The curious case of Didier Drogba

Last night we saw everything that is great about Didier Drogba; the power, the pace and the finishing ability that once made him the most feared striker in the Premier League. However, mixed in with this is a brooding figure who has been the figurehead of this Chelsea side since Jose Mourinho brought him to the club in 2004.

During his time at Chelsea he has played under five managers and two caretakers and has been instrumental in the recent success of the club. The introduction of Portuguese manager Andre Vilas-Boas was expected to signal the end of Drogba’s reign at Chelsea but the Ivorian has muscled his way back into contention, at the expense of Fernando Torres. His display at the weekend and again last night must surely now reaffirm his position as Chelsea’s number one striker.

It has been a puzzling few months in the saga that is Chelsea Football Club. The new manager clearly wants to instil a new style of play that has been fundamentally the same since Mourinho’s tenure. Every manager that has attempted to change this style has failed and has eventually paid the ultimate price by being sacked.

However, with Torres seemingly still struggling for form and confidence Villas-Boas has turned to Drogba and the clubs tried and trusted style to revive their fortunes. The high defensive line that we witnessed being ripped to shreds by Arsenal a matter of weeks ago was certainly not on evidence last night and the manager’s post match comments indicated that he is feeling the pressure. There is no doubt in my mind that this is a temporary solution to the problem but it also highlights the manager’s problems in changing the club.

There are too many players at Chelsea who feel they are bigger than the club and more important than any new acquisitions. It is clear already that until Villas-Boas can get rid of these players the transition into a more expansive and progressive side will have to wait. Getting rid of John Terry would prove too tricky in the short term but Drogba would represent a start. He carries far too much sway amongst team mates, fans and club associates and has hindered previous managers at the club.

There is no doubting that Drogba can still have a positive influence over Chelsea’s future but for me the negatives outweigh the positives and a move in January would benefit all parties; Sturridge, Torres and more importantly Villas-Boas. The club must always come first and the debacle that Abramovich has created must be resolved if they are to challenge for major honours again.

Chelsea evolving under Villas-Boas

It looks like being the start of an exciting new era at Chelsea this season under new manager Andre Villas-Boas. Although the team has by no means been unsuccessful they finally appear to be breaking away from the Mourinho mould that has remained, four years after he departed.

The spine of the side still remains from Mourinho’s days; Cech, Terry, Lampard and Drogba are all still there and remain part of the club’s furniture. However, the new Portuguese manager has come in with the intention of changing their style of play and making them a more progressive side. He has moved well thus far in the transfer window by adding good, technically gifted players such as Juan Mata who has been one of the buys of the season so far.

It is not as if Chelsea were failing with the old style but previous managers had certainly failed to move away from Mourinho’s tried and trusted methods. The previous manager Carlo Ancelotti attempted to do so last season and it was not a successful move. One issue that remains is that there are still several members of the squad who carry far too much sway within the dressing room and within the media. It is no coincidence that these players were the ‘Special Ones’ most trusted lieutenants.

By adding Mata, Meireles and Romeu, Villas-Boas has made his intentions relatively clear; he wants Chelsea to become a more possession based side rather than the direct style that has suited them over recent years. It is also a move necessary to get the best out of Fernando Torres who is already looking like a £50 million striker since Mata has been added to the side. Finally, there is a player who has the vision to find him on a regular basis and aid the Spaniard in his rehabilitation. The Chelsea performance in the second half at Old Trafford against Manchester United confirmed that it is a three way battle for the Premier League title this season.

Speculation has been rife recently regarding Frank Lampard’s Chelsea future and he has responded in emphatic style by scoring four goals in a week. It is not that Lampard is surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge; it is simply that he cannot play every game at his age and also the side are more efficient and pacey without him. A midfield three that boasts Malouda, Meireles and Ramires is a dynamic and athletic trio which allows AVB to play the style he desires more frequently. Once Romeu is adjusted to the league he will play in front of the back four and will begin play faster than the current options; he is a good and tidy player who has come through the infamous La Masia training academy.

With Torres looking almost back to his best this Chelsea side will push both Manchester clubs close this season. With Ferguson blooding a lot of youngsters and with Mancini looking incapable of having a Plan B it is Chelsea who could emerge as winners this season. Villas-Boas has already shown he is capable of changing the system and looks to have good plans in place for certain opposition. He is an incredibly impressive young manager and considering his recent success it would be foolish to back against him.

