ANOTHER MASTERSTROKE FROM VILLAS-BOAS!

I cannot emphasise enough how happy I am to hear AVB speak of the group at Chelsea rather than distancing himself from his players and speaking of individual players.

Of course Jose came here and announced he was "The Special One" which is a name he will always be fondly remembered as here but think about it for a second, it immediately passed a message onto everyone from the owner, to the board, the players, the staff and us fans that he really is outstanding far and above everyone else here.

AVB's was very very quick to dispel any comparisons with Jose and when asked about "The Special One" comment from Jose sitting in the same seat seven years ago, he immediately chose "The group one" which to me is a masterstroke already.

At times last season, because of Carlo's changes in games with some players in and out the side like yo-yo's and knowing that they weren't playing well, it seemed to me that the group and team collective took a back seat as players thought of themselves and their own performances first with the team second.

The fact that AVB has this "we are in this together" approach will instantly build on our team spirit that picked up towards the end of last season.

If he can make every single person in our squad feel as though they can and will play a part in his project we really could be onto something special at the Bridge once again this season.

KTBFFH

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AVB's comments will be music to Torres' ears!

Everyone of us can't wait for pre season training to start, to get a feel of how AVB see's the current players he has and to get HIS settled squad fully prepared ahead of the season starting in August.

I have already said that I thought Villas-Boas' Press Conference was really good and he really impressed me with the way he spoke, his vision and the fact he has brought in Bobby Di Matteo in as his number two.

There was one thing that was apparent with what he said and that was the focus on the group collective and no more so when he was asked about Fernando Torres and if he would now build a team around our £50m Spaniard. His response was fantastic and probably music to Torres' ears watching from afar on holiday. AVB responded by saying:

"We faced this question last year at Porto with a striker of the quality of Falcao. He was a striker who didn't find the back of the net in pre-season and was frustrated. We didn't tune the team to provide to him. We tuned the team as a whole. Once we did that, he scored 30 goals in a season, 60 in two seasons. It's about fine-tuning the team, not the player.

(Source)

Now the reason I am saying this is because of what I had been banging on about on my blog from early on in Torres' career at Chelsea. I posted about the fact that he was never going to "fit in" at Chelsea unless we played him in his strongest position. I think you will agree it would be a start at least!

However, in addition to my post, it's true the point AVB makes. It doesn't matter if you ARE playing in your strongest position, you still need the other players in the side to support you.

How many times last season did we see Torres' making runs into space only to be ignored?. It must have been so frustrating.

The point that AVB states that he wants to "tune the team as a whole" and it's about "fine tuning the team, not the player" will be the biggest positive Torres could have asked for. Knowing now that the team will provide him with the best opportunities to score leaving it down to him to capitalise, being fine tuned himself as part of the group will be a major boost to his confidence.

I have said it before and will say it again, you watch Torres go next season. All this talk of struggling at Chelsea and just the one goal will be a distant memory. The player himself is on his first summer break for five years and will come back fresh ready for the new collective approach at Chelsea under AVB.

KTBFFH

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Is AVB right to wait before making transfer moves?

AVB in his press conference today has more or less told us all nothing is going to happen with transfers until he has had a good look at the players at his disposal. Only then will he decide who he needs to bring into the club and who has to make way.

He said:

'Everybody will be in on July 6. I am more than happy with the actual squad, It is nothing new that when a manager comes, radical changes are expected. I think at the moment and bearing in mind the success this club has had in the past six or seven years, we have to judge things carefully and make wise decisions.

I am counting on everybody to come in from last year and then make the best decisions. We have plenty of time in the market to judge the market and approach it in the way we see valuable for the team in the end, with no fuss in the changes we might need to do or not. They are top quality players and I want them back as soon as possible to start making decisions as soon as possible.

Trying to push ourselves this year will be a massive challenge. The most important thing is to raise players' ambitions and motivations to be successful. From the experience I have they are able to do it, I spoke to a couple of them on the phone and they are willing to come back and start this new life. Most of them told me this is a fresh new start and they are willing.

I don't feel the team falls short of quality because we are up there, but I agree minor changes can be done and we can put some input here and there in certain sectors.

My confidence is for them to return to me and judge from that. These are players that deserve this respect from me. Up to August 31 we have plenty of time to make a wise decision, but I just don't agree on the fact we are short of quality because most of the players here have won a lot in their careers and still have the hunger for success.

The main thing is for us to consider and value what we have at this time in the club which are top quality players which in the past have won three Premierships, three FA Cups and two Carling Cups and players that have played five Champions League semi-finals and one final, so this is the kind of quality you have.'

(Source)

For me it makes perfect sense to wait, evaluate the squad and see what needs a tweak or to. Think about it, we were not that far away from United last season and when it came to games against them suffered because of our tactics and United's ability to change things during the game.

I know some people see the signings that United are making as something we need to catch up with but seriously what's the point in making panic buys.

AVB has indicated that he has a major say now in transfers and the whole process takes time.

I am all for it, and besides, it gives the group of players we have a massive boost knowing they all have a chance to come and prove that they should be included in his project this season.

So for the time being the message is clear, don't believe the rumours that we are reading about the likes of Neymar, Villa and Modric etc.

What do you people think?

KTBFFH

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AVB's technical staff confirmed as Roberto Di Matteo comes back!

Well I have to say sitting watching the AVB press conference this morning, that I am well pleased with the fact that Roberto Di Matteo has come back to the club as AVB's Assistant First Team Coach.

Bobby is part and parcel of our history and after his career was cut short by that horrific injury he suffered, he made a real go of a his aim to become a successful manager.

With some success at MK Dons and at West Brom, we all know it was cut short in a surprising move when he was sacked shortly after being promoted back to the Premier League.

