Fulham Broadway

Bookies rarely get their pre odds wrong. With the exiting of Maka, I notice Skybet and Paddy Power have reduced their odds by 50% regarding number of clean sheets next season.......

When you consider the state we were in last season, what with key personnel missing and with the tub of lard in charge, along with how close we ran the Manchester/Yank franchise in the league and CL.... you have to ask yourself is he shitting himself ... and not just from the usual incontinence ? Just concentrate on keeping Ron 'ladyboy' aldo sweet, old man. Although, to be fair hes doing a sterling team talk for CFC, and he's already motivated Essien with his incoherent ramblings...

Ferguson taunts Scolari: You will never be as good as Mourinho Sir Alex Ferguson (73 year old wino) Sir Alex Ferguson has taunted new Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari - by telling him he has no chance of matching Jose Mourinho. The Manchester United boss fired the first psychological shots before the new Premier League season by writing off Chelsea's chances of success under their new manager. "I'm not concerned about Chelsea," said Fergie. "There's no-one who can improve on Mourinho's record. He won the title two years in a row and beat us in the FA Cup Final. Scolari would have to go beyond Mourinho's performance to worry us." Fergie also cast doubt on the ex-Brazil and Portugal coach's ability to communicate properly with his Chelsea players, questioning the 60-year-old's command of English. And Fergie branded Chelsea an ageing team whose best days are behind them. "I don't know how far that team has got to go," he said. "It's hard to see where there's going to be a big improvement with a team like Chelsea that's really very experienced. "It's hard to seem them accelerating beyond what they've done up to now. When you see the ages they've got, apart from Salomon Kalou, you have the likes of Michael Ballack, who is 32. "I'm not necessarily saying they're old, because with modern training methods you should be playing in your 30s. What I'm saying is that I don't see outstanding progress from a team in their 30s. "Scolari has managed a lot of clubs so he's experienced, which is one thing he has in his favour. "He's managed Brazil and won theWorld Cup with them, and been in charge of Portugal. "But I don't think he even speaks English, does he?" Fergie is much more wary of Liverpool and Arsenal. He added: "I wouldn't write off Liverpool or Arsenal. "What Arsenal achieved last season has been understated, because they got injuries at a bad time. Who's to say that it wouldn't have been closer if Arsene Wenger had kept his players fit?" Mirror/various Edwin Van Saar is 11 years older than Cech, Rio 'druggy' Ferdinand older than Terry, its pointless asking the greedy old pisshead to get a grip.......

Well I still reckon it's Lampards agent Kuntner, who's been pushing for this mainly. Not done his client too many favours really, as this dirty washing has been aired in the public arena for a month or two now. It means fat frank will be scrutinised, and if he has a bad patch like he did a season or two ago, fans may get on his back if hes taking £150 000 week in week out. On the positive if he carries on 20 odd goals a term for the next 3 years , they obviously think it's worth it.... ....don't get me started on Kenyon this early, still eating breakfast, and I could chuck up. I did notice the fat necked fake smiler was, not content with going up to get a fucking Champions League medal, has been signing shirts in China. Is there no limit to the cunts arrogance ?

Robinhos agent would like it to be his client by all accounts...

Very true Aroop. Always played with tremendous spirit,one of the French greats.

Stuttgart coach Armin Veh has revealed the Bundesliga club have agreed personal terms with Chelsea defender Khalid Boulahrouz.The 26-year-old, whose stock rose considerably following his performances in Holland's Euro 2008 campaign, is expected to cost in the region of five million euros. "He is just the man we were lacking," Veh told the Bild newspaper. "He is one who is not scared of getting involved when needed." After two disappointing seasons with Chelsea and Sevilla, Boulahrouz should welcome a move back to Germany, where he enjoyed two productive seasons with Hamburg before making his 13 million euro move to the Blues in 2006. PA Sports Was always going to be surplus...

Arrived because Madrid were too stingy to pay him a decent wage -how they must have been kicking themselves....