Premier League Preview – the contenders

The long summer is almost at an end which means only one thing, the start of the football season is upon us. Every football fan worldwide has been getting more excited by the day about the return of the Premier League. It has been a long three months but at 3pm on Saturday the wait is finally over.

It has been an interesting summer in terms of transfers for the leading sides in the Premier League. With 20 days to go in this transfer window there is still a way to go and the expectation is that several high level deals are still remaining. Whilst the three Northern sides, Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City have acquired several new additions the London teams, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham have stuttered. Indeed the London clubs have spent most of the summer either trying to keep their best players or adjusting to a new manager.

Manchester United began the spending early this summer by signing David de Gea, Phil Jones and Ashley Young. All three additions are young and should form the core of the United team for the foreseeable future. This writer’s pick of signings would have to be Jones. At 19 he is already at ease in the Premier League and playing in the Champions League will only improve him as player. Whilst de Gea endured some misplaced criticism after the Community Shield he is still the second most expensive goalkeeper in history and will be between the posts at United for the next 15 years. Whilst there is some doubt over Young’s arrival from Aston Villa he has certainly gone to the best place if he is to hone his natural ability and fulfil his potential.

Manchester City have bought well and will be serious title challengers against their city rivals. The addition of Sergio Aguero from Athletico Madrid is excellent and it will be fascinating to see how he progresses in England. Only two years ago he was being likened to Lionel Messi and the general consensus is that he is ideally suited to the demands of this league. They also picked up Gael Clichy from Arsenal who will offer more pace than Aleksandar Kolorov and should prove a decent buy. Almost all summer the side have been linked with signing Samir Nasri from Arsenal but in David Silva they have one of the players I believe could be player of the year. After having an initial year to adapt he should be ready to show his class this season.

The manager’s position at Chelsea has changed yet again and they begin this season with Portuguese sensation Andre Villas-Boas. It is not the first time Chelsea have hired a successful coach from Porto and the fans will be hoping they have unearthed another football genius. The only real business Chelsea have done thus far is adding Oriol Romeu from Barcelona. It looks like being a positive signing as most La Masia graduates are remarkably good technically and physically. It is understood that they remain in the market to sign a creative midfielder and Luka Modric has been consistently linked.

I have written about these clubs in the order I believe they will finish this season. The signings United have made will enable them to easily manoeuvre the new players into the existing set up which will make them formidable. The recent speculation surrounding the possible signing of Wesley Sneijder from Inter would only make the league more of a formality if he signs.

The closest challengers I believe will be Manchester City. Now they are competing in the Champions League they are able to attract the next level of player which has made them significantly stronger than last season. The addition of Aguero should hopefully make them open up a little and we may finally see an attaching City side, although it is still relatively unlikely under Roberto Mancini. One feels that he has to deliver this season after another hefty outlay this summer.

Unlike many other pundits I generally feel Chelsea do have a chance in this title race but it is all depends on getting the best out of Fernando Torres. There are several key players at the wrong end of their careers at Stamford Bridge and if Villas-Boas can get el nino firing again they could be the surprise package in the top three. Defensively you would expect them to be sound but they have to buy another creative central midfielder if they are to get the best out of Torres.

This season promises much already and I will review the contenders for that elusive fourth place tomorrow. It is a position that will be the most sought after ever this season with Arsenal, Liverpool and Spurs are fighting to qualify for the Champions League.

Villas-Boas appointed at Chelsea

Finally Chelsea football club can start planning for the future after Andre Villas-Boas was finally confirmed as their new manager today. The Portuguese manager enjoyed a quite phenomenal season at Porto last season and emerged as the hottest managerial candidate in Europe.

It will be his third managerial role (not including a brief stint as manager of the British Virgin Isles when he was 21) but it is certainly the most high profile and the most challenging. Recent history suggests that he will have to continue his success if he to remain in the job longer than his predecessors. Indeed, many still belief Carlo Ancelotti was incredibly unlucky to lose his job after winning the double in his first season in English football.

There are a number of things Villas-Boas will need to address if his team are to improve and challenge for major honours next season. Firstly he must sort out Fernando Torres and ensure that his star striker begins to repay the huge transfer fee laid out in January. It seems that Didier Drogba will be moved on and it could be a wise idea; he holds far too much sway in the dressing room and it would represent a statement of intent from the new manager.

