Chelsea 1-0 Fulham: Busy Day, What a 24 Hours
Atkinson Barclays Banker
By Since66
November 11 2010
Where do you start in the last 24 hours of CFC? Last night's game which saw the Double Winners move four points clear at the top of the Premiership - Mark Hughes (loads of respect) but his comments about Michael Essien's last second challenge on Dempsey, which earned the Ghanian a straight red - reeks simply of Pot, Kettle, Black.
Or do you start with the Reserves high-profile win at Cobham this afternoon against Bayern Munich, OR, the sudden departure of Assistant Coach Ray Wilkins?
Let's start with Wilkins. A domain of Chelsea Football Club. During the first-half on today's friendly win against Munich Ray was on view watching the boys. Then when the second-half started he didn't appear.
Halfway through the second-half, Chelsea TV announced his 'shock' departure saying that Ray had left the club with immediate effect!!
The reason given - Wilkins' contract was not going to be renewed. (See you soon on Sky for Champions League, Ray)
In a statement given by Chief Executive Ron Gourlay he said, "On behalf of everyone at the club I would like to thank Ray for everything he has done for Chelsea Football Club.
"We all wish him well for the future."
Danny Sturridge and Fabio Borini both scored two goals as the reserves produced an emphatic 4-0 win over the youngsters and reserves of Bayern Munich in a specially arranged friendly this afternoon at Cobham.
Today's fixture was part of a pre-planned campaign to arrange friendly games to keep the players on top of their game and fitness, despite the Premier Reserve League being expanded, to play more League matches.
The reserves last game was the 4-0 defeat against Wolves on November 1st and their next game is away to West Ham United on Wednesday 24th, so despite having more fixtures to play, there still seems to be 'gaps' in fixtures.
Chelsea: Turnbull, Billy Clifford, Bruma, Chalobah, van Aanholt, Sala, McEachran, Mellis, Kakuta, Sturridge (c), Tore (Borini h/t)
Bayern: Henning Bortel, Dominik Traunmuller (Marcel Thomas 12), Cuneyt Koz, Jon Fjoluson, Florian Pflugier, Emre Can, Fabian Hurzeler (Felix Stemmer 58), Rico Strieder, Dejan Janjatovic (Maxi Rothernbucher h/t), Florin Friesenbichler (Lukas Grill 62), Dennis Chessa.
As for last night. Mark Hughes, a Chelsea legend and known for sticking a boot in or two for Chelsea and other clubs, had the front to criticise Michael Essien for his last second challenge on 'precious' Clinton Dempsey to which the 'I can't wait to red card Chelsea,' allowed Martin Atkinson to produce a straight red on a challenge that saw Essien win the ball, and Dempsey get straight up.
Hughes said, "The guy (this is Essien) has jumped in with two feet (and you never did Sparkey?), so that is a straight red. He has to go. That's my view on it."
As far as I am concerned. Atkinson was looking for trouble all night.
He let Fulham challenges go.
He booked Essien and then Ashley Cole for their first challenges of the night and then he sent Essien off with four seconds to go.
All night he was looking for a Chelsea player to give him the excuse to get the red card out.
Martin Atkinson is SIMPLY the worst Premierhsip referee since Graham Poll.
It is about time, the Premier League demand from the Referees Association that the TV companies are allowed to drag every single referee out of their private inner sanctum at the question them on every yellow and red card the showed during the game.
The referees and assistants and the ones that make decisions that can affect the result of every game they officiate.
Why is it they cannot be accountable in public for the mistakes they have made? Are they policitians in disguise?
Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa (Ferreria 88), Ivanovic, Terry (c), Cole, Essien, Mikel, Zhirkov, Kalou (Sturridge 85), Drogba, Malouda (Ramires 77)
Goal: Essien 30
Booked: Essien 49, Cole 75
Sent Off: Essien 90
Fulham: Schwarzer, Kelly, Hughes, Hangeland, Briggs (Gera 78), Davies, Murphy (c), Etuhu (A Johnson 61), Duff, Dempsey, Dembele
NEXT UP: Sunderland (H) Sunday 14th November, KICK OF 4.10pm
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Kalou was his usual frustrating self - so much good work and ease at beating players at times only to be followed up by poor decision making or bad finishing.
Ivan and Terry Rock solid.
We had enough chances to get at least 3 last night.
....and...on a personal note...for the first time I sat in the new Shed End after promising myself I never would (nostalgia....never be the same as the "proper" shed....etc etc...).
As for Wilkins....talk about unexpected! I would like to know more (a lot more!) but the club is keeping stum. I suppose Maldini is getting his airline tickets ready as we speak???
(Still not had that pint 66! You´ve blanked me again! Oh well....I did promise I wouldn´t wear my usual Blue Stratos! What else can I do?).
"It is born out of hypocrisy and fundamental insecurity. There have been two kids on the block for the past 12 years. Suddenly, there is a third and that one is threatening to be more successful than the others and they don’t like it." P Kenyon.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:11:11:21:49:09 by dixon9.
We will need Lampard back with Essien´s suspension..and even then Lamps will need a few matches to get proper match fit. I´d LOVE to see Josh get a decent run....
"It is born out of hypocrisy and fundamental insecurity. There have been two kids on the block for the past 12 years. Suddenly, there is a third and that one is threatening to be more successful than the others and they don’t like it." P Kenyon.
2nd half. Schwarzer did make a decent save, unlucky to see it clear of the line hadf a great birdseye view of it.... as for your invitation... will email you
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"It is born out of hypocrisy and fundamental insecurity. There have been two kids on the block for the past 12 years. Suddenly, there is a third and that one is threatening to be more successful than the others and they don’t like it." P Kenyon.
They had been sitting in the stands yesterday afternoon watching a reserve game between Chelsea and Bayern Munich at the club’s SurreThey y training base.
At half-time, around 2pm, Wilkins attended a prearranged meeting with Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay in which he was told his contract would not be renewed.
Wilkins did not rejoin Ancelotti to watch the second half.
Read more: [www.dailymail.co.uk]LINK
"It is born out of hypocrisy and fundamental insecurity. There have been two kids on the block for the past 12 years. Suddenly, there is a third and that one is threatening to be more successful than the others and they don’t like it." P Kenyon.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:11:11:22:17:09 by dixon9.