It's July and the World Cup is winding down, so I thought it would be a good time to focus on our beloved club once again. It's so great to see Chelsea will be playing an actual game in just over 2 weeks This year, the club is forgoing a trip to the USA (or the Far East) and instead traveling to to Northern Europe to play some quality competition. Saturday, 17 July - @ Crystal Palace (15:00 BST | 10:00am EDT) Friday, 23 July - @ Ajax (20:00 BST | 3:00pm EDT) Sunay, 1 August - @ Eintracht Frankfurt (15:00 BST | 10:00am EDT) Wednesday, 4 August - @ Hamburger SV (20:00 BST | 10:00 EDT) Only 4 friendlies this year, iirc we played 5 last year. However, the Community Shield is basically a glorified friendly so I've stuck it in here. Since we won the double and can't play ourselves, some crap team from Manchester will be the opponent. Sunday, August 8 - FA Community Shield @ Wembley vs. Manchester United (15:00 BST | 10:00am EDT)
You guys have no idea how much i've missed chelsea. Anyone know if these friendlies will be showed on tv in the US?
They are exclusive to Chelsea TV so if you can get Chelsea TV in your market then you can see them. I believe people outside the UK can additionaly sign up to some kind of web based subscription.
Can't we play a proper side and face our Youth side, I mean they won the FA Youth Cup, and seeing as Man U only won that little carling cup (which means nothing unless we win it )....I don't see why they should be REWARDED by being honoured in sharing the pitch with us?
Just let the youth play in the league as well, unlike some who suggest to have Celtic and Rangers join.
Dont let Monkee see this as his head will probably come right off but its FANTASTIC to see Essien up and running again! Heres to the first day of training camp!!!!!!!
hes not quite there with the rest of the squad. http://www.chelseafc.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10268~2084852,00.html
Because clearly, as people who know NOTHING about his actual condition, you can make a statement like that.
How about Jose, is his recovery on track? I almost forget how good he is (and how, if he's fit he strengthens our back 4 especially by allowing Ivan to play more often in the middle).
I think a lot of people forget just how major the injury to Essien was last season. When healthy I think he's our best player. I really think he's the engine in midfield for us when he's able to play in that central role. If you look at the season before last, I don't think it was any coincidence that we floundered a bit until he came back healthy and we were able to make a run at the league and CL.
Agreed, if he didn't go and get himself hurt even worse (thank you African Cup of Nations) we probably would've won the league with MUCH more ease. Him and Bosingwa's absences hurt the team (even with Ivanovic doing a fantastic job deputizing).
I think it's just me when I say that I don't believe he is our best player. One of our best? Absolutely, and is capable of having MOTM performances any given match, but at the moment I still think he has some parts of his game to work on. Part of the problem is that he hasn't been able to find his position yet, which is mostly the management's fault, and his fault as well because he is so damn versatile! And no I don't think versatility alone makes the best player. I'm definitely on the fence and I would love for him to just have one more full season to tip me over. Don't take this as me selling him short. I love him and everything he's done for the club so far. I just can't quite explain why I feel this way.
Define best. Best pure scorer? Drogba. Best all-around? Could very well be Essien (maybe Lamps). If he regains proper form, he will be the club's biggest offseason "acquisition."
I believe the article from the official site says that Bos did not participate in training and is hoping to be fit for the opening game.
best player, both because in my opinion of what makes an all-around Footballer he is, and because he is the one player if you take out we unravel and look like a different lesser team...Supah Your Messi's, Ronaldo's, etc. look spectacular attacking and goals always of importence, but if you take them out, the teams often still win and get by, you take your Lampard's, Xavi's now perhaps Sneijdar's out and it more often all goes belly up