad Upgrades – Falcao and Pato Leave Chelsea

By TransfersNo Comments

Chelsea made their first squad improvements today as Falcao and Pato Leave Chelsea as two of the most expensive and pointless loans in the club’s history.

Both players have at their peak been regarding as one of the best players in the world but they both joined Chelsea a shadow of themselves and even when fit were unable to challenge for more than the occasional place on the bench or pity appearance in games of low importance.

Falcao Fiasco

The decision to loan Falcao raised eyebrows and was destined for failure from day one. Falcao had been unimpressive during a spell at Manchester United and had done little in the summer to convince fans and pundits his time at Stamford Bridge would be any different. Falcao started just one Premier League game scoring one goal and made his last appearance in April.

See Falcao’s full CFC record 

Pato Pandemonium

Having signed Falcao on loan the powers that be doubled down by signing Alexandre Pato in January.

This was baffling as he was not fit at the time of signing and Blues fans had to wait until April to see him play. He was greeted with ironic cheers when he finally came on for his debut against Aston Villa having already banked one million pounds in wages. He failed to score or make an impact during the rest of the season making one more appearance, meaning that for those of us lucky enough to be at Villa Park we may turn to ourselves and ask “where were you when Pato scored?”

The truthful answer is we were queuing up for a beer at Villa Park, but shhhhhhh that’s between us and the footballing gods.

See Pato’s CFC record

Falcao and Pato Leave Chelsea

Falcoa & Pato leave Chelsea and will not be missed, going down as two of the costliest loans in Blues history.

The Pato and Falcao experiments failed and cost younger attacking players a place in the squad and a chance to stake a claim for the season ahead. Whoever makes the decisions at Chelsea Football Club needs to take a look in the mirror after sanctioning those two deals.

What Brexit Could Mean To Football? – Chelsea Left Europe Months Ago

By Chelsea NewsNo Comments

In politics, the UK looks to have voted by a wafer-thin margin to leave the European Union. It was a vote that divided opinion almost down the middle and has created an incredibly emotional response.

But there are more important things than the economy and self-determination, football is all we really care about.

Already we have seen fans across the world worried about what this could mean for football and the game that they love. As Chelsea fans, we decided to leave Europe months ago, but fear not. Our place at Europe’s top table of football will be waiting for Antonio Conte should he help Chelsea qualify for European football next season.

After all UEFA includes countries that are not just not part of the European Union, but those that are not even in Europe like Israel and 97% of Turkey. Even if UEFA decided to get vindictive like the political debate would Europe want to turn away one of the big financial draws.

The Premier League is one of the most popular football leagues in the world and this is unlikely to change regardless of whether the UK is part of a trade bloc.

What About Foreign Stars Post Brexit

The other aspect of Brexit that we have seen people talking about is Chelsea’s army of foreign stars. Whether this be from Europe or overseas stars that use European passports to play within the UK.

In the short term nothing will change the current players on the books will most likely be unaffected, how this will work in the long term will depend on the negotiations that take place in the coming months and years.

Players like Eden Hazard, Kurt Zouma and even our manager Antonio Conte will not have their passports revoked and business will essentially continue as normal. It may however make the club more apprehensive to invest in youth talent based on the current visa system.

Overall football and Chelsea will be fine, but fans will be watching with interest

See the full Telegraph analysis of Brexit on Football

 

 

 

Jose Mourinho To United Painful For Chelsea Fans

By Chelsea NewsNo Comments

So it looks as if Jose Mourinho has found his next job and it will be a painful one for Chelsea fans. After Louis Van Gaal managed to bore everyone in the Premier League and fail to get results they are looking to a Chelsea legend to revive their fortunes.

Not everyone is convinced he is the right man for the job, those people are idiots. As sickening as it is Jose Mourinho will rally the troops and revive the fortunes of our great rivals.

The thought of him in the Old Trafford dug-out is sickening, the thought of a man we see as one of us managing Manchester United is enough to make anyone want to shove a piece of celery through their own skull.

However this is where we are. Mourinho has long flirted with the job and after we let him leave can we really be surprised that he has taken one of the few jobs in world football that will offer him a challenge at the level he needs to feel a sense of accomplishment.

I refuse to wish him well in his new job, but I refuse to hate him or judge him for the decision. During his time at the Bridge he delivered 3 Premier League titles and laid the foundations for a decade of dominance the first time out. Such was his impact that he will forever be the measure of a Chelsea manager just like the Matt Busby’s, Shanklys and Paisleys at other clubs.

He will always be a legend and will get a rousing reception when he returns to the Bridge, but I hope he fails and fails hard.

The ‘Special One’ may no longer be as special but we can not forget his achievements based on one poorly thought out decision to join Manchester United.

Begging CFC Fans No John Terry Walkout on 26th Minute

By Chelsea FC HistoryNo Comments

There has been some nonsense about a John Terry walkout during the 26th minute during the final game of the season against Leicester, in protest at John Terry getting a new contract.

Whilst words cannot express our disappointment that Terry will not get a chance for a proper send off on Sunday a John Terry walkout is not an appropriate way and totally misguided.

