Tag Archives: Chelsea

Chelsea announce trio to leave

Posted on by
Reply

Joe Cole, Michael Ballack and Juliano Belletti will leave Chelsea (13/8f with totesport to win the 2010/11 Premier League title) this summer after failing to agree new terms at Stamford Bridge.

Cole’s contract saga has been the source of much speculation over the last couple of months, with the 28-year-old now due to leave on a free transfer.

The former West Ham man has spent the last seven years at Stamford Bridge, but has found himself struggling for first-team football following a lengthy spell on the sidelines through injury.

Cole suffered cruciate knee ligament damage in January 2009 and although he helped the Blues to the 2009/10 title, the form of Florent Malouda saw him spend a large chunk of the season on the bench.

Chelsea were keen to keep the England international but a new deal could not be agreed, with Premier League clubs now queing up for his signature.

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp, who worked with Cole at West Ham, has already expressed an interest while Arsenal and Manchester United have also been linked.

The player himself (16/1 to be England’s top World Cup scorer) insists the news will not distract his attentions away from the task in hand for his country at the World Cup.

Cole insisted: “My future will sort itself out. It won’t distract me. It has been going on for a while and it is a story to be told at another time.

“I want to try and do my best for England over the next few weeks.”

Meanwhile, Ballack will also bring to an end his spell with Chelsea when his contract expires at the end of June.

The Germany captain, who will miss the World Cup through injury, had been optimistic of signing a new deal with the Premier League champions.

Ballack, who said Chelsea were his “first option” was seeking a two-year deal and Chelsea are understood to have been offering a 12-month contract.

His agent, Michael Becker, says the midfielder would have been willing to take a pay cut and admitted he was “completely surprised” by the news.

Belletti leaves Stamford Bridge after three years at the club and will also be available on a free transfer this summer.

The Brazilian, who was omitted from his country’s World Cup squad, is now 33 and has not been offered a new contract with the west London outfit.

Having joined Chelsea from Barcelona, there are early suggestions that the defender could head back to Spain during the close season.

Bet on the World Cup and get £200. Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

Chelsea ready to fight for star

Posted on by
Reply

Chelsea midfielder Joe ColeChelsea assistant manager Ray Wilkins says the Blues (13/8 2010/2011 Premier League champions) are desperate to try and keep Joe Cole at Stamford Bridge.

The 28-year-old is set to see his contract expire with the west London outfit at the end of June and there are plenty of clubs interested in securing his services should he fail to negotiate a new deal with Chelsea.

The likes of Manchester United, West Ham, Tottenham and Arsenal have all been linked with a move for the England (13/2 to win the World Cup) international, who is stalling over signing a new contract due to money issues.

Cole allegedly wants to see his weekly pay rise from £80,000 to £100,000, a sum Chelsea are unwilling to match.

It seems unlikely that any of the other clubs believed to be interested in Cole would be prepared to match his wage demands and as such he may have to settle for what the Blues are offering.

However, having been used sparingly by manager Carlo Ancelotti last season, Cole might see his future lying elsewhere.

Manchester United (2/1 2010/11 Premier League champions) have long been credited with an interest in the former West Ham (1500/1) youngster, although it could cost them a bit to persuade him to move out of London.

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has said he thought the club couldn’t afford Cole’s wage demands, and West Ham would appear to be in a similar boat with their financial troubles.

Arsenal looks the most likely destination for Cole and Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has previously admitted the proposition of signing Cole was “interesting”.

The north London club are desperate to strengthen their side ahead of the new season having failed to claim any silverware since their 2005 FA Cup success.

With captain Cesc Fabregas reportedly on the verge of leaving, Wenger could be handed a big transfer budget to try and replace the Spaniard, with Cole a possible candidate to try and fill the void left by Fabergas.

However, any ideas Arsenal have about signing the playmaker could be stopped in their tracks following Wilkins’ comments.

He says the Blues are still fighting to keep Cole and would be very happy to see him stay at Stamford Bridge.

“We’ve obviously been in dialogue with Joe for months now and it’s pretty evident that Carlo and myself would love Joe to stay but it’s down now to the club to see what we can do,” said Wilkins.