Very true Yougs. The yid fans expressions behind the goal are priceless

Get in

Impossible to gauge his contribution to silverware, titles, even less so the amount of opponents moves he broke down and intercepted. Easier to count these

Luiz Felipe Scolari has rubbished rumours Didier Drogba could be leaving Chelsea after he was left out of the club's tour of Asia. Drogba was missing from the squad that flew to China on Sunday, fuelling rumours of a possible move away from Stamford Bridge. "Didier's future with Chelsea is normal because he has a contract with us," said Scolari. "I hope when we come back he'll be in good condition." SSN

Essien signs new five-year with Chelsea worth £20m to end Mourinho's hopes Michael Essien has agreed a new £20million five-year contract with Chelsea. New deal: Essien has signed a reported £80,000 a week contract The Blues have moved quickly to stave off interest from Inter Milan manager Jose Mourinho. The Ghana midfielder, 25, had signed a five-year contract just 18 months ago but Chelsea did not want to take any chances and reports in The Sun suggest they have offered him a year's extension to 2013 in a deal worth £80,000 a week. A source close to Essien said: 'Michael is delighted with the new deal. It's true that as soon as Jose Mourinho took over at Inter he made it clear he wanted Michael in Milan. But a new deal had almost already been agreed with Chelsea.' Essien has been one of Chelsea's most consistent performers after arriving from Lyon three years ago in a £24.4m deal and is central to new boss Phil Scolari's plans. Essien was always the first name on former Blues chief Mourinho's team-sheet and continued to be one of Chelsea's key players last season after the Portuguese manager's departure. The dynamic midfielder becomes the latest Chelsea star to pen an improved agreement after full-back Wayne Bridge. Daily Mail More good news

Chelsea keeper Cech signs five-year deal to stay at Stamford Bridge until 2013 Petr Cech has signed a new five-year contract with Chelsea. The deal, which keeps the 26-year-old goalkeeper at Stamford Bridge until 2013, was completed late last week but announced as the team touched down today in Guangzhou, China, for the pre-season tour of Asia. The Czech international arrived in the summer of 2004 from Rennes and has made 115 appearances in four seasons with the Blues. New deal: Petr Cech Cech has played a total of 166 games in all competitions - recording 90 clean sheets - for Chelsea and was thrilled to extend his contract. 'It is an honour to be at a club like Chelsea and I am very happy to have renewed my contract with them,' said Cech. 'Chelsea has grown in my heart, not just because of my team-mates and all the people that work for the club but also because of their fantastic fans.'In his first season with the Blues, Cech was awarded with the Barclays Premiership Golden Gloves, as he set a new record in top flight football for not conceding a goal in 1,024 minutes and for the most clean sheets (21) in a single Premier League season. Despite a high-profile blunder in the Euro 2008 match against Turkey, Cech is one of the world's top goalkeepers. He was voted UEFA's Most Valuable Goalkeeper in the 2005-06 season, along with being named the IFFHS (International Federation of Football History & Statistics) World's Best Goalkeeper in 2005. The news of Cech's deal is another boost for new manager Luiz Felipe Scolari, following the announcement of Wayne Bridge's new contract last week and the recent capture of Portuguese international Deco. The goalkeeper added: 'I gave my first interview when I arrived at Chelsea in 2004 and I had said that it had been my dream to play for one of the best clubs in the world and in the best league in the world - this came true and I am very pleased my dream will last. 'Personally I have to say I cannot wait for the new season to start. 'I am confident that it will be a very successful season for all of us.' Scolari said: 'I am delighted that Petr has signed a new contract. 'In my view he is the best goalkeeper in the world, so I am very pleased that he will remain with me at Chelsea." Chief executive Peter Kenyon added: 'I think everybody agrees with Felipe's assessment that Petr is the best goalkeeper in the world so naturally we are very happy he has committed his long term future to us,' Kenyon said. 'He has been a key player in the club's success in the last four years. 'He has also shown himself throughout this time to be a top professional and is a great ambassador for the club on and off the field.' Daily Mail Great news

Agree, the pace starts to wane (tell me about it). One reason why they're looking at that Falkirk 19 year old in the thread you started I suppose...

Good point. A player staying aginst his will is indeed rare -occasionally you get the Gallas's kicking against the bricks. My gut feeling, could be wrong, both Lampard and Drogba will be here next season, and there will be statements from the players (agents) and the club shortly saying everythings sweet. Presumably they're both flying out to China.

Nailed on then I reckon. The filthy beast.

