The Trevor Jackson Empire (Jog On Avram)

[Dr. Pepper]

The new Chelsea "revolution"
The Heer and Treva column​

Hello and congratulations on having the glorious oppurtunity to read another column from me, Treva and . We've always had fun writing about football manager mis-haps and goalkeeper blunders. This months column is no different I can assure you that. I defintely can. We'll cover the four lipped, four chinned, four...etc guy whose name is Avram Grant. We also blab on about, well I do, Maninder is just the eye candy, summer signings and other useless stuff.

Yeah well hello and all and welcome yeah. Already been said, blah blah blah. Just regurgitating what Treva said to look like I wrote loads. So anyway, our first point thingy is Alex Ferguson...oops the politically correct police are here, even on the internet. I should say Sir Alex Ferguson and winning the Manager of The Month award. He's won it more times than I've had hot dinners, well I always have hot dinners...every night...so no...it's a figure of speech.

To be honest I think it should have gone to Avram Grant, who's our next topic of talk. Coming from a Man Utd fan it's hard to say but from a neutral, football loving perspective it should've gone to flubba belly...I mean Avram Grant. He's come in with all the fans, pundits, columnists and managers expecting him to make a right mess of it but he hasn't. In such little time, he's come in, made some great signings and got off to the perfect start.

I agree (for once). He's come in and had very little time to settle in with the media ready to eat him alive after a bad performance but it hasn't happened. They were ready and waiting for a bad first game, maybe even a draw and they'd start bombarding him with negative press. I'm sure he doesn't even care about the press though to be honest, he doesn't seem like that kind of guy. I bet he just wants to get on with managing Chelsea and the media have tried the best to stop him (not us...seriously!).

Yeah he's made some great signings aswell. He had a good budget and he used it very well. He wasn't just given £200 million on the spot either. He sold a few players and made quite a bit of money. He got rid of Shevchenko. Andriy has been poor for Chelsea no matter what you think of him. The fact of the matter is he was a bad buy on Roman Ambramovich's/The Chosen One's behalf. It was a very good sell. He managed to somehow squeeze £20 odd million out of him.

Absolutely (we agreed again! This is starting to scare me!). Another one was Shaun Wright-Phillips. He joined Chelsea, he should've expected that he wouldn't get a regular game. He shouldn't have been whinging. Another good sell by the G-train. Wayne Bridge-A good player, has done well in his career. Had a lot of good performances but to be honest the replacement signing is much better.

Claude "Big Mac" Makélélé. This was an interesting one. He is a great player still at the moment, a world class player. He may be old but he is still gold. You don't get many players like him to be honest and it's going to be hard to fill the void. Someone of his calibre doesn't get replaced that easily and Avram may have made a bad decision there. He sold him for much less than he's worth.

I'm not too sure about to be honest. Makélélé is a world class player, I'm not denying that in any way but I think it was a good sell. He's not getting any older, he'll retire very soon and I think it's better to leave it sooner rather than later. Avram had the option of selling him now, getting the team used to it without him now or waiting a few years until he retires and then having to miss him a lot. Chelsea seem to be coping without him anyway. Michael Ballack, Fat Frank Lampost, Michael Essien, John Obi Mikel, Gareth Barry. Those are the options. Yeah...they won't be missing him mate.

Yeah no doubt that's a world class central midfield selection. The fact that Lampard is starting on the bench says a hell of a lot doesn't it? Barry has been playing at left back. Essien and Ballack have been starting in the middle. Mikel has been a reserve in the first team. If Mak attack was still there, we'd see a whole different Chelsea. They'd have him holding the ball and the strong force of Ballack and Lampost would be pressing forward without hesitation.

Yeah a whole different Chelsea, but a better one? I don't think so. They've been playing way more wide now. They're utilising the wingers they have and have signed. Robinho, Joaquín, Joe Cole, Malouda etc. They're using them to the full potential. Roque Santa Cruz and Didier Drogba have been a dynamic parternship even though it may not seem like it.

Yes, Roque Santa Cruz and Didier Drogba have been brilliant together. Drogba is netting the majority of goals. He is the final touch of the attack. Roque Santa Cruz has been working hard non-stop. He has been running everywhere and getting involved. Even though he hasn't scored a hattrick each game, he's been working incredibly hard and I think that's enough for Avram Grant and the Chelsea fans.

Chelsea have won all three of their Premiership matches this season. Avram Grant still has a 100% record in the Premiership with his team putting in amazing performances. He still has like four chins. Treva is still an idiot and I'm still his superior. That concludes another Heer and Treva column.

