Just finished listening to the Times The Game Podcast and I’m sure you will all be pleased to learn that Ricardo Quaresma is not the answer to Chelsea’s problems or, indeed, our prayers. Clearly in some sort of coma, I must have missed the Portugeezer’s poor debut performance, his subsequent failure to impress, and his ignominious return to Inter Milan. Either that or Gabriele Marcotti has loftily prejudged the answer [all to do with his Trivela shooting technique apparently] and also failed to understand the question.

In order for these so called experts in the field to understand the whole complicated union of wingers and Chelsea FC it is necessary for them to get one thing straight - in all the years I’ve supported Chelsea we’ve always wavered between three types of wingers and treated them all in different ways. They can be categorised as follows... A - those that are, B - those that aren’t and C - those that were really designed to be something else. Coincidentally, as if by some strange quirk of fate, we have tended, when dealing with the best of each bunch, to alternate our views and usage of the ’types’ and by way of introduction to this topic [sweet about real wingers] I’ll start with a little historical background…

My first experience of Chelsea wing play, in the late fifties, was provided by Frank Blunstone and for those who never saw him he was a category A touchline hugger if ever there was one and also much loved by all who revelled in seeing someone perform the specific role of getting to the dead ball line and crossing. Quick and clever, until tragically subdued by serious injury, he was followed by Bobby Tambling, every inch a quality category C who scored goals for fun by the simple expedient of cutting in from the left and blasting the leather off of the ball. He was a revered player, but by no stretch of the imagination a true wingman and he was followed by Peter Houseman, a category B and no mistake. The archetypal wide player in the era of Alf Ramsey’s ’Wingless Wonders’, poor Peter was damn good at the job, as it was specified, but it was not as we the fans knew it and therefore he took stick for being markedly different to his predecessors. Substance without flounce or flair, Neil Barnett has, of late, compared Florent Malouda’s style of play with that of Houseman and, although I personally feel he is nowhere near as good, there is definitely a comparison to be made in terms of neither being fully appreciated.

So, with all categories now covered, we’ll move on to Pat Nevin, the most influential category A you are ever likely to clap eyes on and those eyes will, like as not, start to see a pattern forming. We loved him like a Blunstone, like Liverpool loved Highway, like that other team loved Cliff Jones. All these guys had one thing in common - they hugged that touchline, thereby stretching the play and creating the space for others, and they didn’t give a moment’s thought to tracking back. Alright, on occasions they went down blind alleys and took too many risks, but we’ve forgotten about most of these aberrations because we forgave them most things, even to the point of laughing fondly at their misfortunes at the time.

As the years have gone by players such as Mario Stanic, pure category C, never got quite the same amount of friendly leeway as the category A that was Jesper Gronkjaer. Despite having superior technique, a wicked shot on him and a far better cross in his locker, Mario was never a winger in the true sense of the word, whereas Jesper couldn’t be described as anything else and, even when his crosses sailed into the stand, the ever deepening frustration with him was always laced with an element of humour. That’s what category A wingers do to you. It’s what Arjen Robben and Damien Duff did to us and, to a certain extent in Robben’s case, still do to us to this day. Glass legs or no glass legs, we hanker after those memories of Arjen making fools of defenders. Some of us see the same nostalgic signs in Miroslav Stoch - what an example of category A wingmanship he could turn out to be!

And what of Ricardo Quaresma? Well, there is no doubting his category A credentials and, try as I might, I can’t remember another player at Stamford Bridge cross from the left wing with the outside of his right boot and get as close to a goal as clipping the crossbar - be it Trivelaesque or not. Took my breath away at the time and I remember thinking then that here was a player to keep an eye on. Jose must have thought so too, and maybe he still does, but he never was one to suffer category A wing play fools gladly, or give them the sort of leeway romantic football fans gladly bestow on the breed.

Sat in front of the Chelsea TV cameras two nights ago Riccy Q looked a little anxious, but he will probably soon feel far more at home in the company of fellow countrymen and an understanding coach than he ever did under the Mourinho spotlight. Even under studio lights he required a scarf and tee cosy headgear to keep him warm and the glint of a diamond earring at its edge was enough to tell the viewers that his image is more Ronnie Ronaldo [wasn’t he once a whistling musical hall act?] than Ron Harris. How nice it would have been if the interviewer, Alison Bender, had overcome her coyness and provided a Ron-type welcome along the lines of ’Hi Riccy, like the titfer’. Then again, in these days of rampant political correctness and scant knowledge of cockney rhyming slang, the channel would doubtless have been shutdown in an instant.

Being more modernistic and realistic, let’s hope that not all old habits and traditional Chelsea welcomes for category A wingers from Portugal are left unsaid on Saturday. Better still, Phil, play him out on one wing and put Miroslav on the other, because that way, I’ll guarantee you, nobody gets stick [except Hull] and failure would merely be accepted by all and sundry as a glorious setting of the sun on not one, but two line hugging exponents of the art. You don’t believe me? Well, in our present Premiership circumstances there is no harm in trying something different and I guess that is exactly what you will be saying to Ricardo Quaresma when he takes to the field. Trust me, sending both on early would turn out to be a win-win situation for all concerned and actually starting with both would be a real statement of future intent.

