Hot on the heels of yesterday's mysteriously out-of-favour Premier League players, here are five players who are being regularly picked for reasons best known to their managers. 1. Gervinho Where do you start? Arsenal splashed out £10.8million on Gervinho and have seen very little return. Arsene Wenger persists with the enigmatic Ivorian, presumably on the [.
I took a kind of day off from Arsenal yesterday. After the intensity of deadline day and all the
action we had to cope with, on top of August's mentalness in general, it was quite nice to just not
involve myself at all.
However, it's right back into it today as we face the Mugsmashers at Anfield in a game which
could lift the mood considerably or tip some folk over the edge entirely.
Southampton 0-2 Wigan Athletic Premier League 25 August 2012
Playing in their first home game in the top tier in seven seasons, the Saints were looking to
give their fans something to celebrate. However, an impressive display by visitors Wigan spoiled
the party and gave Roberto Martinez's side a deserved victory.
Salomon Kalou would reportedly be open to a summer move to Liverpool, according to his agent Rodger
Linse.
The former Chelsea star, who left the club after six years of service, will be available on a free
transfer, after failing to agree terms over a new deal.
According to reports on Sky Sports, Kalou's availability is of interest to new Liverpool boss
Brendan Rodgers who worked with the Ivorian during his time coaching at Chelsea.
Schalke head coach, Huub Stevens, has made Rafael van der Vaart and Salomon Kalou his top
targets, this summer.
Stevens managed Tottenham Hotspur playmaker, Van der Vaart, at Hamburg, and he has expressed
a desire to work with the Netherlands international again. The Dutchman has delighted fans of live
football at White Hart Lane, this year.
EPL, Newcastle United vs Manchester City (8:30amET, FSC & Fox Deportes): A
massive game in the Premier League, both for the title race and Champions League qualification.
Following Man City's tense 1-0 victory in last Monday's much-hyped Manchester derby, this match
becomes the new title-decider.
Arsene Wenger has said that Johan Djourou still has a future
at Arsenal despite the fact that the centre-half wanted to leave the club in the
summer transfer window.
Djourou made just 14 first-team appearances for the Gunners last season and hasn't featured at
all in the club's 2012/13 campaign.
Gervinho's Aim by AH Gervinho has said he aims to be a better player than Robert Pires and that he
wants to do it at Arsenal. The Ivorian joined from French Club Lille last season and he had a very
mixed first season, with some outstanding performances, whilst at times it was like he was [...]
After having been linked with a move to Chelsea all summer, Ivorian striker Seydou Doumbia has
suddenly attracted interest from a different part of London, with Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger
rumoured to be interested in signing the 24-year old. Doumbia is an out and out goal scorer, having
banged in goals for fun at every [.
There have been many Arsenal transfer rumours flying about but the early links with Salomon Kalou
seemed to have been forgotten about. The Chelsea striker has been in great form for the Blues since
Roberto Di Matteo was appointed manager and the Ivorian international has been getting a regular
run in the first-team.
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers may consider a move for former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba,
after admitting that he made a mistake in letting Andy Carroll join West Ham United on loan and not
acquiring a suitable replacement.
Rodgers has come under fire for a lack of foresight in not securing additional striking options for
Liverpool after sanctioning Carroll's season-long loan move to the Hammers.
Chelsea's midfielder, John Obi Mikel, must be in cloud cuckoo land after claiming that the Blues
will regain the Premier League title and defend their Champions League trophy this season.
Speaking ahead of the campaign, which got off to a solid start with a 2-0 away win against Wigan,
the 25-year-old Nigeria international is in an overly optimistic mood.
With their Champions League hoodoo finally over, it's time for Chelsea to rectify their sixth
place finish from last season.
Finally installed as the permanent manager, Robbie Di Matteo has overseen the signatures of
three of the world's top talents. However, it remains interesting how Chelsea will cope without the
Didier Drogba factor.
Chelsea have announced that summer signing Oscar will inherit the legendary number 11 shirt
vacated by Didier Drogba, who left the club after eight seasons following the 2011-12 campaign.
Drogba helped the Blues claim FA Cup and UEFA Champions League glory in his last season with the
team before moving on to Shanghai to play with local side Shenhua.
Didier Drogba is mobbed at a Chinese airport as he begins life with new club Shanghai Shenhua
who signed the free agent on a deal estimated to be $300,000 a week for the Ivorian who will link
up with former Chelsea strike partner Nicolas Anelka.
We all knew that Didier Drogba would be a sensation in China, but the reception in Shanghai's
airport must have surprised even the Ivorian. As he made his way through customs, adoring fans sung
the striker's name, and as he exited the airport building hundreds of supporters surrounded a
chauffeured car waiting to take him [.
