Chelsea FC 2011/2012 - It's Andre Villas Boas' Year

[#1Peep]

Chelsea Football Club | 2011/2012 Season

Another year for Chelsea, another manager. Despite leading Chelsea to second place in the 2010/2011 Barclays Premier League season behind champions Manchester United and leading the club to the quarter final stage of the Champions League, Carlo Ancelotti was let go by the Blues. Chelsea owner and multi-billionaire Roman Abramovich released the Italian from his contract at the conclusion of the season, replacing him with Andre Villas-Boas, former manager of FC Porto and the man who led his troops to the national and Europa League titles in 2011. Huge things is expected from the young Portuguese manager, who holds many similarities to Chelsea's most successful gaffer in recent history - Jose Mourinho. And with the past five managers to be employed by the Blues lasting no more than a year at the club, could the pressure already be mounting on Villas-Boas?

Many factors could, and have, been blamed for Chelsea's rather lackluster few years - under Abramovich's standards anyway. Poor defense, poor transfer decisions, a lack of chemistry amongst the squad or even the deteriorating performance of Chelsea talisman Frank Lampard have all been popular claims amongst critics and fans alike. With an almost limitless amount of money to spend in the transfer window, Villas-Boas basically has the option to pick and choose which of the world's greatest players he wishes to have at his new club. Rumours have been swirling about the idea that the Portuguese gaffer is looking for a new central man, a playmaker, a maestro who can take control and lead the troops towards victories, championships and trophies. However, Frank Lampard will surely have plenty to say, and plenty to do on the pitch, to prove that he is still as good as he always was. But from now, it is all up to Andrew Villas-Boas.​

Note: This will be me kind of 'booking' Chelsea's season (or if I decide to go further), through Manager Mode on Fifa 12. I will note everything that goes on, so stay tuned! As the game already includes the transfers of players that came throughout the transfer window, and the season begins at the start of this window, I will just say they arrived first thing alongside Villas-Boas.

 

[Ming]

I suppose I'll be tuned in.

 

[irishwarrior]

I'm a Chelsea fan so I find this to be quite interesting Will be reading!

 

[#1Peep]

'Chelsea Preseason Set'
Taken from: Premier News (July 2, 2011)

New Chelsea gaffer Andre Villas-Boas has a big task ahead of him.​

Ahead of the upcoming Premier League season, Chelsea has a trio of preseason matches lined up across the next couple of months. The Blues will face French side AS Nancy and La Liga hotshots Real Sociedad later this month on the 19th and 26th respectively while another friendly is set for early August against Hertha BSC. Although it is doubtful that any of these teams will pose a significant threat to Andre Villas-Boas' men, it will be a perfect opportunity for the Portuguese gaffer to assess his team outside of Cobham. Three men in particular will be keen to prove their worth to Villas-Boas; those being Juan Mata, Raul Meireles and Oriol Romeu, who arrived at the club alongside AVB at the beginning of the transfer window. While former Liverpool midfielder Meireles will bring the experience of his time spent at Anfield, many are eagerly awaiting the Chelsea debuts of youngsters Mata and Romeu to see what they can bring to the Blue's table. Villas-Boas has yet to accept or deny whether he is still planning to bring in a highly rated playmaker to the club, one who could lead Chelsea towards the top of English, and even European football. A talented centre-half or fullback is also rumoured to be at the top of AVB's watch list, and with plenty of money at his finger-tips he certainly has a wide selection to choose from. Another man who has remained quiet so far is Frank Lampard. The Chelsea talisman has yet comment on the possibility that his new manager may be pushing him aside before he wishes to step down from his beloved club.

Remember to come back to Premier News for more transfer rumours, match previews, reviews and squad line-ups for upcoming fixtures.