“We sincerely hope Joe stays with us – he’s a smashing guy and he’s a wonderful footballer so we’ll keep our fingers crossed.”

Bet on the World Cup and get £200. Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

Chelsea chasing two big signings

Posted on by
Reply

Chelsea celebrate FA Cup final winChelsea (13/9 2010/11 Premier League winners) will not be going mad in the transfer market this summer but Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti will be looking to add a couple of quality additions as he goes in search of more glory.

The Blues stole the show domestically last season when winning the double but it is European glory the club are craving and Roman Abramovich is ready to bankroll two major signings.

Ancelotti is delighted with his squad and is not thinking about wholesale changes but with Joe Cole and Michael Ballack expected to move on, the Italian needs replacements and he may have to spend big to get them.

“I have said that in every year there is some refreshing of the squad and maybe we can expect three or four in and three or four out,” chairman Bruce Buck revealed.

“But this year I think Carlo has said two or three in and two or three out and he is very satisfied with the current squad.

“We can expect a couple of changes but that is just the nature of football, you can’t have the jigsaw puzzle together and that is it forever.

“Let’s see how the summer pans out. Once we are really clear on the kind of vacancies we may have and what we want to fill, we will decide what kind of player we want.

Sergio Aguero, Franck Ribery and Alexandre Pato are names that refuse to go away and if Ancelotti could land two of those three then Chelsea will look almost unstoppable next season.

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson says he may only make one new signing this summer and that will not be enough if Chelsea land the two world-class players they are after.

Arsenal (6/1 to win the Premier League) could be weaker if Cesc Fabregas ups and leaves for Barcelona, while there are huge question marks over Liverpool (10/1) after they finished way down in seventh following an awful season.

Tottenham have broken into the top four this season but it could be a flash in the pan and they would have to spend big to get anywhere near the top two.

Manchester City could be the main challengers to Chelsea’s crown but even with all their millions they may struggle to attract the quality they need due to the fact their will be no Champions League football at Eastlands.

It is looking good for Chelsea again next season and if Ancelotti’s transfer plans pan out as he hopes then the Blues could be ready to add the European Cup to their trophy cabinet.

ToteSport bookmaker will give you £60 in Free Bets. Click here to check them out.

Chelsea Complete The Club’s First ‘Double’

Posted on by
Reply

post thumbnail

chelsea double record 298x300 Chelsea Complete The Clubs First DoubleChelsea fans have enjoyed the greatest successes in the club’s history since Roman Abramovich took over the club in 2004. Two big prizes have eluded them though-the Champions League and,up to this weekend- the domestic ‘Double’.

Now the Double has been secured thanks to a hard-fought victory over Portsmouth. The record books will show a bland 1-0 scoreline but that hardly tells the story of a match that refused to follow the script.

Chelea had been favourites to score a bagful of goals and they could easily have come in at half-time with a decisive lead. The Blues hit the woodwork five times in the first period including miss of the season- and possibly the decade- by Salomon Kalou from five yards out and no one in front of him.

Portsmouth battled hard but Chelsea seemed able to cut through the relegated side with some ease. The South Coasters clearly took heart though, because Avram Grant’s team came out after the break with a sharper approach and matched Chelsea for long spells.

The feeling crept in that this might be Portsmouth’s day and when substitute Javier Belletti rashly challenged Aruna Dindane, Pompey had a penalty. Unfortunately for their fans, Kevin Prince-Boateng hit a weak shot that Petr Cech saved with his legs.

As is often the case, Chelsea were in front very quickly after that let -off. David James had produced one excellent save to deny Didier Drogba’s free kick in the first half but he couldn’t reach another precise effort from the Ivorian.

The striker makes a habit of scoring in cup finals and though Portsmouth remained in the game they never really created another gilt-edged chance. The afternoon became notable for a second missed penalty when Frank Lampard of all people pulled his shot wide of the post.

Chelsea’s defence made sure that Lampard didn’t have to regret his miss. Michael Ballack might have felt justice was done as he was forced to leave the action after a late challenge from Prince-Boateng in the first half.