In order to get the best out of El Nino they must surely look to bring in a top class playmaker. It appears that Luka Modric has already been identified for this role but Chelsea need to act quickly and ensure they get the Croatian sooner rather than later. The Chelsea midfield was too pedestrian last season and they need to ensure they add someone who can link effectively with Torres.

The squad at Chelsea is an aging one and more emphasis has to be placed on youth development. Villas-Boas will already know several of the long term players after working under fellow countryman Jose Mourinho whilst learning his trade. His assistant manager Vitor Pereira has opted to fill Boas’ shoes at Porto rather than following him to Chelsea. He will need to ensure he can get a reliable and trustworthy number two to support him at Stamford Bridge.

Rumours of disharmony are far too common at his new club and he one would hope he has received assurances from Roman Abramovich regarding how best to take the club forward. A few big investments will stand them in good stead and with the likes of Josh McEachran waiting in the wings he has some talent to work with. After playing and aggressive style at Porto it will be interesting to see his approach. There have already been links to Falcao whose physical attributes and power in the air would be beneficial.

Chelsea should be very happy with their new manager. However, as we have seen on numerous occasions before he must be given time. Next season is really taking shape already.

Liverpool continue to progress under Dalglish

The first few months of 2011 have been fantastic for Liverpool Football Club and their supporters. After enduring a horrible end to 2010 their side have gone on an impressive run since the return of Kenny Dalglish. He has won 30 points in 15 games in the Premier League that has lifted them to 6^th in the table and within touching distance of a European place.

It was a very strange start to the season with Liverpool’s new manager Roy Hodgson. He just never looked settled at the club and it was inevitable that he would go before the end of the season. The presence of ‘King Kenny’ would have been unsettling as well although the board should have appointed him over Hodgson initially.

The sale of Fernando Torres in January had to happen and it has made the club stronger. He looked unhappy and disinterested in the opening months of the season; it was rumoured that he asked to leave last year and was promised the chance last summer. However, with the £50 million they were able to buy Andy Carroll and Luiz Suarez who already look like forming a formidable partnership next season.

There has also been the emergence of several of the academy graduates who have settled into life in the Premier league effortlessly. There have been a number of impressive youngsters making an impact; John Flanagan, Martin Kelly, Jack Robinson and Jay Spearing amongst others. There is almost a feeling of Liverpool returning to the way they used to be managed; bringing through young players and adding some genuine quality alongside.

It appears likely that Dalglish will be appointed full-time manager by John W. Henry at some stage in the next few months. He has instilled a work ethic and pride back into the Liverpool players that was missing earlier in the season.

I believe it has also helped not having Steven Gerrard available. He is the Liverpool talisman but is not the player he was and forces the side to play in a particular way. His positional discipline is appalling and always has been; it lead to rows with Benitez when he was the manager as Gerrard would often do things his way rather than how he was instructed. It has given Raul Meireles more freedom which has brought the best out of the Portuguese International.

All in all things are looking good for the red half of Liverpool. With some good purchases this summer they should be back in contention for a place in the top four next season which is where a club of Liverpool’s stature should be.

Manchester United vs Chelsea for the title

This Sundays encounter at Old Trafford will decide who lifts the Premier League title this season. With three points separating the two sides and goal difference level a win for either side should be enough to win the trophy. After meeting in the Champions League quarter-final, this will be their 4^th encounter of the season.

After starting the season so strongly Chelsea broke down in November and dropped as low as 5^th in the table at one point. The shock sacking of Ray Wilkins appeared to have some effect as Ancelotti also began to change the formation and personnel of the side with disastrous results. The introductions of Fernando Torres and David Luiz have highlighted the need for some new blood; many of the senior players are the wrong side of 30 and need to be replaced in the not too distant future.

However, in the last nine games Chelsea have only dropped two points and indeed beat United at Stamford Bridge in March. They have gone back to the tried and tested formula of having Drogba up front with Anelka and Malouda either side of him.

Meanwhile, United have qualified for their third Champions League final in four years and looked odds on for the Premier League title. However, after losing to Arsenal at the Emirates and drawing to Newcastle the title is going to the wire. It has been far from a vintage United side this season but they have ground out results when struggling and have started to look better in recent weeks. This lack of quality could certainly be attributed to their injury hit squad that has had several key players out at similar times.

Much of the credit must go to Sir Alex Ferguson who has proved what a phenomenal manager he really is. I genuinely believe that if he wins the Premiership and Champions League this season it will be his finest achievement; and that’s saying something!

