Chelsea News

The Chelsea Football Club striker rollercoaster has kept fans and the media entertained for more than a decade. Whether it is overpaying for players that lose their mojo or missing out on targets their has been plenty of drama over the years.

Even Didier Drogba used to keep the summer interesting by “becoming unsettled” over the summer, but unlike others he would always find the antacid and get on with the business of scoring goals.

This summer we have had two sagas, the quest to sign Romelu Lukaku that failed spectacularly and the fate of perpetually dispirited Diego Costa.

The first one was simple the club would pay the money but the desire of the striker to go to the manager that rejected him and his agent to make all the monies meant that we missed out.

This has had an impact on the other saga that has been rolling on, the future of Diego Costa. After throwing his toys out of the pram in January in the summer he was reportedly told by text his services were no longer required.

However with Chelsea yet to sign an equivalent replacement (if such a thing exists) and his desired destination unable to buy players until January both parties have found themselves in a quandary that may see Conte and Costa kiss and make up.

This is probably the best situation all round, Costa is the closest thing to a guaranteed 20 goals a season as you can get in the Premier League and he needs to be playing heading into a World Cup year.

Costa will get Champions League football and still have plenty of time to plot his next move as Chelsea look to the future knowing the days of Costa dominating the Premier League are numbered.

How close the media reports are to the truth is always debatable, however the best bet for all sides is that the latest stories of reconciliation are true.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRB6UM4oneI

Get the latest Chelsea kits with your favourite players name on the back – GET THE SHIRT

We are exactly 30 days away from the kick-offto the new Premier League season and it is just about the time for a short preview with our expectations on the outright winners, the top four finish and the relegation battle.

Let’s start with the champions. Antonio Conte had a dream season in his debut at Stamford Bridge as his side completely dominated the competition from the very first round. On paper, the Blues look even stronger after signing Antonio Rudiger from Roma. However, Eden Hazard’s and Diego Costa’s statuses are still wide open, but if Roman Abramovic finds the way to keep them, Chelsea will certainly be among the main favourites. You can now have them at 7/2 to defend the title which is absolutely worth backing at this stage.

Tottenham Hotspur did not change literally anything in comparison to the last season. There are plenty of offers for both Dele Alli and Harry Kane, but we see themwearing the Spurs’ shirt in the next season as well.  The Spurs have been the most consistent of the top teams in the last five years and they are always a good shout for the top four finish – this time set at 8/11 odds.

Manchester City are the main favourites for the title according to the bookies who price them at 15/8 to lift the trophy and at 1/5 to battle out for the Champions League spots. It will be very interesting to see Bernardo Silva (who had an amazing season with Monaco last year) at The Etihad, but e honestly don’t see the value in backing the Citizens to go all the way at such low odds.

The last Champions League outfit is Liverpool who gained on the depth in the final third by signing Mohamed Salah from Roma. Jurgen Klopp learned a lot about Premier League last year and we would not be surprised to see the Reds in the contest for the very top of the standings this year. You can back the team from Anfield as an outside winners at 11/1 odds.

We must not forget the giants (Arsenal and Manchester United). The Gunners signed Alexandre Lacazette and Sead Kolasinac, while United lost Wayne Rooney and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but according to British media Lukaku’s move is a done deal. It’s hard to say if any of the two teams can go all the way, but they will clearly be in the battle for the top four. Arsenal are quite interesting at 1/1 for the top four finish.

As for the relegation battle, two newcomers (Huddersfield Town and Brighton Howe & Albion) are the main contenders to leave Premier League at the end of the season. We can’t see the Terriers competitive in the elite class of the English football and they are well worth backing to get relegated at the odds of 4/6.

Despite Chelsea being taken for a bit of a ride in the Romelu Lukaku saga, there is some good news as Antonio Rudiger signs for the Blues.

The deal worth between £29m and £34m depending on your source sees the German international join from Roma. Fans of Serie A will know him well but for those of us that don’t have the time to scout other leagues we have shared a Big Brother style video of his “best bits”

https://youtu.be/tU4-7TdzMnE

Antonio Rudiger Signs For Chelsea

The ever popular Emenalo weighed in on the Antonio Rudiger signs for Chelsea news which I am sure will reassure fans its money well spent (Sarcasm)

“We are pleased to be able to bring in a player of proven quality who adds to our defensive options, Antonio is still young but is experienced at club and international level and possesses all the requisite attributes to thrive in the Premier League. We have been aware of him for some time and we are confident he will fit in well with the squad.”

The fact Antonio Rudiger signs, gives us good cover in the centre of defence with Kurt Zouma, Gary Cahill, Cesar Azpilicueta, Rudiger, David Luiz and Andreas Christensen all competing for three spots.

So whilst Conte may be frustrated in our desire to sign a replacement for Diego Costa and losing out to Manchester United, there is at least some security in the back line with more firepower lined up.

