ANELKA: World Class but understated. We never knew we had it so good.

Nicolas Anelka has been and still is, world class. The man with the reputation of being "Le Sulk" has been nothing but since he arrived at Chelsea, a place he could finally call home, it's just a shame that he came to the club to fight for a place through the middle with Didier Drogba.

In the majority of Premier League sides, Anelka would command the start up front, through the middle as the main man. He earned and deserved the right to do so. A proven goalscorer in Europe let alone England, I firmly believe he would have scored bundles of goals here at Chelsea and would have had no problem with 20+ per season.

The problem Anelka has had, has been the competition for places up front here, which sounds ridiculous I know, but he has often has had to adjust his game to play out wide, to do a job and I cannot help but think to myself looking back that it has been such a waste of his talent.

Don't get me wrong Chelsea fans, at times he has been fantastic, has done a great job wide and has contributed to some memorable moments in a Chelsea shirt. When he has been played through the middle, he has also done well, led the line, scored goals, created goals with a class apart from everyone else.

When Anelka was given the chance with Drogba injured back in 2008/2009 he won the golden boot by scoring 19 Premier League goals and 25 goals in total for the season. (Video below)

Has he moaned or complained (in public anyway)?, No he hasn't. He has continued to work hard, got his head down and concentrated in doing everything he could for our team and for Chelsea? Yes he has.

Nico Anelka to this day for me oozes class, style and grace on the football pitch. He has an aura about him, defenders stand off him and refuse to dive in when he has the ball at his feet. He can beat a man with his pace, skill and his reading of situations in the game.

I truly believe that Anelka could have been right up there, season after season if he was given a run through the middle. It's something we can sit and debate till the cow's come home but I truly believe he would have done.

The reason I write this article is because of reports that are gaining momentum that he has been told that he can leave Chelsea as early as January. It's being reported that a move to China, a loan move to AC Milan, a move back home to PSG in France or a move to the MLS are options that have been presented to him and they all await his decision.

If this is the case then I understand it from the clubs point of view and you would imagine at 32, Anelka would understand their reasoning. Does he still have something to offer?, Of course he does and it really is no surprise that big European names are rumoured to be in for him.

Anelka is at the stage of his career that a player never really wants to face. He has arguably reached the top of the mountain and is slowly looking over the top to begin a slow climb downwards. Could he still do a job for Chelsea this season? I would say yes but again, only to a point. It's because of that fact that Anelka will look to take the final contract of his illustrious playing career and make the move from Stamford Bridge.

The title of this post says it all I really believe that while he has been here, we never knew just how lucky we were to have a player of his immense talent, quality, his vision, class and finesse on the football pitch.

Anelka has been professional throughout and a role model for the youngsters coming through. He has always given his best and that is all we ever ask from players who come here.

So thank you Nico and good luck in the future, wherever that decision takes you. Thanks for bringing some class to Stamford Bridge, understated but World Class!

(Here is a video of THAT 2008/9 season as Nico Anelka beat Cristiano Ronaldo to the Premier League Golden Boot. Just imagine if he'd played up front through the middle in every season!)



KTBFFH

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