It was his vision of how the game is to be played and his experience in those couple of years that alerted AVB and in a similar move to Steve Clarke coming into Chelsea when Mourinho arrived, it is a perfect appointment for me.

AVB also confirmed Steve Holland makes the step up to the first team also as Assistant First Team Coach and AVB brings Jose Mario Rocha, a 48-year-old fitness expert, Daniel Sousa, who will become head opposition scout and Christophe Lollichon continues as goalkeeping coach.

Like I said in my view a great appointment for Chelsea. What do you people think?

KTBFFH

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Chelsea bid for Neymar accepted?

We all know we are and have been for a while, interested in Neymar. According to ESPN, Chelsea and FOUR OTHER CLUBS have all made bids that match the release clause in Neymar's contract with Santos.

The article states:

Santos president Luis Alvaro de Oliveira Ribeiro has confirmed five clubs in Europe have agreed to pay Neymar's €45 million release clause.

The clubs - named in widespread reports throughout Brazil as Real Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea, Manchester City and Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala - will now be given permission to speak to Neymar.

"We don't want to sell the player, but of course there is a release clause in his contract that can be paid. Five European clubs have offered to match the clause.

I cannot name them because there is an agreement between Santos and the clubs, but they are the most important European clubs. They have asked to speak to the player and obviously we've allowed them to."

The clubs have behaved ethically. They sought out Santos first and were willing to pay the clause. With this ethical approach, they can talk to anyone - with Neymar's father, with [agent] Wagner Ribeiro, and with the representatives of Neymar."

So Chelsea have competition from two of Europe's biggest names, a Russian side and that other lot in Manchester. Will we get him? Do you think we have a chance?

Whatever happens, it's great news that we ARE in for him! Let's just wait and see what happens.

KTBFFH

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Why have Chelsea made a bid for David Villa?

Another report that caught my eye has been reports of Chelsea's £27m bid for David Villa of Barcelona that apparently has been rejected.

It's been rejected because Barcelona have no intention of selling him unless someone pays in the region of £180m Euros to activate his release clause.

Now straight away I thought wow, that's a bold bold move by Chelsea and the fact that (even though as usual nothing is ever confirmed by Chelsea until a deal is more or less agreed) they have been linked with a move was encouraging for me, but then I thought about it some more and wondered why we are looking at him?

First of all we have to realise we are going to be linked with a whole host of names between now and the end of the transfer window because we have a new manager in charge.

Secondly, do we really honestly believe that David Villa would want to swap playing for a club that has won everything it has played for in the last couple of seasons to move to us?

Thirdly, do we really believe that Barcelona would even entertain the idea in the first place?. Look, I know they have their money problems but I simply cannot understand how they would want to get rid of a player who has become a vital cog in their machine this season.

From Chelsea's point of view, what does it say for the likes of Florent Malouda, Didier Drogba, Nicolas Anelka and Salomon Kalou?. For me it's more so Kalou and Anelka. Villa plays on the left hand side of the front three and stays there, you would imagine at Chelsea under AVB (and it is yet to be seen) that he would require an out and out winger to play there like he did at Porto. Do we think Villa is a winger? NO! So I don't see any point.

I really have to say that I believe this is a non starter and that's that and we should focus on other players if they are to come into the club.

What do you think?

KTBFFH

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AVB makes ANOTHER impact at Chelsea!

As we all saw earlier today, the scheduled pre season game against Vitesse Arnhem has been cancelled. The official Chelsea website broke the news this afternoon and The Guardian is running it's take on the reason the game was called off and they believe that it's all AVB's doing. The article states that AVB felt that to play a preseason game just five days after training started was too soon.

I have to agree with AVB on this one. I remember seeing the games the club had organised and wondered why we would play so soon. It doesn't really make any sense does it?.

To think, he's our new manager and want's at least a couple of weeks for the players to get to know him and his training methods, his staff and buy into his belief into how he wants them to play football.

With the game being cancelled it now means Chelsea will have 12 days to prepare for their first Pre Season game on 16th July against Portsmouth before heading off to Asia.

I have said it before and will say it again, I am buying into this guys ideas so far and pre season training hasn't even started yet!

I can't wait!

KTBFFH

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Cole wants to move to Spain?

One of the main stories that broke over the weekend was about Ashley Cole and his "desire" to finish his career in Spain. The Daily Mail ran this article quoting a "source close to the footballer" who said:

'Ashley has told friends he sees his future abroad and he wants to persuade [ex-wife] Cheryl to come with him. It all boils down to what Cheryl wants, but the early signs are she would be up for the idea.'

Now if you ask me based on just a footballing situation here then I wouldn't think Ashley Cole would want to leave Chelsea because with the likes of JT, Lampard, Drogba and Petr Cech, he has a burning desire to put right the wrongs of Moscow a couple of years ago.

The problem we have is the situation in his personal life with Cheryl Cole. I really do think this plays and will play a massive part in what Cole wants to do. Forget all this rubbish about the money, he doesn't need money and the move wouldn't be purely a financial one.

It would come down to wanting things between him and Cheryl to get back on track and if it meant getting away from the constant barrage of press and media coverage about the both of them, then Spain would provide a fresh start for the two of them.

I just really hope the desire he has to win the Champions League at Chelsea is strong enough to keep him here for at least another couple of seasons!

KTBFFH

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“I encourage freedom of choice in football"

AVB is featured this morning speaking of his vision for Chelsea and the way he wants HIS Chelsea team to play under his management. He said:

“I’m no dictator. I encourage freedom of choice in football. Players can only achieve their true ­potential if they are not ­shackled and are able to stand on their own two feet. Creativity in my players is important. I love the ­unpredictable part of the game. I strongly believe that ­players have to express themselves to their full potential, they must be able to make choices during the game.

