Paulo Ferreira

[geezer]

Gotta love him for his loyalty to us given the limited chances he's had over the past couple of seasons....................

Chelsea right back Paulo Ferreira has insisted he wants to complete his contract at Stamford Bridge.

The Portugal international is under contract with The Blues until 2013, and he has vowed to stay put despite his lack of Premier League action.

Ferreira joined fellow countrymen Jose Mourinho and Ricardo Carvalho at Chelsea in 2004 after winning the Champions League with Porto, but the defender has become a substitute in London.

However the full back has refused to rule out a possible return to his homeland.

“I am going to stay and fulfil my contract with Chelsea,†he told Maisfutebol.

“I feel good here, I feel wanted and the family are happy, so I don’t see any reason to change.

“But one can never know what will happen, whether I will have to leave earlier for another league we’ll see. But what I want is to stay until the end of my contract.

“Then a return to Portugal? I don’t know, we’ll see about that.

“I’ll have to see what my physical condition is like and how I feel. If I am in the condition to do so, I could finish my career in another country or in Portugal. At the moment, I’m only thinking about Chelsea.â€

[PloKoon13]

Top man.

Maybe we'll see more of him next year with Belletti's possible departure and Ancelotti's loyalty to older players? ;)

[Tim]

I like Paulo, a lot, but to be honest this is hardly cause to congratulate him and celebrate.

Fair enough, he is on a very good wage and his family are settled, so i don't blame him for staying, but from a footballing point of view, it does show rather limited ambition, given he could have several years left at a top club if he were to move. When your career is so short, surely you should try and achieve as much as humanly possible in those 15 or so years, rather than meekly coasting to retirement. He has barely played for 2 seasons now, and essentially is just clogging up a squad place.

If Carlo doesn't see a place for him in the first team we should sell him to free up that money for someone else who is in the gaffer's plans. Maybe harsh, but very fair in my mind.

[kalpitv]

I am not fascinated by his comments. Well, though he might not be clearly stating it, to me it seems he's the new Winston Bogarde.

I've never rated him highly to be honest and by keeping hold of him for so long, we aren't helping the confidence of the likes of mancienne and ivanovic.

[bjd]

Every one one here by now knows how i feel about PF. Without covering old ground i think he is a great player and hasnt had a fair deal since 2004-5, he has been very much the fall guy in many seasons and many team selections (not least being played at left back and at centre back) - give him a run of games at his normal position - right back and watch him settle. Its a simple as that. He has had that luxury just twice in his career with us (2004-05 season and the last ten games of 2006-07 ending with a MOM performance against Ronaldo in the FA Cup Final)

A fit, settled and confident PF is a top player and and in that manner i couldn't name a right back in the world i would swap him for. Id love to seem him as first choice next season.

;)

[ducavis]

I like the Winston Bogarde comment, considering it is a World Cup year one would have expected...

Btw doesn't his contract end in 2012; who in Pete's sake authorises this!?

[loz]

I agree with BJD wholeheartedly (which shouldn't surprise anyone). Paulo is, for me, the best right back in the squad because, first and foremost, he knows how to defend.

I know some think that he was dropped by Jose because his form was on the slide but I don't believe that for a second. I think his form only started to slide after he was dropped, only to be recalled every time Jose needed someone to play at left back or even centre half.

I have no idea why Jose suddenly decided he wasn't good enough and, for me, every player that has played at right back since Paulo was no longer a regular has failed to be as good a right back as Paulo was.

As for the accusation that his desire to stay shows lack of ambition, that for me is nonsense. It seems that when a player is a first team regular and ends up not leaving because they get a new contract, then they make the 'Chelsea are the only club for me noises' they get applauded for their love of the club. But when it is a back up player he is accused of lacking ambition or even just being greedy.

In the past 20 years we have had two right backs of genuine quality and one right sided wing back of genuine quality. Those three players are Petrescu, Ferrer and Paulo.

