Talking Frank
‘CLAUDIO Ranieri may have rightly got the blame for Chelseas 3-1 defeat in Monaco during the week, but what of the roles played by Roman Abramovich and Peter Kenyon?
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| If he does sod all, Lampard can be the next Veron, Crespo, Geremi… |
The Russian billionaire may have more money than Croesus, but wasting it on expensive flops like Juan Sebastian Veron is not just bad business. It unsettles a team.
If you look at it, most of Chelseas best performing players were at Stamford Bridge before Abramovich arrived with his ill-gotten riches.
And, says the Mail, Chelsea could lose the best of the lot, Frank Lampard, if they dont concede to his not unreasonable demands that he get paid the same as some of the expensive overseas flops around him.
Lampards agent Steve Kutner confirmed that talks with the club had broken down over the midfielders demand for parity with Veron and Claude Knock me down with a feather Makelele.
Kenyon, the Mail says, has indicated that will not happen and, unbelievably, Chelsea have now put themselves in a position where they risk alienating a player who is an overwhelming favourite of the fans and seen by them as the heart of the team.
The Star says Lampard is Inter Milans £20m top summer target a story no doubt put around by the players agent, but by no means implausible.
Ranieri was right when he said Abramovich knows nothing about football, but it seems that Kenyon is as much of a knucklehead as his boss.
As the Express lines up Spanish winger Joaquin as Chelseas next target, the Mirror has news of a true transfer coup Rivaldo is joining Bolton.
Well say that again Rivaldo is joining Bolton.
The Brazilian, a World Cup winner and former World Footballer Of The Year – has agreed a two-year contract and will turn out at the Reebok next season.
Meanwhile, David Beckhams future is up in the air after Enrique Sobrino, the millionaire bidding for control of Real Madrid, accused him of causing problems at the club.
The scandal has been very damaging to the club, he said. We want our players to be stars for footballing reasons only. All this about Beckham has caused a bad atmosphere.
But not nearly as bad as having a potential future president slagging off the clubs top players from the sideline.’
Posted: 23rd, April 2004 | In: Back pages Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
