Lobatan!
Posted By David Aniemeka
READ What Mom Thinks Boys Now Do
Posted by David Aniemeka
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Lobatan!
Posted By David Aniemeka
Chelsea Fixtures, results, Match previews, predictions and Live Matches
What's New Here?
Lobatan!
Posted By David Aniemeka
Lobatan!
Posted By David Aniemeka
Seattle Sounders striker, Obafemi Martins,
has been named in the Major League Soccer
Team of The Year.
Posted By David Aniemeka
has been named in the Major League Soccer
Team of The Year.
Posted By David Aniemeka
Martins makes MLS best XI
Posted by David Aniemeka
No comments
Seattle Sounders striker, Obafemi Martins,
has been named in the Major League Soccer
Team of The Year.
Posted By David Aniemeka
has been named in the Major League Soccer
Team of The Year.
Posted By David Aniemeka
The Nigeria Nationwide League (NNWL) has
secured a three-year sponsorship deal worth
N20 million with a private company, Puzzles
Group Limited.
Posted By David Aniemeka
secured a three-year sponsorship deal worth
N20 million with a private company, Puzzles
Group Limited.
Posted By David Aniemeka
Nigeria Nationwide league secures N20m sponsorship deal
Posted by David Aniemeka
No comments
The Nigeria Nationwide League (NNWL) has
secured a three-year sponsorship deal worth
N20 million with a private company, Puzzles
Group Limited.
Posted By David Aniemeka
secured a three-year sponsorship deal worth
N20 million with a private company, Puzzles
Group Limited.
Posted By David Aniemeka
The Electoral Appeals Committee of the
Nigeria Football Association (NFA) on
Wednesday upheld the Sept. 30 football
board elections held in Warri, Delta. This is
contained in a statement issued on
Wednesday in Abuja by Ademola Olajire, the
Assistant Director of Communications, NFA.
The statement said that four members of the
committee and the committee's
Posted By David Aniemeka
Nigeria Football Association (NFA) on
Wednesday upheld the Sept. 30 football
board elections held in Warri, Delta. This is
contained in a statement issued on
Wednesday in Abuja by Ademola Olajire, the
Assistant Director of Communications, NFA.
The statement said that four members of the
committee and the committee's
Posted By David Aniemeka
NFA Electoral Appeals Committee upholds Pinnick’s election, as decision divides members
Posted by David Aniemeka
No comments
The Electoral Appeals Committee of the
Nigeria Football Association (NFA) on
Wednesday upheld the Sept. 30 football
board elections held in Warri, Delta. This is
contained in a statement issued on
Wednesday in Abuja by Ademola Olajire, the
Assistant Director of Communications, NFA.
The statement said that four members of the
committee and the committee's
Posted By David Aniemeka
Nigeria Football Association (NFA) on
Wednesday upheld the Sept. 30 football
board elections held in Warri, Delta. This is
contained in a statement issued on
Wednesday in Abuja by Ademola Olajire, the
Assistant Director of Communications, NFA.
The statement said that four members of the
committee and the committee's
Posted By David Aniemeka
AT a time the Presidency, top security officials
are breathing down on Nigerians and officials
of the Nigeria Football Federation to retain
Stephen Okechukwu Keshi as the chief coach
of the Super Eagles, the man the Presidency
is making a case for is in far away Equatorial
Guinea negotiating to handle their national
team.
Posted By David Aniemeka
are breathing down on Nigerians and officials
of the Nigeria Football Federation to retain
Stephen Okechukwu Keshi as the chief coach
of the Super Eagles, the man the Presidency
is making a case for is in far away Equatorial
Guinea negotiating to handle their national
team.
Posted By David Aniemeka
Keshi moves to E/Guinea!
Posted by David Aniemeka
No comments
AT a time the Presidency, top security officials
are breathing down on Nigerians and officials
of the Nigeria Football Federation to retain
Stephen Okechukwu Keshi as the chief coach
of the Super Eagles, the man the Presidency
is making a case for is in far away Equatorial
Guinea negotiating to handle their national
team.
Posted By David Aniemeka
are breathing down on Nigerians and officials
of the Nigeria Football Federation to retain
Stephen Okechukwu Keshi as the chief coach
of the Super Eagles, the man the Presidency
is making a case for is in far away Equatorial
Guinea negotiating to handle their national
team.
