Blackburn Rovers striker Jason Roberts has admitted he can’t wait to take on Chelsea this weekend after being dropped by the Blues as a teenager.
Jason Roberts has had a much-travelled career, taking in spells at Wolverhampton Wanderers, Bristol Rovers, West Bromwich Albion, Portsmouth and Wigan before arriving at Ewood Park in 2006.
Yet playing Chelsea has a particular resonance for the striker, and as reported by football365.com, he admitted he looked forward to the occasions. He said: “It's special for me playing them, because I was on the books at Chelsea from 14 through to 16 but I just missed out on a contract - which was a blow to me at the time."
Of course this isn’t the first time he has taken on his former club and he has even scored against the Blues, a goal he was happy to recall.
“My first Blackburn goal was against Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final in 2007 at Old Trafford,” he revealed, before adding, “I remember the occasion - it was fantastic. But I always look back at that game with disappointment, because I felt we had a great chance to win it - but that's football.”
With Benni McCarthy missing the game through suspension and Roque Santa Cruz also doubtful through injury, Roberts should start the game and come up against Blues skipper John Terry, a test he clearly relishes.
“He's a good player. We always have a tussle, and long may it continue. I hope I come out on the winning side this time,” said Roberts, “It will be a big test for us. They are a really good side with some great players. But that is what you play football for - it is what you are in the Premier League for, so you've got to look forward to these games.”
Gill Clark
Roberts Out To Prove Chelsea Wrong
Credit Crunch Hits Chelsea
Chelsea’s Frank Arnesen has revealed that even billionaire Blues owner Roman Abramovich isn’t immune to the credit crunch.
Reports have already claimed that the Stamford Bridge side have been forced to release several scouts as a cost-cutting measure and Arnesen has now admitted that the Chelsea owner has been forced to ‘hit the financial brakes.’
According to Danish newspaper Weekendavisen, the Chelsea chief scout has admitted that the cost-cutting runs deep and not just with regards to scouts.
“The structure is now in place and the financial crunch has meant that Roman has hit the financial brakes and asked us to cut deep,” he revealed before adding, “We have cut down significantly on scouts and other activities.”
Yet there is some good news for Chelsea fans with Arnesen also revealing that the club are almost able to operate without the financial help of their Russian billionaire owner. He confirmed: “But we are at the level of Real Madrid and Manchester United – and we are now getting close to the time when the club can function without Roman’s money.”
The former Tottenham man also says that his role has changed since he first arrived at Stamford Bridge.
“I have been responsible for scouting first-team players since 2006,” he explained, “In my first year, my job was to scout players under the age of 19, but it seemed foolish that our network was only looking at players under 19.”
So what does he do? Arnesen explains that it's his job to recruit players, saying: “I was handed a mandate to recommend players for Mourinho, Avram Grant and now Scolari,” he added before concluding, “If Scolari says he lacks a centre forward, it’s my job to make bids on players that have the necessary quality and personality to succeed at Chelsea.”
Gill Clark
Mineiro Prepared To Pay His Dues At Chelsea
Cheslea's under-utilised Brazilian midfielder Mineiro insists he is happy to keep a low profile so long as he is helping the club's cause.
Since signing for Chelsea on a free-transfer six weeks ago as a short-term replacement for crocked midfielder Michael Essien, the 33-year-old has only recently made his first team debut. The former Hertha Berlin player replaced hat-trick hero Nicolas Anelka in the second half of the 5-0 thrashing of Sunderland.
"We talk about the group playing together and Mr Scolari said everybody who is fit, playing well and giving their best will have an opportunity to play and I want to show my work, my capabilities, to do my best for the team, and we try to be the best we can," Mineiro was quoted as saying by Sky Sports News.
"I want to be the best I can because that's what the manager expects: to always be at his disposal, ready when he needs us for the team.
"[We are] players trying to do their best for the same goal. I have to see these players as my allies not my opponents.
"I am not here to fight against them for a place, what we are all trying to do is give our best to improve our games so anyone of us can help the group, that's all we want to do - our best for the team as a group."
Derek Wanner
Kinnear Rubbishes Owen To Chelsea Rumours
Newcastle boss Joe Kinnear is adamant that rumours tipping Michael Owen for a Christmas switch to Chelsea are pure media speculation.
According to The Sun, that most reputable source of transfer speculation, the Blues have been keeping tabs on Owen and will attempt to prise the England striker away from St. James' Park in January.
Kinnear insists that Newcastle have no intention of parting with their crown jewel, however, and that the man in question is not angling for a move to Stamford Bridge.
"I have spoken to Michael about it today, he's bewildered himself where this stuff comes from. He just doesn't know," Kinnear told a Sky Sports reporter.
"Of course we want to keep our best players, and I have made that known to Michael.
"He is a top class player but he knows himself that the fitness level that he's at at present is not what it should be but that does not mean to say that if I put him on with a half an hour to go that he's not going to score you goals.
"He's probably the best finisher at the club, no question about that, but it's the fitness level.
As far as his own future at the club is concerned, the ex Wimbledon boss said: "I will know about my future after the Chelsea game (22nd November). Nothing has been told to me since the last chat I had with them.
"If I am fortunate enough to get an extension or get the job for a longer period of time, then I don't want to be left in the lurch.
"I want to know (a) how much I can spend and (b) do I have to sell to generate my own funds?"
Derek Wanner
