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PREMIERSHIP TEAM PREVIEWS
CHELSEA FC
Coach: Phil Scolari (Bra)
Scolari’s main achievement in management was his 2002 World Cup win with Brazil, after taking charge when Brazil were struggling to qualify for the competition. Despite 5 years of promise in charge of the Portuguese national team, he failed to win anything, but reached the final of Euro 2004.
In terms of club management, Scolari only has experience in Brazil (along with two years in charge of a club in Kuwait), and with Gremio and Palmeiras he was successful, winning all the major honours available in South America.
While there is no doubting his ability and charisma, his lack of experience of European club football and his lack of recent club-management experience makes his appointment actually seem very brave rather than inspired, from the point of view of the Chelsea board.
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Recent record: (Pos); Pl; W-D-L; F-A; Pts
2007/08: (2nd); 38; 25-10-3; 65-26; 85
2006/07: (2nd); 38; 24-11-3; 64-24; 83
2005/06: (1st); 38; 29-4-5; 72-22; 91
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Good:
Chelsea’s squad is one of the very best in the world and despite the Chelsea hierarchy’s attitude of complete failure last season, they were within 2 points of taking the premiership and within a penalty kick or two of winning the Champions’ League.
Their league form last year after Avram Grant took over was sensational; they were unbeaten for the last 21 games of the season and when many had written any title challenge off, they got very close.
There are not many world cup winning managers about, but the charismatic Phil Scolari is one; Abramovich has gone to the very top to try to achieve his goal of winning the Champions’ League and winning back the Premiership and it will be intriguing to see how the Brazilian settles in.
Bad:
It is hard to see how Chelsea can be any better than they were under Grant; he did not win anything, but he was extremely unfortunate at times – will Scolari fare any better?
Alex Ferguson has been saying that Chelsea are too old and while this is typical Ferguson mind-games stuff, there is an element of truth; Deco, Ballack, Drogba, Lampard, Ferreira and Carvalho are all 30 or over and could well be past their peaks.
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Transfers, Loans, Retirements...
IN: Jose Bosingwa (FC Porto), Deco (Barcelona).
OUT; Steve Sidwell (Aston Villa), Claude Makelele (Paris St Germain), Khalid Boulahrouz (Stuttgart), Tal Ben Haim (Manchester City).
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Star Player:
Club captain John Terry is a world-class centre-back and is the heart and soul of the club.
Strong, intelligent and superb in the air, he has made the FIFpro team of the year 3 years running. Mentally and physically there are not many better players in the world.
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Summary:
Chelsea will almost certainly be challenging for the title come May, but with Scolari in charge, the season is unlikely to go by without some fireworks along the way.
Scolari, in coping with the pressures of managing Brazil is seemingly ideal for the Chelsea job, but there are question marks over his club management experience and knowledge; he is evidently extremely adept at cup competitions, which may give Chelsea an upper hand in their quest for the Champions’ League, but as a result, their assault on the Premier League may suffer.
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TO WIN PREMIERSHIP:
Bet on Chelsea to win Premiership: $2.62 @ Bet365
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Match Previews 20-22 December:
Betzine UK is covering just the 15 games this weekend, with the Bundesliga shutting for the winter break.
Among the games are Arsenal against Liverpool at The Emirates, plus Everton's hosting of Chelsea.
read the Previews...:
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*** BETZINE UK RECORD ***
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*** LATEST PROMOTIONS ***
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Paddy Power
London Calling! (Sun 31st Aug)
If Deco scores at anytime, Paddy Power will refund all losing 1st /last goalscorer, correct score & scorecast singles on the match.
Click to open an account with Paddy Power
Read more about the promotion HERE
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Weekend Match Reports
Links to the match reports of games in the Premiership, Ligue 1 and Bundesliga
HERE
Starting this season; news feed for ALL Premiership teams available on Betzine UK
Read the news section HERE
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