The Roman Abramovich-era ha over the last fifteen years brought unimaginable success to Chelsea Football Club but with success comes expectation, impatience, and as demonstrated on innumerable occasions: the costliest of mistakes. A self-made, Russian oligarch who prospered during the aftermath of Soviet disintegration and the economic free-for-all under the disastrous Boris Yeltsin presidency, Abramovich,…
Europa League: Sliding Doors final poses more questions than answers for both Chelsea and Arsenal
What was initially billed as the likely denouement to the contrasting Chelsea careers of Maurizio Sarri and talisman Eden Hazard has, following the West Londoners' second-half evisceration of Arsenal in last night's Europe League final, instead switched the focus to Unai Emery's underachievers and indeed the Spaniard's own future at the Emirates. The speculation over…
Chelsea FC should use transfer embargo to give youth a chance to shine
An outstanding season at newly promoted Aston Villa coupled with a two-window transfer ban for parent club Chelsea should this summer make Tammy Abraham master of his own destiny. Assuming Villa intend to bring in the 21-year old on a permanent basis will Abraham be tempted to showcase his talents at the top table for…
Chelsea fail to convince as Tottenham surrender title challenge
Barely 72 hours after an honourable defeat to Manchester City in the Carabao (League) Cup Final at Wembley Chelsea might have been forgiven, although perhaps not by owner Roman Abramovich, for a less-energetic, nervier performance against London and top four rivals, Tottenham Hotspur. As it transpired, Sarri-ball lives to fight another day. Although a chance…
Chelsea: Loftus-Cheek’s Europa League hat-trick unlikely to sway Sarri’s thinking
A timely reminder perhaps, but in reality Ruben Loftus-Cheek's Europa League hat-trick will have told Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri few things he didn't already know. Missing the injured Eden Hazard and a continued absence of a world class striker on their roster, Chelsea might have wondered where last night's goals against Belarusian outfit BATE Borisov…
Chelsea start another Premier League season by once more overlooking Ruben Loftus-Cheek
A penny for the thoughts of Chelsea's Ruben Loftus-Cheek. From being picked for England's 2018 World Cup squad on the back of an outstanding season on loan at Crystal Palace, the 22 year old could already feel aggrieved that former Blues' manager Antonio Conte purchased Leicester City's Danny Drinkwater for a frighteningly over-inflated £30 million,…
Premier League 2017/18 season snapshots: Chelsea
Fifth place and thirty points behind albeit runaway champions Manchester City is a far cry from Chelsea’s Premier League triumph but a year ago. The hand dealt Antonio Conte in what must be said to be two haphazard transfer windows since the Blues’ fifth Premier League title begs the question who sourced, and ultimately ratified…
Alpine Adventures, Soccer, Central Asian Autocracies & Secessionist Politics 