*Key:
Treva
Maninder

 

[treva]

Very different, but unique. A good read!

Keep it up mate

 

[m_vaughan]

Nice column guys. Honestly speaking no point selling Makelele if Barry is playing left back. I too think Grant should have atleast been named joint winner of manager of the month.

 

[treva]

Just so you know I had no hand in writing this, Mani just used my name. If I had, the spelling and punctuation would have been much better

 

[Dr. Pepper]

Page last updated at 10:59 GMT, Sunday, 08 July 2007 10:59 UK​

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Chelsea make shock signing

Aguero was shocked by the loan deal.​

Avram Grant has confirmed an out of the blue loan transfer of Atlético Madrid striker Sergio Aguero. Aguero will only sign for Chelsea at the start of the January transfer window though. There were no links to suggest that Sergio Aguero would sign for any club, either on loan or on a full transfer. Avram Grant has kept the majority of his transfers out of the sight of the media until they've been confirmed and he has been puzzling them on who he would sign.

Sergio "Kun" Aguero signed for Atlético Madrid in 2002 from Argentinian club Independiente. It is Aguero's home club as he Argentinian. He is of nineteen years of age and has been rated very highly by the media. Aguero was a regular starter for Atlético Madrid last season yet he only scored six goals from thirty eight games. He has played two competitive games for Atlético this season, already netting four goals.

It has been a mystery why care taker manager Ignacio Ambriz has let Sergio Aguero off on loan and it has not gone well with the fans. Aguero will not be allowed to be recalled if Atlético wish to do so and the Atlético fans are far from happy.

Avram Grant announced this at the press conference at which he unveiled his latest signing "I've finally perfected my team. We now have a perfect balance of a squad of world class players. I'm sure Kun will play a huge part of this season and will receive his fair share of rewards.

Our strike force was slightly lacking to be honest. We needed more depth in it with class players and I now have that. If Kun does not play up to our standards, we can end the loan deal. That's why I chose to sign him on loan. However, I'm sure he will be a major hit in the Premiership. I am certain the fans will be happy with this signing."

Sergio Aguero said this "When I was put up for loan I never thought I'd go out and get experience at a club like Chelsea. It was such a shock. I was expecting a club from Argentina would want to sign me on loan, maybe. But I never thought it would be Chelsea.

I'm so very happy to have signed. I've heard great things of Avram Grant. He is a brilliant manager. By being one of his players I can learn so much. I hope to get in quite a few games this season but I understand that there are so many great players it'll be tough to get a place in the team."

 

[Dr. Pepper]

OK this story isn't over, I'm just going to restart it on FM08 on my laptop. I may repeat some updates.

Dr. Pepper added 1 Minutes and 7 Seconds later...

Page last updated at 10:59 GMT, Monday, 16 July 2007 10:59 UK​

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Teams gear up for the new season

All 20 Premier League teams are getting ready for their opening matches next month. With the new season ready to get underway, some teams have accepted to talk to us on how they feel they will do for the 2007/08 season.

Reading's manager Steve Coppell spoke to us on his second season in the Premier League with Reading. Last season Reading overcame the odds and were the season's most impressive team finishing 8th, just 1 place off of the UEFA Cup places. This season he's hoping to improve his team without getting too cocky.

"We had a great first season. Did what most bookies thought we weren't capable of. I'm very proud of the team for doing that but it's not over yet. We have to continue the form onto this season or else we'll see ourselves down in the Championship again.

We can't get to cocky and big headed. Yes we had a great season but we have to maintain that integrity and match performance through out this season aswell. It's going to be tougher this year. The competition is stronger, the teams have played us before and know our style and will be better prepared against us.

Our best chance of staying up for another season is getting the results against the teams we are likely to finish around. No offence intended to them but we need to beat the likes of Fulham, Wigan, Birmingham, Derby et cetera.

Our team has improved. We've got some new players in, got rid of some players. Overall our team has improved a lot. We've also improved playing together as a team. I stress the word team because if we were to play as eleven seperate players we'd play terrible. We need to gel together and that's what we've been working on."

The other manager who spoke to us was top flight new boy Roy Keane. He took over Sunderland last season from the bottom of the Championship and brought them all the way up to the Premier League.

"It's great to be in the Premiership. Sunderland is a great club. We have a great bunch of players who know what they're doing when it comes to playing football. Last season I couldn't ask more from them, I'm hoping it'll be the same this season.