There is not much of a difference between the sides. Both have players who are capable of winning the game in an instance. However, these games have a habit of being very cagey affairs so I cannot see much free flowing football being on display. The winner of the game should go onto lift the title, but in this season of uncertainties nothing can be taken for granted. Let us just hope Super Sunday lives up to its billing, just once.

Torres and Villa finally score again

The results yesterday would have meant little to Vicente Del Bosque, the Spanish national coach, apart from two noticeable goal scorers; Fernando Torres and David Villa.

Since Torres’ £50 million move to Chelsea he had failed to find the net in 732 minutes. The relief was there for all to see after he had smashed the ball into the bottom corner of the net; every Chelsea player proceeded to embrace him and congratulate the Spaniard. After he scored his whole game looked much improved, his touch began to return and you could almost see the confidence running through him again.

It is always said that confidence is the key element to any sport. It is essential for a striker in football; without that confidence in front of goal you can think too much and dither. A player playing with confidence simply knows where the goal is and strikes, which are key elements for both Torres and Villa, who tend to strike early to catch the goalkeeper unprepared.

Over in the Camp Nou last night David Villa was facing the prospect of going 12 games without a goal; something almost unheard of for someone so talented in front of goal. His finish was precise and laid on a plate for him by Jeffren whose magnificent ball deserved the emphatic finish it received. It has been an impressive first season at Barcelona for Villa who notched his 22^nd goal in all competitions.

It is always horrible to see top players desperately out of form. Confidence is an integral part of the game and these two strikers have looked a shadow of themselves in recent weeks. Hopefully we will see much more of El Nino and Villa in the remaining weeks of the season.

Manchester United vs Chelsea – a review

It is Manchester United who are through to the semi-finals after a 2-1 victory at Old Trafford last night which gave them a 3-1 aggregate win over Chelsea. It was by no means a classic encounter but United fans will not care one bit.

The Chelsea manager had threatened to spring a surprise on United but instead opted to start with Torres as the lone striker with Lampard playing in a slightly advanced role behind the Spaniard. It did not work and although they created several chances early on it was United who went into the lead just before half-time.

Once again it was the sublime Ryan Giggs who opened up the Chelsea defence to supply the final ball to Javier Hernandez. The young Mexican now has 18 goals in his first season in English football which is a truly remarkable effort. However, all the credit should go to the Welsh wizard who was yet again the best player on the pitch. Deployed in central midfield he is able to manoeuvre the ball around far better than any of his younger team-mates.

The second half brought much puffing and panting from Chelsea who had replaced the much maligned Torres with Drogba at half-time. The Ivorian striker clearly thought it was him against the world as he continued to run blindly into a wall of United defenders. However, with 13 minutes remaining he scored to set up a potentially crucial last 10 minutes.

When you first start playing football you are taught and advised that the most dangerous time for a side is just after they have scored. Sure enough United kicked off and scored almost instantly, the game was over, the tie was over and Chelsea were beaten.

Their ‘obsession’ as Ferguson called it is over and several of the Chelsea team should not be playing next year. They need a complete overhaul if they are to seriously challenge for major honours next season. Most of the side have played in the 4-3-3 formation but playing Torres on his own up front and hammering long balls up to him is never going to be rewarded. They have to get some creative players in to liven them up, everything last night was too one paced, too predictable and simply not good enough.

Meanwhile United advance to the semi-finals where they look likely to face Schalke. It is not a great United side we are seeing at the moment, similarly to Chelsea they need more creative players and they have to address the fact that Giggs may still be their best and most influential player. They are incredibly well organised and tough to beat as they always are under Ferguson.

It is concerning for football though that such an average team could be on the verge of a treble; fortunately for football fans Barcelona remain in the tournament.

Manchester United vs Chelsea – a preview

Although Manchester United have a one goal advantage going into tonight’s second leg against Chelsea the game remains delicately poised. There is already talk in the press of a possible treble for United but this obstacle must be passed before any such talk can be taken seriously.

Having had a relatively poor season playing wise United have picked up in recent weeks and their football has improved significantly. However, they will be well aware that a one goal advantage in the Champions League is by no means decisive. They have only netted 10 goals in nine games in the tournament but, have kept seven clean sheets at the same time. The re-introduction of Rio Ferdinand for the first game was crucial and his experience will be vital tonight.

