Birmingham Preview: Alex Back 6-8 Weeks?!?!
COME ON CHELSEA
By Since66
November 20 2010
You have to ask. What is going on? One minute we are told JT is out for 'an indefinite period,' and we get tanked by Sunderland, quite deservedly, Alex who we were told would be out for 6-8 weeks goes off to the 'wild' Middle East with Brazil and now the Boss 'Anco' declares that Alex is fit to face Birmingham at St Andrews this afternoon. WTF!!
Is this another snub for young Jeffrey Bruma, who you would have expected to start against Sunderland last week (when JT was ruled out), then spent 90 minutes warming the bench, cringing at watching four full-backs trying to play centre-half and being torn apart on most of Sunderland's attacking possession?
The Boss 'Anco' explains.
"Alex will be available to play, this is good news, he trained well with the Brazilian team but we know that he needs to have surgery.
"Now we are in the position that the operation can be delayed, but we know he needs to have surgery.
"It is not a risk, but his knee needs to be cleaned up."
(The above suggests to me, that 'Anco' doesn't trust Bruma, despite his international recognition, Alex's career is being put on the line and perhaps JT's recovery isn't going to be as quick as the club may have suggested in reports circulated yesterday.)
"Obviously Alex is a centre-back, he is used to playing there, but I don't want to say we lost the game because we put four full-backs in the back four (YEP WE DID...... Ed).
"We lost the game because we played a poor game (and Bruma was on the bench..... Ed). I think it was the first time in my period here."
I have said it before and I will say it again.
When JT is NOT on the pitch. Chelsea do not have a leader. We do not have a leader of men and that includes I am afraid, Super Frank and Didier Drogba.
I thought Ashley Cole would have taken up the mantle last weekend, leading from the back just like his captain and even though Ashley is recognised as the best left-back in the world, he never took up the challenge.
Malouda who was so impressive against England in midweek, must be a reader of this site (and agrees... Ed) said, "This is a difficult moment for us because we have to carry on without a lot of players who are injured.
"These are important players because they are our leaders. Now we have to trust our squad to deal with these problems.
"My role for France is to be a leader and now I have to do the same thing for Chelsea.
"We all have to take on extra responsibility because we were very disappointed to lose to Sunderland like that.
"Everything was wrong in that game. There were no positives at all when you lose 3-0 at home.
"Now we have to analyse where we failed and come back much stronger against Birmingham (Easier said than done... Ed)
"We are still top of the league and have a good chance to stay there.
"It is a difficult moment for JT, and I know he is trying everything he can to come back quickly."
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COME ON CHELSEA
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I also have no idea what is going on...well...with Alex it appears that he is only "fit" because the club are going to delay his surgery (and probably pump him full of painkilling injections before he runs out onto then pitch).
Terry surprised me with his own predicted return date. That Italian specialist he saw obviously is playing a part in this.
Bruma? I just don´t understand it. He must be disappointed inside. I just hope that if Alex buckles during the game Ancelotti doesn´t hesitate in giving him the nod.
I´m very concerned about today and the immediately forthcoming fixtures - it really is going to be a testing time for us.
"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.
In Jan the cheque book might come out and if it does that will be a right kick in the teeth for some of the youngsters.
Don't Gamble, Bet Risk Free
But we couldn't get past their keeper.
Bring on the barcodes next week.
