Lampard: Credit Where It's Due

Frank Lampard continues his analysis of Saturday's biggest win of the season by discussing the goals scored and the football that led up to them.

Seven goals in one afternoon is good work by anyone's standards and the man who turned four of them into the net wants to pay tribute to the supporting cast.

'The build up was fantastic to all the goals, the penalties as well,' Lampard says. 'It was great football.

'We were more expansive on Saturday and the pitch has improved and we were able to be more confident in our one and two-touch passing.

'The first goal Florent Malouda scored was particularly outstanding. Malouda deserves credit not just on Saturday but for his performances all season. Yury Zhirkov got foward well and Deco played a great pass inside the full-back and that football is the way we want to play.

'Deco has come back into the side and he played well at Portsmouth,' the vice-captain continues.

'He offers some culture and some great passing, and Joe Cole was lively. Of course Didier Drogba has been a great player this season by some distance, but we respect what Nicolas Anelka does as well and the manager's choice was proved right on Saturday.'

It was quick passing and sharp movement that led to Zhirkov winning two penalties out of the Aston Villa central defenders. Then it was up to Lampard to stick the ball in the net from 12 yards out.

'I took some penalties on Friday in training as I always do, and I missed a couple of bad ones,' he reveals.

'Brad Friedel is a top keeper so you know if you don't hit it with enough power and he goes the right way then he can save it, so I just tried to put my foot through the first one.

'The second one is always easier when you have one under your belt already. You can relax a little and it was great to see that second one go in the corner.'

Chelsea Land Major Psychological Blow

That divot, the one that David James blamed for Chelsea’s first goal against Portsmouth last week, when his freakish air-shot allowed Didier Drogba to score, may have just played a pivotal part in how this season could end.

“It was a bit of a turning point,” Frank Lampard said after the 7-1 humiliation of Aston Villa which followed on from the 5-0 destruction at Fratton Park. “We have kicked on from there because having lost ground, and fallen behind in the running when we should have been clear, it’s great now to have a confident outlook on it, and take that to Manchester United.”

Time will tell but that divot will become a piece of hallowed turf for Chelsea supporters by the end of this campaign if, as Lampard claimed, it helped the players out of a “bit of a rut” which had threatened to derail their season and put the future of manager Carlo Ancelotti in doubt. For United fans, if Chelsea do win the title, it may be a new definition of sod’s law.

Certainly Chelsea struck a resounding psychological blow against Villa - watched by Roman Abramovich - which will reverberate even more than the arresting score-line. And that was deafening enough. Villa, whose hopes of finishing fourth have died, had previously conceded just 25 goals in 30 league matches - a rate of one goal per 108 minutes and here were seven in one encounter. It took them eight and a half matches, more than a fifth of the season, to concede as many as rained in on one rainy afternoon in west London.

Lampard accounted for four of those goals and while dealing in statistics it’s worth mentioning that he now has 151 in his Chelsea career — which means he stands third in the all-time scoring chart for the club, below only Kerry Dixon (193) and Bobby Tambling (202). For the past six seasons, Lampard has scored at least 20 times, a model of prolific consistency.

“I set the target to get there, and I’ve got there relatively early this season - it’s not bad for having an average or bad season - as some people say,” he added, pointedly. Although clearly pricked, Lampard’s form has been a concern. Matches have by-passed him of late but he benefited from a brave call by Ancelotti to re-configure his team.

It meant Lampard was central while Nicolas Anelka provided a more mobile point to the attack than Didier Drogba has. Drogba was rested — possibly for the first time ever in his Chelsea career for a league match - and although Anelka did not score he provided a definition to his team when they went forward along with Florent Malouda who is, despite Drogba’s 31 goals, threatening to be the player of the season.

The tactics were key. Villa manager Martin O’Neill got his wrong - John Carew as a lone striker initially, shrinking from the physical battle against John Terry - while he later accused his team of giving up once they had fallen two goals behind. “We have the same opposition in two weeks and if we play like that there’s no point in us turning up,” O’Neill said, referring to the FA Cup semi-final a week on Saturday. “I haven’t seen this kind of performance from them (his team) before. From all of them, including myself, it was unacceptable.