Chelsea have now won the FA Cup three times in four seasons and Ashley Cole has broken the record for winner’s medals, which has stood since the Nineteenth Century. The left back now has six in his collection- three with Chelsea and three with Arsenal.

  • Share this on del.icio.us
  • Digg this!
  • Share this on Reddit
  • Stumble upon something good? Share it on StumbleUpon
  • Post this to MySpace
  • Share this on Facebook
  • Tweet This!
  • Add this to Google Bookmarks

Related posts:

  1. FA Cup Final- How Many Chelsea Will Score?
  2. Chelsea Take the Premier League Title In Style
  3. Villa Maintain Push for Second Final But Must Take On Chelsea


ToteSport bookmaker will give you £60 in Free Bets. Click here to check them out.

FA Cup Final- How Many Chelsea Will Score?

Posted on by
Reply

post thumbnail

John Terry Chelsea goal celebration FA Cup Final How Many Chelsea Will Score?This Saturday’s FA Cup Final has one of the heaviest favourites in post-war history as Premiership champions Chelsea seek to complete a ‘Double’ by beating bottom club Portsmouth.

Pompey can expect a lot of support from the neutrals because they are such massive underdogs but the way Chelsea have played in recent weeks doesn’t bode well for the fans travelling up from the South Coast.

The champions have been despatching sides from the mid-table areas of the Premier League with ruthless efficiency. In the league campaign they concluded their programme by hammering eight goals past Wigan- and the Blues hit seven goals on no less than three occasions.

There’s no doubting the bravery of Pompey’s run to the final and they did pull off a real shock to eliminate Tottenham in the semi-final. However, it was a game they could easily have lost and their crucial first goal owed a great deal to luck.

If Avram Grant’s team concede early or lose a man to a red card, the result could be very one-sided. High scoring in FA Cup Finals is a rarity, partly because the two sides are often well matched and also because players will give everything in the contest.

Since 2000, only Manchester United have netted three times and that was in the 2004 final against Millwall- a Championship side at the time. United were also the last team to hit four in the showpiece when they hammered Chelsea in 1994- and that was with the help of two penalties.

Four goals are rare. United did it in the replay against Brighton in 1983 but no team did it in the 1960s or 1970s and it was 30 years further back when Blackpool bagged four in the legendary 1953 final.

Big scores were rare even in the pre-World War Two era, when defences were much les efficient. There has never been a ‘five’ in a final, though two teams scored six- Bury in 1903 and Blackburn Rovers in 1890.

Six may be beyond even Chelsea’s glittering forward line this weekend but with the Londoners such hot-priced favourites, punters looking for a value bet might find it rewarding to wager on the correct score- and Chelsea might be in line to give their fans a real day to remember.

  • Share this on del.icio.us
  • Digg this!
  • Share this on Reddit
  • Stumble upon something good? Share it on StumbleUpon
  • Post this to MySpace
  • Share this on Facebook
  • Tweet This!
  • Add this to Google Bookmarks

Related posts:

  1. Villa Maintain Push for Second Final But Must Take On Chelsea
  2. Portsmouth Down But Not Out With FA Cup Final Berth Won
  3. Europa League Final: Can Fulham Win Or Athletico Win As Tight Match Is Expected


ToteSport bookmaker will give you £60 in Free Bets. Click here to check them out.

Chelsea Take the Premier League Title In Style

Posted on by
Reply

post thumbnail

FA Cup winners 250x300 Chelsea Take the Premier League Title In Style

Next On The Agenda For Chelsea

A league title can hardly ever have been secured more emphatically than via an eight goal victory as Chelsea swept past Wigan Athletic to end Manchester United’s attempt for a historic four in a row.

United beat Stoke City 4-0 in their last game but once Wigan had a man sent off and Chelsea scored a second from the spot, the final day turned into a romp.

In the process Chelsea’s tally of goals for the Premier League campaign reached an astonishing 103-the highest by a top flight side since way back in the 1960s. As well as the eight in the last game, the Blues hammered seven no less than three times.

