Grant's Heroic Dad Set To Be Wembley Guest

[warnie_666 1,081]

Meir, a holocaust survivor of the Second World War, is Grant's idol and the 52-year-old Israeli has paid for his dad to see their Wembley showdown with Tottenham.

Grant knew nothing of his family's fate until one night, aged 15, he heard his father screaming in his sleep and rushed into his room to find that he was having a bad dream.

His father explained that he had been dreaming he was back in the Russian forest in which he had been forced to dig graves for his parents and five brothers and sisters as each, in turn, died of cold or starvation. Only he and one brother survived.

Now Grant's proudest day as a manager will be cause for a double celebration when Meir attends the game.

His presence will be made more poignant by the fact that anti-Semitic threats were sent to Chelsea's training ground while the team lined up against Olympiacos in the Champions League.

Grant said: 'My father was 80 years old on Thursday so we are celebrating of course, and he will be at the game.

'I don't know if you know the story of my father but he is a great man, one of the greatest that I know. He is optimistic like I have never seen in my life and he suffered a lot in the age when he was young.

'He was a survivor of the holocaust and I am of the name of my grandfather that died in the holocaust. But what impressed me about him is that he always sees the positive things.

'Even now, he is optimistic. If you speak to him about the past, he says it was in the past but I live the future. He's only 80 years old. I wish him all the best. I love him.

'My father would accept everything in a positive way. Everything that happened in my life, I can only thank them for it. I have bought him his ticket - I think I can afford it!'

Meir was 13 when he and his family fled their native Poland in 1941.

'In 1941 we realised things were looking bleak in Poland and decided to take our chances in Russia,' said Meir.

'We were exiled to the far north. Guards dropped us off in a forest and said, `build a home or die'.

'It was minus 40 in winter and in such circumstances, people who are not young stand no chance.

'When I buried my father, I cut off my peyot [sidecurls] and removed my kippah. To survive, you must look forward in hope, never back.

'Avram is similar to me. He gets on with everyone and never argues but knows how to shout if people aren't working the way they should.'

Against Tottenham, Grant is struggling with the dilemma of whether to recall captain John Terry and Frank Lampard.

Both were left out of the Champions League game against Olympiacos and there is growing speculation they may miss out against Spurs.

But Grant admitted he cannot keep all the players happy all the time.

'I don't think it is possible to keep them happy all the time,' Grant said.

'But when you have a big squad, you have problems like this sometimes. I think the players have shown, until now, great attitude from the beginning when it was a very difficult time and I will not forget it.

'I think now when you speak about John Terry and Lampard that they are available to play, I think you need to respect the players that played without them.'

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id...479&cc=5901

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Against Tottenham, Grant is struggling with the dilemma of whether to recall captain John Terry and Frank Lampard.

'I think now when you speak about John Terry and Lampard that they are available to play, I think you need to respect the players that played without them.'

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id...479&cc=5901

Dilemma? They're the soul of the team. And I think you need to respect what those players have done for the club and what they mean to the fans.

[Laylabelle 9,411]

Dilemma? They're the soul of the team. And I think you need to respect what those players have done for the club and what they mean to the fans.

Exactly and JT the sodding captain for christ sake he should play!And if they dont it make leaving them out Tuesday completly pointless.

[warnie_666 1,081]

Dilemma? They're the soul of the team. And I think you need to respect what those players have done for the club and what they mean to the fans.

And what about the respect to those players that got us through to the final in tough times.?

We lost Carlo Cudicini when Cech took his place as Cudicini was injured. Mourinho dint replace Cech with Cudicini again, cus Cech was performaing top class. And mind you..he was the Players choice for Man of the season.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

And what about the respect to those players that got us through to the final in tough times.?

We lost Carlo Cudicini when Cech took his place as Cudicini was injured. Mourinho dint replace Cech with Cudicini again, cus Cech was performaing top class. And mind you..he was the Players choice for Man of the season.

I see your point, but in those 'tough times' we hardly played United or Arsenal.

[True_Blue 469]

Drop Frank and John and i will shot down you and your father you brainless cunt

[warnie_666 1,081]

I see your point, but in those 'tough times' we hardly played United or Arsenal.

And we arent playing them anyways in the final. We played liverpool, and Frank Lampard put in an amazing performance dint he?. No one can play 90 mins in a match within 2 weeks of starting to play again after 2 months of injury. Terry has had just one match. Managers need to take tough decisions, you cant keep everyone happy. Put yourself in Alex's place...uve played soo many matches, helped your team reach the finals. And your boss tells you, mate you gotta sit out of this cus your captain has just come out of the injury after 2 and half months. IT IS NOT FAIR ON HIM or BALLACK!!!..Ballakc carried the mantle when we had no players to play in the midfield.

Team comes first and not the individuals!!...The Fans should understand that.

And against the liverpool game, you had your example on what happens when you change the winning combination...You get a Dull game. Grant changed the combination in the last 2 games from what we had when we won 9 games on the trot and all we got was 2 of the most boring matches we played.

Edited February 23, 2008 by warnie_666

[changingman2000 35]

Sorry, cant comment, too busy getting some practise in with a 7.62 sniper rifle

Edited February 24, 2008 by changingman2000

[BlueLion. 21,491]

And we arent playing them anyways in the final. We played liverpool, and Frank Lampard put in an amazing performance dint he?. No one can play 90 mins in a match within 2 weeks of starting to play again after 2 months of injury. Terry has had just one match. Managers need to take tough decisions, you cant keep everyone happy. Put yourself in Alex's place...uve played soo many matches, helped your team reach the finals. And your boss tells you, mate you gotta sit out of this cus your captain has just come out of the injury after 2 and half months. IT IS NOT FAIR ON HIM or BALLACK!!!..Ballakc carried the mantle when we had no players to play in the midfield.

Team comes first and not the individuals!!...The Fans should understand that.

And against the liverpool game, you had your example on what happens when you change the winning combination...You get a Dull game. Grant changed the combination in the last 2 games from what we had when we won 9 games on the trot and all we got was 2 of the most boring matches we played.

Terry is the captain. What's the point of having one if he and the vice captain are not going to play? Alex knew when he came to Chelsea he would have to work hard to get into the first team with Terry and Ricardo in the team. He has performed admirably and in my eyes is the best signing of the summer (although he was signed some time ago), though he is always going to be second fiddle until Ricardo or JT either retire or leave. And regarding Frank, he shouldn't have been played in that game, he was put straight back into the team. I agree with what you are saying and I find it appropriate to every other player in the squad - just not Terry and Lampard.

[Hingis 0]

Avram a hero ? A loser for sure ! Get the Sack, ffs !

[cfc-meleady 192]

FUCK OFF YOU UNLUCKY CUNT!

[Elliott 7]

His dad must be so ashamed of his son