TheChelseaBlog kicks off a week of pre-season interviews by having a chat with Damian from TheVillaBlog.
TheChelseaBlog: So, a new season awaits – what are you hoping to get from it?
TheVillablog: Well, we’re not going to win the league, success in one of the two domestic competitions would rely on luck of the draw or just an awful amount of luck, so in the real world, with a new manager and little spend, we’ve got to look for something to hold on to that can put a smile on our faces. For me, that will be seeing more of the younger players from the academy getting on the pitch. Chances are we will see much more of Marc Albrighton and I’d like to see much more of Barry Bannan. Seeing two or three others getting more football would be a bonus too.
TCB: Ok, so no title then but what do you realistically expect?
TVB: Top half, maybe ninth and the quarter final of the League Cup, maybe fourth round of the FA Cup when we get knocked out by Manchester United or Barnsley.
TCB: Do you think the transfer window has been kind to you?
TVB: I’d like to think that the owner or CEO have a plan and that the plan involves not giving too much money to the manager, so he has to prove himself first, with a decent squad that includes some very promising youngsters. What we’ve effectively done this summer is get rid of some high earners that have come to the end of their contracts and a couple of players for good money and replaced them with possibly a better keeper in Shay Given (for Friedel) and a very promising, possibly more exciting player in Charles N’Zogbia (for Downing) and hopefully the chance Albrighton or Bannan need (for Young). Has it been kind though; not sure, but hopefully planned.
TCB: Is there anyone you’d give your right arm to bring in though?
TVB: Not the right. I’d maybe give my left for the obvious, but that will never happen.
TCB: Who are your most important players?
TVB: The most important last season was Darren Bent, but I fancy, if Stephen Ireland can play like we know he can, he could be the most important one this season. There is something about him and if what he has said this summer is even half true and he puts in the effort and stays injury free – he could be vital for us this season.
TCB: What about opposition players? Which PL player worries you most?
TVB: Nobody really worries me but there are obvious players that, on their day, can destroy us. Fabregas stands out as he did it against us last season – from the bench he came on, destroyed us and then Wenger took him off. I don’t particularly like Torres either, but that is mostly because he can score from very little and it is those players that tend to be a thorn in our side.
TCB: How do you think your manager stands up against the rest?
TVB: I think you have to stand up your manager against other Premier League managers based on the actual results. He has relegated the same team twice and whatever way you want to look at it, that doesn’t inspire confidence. However, he has won the League Cup and while I’d like to use this next part of the answer to demonstrate how winning the League Cup should be seen as the first step in the process, we all know it isn’t and we all know it is a nothing tournament not really taken seriously by anyone other than the two finalists and anything can happen in a single game
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TCB: And your supporters – can they give the opposition a run for their money?
TVB: We have quite possibly the best away support in the Premier League and I’ve heard that from a few Chelsea supporting mates too.
TCB: Where do you think you’ll finish this season?
TVB: Head says ninth, heart says sixth, but my heart also said 8th yesterday. Bottom line and all things considered, top half would be a bonus and how depressing is that!
TCB: Any predictions for the top four?
TVB: You or Manchester United will win it and the other two will be Manchester City and Arsenal.
TCB: Cheers Damian…..as much for putting us in with a shout for the title as the interview.
Blue is the colour
