Shevchenko's status

[Kornblume]

What is going on with him exactly? Is he still injured? If so, when is he expected back to playing?

[Jimboola69]

Didn't he play international football last week?

I just want Jose to give him a chance in a front two with PASSES going to him instead of long balls...rumour has it he was 'quite' successful this way previously in his career. Like almost 400 goals successful.

[The Moos]

It seems as if Sheva is getting better. I know he played for Ukraine but since they seem to have no problems with playing half-injured players I won't read too much into it.

I think we might see Sheva play a few minutes soon though.

[g3.7]

I think he's married.

[Jimboola69]

I think he's married.

Aye she is a model...although frankly....no looker!

[The Moos]

I think he's married.

Aye she is a model...although frankly....no looker!

That's the way it is with those ukrainian models

[Makelele]

I think he's married.

Aye she is a model...although frankly....no looker!

That's the way it is with those ukrainian models

shes a yank though isnt she?

[The Moos]

I think he's married.

Aye she is a model...although frankly....no looker!

That's the way it is with those ukrainian models

shes a yank though isnt she?

Is she? Maybe some kind of model-reject then?

[Gee Bee]

Very likely Sheva will be in when Drogba and Kalou are away. There are also Carling Cup and Fa matches to be played. If he scores and confidence returns we will see him more often. Pizarro and Kalou are not performing badly right now so who will he push?

[just]

I just want Jose to give him a chance in a front two with PASSES going to him instead of long balls...rumour has it he was 'quite' successful this way previously in his career. Like almost 400 goals successful.

Complete fallacy about long balls being hit up to him all the time.

This argument is usually presented by people who are struggling to come to terms with the fact that he is past his prime. The Shevchenko we have now is not the same player Milan had three/four seasons ago.

He had enough passes played into his feet as well last season. Unfortunately, he didn't appear to have the body strength to hold defenders off and protect the ball, or the pace to turn and get away from them anymore.

[sweet waffle]

I just want Jose to give him a chance in a front two with PASSES going to him instead of long balls...rumour has it he was 'quite' successful this way previously in his career. Like almost 400 goals successful.

Complete fallacy about long balls being hit up to him all the time.

This argument is usually presented by people who are struggling to come to terms with the fact that he is past his prime. The Shevchenko we have now is not the same player Milan had three/four seasons ago.

He had enough passes played into his feet as well last season. Unfortunately, he didn't appear to have the body strength to hold defenders off and protect the ball, or the pace to turn and get away from them anymore.

Sad but true.

[g3.7]

found himself playing wide too often, and the service to him WAS poor.

scored plenty of goals the previous season in the league and the CL, then played through the world cup with a knee injury. if you look at the goals he has scored throughout his career you'll see how many came from the kind of passes he simply didn't get with us.

[Guest Brian M]

To be fair to Shev, I think he was starting to get his act together towards the end of last season. Consequently I think we might get a good goal return from him this time around, if he gets enough game time to get his confidence up.

[Nibs]

Good to see there are still those clutching at straws.

[Guest Brian M]

Good to see there are still those clutching at straws.

Fair play, mate. Greatness diminishes with time, it doesn't vanish over night. While I certainly agree with Just that Shev is past his prime, his prime was high enough to think that even a 70% Shev will still bang in a few important goals for us.

[Kev123]

I think he's married.

Aye she is a model...although frankly....no looker!

No looker?

:

Do beautiful women look like this where you come from?

[Kev123]

I just want Jose to give him a chance in a front two with PASSES going to him instead of long balls...rumour has it he was 'quite' successful this way previously in his career. Like almost 400 goals successful.

Complete fallacy about long balls being hit up to him all the time.

This argument is usually presented by people who are struggling to come to terms with the fact that he is past his prime. The Shevchenko we have now is not the same player Milan had three/four seasons ago.

He had enough passes played into his feet as well last season. Unfortunately, he didn't appear to have the body strength to hold defenders off and protect the ball, or the pace to turn and get away from them anymore.

Sad but true.

My own opinion seems to be completely different to most on here, I don't think Sheva has "lost" it, nor do I think there was a great problem with his service (although it could have been better). Look at the games he played in last season. What did you see?

For me I saw Sheva all over the pitch, chasing the ball down non-stop and harrying defenders, then when the time comes to get in a good position, or stick your foot out and get the ball in the ****in net, he fluffs it. Why?

This brings me to a discussion we are having on another forum regarding another player, which I believe applies to Sheva as well

"This is a prime example of why I dont subscribe to this 'effort' and 'work rate' appreciation society much... He's been huffing and puffing all match long - chasing down every loose ball (mainly lost causes) and harrying the defenders by storming back from the goal area to the middle or the sidelines...

Unfortunately for him, its given him heavy feet and hes had two golden opportunities to put United away late in the second half and hes fluffed them both cos he didnt have the composure to settle himself...

I think it was Roberto Carlos that once said of Ronaldo that if he ran around the pitch all day, he wouldnt arrive in the box so composed on the ball."

I think this is the root cause of Sheva's problem, either under instructions from Mourinho or he has just forgotten what he was signed for, to score goals. You could call Crespo lazy, he didn't chase down defenders non-stop or run all over the pitch, but this in turn gave him time to WATCH the game, anticipate where the ball would be, make a perfect run and get himself into that killer position where the goal was at his mercy.