I want ­success. I have expectations and want to look back on a career I can be proud of. I want to win ­championships, I want to explore other leagues and embrace different social and cultural behaviour.

This job is all I ever wanted. I accept people may view it as a gamble employing someone so young, but if I didn’t believe I could succeed what is the point?”

The more we hear from AVB the more I like him. His approach to the game and the way he wants his players to play the game is encouraging. We always hear people saying about players being able to express themselves in games but we only really ever see it a couple of times a season as games these days have become very tactical.

The fear of losing games plays a big part too and maybe just maybe, Chelsea could have been guilty of that a couple of times last season.

How many times would we be watching a game and think to ourselves "We simply haven't turned up or got going yet"?.

We have to wait until a week tomorrow for the players to meet AVB for the first time and based on what AVB has been saying so far, the players will love to new fresh approach he will bring to management at Stamford Bridge and the Premier League.

I can't wait to see us play our first game under him in pre season!

KTBFFH

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VILLAS BOAS' FIRST BATTLE WON AT CHELSEA?.

It's seems that with the appointment of Andres Villas-Boas at Chelsea and the continued press and media coverage that follows there seems to be two important points that have pretty much gone un-noticed as far as I am concerned. A battle that looks like being won already by AVB that formed part and parcel of his negotiations with Chelsea.

Firstly he is called "Manager" of this football club and not just the "First Team Coach" as Carlo Ancelotti had been previously. You have to look at the official title of the role and straight away would see the where both are similar but ultimately different.

You could argue that a First Team Coach is purely employed to coach the players that the club put in front of him and to just get on with it. This is something that alot of people thought about the signings of Fernando Torres and looking back to Jose Mourinho's time at the club towards the latter stages with the signings of Shevchenko and Ballack.

The first team coach probably has "an input" into the kinds of players that would benefit the club and whether or not the board decide to act upon that recommendation is another thing. With Ancelotti, they backed him with Ramires and then David Luiz but whether they were recommendations from the Italian, we will never know.

The second important point I want to raise ties in with all this and that's AVB's title now as "Manager". There are reports that part of the negotiations with the club was that AVB wanted full involvement in transfers at Chelsea and seems to have his own way.

Again, this is something alot of Chelsea fans have been asking for and have been critical of Abramovich in recent times. People have felt as though the Manager should be able to do just that and manage all areas of the playing side of the football club including transfers and Roman needed to take a step backwards and allow him to do so.

Of course I am just blogging about what I make of the deal that brought AVB to the club but you would imagine in the negotiations he would have championed the cause for this and pretty much said to Abramovich and Gourlay "Your prepared to pay £13.3m for my services so the least you could do is let me do things my way and I want control of who comes in and who goes".

If this is indeed the case at Chelsea now under his management, then he has pulled off a master-stroke before he stepped foot inside Stamford Bridge for the first time yesterday.

KTBFFH

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Radamel Falcao to follow AVB for £26.5m?

Ever since AVB was linked with the managers job at Chelsea and then confirmed, their Colombian Striker, Radamel Falcao has been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge.

Why is he being linked? Well 39 goals last season under the management of AVB is more than enough reason for the manager to want his star striker to follow him.

Again, Porto have a clause inserted into the players contract that a fee must be paid to be released and it's believed to be £26.5m. According to the Daily Mail, personal terms between the player and Chelsea have already been agreed for around £5m per season which seems outrageous to me when we have Fernando Torres and Didier Drogba already at the club.

Now I have to admit I haven't been following the fortunes of Porto last season but have been made aware of this guys finishing abilities. Have a look at the video below and see for yourselves:



The questions remain. Will he come to Chelsea? Where will he play? What will happen to the likes of Drogba, Torres, Anelka and Sturridge?

You can fully understand as to why AVB wants to bring him here but what will become much more interesting would be how he fits in with everyone else.

Do you think it's a good move to bring him here?

KTBFFH

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Sturridge - Chelsea to cash in under the new regime?

One negative thing for me and this is only purely based on speculation for me is the future of Danny Sturridge at Chelsea. Sturridge like the rest of the players at Chelsea will meet with AVB and have his chance to impress.

If as expected, AVB decided to line up in our 4-3-3 formation with just the one striker through the middle then we HAVE TO believe that Fernando Torres will be the main striker, with possibly Didier Drogba playing off of him.

In addition to this, there are growing rumours about Porto striker Radamel Falcao following AVB to the club this summer which in my opinion puts Sturridge even further down the pecking order.

Sturridge himself has said on record that he wants to be playing regularly in the Premier League and if he is unable to do that, he will look to move on either another loan deal or permanent move and I just wonder if he will look to start again somewhere else?.

If this report is to be believed in today's Mirror, Stoke are about to offer Chelsea £6m for him and you would have to believe that the club would be tempted to cash in on a player on a reported £55,000 per week.

I could be totally wrong here and I know quite a few of the regular readers of my blog have been calling for Sturridge to get his chance and he still may be given the chance he deserves under our new regime but it does look alot less likely now.

Could we be seeing Chelsea cash in on a born, natural goalscoring English talent this summer? We shall see in the coming weeks.

KTBFFH

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VIDEO: Neymar scores then get's in a fight!

Chelsea target Neymar scored Santos' first goal last night as they beat Penarol 2-1 in the Copa Libertadores final second leg. After the game a massive fight broke out and Neymar is involved again by booting a couple of the opposition players!. First the goal, then the fight and if you miss it, make sure you watch the fight video a couple of times. Neymar is to the right of the screen!





It's madness out there isn't it. Imagine seeing scenes like that in the Premier League.

