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 pay the price for failing to adequately replace Diego Costa
To call Chelsea a club in crisis is akin to pandering to snowflake-generation hyperbole. To underscore the term 'crisis club' look no further than Blackpool, Bolton Wanderers, and Coventry City, not the faltering Roman revolution at Stamford Bridge. There is though a sense that the west Londoners are being left behind in the annual stampede…
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…
Alpine Adventures, Soccer, Central Asian Autocracies & Secessionist Politics 