“We stopped doing everything that you’re supposed to do in this professional game - all in half an hour. I don’t want to take anything away from Chelsea who are a very, very fine side but we would have been beaten by a fourth division side on the last half hour’s performance.” Villa were that poor. Chelsea had gone ahead when Lampard slid in at the far post, to meet Malouda’s clever low cross but Villa had drawn level when Carew side-footed home from close-range. Just before half-time and Chelsea re-took the lead with Lampard dispatching a penalty after James Collins had tripped Yuri Zhirkov. After the interval, and with Villa switching to 4-4-2, Malouda scored the pick of the goals with a low shot from a sumptuous build-up orchestrated by Deco and then Lampard claimed his hat-trick, steering in another penalty, after another trip on the quicksilver Zhirkov.

The trauma for Villa continued with Malouda side-footing high into the net and then Anelka, twisting and turning teed up Salomon Kalou. In injury-time, Lampard completed the rout with a predatory strike. Now Chelsea face United.

“We know if we win we can go top, and that will give us a little moral victory,” Lampard said. They have certainly had a psychological boost.

Wolves Plan Mancienne Talks

Wolves will hold talks with Michael Mancienne about his future before the end of the season.

Mancienne is currently on loan at Wolves until the end of the season from Chelsea after being allowed to go out on loan to continue his development.

The England Under-21 international has previously indicated he would be happy to extend his stay at Molineux and McCarthy plans to make a decision on the defender's future in the next few weeks.

McCarthy told the Daily Mirror: "We won't just let the season end without speaking to Chelsea or Michael - whether we say 'Thanks and good luck' or if we'd like to do something else."

Matej Delac Looking Forward To Chelsea Move

Croatian goalkeeper Matej Delac, who will be joining Chelsea in the summer, has expressed his excitement at the move.

It was announced back in September that we had the option to sign the 17-year-old, who has emerged through the ranks at top flight side Inter Zapresic, and he will arrive at Stamford Bridge when he turns 18 in August.

'It's every player's dream to sign for such a big club and to play in the strongest league in the world, and I will be achieving that already at my age,' said the 6ft 3in youngster, who spent a fortnight training with the first team squad at Cobham in December.

'You watch those players on TV and the next thing you know you are with them on the pitch. It's a really huge thing to practice with such big stars,' he continued.

'I was mostly talking with the goalkeepers. Petr Cech complimented me on a few occasions. It was huge stuff for me. I tried to learn from him and I was copying his moves. Now I am following his regime and I hope I will be as good as him one day.'

Delac was the youngest ever debutant in Croatia's top division, saving a penalty on his debut as a 16-year-old last season, eventually making 15 league appearances before being instated as Zapresic's number one this season.

He has received a full call up to the Croatia squad 10 days after his 17th birthday, and has represented his country at Under 16, 17 and 19 levels.

When asked about Delac back in September, manager Carlo Ancelotti said: 'He is very young but he is having very good experience in his country and we think that he can be a very good goalkeeper in the future. Now he will stay in Croatia to play before he comes to play with us.'

Liverpool, Everton, Chelsea And Arsenal Set For Super League

A leading football finance expert has warned organisers of the English Football Association’s Women’s Super League that it may take decades for the league to be a commercial and playing success.

A year from now the FA Women’s Super League will begin with eight teams playing in the competition’s inaugural season. However, Professor Simon Chadwick of Coventry University is sceptical about the league’s short-term success due to England’s social history.

He says: “I think we live in a largely male dominated society and in social terms, women have only started to break down the barriers in the last 30-40 years so I wouldn’t say it is going to be a commercial or playing phenomenon overnight, it’s going to take decades to do it.

Following 16 bids from many existing women’s teams, only eight clubs made the cut for the new league after having to provide information on financial and business management, commercial and marketing, facilities, players and support staff. They are Arsenal Ladies, Birmingham City Ladies, Bristol Academy Women, Chelsea Ladies, Doncaster Rovers Belles, Everton, Lincoln Ladies and Liverpool Ladies.

