Posts Tagged ‘Carlo Ancelotti’

Chelsea shorten for FA Cup glory

Chelsea are the hot 5/4 favourites to retain the FA Cup after being drawn at home again in the quarter-finals. They top the list when it comes to Odds FA Cup experts produce and will take some stopping.

The Blues defeated Cardiff 4-1 at Stamford Bridge in the fifth round and have been rewarded for their efforts with another home tie - against either Manchester City (8/1) or Stoke (25/1) who will replay at The Britannia Stadium.

Chelsea have edged out Watford and Cardiff on home soil and saw off Preston in the fourth round away from the King’s Road, but they will now have to topple Premier League opposition to reach the semi-finals. Carlo Ancelotti’s men still look primed for more cup glory and have shortened up to repeat last year’s heroics with Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United already out of the tournament.

Tottenham are the 11/2 second favourites after battling out a 1-1 draw at Bolton (50/1) and now face a replay at White Hart Lane to determine who will take on Fulham (14/1) at Craven Cottage. FA Cup Match Betting certainly expects Harry Redknapp’s men to progress though.

Financially-stricken Portsmouth (16/1) are well placed to repeat their FA Cup success of 2008 and face Birmingham (11/1) at Fratton Park for a place in the last four.

Pompey will be desperate for cup success in a bid to ease their cash problems on the south coast and they could still become the first team in history to win the prestigious tournament and be relegated in the same season.

Reading (80/1) and West Brom (33/1) face a replay at The Hawthorns to determine who will take on Aston Villa or Crystal Palace (66/1), who will also replay at Villa Park. Villa are 6/1 third favourites to get their hands on the trophy they last won in 1957.

Tags: Ascii, Aston Villa, Britannia Stadium, Cambria, Carlo Ancelotti, Craven Cottage, Crystal Palace, Cup Glory, Cup Success, Div, Font Definitions, Font Format, Harry Redknapp, Hawthorns, Heroics, Home Soil, Home Tie, Lt, Manchester City, Mso, Orphan, Panose, Pitch, Pompey, Prestigious Tournament, Priority, Props, Quarter Finals, Sans Serif, Span, Stamford Bridge, Style Definitions, Style Type, Text Decoration, Theme Font, Times New Roman, Villa Park, West Brom, White Hart Lane

Is Wenger right to gamble on Campbell?

It shows how quiet the January transfer window has been when the free transfer of a 35-year-old is the move that has attracted the most headlines.

But this is no normal transfer. Sol Campbell, the former Spurs, Arsenal, Notts County and England defender, looks set to make a dramatic return to the Gunners five years after leaving.

Campbell will feel like all his Christmases have come at once. It seemed his career had ground to a sudden halt following his disastrous move to Notts County last summer but now he has a chance to return to the top flight.

We may never know the exact promises that were made and broken by the Magpies, but they were enough for Campbell to quit after just one match - a 2-1 away defeat to Morecambe. During that game Campbell looked every inch a seasoned veteran, the footballing brain was still there, but the legs were gone.

Which makes it all the more surprising that Arsene Wenger has made this move. Even during his final few games at Portsmouth Campbell looked to be struggling to cope with the pace of the Premier League.

His decision to drop down three divisions was perhaps a surprise, but the Football League was generally seen as a decent level for him to see out his playing career.

Since having his contract terminated at Meadow Lane he has been training with the Gunners and has obviously done enough to please Wenger. He will, of course, be signed as cover for Thomas Vermaelen, William Gallas and Mikael Silvestre, as well as for his influence on the young players. But what kind of message does that send out to Arsenal’s Premier League title rivals ?

Wenger has said on many occasions he has money to spend if required this month, yet in recent seasons he has bemoaned his lack of funds. Now he has the cash, he seems reluctant to spend it. Financial troubles seem to be hampering transfer plans at Manchester United and Liverpool, while Carlo Ancelotti has stated on several occasions he will not be opening Roman Abramovich’s cheque book this month. So surely now is the time for Wenger to take the initiative in the title race?

Gunners fans will trust Wenger’s judgement, he has rarely let them down before, but surely this will go down as his biggest Premier League gamble to date.

Tags: Carlo Ancelotti, Christmases, Decent Level, Dramatic Return, Financial Troubles, Football League, Gunners, Magpies, Manchester United, Mikael, Portsmouth, Premier League, Rivals, Roman Abramovich, Seasoned Veteran, Sol Campbell, Spurs, Sudden Halt, Top Flight, William Gallas

NEW Chelsea Away Shirt & Arsenal Training Range

This week, we are now taking pre-orders for the new Chelsea away football kit for the 2009-10 season.

Chelsea have a new man in charge for the new season in the shape of Carlo Ancelotti and they now have a new away shirt. We have the new kit available available in a full range of adult and junior sizes in short and long sleeves, as well as the new away shorts and football socks.

Official shirt printing is available on this jersey for all your favourite Chelsea stars including Didier Drogba, John Terry, Michael Essien and Frank Lampard. You can also get your own name and number printed on your jersey in official Premiership style for only £12.95.

The Chelsea shirt will be delivered from 23rd July. Pre-order now to secure your stock for the release date.

2009-10 Chelsea away shirt range

09-10 Chelsea away shirt - £39.99
09-10 Chelsea L/S away - £44.99
09-10 Chelsea away shorts - £19.99
09-10 Chelsea away socks - £11.99

09-10 Chelsea away (Kids) - £34.99
09-10 Chelsea L/S away (Kids) - £39.99
09-10 Chelsea away shorts (Kids) - £19.99

09-10 Chelsea Little Boys away - £34.99

09-10 Chelsea away (Lampard - £49.99
09-10 Chelsea away (Drogba 11) - £49.99
09-10 Chelsea away (Ballack 13) - £49.99
09-10 Chelsea away (Terry 26) - £49.99
09-10 Chelsea away (Essien 5) - £49.99