If you browse the Chelsea websites you will find many lists of the club’s celebrity fans, here are ten that stand out for various reasons:
10. Bill Clinton: Included because it’s a pretty obscure one but the former President of the USA used to watch the Blues while he was studying in Oxford. Maybe he had the west London club in mind when naming his daughter Chelsea.
9. Will Ferrel: The US comedian who has starred in films such as Anchorman, Step Brothers and Elf showed his allegiance to the Stamford Bridge outfit when he started wearing a Chelsea shirt on The Daily Show. He was made an honorary captain during Chelsea’s preseason tour in the US for their friendly against Inter Milan.
8. Steven Redgrave: Britain’s greatest ever Olympian after winning five consecutive gold medals in the games is also a big Chelsea fan and admits that football was always his greatest interest even as a rower.
7. David Baddiel: The English comedian, novelist and TV personality is a lifelong Chelsea fan. He’s best known for his work with fellow comedian Frank Skinner, particularly their show Baddiel and Skinner Unplanned and the England song ‘Three Lions on a shirt’ that they released for Euro 1996 which was also rerecorded for the 1998 World Cup.
6. Laurence Dallagio: One of England’s Rugby World Cup winners in 2003 and has supported Chelsea ever since his dad took him to Stamford Bridge as an eight-year-old boy.
Click to page 2 to see the top five
5. Alec Stewart: A legend in his own sport of cricket he is England’s most capped cricketer and also a Chelsea enthusiast. He even chose the number 4 shirt in honour of his favourite Chelsea player whilst he was growing up, John Hollins.
4. Michael Caine: London born actor and star of films such as the original Alfie and Italian job has been Oscar nominated six times and has appeared in over 100 movies. At the end of a recent interview with The Australian (an Aussie newspaper) he said he was off to watch Chelsea play Manchester United on his “big high-def”.
3. Graham McPherson aka Suggs: Best known for being the frontman of the band Madness, Radio DJ and as an avid Chelsea fan. Suggs released one of Chelsea fans’ favourite songs ‘Blue Day’ in collaboration with the Chelsea players ahead of their 1997 FA Cup final.
2. Steve McQueen: Although he’s no longer with us Steve McQueen has to be regarded as one of the coolest Chelsea fans ever, which is why he features so high on this list. The Great Escape star even visited the players in the Stamford Bridge dressing room during the height of his fame.
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1. Lord Richard Attenborough: Another actor in this list the Jurassic Park star served as a director for the Stamford Bridge outfit between 1969-1982 and is now serving an honorary position as life President at the club.
Any glaring omissions?
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Click on image below to see the BRAZILIAN babes at the World Cup
Veteran midfielder Salif Diao has doubts over his future with Stoke City, having been offered a new deal which contains a scouting remit as well as a playing role.
The 33-year-old Senegal international is considering his options, as he sees himself as a full-time player for another couple of seasons.
He told The Sentinel:"It would be a shame if we don't find an agreement. I want to stay.
"My dream is, in a year or two, to be playing European football with Stoke. That would be a massive achievement, but since I signed my first contract here that has always been my long-term view.
"I know the manager has been talking about a proposal for me to be part of the staff, but at the moment I see myself as a player.
"I am only 33 and think I can contribute a lot on the pitch for the football club.
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"I want to be in a clear position, and I see myself as a player.
"I have been in Paris talking to French clubs and can also meet a club from Qatar, but ideally I would like to stay with Stoke."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Rangers defender David Weir has backed Danny Wilson to be a major success at Liverpool.
Wilson is set to join the Reds in a £5million deal subject to passing a Wednesday medical on Merseyside.
Weir played alongside the 18-year-old at the heart of the Rangers defence last season and believes the Anfield club are signing a potential star of the future.
"Danny will handle it," explained the 40-year-old former Everton defender.
"He has handled everything else that's been thrown in his path. He's a good football player and a nice lad.
"I don't think it's rocket science, he just needs to keep doing what he's been doing.
"If Danny does go then he will keep doing what he's doing and stay the same lad that he is.