No John Terry Walkout

We understand the frustration but the end of the line of a legend is a time for celebration not squabbles. Terry has enjoyed a magnificent career at Stamford Bridge that should be celebrated and not mired in controversy.

Unfortunately, legends come to the end of the road eventually and unless a dramatic change of heart happens we have reached it with Terry.

We feel he still has at least a year in him if not more at the top level, the board have decided that the end of the road for Terry is now. We do not agree with this decision but we should make that clear via song and by celebrating him not by deflecting an overall disdain for the board into the end of an era.

There may never be another Chelsea player like John Terry, he has been the most successful captain in the club’s history by a country mile. With him leading the way we have been crowned champions, faced despair in Moscow and gained redemption in Munich.

He has led the way as we went from pretenders to one of the most feared clubs in Europe, just ask Barcelona how they feel when they think of facing us in Europe.

At times he has been controversial and maybe not walked the path the way that we would hope, but shining through have always been his passion for the club and a winning desire.

He has truly been a captain, leader, legend for Chelsea Football Club and no words will ever express how grateful we have been to call him our captain.

If we truly have reached the end of the road, let’s do it in celebration, let’s do it singing about doubles, European cups and glory, not by being first in the beer queue

John Terry Walkout

Chelsea Fans Make It Clear They Care About Only One Thing For Rest Of Season For Rest Of Season

By Chelsea NewsNo Comments

Chelsea fans at Bournemouth on Saturday made it clear that only one thing matters between now and the end of the season and that is beating Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge next weekend.

Spurs are currently five points behind Leicester and whatever happens over the weekend if we defeat them we will effectively deny them the title and I don’t know about you but I cannot bear the idea of hearing Spurs fans celebrate a league title.

Therefore the message in the video below should be ringing in the ears of Chelsea players as they train this week!

Will Antonio Conte Fix It For Chelsea?

By Chelsea NewsOne Comment

Finally the worst kept secret in football has been outed and Antonio Conte has been confirmed as the manager tasked to rebuild after a shambolic 2015/2016 season that seems to be dragging on.

He will take on a team that were crowned champions just one year before but have fallen off a cliff. Conte will need to work out who can be salvaged and who will need to be moved on. He also has a mountain of loan players to sift through and we could see some head back, particularly Juan Cuadrado who has impressed again in Italy this season.

Conte is not someone we at FamousCFC.com have a lot of knowledge about but he has pedigree via Juventus and the Italy job, apparently he is a disciplinarian and this will be needed given the issues of the last 12 months.

It will be a tough job, but maybe Conte can be the one to fix what is broken at Chelsea!

Did You Make A Match Fixing Pun?

Never ones to take the easy road the Chelsea board have courted controversy once again by picking a man who is yet to be exonerated from a match fixing scandal earlier on in his managerial career. Although according to WAGNH a prominent Chelsea blog that has the time dig into these things we have not that much to worry about.

The case seems a little flimsy and as WAGNH state

SHOULD WE WORRY?

Probably not.  (Clearly, neither did Juve as they kept the faith during the initial investigations and trial, nor did the Italian FA themselves who then proceeded to hire the man to coach the national team!)

The latest reports all agree that Conte will be free to start the Chelsea job regardless of the outcome of the latest (last?) trial.  Prosecutors, after all, are not actually seeking a prison sentence.  Even if convicted, he will most likely receive the equivalent of a slap on the wrist, though obviously his reputation will suffer.  There’s no doubt in my mind that the media and the tabloids are frothing at the mouth at just such a prospect.  It’s a good thing we’re used to such things, right?

 

Where Were You When Pato Scored? (Video)

By Chelsea NewsNo Comments

Where were you when Pato Scored?

The 2,000 Chelsea fans at Villa Park on Saturday were to witness a moment of unparalleled history as world football’s hide and seek champion Alexandre Pato finally emerged from the shadows to make his Chelsea debut.

He was greeted with hysteria by Chelsea fans who could not understand why he was signed to pick up a million quid in wages while blatantly injured and needing a pre-season before being fit. He is currently on track to be fit and at his best for the European Championships, just a shame he is not European really.

As he came on he was greeted by sarcastic cheers by Chelsea fans who went on to cheer every touch and chant “Give the Ball To Pato” at every opportunity, cheering every touch and booing every time he was dispossessed.

However that all changed at the end of the first half. Bundled over going for a cross in the box he won a penalty. Chelsea fans went crazy when they found out he was going to take it, the anticipation hit fever pitch. Fans already in the bar area for half time rushed back on the pitch, and it built to a crescendo before he finally fired the ball home, and everyone went mental.

WE WERE THERE WHEN PATO SCORED

Commentators and fans may find the way Pato was treated and the reaction to his goal strange, but in context, it makes perfect sense.

With the season nearly over and Pato unlikely to be part of plans the number of chances he is going to get to score again limited. After paying so much money and waiting for so long for his services it is only right we enjoy his moment of glory.

After all like an Arsenal or Liverpool title win, it is likely it will never happen again.