So it seems that now Santos will expect to hear from clubs wanting to buy Neymar and of course there is the release clause in his contract. If Chelsea are serious about Neymar (my god they should be because of what he can do in this video) and with reported late interest from Real Madrid, we could see Chelsea making their move in the coming days.

KTBFFH

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DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE!

Article published in today's Mirror Football section.

Do not believe the hype about any kind of clear out at Chelsea now AVB has taken over. According to the Mirror, the likes of Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, Florent Malouda, Michael Essien,Nicolas Anelka, Salomon Kalou and John Obi Mikel's futures at Chelsea are all under threat!.

The article states the following:

Frank Lampard (£5m)
Stalwart and dressing room linchpin but now 33 and cannot be confident of remaining an automatic starter. Needs to come back firing after last season's injury problems.

Didier Drogba (£10m)
Wants to stay but will look vulnerable if Villas-Boas brings Falcao with him from Porto, especially after Roman Abramovich spent £50million on Fernando Torres.

Nicolas Anelka (£5m)
Goals dried up last season with none in his last 11 appearances and at 32 he looks increasingly vulnerable. Problem in shifting him will be his salary demands.

Florent Malouda (£10m)
Claims that he has been told he is wanted but upper echelons at the Bridge felt he let them down big-time last term after a great start. Went missing at Old Trafford in Champions League defeat as well.

Michael Essien (£10m)
One of the pillars of Mourinho's side but never close to his best last term and appears more expendable than at any time since arrival from Lyons. Coveted by others but powers may be on the wane.

Salomon Kalou (£15m)
Never popular with the Stamford Bridge fans despite decent goal return rate and likely to drop further down the pecking order in the new regime.

John Obi Mikel (£15m)
Struggled to justify the £16m in "hush money" Chelsea paid Manchester United to secure his services. Hard to see him getting a game if Villas-Boas can sign Joao Moutinho.

Now the reason I am saying to ignore all the hype is purely and simply because of what AVB has said himself when he was interviewed yesterday. He stated the following:

There will be no big radical impact or big radical rupture.

I can see 2 or 3 coming into the club with the same number leaving. I simply cannot see Frank Lampard leaving the club. It's ridiculous to even consider. We have to remember Frank Lampard missed nearly half a season last season and with a good rest and pre season will be right back where he was (in my opinion).

Didier Drogba is the subject of speculation at the moment too but looking back at the way AVB utilised HULK at Porto, would we not see Drogba used in the same role.

Another player I cannot see leaving this season would be Michael Essien. We could see Essien deployed as the holding midfielder this season with Mikel making way as I think Ramires has shown everyone how good he can be in our first season.

I personally think that the players under threat would be Anelka, Malouda, Mikel and Kalou but that's just my opinion. Chelsea simply cannot make the same mistakes we made last summer and need to ensure we have cover in every position. If the likes of Moutinho, Falcao and Neymar come in then it's these players who will make way.

I have stated what AVB HAS TO DO before the season starts this morning so make sure you check it out.

Anyway, like I say, do not believe any hype of a mass clear out at Chelsea. The manager has said it himself.

KTBFFH

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VILLAS-BOAS: Five things he MUST do before the season starts.

Andre Villas-Boas is Chelsea's new manager and I have to say I am really excited about the appointment after seeming for so long that Roman Abramovich would entrust his beloved Chelsea to Guus Hiddink once again.

The appointment of Villas-Boas seemed somewhat out of the blue as the news broke on Tuesday that he could be leaving Porto. Chelsea paid the release fee of £13.3m and Roman Abramovich got his man.

Chelsea's statement was interesting for me to read. The important quote taken from that statement reads:

"Andre was the outstanding candidate for the job. He is one of the most talented young managers in football today"

You would have to say that paying £13.3m for makes a bold statement to the footballing world that you are right behind the man and his methods. Villas-Boas has spoken fantastically well in the two interviews he has been featured in on my blog. Firstly the interview he gave the official website and then the Chelsea TV interview and I have been really impressed by what he has said and the way he goes about his business. He is a confident man and will need to be to succeed here.

However, it's my belief that in order for AVB to become a success here at Chelsea and to win trophies next season (because let's be honest, it's the be all and end all here these days) there are five things HE MUST DO between now and the beginning of the season so have a read and see if you agree with me:

1. Make an immediate impact in the first meeting with the players.

It's all well and good being appointed as the new manager at a club. However, this isn't just any club. This is Chelsea and these are world class players. For the majority of the players here they have seen some big big names and world class coaches come and go so he must make an impact. He needs to make an really great first impression. By the time the players and AVB go their separate ways after that very first day's training, each and every single player that is part and parcel of his plans for the season needs to have bought into Villas-Boas' way!.

2. He must "handle" our big names and ego's.

There have been rumours of player power at Chelsea for a couple of years now with what has been the key and established names at the club. Some people call it ego's and maybe they are right. Some people seem to see themselves as "invincible" and this mentality has to go. AVB's message MUST BE plain and simple. You either buy into my methods and what I am trying to achieve for all of us here or you are out the door!. Last season we saw elements of players putting their own personal objectives ahead of the team and AVB needs to bring certain players down a peg or two. The big ego's at the club must align with the rest of the group and the collective.

3. To impress and motivate the players instantly in training.

People forget that training happens daily and is much more intense during pre season. I guess it can become mundane and repetitive. I have read that the Porto players loved his training methods and preparation. His focus is similar to Jose Mourinho's when it comes to pre season and that's to work with the ball from the very first day of pre season training rather than spending countless days running for miles. The players must buy into his training methods from the first moment onwards.