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"He's a great lad, he has been good to work with, and I wish him every success."
Wilson made his debut for Walter Smith's side nine months ago and went on to start 24 first-team matches for the club last season.Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
This week in the Reading Football FanCast West, Williams and Jonny Fordham look back at Reading’s three opening matches of the season against Scunthorpe, Torquay and Portsmouth and ask serious questions about our strengths and weaknesses in key areas.
In ‘Latest News’ with Get-Reading reporter Jonny Fordham . West askes if a loan signing could be on the way to ease Reading’s defensive problems and askes is the squad strong enough to mount a serious challenge this year.
In ‘Pub Chat’ we look at the reasons for Steve Coppell’s departure from Bristol City and we round off with Reading FC ‘Fantasy Football’ in ‘ Any Other Business’……………………
All this and more on this week’s Reading Football FanCast.
Click here to listen to the Podcast
Thanks to- Jonny Fordham www.Get-Reading.co.uk
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Front pairing Jermain Defoe and Wayne Rooney took the plaudits from head coach Fabio Capello after leading England to a 4-0 defeat of Bulgaria at Wembley.
Spurs striker Defoe notched a hat-trick, while Manchester United ace Rooney gave a much-improved display – without getting his name on the scoresheet.
Capello said afterwards:“Defoe is always very important for us.
“He can shoot with his left foot and his right and his performance was really, really good and his movement without the ball was fantastic.
“I played Rooney in a position different than usual. He did very well. I spoke with him before the game.
“He had to stay just in front of the two central midfielders and from this position to go forward and to be free. The quality of Rooney was really high.”
England’s win was marred only by an injury to centre-back Michael Dawson, who was forced off just before the hour mark due to a knee problem.
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Capello added: “I have to wait to find out about Dawson, I am not a doctor. We have to wait for the tests, but no-one else had problems, only Dawson.”
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Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand believes youngsters coming into the game are getting too much, too soon.
The 31-year-old England captain has suggested that the modern-day game is awash with too much money and youngsters are spoiled by the riches on offer.
English football has been in the spotlight following the dismal performance of the national team at this summer's World Cup finals.
"Too many lads get their first pro contract and think, 'I am on £500 or £2,000 a week which is a lot of money and I am set up for a lifetime now'," Ferdinand told The Sun.
"I probably signed three contracts from ages 17 to 18 but I was never content. I was always setting myself goals.
"I gave myself goals of playing more reserve games, then getting on the bench for the first team. Then the next season I would tell myself I wanted to start four or five games by Christmas for the first team. I was always setting targets.
"Now a lot of the kids are exposed to so much more of the thrills and spills around football.
"They think to themselves, 'if I play a game for the first team all these girls will be after me, I will be invited to all these nightclubs, I will be able to get a new car and buy myself a nice flat'.
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"They are not thinking beyond that. They think, 'what a life I have'.
"Where they used to train into the evening now it is just a few hours, and two years down the line they are signing on at the Jobcentre."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
There is so much talent in the Premier League that some players are always going to be out of favour, and with the top clubs looking to have strong back-up in every position, unless injuries or suspensions occur many footballers will be largely confined to the substitute’s bench. Many of these players have two options: to either stay and fight for their place in the starting 11 or to move onto pastures new and look to resurrect their career elsewhere. This is the decision facing the 10 players that make up our list of Premier League players whose career is going nowhere and don’t be surprised to see a fair few of these on the move in the January transfer window.
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Click on the image below to see our list of the TOP 10 PL players whose career has stagnated:
October 20th 2010 mid afternoon, just after dinner time- or lunch if you’re a bit southern will go down in history as a JFK-type ‘where were you when you heard the news’ type moment for all United fans.
It was a real ‘say it ain’t so’ event, when Sir Alex Ferguson told the world what some had expected, many had doubted and nearly all could not believe: Wayne Rooney didn’t want to be Manchester United player anymore.
I myself was working for a Manchester radio station busy stood in the rain asking members of the public what they thought of the imminent budget cuts. I got the news from a delighted scouse mate who phoned me with the news.