The goals tally is significant but the statistic that stood out is that Chelsea won all their matches against the other members of the ‘Big 4. The sevens and eights caught the eye but the victories at Old Trafford, the Emirates Stadium and Anfield were the bedrock of their third title in six seasons.

On the last day, Didier Drogba slotted in a second half hat-trick which edged him past Wayne Rooney to be top scorer for the season. The Ivorian ended with 29 but it was Frank Lampard’s amazing 22 from midfield that really made the difference.

The Double Is A Sure Bet

Chelsea now go on to try and complete the club’s first domestic ‘Double’ against Portsmouth in the FA Cup Final. Their opponents are managed by former boss Avram Grant.  And who would bet against that considering the disparity in talent between the two teams.  Chelsea head into the game at 1.20 to lift the FA Cup, there’s no value to be had in the outright market so a punt on another high scoring game offers better value.  Take over 3.5 goals in the game at 2.40 to maximise your FA Cup betting.

Arsenal disposed of a weakened Fulham side to make sure of third place- perhaps word that the Gunners were winning filtered through to Turf Moor as Spurs allowed Burnley to battle back fro two gaols adrift to end their season on a high.

Tottenham won their big result on Wednesday at Manchester City, so its not surprising they ran out of steam when the chance of pipping Arsenal to third place petered out.

Burnley ended with the mild satisfaction of passing Hull City to finish eighteenth. The Tigers held Liverpool 0-0 which probably says everything about Liverpool’s season.

The Reds did at least finish two points clear of Everton who won their final game against doomed Portsmouth. The Toffees must rue their opening in August when they lost three games out of the first four, plus defeats in both Merseyside derbies.

  • Share this on del.icio.us
  • Digg this!
  • Share this on Reddit
  • Stumble upon something good? Share it on StumbleUpon
  • Post this to MySpace
  • Share this on Facebook
  • Tweet This!
  • Add this to Google Bookmarks

Related posts:

  1. Liverpool v Chelsea- The Blues Can Wrap Up The Title
  2. How Chelsea Beat Manchester United to the Title
  3. Premier League 2009/10 – The Season So Far


ToteSport bookmaker will give you £60 in Free Bets. Click here to check them out.

Wigan’s away form hands Chelsea huge Premiership advantage

Posted on by
Reply

post thumbnail

chelsea vs manchester united odds Wigans away form hands Chelsea huge Premiership advantageWigan boss Roberto Martinez has assured fans that the Latics are heading to Chelsea’s  Stamford Bridge on Sunday in search of a victory.

The odds stand in Chelsea’s favour 1/10 to win on Sunday, whereas Manchester United at 1/8 – both on the back of the opposition away form that has Wigan at 20/1 to win, and Stoke slightly shorter at 18/1

It will come as great news to Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson entertain Stoke at Old Trafford  looking for a win that could see them pip Chelsea to the title – should the Blues fail to beat Wigan.

  • Bet on this outcome: Can Chelsea Win the Premier League

The United camp will be buoyed by Wigan’s unpredictability and will head into Sunday’s match knowing that they still have a real chance if the same Wigan side turn up that have beaten Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool this season.

The problem is, all of those victories over the perceived ‘Top Four’ teams have come at the JJB Stadium.

Wigan’s away form in 2010 has left a lot to be desired. In fact, it’s been woeful – avoiding defeat on just two occasions and picking up just four points.

  • Bet on this outcome: Can Manchester United Win the Premier League

Since the turn of the year, Wigan have managed a solitary draw at Sunderland and one away victory, which came in a 2-0 win at Wolves on January 16th.

However, any suggestion of having nothing to play for will be hotly disputed by Latics chairman Dave Whelan, who knows that a victory could see them leapfrog Bolton into 14th and with it, secure additional money for their league finish.

A loss at Chelsea coupled with a draw or win for Wolves and a victory for West Ham could see Wigan finish as low as 17th.

So, Wigan certainly have something to play for, and in one of the most exciting and unpredictable seasons in years, who would put it past the Lancashire outfit to wreck the Stamford Bridge party?

