Didier Can't Wait to See Lassana Again
By Since66
September 23 2008
Just over a month ago Chelsea destroyed Portsmouth 4-0 in what was described as Chelsea's best performance for a couple of years. Just a few days ago Portsmouth were 'murdered' at Eastlands 6-0 by Abu Dabbi and in front of Citeh's new owner. On Wednesday night, Chelsea travel to Fratton Park to play Portsmouth in the 3rd Round of the Carling Cup.
When the draw was made I thought straight away, the game will be live on the telly - yeah right, when you want a game to be shown live, they don't oblige (yeah alright all of a sudden I am a armchair fan!!!) BOVVERED, FACE BOVVERED!! Instead, Chelsea TV are showing the game 'live' from 10pm, as for me I will be on my way back from 'up norf' when the game kicks-off, tuning into the radio for ALL the updates I need. Of the Premiership teams at this moment in time, Chelsea and Portsmouth must be the most fragile. Chelsea with their injury crisis - no Deco, no Ricky and no Essien so early in the season and there is Portsmouth a few days after conceding SIX at Citeh. But this is the cup (albeit the Carling Cup), but what about Chelsea and Portsmouth battles in previous cup competitions. In 1997 Chelsea travelled to Pompey on a foggy day and the game was televised and Chelsea ran out 4-1 winners with a Mark Hughes volley setting the Blues on their way to a resounding victory. Travel back in time to the League Cup in 1990, Chelsea won at Fratton Park 3-2 in a replay after a 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge. Go back even further, Chelsea beat Portsmouth at The Bridge, 3-0 in the Full Members Cup in 1985. In 1960 Chelsea travelled to Pompey and were beaten 1-0 in the League Cup and then re-enter your 'tardis' and do a Dr Who and go back to 1929 when Chelsea and Pompey first met in a cup competition. It was the FA Cup and after a 1-1 draw at The Bridge, Pompey won the replay 1-0 five days later. Coming back to the present, Chelsea can and especially Didier Drogba look forward to a quick reunion with two former players - Lassana Diarra and Glenn Johnson. Of Diarra, Dids said, "When I was in Le Mans he came there and I knew him, so it has been a long, long time. He was 13 or 14 I think. When Mourinho wanted to sign him he told me asked me about him, I said good things about him and he thought he had found the next Makelele. "For me Lassana could be the next Makelele, but he also has more to his game and he likes to go forward as well. It was difficult for the manager to let him play in his position because of Maka and Mikel, but he had some games at right-back and played very well, and did really well in the Champions League and had some fantastic games." Didier could well feature on Wednesday night against his young friend and said, "He just wanted to play more on the pitch and get games, which is understandable. Even though he is young he wants to play against the big players, go one against one and show himself to work and to improve. To do that he knows he has to play against the best, so it's good for him that he is desperate to improve." As for Didier himself, Didier said "I feel good, and just need to play more games and to score goals. That's it." 
It was a great shame we couldn´t keep hold of Diarra but I can understand his imptience to play - irnoically with Maka gone now he probably would have got more regular football by now. Wenger obviosuly sold him a few lines to prise him away from us BUT he found that he was in the same position with Arsenal!
I´ve a feeling that we may well get him back some day - and we have connections with Gaydamak at Portsmouth.
I´ve heard Stoch may well be on the bench? Hopefully 1-2 more will also get a taste but the likes of Drogba and Ballack could probably do with some more match time.
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"It is born out of hypocrisy and fundamental insecurity. There have been two kids on the block for the past 12 years. Suddenly, there is a third and that one is threatening to be more successful than the others and they don’t like it." P Kenyon.
I don't know what Big Phil's thoughts are on youth at the moment, but the way we are running out of players he may have no choice.
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Mckenna
Smith
Law
Irving
Townrow
Ferguson
Crawford
Biswell
Thompson
Miller
Pearson
For the replay
Millington replaced McKenna in goal
Russell replaced Irving
Thain replaced Biswell
For the first game at The Bridge the attendance was 38,474, receipts were £3,121
The replay produced receipts £2,308 with a crowd of 31,966
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Quote:Since 66
1929 Chelsea team against Portsmouth
For the first game at The Bridge the attendance was 38,474, receipts were £3,121
The replay produced receipts £2,308 with a crowd of 31,966
That´s an average of 8p entrance fee!!! (and in fact, they used to understate the attendance by a tad in those days to cheat the taxman - so the real average would have been even less).
Wonder what the average wage was then?
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"It is born out of hypocrisy and fundamental insecurity. There have been two kids on the block for the past 12 years. Suddenly, there is a third and that one is threatening to be more successful than the others and they don’t like it." P Kenyon.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:09:23:20:45:02 by dixon9.
Chelsea's team was:
Bonetti
P Sillett
T Venables
Evans
P Bradbrook
J Greaves
J Brooks
R Tambling
A Harris
Mortimore
Tindall
(ignore the 4-4-2 ) lol
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He must have been a kid then - I saw him in the early 70´s so he must have been a ripe old age -I do remember the grey streak in his hair in those days though.
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"It is born out of hypocrisy and fundamental insecurity. There have been two kids on the block for the past 12 years. Suddenly, there is a third and that one is threatening to be more successful than the others and they don’t like it." P Kenyon.
The team that night:
Eddie Niedzwieki
D Rougvie
C Pates
J McLoughlin
J Bumstead
P Nevin
N Spackman
K Dixon
D Speedie
D Wood
M Hazard
(again ignore the 4-4-2 lol)
the gate that night was 6,833
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