IT APPEARS THAT France international striker Nicolas Anelka and Brazilian defender Alex have already made their final appearances for Premier League giants Chelsea.
The pair, who are reported to have grown increasingly dissatisfied by their failure secure regular Premier- and Champions League starts in recent months, were absent from Chelsea’s match-day squad for yesterday’s clash with Newcastle United.
Speaking prior to Chelsea’s 3-0 victory over the Tynesiders, manager Andre Villas-Boas revealed that both players had submitted transfer requests.
The Portuguese also confirmed that, pending the opening of the winter transfer window, Alex and Anelka would train on a schedule different to that of the main squad.
“They are top, top professionals – their professionalism and integrity is never in question – but at this moment and with the recent form and results, we have decided just to try to get the group together, and we have decided to assign different training times for Anelka and Alex.”
Anelka has borne the decision with equanimity, even going so far as to offer a clue regarding his likely destination in a statement on the club’s website.
“I’ve known for a little while where I’ll be on 2 January. The club, which is going through a difficult time, has decided to work with Chelsea’s players of the future and, as I am a good professional, I have accepted this.”
Should the expected transfers fail to materialise, both players will be free to rejoin the main squad.
Well i answered 4 questions and got them all wrong, no need for me answer anymore.
Longford has a 100% record in All Ireland final too – they never lost a final..
I like the question about which team has a 100% record in All Ireland Football finals, I knew it but I’m from Limerick. It was the very 1st one as well.
2 stats that are great have associated with your county in their own right but probably not together.
0/12!!
I know you don’t want to appear controversial, but Michelle Smith still has her Olympic gold medals, knocking Pat and his hammer into second place?
4/12 and one was a guess… I didn’t study history for the LC, that’s my excuse!
Genuinly got 0 out of 12 bad instinct this week.
It’s Dr Pat O’Callaghan!
Oldest rugby player methinks is incorrect. Tony O Reilly played for Ireland in the 50′s/ 60′s/70′s
I have a feeling that there were more guys older than 36 !
Tony O’Reilly made his debut aged 18 in 1955 and his final appearance in 1970 aged 34. Younger than Paul O’Connell is now. Irelands oldest player was John Hayes who (god help him) played on until the age of 36.
7 out of 12 happy with that, some interesting questions there.
2 out of 12
how many counties have never had an all ireland final chance
how many counties have never had an opportunity to play in an all ireland final