I am delighted he wants to stay, I hope he does stay and I hope to see him pulling on the jersey again. Bloody ridiculous that there have been times when Belletti was preferred to Paulo as a right back.

[PloKoon13]

In the past 20 years we have had two right backs of genuine quality and one right sided wing back of genuine quality. Those three players are Petrescu, Ferrer and Paulo.

*cough*Melchiot*cough*

Case could have been made for Belletti as well, but I think we got him when his career was on the slide.

[jack h]

He's a brilliant player and the bogarde comparisons are rediculous. As BJD said he barely played in 06 07 yet came in at the end of the season and had ronaldo in his pocket for the FA cup final.

[loz]

*cough*Melchiot*cough*

Case could have been made for Belletti as well, but I think we got him when his career was on the slide.

Melchiot? Even Diarra was a better right back than Melchiot!

You will be claming Babayaro was better than Ashley Cole next!

[Tim]

Don't know if I agree Loz.

As i have said, I like Paulo as much as anybody and agree that he is (was?) a quality player, but the simply fact is that he hasn't really played in 2 years! IF, and that's a big if, Carlo does see a future at the club for him as a regular-ish starting 11 player, then fine, we should keep him and i would love to see him regain his place and form.

But in recent months he hasn't even made it on to the bench for most games, and if we are serious about running the club properly, then why would we keep a player who is on highish wages just because he is a 'nice chap' and hasn;t whinged? Those qualities are useful in bench players, to keep a united squad, but he isn't even one of those anymore! If he isn't in Carlo's plans, then he should go.

Put it this way, if we had to bin Paulo or Mancienne/Ivanovic, i know who I'd choose to go. He is a great bloke, and I wish we had just kept faith with him and not spunked endless millions on below par alternatives, but unfortunately those in charge of selection have consistently failed to restore him to the starting 11, so why should he clog up a squad place that a youth player could be offered instead?

And i do stand by the lack of ambition point, even if it does sound harsh. Don't you think it must feel pretty hollow watching your team mates celebrate after a big win, like the L*verpool CL games or the FA cup final, knowing that you had absolutely nothing to do with it? I know it would for me.

[bjd]

And i do stand by the lack of ambition point, even if it does sound harsh. Don't you think it must feel pretty hollow watching your team mates celebrate after a big win, like the L*verpool CL games or the FA cup final, knowing that you had absolutely nothing to do with it? I know it would for me.

Very harsh seeing as he was injured!

Remember that Paulo played in Hiddinks first game (albeit at left back, out of position, again!) so whose to say he wouldn't have been involved more if he hadn't have picked up that injury? Hiddink knows a good player when he sees one thats for sure.

Edited June 8, 2009 by bjd

[bjd]

Quite how anyone could compare Paulo to Bogarde is baffling.

The Melchiot comment made me laugh out loud has to be said!!

Edited June 8, 2009 by bjd

[Orangutan]

But in recent months he hasn't even made it on to the bench for most games

Yes, well, season-ending injuries tend to do that one. He spent essentially the entire Hiddink era on the shelf. One wonders if he would have been the choice at RB instead of Ivanovic against Liverpool in CL or even if he would have got the assignment against Messi rather than Bosingwa. I'm perfectly fine with Paulo BUT I would also be fine to see him leave. Ivanovic and Mancienne have more promising futures with the club and RB is a place where they can break into the line-up. His play on the left was strong against Villa so he could be regarded as our cover for LB but I think Zhirkov is all but a done deal and that he will fill that role. I could see both he and Carvalho leaving and not because they are not excellent players but because there are simply a lack of opportunities.

[BlueBeard]

I have no idea why Jose suddenly decided he wasn't good enough

Wasn't just Jose though, was it? He wasn't rated by Grant, Scolari or Hiddink either.

