Very quickly established himself into the English game. Saw a tweet the other day which said, David Silva took a season to get to grips with English football but Juan Mata took 3 minutes.
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Very quickly established himself into the English game. Saw a tweet the other day which said, David Silva took a season to get to grips with English football but Juan Mata took 3 minutes.
Petr Cech can extend Chelsea career after André Villas-Boas exit
• Goalkeeper would have been sacrificed in summer rebuilding
• Villas-Boas suspects players spoke against him to owner
The Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech may have been deemed expendable had André Villas-Boas remained as manager. Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images
André Villas-Boas's sacking at Chelsea may have saved Petr Cech's career at Stamford Bridge after it emerged the goalkeeper was among the players the Portuguese manager wanted to move on in a summer of rebuilding in which Edinson Cavani and Hulk were his top targets.
Three weeks after the brief and turbulent Villas-Boas era was ended, the full extent of his rebuilding plans demonstrates how determined he was to break up the old guard at Stamford Bridge and create a completely different team to re-establish the club as authentic title challengers.
Villas-Boas was not only determined to sever his ties with Frank Lampard and Michael Essien, as well as Didier Drogba, Paulo Ferreira, Salomon Kalou and Florent Malouda, but was not convinced by Cech's performances and had talked to Roman Abramovich about selling the man who once had legitimate claims to be recognised as the best goalkeeper in the world. Rui Patrício, the Sporting Lisbon goalkeeper, was one possible replacement and Villas-Boas also wanted to bring back Thibaut Courtois, Chelsea's 19-year-old Belgian, from a loan spell at Atlético Madrid in which the teenager has excelled.
Cavani, the Napoli forward, had been identified to replace Drogba on the back of the Uruguayan's brilliant performances in Serie A and the Champions League, while Villas-Boas had also asked Abramovich for the money to sign Hulk, the Brazilian striker who had helped him win the Portuguese title with Porto. The initial advances had already been made for both players, with Abramovich particularly involved in the case of Cavani, and it may still be that one or both of them is targeted regardless of who replaces Villas-Boas on a permanent basis.
Now back in Portugal, Villas-Boas's strong suspicion is that several players spoke out against him directly to Abramovich in the wake of the 3-1 Champions League first-leg defeat against Napoli last month, when he left Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole out of a team already missing the injured John Terry. Chelsea's 1-0 defeat at West Brom 11 days later led to his sacking and he is now waiting to finalise a severance agreement while Roberto Di Matteo, appointed on a caretaker basis, has overseen a transformation that includes overcoming Napoli 4-1 in the second leg of their Champions League tie and then beating Benfica 1-0 at Estádio da Luz in the first leg of the quarter-final on Tuesday.
As part of the payoff, an agreement will be in place that Villas-Boas does not discuss publicly the dressing-room secrets from his time at the London club. In particular Chelsea do not want him to reveal the deterioration in his relationship with senior players such as Lampard and Cole, which had suffered to the point where the atmosphere at the training ground was openly mutinous at times. Cole is also said to have fallen out with Malouda, and the 34-year-old Villas-Boas will privately admit he found it difficult bringing together a dressing room containing so many strong personalities.
Fernando Torres, however, was one of the players Villas-Boas wanted to keep, despite the striker enduring the worst form of his professional life since arriving from Liverpool for £50m 14 months ago. Abramovich, too, is determined not to give up on a player he had been desperate to sign. The idea was to begin next season with Cavani, Hulk, Torres and Daniel Sturridge as striking options.
As for the lengthy list of players who were considered expendable, Cech's name is the most surprising given that he is the current Chelsea player of the year and has been one of the bedrocks of their success in the Abramovich years. The Czech Republic international does not turn 30 until May, which is far from old in goalkeeping terms, but Villas-Boas was not fully satisfied with his performances and there is a sense in the football world that Cech's performances may not be at the same level as his first few years at the club.