Of course the bookies have made us favourites to be relegated but that's life. We have to be realistic and try to avoid relegation. We've finally got back in the top league and I don't want us to waste this chance by going back down.

We'll have to compete against some great teams. I know we most probably won't get points against the likes of Chelsea and Man United but we have to make the most of the realistic chances. The lower table teams are the ones we want to be targetting. Those are the games we can win and get points from.

That's the only way we'll survive the Premiership. It's the survival of the fittest, it really is. If you're not up to it you'll go down to the Championship. I have to make sure my players are up to it every game. They were last season but the Championship is a completely different ball game. The teams are weaker. Here you play against world class players, for example Ronaldo, Rooney and Drogba. It'll be a tough fight but I reckon we can make it through the season above the relegation zone."

A lot of teams have high hopes for the season but of course 3 teams have to go back down to the Championship. Last season the 3 teams were Sheffield Utd, Charlton Athletic and Watford. This season, only time will tell. We will only find out in May 2008.

Dr. Pepper added 36 Minutes and 31 Seconds later...

Page last updated at 10:59 GMT, Wednesday, 18 July 2007 10:59 UK​

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Chelsea unveil new boss

Roman Ambramovich's Chelsea F.C. have announced their new manager today. The new boss will be the successor of the unforgettable "Special One" Jose Mourinho.

The new man in charge of one of the richest clubs in the world is a virtually unknown man. Avram Grant will be in the hot seat for Chelsea. Grant was born on the 4th of May in 1955 and he is 52 years old.

The 52 year old is from Israel where he spent most of his career managing. Avram Grant started his staff career way back in 1972 at the age of 18 where he became a youth coach of his home team Hapoel Petah Tikva.

After 14 years as working behind the scenes for Hapoel Petah Tikva he was appointed as the first team coach. Grant won them the Toto Cup twice, in 1990 and 1991. It was the first trophy they had won in 25 years. Grant also won them their 2nd ever Israeli Cup.

The next season Avram Grant moved to Maccabi Tel Aviv. He won the Ligat ha'AL in his first season by a brilliant 13 points ahead of the 2nd place team. They almost won the double in their first season under the reign of Avram Grant but lost in the Israeli Cup final. They did win the Israeli Cup though in 1994, and the Ligat ha'AL again the following year.

Grant had an unsuccessful spell at the club Hapoel Haifi. It only lasted the 1995/96 season and later returned back to his most successful club Maccabi Tel Aviv. Though his second stint at Tel Aviv only resulted in him winning the Toto Cup once in 1999.

Grant left Tel Aviv and moved onto bigger and better things, the Israeli National team. He was the youngest ever Israel national team coach. Israel were in in group 1 of the UEFA Euro 2004 Qualifying stages.

Even though he did not qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, he took Israel to 3rd place in the qualifying group. They finished behind France and Switzerland who were winners and runners-up of the group respectively. Israel could at least celebrate they remained undefeated in their group with 4 wins and 6 draws.

In October 2005, Grant announced he would step down from the Israel National team due to the fact his contract would finish in June the following year. Having left Israel, he came to England and became the Technical Director of Portsmouth under the leadership of Harry Redknapp.

Roman Ambramovich said this "Avram Grant is a wonderful man who can win us [Chelsea] the Premiership, Champions League, FA Cup and all the other trophies.

He is a very talented manager who I firmly believe will do excellently as Chelsea manager. He has the integrity and passion for the game which has made him the best candidate for the job.

Although on the outside he doesn't seem like an emotional man. He has a great poker face. He really cares deeply about the teams he manages and puts everything into each and every one.

He is a very close and personal friend of mine so I know all about him. I didn't need to interview him. I knew everything about him anyway. His passion for the game sealed the deal.

He has a great record overseas in Israel. I think he will take his track record of trophies from Israel and add to them here at Chelsea. I wish him all the best and he knows that. He has my backing."

Avram Grant made his comments to the media aswell. "I'm very honoured to be the manager of Chelsea. They are the biggest club in the world. They, or should I say we know have some amazing players. The likes of Terry, Drogba and Joe Cole win matches. They are world class players, the best in the world at their positions.

Some have criticized me for being under qualified and under experienced. Well I will show them I am not on the pitch with the way my team plays. We can win the league this season.

We have the players, the financial backing, the fans. What else do we need? I expect One hundred percent from my players each game. I don't care how controversial it is, if they're not giving One hundred, they'll be off. No questions asked.

I don't tolerate slack from my players, especially those who are at the best club in the world. We have very high expectations. It's the only way we win trophies. If we let them drop their performances we won't be able to beat the world class teams around us.