Not wanting to play into my -only- scouse mate’s hands I responded with the following series of lies:
“He’s overrated anyway, he’s been sh*t for months, I think it’s actually a good thing ‘cos we could use the money to buy 3 or 4 much needed players.” I was that convincing, I almost believed myself.
As I stood in the Mancunian rain, like thousands of other United fans, a whole host of thoughts were running through my head.
“Will he really leave? Will he go to the bitters? Will he be gone by January? When will it ever stop raining?!”
A call from the office ordered me to Old Trafford to ask fans around the ground for their opinions. A piece of cake I thought, until I was given one final stipulation- “try and get Mancunians, we need some Manc voices.”
Now despite the myth that’s often perpetrated by nearly all City fans, the one that seems to have become law to anyone from outside Manchester. All Mancunians do not support City, there are plenty of United fans in Manchester, in fact there’s hundreds of thousands. Finding a Mancunian at the United Megastore at 3pm on a Tuesday afternoon is fairly difficult.
I arrived at the ground and was struck by the fact that the number of reporters actually outnumbered the amount of fans or passers-by. Sky Sports, were there along with an assortment of national and local journalists.
I asked one reporter how it was going? Had he managed to speak to many people?
“Mainly Irish and foreigners.” He said, with a look of disappointment.
“Any Mancunians?” I asked hopefully.
“Not one.” He replied inevitably.
I decided to interview whatever fans I could get my hands on feeling that at least some voices were better than none. There were one or two people going from interview to interview, as though they were on the red carpet at the oscars, basking in their fifteen minutes.
I grabbed the nearest person who didn’t have a camera stuck in his face. My question was simple “What reaction do you think Rooney will get the next time he plays for United?”
Over the next two hours I spoke to about twenty fans, some were even Mancunian, and the responses varied from “we’ll get behind him as always” to “He’ll get booed as soon as his name’s mentioned.”
Part of the problem was everyone still seemed unsure of Wazza’s motives and more importantly his destination.
One bloke stuck his head out of the car as I was interveiwing someone and shouted “f*ck City!” Although I was annoyed I had to start again, I couldn’t help but agree.
If Wayne Rooney did the unthinkable and went to the noisy neighbours, then it would be a disaster for both United and the striker himself.
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Continued on Page TWO
The reason it would be a disaster for United is that despite his poor run of from Rooney is still one of the world’s top players. He’s in that exclusive club that includes the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Didier Drogba.
A player who on his day can carry an entire team and crucify any defence in the world. If United lost him to City then I think its safe to assume the balance of power in Manchester would shift.
Losing Carlos Tevez to them was one thing as despite his blistering from since he arrived at Eastlands, Tevez was only in and out of the United line-up, as much a substitute as he was a starter. Tevez was a good player for United of that there can be little doubt, but he wasn’t a Rooney. The scouse striker almost single-handedly carried United to the title last season and if it wasn’t for his injury against Bayern Munich- that now seems to have somehow altered the whole course of his career- who knows what could have been acheived.
Put Rooney in City’s team and not only will United lose arguably their most gifted player but City will finally get that true member of the elite that they’ve been missing.
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The reasons it would be a disaster for Rooney, are that not only will he never be able to walk through the streets of Manchester without receiving some form of verbal abuse, his reputation will be one of the ultimate Judas, but more importantly, he will be leaving a team that was built around him, a club that loved him and fans who adored him.
Other players have left United in the past and lived to regret it, as one fan ironically stood next to the United Trinity statue said to me yesterday: “In a few years time, Rooney should sit down with the likes of Scholes and Giggs and compare medals, and I bet he wont have as many.” Rooney leaving United is his right but the least he could do for the fans is not throw it all back in their face by leaving for a few quid more to one of their arch-rivals.
However, going back to my original point, as many fans said to me yesterday, they’re already willing to give Rooney abuse. This though could be music to Manchester City’s ears, if Rooney wants the ultimate reason to join City, then United fans making his time at Old Trafford a living hell, could just be enough to make him head to Eastlands.