Chadwick points to the lack of social and structural organisation currently in the women’s game as a problem the new competition will face.

He says: “I think in industrial terms men’s football has got first mover strategic advantage over the women’s game. The structures, culture, resources and organisation are there the organisation is there; women’s football doesn’t have that. It has to set up its own structures and organisation and it has to create an attractive commercial proposition. However, it’s not doing that in isolation, it’s doing it up against competition from the men’s game.

“I would love to see it prosper because I dislike many of the macho aspects of the game as we know it. There’s a strong need for there to be a greater female contribution for the development of sport in this country but I think sadly we are not going to get that any time soon. It will take decades rather than years.”

One reason why The FA developed the new league (under former chief executive Ian Watmore) was to compete with the USA in an attempt to get the best players playing in England. Chadwick believes that it is a completely different situation in the USA because the men’s game there doesn’t have the history that it does in England.

He says: “If you look at the development of women’s football in the USA it’s got completely different social cultural foundations. In Britain men play and women watch.

“Although that’s changed, that’s what it’s been historically. On Shrove Tuesday men always played and women watched. The gender DNA of football is based on that. We are trying to engage in genetic modification to change football from a men’s game to a family game but the cultural heritage is already set. In the USA they didn’t have that and that’s why women’s football in places like china Norway and the USA is taking off. Women in this country have had a subsidiary role in the last 150 years.”

According to The FA, 1.1million girls currently play football in England. Chadwick does see a positive future for the women’s game in and believes it could attract a good television deal and sponsors. However he thinks it will never run alongside the men’s Premier League.

He said: “I think what it will be is that it will become well established but it won’t be mass market it will be a very strong niche market. If you look at MotoGP and Nascar it’s incredibly strong commercially but its not strong in this country, it’s a niche sport. It’s not the NFL, it’s not the NBA - it appeals to a particular set of people.

“I think women’s football could become strong and vibrant and there could be some nice sponsors involved with good TV deals. The national team may prosper and win something like the World Cup but I don’t think it will become mass market like the Premier League has become.”

Britain’s Minister for Sport, Gerry Sutcliffe thinks the Super League will be a catalyst for more female participation in football.

He commented: “It’s fantastic that the Women’s Super League is a step closer to getting off the ground. Women’s football is one of the fastest growing sports in the country but there is still room for further growth. The Super League will shine the spotlight even brighter on the women’s game, encourage more young women to take up the sport and help develop stars that will represent the ever-improving women’s national team.”

Chelsea Among 14 Premier League Clubs Blacklisted By Credit Agency

UK credit agency Riskdisk has “suspended” credit ratings for 14 of the 20 English Premier League clubs, including title-chasing Chelsea, according to a report in London’s The Times newspaper.

Aston Villa, Liverpool, Birmingham City, Bolton Wanderers, Burnley, Everton, Fulham, Hull City, Manchester City, Portsmouth, Stoke City, Wigan Athletic and Wolverhampton Wanderers are the other clubs with a suspended rating.

Companies trading with the blacklisted clubs are advised to withdraw credit terms - but the rating only takes into account clubs’ publicly listed financial results, and only concerns the clubs’ operating companies, not their holding companies. Rob McLaughlin, the director of Riskdisk, said: “The ratings do not predict what a wealthy backer may do. They are based on information available from sources such as Companies House and from the courts. There is no assumption made that a shareholder may put more money in.”

In January, another credit firm, Experian, blacklisted eight clubs and placed five on its “financial critical” list, though it also suggested that Manchester United, Arsenal and Blackburn Rovers represented “good risks” for potential lenders.

The news comes in the week that European soccer’s governing body Uefa revealed the outline of its new “financial fair play” policy, aimed at protecting the game from the potentially crippling long-term effects of debt and limiting the inflationary influence of hyper-wealthy backers. Under the new terms, clubs will be expected to return to break-even figures via a staggered transition period. Losses will be expected not to exceed €15 million up to 2014 (€5 million over three seasons if not underwritten by club owners) and €10 million up to 2017. Uefa will reserve the right to exclude those clubs which fail to bring their finances under control from European competition. According to their most recently available accounts, fifteen Premier League clubs are currently operating at a loss.