The Premiership is an incredibly tough league with the best of players and managers. If we're not giving everything, in every game, then we won't win the League. It's a tough job.

I am very close with Roman. I've known him for a long time now. We get on very well and know each other very well. This will be very helpful. If an owner doesn't get on with the manager then that's the remedy for disaster.

In conclusion, I think we are good enough to win the League but we have to give it all. I'm glad I got this job, I've always wanted to manage a club in the Premier League and La Liga. I never thought I'd manage the world's best."

After a month of waiting to see who would be Jose Mourinho's successor we have finally found out. A controversial pick from Roman Ambramovich considering the likes of Frank Rijkaard, Luiz Filepe Scolari and Guus Hiddink were all in contention.

 

[treva]

Maybe you should start a new thread, Mani? Otherwise it will look a bit weird with the same updates and 8 pages of non-relevant updates.

 

[Dr. Pepper]

Football Rumours - July 13

Rumour of the day
CHELSEA boss Avram Grant has only been in charge for the Blues for six days but he's already got his scouts searching the world for the top players to join Stamford Bridge. Chelsea have already been linked with numerous top named stars.

The likes of players in the mix to join Chelsea under the new manager are Valon Behrami, Joaqu?n, Tommaso Rocchi, Gareth Barry, David Villa, Adriano and more. With such players on the shortlist of Chelsea boss, Avram Grant, players are sure to be going the other way.

Valon Behrami and Tommaso Rocchi are currently the two strongest rumours out of the lot. The pair both are starting players in the Lazio line up and are not likely to leave the Roman club cheaply. The duo are rumoured to be sold for a fee of ?18 million for the two of them.

So far the only player being strongly linked away from Stamford Bridge is Chelsea reserve player Sam Hutchinson. Hutchinson is the target of low Premier League clubs such as Birmingham, Derby County, Wigan Athletic and Sunderland.

Best of the rest

Sven-Goran Eriksson is another new Premiership manager who's not shy to splash the cash. Man City have been strongly linked with Villarreal right back Javi Venta. The Citizens are reported to have made the experienced full back their top priority in the transfer market and will presumably be looking to follow up their interest with an offer in the next few days.

Arsenal are looking to sign Italian star Andrea Barzagli. The solid central defender is likely to leave Palermo for the Gunners for a fee of around ?8.5 million. The main reason for the signing is to bolster their squad for the Champions League which Arsene Wenger has made his top priority this season.

Wigan Athletic are chasing America (MEX)'s Salvador Cabanas. Rumours have been circulating around the JJB Stadium that Chris Hutchings will make a bid for the Paraguayan striker. However, they will have to compete with Crystal Palace for the striker's signature.

Everton are after Georgian centre back Malkhaz Asatiani. The defender has confirmed his intent to join Goodison Park. However, whether or not Lokomotiv Moscow will let the centre back leave has not been confirmed.

Andrew Taylor has confirmed he will not be leaving Middlesborough. The transfer rumour victim has announced that he has no interest in joining Wigan Athletic, who confirmed their interest in him. The twenty year old left back told reporters that he was very happy at The Riverside Stadium and did not want to leave.

Dr. Pepper added 0 Minutes and 54 Seconds later...

I don't want to make a mess of things with a lot of threads. Plus this thread already has 9 pages .

 

[treva]

Ok, maybe just edit all the other posts or something. Oh wait, your a lazy bugger, so that won't be happening

 

[Dr. Pepper]

Chelsea's first half display seals game
LA Galaxy 1-2 Chelsea

Chelsea beat Los Angeles Galaxy in their first friendly match of the season. It was Avram Grant's first game in charge of Chelsea and his team comfortably beat the American side. Andriy Shevchenko was named Man of the Match after netting two goals against the LA Galaxy goal keeper. Landon Donovan managed to put one past Carlo Cudicini in the second half but it wasn't enough to beat the English giants.


Chelsea had the first chance of the match straight away in the third minute. After some great passing and moving play, Frank Lampard put a ball through into the box to Didier Drogba who was in an acute angle to shoot. Drogba powered the shot at goal but was well held by McKenzie.

Chelsea had another chance just a minute later. Didier Drogba was running down the centre of the pitch but was short of options. He decided to play a long ball down the wing to Florent Malouda. Malouda pulled it back to the edge of the box to Juliano Belletti. Belletti tried to aim for the top corner but the shot was saved well by McKenzie out for a corner.

