In years to come, we will look back upon Joe Cole as a new version of Glenn Hoddle.The most naturally gifted English player of his generation and yet hopelessly underused and misused by a succession of international managers.Hoddle was exactly the same. A brilliant midfielder for Tottenham and yet he was wasted on England because where exactly was he supposed to fit into our rigid 4-4-2 system?As a result, Hoddle won only 52 caps and, despite that being a lot by most standards, his talent mer...
• Goalkeeper should be fit to face Blackburn in nine days' time • Henrique Hilário to start against Internazionale Petr Cech is confident of returning to the Chelsea first team ahead of schedule for their Premier League game against Blackburn Rovers in nine days' time, his rehabilitation from a calf injury progressing encouragingly, although Henrique Hilário will be in goal against Internazionale for the second leg of the Champions League last-16 tie next week. The Czech tore a calf muscle having leapt unchallenged to claim a cross after an hour of [...]
• Chelsea will face Aston Villa on 10 April with 5pm kick-off • Portsmouth take on Fulham or Tottenham on 11 April from 4pm The Football Association has confirmed the kick-off times and dates for next month's FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley. The games had already been set for the weekend of 10-11 April, but the FA has now revealed when the ties will be played. Chelsea's encounter with Aston Villa is the first semi-final and will take place on Saturday, 10 April at 5pm. The weekend's other tie sees Portsmouth face Tottenham or Fulham – who will replay [...]
• Club and striker confident of swift agreement • Talks over Joe Cole's new deal remain deadlocked Chelsea have opened talks with Nicolas Anelka's representative over extending the France striker's stay at Stamford Bridge. The 30-year-old's current contract expires at the end of next season, with discussions now under way to keep him at the club until 2013. Anelka's adviser, Doug Pingisi, was in London last week for preliminary discussions with both club and player confident negotiations will be concluded swiftly. The Frenchman moved to Chelsea [...]
• Claims that unlicensed go-between helped set up 2005 deal • FA investigating, with fines or even points deduction possible The Football Association is considering whether Shaun Wright-Phillips and Chelsea could face charges for dealing with an unlicensed agent, Mitchell Thomas, when Wright-Phillips moved to Stamford Bridge from Manchester City in July 2005. The investigation by the FA follows the outcome of a case brought by the Law Society against a solicitor, Timothy Drukker, who signed off the paperwork in the Wright‑Phillips deal but paid [...]