Posted By David Aniemeka
The Electoral Appeals Committee of the
Nigeria Football Association (NFA) on
Wednesday upheld the Sept. 30 football
board elections held in Warri, Delta.
The post NFA C'tee upholds Sept. 30 board
election, as decision divides members
appeared first on Vanguard News.
Posted By David Aniemeka
Nigeria Football Association (NFA) on
Wednesday upheld the Sept. 30 football
board elections held in Warri, Delta.
The post NFA C'tee upholds Sept. 30 board
election, as decision divides members
appeared first on Vanguard News.
Posted By David Aniemeka
NFA C’tee upholds Sept. 30 board election, as decision divides members
Posted by David Aniemeka
No comments
The Electoral Appeals Committee of the
Nigeria Football Association (NFA) on
Wednesday upheld the Sept. 30 football
board elections held in Warri, Delta.
The post NFA C'tee upholds Sept. 30 board
election, as decision divides members
appeared first on Vanguard News.
Posted By David Aniemeka
Nigeria Football Association (NFA) on
Wednesday upheld the Sept. 30 football
board elections held in Warri, Delta.
The post NFA C'tee upholds Sept. 30 board
election, as decision divides members
appeared first on Vanguard News.
Posted By David Aniemeka
Real Madrid's German midfielder Sami
Khedira spent the night under observation in
hospital after suffering concussion during the
Spanish giants' 5-0 Copa del Rey win over
Cornella, the club said Wednesday.
The post Real's Khedira spends night in
hospital with concussion appeared first on
Vanguard News.
Posted By David Aniemeka
Khedira spent the night under observation in
hospital after suffering concussion during the
Spanish giants' 5-0 Copa del Rey win over
Cornella, the club said Wednesday.
The post Real's Khedira spends night in
hospital with concussion appeared first on
Vanguard News.
Posted By David Aniemeka
Real’s Khedira spends night in hospital with concussion
Posted by David Aniemeka
No comments
Real Madrid's German midfielder Sami
Khedira spent the night under observation in
hospital after suffering concussion during the
Spanish giants' 5-0 Copa del Rey win over
Cornella, the club said Wednesday.
The post Real's Khedira spends night in
hospital with concussion appeared first on
Vanguard News.
Posted By David Aniemeka
Khedira spent the night under observation in
hospital after suffering concussion during the
Spanish giants' 5-0 Copa del Rey win over
Cornella, the club said Wednesday.
The post Real's Khedira spends night in
hospital with concussion appeared first on
Vanguard News.
Posted By David Aniemeka
Injured Enyimba midfielder Kingsley Sokari
and Obinna Nwobodo from Enugu Rangers
are the only players still being expected at
the Flying Eagles training camp in Kaduna.
The post Sokari set to join Flying Eagles
appeared first on Vanguard News.
Posted By David Aniemeka
and Obinna Nwobodo from Enugu Rangers
are the only players still being expected at
the Flying Eagles training camp in Kaduna.
The post Sokari set to join Flying Eagles
appeared first on Vanguard News.
Posted By David Aniemeka
Sokari set to join Flying Eagles
Posted by David Aniemeka
No comments
Injured Enyimba midfielder Kingsley Sokari
and Obinna Nwobodo from Enugu Rangers
are the only players still being expected at
the Flying Eagles training camp in Kaduna.
The post Sokari set to join Flying Eagles
appeared first on Vanguard News.
Posted By David Aniemeka
and Obinna Nwobodo from Enugu Rangers
are the only players still being expected at
the Flying Eagles training camp in Kaduna.
The post Sokari set to join Flying Eagles
appeared first on Vanguard News.
Posted By David Aniemeka
With goals at a premium
at the weekend, the
quality of the rearguard
stands Chelsea in good
stead reckons columnist
and club legend Pat
Nevin...
It only takes a second to
score a goal and it doesn't
matter who scores it in the
end. Trying to figure out
who to give our last-gasp
winner to live on the BBC
commentary on Saturday
wasn't an easy task. I
eventually plumped for
Frank Lampard , but as I
say it doesn't really
matter, JT or Lamps - it
can't be an OG by Howard
as the ball was on its way
in before it was redirected
by him. We were all just
hugely relieved that
justice had been done.