Meanwhile Chelsea travel to Manchester knowing they have to breach the tightest defence in the tournament at least twice to ensure passage through to the semi-finals. Their big January recruit Fernando Torres remains goalless for his new club but has looked sharper in recent games. It will be interesting to see how Ancelotti lines up against United tonight, Alex and Benayoun have returned from injury which means he has a fully fit squad for the first time this season.

It should be an enthralling game tonight at the Theatre of Dreams. With the other three ties looking all but over this remains the key clash in the last eight. Whoever triumphs tonight should face Schalke in the last four with the possibility of playing against Barcelona or Real Madrid at Wembley in the final.

Chelsea back in the title race

After the emphatic win at Stamford Bridge on Sunday against Manchester City Chelsea are now very much back in the title race. It appeared so unlikely after their horrendous form around Christmas when they found themselves facing the possibility of not finishing in the top 4. Since beating Manchester United at the Bridge at the start of this month their confidence has returned.

The season had started so promisingly and it appeared that nobody would be able to stop the reigning league champions. Defeat at Anfield in November rocked them and their confidence; their form then deteriorated so dramatically that Ancelotti’s job was under scrutiny. It shows what a fickle world football is when you win the domestic double in your first season and then face the sack the following – madness.

The additions of Luiz and Torres look good, although the later has still failed to open his Chelsea account. His movement in recent weeks has been that of old but his desperation to score seems to be making his job that much harder at the current moment.

The London side have been drawn against Manchester United in the Champions League which will be a fascinating tie. The Chelsea manager holds the upper hand over Ferguson with the United boss only beating his Italian counterpart on 3 occasions in the past. Both games will be enthralling and with them set to play at Old Trafford in the Premier League the title could go to the wire.

Luiz shines as Torres stutters

Last night’s victory at Stamford Bridge could be a turning point in the future of Chelsea football club. The club were under serious pressure to perform and after a rather subdued first half kicked into gear in the second. Although it remains incredibly unlikely that they will challenge for the title it sent a message to those around them that they are still more than capable of beating the best.

The performance from their new Brazilian centre back David Luiz was fantastic and he looks a real talent. It was even noticed by Cesc Fabregas on twitter who commented “David Luiz is looking to be a very good player and still only 23. He’s got class. Defenders playing with the ball are always my favourites.” However, it must be mentioned that he was very lucky to remain on the pitch after a rather cynical foul on Wayne Rooney in the second half. His goal was taken expertly and you could see it visibly lift him as he went on a marauding run after an interception minutes after scoring. The new centre back looks physically strong and very capable with the ball which is something Chelsea have lacked since Carvalho’s departure in the summer.

In contrast Fernando Torres looked well short of what he is capable of, but there were signs that he is developing an understanding with his team mates. It has been a difficult season for the Spaniard who finally managed to leave Liverpool in January after failing to depart over the summer. Some of his movement last night was excellent but his confidence in front of goal has still not returned. With Ancelotti starting with a 4-4-2 formation it suits him more as he is able to roam up front but the supply line needs to be better.

Both sides looked short of creativity and I am convinced both will address this in the summer. They possess wingers who can hurt sides when on form but there has to be more impetuous coming from central positions. This is not a vintage United side we have seen this season but they remain the most efficient at closing sides down when they play through the middle. However, with 36 year old Paul Scholes as their most creative central midfielder this is a problem that must be remedied.

It was one of the better top 4 clashes last night with some exciting football played by both sides. It was nice to see both managers employing 4-4-2 and I cannot remember the last big game when central midfield was so open. United now must get something at Anfield on Sunday while Chelsea just have to keep winning.

Anelka presents his case to Ancelotti

The victory in Denmark will have been a huge relief to everyone concerned with Chelsea football club, and in particular Nicolas Anelka. The arrival of Fernando Torres in the January transfer window indicated that his time at Chelsea may have been coming to an end.

This is the longest period he has remained at any club during his career and his 2 goals last night takes his tally in the Champions League to 7 in 6 games this season. He is a wonderfully gifted individual who has remarkable technique and is blessed with blistering pace (although his pace is not what it was). However, like everything in life there is a good and a bad side; he has often been labelled disruptive and played for 9 clubs in 15 years during his professional career.

It is quite remarkable looking at his career; he has played for some of the biggest clubs on the continent and is still only 31 years old. One wonders how much of an influence his family had on him after moving from Arsenal to Real Madrid for £22.3 million in 1999 as he always looked disinterested when playing. The move to Chelsea seemed to revitalise him which was probably down to him realising that this was his last chance at a top club – and he has grasped the opportunity.