Yeah saw that too. Now, if Drogba is tempramental, Eto is just mental. Lol can remember Robben watching our game with other players who were in Chels tracksuits, he was in Real Madrid white. Bit of a giveaway. Drogba is made out to be some sort of total cunt by the media. Fans turn against him for the 'diving' -do ManUtd fans have a go at Riverdance for the diving and theatricals, sly winks and general cuntishness ? Do they fuck. They get behind him and say hes the best in the world. Theres been an orchestrated campaign against Drogba -partly by the press to undermine Chelsea FC -a continuation of the resentment of Abramovich being so rich and buying the club, and because hes such a devastating forward. There also been misquotes by wanky French mags, and remember the things he was supposed to have said last year ? Laughable quotes in slang English ? Total mistranslations as well. As you say theres also a fragility of players living in a bubble, that bears no resemblance to the real world. To me Drogba keeps his feet on the ground -the amount of money and help he's ploughed back into Africa is amazing. I hate to say it if he was white and English, his weaknesses would be ignored. The reality is he'll be remembered as a Chelsea great, who was instrumental in titles and cups...the real danger now, as fans turn -will he start genuinely playing up. At the Bridge this time round, guaranteed theres going to be cunts boooooing him ....and Lampard, whatever the outcomes.

Well it's fairly certain the tight shorted one is one his way out -especially with Ivanovuch, and all but one of the Portuguese back four in situ. Wouldn't be surprised if he doesnt fly out -especially to Malaysia etc , him being Israeli and how they didnt want him there along with Grant. Also he's crap.

More confirmation, which is good news. To be fair if he was with Milan or any Italian team they'd be playing him in his 50s Claude Makelele has informed the club that he has turned down the chance to join Paris St-Germain and wants to remain at Stamford Bridge. Reuters

Looks like its going through.... Chelsea are set to sell Tal Ben Haim to Manchester City for £5m early next week. Independent, various.

From The Independent There was confusion yesterday over Didier Drogba after an agent who works for the Chelsea striker, Thierno Seydi, told France Football magazine that the Ivorian would sign a new contract at Chelsea if he failed to find another club in the next 10 days. That was met with astonishment by Chelsea. They have not received a single offer for Drogba, despite his stated desire to leave, while there has been no new contract offer for the 30-year-old who has two years left on his present deal. Neither are Chelsea contemplating offering Drogba a new deal. Last night it appeared that Seydi was backtracking on his statements, apparently claiming he had not spoken to the magazine, which last autumn had carried Drogba's first complaints about wanting to leave Chelsea, but that was met with some scepticism. New manager Luiz Felipe Scolari has stated he wants to keep the player but if a suitable offer was made . it would have to be around £25m . Chelsea are understood to be prepared to sell. I really dont think transfer costs have ruined football, nor do I think its Lampard or Drogba to blame. The made up stories and greedy agents who are supposed to represent players create the unrest, turn fans against players, and instil greed and inflated egos in players. This is a cancer of the game that needs to be quaterised.

..he's in the US. It must be Owen Hargreaves http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7512440.stm

Bogarde

RONALDO TO STAR IN REMAKE OF 'ROOTS' FOOTBALLER Cristiano Ronaldo is being lined up to star in a multi-million dollar remake of the epic TV series Roots. Ronaldo has demanded £3.5m per episodeProducers say the star's treatment at the hands of Manchester United make him the perfect choice to portray the young African slave who is beaten by his brutal masters. The Portuguese winger said he had been traumatised by 'outrageous' demands that he honour the £125,000 a week, legally-binding contract, which has brought him only, misery, adulation and Gemma Atkinson. Speaking from the titanium gazebo in the rose garden of his 31-room mansion, Ronaldo said: "I feel I can relate to the suffering of African slaves. "If anything, it is worse, because footballers cannot sing while we work, whereas they had time to develop gospel music during their 16-hours shifts before dropping dead from exhaustion." In the series a young African boy is dragged from his homeland and shipped to America where he is forced to work in the fields by a cruel and violent plantation owner. "The similarities are uncanny, though admittedly, the Lear Jet that flew me from Lisbon to Manchester wasn't packed with 150 other players sleeping head-to-toe." Ronaldo also conceded that, while the slave-master in Roots administered brutal beatings, Man Utd boss Sir Alex Ferguson had nurtured his talent, lavished him with praise and turned him into one of the best footballers in the world. "But without the freedom to do whatever I want, wherever I want, for whatever fee I want, I am exactly the same as a cotton picker forced to live in a shed, dying at the age of 32." He added: "I know the people will love my acting. Already, in the streets, I hear many of them calling me 'Kunta'."