Spurs Get Cudicini On A Free
Well, the transfer speculation over one of our players came to an end today, with the news that Carlo Cudicini has completed a move to Spurs.
Carlo Cudicini had been with us since 1999, initially on loan from Castel di Sangro and having seen his potential, we signed him on a permanent deal in 2000 for £160,000. On his arrival under the manager at the time, Gianluca Vialli, Cudicini became our first choice keeper, and deservedly so.
In the 2001-02 season he was voted Chelsea’s Player of the Year by fans and in the following season was recognised as the Premier League’s best keeper, winning the ITV “Golden Gloves” Premiership Goalkeeper of the season award.
The 2003-04 saw him forced out through injury and then the arrival of Jose Mourinho and more significantly Petr Cech in the 2004-05 season saw the Italian relegated to second choice. Petr Cech’s horrific head injury in the 2006-07 season – ironically in a game that eventually saw both keepers leave the field unconscious – gave Cudicini the opportunity to return to the first team and he signed a contract extension in February 2006, keeping him at Chelsea until the summer of 2009.
Cech returned to action in January 2007, again forcing Cudicini back out of the side and although there were opportunities to cover for the injured Cech in the 2007-08 season, Cudicini himself was pretty unlucky with injuries that season and made only 19 appearances in all competitions.
Cudicini’s first Premier League appearance for us this season came in our 5-0 win at the Riverside and marked his 100th clean sheet for Chelsea.
A lack of first team games and the 35 year old’s reluctance to leave Chelsea has seen him described as “the world’s most unambitious footballer”, although even his loyalty obviously had its limits because after almost ten years with us, he’s finally decided it’s time to move on.
Harry Redknapp and Spurs have got themselves a pretty good deal, especially since Chelsea decided to let Cudicini go on a free – mind you, at least now we know what Scolari meant when he suggested only a few days ago that Carlo Cudicini was not for sale!
Filed under: Ex Players, News
I sure hope Cech is healthy the rest of the season… cuz if not, the season will be done when he goes down! I have no confidence in the other 2 keepers.
On a side note, and I might be going out on a limb here, doesnt it seem weird that Chelsea are getting rid of a bunch of players and bringning none in? Yes it has been said in the media that this would be the case, but it just looks weird to me. Here is the part that is on a limb… When companies are for sale you see them getting rid of “assets” to make a sale more attractive to buyers. Granted, the players that are leaving are not the big moneymakers, but still. I am wondering if there is any truth to the rumors that Chelsea are for sale? I mean I have no facts other than this hunch and I know Chelsea was one of the top spenders of cash in 2008. Just something to ask/think about.
MGD - It is worrying that from a squad that was far too big not so long ago seems to be dwindling down to the extent that the cover we’re left with won’t be adequate. I don’t think this is about the club being for sale though, I think it could be more about the board wanting a well overdue clear out before any consideration is given to spending. Cudicini might not have been on the biggest salary but £60,000 a week is still a sizeable amount for a squad player.
I’d say that with SWP, Wayne Bridge, Shevchenko, Sidwell, Ben Haim, Makelele, Boulahrouz and now Cudicini all gone this season, not only will our wage bill have been reduced significantly but Scolari will have a better idea of what he’s got and what he genuinely needs in the summer - if he’s still with Chelsea then.
Wasn’t the price tag a 1 million at first?! the fact that they let him go for free when they probably could have gotten something makes the whole thing seem strange.
First we don’t bring any cover.
Second we let the cover we have go and we let it go for free.
Don’t be surprised if Scolari brings a Brazilian or Portuguese keeper, i really think he is going in that direction. Everyone else is going but Deco is getting encouragement.
If Chelsea keep going like this they will become a second class team, look at Man united, the quality they have on the bench and on the field. We can’t challenge them if we keep shrinking the squad, Man united with 10 injuries still managed to defeat the Spurs, could we manage the same thing?!