For all the hard work in the
second half by the Toffees,
Chelsea were the only
team likely to score and
the sympathy was only for
the Everton defenders who
had been magnificent
throughout. It really is a
toss-up in the Premier
League to decide who has
the best defensive unit,
but it is only a toss-up
between Everton and
Chelsea.
Most matches that are 0-0
after 90 minutes (if not
92!) can be an incredible
let down, but there was so
much to admire in the
work of both backlines.
Distin was brilliant, while
Coleman, Jagielka and
Baines were not far
behind.
Even so it would be unfair
to suggest that our four
were not at least as good
or indeed better. Jose
waxed Lyrical about Cesar
Azpilicueta who had yet
another faultless display,
JT was the reason why we
won in the end and
Branislav Ivanovic stopped
Everton marauding down
that side of the pitch,
usually their most lethal
weapon, with Baines and
Pienaar's attacking skills
denied for almost the
entire second 45 minutes.
Having said all that I think
Gary Cahill looked the best
of the bunch on the day.
There was only one word
for him and it was
imperious. His tackling
and use of the ball was
superb but it was his
reading of the play that
marked him out for me as
just topping the bill
against very stiff
opposition.
This ability to snuff out
teams going forward is of
course classic Jose
Mourinho and it is without
doubt one of the most
important things to instil
in a team if they are going
to have any pretensions of
going into the final stages
of the Champions League.
The 1-0 win at Man City in
the League was generally
accepted as a master class
in the art of playing away
from home, and that
quality will have to be
revisited when we turn up
in Istanbul on Wednesday.
Before the game I was
disappointed to see David
Luiz emerge from some
rehab work in the Chelsea
Club behind the Matthew
Harding Stand. My
daughter had a different
reaction and did well not
to swoon onto the floor as
he entered the room. I
however was more
mundanely preoccupied,
thinking only that his
presence would be a huge
plus if he is fit in time for
Galatasaray. With
Nemanja Matic
unavailable, his power and
physical presence in that
midfield along with his
European experience could
make all the difference.
Happily he travelled over
so fingers crossed.
David Luiz 's aerial
prowess is also important,
because even though we
have JT, Ivanovic and
Cahill, apparently they
have some bloke up front
who is pretty strong and
damned good in the air.
Didier Drogba will be
giving his all in this one of
course and there is little or
no argument that he
represents the dictionary
definition of a big-game
player, and this is certainly
the biggest game he has
had for a while. On our
side, I reckon we have a
fair idea on the coaching
staff and on the pitch just
what he is good at and
where any of those hidden
weaknesses are.
It is however also
important not to ignore
the other qualities in the
Gala team. Wesley
Sneijder is still a top-class
player when he puts his
mind to it, which he
regularly does at home,
but it is the quality given
by Burak Yilmaz and Umut
Bulut that is of just as
much concern, both are
exceptionally dangerous
attacking players. With an
incredibly noisy crowd who
will be pumped up beyond
belief and singing their
hearts out six hours before
a ball has been kicked, this
is no easy task even if they
did just sneak through to
this stage in the strangest
circumstances.
It is a bit of a cliché with
Turkish sides that you
never quite know what you
are going to get but the
group stages bore this out.
The aggregate score
against the mighty
Juventus was 3-2 for Gala.
On the other hand against
Real Madrid it was 10-2
against, including a 6-1
destruction at their own
Turk Telekom Arena. I
played at the old stadium
against them for Everton
many years ago and the
noise was just ridiculously
loud. The new arena is
bigger and more enclosed
and I suspect even louder,
but it is actually hard to
imagine how it could be.
Every intimidation tactic
will be utilised but it will
be of no use against
players as experienced as
ours. In fact I suspect it
will lift our lads who love
these big occasions. Right
now, quieting them and
getting a well-organised
technical match plan in
place looks like the best
ploy. A low-scoring draw
would be fantastic for me,
but the important thing is
to give little away. You can
lose the tie in an away first
leg but you very rarely win
it there. Another top-class
defensive display to add to
the many already this
season and we could be
well on our way to the next
round.
Last week I asked if you
could tell me the name of
any past or present
Chelsea player who has
played for El Mokawloon?