If there’s any glimmer of hope of convincing him to stay then the fans need to show him why the likes of Giggs and Scholes have stuck around for their entire careers. Getting behind Rooney and proving that the fans still love him could well make the young striker change his mind, after all a few months ago he seemed set to stay at United for life, there’s always the chance he could change it back.
Even if it doesn’t change his mind back, it will still show Rooney and the rest of the world that the one thing you can never accuse United fans of is not having a bit of class.
It may be difficult for some fans to chant his name, knowing that he could be wearing bitter blue one day, but I for one will be giving him the same support I give any United player. It may stick in my throat a little but the ‘White Pele’ hasn’t lost all the Old Trafford faithful just yet.
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Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has again played down talk of his job being under threat, after seeing the Reds edge out Blackburn Rovers 2-1 at Anfield.
Goals from Sotirios Kyrgiakos and Fernando Torres lifted the mood at Anfield, with the club hoping to move forward under new owners NESV.
Hodgson told reporters:"Mass media talk these days says 'lose two games and let's sack the coach and start all over again'.
"I divorce myself from all of that, it is not something I feel among the players or the staff.
"I'm not certain the people here (NESV) have that type of mindset, they are top sportspeople.
"They took over the Boston Red Sox, who weren't doing very well and turned them into a champion team."
Of his side's slightly nervy win over Rovers, Hodgson added:"One-goal margins always bring with them an element of relief because even though you know it will be terribly unjust if you don't win the game.
"Things can happen; you can get to the 93rd minute and concede a goal against a team which has not had a shot at your goal – that is a possibility.
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"So you are anxious for that final whistle and there was no doubt there was a lot of anxiety in our play in the last 15 to 20 minutes.
"But that was because we were lying in the bottom three at the beginning of the day and we can't get that fact out of our heads."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
” Dimitar Berbatov, one look at City and he said…..” well, you know the rest. Manchester United’s number nine has enjoyed the sort of Old Trafford career you’d associate with Andy Cole- before the treble. Almost every United fan was pleased with his signing, especially after City tried to hijack the deal at the 11th hour, but some have since doubted the wisdom of it. The Bulgarian’s first season was a success- at least for the team- as United lifted an 18th League title and reached the final of the Champion’s League.
However even from early on in his United career, Berbatov had his detractors, his first season may have been successful in terms of what the team achieved but there were question marks raised as to whether he did enough personally. Part of the reason behind these doubts was his goalscoring record, Berbatov managed 14 goals in all competitions for United, which was seen a something of a disappointment especially as it was less than he’d managed the previous season with Spurs.
Another issue some United fans had with the new number 9 was his languid playing style, which in comparison to Wayne Rooney and a certain Argentinean gentleman, looked rather lazy.
These voices were in the minority though, as most United fans appreciated the different qualities Berbatov brought to the United side, his number of assists- nine in that first season- and the fact that the team achieved success which was the most important thing. There were also the flashes of brilliance the Bulgarian showed that only underlined what a special talent he was. A piece of skill against West Ham at Old Trafford was spoken about for months and I remember watching the game at Old Trafford against Hull, where Berbatov absolutely dominated the game, laying on chance after chance for his strike partners.
The real critics of Berbatov found their voices last season as with the departure of Carlos Tevez- go on then I’ll say his name, but only once- not to mention Cristiano Ronaldo, many hoped Berbatov would step it up a gear and form a successful partnership with Rooney. While Rooney went from strength to strength, Berbatov at times struggled, so much so that he was left out of the majority of big games as Sir Alex Ferguson preferred to use Rooney as a lone striker.
Part of the problem for Berbatov came from four main points:
1. A certain Argentinean couldn’t stop scoring at City and many saw the arrival of Berbatov as having led to his departure.
2. Rooney was a lot more energetic in every game, sometimes even running past Berbatov to chase balls the Bulgarian had lost.
3. Berbatov was seen by some as having not stepped up to the plate, to use an Americanism I promise never to use again, when Rooney was out injured at the end of the season.