• Goalkeeper would have been sacrificed in summer rebuilding
• Villas-Boas suspects players spoke against him to owner
- Daniel Taylor
- guardian.co.uk, Thursday 29 March 2012 16.13 BST
- Article history
André Villas-Boas's sacking at Chelsea may have saved Petr Cech's career at Stamford Bridge after it emerged the goalkeeper was among the players the Portuguese manager wanted to move on in a summer of rebuilding in which Edinson Cavani and Hulk were his top targets.
Three weeks after the brief and turbulent Villas-Boas era was ended, the full extent of his rebuilding plans demonstrates how determined he was to break up the old guard at Stamford Bridge and create a completely different team to re-establish the club as authentic title challengers.
Villas-Boas was not only determined to sever his ties with Frank Lampard and Michael Essien, as well as Didier Drogba, Paulo Ferreira, Salomon Kalou and Florent Malouda, but was not convinced by Cech's performances and had talked to Roman Abramovich about selling the man who once had legitimate claims to be recognised as the best goalkeeper in the world. Rui Patrício, the Sporting Lisbon goalkeeper, was one possible replacement and Villas-Boas also wanted to bring back Thibaut Courtois, Chelsea's 19-year-old Belgian, from a loan spell at Atlético Madrid in which the teenager has excelled.
Cavani, the Napoli forward, had been identified to replace Drogba on the back of the Uruguayan's brilliant performances in Serie A and the Champions League, while Villas-Boas had also asked Abramovich for the money to sign Hulk, the Brazilian striker who had helped him win the Portuguese title with Porto. The initial advances had already been made for both players, with Abramovich particularly involved in the case of Cavani, and it may still be that one or both of them is targeted regardless of who replaces Villas-Boas on a permanent basis.
Now back in Portugal, Villas-Boas's strong suspicion is that several players spoke out against him directly to Abramovich in the wake of the 3-1 Champions League first-leg defeat against Napoli last month, when he left Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole out of a team already missing the injured John Terry. Chelsea's 1-0 defeat at West Brom 11 days later led to his sacking and he is now waiting to finalise a severance agreement while Roberto Di Matteo, appointed on a caretaker basis, has overseen a transformation that includes overcoming Napoli 4-1 in the second leg of their Champions League tie and then beating Benfica 1-0 at Estádio da Luz in the first leg of the quarter-final on Tuesday.
As part of the payoff, an agreement will be in place that Villas-Boas does not discuss publicly the dressing-room secrets from his time at the London club. In particular Chelsea do not want him to reveal the deterioration in his relationship with senior players such as Lampard and Cole, which had suffered to the point where the atmosphere at the training ground was openly mutinous at times. Cole is also said to have fallen out with Malouda, and the 34-year-old Villas-Boas will privately admit he found it difficult bringing together a dressing room containing so many strong personalities.
Fernando Torres, however, was one of the players Villas-Boas wanted to keep, despite the striker enduring the worst form of his professional life since arriving from Liverpool for £50m 14 months ago. Abramovich, too, is determined not to give up on a player he had been desperate to sign. The idea was to begin next season with Cavani, Hulk, Torres and Daniel Sturridge as striking options.
As for the lengthy list of players who were considered expendable, Cech's name is the most surprising given that he is the current Chelsea player of the year and has been one of the bedrocks of their success in the Abramovich years. The Czech Republic international does not turn 30 until May, which is far from old in goalkeeping terms, but Villas-Boas was not fully satisfied with his performances and there is a sense in the football world that Cech's performances may not be at the same level as his first few years at the club.
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Petr Cech can extend Chelsea career after André Villas-Boas exit
• Goalkeeper would have been sacrificed in summer rebuilding
• Villas-Boas suspects players spoke against him to owner
- Daniel Taylor
- guardian.co.uk, Thursday 29 March 2012 16.13 BST
- Article history
The Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech may have been deemed expendable had André Villas-Boas remained as manager. Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images
André Villas-Boas's sacking at Chelsea may have saved Petr Cech's career at Stamford Bridge after it emerged the goalkeeper was among the players the Portuguese manager wanted to move on in a summer of rebuilding in which Edinson Cavani and Hulk were his top targets.