Michael Essien played the ball down to Andriy Shevchenko. Shevchenko was pressurised by three defenders and his only option was the spectacular. He tried his luck at a lob from twenty five yards out and missed narrowly. The shot was only a yard or two away from going into the net.

A few minutes later, in the fifteenth minute, Chelsea pressed forward once again. Juliano Belletti cleared a possible attack out to the left wing to Florent Malouda. Malouda sped past a defender and passed it into the middle to Andriy Shevchenko. Shevchenko turned magnificently and ran away from the defender. He placed a brilliant shot into the top right hand corner to make it one nil to the Blues.

Ten minutes later Chelsea had another attack. Frank Lampard created the chance by being the key man in the attack. He made some great passes around the field and finally to Didier Drogba. Drogba had a brilliant chance outside the box. He took it on his first touch but mis-hit it and was easily saved by McKenzie.

Michael Essien fouled Carlos Pavan about twenty five yards outside the box. He was not carded for a bad tackle but the LA Galaxy finally had their first chance. Shockingly, David Beckham did not take the free-kick. Instead, Kevin Brown tried to curl the ball inwards with his left foot. His shot was a great effort but he hit the side netting.

From the goal kick, Chelsea pressed forward again. Ricardo Carvalho passed the ball on to Michael Essien who swiftly turned passed the defender. Essien quickly passed it on to Andriy Shevchenko. Shevchenko magnificently took it passed the defender and once again ran off away from the defence. Shevchenko perfectly lobbed the goal keeper, McKenzie, from the edge of the box to make it two for Chelsea and himself.

Chelsea carried on pressing forward, looking for more goals but didn't have any more shots. The referee, Dean King, blew the whistle for half time and LA Galaxy were happy that the half time had ended. Andriy Shevchenko had run LA Galaxy ragged for the whole of the first half and netted two goals.

For the second half the whole of the Chelsea bench came on. The eight players replaced everyone but Ashley Cole, Michael Essien and Andriy Shevchenko. The captains arm band was handed to Ashley Cole for the second half.

For the first fifteen minutes of the second half, it was the midfielders game. The Chelsea midfield dominated the game until David Beckham got the ball in the sixtyth minute. He perfectly played a long ball down to Carlos Pavon who had a poor first touch. Pavon did well to bring it back but his shot was poor and went far wide.

LA Galaxy had another attack to follow up. Some great passing by David Beckham led to Carlos Pavon having another shot on goal. Pavon tried to smash the ball in the top corner but Carlo Cudicini made a brilliant save to keep Pavon at bay. The ball went out for a corner.

David Beckham put in one of his classic corners but none of LA Galaxy players attempted to go for the ball and it was easily cleared by Chelsea. Andriy Shevchenko took the ball into his stride and started running down the wing with the ball. He switched the ball to the right hand side to Paulo Ferrara. Ferrara put in a cross into the box but it was poor. Shevchenko did very well to get a head on it but it was nowhere near troubling the keeper.

Chelsea continued to attack as they had done in the whole match. A cross in from Shaun Wright-Phillips fell to Michael Essiens feet at the near post. Essien had only one option which was to shoot and his attempt hit the side netting and it was a goal kick for LA Galaxy.

The Chelsea defence slacked off for a moment for LA Galaxy to have a wonderful chance to score. The ball was played through to Landon Donovan who beat the offside flag and the defence to be one on one with the keeper. Unfortunately he wasted his chance by sending it high and wide of the goal.

Landon Donovan continued to create chances for his team by pressing forward. His slick moving skills managed to take him past Alex, who had had a bad game, and have a great chance to shoot. Donovan lobbed Carlo Cudicini and the ball landed on the goal line. The ball comfortably went into the net and Landon Donovan went to celebrate to the fans.

Chelsea had a chance to seal the game in the eighty sixth minute with Claudio Pizzaro. Salomon Kalou played the ball through and cut the defence wide open. Claudio Pizzaro picked up the ball brilliantly with sheer skill. His shot however ruined the whole attack as he sent the ball straight down the middle, but into the stands.

Chelsea had another brilliant chance to seal the game, again with Claudio Pizzaro. John Obi Mikel played the ball through to Claudio Pizzaro who had only the keeper to beat. Pizzaro took to long and was tackled by Bell and cleared away by the defender.

The clearance only went to Michael Essien who played it on to Andriy Shevchenko. Shevchenko elegantly flicked the ball on to John Obi Mikel in the box. Mikel beat the defenders but was in an awkward position to shoot. He went with the shot and it was barely saved by McKenize, the ball went out for a corner.