4. United failed to win the League or emulate the previous two seasons successes in Europe.
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For each of these points though, there’s a case to be made in defence of Berbatov.
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1. Berbatov’s arrival had nothing to do with anyone leaving, if you don’t want to fight for your place then you shouldn’t be playing for United anyway. It was nonsense created to try and gain a modicum of sympathy from United fans, who were more than a tad disappointed someone would leave the club to got to ‘bitter’ rivals, for more money.
2. Wayne Rooney is a lot more energetic than almost any other striker on the planet and Berbatov has never been that sort of player anyway, you can’t expect a 28 year-old to suddenly change the entire way he plays football.
3. Berbatov did score twelve goals last season- a ratio of one in every two starts not a bad return and for some of them games Rooney was absent.
4. There were many reasons you could pin point on why United failed to win the League last season- seven defenders being out for Fulham away, poor decision by the linesman for the Chelsea home game, Burnley’s goalkeeper having the game of his life. To blame Berbatov would be shortsighted and unfair, it also doesn’t help a striker when he’s in and out of the side and expected to single-handedly win League titles at the end of the season.
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Continued on Page TWO
In the Summer it was widely expected that Berbatov would leave, but Fergie stuck with him and not only did he retire from International football to concentrate on his United career but he also looked good in pre-season, giving fans a bit of hope that he may finally have the sort if season no one can really criticise.
Following the 3-2 home win against Liverpool it seemed that Fergie’s faith had been more than well rewarded, in fact you’d be amazed that how many boys born the next few days in Manchester were called Dimitar. Berbtov’s hat-trick meant that he could join the likes of Diego Forlan of being guaranteed a place in the hearts of all of the Old Trafford faithful- no matter what he did from then on.
The problem is that since that game Berbatov hasn’t done much at all, in fact he’s put in, on one or two occasions, performances that have been almost shockingly bad. Again though, it must be noted that for every bad thing the Bulgarian does, there’s usually something good that follows it. Take the Spurs game for example, for me that was his worst performance in a United shirt arguably ever, yet only a few days later against City I thought he was excellent and didn’t get the credit he deserved.
People will always use Berbatov’s goalscoring record as proof of how he’s not been good enough at United, however he often brings more to the team than just scoring goals. His link up play with Nani this season has at times been mesmerising and he can keep hold of the ball and bring other players into the game as well as anyone at Old Trafford.
Although a striker’s job should always be primarily to score goals, the fact that no less than 17 United players have scored this season, should indicate just how much the goals are being spread around the team and Berbatov is part of the reason for this. One of the reason’s United failed to win the main honours last season was an over-reliance on Wayne Rooney and this seems to have more than been addressed.
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However despite the obvious positives Berbatov has of late, there are certain things which can not be ignored. No goals in ten games is not good enough despite the fact others are scoring. The main problem seems to be Berbatov’s attitude and demeanour, for the game against Rangers he at times looked frustrated and at other times almost disinterested.
One of my main criticisms of Berbatov since he arrived at Old Trafford is the way he can snap at some of the younger players. I remember him berating Kiko Macheda last season for an errant pass and feeling a bit disappointed. After all shouting at 19 year-old’s is hardly going to help them. Last night against Rangers Berbatov was at it again waving his arms about and shouting at others, when maybe he should have been looking a little closer to home at why he was getting no real joy.
I’m still a big fan of the Bulgarian and think United do need him if they are to achieve success, but he needs to regain his form sooner rather than later if he doesn’t want to be forced into a supporting role. With Rooney back from injury and Chicharito already proving he’s not going to take time to find his feet, Berbatov may struggle to find a regular place in the first team.
With Michael Carrick seemingly back in Fergie’s good graces, then it wouldn’t be too surprising if the United manager reverted back to the 4-5-1/4-3-3 formation he preferred for the big games last season, and that could leave Berbatov warming the bench.
If Berbatov really is to be considered a success at United, now’s the time for the number 9 to truly prove his worth.
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