  • Share this on del.icio.us
  • Digg this!
  • Share this on Reddit
  • Stumble upon something good? Share it on StumbleUpon
  • Post this to MySpace
  • Share this on Facebook
  • Tweet This!
  • Add this to Google Bookmarks

Related posts:

  1. Premiership Predictions: Which Wigan Team Will Turn Up on Saturday?
  2. Chelsea Take Advantage Of Manchester United Defeat at Everton
  3. Chelsea, Man United, Man City & Tottenham battle it out


ToteSport bookmaker will give you £60 in Free Bets. Click here to check them out.

Chelsea, Man United, Man City & Tottenham battle it out

Posted on by
Reply

post thumbnail

premier league trophy 176x300 Chelsea, Man United, Man City & Tottenham battle it outBaring an immense shock, Chelsea will be the 2009/10 Premier League champions after Carlo Ancelotti’s side pulled off a surprisingly comfortable win at Liverpool. Manchester United’s win at Sunderland only seems to have prolonged the agony.

Chelsea only have to win their final game at home to Wigan Athletic to secure the title. The Latics have troubled all the top teams- Chelsea included- at their DW Stadium but they secured their top flight status some time ago. With nothing for Wigan to play for, the Blues are massive favourites.

Manchester United seem destined to fall a point short and so miss out on becoming the only club to win four titles in a row. Their own final match is with Stoke City, which they should win.

United managed just a single goal at the Stadium of Light. Sir Alex Ferguson admitted that the result from Anfield deflated his players before they went out against Sunderland.

The real uncertainty can be found a little further down. Four teams went into the weekend with a chance of fourth place but that list has now whittled down to two. Chelsea dealt Liverpool’s faint hopes the final blow and Manchester City came through a head-to-head with Aston Villa.

When the Birmingham side took the lead at Eastlands it seemed they might knock City out of contention but the home side got the break they needed when Stephen Warnock felled Adam Johnson in the area.

Carlos Tevez converted the spot kick and within three minutes Emmanuel Adebayor put City in the lead- but only after John Carew clattered a shot against the bar at the other end.

Roberto Mancini saw his side ease to a 3-1 victory to set up a dramatic clash with Tottenham Hotspur. The Londoners did enough to see off an obdurate Bolton team to set up the decisive midweek meeting between the two remaining contenders.

Spurs hold the advantage, going into the game a point to the good. Now that Villa have been removed from the equation, Harry Redknapp’s team can afford a draw from their visit to Manchester. City have to win to take pole position going into the final games on Sunday.

Hull City’s relegation was rubber stamped when they could only draw at Wigan. The fact they leaked a last minute equaliser summed up the Tigers’ season.

  • Share this on del.icio.us
  • Digg this!
  • Share this on Reddit
  • Stumble upon something good? Share it on StumbleUpon
  • Post this to MySpace
  • Share this on Facebook
  • Tweet This!
  • Add this to Google Bookmarks

Related posts:

  1. How Chelsea Beat Manchester United to the Title
  2. Chelsea Take Advantage Of Manchester United Defeat at Everton
  3. Chelsea v Manchester City: Tough Times For Roberto Mancini


ToteSport bookmaker will give you £60 in Free Bets. Click here to check them out.

Liverpool v Chelsea- The Blues Can Wrap Up The Title

Posted on by
Reply

post thumbnail

chelsea v liverpool Liverpool v Chelsea The Blues Can Wrap Up The TitleAll the twists and turns of the Premier League title race have come down to a simple scenario- Chelsea need two wins to secure the prize and this Sunday’s match at Liverpool is the main obstacle.

No one seriously expects a Wigan side who have secured their Premiership spot to stand in Chelsea’s way on the final weekend, so this game is basically the last chance for supporters of Manchester United.

Conspiracy theories are already circulating to the effect that the Anfield side aren’t going to gift their Manchester rivals the title- one which would draw them level with Liverpool for most title wins.

For those with a less cynical view, the fact that Liverpool had to play a Europa League semi-final on Thursday evening might be a more significant factor; Chelsea have enjoyed a week’s rest since their demolition job on Stoke City.

