Sometimes people just need to be told....

you can empower, cajole, encourage, influence, create climates.... but sometimes you just have to say it as it is.

Robben out shocker ..... NOT

Arjen Robben has apparently agreed personal terms over a move to Real Madrid, reports BBC Radio Five Live. The same report claims Feyenoord's 20-year-old left winger Royston Drenthe has been lined up to replace him.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/6904044.stm
Works for me ... Drenthe looks like he's already made of stronger stuff than our fagile Mr Robben. Though it still leaves the Wright-Phillips situation up in the air

Alves - Should I stay or should I go ...

Now apparently, Sevilla have rubbished reports suggesting Chelsea have tabled a bid for Brazil full-back Daniel Alves.
Also on skysports links
Sevilla president Jose Maria del Nido insist on the official club website "We have not received any offers for Daniel Alves," .
I'm not sure he's worth the £17m that's being touted around but we sure do need some cover at right back .... and I don't mean Glen Johnson and his hookey toilet seat.

Wiight-Philips wrong-place ?

..... or when four into five just doesn't go

After months of the farcical "we've only spent $1 on make-weights but we really have strengthened the squad - honest guv" chatter its now clear that Chelsea are investing further - but once again not in the areas most fans would suspect - a left back (Paulo Ferreira had a great FA cup final but is not good enough) or a central striker (nuff said about Sheva to date). No we're going down the flanks again with the arrival of Florent Malouda.

That makes it Cole (J), Malouda, Robben, Kahlou and Wright-Phillips as genuine wide players and you have to believe that if itwas all about form and flair then SWP should be looking to the exit. Indeed, when you listen to Jose today..... "When you specifically talk about Arjen's name I want to make it very, very clear that the fact we have signed Malouda does not open the door for him to leave," Mourinho told Sky Sports News"..... its hard to see how Sean has a future at the bridge at all.

I've always thought Robben was an incredible talent if only he could bulk up and get some steel. There is no doubt that he has all the skills and talent and whats more, scares defenders whit-less when he's running at them - who else a Chelsea does that ?? According to press quotes this is the first time he's started a pre-season rested and fit in the last 6 years (not bad for a 23 year old??) so if he genuinely has the stomach for a fight and wants to stay then lets hope we see half a dozen top notch performances from him whilst FM is finding his feet. That would make for an interesting set of choices.

As for SWP, there's no doubt he has many gifts but he is too wasteful and seems to need consistent football to get the confidence to perform even at an average level (Robben can do that coming off the bench). I doubt he'll get that at he Bridge so its probably a case of Wright-Phillips, wrong time, wrong place

Feeling very humble

I'm feeling very humble this morning (and even a little embarrassed) having heard that I've been voted one of the Top 50 CIO's in the UK. Having looked at the list of my peers I am truly in exhaulted company so a big thanks to Silicon.com and everyone who voted me into this listing.

I'll do my best to justify the position so keep an eye out here on the "On about being a CIO" tag for some little snippets and my views on stuff

Thanks again

This just makes me smile - thanks Norm !

I must be getting old - 25/06/07

Glastonbury - the quintessential stage for new and interesting talent - forget the mud baths that preoccupy the media, this one is all about the music. Well so I'd hoped. Forget the blanket coverage from the "trying to get down with da kids - BBC" and their scatter gun programming that had it popping up on their various digital channels - its a place to showcase musicianship, attitude, fire, passion.

Now maybe I'm just too old for festivals - I did Reading and Kenbworth in the 70's and 80's - I'd seen The Who when they still had fire in their bellies (Keith was alive), Zeppelin when a Jimmy Page riff could stop time and a whole host of other bands / artists now consigned to the 'dinosaur category' by today's version of angry young men, but still I desperately wanted to be enthralled by this years Glastonbury. Getting a ticket turned out to be as likely as hearing an unspun sentence from Tony Blair, but never mind ..... so I contented myself with the next best thing - dipping in and out of the weekends broadcast coverage from the comfort of my living room with a few beers. How could the line-up fail to impress - Strong staples like The Killers, The Kaiser Chiefs, Arctic Monkeys; bands I'd heard but not seen - Bloc Party, Gulliemots, Damien Marley; and some old boys who might still cut it - Paul Weller, Iggy, The Who. It was a line up to drool over.

Well no - sadly not. Apart from Damien Marley who's set shone with inspiration, it was a truly disappointing affair. The "big acts" - Killers, Kaisers just failed to deliver and the new kids didn't live up to the promise. Poor sound and an over reliance on attitude to overcome naive stage craft and a lack of underlying talent. Someone needs to tell these guys and girls that the odd hit single, catchy riff and smattering of swear words is not enough. Until the climax. .....

I really wanted to hate The Who's set. As I said, I'd seen them nearly 30 years ago when Keith was alive and really kicking and John would dominate the "bottom end " with an mixture of technical grace and breath taking (...the hit to your chest really did take your breath away) simplicity. Roger and Pete surely couldn't kick it up in this company. Well I was wrong and thank the Lord I was. They were the stand out act by a country mile - great songs, great musicianship and the irony of hearing a 60 year old sing my generation after the damp squib performances that had characterised the weekend was not lost on me. Maybe I am getting old but .....meet the new boss - same as the old boss ... listening to you - I feel excitement at your feet.