Chelsea thread

[FLiam]

Only because no-one else will pay him as much as Chelsea will offer him soon.

[G-O-D]

Lampard named England's best

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard has emerged as the overwhelming choice for England fans' player of 2004, beating Wayne Rooney into second place.

The 26-year-old claimed 40 per cent of the vote, with Rooney behind on 16 per cent, while David Beckham and Michael Owen did not even feature in the top five.

Instead, Steven Gerrard was third, with Ashley Cole fourth and Shaun Wright-Phillips, who earned just three caps in the entire year, in fifth place.

Lampard told the Football Association's website, which organised the online poll: 'This award means a lot to me.

'I was surprised to hear I was in the lead because I was up against the likes of Wayne Rooney, but to win is great. It's an honour to have fans up and down the country think that highly of me.'

Lampard became an England regular during 2004, earning 13 caps and scoring six goals, while forging an impressive central midfield partnership with Gerrard.

Sven-Goran Eriksson declared: 'Congratulations to Frank, he's been playing brilliantly for England for a very long time.

'He's played nearly all the games for Chelsea for more than two years, and he is getting better and better.

'He defends well, he's a good tackler. He's good on the ball, passes well and scores goals. You can't ask for much more from a midfielder. He deserves it.'

Final standings:

1 - Frank Lampard - 40 per cent

2 - Wayne Rooney - 16 per cent

3 - Steven Gerrard - 9.8 per cent

4 - Ashley Cole - 9.4 per cent

5 - Shaun Wright-Phillips - 7 per cent

[stokeriño]

Two words:

Damn straight.

[FLiam]

Yeh, true.

However, Rooney, makes me think being in 2nd. Yes, he had about 3 or 4 good games at Euro 2004, apart from that, what did he do?

[botchedpiledriver]

I love the fact that our great England captain doesn't even feature on the list, let alone the top 3.

[public enemy]

Yeh, true.

However, Rooney, makes me think being in 2nd. Yes, he had about 3 or 4 good games at Euro 2004, apart from that, what did he do?

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[Jonny D]

Yeh, true.

However, Rooney, makes me think being in 2nd. Yes, he had about 3 or 4 good games at Euro 2004, apart from that, what did he do?

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[Malenko]

Yeh, true.

However, Rooney, makes me think being in 2nd. Yes, he had about 3 or 4 good games at Euro 2004, apart from that, what did he do?

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He pretty much single handedly carried England to the Quarters in Euro 2004, and announced himself onto the World stage. Been as this is only a poll for how well they played for England, I think he did more than enough to get that many votes, if not more.

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[fineintent]

Nope, best national player.

They were talking about how Lampard is joint top scorer (with Rooney) in 2004, with 6 goals in 13 appearances. Yet, according to some, he's lazy.

Even as a Spurs fan, Lampard is one of my favourite players in the Premiership - he's a real box-to-box man these days.

[TMM]

It is for best English player of 2005.

So I don't think Rooney should've been second. Lampard easily wins, SWP 2nd, Cole 3rd, Rooney 4th, Gerrard 5th IMO

[Malenko]

Great play by robben. I have such a hard time picturing chelsea losing all the points they need to lose to waste the chance of winning the premier.

*watches as Portsmouth turns the game around *

EDIT: 2-0 another awesome play in the building of the goal.

Edited January 22, 2005 by Malenko

[G-O-D]

Final score: 3-0.

I really can't look beyond Chelsea as champions.

[TMM]

I'm gonna kill my workmates. They were bloody saying Chelski lost 3-0...bastards.

Congrats though...now all we have to do is win!

[G-O-D]

LONDON, Jan 30 (Reuters) - Premier League leaders Chelsea have agreed an eight-year kit sponsorship deal with German sportswear manufacturer Adidas-Salomon.

The club's website said the deal would begin on July 1, 2006 and would be worth around 12 million pounds ($22.59 million) a year to Chelsea.

"We believe a global partnership with Adidas will be a huge step in helping the club achieve its long-term strategic goals. Together we can become a formidable team," Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon said.

British sportswear manufacturer Umbro said this month that its kit contract with Chelsea was being terminated five years early in 2006.

[fineintent]

Yeah but 88million is very little to a man like Ambramovich. I think the deal is that he's spent all that money, now they'll start to be run legit and turn profits etc. Because aren't they supposed to be getting a lucrative sponsorship deal with Adidas?

[RawIsWar]

£88M is nothing to Amramovich it's like a bit of pocket money to him.

If Chelsea get the deal with Adidias and i think it's Orange that will boost there money but it's not as if there desperate ^_^

[Guest Pirate Chasin' Booty]

£88,000,000 is big money to anyone.

[G-O-D]

Good win for us today. I think a quadruple is extremely unlikely, but we're definitely moving in the right direction.

[Summers]

Good win!!

[FLiam]

So you one a very dirty game, Cech saved a penalty, Robben injured and Cole coming on as a sub only to be taken off and storming down the tunnel.

Interesting game.