FUSSnotes

The Chelsea Paradox

EPL-watchers surely groaned yesterday -- it was audible here over the regular Manhattan din -- upon learning Roman Abramovich's bank account is over $13 Billion larger owing to Gazprom's acquisition of 72.7% of Russian oil group, Sibneft, controlled by Mr Abramovich's Millhouse Capital entity. The groan reflects the disappointment that Chelsea will have more money with which to distance themselves from mortal clubs throughout Europe by buying up even more of the most talented players.

The jealousy as well as the valid complaints of unfairness manifest these days in the chant "Boring, Boring Chelsea" heard around most grounds except Stamford Bridge. If you think winning is boring, then you'd have a point.  If people are sore, it's because Abramovich's willingness to spend on players has an unnatural quality to it -- there is no individual or corporation around with that much money to spend in an unprofitable pursuit -- and also resentment exists that the spending has diminishing returns for Chelsea itself while preventing other clubs from attracting the good players. If people are concerned for an unbalancing effect on football, they can hardly be criticized.

Nevertheless, Chelsea must actually go out win on the pitch, and this they have done in an unnatural fashion -- setting a League points record in Mourinho's first year. The money appears to be a start, but it takes brilliance to deliver. One wonders if Mourinho will need to move to a Bournemouth or Wrexham to prove his value one day, so overshadowed is he by the curse of Abramovich's plentitude.

Mourinho is establishing a winning era at Chelsea based on a large squad with two near world-class players at each position, unusual fitness and a disciplined counter-attacking style of football in which shape is co-equal with patience. The clean sheet is the primary objective: clearly Mourinho's mantra is 'Above all, do not get scored upon.' That is the formula to winning a lot and gaining the winning habit. In part this does take good backing; but much is down to sheer competency.

He is solidifying the 4-5-1 formation's use for European as well as 

Peter Kenyon's petulant punishment of an old employer (Manchester United)

McCarra, In Form

In-form football writer, Kevin McCarra (The Guardian UK), shines in his piece on Chelsea v Liverpool in the Champions League. (The good version, "Chelsea Turn the Tides of Red Pressure," is in the print edition which has been badly truncated on the Web.)

Is it the cat & mouse football of the early Group Phase of the Champions League that brings out inspired coverage -- despite a soporific score, Chelsea nil, Liverpool nil?

McCarra discusses the incorrect notion of "Boring, Boring Chelsea" which is being sung lately at all grounds -- and soon even at Stamford Bridge.

Robson on Mourinho

Donald McRea's lovely piece on Sir Bobby in The Guardian reveals much about the widely loved ex-England and Newcastle manager.  Of particular note, Sir Bobby has a special place for Chelsea Manager, Jose Mourinho:

Even in the unlikely event of Arsenal signing Jenas, Wenger will struggle to keep up with Mourinho. If Robson follows that managerial battle with a mixture of pride and envy, his warm memories of Mourinho carry no such ambivalence. They first met when Robson took over as manager of Sporting Lisbon in the early 90s.

He introduced himself at the airport. 'Hello Mister. My name is Jose Mourinho and the president has hired me as your interpreter. I hope I can do a good job for you, Mister.' He always called me Mister. That was Jose. Very nice, very respectful, very handsome. But, if I said something hard and direct, he never tried to soften it in translation. Jose was strong but he developed a nice, positive rapport with everyone. The players loved him.

One of my stipulations in moving to Barcelona was that Jose should accompany me [as he had to Porto]. You should have seen him with Ronaldo, whom I'd just signed for £20m. Ronaldo, for the short time we had him at Barcelona, was phenomenal. There were no girls for Ronaldo then. No disco, no fashion, no earrings, no flash cars. He had the need to be a great player - and so he listened to Jose. It didn't matter that Jose had done nothing as a player. With a young genius like Ronaldo, he was perfect. Jose knew how to speak to him.

Robson vows he'll be back in the game; he even expresses regret about having turned down Wolves, Hearts and Derby just after his ignominious exit from Newcastle.  I've no doubt Sir Bobby will return.

Lampard Takes CFCnet Player of the Year

It should be no surprise that members of CFCnet, Chelsea FC's brilliant unofficial site, voted Frank Lampard Chelsea Player of the Year for the 2004/05 season.  John Terry -- perhaps loved even more outside the Chelsea community than within it -- was voted a close second.

Lampard is a wonderful player; he is just the same player who transferred from West Ham in 2001 but who kept on improving and getting physically stronger and stronger, beyond all imagining.

His consistency and aggressiveness winning ball about the center circle and going forward up the middle is only overshadowed by the danger of his dipping ball struck hard from the central flats.  This, combined with danger coming from out wide through Duff and Robben, makes defending against Chelsea so difficult.

Lampard is a straight-ahead player.  Not always pretty and no Zidane, he is tireless, effective and full of heart.

The membership of CFCnet could do worse than Lamps.  Brilliant!

Shaun Wright-Phillips to Chelsea

A certain camp anticipates Shaun having difficulty in Chelsea's four-three-three formation simply because he had a nervous first run out for England when they tested in that shape.

Well, Chelsea's formation is more of a four-five-one than a four-three-three.  It is fluid from the waist up in the attack with strict roles for everyone when defending.

Shaun, to his credit, is capable of assault from either flank or inside, and his improvisational pluck fits snugly in the Chelsea counter-attacking mold.

Given the variety of silverware Chelsea will covet again, SW-P at a high cost still makes sense for them.  Shaun will improve with such quality around him; no question he can develop.

There will be injuries again this term -- as everyone will be after Chelsea's nut -- and the great number of games means that playing time will not be that difficult for Mr Mourinho to manage with the luxury of his expensive roster.  As Jose says, "It is not my problem, it is their problem."

We'll see if all the focus on money is beside the point at Chelsea.  Neither the League Title, the FA Cup nor the Champions' League are a shoe-in this go-round.  But clearly the introduction of Shaun Write-Phillips indicates the intention of building something durable and English at Stamford Bridge.  Both of these are the right objectives.

Ronaldinho to Chelsky?

I always fear that rumors of such a fine player moving into the Premier League are too good to be true.  I believe this to be the case because Chelsea don't need to spend this much or bring in a player of this extraordinary talent, since there is already more than enough excitement to fill Stamford Bridge by several multiples.

If Barcelona can possibly give up Ronaldinho to their Champions' League rivals, Chelsea, then the Lions will find it easier to slough off thier reputation for being boring.