The crushing disappointment of losing to Athletico Madrid won’t have helped the morale of Rafa Benitez’s squad and Chelsea’s players will have been only too glad to see their opponents taken to extra time.

There is no sense of nerves coming out of Stamford Bridge. Recent wobbles appear to have been put aside and Chelsea’s best attacking players are in good form- and the squad are hungry to finish on a high because there is likely to be a lot reconstruction at the club over the summer.

Liverpool will still have something to play for because whatever the results achieved by Spurs and Manchester City on Saturday, the Reds will still retain a mathematical chance of slipping into fourth place.

However, it’s difficult to see Benitez’s squad being able to hold a fit, rested and confident Chelsea. Without Fernando Torres Liverpool don’t carry the same threat and the Blues defence has looked sound in the past few games.

Manchester United will be expected to take three points from their own trip to Sunderland but that may be in vain. The steam went out of United’s season when Wayne Rooney picked up an injury and though they have ground out some good results since their Champions League exit, Chelsea have just a bit more quality in their ranks.

Rooney’s form kept the teams in parity but Chelsea have always seemed the more likely winners since August and now they have the chance to prove it, by setting up a glorious final day on their own turf.

  • Share this on del.icio.us
  • Digg this!
  • Share this on Reddit
  • Stumble upon something good? Share it on StumbleUpon
  • Post this to MySpace
  • Share this on Facebook
  • Tweet This!
  • Add this to Google Bookmarks

Related posts:

  1. How Chelsea Beat Manchester United to the Title
  2. Liverpool v Arsenal – The Gunners Still Think They Have A Title Shot
  3. Chelsea Retain Top Spot And Burnley Are Relegated


ToteSport bookmaker will give you £60 in Free Bets. Click here to check them out.

Chelsea Retain Top Spot And Burnley Are Relegated

Posted on by
Reply

Chelsea Odds on - Burnley RelegatedManchester United did what they had to do on Saturday and beat Tottenham to put pressure on Chelsea in their home game with Stoke City on Sunday. However, the Blues easily brushed aside the Potters to maintain a one point lead at the top of the Premier League.

United were able to see off Spurs without the services of Wayne Rooney. When Harry Redknapp saw the teamsheet he must have had high hopes that his team could beat all the top three sides within a week but the Londoners never really threatened at Old Trafford.

Chelsea were facing a Stoke side that were unbeaten away from home since January but Carlo Ancelotti selected an aggressive line up with all three of his main strikers in the side. His boldness paid off as Salomon Kalou came up with a hat-trick to make the victory something of a stroll.

The title race seems likely to be decided by Chelsea’s trip to Anfield. Ancelotti has to assume Manchester United will take six points from their final pair of fixtures though a visit to Sunderland is no walkover.

Tottenham’s defeat and Manchester City’s inability to find a goal against Arsenal proved to be great news for Aston Villa. Martin O’Neill’s side now have a realistic chance of grabbing fourth place again after looking out of it just a couple of weeks ago.

Villa were lucky to get past their city rivals Birmingham. A James Milner penalty separated the two clubs and the decision against centre half Roger Johnson was certainly marginal, to say the least. At the time, Birmingham appeared the side more likely to force a win.

At the bottom, the relegation issues were just about settled. West Ham forced a 3-2 win over Wigan Athletic which sent Burnley down when the Clarets crashed 4-0 at home to Liverpool. Happily for the Londoners, Wigan had just about secured their future by beating Arsenal at the DW Stadium.

West Ham’s victory all but confirmed Hull City’s relegation too. The Tigers would need to win both their remaining games and turn around a massive deficit on goal difference to catch the London club- even assuming West Ham lose both their matches.

Liverpool’s win is significant because they could still finish fourth- though it is unlikely- and so Chelsea will have a tough encounter when they visit Anfield next week.

Related posts:

  1. Chelsea Take Advantage Of Manchester United Defeat at Everton
  2. Burnley and Hull City Hot Favourites To Go Down
  3. Chelsea v Manchester City: Tough Times For Roberto Mancini


ToteSport bookmaker will give you £60 in Free Bets. Click here to check them out.