Edited February 5, 200916 yr by Dorset

Excellent post as always, Dorset!

I think we will see Quaresma on the left this Saturday, but unfortunately something tells me it will be Kalou and not Stoch on the opposite wing.

This video has surely got me excited. His trivela can prove to be tricky for the opposition defences. It seems he has set-piece ability also.

Edited February 5, 200916 yr by kalpitv

Dorset, thoughful and pleasureable read as always. You really do have a gift for authorship and should be using that gift professionally if you ask me.

Anyway, as for your points, it gives me alot of heart to hear one such as yourself has some faith in what Quaresma is capable of. I think we are in for a few games of frustration as he finds his feet, but got knows we gave Malouda the run of the field every game and he did nothing with it. I just hope we are that lenient with Quaresma. I too am drooling at the prospect of him being twinning with Stoch on the outside. A player who can beat defenders along with one who can skin them would be a welcome welcome change.

I admit it isnt encouraging that he comes having failed to shrug off criticism at Inter and being, generally, a failure so far. But that league isnt made for a player like him. I think the best thing LFS can do right now is show some real faith in the guy and give him a long leash to go out there and play his game. I know its a long shot, but the prospect of this guy coming good and being our very own answer to C. Ronaldo is just one that makes my mouth water. I'm just praying for a first good few games, because I think with a player like him its obvious that with confidence, form and support from the manager, club and fans, the sky is the limit. It mike require alot of patience, but it would surely be worth it

nice post..

well, heres the thing - scolari has us playing a short passing game which gives opponents time to pull men back and defend - quaresma fits in with a fast-breaking direct ball style of play where there will be 2-3 men to aim at once broken with the ball that have run on immediately as possesion changed.

currently we have too many midfielders who stay in midfield and try to create, this leaving not much up front when weve played 4/3/3. the two wide forwards like malouda and joe cole have come inside and off the wing to play that part and only anelka waiting for a supply.

if quaresma is to fit in with this style he will be asked not to hug the wing - so far, our fullbacks have been given this task - knowing that we have mikel and ballack to fill in for them if they get caught.

i think that if we were to play true wing play quaresma and malouda both would be revelations. i know malouda has it in him but scolari is playing with square pegs and round holes.

only lampard is concerned truly with breaking forward and shooting or poaching as the case may be. deco is trying to be a playmaker and ballack is utilitarian at best, filling whatever role has opened up during play. thats not enough to win us the league. that enough to keep us ticking over.

with the final arrival of essien, we will once again have an attacking minded midfielder who can also bring the ball with him. quaresma can then use him and lampard as a target for his long balls with mikel covering. then we wont have to worry about quaresma not tracking back either.

then hopefully well see true 4/3/3 a la barcelona of yesteryear, with deco,iniesta and xavi being their versions of essien,mikel and lamps

then, malouda/kalou+anelka+quaresma/joe cole will be a force to reckon with. i have faith in both malouda and kalou's ability. its clear they are good footballers, both have proven to certain extent they can do the things required, its a case of using them in their correct ways, something neither grant nor scolari have been able to do yet.

wow,is there any footage of him crossing/kicking the ball in an orthodox way ;) ,but could turn out to be our very own CR

Quaresma plays with a Toblerone taped to his Boot...Trivela+Portugese for Triangle, its good though cos Mikels got a Curly Wurly on his ;)

I remember starting a thread long time ago probably on the old forum suggesting Quaresma as a transfer target and was shot down by most who claimed he was nothing more than an overrated show pony.

How times have changed.

Certainly has ability and right now , i'll be happy to see a player like him in our squad considering the lack of quality we have in that position.

Great read Dorset.

My first experience of Chelsea wing play, in the late fifties, was provided by Frank Blunstone and for those who never saw him he was a category A touchline hugger if ever there was one and also much loved by all who revelled in seeing someone perform the specific role of getting to the dead ball line and crossing. Quick and clever, until tragically subdued by serious injury, he was followed by Bobby Tambling, every inch a quality category C who scored goals for fun by the simple expedient of cutting in from the left and blasting the leather off of the ball. He was a revered player, but by no stretch of the imagination a true wingman and he was followed by Peter Houseman, a category B and no mistake. The archetypal wide player in the era of Alf Ramsey’s ’Wingless Wonders’, poor Peter was damn good at the job, as it was specified, but it was not as we the fans knew it and therefore he took stick for being markedly different to his predecessors. Substance without flounce or flair, Neil Barnett has, of late, compared Florent Malouda’s style of play with that of Houseman and, although I personally feel he is nowhere near as good, there is definitely a comparison to be made in terms of neither being fully appreciated.

I havent seen those older players play but the comparison between difrerent type of wingers is brilliant, like robben contra Maluoda.

With a player like Malouda he usually looks to pass to a cm or lb and then take a run and get the ball on the run thus A.Cole gets more forward.

With players that can take on defenders ala robben, they dont rely on other creative players to pass to em, and our lb can sit back instead of risking going forward.