It was of course new boy
Mohamed Salah . It was so
easy some of you thought
it must be a trick question,
now come on, would I do
that? Anyway from the
many, many hundreds of
correct answers the lucky
winner randomly chosen
by my now fully recovered
glamorous assistant was
Bamidele Abdullateef, one
of the vast number of
fervent supporters we
have in Nigeria and in his
case Lagos.
This week to have a
chance of being the lucky
winner of a prize signed by
one of the players, could
you tell me what was
Chelsea's biggest win in a
competitive match against
a Turkish side? Answers as
ever to me at
pat.nevin@chelseafc.com
Good luck with that and to
the team in this crucial
week.
Sent From David Aniemeka
at the weekend, the
quality of the rearguard
stands Chelsea in good
stead reckons columnist
and club legend Pat
Nevin...
It only takes a second to
score a goal and it doesn't
matter who scores it in the
end. Trying to figure out
who to give our last-gasp
winner to live on the BBC
commentary on Saturday
wasn't an easy task. I
eventually plumped for
Frank Lampard , but as I
say it doesn't really
matter, JT or Lamps - it
can't be an OG by Howard
as the ball was on its way
in before it was redirected
by him. We were all just
hugely relieved that
justice had been done.
For all the hard work in the
second half by the Toffees,
Chelsea were the only
team likely to score and
the sympathy was only for
the Everton defenders who
had been magnificent
throughout. It really is a
toss-up in the Premier
League to decide who has
the best defensive unit,
but it is only a toss-up
between Everton and
Chelsea.
Most matches that are 0-0
after 90 minutes (if not
92!) can be an incredible
let down, but there was so
much to admire in the
work of both backlines.
Distin was brilliant, while
Coleman, Jagielka and
Baines were not far
behind.
Even so it would be unfair
to suggest that our four
were not at least as good
or indeed better. Jose
waxed Lyrical about Cesar
Azpilicueta who had yet
another faultless display,
JT was the reason why we
won in the end and
Branislav Ivanovic stopped
Everton marauding down
that side of the pitch,
usually their most lethal
weapon, with Baines and
Pienaar's attacking skills
denied for almost the
entire second 45 minutes.
Having said all that I think
Gary Cahill looked the best
of the bunch on the day.
There was only one word
for him and it was
imperious. His tackling
and use of the ball was
superb but it was his
reading of the play that
marked him out for me as
just topping the bill
against very stiff
opposition.
This ability to snuff out
teams going forward is of
course classic Jose
Mourinho and it is without
doubt one of the most
important things to instil
in a team if they are going
to have any pretensions of
going into the final stages
of the Champions League.
The 1-0 win at Man City in
the League was generally
accepted as a master class
in the art of playing away
from home, and that
quality will have to be
revisited when we turn up
in Istanbul on Wednesday.
Before the game I was
disappointed to see David
Luiz emerge from some
rehab work in the Chelsea
Club behind the Matthew
Harding Stand. My
daughter had a different
reaction and did well not
to swoon onto the floor as
he entered the room. I
however was more
mundanely preoccupied,
thinking only that his
presence would be a huge
plus if he is fit in time for
Galatasaray. With
Nemanja Matic
unavailable, his power and
physical presence in that
midfield along with his
European experience could
make all the difference.
Happily he travelled over
so fingers crossed.
David Luiz 's aerial
prowess is also important,
because even though we
have JT, Ivanovic and
Cahill, apparently they
have some bloke up front
who is pretty strong and
damned good in the air.
Didier Drogba will be
giving his all in this one of
course and there is little or
no argument that he
represents the dictionary
definition of a big-game
player, and this is certainly
the biggest game he has
had for a while. On our
side, I reckon we have a
fair idea on the coaching
staff and on the pitch just
what he is good at and
where any of those hidden
weaknesses are.
It is however also
important not to ignore
the other qualities in the
Gala team. Wesley
Sneijder is still a top-class
player when he puts his
mind to it, which he
regularly does at home,
but it is the quality given
by Burak Yilmaz and Umut
Bulut that is of just as
much concern, both are
exceptionally dangerous
attacking players. With an
incredibly noisy crowd who
will be pumped up beyond
belief and singing their
hearts out six hours before
a ball has been kicked, this
is no easy task even if they
did just sneak through to
this stage in the strangest
circumstances.