Sheva spends too much time trying to help the team, when he should just forget about the rest for a minute, and concentrate on that goal.

[Barn]

I haven't read most of the posts on this thread so I could be repeating the view of some/many/none, but for what it's worth this is my opinion of Shev last year;

His touch on the ball wasn't good enough.

His movement off the ball was pretty good - but no better than that.

Finishing - not what it should be for a top grade striker.

Movement on the ball - the man needed warning lights/bleeper when turning.

In short if we bought a 23 year old English lad and he performed the way Shev did last year we would have crucified him (every one of us), because he's been one of the best strikers in the world we're prepared to give him a go. That I agree with but I don't think it's fair to say that he should be playing ahead of others because of what he done for Milan. Work hard in training and take your chances when they come, you may become a fans favourite.

[jack h]

I dont think anyone on here thinks that Sheva isnt past his best but just because some people (including me) think he still has alot to offer doesn't mean were clutching at straws.

IMO he started last season well but there was always going to be pressure on him to score and when he didnt the press and fans (our own included) started having a go, and so obviously he lost confidence, ad to that the stories about him being a spy and all the other b*llox

The service he had last season wasn't incredibly bad but most of the time we just played longball to Drogba.

The only time i can remember Sheva really Screwing something up was in the semi against Blackburn.

He definatly was playing better towards the end of the year up untill the injury and i just hope he given a proper chance this year.

[just]

when he didnt the press and fans (our own included) started having a go, and so obviously he lost confidence

I have to pull you up there. You are so wrong on that.

Our fans backed him 120% every game. He could not have been given more support.

Barn made a totally valid point in his post. If it was some unknown 23 year old playing like Sheva did, he would have took dog's abuse from practically everyone.

[Jimboola69]

I think he's married.

Aye she is a model...although frankly....no looker!

No looker?

:

Do beautiful women look like this where you come from?

They do not have that plastic-fantastic face and ju-ju lips...no.

Sure she has a good bod, but look close up at her face...minging. I can honestly say i have had better, and so have most of you.

[Jimboola69]

I just want Jose to give him a chance in a front two with PASSES going to him instead of long balls...rumour has it he was 'quite' successful this way previously in his career. Like almost 400 goals successful.

Complete fallacy about long balls being hit up to him all the time.

This argument is usually presented by people who are struggling to come to terms with the fact that he is past his prime. The Shevchenko we have now is not the same player Milan had three/four seasons ago.

He had enough passes played into his feet as well last season. Unfortunately, he didn't appear to have the body strength to hold defenders off and protect the ball, or the pace to turn and get away from them anymore.

Controversially I am basing it on GAMES I HAVE SEEN!

When the centre of a three he often had to fight for lofted balls. Which is fine...if not pretty when you have Drog up there. Otherwise...oh poo!

That is apart from his form, which WAS mostly poor apart from a purple patch near seasons end. But if used a way that he is used to he will do better than having to play a way that he is not. He is 30 for gods sake not 19.

[jack h]

when he didnt the press and fans (our own included) started having a go, and so obviously he lost confidence

I have to pull you up there. You are so wrong on that.

Our fans backed him 120% every game. He could not have been given more support.

Barn made a totally valid point in his post. If it was some unknown 23 year old playing like Sheva did, he would have took dog's abuse from practically everyone.

I know our fans backed him in every game what im trying to say is that I think some people started moaning about the lack of goals a bit early in the season. (if that makes any sense )

[cyberworm314]

Good news:

Mourinho will have no excuse not to play shevchenko this week. He has already had two weeks of training and should be fit

and furthermore, he has not featured in the Chelsea squad ever since the pre-season. This was one reason why Chelse had to play three wingers against United.

Let's hope Mourinho does play sheva. I'm looking forward to Sunday's game.

Surely he can prove us wrong. Actually, last year he had quite good service from the tireless (but injurisky) Robben.

If you notice, the Chelsea/Portsmouth game of yesteryear had Shevchenko scoring from Robben's mazy run.

His goal against Porto was also from a Robben pass.

Of course Sheva did not score many goals, but he made some number of assists to Drogba and helped Drogba to win the Golden Boot last season.

Wait, how many strikers did w have least season?

[Kornblume]

To be fair to Shev, I think he was starting to get his act together towards the end of last season. Consequently I think we might get a good goal return from him this time around, if he gets enough game time to get his confidence up.

I would agree on that. Just like I agree that he did serve some nice passes to Drogba. But I also expected more from him last season. To me it feels a bit like the "David Trezeguet syndrom", where a player can only be at his top in a system made for him.

I must say I would like to see a diamond midfield, with two wingers feeding passes to both strikers. The way Malouda and SWP are starting the season, they could certainly feed some nice passes to them. Getting this type of passes, Shevchenko would certainly feel more familiar, and could exploit his skills in a better way.

At the same time Drogba would be there in support up front. We would then have both options of long balls from the back AND the ground passes from the wings.

When Drogba and Kalou will be away, it'd be a time for a 4-3-3 with Sheva on top of two wingers, with support from midfield.

We have to hope from a good season from him, since we will need it. And if he does provide more goals, it'll be a bonus compare to last season and it'll make us a terrifying contender on both EPL and CL fronts.