Three weeks after the brief and turbulent Villas-Boas era was ended, the full extent of his rebuilding plans demonstrates how determined he was to break up the old guard at Stamford Bridge and create a completely different team to re-establish the club as authentic title challengers.
Villas-Boas was not only determined to sever his ties with Frank Lampard and Michael Essien, as well as Didier Drogba, Paulo Ferreira, Salomon Kalou and Florent Malouda, but was not convinced by Cech's performances and had talked to Roman Abramovich about selling the man who once had legitimate claims to be recognised as the best goalkeeper in the world. Rui Patrício, the Sporting Lisbon goalkeeper, was one possible replacement and Villas-Boas also wanted to bring back Thibaut Courtois, Chelsea's 19-year-old Belgian, from a loan spell at Atlético Madrid in which the teenager has excelled.
Cavani, the Napoli forward, had been identified to replace Drogba on the back of the Uruguayan's brilliant performances in Serie A and the Champions League, while Villas-Boas had also asked Abramovich for the money to sign Hulk, the Brazilian striker who had helped him win the Portuguese title with Porto. The initial advances had already been made for both players, with Abramovich particularly involved in the case of Cavani, and it may still be that one or both of them is targeted regardless of who replaces Villas-Boas on a permanent basis.
Now back in Portugal, Villas-Boas's strong suspicion is that several players spoke out against him directly to Abramovich in the wake of the 3-1 Champions League first-leg defeat against Napoli last month, when he left Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole out of a team already missing the injured John Terry. Chelsea's 1-0 defeat at West Brom 11 days later led to his sacking and he is now waiting to finalise a severance agreement while Roberto Di Matteo, appointed on a caretaker basis, has overseen a transformation that includes overcoming Napoli 4-1 in the second leg of their Champions League tie and then beating Benfica 1-0 at Estádio da Luz in the first leg of the quarter-final on Tuesday.
As part of the payoff, an agreement will be in place that Villas-Boas does not discuss publicly the dressing-room secrets from his time at the London club. In particular Chelsea do not want him to reveal the deterioration in his relationship with senior players such as Lampard and Cole, which had suffered to the point where the atmosphere at the training ground was openly mutinous at times. Cole is also said to have fallen out with Malouda, and the 34-year-old Villas-Boas will privately admit he found it difficult bringing together a dressing room containing so many strong personalities.
Fernando Torres, however, was one of the players Villas-Boas wanted to keep, despite the striker enduring the worst form of his professional life since arriving from Liverpool for £50m 14 months ago. Abramovich, too, is determined not to give up on a player he had been desperate to sign. The idea was to begin next season with Cavani, Hulk, Torres and Daniel Sturridge as striking options.
As for the lengthy list of players who were considered expendable, Cech's name is the most surprising given that he is the current Chelsea player of the year and has been one of the bedrocks of their success in the Abramovich years. The Czech Republic international does not turn 30 until May, which is far from old in goalkeeping terms, but Villas-Boas was not fully satisfied with his performances and there is a sense in the football world that Cech's performances may not be at the same level as his first few years at the club.
I personly say another 2-3 years for Cech and then Courtois will get his chance.
Its a pretty pointed assessment of some of the egos at the club. Clearly there was a lot more going there than even the hacks alluded to. You dont sign a non disclosure over nothing. Probably shouldnt have been hired, but when he was, the wrong man left the club, when you look at the players he was trying to bring in, and probably would have succeeded. Cech would have gone for a lot of money, money that then helps towards the stellar purchases, helping the club in FFPR, and bringing that younger top class talent. 4-3-3 of Hulk, Torres, Cavani? World Class.