In other transfer news reportedly, a deal has been agreed in principle for the Monaco midfielder, Tiemoué Bakayoko, for around £40m and negotiations continue with Juventus over their left wing-back, Alex Sandro, who would cost a club record £61m.

Excited by the signing of Rudiger why not get the latest Chelsea kits and adorn his name on the back – GET THE SHIRT

Despite its popularity it is not possible for a fan with even the biggest budget to watch every Premier League game, this makes illegal football streaming inevitable.

There are rules meaning that games kicking off at 3pm are blacked out on UK television, which combined with the needs of broadcasters means under half of games each weekend can be watched LEGALLY.

Outside of the UK depending on the broadcaster this is not the case with US and Asian markets often able to watch every game over a weekend whilst fans of the Premier League need to have two sports subscriptions and are still relying on highlights packages to get their entire football fix.

How To Stop Illegal Football Streaming

The simple fix is simple, make every game available to UK users for a reasonable fee and the demand for illegal football streaming will fall through the floor. Admittedly this will not solve the problem completely but it will reduce the number of fans relying on dodgy links and streams to get their live football fix.

The BBC estimate that a third of Premier League football fans regularly watch matches via illegal streams, so something needs to be done to change the culture.

Unfortunately, the government, broadcasters and decision makers are focussing on cracking down on illegal football streaming rather than solving the issue at hand.

As the film industry learnt, once you give people a better service the amount of piracy drops, sure you will never get to the point of absolute zero but you can make a real difference. This could be offered as an online stream and a revenue charged, everyone can make more money and the game can grow.

The 3pm blackout is not working and is harming the game. Whilst there is a need to protect lower league attendances, they are unlikely to drop significantly with a change to allow the broadcast in the UK.

Illegal football streaming may be a problem, but it is not going away unless the powers that be show an evolution in their thinking to adapt to the modern game.

John Terry’s move to Aston Villa has confused many and left them wondering if seeing out his playing career in the Championship will damage his Chelsea legacy.

These people are idiots.

The idea that the John Terry legacy at Chelsea will be tarnished by going to Aston Villa is an incredibly short sighted and stupid viewpoint to take. Despite what opposition fans may say about him in public he leaves Chelsea one of the greatest players of the modern era.

His move to Aston Villa may or may not work out, but that will not change his place in the history of the Premier League or as one of the greatest English defenders of all time.

He joins Aston Villa in the Championship despite offers to stay in the Premier League, not wanting to line up against his beloved Blues.

The time was right for him to leave Chelsea as he was no longer able to contribute as much as he would have wanted, his competitive spirit meaning that all his move to Villa can remove the most pointless moniker of being a “one club man”

John Terry Legacy

At Chelsea, the John Terry legacy at Stamford Bridge will be felt for decades. After all his story is one that every footballer dreams of. He joined the youth team rose through the ranks, became captain and then went on to win it all.

The home-grown player that bridged the gap between the pre-and post Abramovich and captained the side to nirvana time and time again. He won more for Chelsea over two decades than the majority of English clubs have won in their entire existence.

We admit that John Terry has had moments that may not endear him to others, but his talent and impact on Chelsea is clear to see.

Even if he went to play in the Evo Stick Premier League and couldn’t get in the team his legacy would remain. Even if he got drawn against Chelsea in the cup and scored a hat trick against the Blues, he would still be remembered as the man who set up a dynasty.

So we hope he has a good season at Aston Villa and you never know he could be back at Chelsea in the dugout in the future.

Have you seen the new Chelsea kit? Pick up yours today by clicking here

For football starved fans there may not be any matches or blockbuster transfers but the 2017/2018 Chelsea shirt launch gives us a handy reminder that eventually football will return.

Next season Chelsea will wear Nike Football kits for the first time with Yokohama entering their third year as the main sponsor.

See the kit here 

Needless to say, they will be happier after the Blues atoned for a terrible opening season by storming to the title and qualifying for the Champions League.

About The Design

The design seems quite simple and elegant, something that as fans we like at FamousCFC.com.

There is some shading but overall we have kept the colour the shade of Blue that defines the club with some toning to add a modern feel.

The round neckline includes a white trim with “CHELSEA” knitted into the back of the neck in white text, while “THE BLUES” is knitted onto the inside cuff of the right sleeve, with “EST. 1905,” a nod to the year of the club’s foundation, on the left sleeve.

The shirt and shorts of the away kit are white with a soft silver hue a good reminder of our ever-growing collection of silverware and the shirt has the same text embedded.

The techy amongst you may also purr over Aeroswift Technology which according to the marketing team at Nike enhances breathability, mobility and speed.

Perfect for the players on the pitch and the bustling at the bar at The Goose on matchdays.