Uefa inspectors will also be called in to investigate clubs where wages exceed 70 per cent of turnover, or where debt is in excess of annual revenue, in order to ascertain that such imbalances are sustainable. Clubs will no longer be allowed to harness debt other than to invest in infrastructural projects or to develop youth systems. Debt is an enormous problem in European football, particularly in the “big five” leagues: England, Spain, Italy, Germany and France. According to figures released by Uefa as part of its European Footballing Landscape study, net debt across the continent - including so-called “soft loans” from benefactors - stands at around €7.7 billion.

Sport Media Scores For Chelsea Football Club

Chelsea Football Club has reached an agreement with Trinity Mirror's Sport Media to publish the club's official magazine and matchday program from next season.

Sport Media won the three-year contract after a competitive tender process. The deal, which kicks off in July, comes on the back of a partnership that is already underway to produce official books for the club.

Sport Media will manage a dedicated team of writers (based at Stamford Bridge and the club's Cobham training facility), graphic artists and advertising sales staff. The team will report to Emma Wilkinson, Chelsea Football Club's head of communications and community affairs, who says:

'We are excited to be working with Sport Media - their approach has been really professional and they have a tremendous amount of enthusiasm for taking Chelsea's publications forward next season.'

Chelsea publish 12 monthly magazines (each issue is sent to over 45,000 members and season ticket holders, as well as being sold in leading retailers) and around 25 matchday program each year.

Mark Dickinson, business development director of Sport Media says: 'The opportunity to work closely with a top team like Chelsea over the next three years is one we approach with relish, and we can't wait to get started. We have loads of great ideas.'

Sport Media is an award-winning set-up with a track record for producing outstanding football program and magazines. Their national publishing list extends from Davis Cup program and an exclusive magazine for this year's Ryder Cup to bookazines with the Daily Mirror.

The book deal, negotiated by Neil Blair of The Christopher Little Literary Agency on behalf of Chelsea, and James White of Sport Media, will see Sport Media publishing all the club's official books for the next two years.

Richard Milham, head of global merchandise at Chelsea FC, says: 'Chelsea is excited to be working with Sport Media as our publisher. They have an excellent track record publishing sporting titles and working with big sporting organisations. Our hope is that Chelsea fans will read some interesting and insightful books about the club.'

James White, business development manager at Sport Media says: 'We are delighted to be working with a club of Chelsea's stature and hope this will be the start of a long and successful partnership. Chelsea have a large and loyal fanbase, and we look forward to producing a series of fantastic books for them.'

Chelsea Launch Inside Right Initiative

The Chelsea first team squad was joined by two British war heroes at Stamford Bridge last week as they launched a new initiative for returning soldiers.

The Inside Right program will help veterans adjust to civilian life after returning from active service, using football as a tool through a program of social activity, and offering veterans access to coaching qualifications and the opportunity to undertake different volunteering roles.

We are joined by Everton, Portsmouth, Colchester United and Lincoln City on the scheme, which will be managed by the Football Foundation.

John Terry, who was at the event alongside Lance Corporal Johnson Beharry VC and Major Phil Packer, is pleased the club is able to help.

'I am really pleased that Chelsea and four other football clubs are playing their part in helping our servicemen and women return to civilian life,' he said. 'They have risked their lives serving our country and they are the real heroes in my opinion, and we are rightly proud of them.

'I am fully behind the Inside Right program and it is perhaps football's way of recognising all of our military personnel for the sacrifices that they make on our behalf.'

Lance Corporal Beharry VC was also delighted to see the initiative begin, and believes a sense of unity can help returning servicemen and women avoid the social problems that often arise when they are discharged.

'Inside Right is a great idea,' he said. 'It can be a big adjustment when you return home after serving abroad, so to be part of a team again will give our men and women a real boost just when they need it.'

Inside Right is supported through funding from the Royal British Legion, the Ministry of Defence, ABF The Soldiers' Charity, the RAF Benevolent Fund and Comic Relief. The Mental Health Foundation and Combat Stress are also key stakeholders in the program’s development.