HH - you’re right, we can’t challenge United without depth, but on the other hand, we can’t bring in new players without a proper clear-out either.
Scolari must know we’re not going to challenge this season, and realistically, we never were if you look at the squad we started with. He was given a squad full of older players, substandard deadwood who couldn’t even get on the bench and the bad attitude left over from a former manager - neither of which fit in with his philosophy or style. So, it makes sense to clearout as much as possible and look towards starting afresh next season maybe?
As for letting Cudicini go on a free, his contract was due to run out in the summer, he’s been more than loyal to Chelsea for the past ten seasons and he’d more than paid his dues imo. A free contract is the least he deserved.
Thanks for the response for Chelsea D just couple of points i want to make.
i’m not saying he doesn’t deserve a free contract, but with everything that is going on with all the problems, it seems like people are jumping ship when we let people go for free, what are we going to do for the rest of the season if Cech is injured? We Should have kept him until the summer, and get some new playersl during the summer.
I don’t think we can still afford to bring that many A list talent. With the financial side of things the way they are right now, and it being almost 100% that Scolari wants Robinho and we are losing Drogba, how much money are we going to have to get new players? When our current players came they were still in form and Chelsea was a main contender but if we finish poorly are we going to get good prices ( for old players in a mid table team )? enough to build a good team with Man City over inflating the market? 100 million failed transfer has repercussions for us as well I feel. Good players or the best players will hold out for Man City knowing the lengths they will go to. Can we afford to face down Man City in a bidding war?
Do you really believe chelsea started the season knowing they wouldn’t be challenging? I think Scolari looked at the squad and saw the potential to win and that is why he took the job, i don’t think Scolari couldn’t have found a better position, or at least one with more control, something like a position at Man City. (wouldn’t man city love to have him?, the credibility he brings even now is much more than Hughes) as hopeful as it seems I think we still have a chance if at least we make an attempt to show that we are taking steps to remedy the situation we are in right now. Scolari saying everything is fine whilst Drogba is saying how much he loves Marseilles doesn’t give anyone confidence. Add to that the Injury of Joe Cole and the fact that we are letting players we can have until the summer go in Jan. It doesn’t give much confidence to the fans or to the other players. sorry that became way too long.
HH - I agree it would’ve been better to keep him til the end of the season, I probably have less faith in Hilario than anyone, lol. Having said that, Cudicini’s taken a lot of stick for keeping the faith with us and he’s seen what couldve been a much more promising career pass him by. Do we really have the right to begrudge him a few extra months? On a moral level, the club have done the right thing - same as we did with Clarke in the end. Fingers crossed this doesn’t end up as costly eh?
I can see what youre saying about holding players til the summer, but if we’re seriously trying to address the financial balance, paying someone £60,000 a week for sitting around, never mind 3 or 4 players, isnt going to help.
On Scolari, yeh I think he probably did think he’d got a good enough squad initially although I suspect he’s changed his mind since then. Being naive to Premier League football, he wouldn’t have expected the injuries he’s had to deal with, he certainly would’ve been expecting a lot more from what should’ve been his first choice striker, and tactically, he still needs to adapt. But in order to have a plan B, he needs a little more to choose from squad-wise, hence the current clearout in preparation maybe?
Don’t worry about City though. For a start, Chelsea won’t make any attempts to get involved in a bidding war with them, as the Robinho deal has already shown. Besides, if anyone can fuck up being the richest club in the world, City can, lol.
Where’s the idea come from that Chelsea can’t afford top players though? The club are rumoured to be making a statement on Abramovich’s behalf next month and the suggestion is it will be further proof of his committment to us in the long-term. I think the things that are happening at the club this season, i.e. selling players, getting rid of surplus staff, not making rash buys in the middle of a season, are all part of Abramovich just wanting to take stock before making much more financially viable plans for the future.
i hope your right.
He shud have left a long time ago
http://www.fantasypremierleague.info/player-watch/cudicini-finally-flies-from-chelsea-lands-at-tottenham/