I have also read that a tactic he used when he took over Porto and the first time he met the players was to show them a DVD he put together of Benfica's title celebrations the season before. He made the players sit there and watch it all and quite simply stated after it had finished "Remember the hurt you all felt seeing that, we do not want to feel this way again" and instantly gave his players the motivation and focus for the season ahead. This could be happening at Cobham in a couple of weeks time!.

4. To make at least one big name / marquee signing.

Speculation will now intensify surrounding AVB's appointment and possible transfer targets. A whole host of names will be mentioned and talked about for weeks until the season starts. For any new manager at a club you would want to put your own stamp on things. There's no better way in addition to everything I have said above, than to bring in a big signing to freshen things up and give everyone a lift. At the same time, those players that are no longer considered part of his plans need to be shown the door sooner rather than later.

5. He simply must have a "Plan B".

It's fair to say that Carlo Ancelotti lacked a Plan B and Chelsea suffered for it last season. In so many games last year the team looked like they needed something different and looked to Carlo and it never came. Jose set the precedent here with his ability to outclass his managerial opponent tactically with changes made in games and AVB will need to come up with the same.

It's all well and good having a game plan but this is football and how many times have we seen a thought out game plan go up in flames within minutes of a game starting (United away in the League last season anyone!?). I just felt that Chelsea were prepared to play a certain way and if it didn't work, the changes that were made for a player for a player in the same position and not a tactical change. AVB needs to ensure that our players know there will always be a backup plan to get results.

Of course we can talk about what AVB needs to do now he has been appointed and Chelsea and the great thing is that everyone of you has an opinion like me so I would love to hear yours but posting your thoughts and comments below. Do you agree with me or have your own ideas?

Whatever happens, it's an exciting time for Chelsea with Villas-Boas at the helm. Let's just hope that come the first game of the season away to Stoke, we take to the field as prepared as we could be, motivated and determined to show the world the reason why Roman Abramovich has made Andre Villas-Boas the most expensive managerial acquisition ever!.

KTBFFH

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"I am confident that I can respond to Chelsea's expectations" - AVB

Andre Villas-Boas continues to be quoted from his interviews that took place at Stamford Bridge yesterday. First was his interview with the Official Website and last night in an interview with Chelsea TV, AVB is quoted once again. He said:

'We just want to introduce our philosophy and mould it into what is the culture of English football and English players. Gradually we will see where we can ride.

The tremendous success that Carlo had here, the magnificent two years he spent here, we want to build on from that. Carlo has left for this club some important things and we want to continue building from where he left. There will be no big radical impact or big radical rupture.

We want to continue having trophies, but this is not a one-man show, this is a common game of ideas with my ideas and the club's prospects and the owner's prospects and ambitions.

This is the most important thing in football in the modern era, you cannot put it down to one person. I want to feel everybody together in this project and continue with the magnificent work Carlo left behind. The natural progression for this club is to keep winning and that's what I want to do.

I think the players will like it, We are very open-minded, we are open to them, to their problems and not only the problems they face on the pitch but their problems that they face in their day-to-day life.

We are not just managers of the game, we are people who understand the person as a whole. This is something that we feel can have a good impact.

My last year was a year when we achieved so many things and we had support, we had structure with people around me, and now I took this challenge as an individual challenge that I wanted to take.

It is a big, big step and I am confident that I can respond to Chelsea's expectations and we can focus on the four trophies that we have to win. I am pretty much confident that people will like it. This is a new leadership, a new communication, a new way of being, but I think in the end it all ends up in the motivation everyone must feel to continue to win for the club.

When I was here before it was excellent times. The move from Porto to London was a brave move for Jose and it was happy times. We won two Premierships after 50 years from Chelsea winning the first championship and it was something massive by that time, it was something that made us very proud.

So it is good to be back at a club where I know the people around and hopefully we can start the season with a tremendous impact with staff, players and this new empathy that I want to bring.'

KTBFFH

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Villas-Boas speaks about his appointment.

AVB (as he has become known here) has spoken to the Official Chelsea Website and has spoken of the challenge ahead. He said:

Is managing a club like Chelsea an ambition you have had since the first time you worked here?

I was an assistant in a very successful technical staff and I always took it in a very professional way, particularly with wanting to be successful but also be part of the group. My input was an input that I would consider important in a technical staff but I wasn't obsessed with my own individual career or my own individual achievement.

But when a chance to coach happened when I was at Inter Milan, I just felt it inside me that I wanted to take on another role and face the challenge so I took the opportunity to go to Academica and left Jose [Mourinho]. Coaching was not a kind of obsession and neither did I use Jose as the way to arrive into this path, it was something that happened naturally and at the moment it is working out well - but with the game's expectations you need to continue to be successful.

Are you surprised how quickly your career has progressed?
I tend not to think about it a lot. It is something that went crazy, there is no doubt about it. In two years we have achieved so many things and it was two very happy years. The main important thing that people have to reflect on is that I don't see the game as a one-man show, I see the game as the getting together of ideas and collective ideas and good players. I was fortunate enough to in those two years to get those players together and maybe challenge their ambitions and motivations which helped us arrive at this type of success.

It was going well at Porto, what convinced you it is the right time to move to Chelsea?
I think it is a massive individual challenge which I felt I should take. I went to a magnificent year in Porto and the split from Porto is not something that is not easy for me because it is my club, the club I have defended a lot. Porto is my city and there is no running away from it, Porto supporters will always feel like there is nothing I can say that will delete their sense of being betrayed.

But I felt it was a challenge I needed to make with the importance of Chelsea, the importance of the Premier League and happily I left Porto with good success. Now I face this new challenge and focus again on being successful at Chelsea.