It is a bit of a cliché with
Turkish sides that you
never quite know what you
are going to get but the
group stages bore this out.
The aggregate score
against the mighty
Juventus was 3-2 for Gala.
On the other hand against
Real Madrid it was 10-2
against, including a 6-1
destruction at their own
Turk Telekom Arena. I
played at the old stadium
against them for Everton
many years ago and the
noise was just ridiculously
loud. The new arena is
bigger and more enclosed
and I suspect even louder,
but it is actually hard to
imagine how it could be.
Every intimidation tactic
will be utilised but it will
be of no use against
players as experienced as
ours. In fact I suspect it
will lift our lads who love
these big occasions. Right
now, quieting them and
getting a well-organised
technical match plan in
place looks like the best
ploy. A low-scoring draw
would be fantastic for me,
but the important thing is
to give little away. You can
lose the tie in an away first
leg but you very rarely win
it there. Another top-class
defensive display to add to
the many already this
season and we could be
well on our way to the next
round.
Last week I asked if you
could tell me the name of
any past or present
Chelsea player who has
played for El Mokawloon?
It was of course new boy
Mohamed Salah . It was so
easy some of you thought
it must be a trick question,
now come on, would I do
that? Anyway from the
many, many hundreds of
correct answers the lucky
winner randomly chosen
by my now fully recovered
glamorous assistant was
Bamidele Abdullateef, one
of the vast number of
fervent supporters we
have in Nigeria and in his
case Lagos.
This week to have a
chance of being the lucky
winner of a prize signed by
one of the players, could
you tell me what was
Chelsea's biggest win in a
competitive match against
a Turkish side? Answers as
ever to me at
pat.nevin@chelseafc.com
Good luck with that and to
the team in this crucial
week.
Sent From David Aniemeka
BACKING THE BACKS
Posted by David Aniemeka
No comments
With goals at a premium
at the weekend, the
quality of the rearguard
stands Chelsea in good
stead reckons columnist
and club legend Pat
Nevin...
It only takes a second to
score a goal and it doesn't
matter who scores it in the
end. Trying to figure out
who to give our last-gasp
winner to live on the BBC
commentary on Saturday
wasn't an easy task. I
eventually plumped for
Frank Lampard , but as I
say it doesn't really
matter, JT or Lamps - it
can't be an OG by Howard
as the ball was on its way
in before it was redirected
by him. We were all just
hugely relieved that
justice had been done.
For all the hard work in the
second half by the Toffees,
Chelsea were the only
team likely to score and
the sympathy was only for
the Everton defenders who
had been magnificent
throughout. It really is a
toss-up in the Premier
League to decide who has
the best defensive unit,
but it is only a toss-up
between Everton and
Chelsea.
Most matches that are 0-0
after 90 minutes (if not
92!) can be an incredible
let down, but there was so
much to admire in the
work of both backlines.
Distin was brilliant, while
Coleman, Jagielka and
Baines were not far
behind.
Even so it would be unfair
to suggest that our four
were not at least as good
or indeed better. Jose
waxed Lyrical about Cesar
Azpilicueta who had yet
another faultless display,
JT was the reason why we
won in the end and
Branislav Ivanovic stopped
Everton marauding down
that side of the pitch,
usually their most lethal
weapon, with Baines and
Pienaar's attacking skills
denied for almost the
entire second 45 minutes.
Having said all that I think
Gary Cahill looked the best
of the bunch on the day.
There was only one word
for him and it was
imperious. His tackling
and use of the ball was
superb but it was his
reading of the play that
marked him out for me as
just topping the bill
against very stiff
opposition.
This ability to snuff out
teams going forward is of
course classic Jose
Mourinho and it is without
doubt one of the most
important things to instil
in a team if they are going
to have any pretensions of
going into the final stages
of the Champions League.
The 1-0 win at Man City in
the League was generally
accepted as a master class
in the art of playing away
from home, and that
quality will have to be
revisited when we turn up
in Istanbul on Wednesday.
