A BRIDGE TOO FAR?<\/p>\n
Who\u2019s next? Can they convince Craig Gordon to reverse his recent retirement? Invite Bolo Zenden back for a second spell at Stamford Bridge? Get Kieran Richardson to replace Marc Cucurella? Chelsea really have cooked up a fascinating transfer policy: to recreate the Sunderland XI that triumphed 3-0 at the Bridge<\/a> in November 2010. Danny Welbeck, 19 and on loan from Manchester United, sealed victory that day; Jordan Henderson, 20 and days away from his England debut, ran things in the middle alongside Lee Cattermole. Sixteen years later, Welbeck and Henderson are teammates once again, brought together by Chelsea\u2019s sudden realisation that Alan Hansen had a point<\/a>.<\/p>\n Henderson continues to surprise with his post-Liverpool career path, swapping Dammam for Amsterdam<\/a> before exploring the different corners of west London<\/a>, all in the space of three years. How can one say no to the charms of Xabi Alonso? \u201cGiven the size of the club, the manager, who I have great admiration for, and the quality of the \u2060players, this was a huge opportunity I couldn\u2019t turn down,\u201d Henderson bellowed<\/a>, before awarding BlueCo a medal for participation. \u201cI was also so impressed with how much the ownership want Chelsea to be successful and move in the right direction.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019ll take some time getting used to Henderson in blue, though you wonder just how much we\u2019ll see of him on the pitch, his reputation nowadays less focused on what he does with the ball at his feet. Now it\u2019s all about his role as The Standard Setter, the peace lily that brings a dressing room together. \u201cThe best guy I\u2019ve ever come across I think in football,\u201d cooed Morgan Rogers while on duty for England this summer, a view also taken by Jude Bellingham. Chelsea\u2019s new record signing<\/a> will surely welcome the soothing instructions of Hendo at Cobham.<\/p>\n The club\u2019s pivot in transfer strategy is, of course, incredibly amusing: spending gargantuan sums on young talent before clocking on to the grand idea that not all of your first-team players should be eligible for a railcard. And even then, old habits die hard: the signing of Welbeck is yet another from Brighton, following the same path taken in recent seasons by Cucurella, Mois\u00e9s Caicedo, Robert S\u00e1nchez and Jo\u00e3o Pedro. It all makes for a spectacular act of plagiarism, with Alonso\u2019s Chelsea<\/a> combining the Tony Bloom project down south with a flavour of Steve Bruce\u2019s Sunderland. Football Daily looks forward to reading about Nedum Onuoha in Wednesday\u2019s Rumour Mill.<\/p>\n QUOTE OF THE DAY<\/p>\n \u201cI was not involved in this strategic plan and first became aware of the project through media reports. The decision to withdraw the project was absolutely necessary and beyond question, because I firmly believe in an independent Fifa that serves our game with commitment, transparency, and integrity\u201d \u2013 Ars\u00e8ne Wenger, these days Fifa\u2019s chief of global development, puts a metaphorical moat<\/a> between himself and his president, Gianni Infantino. Fifa secretary general Mattias Grafstr\u00f6m, Infantino\u2019s No 2, has also called the failed World Cup private investment plan a \u201csad and reproachable series of events\u201d.<\/p>\n Gianni Infantino watches the World Cup semi-final match between England and Argentina, flanked by Ars\u00e8ne Wenger (left) and Mattias Grafstr\u00f6m (right). Photograph: ANP\/ShutterstockRECOMMENDED FOLLOWING<\/p>\n Big Website: on BlueSpace<\/a>, TikBook<\/a>, Instachat<\/a>, you name it.<\/p>\n \u201cWhoever wrote the Uefa statements over the weekend deserves a pay rise. Crystal clear messages, each line dripping with contempt and \u2013 for once \u2013 speaking for millions of football fans. \u2018Thou shalt not pass\u2019 at its best\u201d \u2013 Gabriele Weber.<\/p>\n \u201cThe sublime Marcus Stewart scored for Huddersfield at Wolverhampton in September 1999, the game\u2019s only goal, with a Panenka<\/a>. Steve Bruce, his manager, said that, if he ever tried to do that again, he\u2019d chip him. He took the warning seriously and didn\u2019t try another even after Bruce left the club. Please give this a little space in your diary; not for my sake, but for Marcus\u2019s, as he contends with the most appalling illness<\/a>\u201d \u2013 Richard Askham.<\/p>\n \u201cHas anyone ever seen Infantino and The Hood from Thunderbirds in the same room?\u201d \u2013 Craig Fawcett.<\/p>\n If you have any, please send letters to the.boss@theguardian.com<\/a>. Today\u2019s prizeless letter o\u2019 the day goes to \u2026 Gabriele Weber. Terms and conditions for our competitions, when we run them, are here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A BRIDGE TOO FAR? Who\u2019s next? Can they convince Craig Gordon to reverse his recent retirement? 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