It appears that wholesale changes will be made to the Chelsea squad over the summer but it seems that Anelka maybe preferred to Drogba which I would agree with. The prospect of playing against a side that had Anelka, Torres and another in a front 3 would be very scary. The mercurial Frenchman often seems very languid but is then suddenly 5 yards past you before you have noticed. It is a shame his international days are over but it could be a blessing as he can focus on what remains of his club career.

It is vital for Chelsea that they maintain the momentum from last night into the remainder of their domestic season. Whilst they are now unlikely to retain the Premiership they still have to play United twice and could have a real bearing on where the trophy ends up. For players such as Anelka this is the time to prove that you are behind the club and will strive to ensure this season’s slump remains a distant memory.

The transfer window

This week Eddy Lascellles takes a look at the impact the January Transfer

Window can have on the remainder of a season.

The transfer window - love it or loathe it can have a profound impact on a
season. This weeks rounds of games has highlighted that more than ever
before with no less than 3 debutants scoring in victories for their new
clubs. John Terry also spoke this week of the "buzz" that Torres and
David Luiz signing have created in the dressing room. Cue a very
impressive victory at the tricky Stadium of Light where, perhaps now
concerned for his place, Nicolas Anelka, gave a master class up front.
Chelsea's two new superstars haven't even kicked a ball yet and they've
already made an impact!

Up to this point Liverpool have had what can only be described as a
season horribilis, however after last nights win against stoke they're
7th in the table and only 2 points off a European place. Luis Suarez had
a dream debut and should add an extra dimension to their attack. How
successful his partnership with Andy Carroll will be only time will
tell. On paper it looks great - the speed, skill and guile of Suarez
with the strength, power and finishing of Carroll. Premiership defenders
won't expect an easy ride from them and in Carroll Liverpool have by far
the best young English striker, and they always cost a premium!

Similarly to Liverpool, West Ham have had a shocker of a season to date.
A board intent on sacking their manager, the diabolical and
embarrassing public courting of Martin O'Neill and a series of abject
performances which saw them bottom at Christmas. They became the latest
club to hear the oft-used phrase of "the team bottom at Xmas always goes
down". However a good win at Bloomfield road on Wednesday has lifted
them off the bottom and only a point from safety. The addition and
impact of Robbie Keane and Wayne Bridge should be enough to kick stat
their season and steer them clear of a season back in the championship.

We have also seen the impact that Darren Bent has already had at Villa
(2 goals in 2 games) and a debut goal for Daniel Sturridge at Bolton.
The transfer window makes for a more unpredictable and exciting league.
A season is a long hard marathon where very few teams remain consistent
throughout (Notable exceptions would be the Arsenal invincibles,
Mourinho’s Chelsea, and Derby in 2008 - who were consistently awful).

A clubs activity in January can often define their season and be the
difference between safety and relegation, mid table and European places
or in Chelsea's case Europa league and a potential treble. We watch
this game for the twists and turns, the surprises and the upsets. As
fans of our clubs if nothing else we have hope. For many this hope comes
in the form of the January transfer window!

Chelsea and Liverpool dominate

The transfer window slammed shut last night on one of the most extravagant days in recent memory. Some realistic figures were paid and received but most of the talk has surrounded Andy Carroll’s £35 million plus transfer from Newcastle to Liverpool. The Merseyside club’s hand was forced the day before when Fernando Torres submitted a transfer request to ease his move to Chelsea. This development coupled with the arrival of Luis Suarez will give Liverpool a new look strike force that should do well in the Premier League.

Although many people complain about the money involved in football I think the purchases Chelsea made yesterday were the most notable and needed. The addition of Torres is the clearest indication yet that Abramovich is not finished building his empire in West London. The price tag of £50 million is staggering but they have gone out and brought proven quality at a time when the side has struggled for the first time in years. The term World Class is banded around far too often for in my opinion El Nino is class; it will be fascinating to see him playing with quality players again after a torrid year at Anfield.

Their other addition was David Luiz who has attracted interest from Europe’s elite since joining Benfica in 2007. He is a big strong defender who also has considerable pace which has been severely lacking in the Chelsea back four for a while now. At 23 years old he is also someone they can build the team around for years to come. Again the price tag is hefty but this looks to be a very sound investment.