Before the game I was
disappointed to see David
Luiz emerge from some
rehab work in the Chelsea
Club behind the Matthew
Harding Stand. My
daughter had a different
reaction and did well not
to swoon onto the floor as
he entered the room. I
however was more
mundanely preoccupied,
thinking only that his
presence would be a huge
plus if he is fit in time for
Galatasaray. With
Nemanja Matic
unavailable, his power and
physical presence in that
midfield along with his
European experience could
make all the difference.
Happily he travelled over
so fingers crossed.
David Luiz 's aerial
prowess is also important,
because even though we
have JT, Ivanovic and
Cahill, apparently they
have some bloke up front
who is pretty strong and
damned good in the air.
Didier Drogba will be
giving his all in this one of
course and there is little or
no argument that he
represents the dictionary
definition of a big-game
player, and this is certainly
the biggest game he has
had for a while. On our
side, I reckon we have a
fair idea on the coaching
staff and on the pitch just
what he is good at and
where any of those hidden
weaknesses are.
It is however also
important not to ignore
the other qualities in the
Gala team. Wesley
Sneijder is still a top-class
player when he puts his
mind to it, which he
regularly does at home,
but it is the quality given
by Burak Yilmaz and Umut
Bulut that is of just as
much concern, both are
exceptionally dangerous
attacking players. With an
incredibly noisy crowd who
will be pumped up beyond
belief and singing their
hearts out six hours before
a ball has been kicked, this
is no easy task even if they
did just sneak through to
this stage in the strangest
circumstances.
It is a bit of a cliché with
Turkish sides that you
never quite know what you
are going to get but the
group stages bore this out.
The aggregate score
against the mighty
Juventus was 3-2 for Gala.
On the other hand against
Real Madrid it was 10-2
against, including a 6-1
destruction at their own
Turk Telekom Arena. I
played at the old stadium
against them for Everton
many years ago and the
noise was just ridiculously
loud. The new arena is
bigger and more enclosed
and I suspect even louder,
but it is actually hard to
imagine how it could be.
Every intimidation tactic
will be utilised but it will
be of no use against
players as experienced as
ours. In fact I suspect it
will lift our lads who love
these big occasions. Right
now, quieting them and
getting a well-organised
technical match plan in
place looks like the best
ploy. A low-scoring draw
would be fantastic for me,
but the important thing is
to give little away. You can
lose the tie in an away first
leg but you very rarely win
it there. Another top-class
defensive display to add to
the many already this
season and we could be
well on our way to the next
round.
Last week I asked if you
could tell me the name of
any past or present
Chelsea player who has
played for El Mokawloon?
It was of course new boy
Mohamed Salah . It was so
easy some of you thought
it must be a trick question,
now come on, would I do
that? Anyway from the
many, many hundreds of
correct answers the lucky
winner randomly chosen
by my now fully recovered
glamorous assistant was
Bamidele Abdullateef, one
of the vast number of
fervent supporters we
have in Nigeria and in his
case Lagos.
This week to have a
chance of being the lucky
winner of a prize signed by
one of the players, could
you tell me what was
Chelsea's biggest win in a
competitive match against
a Turkish side? Answers as
ever to me at
pat.nevin@chelseafc.com
Good luck with that and to
the team in this crucial
week.
Sent From David Aniemeka
at the weekend, the
quality of the rearguard
stands Chelsea in good
stead reckons columnist
and club legend Pat
Nevin...
It only takes a second to
score a goal and it doesn't
matter who scores it in the
end. Trying to figure out
who to give our last-gasp
winner to live on the BBC
commentary on Saturday
wasn't an easy task. I
eventually plumped for
Frank Lampard , but as I
say it doesn't really
matter, JT or Lamps - it
can't be an OG by Howard
as the ball was on its way
in before it was redirected
by him. We were all just
hugely relieved that
justice had been done.
For all the hard work in the
second half by the Toffees,
Chelsea were the only
team likely to score and
the sympathy was only for
the Everton defenders who
had been magnificent
throughout. It really is a
toss-up in the Premier
League to decide who has
the best defensive unit,
but it is only a toss-up
between Everton and
Chelsea.
Most matches that are 0-0
after 90 minutes (if not
92!) can be an incredible
let down, but there was so
much to admire in the
work of both backlines.
Distin was brilliant, while
Coleman, Jagielka and
Baines were not far
behind.
