Our sources had told us of the departure of Belletti, Ballack and Deco quite some time ago as the club seeks to re-structure its playing staff and bring the us into a financially healthier position to challenge for truly world class signings. So it came as no shock when Ballack and Belletti were confirmed as released today, and we wish them every single piece of luck.
With Joe though it’s slightly different. The club wanted Joe to remain a Chelsea player until the end of his career and had tabled a very reasonable contract – the disconnect was on assurances over system and playing time.
A matter of days ago assistant manager Ray Wilkins went on national radio stating he and Carlo Ancelotti strongly wanted Joe to remain with the club and would fight to retain him.
So what’s changed?
We know the offer was on the table. Chelsea legend Kerry Dixon speaking on the day the players and staff paraded our silverwear to the public stated he’d spoken to Joe and that it was ‘not about money’ - so we know what the apparent sticking point was.
Put yourself in Joe’s shoes for a moment. The 28yr old has been hell bent on making the England World Cup squad and, happily for him, did so. He has always stated his focus is on this matter.
The problem for me when considering this is last week ‘arry Redknapp stated from the feedback he’d gained when sounding out Cole’s representatives he felt ‘something had been done already’.
It makes sense, really. As a player you don’t ditch £80k a week and a contract extension offer unless you’re pretty damn sure of something else being in the pipeline. Whilst Joe is undoubtedly able to whore himself to elite bidders, it still smacks as strange he is currently ‘unattached’ and able to allow his affiliation with the English Champions die so easily.
So the question is, just WHO has Joe verbally agreed to sign for? Let’s face it – the evidence stacks up to suggest Joe’s assertion he will only make a decision on his future after the World Cup is bollocks. He’s had time to indicate to Chelsea he won’t be signing a new deal, so he’s had time to discuss his next move with his agents.
Joe’s plan of action appears, and I AM being cynical here, to be keeping his mouth shut so Chelsea look like the bad guys in this. Then, when he’s photographed holding a “Cole 10” shirt up at the Emirates or Old Trafford no-one will blame ‘poor’ Cole who of course will be the nations darling this summer having been wronged.
You may detect a pretty bitter edge to my words, and you know what? I am. I’ve discussed this with other fans and some of them feel it’s ridiculous I could question his decision to move on as it’s his ‘job’ and therefore understandable that he’d move to potentially our rivals on the basis he has to feed his family.
Ok folks, the player earning in excess of £4million a year is hard up..there was me thinking the luxury of abundant wealth and the knowledge your career is short would allow someone to make a decision based on more than just paying the bills: you know, like working for the club you supported as a boy.
It’s a hard pill to swallow for me, and I’m sure for others, that Joe appears on the edge of playing for one of our red rivals. He will be a fallen legend in this fans eyes.
Good luck Joe, you brought fantastic moments – but consider the cost of this decision carefully, you may well come to regret it.