The biggest shock of the window was certainly Liverpool’s acquisition of Carroll, not so much the player himself but the amount of money he ended up going for. There is no doubting that the player has potential but to pay that much reeks a little of desperation. Having said that though who else is about? There seems to be a shortage of top level strikers around at the moment. His new strike partner will be Luis Suarez who arrived from Ajax for £22.7 million. English clubs have been a little wary of purchasing prolific strikers from Holland after Kezman and Kuyt proved to be goal shy but it looks a shrewd investment. He has scored goals for fun for Ajax and looked to be a good player in the world cup last year.

All in all everyone from player to manager to fan will be relieved this window is now closed. It will be very interesting to see if Chelsea’s and Liverpool’s fortunes can be turned round with just under half the season remaining. Chelsea have to play the undefeated Manchester United twice which will probably decide the title. They are certainly back in the title chase and sides have made up larger points differences before. As for Liverpool a European finish should be achievable now but much will depend on their two new strikers. Only time will tell……

How low can you go?

The situation at Liverpool is one which is worrying players, fans and owners alike. This once great club has been on a downward spiral for the last 18 months and the question most supporters are asking is, how bad can things will get? Rafa Benitez is still remembered very fondly by most fans but his increasingly strained relationships with Hicks, Gillet and other board members made his position untenable. In addition to this his poor use of transfer funds and (in the last 12 months) bizarre behaviour led to his downfall. In fact you could look back as far as January 2009 when it all started to go wrong when he gave his now infamous press conference rant aimed at Alex Ferguson and the apparently lenient approach officials take towards United. Liverpool were top of the table and genuine title contenders for the first time in 17 years. It was mind-games from Rafa and it back-fired dreadfully and ultimately led to his sacking. The clubs financial situation then became front-page news and the appointment of the affable but ultimately low-budget, low maintenance Roy Hodgson reflected that. In fairness to Roy he joined a club in turmoil, and whilst he never managed to get his team to hit the heights the fans expected, he was always living on borrowed time.

What they should have done next is to get a manager with the direction, ambition and conviction to take Liverpool back to where they belong. There is an outstanding list of top managers currently not in employment: Rafa Benitez, Frank Rijkaard, Sam Allardyce and Martin O’Neill. Martin O’Neill would, for me, be the stand out candidate. It would surely present him with the opportunity that he has always wanted – to manage one of the countries top teams, and Liverpool get a proven top manager for free! Everyone’s happy! But what did they do instead? The worst kept secret in football was that Kenny Dalglish was hovering above Roy Hodgson’s head like the blade of a guillotine waiting for his opportunity to get back in charge. It was predictable and full of romance, but how can you expect someone who has not worked at the sharp-end of football for the best part of 10 years to know about potential targets and training systems as one of the above mentioned managers would? After all the club and football world have moved on immeasurably since 1991. The cynic in me believes Kenny’s return will be destined for mediocrity and is little more than a public relations stunt by owners who don’t know football and don’t really know what they’re doing. Bring a legend back to the club and it will keep them happy! The situation is strikingly similar to another “Kings” return home a couple of years ago when Kevin Keegan returned to Newcastle. Actually there are many similarities: “the fans choice”, unpopular former manager, owners who don’t understand football, a disgruntled home support, and well-documented financial problems. What happened to Newcastle that season? They were relegated. If it wasn’t for the astute management of Chris Houghton during their season in the Championship their stay outside the top-flight could have been far longer, a la Leeds.

I’m not suggesting that Liverpool will get relegated this season; any team with Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard in it shouldn’t ever be embroiled in a relegation battle. However what happens in the summer? Can a player of Torres’s class and ability really be expected to spend a second consecutive season in the (at best!) Europa League? Will Gerrard - 33 next season - think his chances of silverware greater elsewhere than at his beloved Liverpool? Realistically you wouldn’t expect Liverpool to be back competing at the top for another 2 or 3 years – especially with the emergence of Spurs and Man City as credible top 4 sides - which will prove too long for both Torres and Gerrard to wait around. If they are sold, who would they be replaced by? Similar quality players would be nigh on impossible to attract for a club outside the Champions League.

Most people can see the warning signs of a club in decline and the only way to prevent it is by making the right decisions for the clubs long-term future, the problem with foreign owners or people who don’t understand our game is that they think “Doing a Leeds” is some kind of neat counter-attacking move. Someone would do well to educate John Henry of once mighty clubs who have fallen, otherwise he could well be the owner of the next one!

This piece has been written by Eddy Lascelles specifically for HuntersWorldOfFootball