What do you think Bobby Robson would have thought about you taking one of the top jobs in England?
Bobby was a very important person in my career. He was the person who advised me at a very young age to go on coaching courses and unlocked the doors of Porto for me to have access to his training sessions. We had a very good relationship and he was someone I respected a lot and was respected in world football. He is somebody that means a lot to the English game and I think he would be happy of course.

What he did he did not only with me and Jose but with all different kinds of people, promoting them and inspiring them to take their own role and their own way. I think he would be extremely happy.

Last time here we called you Andre Villas, but now you are Andre Villas-Boas.
This is common in Portugal, we have big names and my name is not only Andre Villas-Boas but there are a couple of names in between. But in England we made things easier with two names, first and last. Now we have to try to expand the letters and maybe be fluent when we say the name, but it is not going to be easy!

It is inevitable what you do at Chelsea will be compared with the Mourinho era, at least at the beginning, but you have had similar already at Porto so will that help you deal with it?
I think there is no way you can avoid comparison, it is something that is the interest of the media. I didn't take the Porto job nor the Chelsea job because Jose made the same steps. They are two of the most sought-after clubs in the world and in the end I had the opportunity and was able to make them find something in me that they thought would continue their route to success.
Chelsea appointed me basically for human qualities and that is what I want to bring into this club again. The most important thing is to motivate the players to get their ambitions right, to reflect again on what the club has achieved in the last six years and we need to keep this route to success.

Chelsea is a club that in the last six years has achieved so much and people are expecting us to be on the same way. There is not going to be more or less tolerance for me if I am not successful so this is the challenge I face and I feel confident that we can motivate everybody, not only the players but also the structure. I feel confident I can respond to the ambitions of the supporters and the ambitions of the owner and the administration.

Explain your philosophy for how your teams play.
We are a technical staff that focuses a lot on unlocking potential. Everybody has a little bit more to give and in day-to-day life, that is how everybody progresses in their careers. We feel that the players are the same and you have to stimulate them and motivate them to look for the things that they didn't try before. We are a technical staff that incentivises a lot of freedom of choice because in the end when the players are on the pitch, they face different situations that they have to solve without the help of their manager.

That this is the kind of stimulus that we want the players to have, responsibility and making decisions, because in the end the game is decided by them on the pitch. It is a clashing together of two good organisations and in the end it is the relationship between all of our players that can lead us to success, and that is what I want to work on.

Are you likely to play the same formation at Chelsea as at Porto?
It is not a question of only formation, that would be too narrow. The game is very chaotic and very frenetic and sometimes it doesn't run as good as you want and maybe when you don't expect it to run in a certain way it runs very, very well. The most important thing is for people to be involved again with the first team and to feel there is change going on, to feel a new leadership and to feel a new way of communicating, and to excite people, excite the players, excite the supporters and try to create empathy with everybody to reach success.

It is much more about players, motivation and raising new ambitions for the future than the arrival of one man to change everything, because I don't want to change everything. Our past reflects extreme success so let's keep it that way.

Is there pressure to innovate to stay ahead?
It is not only in football, in modern society you have to be able to constantly adapt yourself and to look for innovations everywhere. When we were first at Chelsea we felt we were bringing a new methodology into football but there is no running away from it, in football you can be successful in various different ways. With a good methodology and with a bad methodology, old-fashioned or not, in the end it is the essence of the players and their quality that can bring you success.

We just feel that we can relate everything together to be successful. Of course you have to be innovative and you have investigate, you have to constantly adapt to be at the standard of the most-watched league in the world. There is a high, high standard in the Premier League and European football and we want to keep on the route to success. This is a club that has been used to being successful and we have to keep it that way and challenge ourselves to keep the habit to win and then win again the year after.

Have you had any contact yet from the players you already know?
Yes, a couple of them and it is good to feel they are around and to feel their expectations. Everybody is excited and everybody is looking forward to starting again and this is something positive. We need to get the group back together and to feel them and then go on from there and face every single game as a game we have to win and fight for it with our upmost desire.

Some of the backroom staff remain from your last time here which must help you settle.
It is good to see a lot of people that are still here. This helps me to move around and I know the qualities that they have. There are so many people that I know that represented a lot to me, and a lot to the club, and they know the way I am and the way that I approach them. It is good to see them again and it helps to face this new challenge in a more concentrated and focused way.

On a personal note, last time you lived in central London. Will you do so again?
London is a city that offers so many things up to the highest standard and I am sure that coming back to London for my family and the families of my technical staff is something that is easy to adapt to. I always like to live in the city.

Is motor racing still a big interest?
This is one of the passions I have apart from football and I try to follow it around when I can. Of course free time is impossible when you are in such a demanding sport like football and particularly with a challenge like Chelsea and the Premier League, but it something that here and there I will keep an eye on with much interest.

We tour Asia this summer. Are you looking forward to that?
With Chelsea I went to Korea when we reached an agreement with Samsung and we had a good experience then, and one year I was scouting at the Barclays Asia Trophy because Chelsea were soon to play Portsmouth or Liverpool and I was there scouting them in Hong Kong. It is good to go there and keep broadening our brand and our name.

Going back to Asia is important for us. It shortens the distance with the Asian public who are following us from a big distance. It is important for them to feel we have respect for them and we are able to feel their heat. I am sure they will give us tremendous support for the games we will have over there.

How important is the pre-season training?
We are a technical staff who don't change radically the way that we work from pre-season to the rest of the season. We take everything as the whole of what the game is. It is a game that expresses itself at the same time physically, psychologically and technically, and when that happens you have to train like that.

There is no aggressive focus on fitness in pre-season, there is no splitting of the different characteristics of the game. We like to approach everything together and it is nothing new because it is in line with what Jose did before when he was here and maybe the other managers with the work that they did. We are not going to go crazy in pre-season, we just like for the people to get back together and face the challenges for the season.