Like u say Quaresma is type A winger but from what ive seen from him at Inter he had failed to beat a defender even though he tried to every time he got the ball, dont get me wrong i welcome Quaresma as i think he is the type we need

As for Quaresmas trivela or what its called i feel its unnececary to do that just for the sake of it, as its rarely resulted in something good(at least while at Inter).

I remember starting a thread long time ago probably on the old forum suggesting Quaresma as a transfer target and was shot down by most who claimed he was nothing more than an overrated show pony.

How times have changed.

I am in the here’s hopeing I am wrong club but have a foot on the overrated camp. Didn't think he was all that when we played against him then again all the hype before hand may have clouded my judgment.

Let's see how he copes with a Hull tackle Saturday. If he shrugs it off and get's on with it he will do well for us , If he goes down like a tart and get's Lord Dickie sitting up noticing his theatrics I doubt he will be given much leeway and could well end up in the Jokanvic disliked club

Great original post Dorset, brought back loads of memories and a real appreciation of wing play. It seems every man and his dog has spotted our recent lack of width, bar successive managers (Jose(latter days), Grant and now Scolari) .They seem to have no more than nodded to the issue by playing with type Bs or Cs to show an appearance of addressing the issue.

We have adopted a safety first attitude by playing Makelele/mikel as defensive cover but this seriously jeopardises our ability to play with GENUINE width. trouble is I get the impression that Scolari is running scared for his job at the mo and is unlikely to sacrifice his safety net of Mikel to play more expansively. But here's hoping......

A left winger you say?

Hhhhhhhm. Well all this kicking the ball with the outside of his right foot is all very showbiz but can someone do me a favour? Post up a compilation of him doing anything worthwhile with his left foot!!!

I assume he can kick with his left?

A left winger you say?

Hhhhhhhm. Well all this kicking the ball with the outside of his right foot is all very showbiz but can someone do me a favour? Post up a compilation of him doing anything worthwhile with his left foot!!!

I assume he can kick with his left?

The video I posted surely has it. Though he's more of a right-footed player, he can do well with the other foot also and hence, on the other flank.

I remember starting a thread long time ago probably on the old forum suggesting Quaresma as a transfer target and was shot down by most who claimed he was nothing more than an overrated show pony.

How times have changed.

We weren't actually deep in a hole, clueless and waiting something good or even out of the ordinary to happen as we are now. Every one wants to see 16 year old or 17 year old reserves players in the starting lineup feeling it can't go any worse, In this sense a quality player like Quaresma is welcomed with open hands. The times have truly changed.

Lets all hope Ricardo does well and fits in our team.

To Essien's strike you might be right about Ricardo fitting better in counter-attack style but with his tricks and will to embarras opposing defenders he might just cause a lot of havoc among opposition fullbacks.

This video has surely got me excited. His trivela can prove to be tricky for the opposition defences. It seems he has set-piece ability also.

It said on one of the stories on the official site that in one of the training sessions, Quaresma hit a corner into the area that JT scored from...good sign surely! :P

It said on one of the stories on the official site that in one of the training sessions, Quaresma hit a corner into the area that JT scored from...good sign surely! :P

There's a blast from the past. I've long since given up on our corners, both in attack and defence. Both are a disgrace.

Every one wants to see 16 year old or 17 year old reserves players in the starting lineup feeling it can't go any worse,

Let's get this bit in perspective. The four players I have seen touted (including by me) are Franco Di Santo who is 20 in April; Miroslav Stoch who is 19; Michael Mancienne who is 21 and Gael Kakuta who happens to be 17.

So that's 3 players at 19 and over. How old was Messi when he broke through? How old was Ronaldo (mancy version)? How old was our own JT? How old was Joe Cole?

Not having a direct pop at you Evissy but it tits me off when people still keep referring to these guys as effectively youth players when they are way past that stage now.

He's got Wayne's old shirt so that might confuse Ashley a bit seeing Wayne's number in front of him.

Edited February 6, 200916 yr by geezer

It said on one of the stories on the official site that in one of the training sessions, Quaresma hit a corner into the area that JT scored from...good sign surely! :D

They didn't mention it was the wrong area and it hit JT's arse before flying past Ray Wilkins who was staring trying to work out what the posts and net's were for

Flop or not we dont own him and anyone is as good at the moment so a fresh face has me excited...should be a good one tomorrow, i predict a goal for our new man if he plays for at least a half.

Mighty fine post Dorset,

Wee Pat Nevin our finest yet, one wonders what Category the legend Mickey Thomas and harshly treated Phil Driver!

Stoch and our new boy is a fantastic shout, with Kakuta as back up, true width at last !!

Phil Driver, in his all too short career, was definately category A. A real flyer, but unfortunately nowhere near the same player after a very bad injury, (was it a broken leg?).

And surely, no list of category A Chelsea wingers can be complete with the name of Clive Walker.

And surely, no list of category A Chelsea wingers can be complete with the name of Clive Walker.

Or Kevin McAllister...

:lol:

BJD, doesn't Stoch remind you of McAllister? I mean in terms of apparance. Height and build?

Also people forget one player who started as an out and out winger for us, (and I always felt he was a better player in that position), before being converted into a full-back, was Graeme Le Saux.