I posted this a few months ago when this rumor first surfaced.  According to espn.com, the rumor is back on again claiming a deal has been struck to bring Ronaldinho to Stamford Bridge.   I still think its a great move for Chelsea for the same reasons I mentioned back in September.

Back on September 26, 2007…

According to Yahoo Sports, a deal is being finalized to bring Ronaldinho to Chelsea FC for a whopping 70 million euros. 

Wow, if this is true and the deals goes thru, then talk about fireworks at Stamford Bridge!  What a week for Chelsea.  Just when you thought you have seen it all from Abramovich…  You fire your very successful coach and then you sign the best footballer on the planet in Ronaldinho!  

I like the move and it makes perfect sense.  Here is why:

Keep the Faith - Firstly, this move goes a long way in restoring the faith of the the Chelsea faithful who are still furious and confused as hell over the firing of their beloved coach, Jose Mourinho. 

Lampard - Now with Ronaldinho, they have several personnel moves they could make without losing any firepower at midfield.  One option and the most obvious one is to move Michael Ballack and/or Andriy Shevchenko to recoup some money used to sign Ronaldinho.   Neither won have done a damn thing since they arrived at Stamford Bridge.  Another option this gives Chelsea is to let Frank Lampard go.  I know the Enlgish fans would be shocked, but lets not forget that this past off season, Lampard did not sign a contract extension with Chelsea.   I do not recall what his lame excuse was, but essentually he is not sure if he want to play for Chelsea beyond his current contract.  I am sure firing Mourinho does not help matters and neither would a move for Ronaldinho.  Plus, for some reason we have not seen the same Frank Lampard we saw during the 2005-2006 season and his form has also suffered with the national team.   If Lampard does not want to play at Chelsea, let him go sign somewhere else. 

Worldwide Popularity - Ronaldinho is not only the best footballer on the planet, but he is also the most popular.  Lampard and John Terry are not that well-known or that popular outside of England.   Ronaldinho will instantly increase the popularity of Chelsea FC all over the world.  In there last Champions League match, there were only 15,000 fans.  That is ridiculous with all these stars on that team.  Too bad they all lack any excitement.   You could expect more than 15,000 fans at any Champions League game Ronaldinho is playing in. 

Let’s see what happens !!!

According to Yahoo Sports, a deal is being finalized to bring Ronaldinho to Chelsea FC for a whopping 70 million euros. 

Wow, if this is true and the deals goes thru, then talk about fireworks at Stamford Bridge!  What a week for Chelsea.  Just when you thought you have seen it all from Abramovich…  You fire your very successful coach and then you sign the best footballer on the planet in Ronaldinho!  

I like the move and it makes perfect sense.  Here is why:

Keep the Faith - Firstly, this move goes a long way in restoring the faith of the the Chelsea faithful who are still furious and confused as hell over the firing of their beloved coach, Jose Mourinho. 

Lampard - Now with Ronaldinho, they have several personnel moves they could make without losing any firepower at midfield.  One option and the most obvious one is to move Michael Ballack and/or Andriy Shevchenko to recoup some money used to sign Ronaldinho.   Neither won have done a damn thing since they arrived at Stamford Bridge.  Another option this gives Chelsea is to let Frank Lampard go.  I know the Enlgish fans would be shocked, but lets not forget that this past off season, Lampard did not sign a contract extension with Chelsea.   I do not recall what his lame excuse was, but essentually he is not sure if he want to play for Chelsea beyond his current contract.  I am sure firing Mourinho does not help matters and neither would a move for Ronaldinho.  Plus, for some reason we have not seen the same Frank Lampard we saw during the 2005-2006 season and his form has also suffered with the national team.   If Lampard does not want to play at Chelsea, let him go sign somewhere else. 