The most important thing that the club has done for pre-season is make sure in Asia we have the facilities that allow you to train and with a good distance from the hotel to the training facility, respecting the rest periods and the training periods. Then we can play the games to get the team back together.

You are starting work today. What can you achieve before the players return?
There are a lot of dossiers to focus on and I will be sitting down with people. There are lot of things that I would like to do and a lot of people who I would like to speak to, people who have a big impact on the running of this club and step by step we want to make sure everything is right to start in July.

What do you think of what he has said and looking forward to "his" Chelsea? I have to say I am very impressed initially with what he has said. The focus is very much on the potential of the players, of the group as a whole and not just individuals.

It's about time some of the players have a look in the mirror the next couple of weeks and realise it is time to get back as a collective and start playing how we all know we can again.

KTBFFH

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Milan's approach for Didier Drogba?

AC Milan have made a formal enquiry as to the availability of Didier Drogba according to talkSport and it will be interesting to see what happens in the coming days once AVB is appointed.

We find ourselves wondering once again this summer about Drogba and if he will fit into AVB's plans. The way Porto set up, the play a 4-3-3 formation with the lone striker similar to Barcelona's style and you do have to wonder where Drogba will fit in with Fernando Torres being our main striker and if rumours are to be believed, Falcao coming with AVB to Chelsea.

The thing is, we are all aware of Drogba's age and at 33 he is THE SAME age as AVB. If Roman Abramovich has decided that he wants to rejuvenate Chelsea, and with the signings of Ramires, Luiz and Torres you have to believe that IS the case, then the likes of Drogba and Anelka could be shown the door.

For Drogba, I am sure he wants to remain at the club at least for this season and wants to be a part of the AVB revolution. He still on his day is the best all round striker in the Premier League and Europe for me but especially after last season, and yes I know he had Malaria, but we never saw Drogba really on his game enough.

With Milan offering Champions League football if Drogba is told he doesn't feature in AVB's plans, could it be enough to tempt both parties to get the deal done?. We will see in the coming weeks!.

KTBFFH

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Neymar, Modric and Eto'o all touted to join AVB at Chelsea.

Now let me warn all you Chelsea fans for what could be a really busy few weeks ahead at Chelsea. With the appointment of Andre Villas-Boas at the club this morning, the press and media will go into overdrive with rumour and speculation of who AVB will want to bring into Chelsea and who will be told they do not feature in his plans.

According to "reports" this morning Chelsea will renew their bid to bring Luka Modric to Stamford Bridge, will also make a £40m bid for Neymar to test Santos' resolve and look at a move for Samuel Eto'o!.

If todays reports are to be believed, AVB will be given a budget of around £80m to spend and you would have to imagine that it would take somewhere in the region of £32m for Spurs to even consider anything to do with Modric after paying £16m for him. They say they won't budge on a deal and he is "not for sale" but as I have said before, "money talks".

Neymar would take around £40m for Santos to consider a deal. He has a release clause in his contract of around that amount so if Chelsea and want their man they know what they have to do now to bring him to Chelsea.

So you are looking at £8m left for Samuel Eto'o. I am not so sure about Eto'o. Obviously we are well aware of his talent and he has been our nemesis on occasions against us in the Champions League for both Barcelona and Inter Milan and would be surprised to see him leave for that fee.

This is the thing you see, we are going to be linked with all sorts of players coming and going and it's going to get worse!.

What do you think of these three? I personally believe the only realistic signing out of these would be Neymar.

KTBFFH

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YOU ARE NOW VILLAS-BOAS. WHO LEAVES CHELSEA?

So Andre Villas-Boas "starts work" straight away and he will begin with evaluating the squad we have at the moment at Chelsea. Because of having the knowledge of the club from his time here working with Jose Mourinho before, he will be well aware of the qualities of Cech, Terry, Essien, Lampard and Drogba.

However, he has some big big decisions ahead of him in the coming weeks. He MUST begin to rejuvenate Chelsea and form a team and squad that represents HIS beliefs.

For too long now, Chelsea have been labelled as being Jose Mourinho's side and that could be key in the decisions AVB makes by the end of the transfer window.

Will he make major drastic decisions to get rid of established names? It's obvious that Roman Abramovich backs him because he has paid £13.3m to buy him so does that also mean that AVB will have a free reign to rebuild Chelsea or will we see only a couple of players leave the club and just one or two come in?

So this leads me to today's question this lunchtime to all the Chelsea fans reading this blog post:

If you are Andre Villas-Boas and you start working at the club now, who would you get rid of now ahead of the new season?

Before you answer, you have to remember what happened last season. We saw established names leave the club and we suffered with a lack of squad depth. In addition to that, we HAVE to be challenging for the title and Champions League. So consider that and post your comments below.

KTBFFH

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ANDRE VILLAS BOAS CONFIRMED AS CHELSEA MANAGER

Chelsea have officially confirmed Andre Villas Boas as our new manager a moment ago. The statement on Chelseafc.com reads:

Chelsea Football Club is delighted to announce that Andre Villas-Boas will be the club's new manager.

He has signed a three-year contract and will start work immediately.

Andre was the outstanding candidate for the job. He is one of the most talented young managers in football today and has already achieved much in a relatively short space of time. His ambition, drive and determination matches that of Chelsea and we are confident Andre's leadership of the team will result in greater successes in major domestic and European competitions.

Andre will bring his coaching experience back to a club he is already very familiar with, having previously worked here for three years. He has always been highly regarded at Chelsea and everyone here looks forward to welcoming him back and working with him.

Finally we have our new manager in place and the key part of the statement for me is the fact that he will start work straight away!

Your thoughts at the confirmed appointment of AVB?

KTBFFH

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Barcelona to make a bid for David Luiz?