'Blues Transfer Rumours'
Taken from: Premier News (July 4, 2011)

Tottenham man Luka Modric embodies the exact qualities that Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas is searching for.​

With the transfer window still very much open, we can now confirm that Chelsea are after a new central man - with several high profile superstars linked to the London based club. Apparently Andre Villas-Boas has made offers to a number of clubs, expressing his desire to manage several of Europe's top players. Tottenham star Luka Modric is said to be at the top of Chelsea's interest list, but Napoli man Marek Hamsik, Inter playmaker Wesley Snejder and German wunderkind Mario Gotze are also said to be of interest to Villas-Boas. A talented defender is also believed to be desired by AVB, who has said at several press events that this is where Chelsea's major faults lie - a lack of defensive dominance. Also, although the Portuguese gaffer is looking for a new man to run Chelsea on the pitch, he has no yearning to sell on Frank Lampard. It can be confirmed that Chelsea have received several big money offers from clubs such as local rivals Arsenal and French moneybags Paris Saint-Germain, but AVB has refused to budge - for now. Premier News can also confirm that several Chelsea players have either asked for a transfer request or been asked themselves to find a new club. Brazilian defender Alex, Nicolas Anelka, Ghanaian international Michael Essien and defensive midfielder John Obi Mikel are said to be apart of this list.

Remember to come back to Premier News for more transfer rumours, match previews, reviews and squad line-ups for upcoming fixtures.

 

[#1Peep]

Chelsea Football Club | 2011/2012 Season​

'Chelsea Lure Frustrated Inter Wizard to Stamford Bridge'
Taken from: Premier News (July 10, 2011)

In the first big move of the transfer window, Wesley Sneijder was picked up by Chelsea early this morning.​

After spending a frustrating season at dwindling Inter Milan throughout 2010 and 2011, Wesley Sneijder completed a transfer to Chelsea today. The Dutch international, who voiced his desire for a move away from Inter at the end of last season, was also linked with fellow English club Manchester United but ended up inking his name for Chelsea early this morning. Although it was rumoured that Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas was leaning towards signing Tottenham playmaker Luka Modric, Spurs gaffer Harry Redknapp firmly told the footballing world that the Crotian star was not for sale. Being signed for a hefty sum of 43.5 million pounds, Villas-Boas will certainly hope that his first major signing at Chelsea will be a huge success. Following his early arrival in the transfer window to Stamford Bridge, Sneijder will be able to show off the immense ability that he possesses in Chelsea's first preseason match against AS Nancy in a week's time - mainly surreal vision, incredible passing and shooting ability as well as a specialty at dead ball situations. A combination of poor form and niggling injuries pushed usual Blues playmaker Frank Lampard to the bench at the end of last season and Andre Villas-Boas believes that Sneijder will fill that hole nicely.

Remember to come back to Premier News for more transfer rumours, match previews, reviews and squad line-ups for upcoming fixtures.

'Chelsea Youngster Sent out on Loan While Chelsea Legend Refuses to Moan'
Taken from: Premier News (July 12, 2011)

Today Chelsea legend Frank Lampard commented on high profile Blues signing, Wesley Sneijder.​

In a press conference held earlier today, Chelsea talisman Frank Lampard was bombarded with questions regarding the transfer of classy playmaker Wesley Sneijder to Stamford Bridge. The thirty three year old said that he believed the signing of the Dutch maestro was 'a great scalp for the club' and that Sneijder himself was 'an incredible talent... one of the best in Europe'. Despite his praise for Sneijder, Lampard also commented that his prestigious career was far from over and that he doesn't intend 'to sit on the sidelines all season and moan... and I don't want to warm the benches'. When asked whether a new club was an option, Lampard shrugged off the suggestion rather quickly without giving a decisive answer. However, with Chelsea gaffer Andre Villas-Boas very vocal in proclaiming that he intends to build his first team around his new signing - this might not leave much room for Lampard to play as much as he wishes at Chelsea. In other news today, eighteen year old Josh McEachran was sent on an loan to French Ligue 1 side Sochaux for the rest of the season. McEachran was visibly excited about being given an opportunity to play first team football at highly rated Sochaux after very little playing time in his two years at Chelsea.

Remember to come back to Premier News for more transfer rumours, match previews, reviews and squad line-ups for upcoming fixtures.

 

[GLOBAL ICON]

Wesley Sniejder coming to Chelsea? Nice. I look forward to this much more because of that single move. Cheers. And one question, do you post the result of your matches? Please do. I would love to see that. Also, I would tell you to not continually win matches to make things interesting. Or if you do, we know you're gonna win. With that being said, congrats for getting this thing going and I'll be keenly watching.