2017/2018 Chelsea Shirt The Verdict

At FamousCFC.com we like the shirt it is simple, elegant. Unlike some designs in the past that have taken some getting used to, it just looks like a natural Chelsea shirt.

Will we be buying one? Well we will have to speak to the Mrs but the omens are good!

You can get yours by CLICKING HERE

Following an imperious Premier League season and title win, Chelsea now have the opportunity to claim a famous domestic double in Antonio Conte’s first season. So what does the form book say will happen at Wembley?

FA Cup Finals do, of course, have their own special atmosphere but a dig into Chelsea’s recent form, and that of their opponents Arsenal, gives some indication as to which corner of London the trophy could be heading to.

Psychologically Chelsea are buoyant after winning the league title at a canter, while Arsenal face up to the harsh reality of being without Champions League football for the first time in 20 years.

OVERALL FORM GUIDE

The Premier League title was wrapped-up by the time Chelsea put Sunderland to the sword on the final day of the season.

That win capped a six-game winning streak that followed defeat against Man United in April.

Arsenal pulled together a run of five wins at the end of the season but have laboured far more this campaign. Nine defeats and six draws overall as compared to Chelsea’s five defeats and three draws.

Chelsea’s FA Cup campaign has been taxing at times, with The Blues facing stubborn opposition in Man United and Spurs to reach Wembley this weekend.

By comparison The Gunner have had it easy, with only Man City presenting any real threat to their progression in a pulsating Semi-final encounter.

HEAD-TO-HEAD FORM GUIDE

Arsenal’s decent finish to the season was built on a string of  strong defensive performances.

Switching to a back-three made the Gunners more sure-footed at the back and meant they conceded just nine goals and kept four clean sheets in the final ten EPL games.

Chelsea won one more game across those ten fixtures, but importantly outscored Arsenal by 11 goals.A goal per game ratio of nearly 3:1 is illustrated by strong offensive form averages that show Chelsea are far more lethal in front of goal than their London rivals.

While defensive form averages seems to marginally favour Arsenal, Chelsea have been a stronger defensive unit overall this season – shipping 11 fewer goals than The Gunners throughout the campaign.

FA Cup Final predictions

Both teams are likely to score based on previous data (56% probability) with Chelsea the favourites to win (56% probability).

Chelsea are more likely to score first (54% probability). And if the game doesn’t reach the end of normal time without a winner(1-1 is the most probable score line), three or more goals are likely to have been scored (56% probability) by the two sides.

Preview and football tips courtesy of KickOff

 

Today marks five years since Chelsea became the only team in London with a European Cup!

As someone lucky enough to be in the ground it is possibly the greatest day of my life (apologies to the wife). To celebrate the anniversary we found five videos that everytime we watch them give us goosebumps and almost reduce us to tears.

1. How We Got There

A look at the pain to get to Munich in the first place. Starting in Moscow in 2008, the controversies of 2009 against Barcelona. The disastrous period for Andre Villas Boas and the comeback against Napoli.

Then there is the miracle of the Nou Camp, which may or may not include a grown man having an orgasm over Fernando Torres.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReK1waJFhLI

2) The Day Of The Game

There were maybe 50,000 Chelsea fans and 1m Munich fans in the centre of the city before kick off. We were making plenty of noise

3) The Game

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djo8i8YyHUs

4) The video from the Bayern Munich end

5) Our view as Drogba took the winning penalty.

Last year Ramires ended a six-year stay at Stamford Bridge to move to Jiangsu Suning in China having fallen out of favour at Chelsea.

Arriving in the summer of 2010, the Brazilian international gradually imposed himself with his strong running and tough tackling, scoring the club’s Goal of the Season in his first term. Ramires was a popular player for Chelsea amongst players and fans, he always worked hard and chipped in with the odd goal.

Ramires Record At Chelsea

He was a regular in the Chelsea side for multiple seasons and made 251 appearances for Chelsea, scoring 34 goals.

He won the Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League and Europa League as a Chelsea player, but if you ask about his crowning moment then it will be an against all odds victory in the Nou Camp that comes to mind.

We thought we would celebrate his trophy-laden career at Chelsea with a video of that Ramires goal v Barcelona that makes him immortal at Chelsea.

Ramires goal v Barcelona came as Chelsea had gone behind on the night, down to ten men and destined for defeat against a rampant Barcelona. Then in a moment, he turned the game on it’s head with a beautiful chip on a rare Chelsea counter attack set up by Frank Lampard.

Chelsea spent the entire second half clinging on, until the Torres breakaway goal with just moments left. Unfortunately despite scoring that Ramires goal v Barcelona he picked up a yellow card meaning he had to watch the miracle of Munich from the sidelines.

Ramires Goal v Barcelona

Here is the goal that will forever be etched into our minds when we think of Ramires, we wish him well in China. At 28 though we hope that he will find his way back to Europe and maybe even the Premier League in the future.