The final whistle blew and Chelsea went into the changing rooms as the victorious team. They had such a brilliant first half but couldn't maintain the brilliant standard in the second. Andriy Shevchenko was named the man of the match for his brilliant performance with two goals and dominating the play.

 

[treva]

Seems Shevchenko has put himself in Grant's good books with that performance. Chelsea will be disappointed with the amount of chances they wasted. Against better teams they would have lost that one. Something to think about for the new boss...

 

[m_vaughan]

Its only pre-season so I dont think the boss will be too concerned yet.

 

[shantanu_rooney]

Well good pre season win in LA always nice to start a new campaign with a win.

 

[Dr. Pepper]

Page last updated at 10:59 GMT, Monday, 16 July 2007 10:59 UK​

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Saturday's gossip column

Reading have signed French versatile defensive player Brahim Hemdani. Reading have reportedly signed him from Rangers for a fee of around ?1.7 million. Hemdani was unhappy at the lack of first team football. (Various)

Duda Cearence has admitted that he's tempted by a move to Wigan Athletic. The twenty four year old Brazlian attacking midfielder told The Daily Mirror that he'd like to leave CSKA Moscow for a new challenge. (The Daily Mirror)

CSKA Moscow boss Valery Gazzaev has told the The Daily Mirror that he'll let Duda Cearence leave for a fair price. He said that if a good offer came along, he'd let Cearence leave Dinamo's Army Men. (The Daily Mirror)

Alan Curbishly has informed clubs that he will not sell Dean Ashton. Birmingham have said to be interested in the striker but The Hammers have made it clear that the twenty four year old will not leave for any price. (The Sun)

Tottenham Hotspurs have signed Dutch winger Anduele Pryor from Vitesse for a free transfer. The twenty two year old made just thirty appearances for Vitesse in the six years he spent at the club. Martin Jol called it the bargain of the century. (Various)

Tommaso Rocchi was seen at Heathrow airport yesterday and was escorted by a man in a limo to the Chelsea ground. The Lazio striker was suspected to have been signing a contract to move to the English club. (Various)

Milwall's boss Willie Donachie has been given an ultimatum by the board. If he does anything out of line again, he will be sacked as manager of the League One side. Donachie fell out with numerous starting players and has not played them in the starting eleven. (The Herald)

After signing for Reading, Brahim Hemdani went on a shopping spree with his parents all across London. The Frenchman was out of money at the end of the day. (The Sun)

The Derby County squad took the AC Milan players out for a drink after their match at Pride Park. Matt Oakley celebrated a victory over Alessandro Nesta after out drinking him. (The Daily Mirror)

Didier Drogba spent the rest of the day in Los Angeles getting a tan with mate David Beckham. They later went on to go shopping together. (The Daily Star)

Newcastle's South African midfielder Matty Pattison told the press that he was a big fan of David Seaman's hair and had attempted to grow his like it on numerous occasions. (The Sun)

 

[Dr. Pepper]

I'm doing shorter updates for friendlies for this to get to the main games.

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Cagliari frustrate Chelsea
Cagliari 1-1 Chelsea

Chelsea were frustrated by a fiercesome Cagliari side today. Avram Grant's men were dominated in the second half by Cagliari and were unable to convert their early chances into goals. Acquafresca put Cagliari ahead in the second half with a powered shot. Pizzaro levelled with fifteen minutes to go with a smashing shot.


Chelsea had plenty of chances early on, with Drogba having the final touch. They were unable to convert any chances into goals though and looked quite poor in front of goal. Didier Drogba's best chance was when a cross from Florent Malouda went to his feet and he hit it straight at the keeper.

Cagliari took the lead however with Robert Acquafresca against the run of play. Mattio Santarelli put the ball through to Acquafresca and Juliano Belletti was to blame for poor marking. Acquafresca hammered the shot into the top corner beautifully.

Chelsea's Andriy Shevchenko hit the ball very sweetly only to hit the post. After some great passing and moving, Shevchenko fired one from thirty yards and beat the keeper. The ball hit the woodwork and Drogba couldn't get his foot on the rebound.

Claudio Pizzaro levelled the score in the seventy third minute with a stunning strike. John Obi Mikel played a ball through to Michael Essien who tapped in to Claudio Pizzaro. Pizzaro struck the ball with sheer force and smashed it past the keeper into the back of the net to level the game.

The final whistle blew and Chelsea left Sant'Elia very frustrated. They were unable to convert their chances into goals and were dominated by Cagliari in the second half.