The Chelsea Daily Drivel - All the Chelsea news!

The Chelsea Daily Drivel is a daily update of all the stories concerning our club, the rumours, the opinions and more....

So here is the latest from around the web on Friday 6th August 2010 including: Lampard is happy to back at Chelsea, Real to offer Benzema for Ashley Cole? Fabio Coentrao being lined up as Cole's replacement?, Ramires speaks of his move to Chelsea but we are still waiting for confirmation he has signed!, Scott Sinclair on his way out?, Gordon sent out on loan and the Drivel Giggle makes a return!.

First to Frank Lampard. By his own admission he had a disappointing World Cup like most of the England side so after a one month break, Frank is happy to be back at the Bridge and looking ahead to the new season. Frank said:

"I have to be honest and say that the disappointing summer is not affecting anyone at Chelsea. Of course I am disappointed about England and the World Cup but it is a breath of fresh air to come back to Chelsea. No one wants to go to the World Cup and get knocked out. I'm sure that Brazil, Argentina, Italy and all the other big teams who didn't get to the final feel the same.

But I'm not going to dwell on it and there has been no niggling mental effect for me because I've come back to a club that has just won the Double. It's an exciting time to be at Chelsea and I think the players and the fans all need to enjoy the fact that we are the Premier League champions. It's much better to be starting the season as the champions than trying to win the title for the first time in two or three years.

I've had a month's rest since the World Cup and that was enough for me because I haven't lost too much fitness in that time. I've only been back in pre-season training for a week and a half so obviously I'm not quite there yet, but I think a lot of clubs are having the same problem with their World Cup players.

It's going to be hard to top last season and we probably won't score more than a hundred goals again if the truth be known. We know teams will try to stop us doing things like that again this season. We'll try to perform as well as we can but to be honest I don't really care how we win the League as long as we do it. Every year there is always a lot of talk about winning the Champions League, but my first priority is always to defend the title.

City have got the money and are stronger than they've ever been because they've been able to sign a lot of good individuals. But they have to find the right mix very quickly to make it work. Chelsea were in a similar situation when Mr Abramovich took over. It probably took us about a season and a half to get where we wanted to be. City have a very good manager and experienced players so you feel that they are going to be a force eventually because of the money behind them. But how quickly and how successfully they can do it remains to be seen.

Michael (Essien) has been a huge loss for us. Even though we did the Double last year we can never underestimate what he brings to our team. He is so powerful and one of the best players around in a number of different positions. We've lost a few players this summer so having him back has given us that strength again. Michael is like a new signing for us.

Carlo fitted in very quickly last year and all the players have tremendous respect for him. I think that people at other clubs and the general public all understand that he's a good man. The way he works looks very decent from the outside. He's obviously been brilliant for us so it's nice to be able to carry on building with that. We all enjoy working with him here and we hope we can reach the heights we did last season."

(Source: The Sun)

Now more on a story that never seems to go away at the moment and that's the future of Ashley Cole. As we all know Carlo spoke out the other day and denied Cole will leave Chelsea and we all thought at the time that would be the last we would hear on the matter. We should have known that Jose' wouldn't settle without a fight and looks as though has dangled Karim Benzema as bait to Chelsea to tempt us to sell Cole.

As usual the papers need to fill their pages to sell enough copies and it seems that whatever Ash does these days seems to take priority (Yes I know that alot of it lately is all his own doing) so to me it doesn't surprise me that the rumour persists. I expect Cole to stay at Chelsea after Carlo had spoken. So I can't see any substance in this at all.
(Source: Daily Mail)

Following on from the story about Cole above, it's being reported that Chelsea are lining up a potential replacement for Ash in the form of Fabio Coentrao. This isn't the first time this story has broken about him replacing Cole and of course has been brought to life again following todays reports. More on this to follow...that's if Cole leaves which I doubt!
(Source: Daily Mirror)

Now to Scott Sinclair and it seems as though he could finally be on the verge of leaving the club on a permanent deal rather than on loan. Swansea are in for him and ex Chelsea man Brendan Rogers has spoken of his intention to take him to Swansea. He said:

"We've spoken to Chelsea and we hope to tie something up very soon with Scott, There's one or two things that we're looking at. This is a squad that isn't going to need major surgery as long as I keep the squad I want to keep here and then add just one or two to it. One of those is injured but we hope to complete a deal with him, one we hope will be completed in the next 48 hours and one will probably happen before the end of the transfer window. All in all, I'm happy with the group that's here."

(Source: BBC Sport)

I have to say out of all of our youngsters, Scott has been the one that has always taken my eye. He is lighting quick, skillful and I personally believe could turn out to be as good as someone like Thierry Henry was provided he has the right people around him. To me anyway, its a shame that he still isn't being given a chance to prove his worth under Ancelotti so at least Carlo can have a good look at him in training on a week-in, week-out basis. If this deal goes through it could be a case of the one that got away!

Now to the signing of Ramires from Benfica. I don't know about you guys but I have been sitting here waiting for confirmation the bloke has left Benfica and signed for us but not a dickie-bird has come out of Chelsea to officially confirm that firstly they have agreed a deal and secondly that they have agreed personal terms and the deal has been signed!.

However, Ramires has revealed that he had spoken to a few of the Brazilian contingent that apply their trade in the Premier League which lead to his decision. He said:

"Gilberto, Julio Baptista and others gave me confidence by insisting I must accept this chance, In the end the Chelsea proposition was impossible to reject - not just because of the money but the chance to spend every day at one of the best clubs in the world.

As a boy in Brazil I watched the Premier League and I remember how Chelsea and Manchester United played such attractive football. This summer has been a dream - the Portuguese title with Benfica, the call of Brazil, the World Cup and now the jump into the Premier League."

(Source: The Sun)

Now to news of another youngster who has been sent out on loan. Kimarnock have signed Chelsea's reserve left back Ben Gordon on a short term deal and are delighted with his capture. They said:

"Ben is an England U-17 international and has been under contract with Chelsea since 2007, Everyone at the club extends a warm welcome to Ben."

(Source: BBC Sport)

Finally to The Drivel Giggle. There hasn't been a giggle latley but today I just couldn't resist!. Let me take you to Manchester United and to Ryan Giggs in particular. Of course there is alot of focus on Manchester City and the money they are spending but Giggs has pointed out that Chelsea are the main threat to them this season as he said:

"Chelsea are the champions and they have been there and done it like us."

We are their main threat? Excuse me Mr Giggs, Once more I think you will find that the title is in the Trophy Cabinet at Stamford Bridge mate!. YOU are our main threat to retaining OUR title and not the other way around! he he..

More tomorrow!

CAREFREE & KTBFFFH EVERYONE!