If only to make a sweltering Chinese summer that little bit more overwhelming, the ongoing saga
at Shanghai Shenhua continues to roll on and the soap opera that is the city's biggest football
club found a new plotline to explore, namely a recent game with local rivals, Jiangsu Sainty.
Hulk, Falcao, Schurrle and Chelsea's attacking options to replace Didier Drogba - originally
posted on Soccerlens.com
Chelsea's Champions League success in 2011-12 has given the club a real boost, with Roman
Abramovich looking to bolster his squad to challenge on all fronts next term. Despite the
enterprise and talent of new midfielders Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne and Marko Marin, with Didier
Drogba's departure a new top-class striker replacement is needed.
I don't know if you, like me, continued to hold onto some semblance of hope that Didier Drogba
would ink a short-term deal with Chelsea this summer. Sure, the idea may no sense whatsoever as the
end to last season was, well, a perfect ending to a legendary career at the club but that didn't
matter.
TweetChelsea striker Didier Drogba waved goodbye to London by carrying the 2012 Olympic Torch
through the streets of Swindon as it moves across the country. So fresh from leading Chelsea to
Champions League glory in Munich, the big Ivorian striker created more positive headlines as he
happily paraded the Olympic torch through the streets.
Didier Drogba is set to leave European champions Chelsea after eight years
Didier Drogba will be leaving European champions Chelsea FC, it has been announced by the club
today. The Ivorian, who signed for the West London club from Olympique Marseille in 2004-05, has
scored 157 goals in 341 games for the Blues and won an assortment of medals including three English
Premier League, four FA Cups, two League Cups, two FA Community Shields and the UEFA Champions
League.
TweetDidier Drogba's agent has denied that the Ivorian will be leaving Chelsea in the wake of the
clubs' UEFA Champions League triumph. The future of Drogba is uncertain with French media reporting
on Monday that the striker has told Blues team-mates that he is leaving Stamford Bridge for
pastures new in China.
When Bayern Munich's Tomas Mueller headed home the first goal of a tightly-contested UEFA
Champions League final, Chelsea chances of lifting the trophy looked doomed.
Didier Drogba had other plans though, delivering a vital late equalizer to set up extra time and
a dramatic penalty shootout for the ages.
New boy Vurnon Anita came on for his debut on Saturday in the 71 st minute against Spurs, replacing
Yohan Cabaye, after almost making his debut just a few minutes into the game, when it looked like
Cheick Tiote had injured his groin, but the Ivorian was able to carry on. Vurnon Anita came on
[...]
Last week we discussed the possibility of Spurs taking a closer look at Senegal's 19 year old
striker Moussa Konate who had been making such a mark at London 2012. On Saturday, Konate increased
his stock even further by scoring in the quarter final against Mexico and it seems inevitable now
that there will be more talk of a move to one of the bigger clubs in Europe.
Liverpool are reportedly considering a move for CSKA Moscow striker Seydou Doumbia, after the
appointment of Kenny Dalglish's successor.
The 24-year-old Ivorian scored 33 goals in 41 appearances for his current employers last season,
and has also been linked with a transfer window move to Chelsea.
Out-of-favour Manchester City defender Kolo Toure reportedly gave away his Community Shield medal
in protest at being snubbed by manager Roberto Mancini. The 31-year-old was not picked for the
victory over Chelsea and, as a consequence, was not overly appreciative of his silverware. The
Ivorian centre-back exchanged angry words with Mancini after giving the medal [.
Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has rued his side's inability to finish off Chelsea as the
German giants lost Saturday's Champions League final on penalties despite a dominant
performance.
There were several chances for Bayern to put the Blues away but the defiant Premier League side
managed to hang on until the very end, when Didier Drogba converted the decisive penalty kick to
shock the Allianz Arena.
Salomon Kalou Spider Haircut Photo- Chelsea player opts for Spiderman hairstyle in 2012 UCL
Final is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter
Salomon Kalou Spider Haircut Photo- Chelsea player opts for Spiderman hairstyle in 2012 UCL Final
is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter Chelsea's Ivorian forward Salomon
Kalou opted for this strange looking spider cut in his hair when his side took on Bayern Munich in
the final of the 2011/12 Champions [.
CSKA Lower Doumbia's Price; Wenger Interested In Konoplyanka
CSKA Moscow have reportedly lowered the asking price for their star striker
Seydou Doumbia to £15 million and Arsenal are now preparing to
begin transfer talks with the Russian club for the Ivorian's signature.
