As confirmed by Star, and as thought by alot of us on here.

[web]http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/6287548.stm[/web]

Thanks for 'that' game against Ronaldinho, - but no thanks.

I had high hopes for him, and thought that he actually started quite well....

How things can change.

Do you remember whwn we signed him and someone was on here (come on own up) saying he was as good as Gallas, if not better, and we were also provided with marks out of 10 for various aspects of his game - it read somehting like

Strength 10

Tackling 9.5

Heading 10

Passing 9.5

Pace 9

Balance 9.5

etc etc

But I also remember almost all of us, me included, saying he is the best Mourinho signing and we won't miss that French prick ever again after we played against Barca.

I still don't think he is bad as a player as some will say he is. He rarely got to play in his favoured position in the centre and so when he did get the occasional game he had to contend with not only being short of match fiitness/sharpness he also had to contend to being played slightly out of position. This is not to say that I think he was anything likeon a par with JT or Riccy however from what I have seen so far I am not convinced that Alex, if also not played regularly, is going to be any better. (assuming we ever sign Alex)

I agree about Alex . He didn't have a lot of luck Boula a lot of injuries and being played out of postion all the time .

Pace 9

I still don't think he is bad as a player as some will say he is. He rarely got to play in his favoured position in the centre and so when he did get the occasional game he had to contend with not only being short of match fiitness/sharpness he also had to contend to being played slightly out of position. This is not to say that I think he was anything likeon a par with JT or Riccy however from what I have seen so far I am not convinced that Alex, if also not played regularly, is going to be any better. (assuming we ever sign Alex)

Spot on.

If a forward isn't playing regular, he misses a couple of chances and we win, it goes un-noticed. If a defender isn't playing regular, misses a couple of tackles and we don't win, it's all their fault. I remember the Gallas/Carvalho debate, and RC was up for CFC player of the year after holding down a place last year! Players need games not only for practice, fitness and sharpness, but more importantly, confidence!

Do you remember whwn we signed him and someone was on here (come on own up) saying he was as good as Gallas, if not better, and we were also provided with marks out of 10 for various aspects of his game - it read somehting like

Strength 10

Tackling 9.5

Heading 10

Passing 9.5

Pace 9

Balance 9.5

etc etc

I think that I have a hazy recolection of that being a "fan" of his from Holland. Basically came on saying he was a great Holland player etc, but I don't recall him being a Chelsea fan

Pace 9? That is 9 miles per hour we're talking about, yes?

I think Loz is being a bit revisionist...nevertheless like Del Horno, was stigmatized after a poor performance and never recovered- it seems to be a normal process at Chelsea but if the end result is that we let the Del Hornos and Boulahrouzes go and keep the Drogbas and Carvalhos, I won't be complaining.