Worldwide Popularity - Ronaldinho is not only the best footballer on the planet, but he is also the most popular.  Lampard and John Terry are not that well-known or that popular outside of England.   Ronaldinho will instantly increase the popularity of Chelsea FC all over the world.  In there last Champions League match, there were only 15,000 fans.  That is ridiculous with all these stars on that team.  Too bad they all lack any excitement.   You could expect more than 15,000 fans at any Champions League game Ronaldinho is playing in. 

Let’s see what happens !!!

After seeing Chelsea’s sorry, pitiful performance against Manchester United at Old Trafford, I am sure helpless Chelsea fans are wondering what the deal is with finding a the permanent replacement for Jose Mourinho at Chelsea.  Lets see…  you fire your coach after winning 2 Premiership titles, 1 FA Cup and 2 League Cups in 3 years.   Will there be anything permanent with the new coach ?  Roman Abramovich is another rich owner that clearly has no clue about football / soccer .   The Chelsea slide is only just beginning.

Here’s whom I have heard as possible replacements and my thoughts:

Jürgen Klinsmann:  Klinsmann’s incredible playing career got him the Germany national team job for the 2006 World Cup.  While he was hailed by the German faithful as doing a great job finsihing 3rd and saving German soccer, I saw it a little different.  In the 2002 World Cup led by Rudi Voller, they finished 2nd.  Does anyonre remember that ?  Yet, no one hailed Voller as a hero like they did Klinsmann.  My point here is he has done nothing as a coach, to show me he can be an effective coach Chelsea given his performance with Germany in the 2006 World Cup.

Marco van Basten:  Same as Klinsmann ..  incredible player, in fact one of my favorites, but as a coach, just has not proven it with Holland who with their talent, should be one of the best in the world.  Not only has the national team under his leadership under achieved, but he has formed bad relationships with several of the top Dutch players, some of whom have either been prematurely dropped or have refused to play with Van Basten as manager.  This is not what you want from a manager of a top club.  You need a manager that want to play and win for you at all cost.  Van Basten is not the answer.

Guus Hiddink:  At this point, of all the names of possible successors, Hiddink is by far the best candidate.  Most recently, he has been successful with South Korea leading them to the semi-finals of the 2002 World Cup, leading PSV Eindhoven to the semi-finals of the Champions League while managing the Australian national team thru 2006 World Cup qualifying.  Currently, has Russia in contention of qualifying for Euro 2008.   Hiddink seems to find a way to get the best of out his plaers and he has a proven winning record.  Also, he seems to have a good relationship with dumbass Abramovich which doesn’t hurt.

I am stunned at the firing of Jose Mourinho at Chelsea.  What are they thinking ?  In 3 years, Mourinho has won every domestic trophy including 2 English Premiership titles, but unfortunately could not bring home a Champions League title.  What more do you expect?  Yeah, Chelsea is off to a bad start, but my goodness…  Give Mourniho a break.  Hasn’t he earned that ?

Chelsea has spent in excess of $100 million to bring in world-class players and bring the club from average to one of the best in the world.  In 3 years, Chelsea has accomplished more than it ever has in its history.   When you are an owner who has spent that much money, you expect to win the Premiership and the Champions League every year.  Good luck trying to find another coach that achieve as much as Mourniho has in his 3+ years.

 Whats wrong with Chelsea?  Look no further than some their big name signings of Andriy Shevchenko and Michael Ballack the past 2 years.  I can understand the signing of a star striker like Shevchenko from AC Milan as Chelsea has desperately been looking for a complement up front to Drogba.  Unfortunately, for whatever reason, he has struggled to fit into Chelsea’s system and the style of play in the Premiership which is so much different than the slow and boring Seria A.    Ballack, I never understood this signing as Chelsea had plenty of talented midfielders. 
The super-talented Michael Essien was playing as a defender for most of last year to make room for Ballack in midfleid which is ridiculous!

 I can see Chelsea on its way back down to mediocrity in the Premiership and as an Arsenal fan, I could not be happier!!  Go Gunners!!!