Reports broke last night that Barcelona are interested in David Luiz and according to The Sun this morning, a bid of around £27.5m will be made with Chelsea.

For me the best thing Chelsea can do is tell Barcelona to bugger off as Luiz is part of Chelsea's future and we do not need to sell, especially now that AVB will be our new manager and will be fully aware of Luiz from his days coaching in the Portuguese league.

I really can't see any substance in this one at all. The SUN "claims" that Luiz "indicated" he would listen to an offer from Barcelona but only with Chelsea's blessing. For me it's rubbish.

You can imagine that AVB will want to come here and rebuild a team in his own mould and you simply cannot believe that David Luiz wouldn't be any part of that side.

Sorry Barcelona, this isn't going to happen!

(Check out this Video of David Luiz at Chelsea)



KTBFFH

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VIDEO: Andre Villas Boas - The Chosen One

KTBFFH

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Can Villas-Boas handle the so called "Ego's" at Chelsea?

I think the question we are asking ourselves with the news today that it looks more or less certain that Andre Villas-Boas will be named the new Chelsea manager very soon is:

Can he handle the big ego's at Chelsea?

The general consensus of opinion outside of Stamford Bridge is that there are certain players who hold some clout within that dressing room and seeing someone come to "manage" them being the same age could cause problems.

I just wonder if he will decide to get rid of players of a "certain" age because of that reason and to build a team in his own shape because let's face it, the core of the side is still Jose Mourinho's team really isn't it!.

I really hope and am confident that there will be no problems. Chelsea are professional and realise that their performances in certain games cost Carlo Ancelotti his job and at the end of the day with Roman on the warpath, could cost them theirs.

It will be really interesting to see first of all what happens when he first meets the players and then during the weeks of pre-season to see just how much Chelsea and Roman Abramovich want to freshen things up.

KTBFFH

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VILLAS BOAS OFFERS RESIGNATION TO PORTO

Breaking news on Sky this morning. Andre Villas-Boas has offered his resignation to Porto this morning.

It's seems Roman Abramovich has got his man. What do you think about AVB now knowing it's more or less certain he is coming?.

The question remains, will he come here alone, with players and with Guus Hiddink eventually?

Let me know what you think!

KTBFFH

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Neymar "The clubs can talk to Neymar after the Libertadores"

This Wednesday, Neymar and his Santos team mates will take on Penarol in the Copa Libertadores final second leg with a chance to win the competition for the first time in 50 years.

After the tournament has finished, the Santos President has said that clubs will be free to talk to Neymar about a move but would hope that he stays at the club to continue to make history.

He said:

"It is not just Madrid, a lot of other clubs in Europe have been calling us. It is no surprise, it would be strange if they didn't want him. If they pay the buy-out clause of €45 million [£39.8m] and the player wants to go, there is nothing we could do.

The clubs can talk to Neymar after the Libertadores, but I am sure that, if we win the title, the reasons for Neymar to stay will be even stronger.

I know that dizzying offers will arrive, but the player will earn more if he keeps developing here.

Next year we celebrate our centenary, we are hopeful of bringing Robinho and Diego back to the club, and of keeping Elano and Ganso, and Neymar could be the biggest star of that movie.

Santos will write a page in the history of world football that will change the lives of the footballers involved."

(Source)

To me it's obvious, all the big guns will be contacting Santos and making enquiries about Neymar but it seems the message is clear. If someone meets the release clause then they are free to speak to him and Santos realise they can't stop it happening. I just wonder if Chelsea will go straight in with a bid to match the release clause to try and fend off the likes of Madrid, Barcelona and Man City coming in for him?.

It's common knowledge that Roman wants him, the player himself has stated before that he wants to come so let's hope it happens.

I guess after a few weeks of nothing but speculation it seems that this week is gonna be big after all!

KTBFFH

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Villas Boas to manage Chelsea without Hiddink?

It's seems that it will only be a matter of days now until Chelsea reveal that Andre Villas Boas will be the new Chelsea manager after, according to reports, Guus Hiddink couldn't come to an agreement with Chelsea.

I posted yesterday about the Hiddink / Villas Boas possible link up as Director of Football and First Team Coach and it seems that this was partly right until Villas Boas "reportedly" threw a spanner in the works.

The Daily Mail are running an article this morning stating:

"Initially Abramovich went for Hiddink, the 64-year-old who had hinted strongly that he was ready to quit Turkey’s national team for the daily involvement of a club job and appeared certain to return for a second stint as manager at Chelsea.

But a problem arose, Sportsmail understands, when Hiddink made it clear that — at his age — he wanted a top coach working alongside him to shoulder the burden. When attempts to lure the likes of Marco van Basten and Steve Clarke proved unsuccessful, they turned to Villas-Boas and it soon became clear he would consider only the job of manager".

Now to me this is very interesting indeed!. We all more or less were certain that Guus Hiddink would be coming back to the club as Manager or at least as Director of Football but this is now in doubt also because of the stance Villas Boas had with Chelsea.

He has enough about him and is obviously more than confident in his own ability to turn round and more or less say to Roman Abramovich "If you want me then I'll do it on my own" and that's fantastic.

The article does state that it seems that Hiddink has told close friends and the new Turkish President that he intends to now stay and honour his contract so it's seems that the door is closing.

All that needs to happen now is for Chelsea to deposit the £13m that Porto keep going on about into their account and Villas Boas is ours.

What's your take on all this and the amazing turnaround with Hiddink?. What do you also feel about the news that Villas Boas is confident enough to come here and have a go himself without the need for a Director of Football?

To me, fair play to him and to have the confidence in his own ability in one of the most pressurised jobs in football, you have to stand up and take notice.

KTBFFH

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