Some of your big players have let the club down in a big way. Lampard's call for focus rings hollow after what he has done.
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What I have seen of Hulk I think he is over rated. Every time I have seen him he is not having the best of games (admittedly most I have saw of him is in Europe football but the point still applies).
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BlueHeart26
Guest
If AVB really spoke against Cech, then I hate him already. You know you are a ***** when you cast out a goalkeeper of Petr's world class dimension. Im stunned. **** off andre.
watch you language.
And Cech isnt that great any more. he certainly isnt world class. More to the point you have a fantastic young keeper already. You could have sold Cech for a lot of money, recalled Courtois, and used the money to fun the purchases of Hulk or Cavani...
I'd argue that he is world class, not the best in the world by any stretch and not as good as he used to be but I still think he's in the top 10 in the world at least.
I wouldnt class him as a world class keeper, but he has definitely declined. Selling him now would still have netted serious money.
I think Cech is a great keeper but he is not as good as he once was, I would certainly offload him and get very decent money for him and give Courtois a go (nothing like first team experience and he obviously has the class).
That was the thinking, offload a very good who keeper who has declined, and may still be on the decline, for serious money. And recall your young very good (but not quite as good) keeper who is improving. And use the funds to help bring in more players.
Totally agree with you there, but most Chelsea fans obvioiusly won't. I think they would get decent money for Drogba and Lampard if they sold them at the end of the season, can't see it happening with Di Matteo in charge (I assume he will be). But then again he has made some brave line up decisions so he could prove me wrong.
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BlueHeart26
Guest
Petr Cech - the former number one in the world? Yes, he is world class. maybe this season is not his best, but its not even Chelsea's best season. When a team doesnt perform, and most particularly the defenders, what can you expect? Yes, hes not Casillas nor is he Neuer, but he is up there. I love Petr, and If I were Roman I'd keep him till he's 40. He's still 29, and no, Courtois will not be the first choice anytime soon.
Drogba will probably leave on a free (Contracts up) and Lampard's on high wages with another year left so no one will buy him.
That sentence is everything that is wrong with Chelsea, and why you dont move on.
Yup FORMER number 1. Cech hasnt at his best for over 2 seasons. Lets not pretend otherwise.
Keeping him till he is 40 makes zero sense, Courtois is certainly good enough to be a starter.
The players are never the club. Chelsea fans and some of their players seem to have forgotten that.
-Facepalm-
When you have a keeper with the potential Courtois has and you would keep Cech until he is 40? I really do give up. Look at De Gea, started off very shakily but Fergie backed him even at the young age and he has come on leaps and bounds now, no doubt Courtois could do the same. He definitely could be better than Cech within 2 or 3 seasons anyway.
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BlueHeart26
Guest
I'm against that 'players are the club', nowhere near thinking that, and I never will. Club comes first, always. Courtois is a great talent, but Cech is 29, and he has still a lot to give, he has experience, something that Thibaut havent heard of, let alone having it. Cech can be a great 2nd choice if Thibaut breaks in. So selling that kind of a goalie, makes no sense at all. Look what happened to VDS.
Like i said another 2-3 years for Petr other wise Courtois will lose interest and go elsewhere. For me there are 2 types of goal keepers. Ones who are brilliant shot stoppers i.e playing for teams who will concede a lot of shots and trying to keep the score down and ones who have to stay alert as they may not face a single shot until the last minute. Cech is in the latter category for me and in the last few seasons Chelsea have started conceding more shots per game so he has had to adapt. Last season he won our player of the season so we must be recognising him.
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BlueHeart26
Guest
Never said Cech will be our #1 till 40, but will be a great number two. Yea, please do give up, cause obviously you dont get a thing we say.
Yeh, because keeping Cech as no.2 is logical? :S
Why would you keep him as a no.2 when you could get decent money for him, not that he would probably accept being at a club not being first choice anyway, bit like Lampard/Terry and others. Revolves back round to Chelsea's problems.