Although it could be argued that not being rated by Grant and Scolari could mean that he's world class :D

[ethicalstrategy]

I'm sure that his initial loss of his place under Jose was due to Gallas being shoehorned in to the side. Carvalho and Terry were the first choice centre back pairing and so Gallas had to either play at left back or right back.

I'm quite happy for him to stay but I don't see him getting a lot of playing time. Bosingwa, Invanovic and probably Mancienne are ahead of him for that slot. A bit of cover at left back maybe - he probably would have played there against Barca if he had been fit.

[coco]

For the majority of our games we dont really need a defensive right back, Bossy is an attacking RB and thats what we need for most parts of the season.

[Chippy]

Ferreira for me is our best defensive RB by far..

I think the reasons he has not played much are different under different Managers and obviously injuries have had a big part.

He would not have got in Scolaris team as he liked his wingbacks to attack and I don't feel that Paulo is as good in that respect as Bosingwa or Belletti.

Under Hiddink I don't think he was fit enough to get much of a look in.

Its going to depend a lot on the style we play under the new manager and if he see's defending as a main priority for his wing backs, I think having a defensively good one and an attacking good one is pretty ideal and I would have Bos and Ferreira as the two battling for that spot.

the fact that Paulo is versatile is also good and if I were to choose a RB to let go it would be Belletti.

I don't think the names Ferreira and Bogarde should really be compared other than to show how different each extreme of being a loyal employee can be.

[midlandblue]

Top man, top player.

[TomP]

I think the comparisons to Bogarde are going seriously to far.

Sure, he's nowhere near the first team at the moment, but his loyalty to the club should be applauded, not criticised.

Personally, I would love it if all the players on our books showed that kind of professionalism.

[kalpitv]

Well, I am not criticizing his loyalty towards the club however. our right-back issues have been resolved now with Bosingwa, Ivanovic and Mancienne always there. Belletti remains a utility player and can fill in whenever required.

However, we as a club should be looking to cut down on our wage bill as we have the ambitious goal of breaking even by 2010. I read an article somewhee just yesterday in which some 'Chelsea spokesperson' stated that the goal was very unlikely to be met.

I may be wrong in not rating Ferreira highly or well, I think comparing him to Bogarde was a bit over the top, I agree. But I am trying to point towards the financial stability that the club requires.

No offence was intended.

[Tim]

I appreciate he was injured towards the end of the season, but he wasn't in the team even when he wasn't!

Look, I don't agree with the Bogarde comparisons at all, but i also don't think the we should keep him, on good wages, if the manager doesn't see a place for him, and given that our last 3 managers have failed to find a spot for him, i don't fancy his chances.

I would rather see Mancienne/Ivanovic on the bench to be honest, as they represent, to a greater and lesser extent, our future, so unless Paulo becomes first choice and god knows what happens to Bosingwa, then i just don't see the point in him staying, that's all.

Great bloke, has given us some wonderful performances, but given our defensive cover is now just a bit redundant. Sad but true.

[dkw]

im guessing hes sticking around to cover the left back position as much as right back. hes a very experienced full back and our other right backs and left backs at the club are all relatively young (other than ashley cole) so keeping him around for training is a decent idea.

[PloKoon13]

Melchiot? Even Diarra was a better right back than Melchiot!

You will be claming Babayaro was better than Ashley Cole next!

What's with the Melchiot hate?

I remember him being solid, versatile and pretty hardworking. Whenever I've seen him at Wigan he's been pretty good as well.

Apparently he released a single with Benni McCarthy which did nearly as well as Maka's cover of 'Dude Looks Like A Lady' by Aerosmith, only retitled 'Do the Makelele'.

[bjd]

What's with the Melchiot hate?

I remember him being solid, versatile and pretty hardworking. Whenever I've seen him at Wigan he's been pretty good as well.

Melchiot started off ok, but became a liabilty and he was always an accident waiting to happen. Ferrer was twice the full back he was and i was never really sure how Melchiot seemed to get picked over him.