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"Thanks Zola, but i'm glad your gone."

The Man, the legend. Love Zola to pieces for being a chelsea legend, but the man had to go. Personally i would have got rid of him last season and have subsequently been proved wrong, but in reality he is screwing up the prospects of two of the finest your strikers in europe. Carlton Cole and Mikael Forssell are both top notch players who would be getting regular football at ANY other club in the country (including Man U) yet are being wasted by chelsea's huge options up front. Cole is undoubtedly a huge talent and his record in the first team is likely to be an indication of his future talent. There can be little doubt about forssell either, he goes to the team second from bottom in the bundesliga in january, when he leaves he has 8 goals in 15 matches and they are 4 places clear of relegation and Moenchgladbach are ready to spend 2 or 3 years of their budget to land him. Zola is just keeping them out of the team and ruining there prospects, he is unlikely to hold up the same standard next season, but even if he did i don't think it would be worth losing the immense potential of forssell to get one more year out of a waning superstar.There is also felipe oliveira to consider another top young player, although no where near ready to take a regular first team place, he will need some sub appearance in a role not unsimilar to cole this season to help intergrate him into the setup. Chelsea have no problems up front, its supply issues from the midfield which require addressing, and if we have infact got money to spend this summer, a holding midfielder of the keane or viera mould is the priority. A good supply to the forwards will help pay untold dividends from the forwards and serve to further shield the defence. David's is the name being doubted about, but perhaps van bommel might be a younger more long term solution. My current favourite is probably Rubens Baraja. A player of strength and vision, who could proide power, goals and drive the midfield on would be ideal. Thanks a lot for what youve done Gianfranco, but Chelsea need to look to the future before they lose it.

He was getting old, and he wanted to end his career at home. Fair play to him. But he still showeed skill and imagination- like the goal against Norwich.

yeah i think he's great, but even before we signed the new players he was surplus, amazing player, arguably the best import ever for professionalism at least, but i still think he would have held us back this season now, as though we look at him through rose tinted lenses he was in facvt on the wane a bit for the last few months of the season, and chelsea need to look to the future

Still dont see how anyone can be glad that Zola is gone.

Its gonna be very odd with him not there tomorrow. he will never be replaced. Although Mutu, Vieri, Crespo and henry would help to settle the pain........

Still his name will always be sung at matches.

But if he grabs a lot of goals at Charlton, particularly against the big clubs, then he's going to be highly rated at Chelski. However, since the foriegners keep coming, he'll be frozen out or sold.

Looks like Calton Cole won't get an opportunity at Chelsea, I reckon JFH's strike last weekend made sure of that and once Mutu's receive's permit, CC will be fourth choice striker.

Colourless wrote:
Has anyone ever been loaned to
> another premiership club before, i can't think of anyone.....?

It wasnt allowed before. You could only loan players to other divisions.

Or†ega wrote:
> Carlton Cole should get regular first team football at Charlton this
> season so lets se how he does. The right move for him i think. I
> mean his first name is more or less the club name! Carlton -
> Charlton!

I think its a great deal for us, he will gain a lot of experience playing against premiership defences. Has anyone ever been loaned to another premiership club before, i can't think of anyone.....?

> Is he allowed to play against chelsea though anyone know? Would be
> funney to see him score agaisnt them!

I'd put money (not much money, but a little) that there's a clause that he can't play against us, but i dont know for sure.

Carlton Cole should get regular first team football at Charlton this season so lets se how he does. The right move for him i think. I mean his first name is more or less the club name! Carlton - Charlton!

Is he allowed to play against chelsea though anyone know? Would be funney to see him score agaisnt them!

re vote the best foreign import now and i wonder who would win.

Zola was a brilliant Premiership-player, and he will be missed.

And I think he already knew - months ago - that this season at Chelsea would be his last. Just look at well he played compared to some of the last few seasons - he wanted to make it his best.


I may not be a Chelsea fan, but that bit from the game against Liverpool where he took-on and beat 5-or-6 Scousers out by the corner-flag will remain in my memory forever as something only Gianfranco Zola could be capable of. :D

It's funny how you never really appreciate things until they're gone...