Even so it would be unfair
to suggest that our four
were not at least as good
or indeed better. Jose
waxed Lyrical about Cesar
Azpilicueta who had yet
another faultless display,
JT was the reason why we
won in the end and
Branislav Ivanovic stopped
Everton marauding down
that side of the pitch,
usually their most lethal
weapon, with Baines and
Pienaar's attacking skills
denied for almost the
entire second 45 minutes.
Having said all that I think
Gary Cahill looked the best
of the bunch on the day.
There was only one word
for him and it was
imperious. His tackling
and use of the ball was
superb but it was his
reading of the play that
marked him out for me as
just topping the bill
against very stiff
opposition.
This ability to snuff out
teams going forward is of
course classic Jose
Mourinho and it is without
doubt one of the most
important things to instil
in a team if they are going
to have any pretensions of
going into the final stages
of the Champions League.
The 1-0 win at Man City in
the League was generally
accepted as a master class
in the art of playing away
from home, and that
quality will have to be
revisited when we turn up
in Istanbul on Wednesday.
Before the game I was
disappointed to see David
Luiz emerge from some
rehab work in the Chelsea
Club behind the Matthew
Harding Stand. My
daughter had a different
reaction and did well not
to swoon onto the floor as
he entered the room. I
however was more
mundanely preoccupied,
thinking only that his
presence would be a huge
plus if he is fit in time for
Galatasaray. With
Nemanja Matic
unavailable, his power and
physical presence in that
midfield along with his
European experience could
make all the difference.
Happily he travelled over
so fingers crossed.
David Luiz 's aerial
prowess is also important,
because even though we
have JT, Ivanovic and
Cahill, apparently they
have some bloke up front
who is pretty strong and
damned good in the air.
Didier Drogba will be
giving his all in this one of
course and there is little or
no argument that he
represents the dictionary
definition of a big-game
player, and this is certainly
the biggest game he has
had for a while. On our
side, I reckon we have a
fair idea on the coaching
staff and on the pitch just
what he is good at and
where any of those hidden
weaknesses are.
It is however also
important not to ignore
the other qualities in the
Gala team. Wesley
Sneijder is still a top-class
player when he puts his
mind to it, which he
regularly does at home,
but it is the quality given
by Burak Yilmaz and Umut
Bulut that is of just as
much concern, both are
exceptionally dangerous
attacking players. With an
incredibly noisy crowd who
will be pumped up beyond
belief and singing their
hearts out six hours before
a ball has been kicked, this
is no easy task even if they
did just sneak through to
this stage in the strangest
circumstances.
It is a bit of a cliché with
Turkish sides that you
never quite know what you
are going to get but the
group stages bore this out.
The aggregate score
against the mighty
Juventus was 3-2 for Gala.
On the other hand against
Real Madrid it was 10-2
against, including a 6-1
destruction at their own
Turk Telekom Arena. I
played at the old stadium
against them for Everton
many years ago and the
noise was just ridiculously
loud. The new arena is
bigger and more enclosed
and I suspect even louder,
but it is actually hard to
imagine how it could be.
Every intimidation tactic
will be utilised but it will
be of no use against
players as experienced as
ours. In fact I suspect it
will lift our lads who love
these big occasions. Right
now, quieting them and
getting a well-organised
technical match plan in
place looks like the best
ploy. A low-scoring draw
would be fantastic for me,
but the important thing is
to give little away. You can
lose the tie in an away first
leg but you very rarely win
it there. Another top-class
defensive display to add to
the many already this
season and we could be
well on our way to the next
round.
Last week I asked if you
could tell me the name of
any past or present
Chelsea player who has
played for El Mokawloon?
It was of course new boy
Mohamed Salah . It was so
easy some of you thought
it must be a trick question,
now come on, would I do
that? Anyway from the
many, many hundreds of
correct answers the lucky
winner randomly chosen
by my now fully recovered
glamorous assistant was
Bamidele Abdullateef, one
of the vast number of
fervent supporters we
have in Nigeria and in his
case Lagos.
This week to have a
chance of being the lucky
winner of a prize signed by
one of the players, could
you tell me what was
Chelsea's biggest win in a
competitive match against
a Turkish side? Answers as
ever to me at
pat.nevin@chelseafc.com
Good luck with that and to
the team in this crucial
week.
Sent From David Aniemeka
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